Comments on: When Did The Facts of Life Jump the Shark? https://popculturereferences.com/when-did-the-facts-of-life-jump-the-shark/ Brian Cronin takes a look at interesting pieces of pop culture history from the worlds of TV, film, music and more. Sat, 30 Dec 2023 03:04:19 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 By: Rick https://popculturereferences.com/when-did-the-facts-of-life-jump-the-shark/#comment-16460 Sat, 30 Dec 2023 03:04:19 +0000 https://popculturereferences.com/?p=4313#comment-16460 Just a heads up that Jon Hein did not create the phrase – it was well known by the time he started using it. For those who don’t know it began as a direct result of an episode of the show Happy Days. In it a character (the uber cool Fonzie) literally waterskiied over an enclosure with a shark in it. (Side note: He was wearing his leather jacket at the time). After that “jumping the shark” was how any show that went on longer than it should have was described. So while Hein may have popularised the saying, he didn’t create it.

]]> By: Angelica S. https://popculturereferences.com/when-did-the-facts-of-life-jump-the-shark/#comment-15582 Fri, 08 Dec 2023 00:45:07 +0000 https://popculturereferences.com/?p=4313#comment-15582 I think it was when Jo moved to Los Angeles! That show was East Coast all the way. There was something off about that episode. It turns out it was the very first episode of that particular season.

]]> By: My Two Cents https://popculturereferences.com/when-did-the-facts-of-life-jump-the-shark/#comment-9831 Sun, 14 May 2023 22:06:23 +0000 https://popculturereferences.com/?p=4313#comment-9831 I agree with Cloris Leachman’s addition as the spot when the show jumped the shark. As stated, she did a fine job, but the show lost its soul when Charlotte Rae left. And I have often wondered if they considered bringing Rae back for Jo’s wedding, since it would seem unlikely that Mrs. G would miss that. Ironically, Charlotte Rae’s final appearance on Diff’rent Strokes was many years after she left and it was for the episode where Mr. Drummond got re-married.

On a separate note, while Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes has continuity issues, Mrs. Garrett once mentioned her sister Beverly Ann in Season 1 of Diff’rent Strokes. And Bingo, there she is Season 8 of Facts of Life. Good job, Tandem Productions!

]]> By: Teague von Bohlen https://popculturereferences.com/when-did-the-facts-of-life-jump-the-shark/#comment-9354 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:19:57 +0000 https://popculturereferences.com/?p=4313#comment-9354 When they moved from Eastland to Edna’s Edibles. The stretching to keep the gang together was too much.

]]> By: Michael Rebain https://popculturereferences.com/when-did-the-facts-of-life-jump-the-shark/#comment-8205 Sat, 18 Feb 2023 01:07:56 +0000 https://popculturereferences.com/?p=4313#comment-8205 How come Mackenzie Astin isn’t considered a show killer like Ted McGinley? (I’m joking!)

]]> By: Tom Panarese https://popculturereferences.com/when-did-the-facts-of-life-jump-the-shark/#comment-8201 Fri, 17 Feb 2023 22:30:55 +0000 https://popculturereferences.com/?p=4313#comment-8201 I tend to agree with when Mrs. Garrett left, but the change in stores to “Over Our Heads” put it on the ramp.

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