“The Facts of Life” ended up being a success for NBC at a time when the network didn’t have many hits. But before it could premiere, the show had to assemble a cast, and that meant spinning off an actor from another popular sitcom. That actor was Charlotte Rae, who played Mrs. Edna Garrett, the Drummonds’ housekeeper on “Diff’rent Strokes.”
Mrs. Garrett was chosen to lead the spinoff because she was a strong enough draw to attract viewers to “The Facts of Life,” but not so central to “Diff’rent Strokes” that her departure would harm that show. Charlotte Rae spoke to Entertainment Weekly for an oral history of “The Facts of Life” and explained the context behind the casting. After Fred Silverman took over CBS and ABC as president, and then assumed leadership at NBC, he was determined to make NBC the best network on TV.
“When I was on ‘Diff’rent Strokes,’ he remembered me from ‘Car 54, Where Are You?’” Rae recalled.
For Silverman, the choice was simple. “‘Diff’rent Strokes’ was one of the few successful comedies we had on NBC, so I decided that would be the ideal choice as a vehicle for a spinoff,” he said. “I thought there was enough there that we could weather her loss, and then she could still make guest appearances. So we effected a spinoff very, very quickly. I think we went on the air within a year of the time that ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ premiered and it was an instant success, which in those days was quite rare for NBC.”
### The Premise of “The Facts of Life”
While Mrs. Garrett was a housekeeper on “Diff’rent Strokes,” her character’s role shifted when she moved to “The Facts of Life.” She became a housemother at a dormitory for girls at a fictional all-girls boarding school in Peekskill, New York.
The first season included quite a few of the girls living in the dorm, but subsequent seasons focused primarily on four key characters:
– Jo Polniaczek (Nancy McKeon)
– Blair Warner (Lisa Whelchel)
– Natalie Green (Mindy Cohn)
– Dorothy “Tootie” Ramsey (Kim Fields)
and their interactions with Mrs. Garrett.
Although the show was a comedy, it also tackled many serious topics, including racism, drug abuse, peer pressure, rape, and alcoholism. The series portrayed the girls learning and growing through these challenges.
### Changing Settings as the Girls Matured
Over the course of the show’s nine-season run, the premise evolved to match the stage of life the girls were in. Initially set at the Eastland School during their high school years, the show later shifted to focus on life after graduation.
Mrs. Garrett opened a bakery named Edna’s Edibles, where the girls helped out. When the bakery eventually burned down, the girls started running a gift shop — a setting that took the series to its conclusion.
### Ratings and Cast Changes
While Fred Silverman claimed “The Facts of Life” was an instant success, the ratings tell a more nuanced story. The first season’s ratings were modest, prompting the network to reduce the number of characters the series focused on. This adjustment proved effective: by Season 2, the ratings surged, and by Season 3, “The Facts of Life” was ranked 24th in the Nielsen ratings. It stood as the highest-rated NBC comedy and second overall for the network.
Ratings remained strong throughout the show’s entire nine-season run. While Mrs. Garrett was originally the central draw, the cast’s characters quickly became popular enough that the show sustained its success even when Charlotte Rae reduced her role in Seasons 6 and 7.
### Charlotte Rae’s Departure and Legacy
Charlotte Rae passed away in 2018 at age 92. Her character, Mrs. Garrett, married and moved to Africa in Season 8, mirroring Rae’s decision to exit the show in pursuit of other opportunities.
In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Rae explained, “I just felt I had done all that I could do with Mrs. Garrett. For my own stimulation as an actress, it was important for me to move on.”
Rae was replaced in the final two seasons by Cloris Leachman, who played Beverly Ann Stickle, Mrs. Garrett’s sister. Leachman, another beloved member of “The Facts of Life” cast, has also passed away.
### Conclusion
From its beginnings as a “Diff’rent Strokes” spinoff starring Charlotte Rae, “The Facts of Life” turned into a defining NBC series that balanced humor with meaningful social issues. Its evolving cast and settings resonated with audiences for nearly a decade, cementing its place in television history.
https://www.looper.com/2011474/why-mrs-garrett-picked-lead-diffrent-strokes-spin-off-facts-of-life/
