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The Facts of Life Rough Housing (1979–1988) Online

The Facts of Life Rough Housing (1979–1988) Online
Original Title :
Rough Housing
Genre :
TV Episode / Comedy / Family
Year :
1979–1988
Directror :
Nick Havinga
Cast :
Charlotte Rae,John Lawlor,Jenny O'Hara
Writer :
Brad Rider,Brad Rider
Type :
TV Episode
Time :
30min
Rating :
8.0/10
The Facts of Life Rough Housing (1979–1988) Online

Cindy decides not to attend the Harvest Ball when Blair intimates that because of her tomboyishness she might be a lesbian.
Episode cast overview:
Charlotte Rae Charlotte Rae - Edna Garrett
John Lawlor John Lawlor - Steven Bradley
Jenny O'Hara Jenny O'Hara - Miss Emily Mahoney
Lisa Whelchel Lisa Whelchel - Blair Warner
Felice Schachter Felice Schachter - Nancy Olson
Julie Piekarski Julie Piekarski - Sue Ann Weaver
Kim Fields Kim Fields - Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey
Julie Anne Haddock Julie Anne Haddock - Cindy Webster
Molly Ringwald Molly Ringwald - Molly Parker
Mindy Cohn Mindy Cohn - Natalie Green
Conrad Bain Conrad Bain - Philip Drummond
Gary Coleman Gary Coleman - Arnold Jackson
Todd Bridges Todd Bridges - Willis Jackson
Dana Plato Dana Plato - Kimberly Drummond

The pilot "Rough Housing" may have been the very first children's program on network television to discuss gender confusion and sexual identity crises among youth; as well as anti-gay bullying among teenagers.

In her interview on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live Molly Ringwald has said she was "hurt" when she was let go from Facts of Life at the end of Season 1. "But then I got a movie with Paul Mazursky and Susan Sarandon," she said. "So I was like, 'Bye Tootie'".

According to the other cast members Lisa Welchel used to blow off rehearsal and would sit around reading while the other girls were reading their lines. Eventually they confronted her, she apologized (after getting really angry) and stopped doing it.

The only episode in the entire show in which the four main cast members of Arnold (1978) - Conrad Bain (Mr. Drummond), Dana Plato (Kimberly), Gary Coleman (Arnold) and Todd Bridges (Willis) - make a guest appearance together.


User reviews

Keramar

Keramar

I applaud "Facts of Life" for not shying away from covering heavy subject matter, such as sex, drugs, abortion, breast cancer, prejudice, mental illness and other issues that have only been flirted with on previous television shows. And, one of the few programs where the "Very Special Episode" didn't center on pedophilia (although there was the one episode where Tootie is lured into child pornography, but that was very taboo on TV back then, so it still warrants praise). But I give this show high marks for tackling risky subject matter right from the get-go, as seen in this episode. I for one do not see why there'd be so much controversy aimed at this "Facts of Life" episode, being that since then, there have been programs with violence and sex. I felt that the very first "FOL" episode tackling possibly lesbianism was very commendable, especially since this is a show aimed at girls and young women. And many young girls go through that stage in there life where they don't know who they are, or who they're supposed to be, and, yes, that question regarding their true sexuality is often brought to mind, especially when we are often forced to comform to the roles of modern femininity. I mean not to trivialize young men who also feel the pressure of having to comform to traditional male stereotypes and who often get plastered for liking certain "female-oriented" things, but there have been plenty of TV shows and movies that have dealt with that...so, why can't a TV show deal with a young woman facing these issues?! And I personally feel they dealt with the subject matter very tastefully on "Facts of Life", especially this episode. They never once came out and said "lesbian", or "gay", but yet the viewer clearly knew what was being addressed. The first season of "Facts of Life" often gets panned and was ridiculed by TV critics, but I thought they did some great episodes in those days. Tackling other issues such as eating disorders and low self-esteem, as well as peer pressure, drugs and sex. I loved all 9 seasons of this show, and think it is one of the few shows that has truly evolved with time along with the characters, and one of the few all-female shows that has done so. I miss this show, being that today, we are either stuck with "Desperate Housewives"-type shows where the female characters are all at each other's throats, or shows where there is only one lone female character in a mostly male enssemble cast. But, not to get away from this episode, but it has broken new ground in television, as "Facts of Life" has always done so brilliantly.