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The Facts of Life with the 90s TV Babies!

The Facts of Life with the 90s TV Babies!

Author: 134 West | Susan Lambert Hatem & Sharon Johnson June 18, 2025 Duration: 56:23
80s TV Ladies
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“This show makes me feel like I have a blanket around me and I’m eating mac & cheese.” -- Megan Ruble, 90s TV Baby, about The Facts of Life.

Susan and Sharon welcome back the notorious “90s TV Babies” to find out what they think about The Facts of Life, which ran August 24, 1979 to May 7, 1988.  Did they “take the good” and “take the bad”?  Did the “World Live Up To Their Dreams”? We’re gonna find out!

Megan Ruble and Serita Fontanesi were asked to watch these FOL listener-suggested episodes:

The Facts of Life Assignment
S1; EP13: “Dope”
S2; EP1: “The New Girl”
S3; EP15: “Starstruck”
S4; EP22: “Take My Finals, Please”
S5; EP6: “The Halloween Show”
S7; EP1: “Out of the Fire”

Plus, Bonus episodes: 
S1; EP1: “Rough Housing (The Pilot)”
S2; EP2: “The New Girl: Part 2”
S2; EP5: “Cousin Geri”
S3; EP18: “Runaway”
S5; EP10: “Store Games”
S5; EP17: “A Death in the Family”
S5; EP18: “Big Fish, Little Fish”
S7; EP2: “Into the Frying Pan”
S7; EP8: “Come Back To The Truck Stop, Natalie Green, Natalie Green”
S7; EP14: “Tootie Drives”
S9; EP16: “The First Time”

THE CONVERSATION
  • SUMMER UPDATE: Serita’s having a baby!  Little Theodore Fontanesi arrives the first week of August!
  • SUMMER UPDATE: Megan is producing a show for the Hollywood Fringe Festival and acting in “Shakespeare by the Sea”!
  • SIT LONG AND PROSPER: What does it feel like to be put in Vulcan make-up? Megan will tell you!
  • BUFFY ALERT! -- Serita is concerned: Is Megan an “Angel Girl” or a “Spike Girl”?
  • SPOILER ALERT! -- Both Serita and Megan LOVED Facts of Life!
  • “Starstruck (S3; EP15)” -- Megan calls out how rare it is to see a show about “out of control fandom” and Serita calls out how para-social relationships are not a “new thing”.
  • Serita’s favorite characters: Tootie and Jo. Megan’s favorite characters: Edna and Natalie.
  • Why was Tootie always on roller skates?  To make her taller for the camera!
  • S5; EP 17 “A Death in the Family”:  On February 1, 1984, The Facts of Life breaks ground featuring the first ever television portrayal of a “Shiva”.
  • Is The Facts of Life “progressive” and “feminist”? Listen to 90s TV Babies to find out!
So join Susan and Sharon -- and Serita and Megan -- as they talk C-sections, fan conventions, The Golden Girls, deep-dish pizza, making babies laugh at your jokes -- and how “Edna’s Edibles” could be its own strain!

AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Learn more about The Facts of Life at https://www.facebook.com/thefactsoflifesite/ 
Watch Season 2 & 3 of Facts of Life for FREE on Tubi.com.
Look for more episodes on Daily Motion or YouTube.

Listen in on Serita’s podcast at NotUglyPod.com.
Send Serita diaper money for Little Baby Theo at Venmo.com/seritafonta! 

Check out Megan’s Hollywood Fringe production “The Visitor” at DayforKnightproductions.com.
Get tickets at HollywoodFringe.org.
FREE Shakespear in the parks + Megan! See and Go see and support

Remember those iconic women from television who defined an era? 80s TV Ladies revisits the groundbreaking, often delightfully campy, female-driven series that filled our living rooms with big hair and even bigger personalities. Hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson, under the 134 West banner, aren't just offering nostalgic recaps. They dig into the fascinating stories behind how shows like "Murder, She Wrote," "Kate & Allie," or "Designing Women" were actually made, examining the creative forces and network battles that brought them to air. Each episode explores how the politics and social climate of the 1980s shaped these narratives, and conversely, how the characters and stories themselves pushed cultural conversations forward, often in a complex dance of progress and tradition. This podcast celebrates the legacy of these programs while honestly assessing their place in history through that "two-steps forward, one-step-back" lens. It's a deep, engaging listen for anyone who loves television history, cultural analysis, and the powerful, complicated women who made the decade's TV so memorable. The show's quality is underscored by its recognition as a 4-time Podcast Awards winner and a Webby nominee for Best Indie Podcast. Tune in for thoughtful, well-researched discussions that go far beyond the opening credits.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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