FACTS OF LIFE, THE: BOY ABOUT THE HOUSE (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about four female students learning about the facts of life from a surrogate mother.
In this episode, Jo is pleased to be named editor-in-chief of the senior yearbook and begins writing photo captions for her classmates. Blair arrives at Over Our Heads with a new beau, Ray, who turns out to be a ventriloquist. He introduces them to his "friend" Sam, a dummy, and everyone is amused until "Sam" notices Andy stealing money from the cash box. When the girls confront him about it, he tells them that his latest set of foster parents is splitting up and that he intended to run away rather than be shipped back to the children's home again. Beverly Ann invites him to stay at their home for a few days, and the four girls tell her that they want to be his new foster parents. Beverly Ann points out that it is only a temporary solution, though, as they will soon graduate and go their separate ways, and decides that she herself should formally adopt him.
A few days later, Beverly Ann happily tells everyone that the adoption process has begun, though she is soon flustered by her newfound role as instant-mother-to-be and admits that "everything has changed." Natalie, also an adopted child, offers some advice about "diving right in," and she resolves to make it work out of love for the boy. At the same time, Blair is alarmed when she sees the less-than-fabulous photo of herself that will run in the yearbook, though Jo refuses to allow her a do-over. Tootie then observes Andy being flippant with Beverly Ann and accuses him of being a "spoiled brat" on purpose; he declares that he does not believe that the adoption will go through, as he has been let down before. Later, Ray arrives with a new friend for Blair, "JoJo. " Jo is horrified to learn that Blair intends to perform onstage with the creepy miniature of her and is forced to give in to her yearbook demands. Beverly Ann is anxious when a social worker arrives to inspect the home for the adoption; the girls assure the woman that Beverly Ann is an excellent parent despite her flaws. Beverly Ann then puts her foot down with Andy when he attempts to disobey her again, and the social worker is duly impressed with her maternal instincts, much to everyone's great relief. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:94080
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; African-American Collection - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1979-1988
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Irma Kalish … Executive Producer, Writer
- Douglas Arango … Producer
- Phil Doran … Producer
- Rita Dillon … Producer
- Howard Leeds … Developed by
- Ben Starr … Developed by
- Jerry Mayer … Developed by
- Dick Clair … Created by
- Jenna McMahon … Created by
- John Bowab … Director
- Austin Kalish … Writer
- Alan Thicke … Theme Music by
- Gloria Loring … Theme Music by
- Al Burton … Theme Music by
- Cloris Leachman … Cast, Beverly Ann Stickle
- Lisa Whelchel … Cast, Blair Warner
- Nancy McKeon … Cast, Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek
- Kim Fields … Cast, Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey
- Mindy Cohn … Cast, Natalie Green
- Mackenzie Astin … Cast, Andy Moffett
- Jean Sincere … Cast, Dorothy Newell
- Jay Johnson … Cast, Ray Rollins