The Facts of Life

September 14, 1985

After returning from their summer vacation, the girls discover that Edna's Edibles has burned down. This leads the girls to discuss rebuilding and opening up a new business.

September 21, 1985

The girls try to hire a contractor to rebuild Edna's Edibles into their new business. After interviewing a string, they hire George Burnett, who's inexpensive, but he soon proves to be easily sidetracked from his work.

September 28, 1985

The girls finally open their new shop, which is called, Over Our Heads, which sells a mixture of trendy, nostalgic memorabilia. However, the opening day may be the closing day, when they don't get quite the reception they were hoping for.

October 5, 1985

Jo is offered a job at a major company which is tempting but this causes her to reevaluate her dream of becoming a teacher.

October 19, 1985

Natalie's boyfriend appears in a popular beefcake calendar of the Langley swim team, a calendar that is frowned upon by the college board of regents.

October 26, 1985

Needing advice on her love life, Blair asks her mother to visit, only to learn that mom needs advice even more than Blair does.

November 2, 1985

Andy enters the girls in a contest through a teen magazine that if they win, they could sing backup to El DeBarge. First, however, they must produce a demo tape of their singing talent.

November 9, 1985

While waiting for a bus, Natalie thinks she could get some inspiration on something to write about in a diner. Failing to find anything of interest, she begins writing a wild story, that takes place in the diner involving, Blair, Jo, Tootie, Mrs. Garrett and George.

November 16, 1985

Tootie tutors seventh grader Andy for a role in ""West Side Story,"" which turns him on to her more than to acting.

November 23, 1985

Blair and Jo argue over stories and editorials that are to be presented as a news report which is also going to include a behind the scenes look at the girls' shop, Over Our Heads.

November 30, 1985

Mrs. Garrett's old friend, Gwen comes to town for a visit with her old gossip buddy, but she also comes to town to confront Edna about the affair Gwen thinks she had with her late husband.

December 7, 1985

Jo takes up ballroom dance lessons and becomes determined to do a good job at an upcoming recital despite chaotic lessons and a clutzy dance partner.

December 14, 1985

A very pregnant Monica comes to the house on Christmas Eve, where she ends up in labor and gives birth to Bailey, her third child, on Christmas morning.

December 21, 1985

Tootie's learning to drive and she's driving everyone bananas.

January 11, 1986

The police want to stake out the shop to nab a few crooks but the girls, not wanting to worry Mrs. Garrett, insist she not be told about the operation.

January 18, 1986

Tootie and Blair give an aspiring comic a career boost by staging a performance attended by Jim McCawley, talent coordinator of ""The Tonight Show.""

February 1, 1986

George gets Blair to pose as his fiancee at his high school reunion in order to make an ex-classmate jealous that she never gave him the light of day. However, the unexpected prompts Jo to go in Blair's place.

February 8, 1986

On the day Blair is to accept an award, she encounters two burdens. First, she's stuck babysitting her baby brother and second she becomes trapped in an elevator, where she learns an important lesson from a concentration camp survivor.

February 15, 1986

The girls are in Atlantic City for a long weekend, where Blair gets gambling fever and Jo hopes to be reunited with Flyman, the rock star she met on spring break in Fort Lauderdale.

February 22, 1986

The girls surprise Blair on her birthday with a party featuring singer and dancer Betty Kean who, like ""The Man Who Came to Dinner,"" stays on and on and on.

March 1, 1986

Natalie is furious with the mayor during an election when she learns he plans to build an amusement park. This prompts Natalie to consider running for mayor herself.

March 29, 1986

Jo's father shows up to announce that he's won a publisher's giveaway, and is determined to give Jo everything he could never give her before.

May 3, 1986

Tootie plans to join a road show after graduation despite her parents' objections, while Natalie plans to find an apartment where she can write in peace.

May 10, 1986

Natalie and Tootie find that privacy is at a premium in their one-room apartment, which doubles as a roach resort.