Decades after "The Facts of Life" concluded, tension has erupted among its main cast members.
The iconic sitcom's core stars are embroiled in controversy, and sadly, Mrs. Garrett is no longer here to help.
Mindy Cohn, known for her role as Natalie, claims a potential revival was derailed by a "greedy" co-star. This has caused a rift among the show's primary stars: Kim Fields (Tootie), Lisa Whelchel (Blair), and Nancy McKeon (Jo).
What Happened?
During an interview on SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live, Cohn explained that after a mini cast reunion for ABC’s "Live in Front of a Studio Audience" in December 2021, producer Norman Lear suggested a revival. The special, featuring Jennifer Aniston and Gabrielle Union, received an overwhelming response.
Cohn shared that she and her co-stars, who have remained close and held numerous reunions over the years, began considering the idea. They even hired a writer and held Zoom meetings during the pandemic to discuss the project. However, things took a turn when one cast member allegedly sought a solo deal for a spin-off, according to Cohn.
"One of the girls went behind our backs for a separate deal and devastated the rest of us," Cohn said. "For a friendship and sisterhood of 40 years, it was deeply emotional."
Agreeing with a podcast co-host's description, Cohn referred to the unnamed actress as a "greedy" individual. She mentioned that while communication with the co-star has resumed slightly, some relationships remain strained, and the project is now "very dead."
Identifying the 'Greedy' Co-Star
While Cohn didn’t name names, she hinted that fans could deduce the culprit from her Instagram posts. She has shared birthday tributes for McKeon and Fields, leaving Whelchel as the likely suspect. However, Whelchel has posted birthday wishes for Cohn and appeared on her podcast, maintaining that their friendship is genuine and strong. She acknowledged the revival discussions, expressing excitement tempered with caution, given the industry's uncertainties.
Earlier this year, Whelchel, McKeon, and Cohn appeared together on "The Drew Barrymore Show," seemingly on good terms.
Future Collaborations?
Cohn expressed on the podcast that she has "no desire to ever work together" again due to the broken trust. She remains busy with other projects, including a recurring role in "Palm Royale" starring Kristen Wiig. Whelchel hosts "Collector’s Call" on MeTV, Fields is wrapping up the final season of Netflix’s "The Upshaws," and McKeon has appeared in projects like Lifetime's "Light Up My Christmas" and Amazon Prime’s "Panic."
The beloved house mothers from the show, Charlotte Rae (Mrs. Garrett) and Cloris Leachman (Beverly), passed away in 2018 and 2021, respectively.