Movies

Mindy Cohn says a ‘greedy’ co-star tanked the ‘Facts of Life’ reboot: It’s ‘very dead’

BBG News

As a long-time fan of “The Facts of Life,” I was absolutely shocked and saddened to hear that the proposed revival of this beloved sitcom has been derailed by a greedy and selfish co-star. Mindy Cohn, who played Natalie on the original series, shared this heartbreaking news during an interview on Sirius XM’s “Jeff Lewis Live.”

Mindy Cohn, famous for her role in “The Facts of Life,” shared that plans for reviving the beloved ABC sitcom hit a snag. It seems one of the co-stars, motivated by greed, quietly worked on setting up their own spin-off instead of supporting the group effort.

Cohn, aged 58, formerly known for her role as Natalie in the cherished comedy from 1979 to 1988, made an appearance in the hit “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” special in 2021. During this time, the executive producer, Norman Lear, who sadly passed away in December, expressed his amazement at the public’s favorable reception to their performance and asked if they would consider reviving the show based on its success.

The actor, along with Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, and Nancy McKeon, had all been contemplating the idea but hadn’t discussed it thoroughly before. During an interview on Sirius XM’s “Jeff Lewis Live” on Wednesday, Cohn disclosed that negotiations ensued, and we brought in a writer. The four of us held Zoom meetings with Norman to discuss potential plans for this project during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cohn described the situation as unsettling and not pleasant, without explicitly mentioning anyone. He hinted that there may have been underhanded actions from among the group.

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“One of the girls acted deceitfully, attempting to strike a solo deal for a spinoff without consulting us, leaving the rest in disarray,” she expressed.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but feel a profound surge of emotions when reflecting on a 40-year friendship and sisterhood. During our recent Sirius XM panel discussion, I wholeheartedly concurred with my fellow panelist’s assessment of the alleged culprit. In my opinion, her actions were fueled by an insatiable greed.

“According to Cohn, there’s no intention of communicating with the co-star for some time. It’s not a question of if, but rather one of when trust and the will to collaborate are reestablished – which currently seems unlikely.”

So, she confirmed, a “Facts of Life” reboot is “very dead.”

She expressed her disappointment, “A few individuals are unwilling to let go, preferring to cling to the past. For four decades, we stood together in silence on various issues, a united front. But now, this incident has disrupted our long-standing arrangement, leaving me feeling deeply sad.”

“Since its debut in 1979, ‘The Facts of Life’ – a spin-off of ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ – featured the late Charlotte Rae as Edna Garrett (later replaced by Cloris Leachman as Beverly Ann Stickle), who guided the students of Eastland School through their adolescent challenges.”

In this Emmy-nominated show, Cohn portrayed Natalie, the class clown, while Fields was her best friend and aspiring actor Tootie. Whelchel took on the role of Blair Warner, a wealthy and spoiled character, and McKeon played Jo Polniaczek, a contrasting character from the Bronx. In 2001, the cast (excluding “The Division” star McKeon) came together for a TV movie called “The Facts of Life Reunion,” which was broadcast on ABC under “The Wonderful World of Disney.”

Cohn, who opened up about her metastatic breast cancer experience in 2017, has occasionally reunited with her former co-stars and made an appearance in ABC’s 2021 “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” special alongside Fields and Whelchel. However, she remained coy about who might have contributed to the show’s decline without explicitly confirming or denying it. Instead, she hinted that it wasn’t her and suggested that there was a one-third chance of guessing correctly. She also mentioned that clues could be found on her Instagram account, where one of her co-stars has been less active in recent years. (We verified: Fields and McKeon have both received recent birthday wishes.)

As a movie critic, I’ve come across stories where people’s desperation for money or fame leaves me in disbelief. It’s hard for me to fathom, despite seeing so much in my line of work, that they’d risk damaging genuine friendships for such temporary gains. The thought alone leaves me feeling uneasy.

Whelchel’s spokesperson declined to comment right away when contacted by The Times on Wednesday.

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2024-07-26 14:17

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