I watched several episodes of The Facts of Life this evening. I'm certain that anyone reading this is seriously impressed by the cerebral TV fare with which I amuse myself. Beginning in July, I will have little to no time for frivolity. I'm making up for it now with a vengeance.
A question arose concerning the character "Blair Warner," played by Lisa Whelchel. I get that the character is totally vain. Are we, the viewers, however, supposed to consider her to be a total bombshell, or is the joke supposed to be on her in that regard?
Also, I'm curious about her hair coloring. In most episodes, her roots were conspicuously darker than the rest of her hair. It didn't look like a weave. Instead, it appeared to be a grossly overdue touch-up. The character was quite wealthy. She presumably could afford a hair-coloring job whenever she needed or wanted one. Was sporting noticeably dark roots considered fashionable during the time interval (very late 70's through most of the 80's) in which this show experienced its original run?
I'm not meaning to take shots at Lisa Whelchel with either question. The scheduling and manner of her hair coloring treatments while on the show was presumably not her personal prerogative. Furthermore, I understand that she took a bit of abuse from the show's production staff over her very normal late-adolescent weight gain. It happens with a whole lot of girls. If TV production staffs cannot accept it, perhaps they shouldn't work with adolescent females. I certainly have no desire to add to Lisa Whelchel's grief even decades after the fact. I'm asking both questions in all sincerity.
Please respond if you have answers to either or both of my questions.
