Lisa Whelchel needs to get the information straight on what actually occurred to the “Info of Life” reboot.
The actress spoke to Nearer Weekly a yr after co-star Mindy Cohn claimed plans fell aside because of an unnamed “grasping b—-.”
“We have been all very, very upset that it didn’t work,” the 61-year-old, who performed Blair Warner, advised the outlet.
‘FACTS OF LIFE’ STAR SAYS REBOOT SABOTAGED BY ‘GREEDY B—-‘
Lisa Whelchel starred as Blair Warner in “The Info of Life.” (Getty Pictures)
“We’d been looking for a strategy to work collectively in some capability for in all probability the final 10 years,” Whelchel defined. “So, when it regarded like this was going to occur, we have been all actually excited. The contracts have been signed after which the writers’ strike occurred, the actors’ strike occurred, after which, sadly, Pa [Charlotte Rae] and Norman Lear handed. After that, it simply sort of dissolved.”
“We have been all fairly upset,” Whelchel careworn.
Norman Lear handed away in 2023 at age 101. (Getty Pictures)
Rae, who performed a clever and affected person housemother to a brood of teenage women, died in 2018 at age 92. Lear handed away in 2023 at age 101.
From left: Nancy McKeon as Joanne ‘Jo’ Polniaczek, Kim Fields as Dorothy ‘Tootie’ Ramsey, Lisa Whelchel as Blair Warner, Mindy Cohn as Natalie Inexperienced, Charlotte Rae as Edna Garrett. (NBC/NBCU Picture Financial institution/Getty Pictures)
A yr later, Cohn was on Sirius XM’s “Jeff Lewis Dwell,” the place she revealed a “grasping b—-” was guilty for reboot plans being shelved.
Cohn defined that after the success of an ABC particular, “Dwell in Entrance of a Studio Viewers: The Info of Life and Diff’lease Strokes,” in 2021, which featured an all-star recreation of episodes of each exhibits, together with Jennifer Aniston in Whelchel’s function, Lear reached out to the solid.
Mindy Cohn performed Natalie Inexperienced in “The Info of Life.” (Getty Pictures)
“He stated, ‘Are you guys ?’ And we had all by no means actually talked about it, however all of us began to contemplate it a little bit bit, and we bought into talks. And we employed a author, and the 4 of us bought collectively on Zooms. This was throughout COVID, and we had conferences with Norman about it,” Cohn stated.
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Mindy Cohn attends SiriusXM Studios on March 22, 2024, in New York Metropolis. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Pictures)
Requested what occurred, Cohn replied, “What occurred was not cute. Yeah… There was drama.”
“Greater than that,” Cohn stated. “[She] went behind our backs and tried to make a separate deal for a by-product only for herself and devastated the remainder of us. … I had booked ‘Palm Royale;’ one other lady is working. I am simply saying it was for a 40-year friendship and sisterhood. There was a tidal wave of emotion round it.”
“She was a grasping b—-, I’ll say it,” she added.
Followers rapidly speculated that Mindy Cohn was speaking about Lisa Whelchel. (NBCU Picture Financial institution/NBCUniversal through Getty Pictures through Getty Pictures)
The 58-year-old stated the actresses didn’t discuss “for some time and now we do-ish, however there’s undoubtedly, it was an ouch.”
She added that there’s “no want to ever work collectively” and the reboot is “lifeless. It’s very lifeless.”
“A few individuals cannot transfer previous it, do not wish to transfer previous it. We aren’t as united. Let me put it that means. We have been united for 40 years over not speaking about one another, not doing soiled, not, you recognize, all for one, one for all, and this sort of wrecked that, which is unhappy. Actually unhappy,” Cohn stated.
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Mindy Cohn, Lisa Whelchel and Kim Fields appeared within the particular “Dwell in Entrance of a Studio Viewers: The Info of Life and Diff’lease Strokes” in 2021. (Christopher Willard/ABC through Getty Pictures)
The “Palm Royale” star was requested who the “grasping b—-” was amongst her co-stars — Whelchel, Kim Fields or Nancy McKeon.
Cohn refused to say however hinted that her Instagram contained the reply, noting who she spends time with and who she doesn’t is evident.
The hosts continued to try to guess, however they stated Cohn would not budge.
WATCH: FACTS OF LIFE STAR LISA WHELCHEL EXPLAINS WHY SHE DIDN’T RELEASE MORE MUSIC AFTER HER ’80S SOLO ALBUM
On the finish of the present, a caller steered it was Whelchel, primarily based on combing by way of Cohn’s Instagram. Cohn joked it was George Clooney, who appeared on the present early in his profession.
On the time, Cohn shared birthday messages to Fields and McKeon however not Whelchel on her Instagram. Representatives for Whelchel, McKeon, Fields and Cohn didn’t reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
Charlotte Rae handed away in 2018 at age 92. (Getty Pictures)
A couple of days after Cohn’s interview, Whelchel posted a promo for her MeTV present, “Collector’s Name.” Some followers chimed in with their help for her amid hypothesis about who triggered the reboot to collapse.
Lisa Whelchel shared the stage with Jennifer Aniston. (Christopher Willard/ABC through Getty Pictures)
“FYI I’m Staff Lisa,” one particular person wrote.
“You/Blair have been my favourite since I used to be a little bit child…I actually admire the category you’ve at all times proven together with now. A number of followers sending you help!” one other particular person wrote.
Whelchel favored each feedback.
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The solid of “The Info Of Life” settle for the Pop Tradition Award onstage on the ninth Annual TV Land Awards on the Javits Heart on April 10, 2011, in New York Metropolis. (Picture by Andrew H. Walker/FilmMagic)
On “Jeff Lewis Dwell,” Cohn stated she accepts that the revival didn’t get off the bottom.
“Nobody needs to see us now,” she stated. “You understand what’s cute? They wish to see the place you at the moment are. They don’t desire a present about it. Be sincere.”
“It ought to keep the place it’s,” Cohn shared. “… I believe it’s so good the place it’s… This factor ought to keep wrapped.”
Lisa Whelchel is seen right here in an episode of “The Info of Life” reverse George Clooney. (Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Picture Financial institution/Getty Pictures)
In 2022, Whelchel spoke to Fox Information Digital a couple of attainable reboot.
“It’s a beautiful journey down reminiscence lane,” she stated on the time. “… We’ve been speaking a couple of reimagining of ‘Info of Life’ and bringing it again once more. Nothing is ready but, nevertheless it’s been actually enjoyable to speak about it. What I’ve delivered to the desk for these conversations is [that] I’d like to see a little bit bit extra acceptance of what actuality seems like for a midlife lady.”
“… I’m about 15 kilos heavier than I used to be on ‘Info of Life,’” she shared. “If we have been to do a re-imagining of the present, I would like my character to deal with the realities that we face after we get to a sure age.”
‘FACTS OF LIFE’ STAR NANCY MCKEON SAID ‘THERE WAS A LOT’ OF SCRUTINY OVER CAST’S WEIGHT
Lisa Whelchel advised Fox Information Digital she wished to offer a practical portrayal of her character at the moment. (Paul Archuleta/Getty Pictures)
Whelchel famous she wished to offer a practical portrayal of her character navigating life at the moment.
“You simply get fluffier, and it’s actually exhausting to drop extra pounds, it doesn’t matter what you do,” she stated. “Except you wish to dedicate your life to understanding 4 hours a day and consuming celery sticks, you’re going to seem like a middle-aged lady. And I don’t wish to disguise from that. I don’t wish to really feel lower than.”
“Actors and actresses on tv and flicks have private trainers and private cooks,” she continued. “They dedicate their lives to trying a sure means. I’d prefer to look a bit extra real looking. And I’m happy with my journey.”
WATCH: FACTS OF LIFE STAR LISA WHELCHEL SHARES HER FAVORITE MEMORIES FROM THE SET, NEW LIFE WITH ‘COLLECTORS CALL’
“The Info of Life” aired from 1979 to 1988 on NBC, spinning off from the sequence “Diff’lease Strokes,” each created by Lear. The sitcom has remained widespread and beloved through the years, operating in syndication for years on a number of networks.
In 2001, many of the solid reunited for “The Info of Life Reunion” TV film on ABC. The one lacking member was McKeon, who had scheduling conflicts together with her work on the Lifetime TV sequence “The Division.”
Fox Information Digital’s Elizabeth Stanton and The Related Press contributed to this report.
