Jo Polniaczek Is a Lesbian Heartthrob

“The New Girl, Part One” and “The New Girl, Part Two” (November 19 and 26, 1980)

True, the first episode of The Facts of Life is the one that comes closest to addressing LGBT issues, but so much of Jo and Blair’s relationship treads close that we are returning to discuss Nancy McKeon’s two-part introduction to the show. Librarian and Facts of Life scholar Erin Fletcher joins us to discuss the many layers to Jo and many lines that, upon second thought, seem like they might be double entendres.

Listen to our first Facts of Life episode, “Blair Warner Is a Homophobe”

Read The L Chat, a message board charting a longstanding history of queer women shipping Jo and Blair

Watch Facts of Life co-creators Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon playing hetero husband and wife on The Ed Sullivan Show

Watch Sara Gilbert tell Lisa Whelchel on The Talk that yep, Jo was gay

“Literally the gayest ship that has ever existed” but also this Jo/Blair montage set to “Good for Me” by Amy Grant

“the story inside my head of how jo and blair get together (aka the /real/ facts of life)”

Willona vs. Chip Fields on Good Times

Buy the first issue of Drew and Glen’s new comic anthology, Beyond Sunset.

Go shop at our TeePublic store!

Follow: GEE on Facebook • GEE’s Facebook Group • GEE on Twitter • GEE on Instagram • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter

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And yes, we do have an official website! We even have episode transcripts courtesy of Sarah Neal. Our logo was designed by Rob Wilson. This episode’s art was designed by Ian O’Phelan. This episode was edited by Meika Grimm.

This is a TableCakes podcast.