Lisa Whelchel Returns to Series Television on MeTV

First seen in 1977 as a member of The New Mickey Mouse Club it was the 1979 debut of Facts and subsequent 209 episodes that propelled her into the popculture pantheonamp160 Apart from a stint on CBSamp8217 Survivor Philippines in 2012 and some Hallmark Channel projects Whelchel hasnamp8217t actively pursued the Hollywood life amp160Instead sheamp8217s living in Nashville and working as a life coachamp160 However sheamp8217s delighted to be returning to TV in this formatamp160 amp8220This is MeTVamp8217s first original program and it really feels exciting and a privilege to be a part of itamp8221 she told me during an exclusive interview with MediaVillage amp160amp8220I had worked with the producer before and living in Nashville I wasnamp8217t actively pursuing show business as I just don39t have the stomach for it anymoreamp160 But Iamp8217ll always consider something if comes alongamp8220When I was approached with this idea it was personally excitingamp8221 she continued amp8220I just thought how fun would it be to travel the country meet collectors and learn about them amp160It39s amazing how much you can learn about subcultures the things that they collectamp160 And I got paid for it amp160It was a nobraineramp8221Whelchel said sheamp8217s no stranger to the world of collectibles having once collected antique dolls and stuffed bears amp160It was an aunt that first gave her insight into it amp160amp8220She owned an antique store for 20 years and along with my grandmother and mom was one of my primary travel buddies when I was a teenager and through to my 20samp8221 she explained amp160amp8220Weamp8217d travel the world together and sheamp8217d buy things for the store so she trained me on what was valuable and what to collectamp8221While these days her personal collecting is relegated to just a few personal items including her Mickey Mouse Club ears that went up for auction by Vault Disney a few decades ago Whelchel understands what makes collectors tick amp160amp8220It39s not just about the collectibles it39s about the heart and finding a bargain and the joy that sparksamp8221 she notedamp160 amp8220Thatamp8217s one of my favorite things about the show meeting the collectors hearing their stories and once you do you get it amp160amp160There39s something for everybody whether you collect or don39tamp8221Last year Whelchel became a collectible herself with the resurrection of the legendary 1970amp8217s toy company Mego famed for its licensed action figures which have since become very collectibleamp160 One of the first toys the company distributed was a Blair amp8220action figureamp8221amp8220I didn39t know about Mego till we covered a collector on the show who collected amp821650s amp821660s and amp821670s memorabilia from TV showsamp8221 she shared amp160amp8220We filmed it before the Blair doll came outamp8221amp160 When Blair appeared on store shelves amp8220I was like 39Oh my goodness I know this company and I am in the same company as superheroesamp8217 amp160That39s kind of cool and while it doesn39t look like me at all it doesn39t matter amp160It has the uniform name and hair so for me it wasn39t about that It was just the thrill and privilege of having a character figure and that feels greatamp8221In addition to the weekend premiere of Collectoramp8217s Call MeTV celebrates another milestone for Whelchel The Facts of Life 40th anniversary by presenting a handpicked selection of her favorite episodes amp160amp8220I39m shocked to hear it39s the 40th anniversaryamp8221 she laughed amp160amp8220There have been many successful opportunities that have come along for me but I have to tie it all back to Factsamp160 amp8220I believe our show about girls who are friends touched and pulled the heartstrings of viewers everywhereamp8220Thereamp8217s something about the friends you make as a child that makes you feel goodamp8221 she added referring to her young costars amp160amp8220There was something unique about sharing the experience with those girls amp160Few people know what it39s like to be a child on television and go through all that amp160Certainly all the bonding experiences but there is also a price to be paid that isnamp8217t a part of the normal experience of growing up amp160There39s no one in my life but those girls who know that significant part of my lifeamp8221To this day the Facts cast remains close even participating in a recent conference call to discuss the possibility of future collaborations amp160However selecting those top five episodes wasnamp8217t easy for Whelchel amp160amp8220They weren39t off the top of my headamp8221 she shared amp160amp8220With over 200 shows filmed it was very difficult My criteria amp160Where I was having the most fun with broad humor and slapstick comedyamp8220I39m really grateful to networks like MeTVamp8221 she said in closing amp160amp8220They provide programming for new generations to enjoy classic shows amp160It truly is such a gift to have these classic shows on there that the whole family can watch together that39s rareamp8221Here are the guest stars and costars on The Facts of Life that Whelchel considers the most memorableGeorge Clooneyamp160 quotHe was up for an Academy Award years ago and someone asked me 39What it was like to kiss George Clooney39amp160 I replied amp8216I never did he was the handyman and we never had a romantic interestamp8217amp160amp160I was told I had kissed him on the show and was sent a link to a clipamp160 Blairamp160was pretending to be his girlfriend to make his exgirlfriend jealous and sheamp160just planted one on himamp160 How in the world did I forget itquotCloris Leachmanamp160 quotShe was a hoot and bought a very different energy than Charlotte Rae amp160There was no way she could fill Charlotte39s shoes and she really didn39t tryamp160 She didn39t try to be the nurturing mother off the set she was just our wacky friend eccentric and delightfulquotHelen Huntamp160 quotShe was superyoung and was of the same generation as me when I was going out on auditionsquotJermaine Jacksonamp160 quotThat one was fun amp160Kim Fields was good friends with Janet Jackson so there were times Janet would hang out on setamp160amp160Michael too amp160My son is a musician so when I told him I had the chance to hang out with Janet Michael and Jermaine Jackson I scored big pointsquotEve Plumbamp160 quotThat was an important show where Blair questioned her faith and God because of her parentsamp8217 divorce amp160Itamp8217s one of those shows you wouldn39t think would be tackled in a sitcom but it was so beautifully handledquotZsa Zsa Gaboramp160 quotThat39s one of the five I selected for the MeTV marathon because she glides into a room and while I don39t remember her wearing her perfume she just smelled beautifulquotCollectoramp8217s Call will be telecast Sunday April 7 at 10 pm following a threehour The Facts of Life 40th anniversary presentation of Whelchelamp8217s five favorite episodesClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160

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Lisa Whelchel Returns to Series Television on MeTV

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Lisa Whelchel Returns to Series Television on MeTV

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