Similarities
Charlotte Rae, who plays Mrs. Garrett on The Facts of Life, is from Appleton, Wisconsin; interestingly enough, Mrs. Garrett’s character is also from rural Wisconsin. There are many instances where art imitates life on the show.
For example, in the episode where Natalie’s father passes away, Rae narrates the episode with her personal story of when her real-life father passed back in the 1950s. Producers felt that having a personal connection to the story would make it more relatable and thus connect better with viewers.