<Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Summer offers a variety of options for everyone, especially Jo, who is offered a tempting job far away in Los Angeles . </Td> </Tr> <P> Pippa McKenna, played by Sherrié Austin, is introduced as a recurring character . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> No. in series </Th> <Th> No. in season </Th> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Directed by </Th> <Th> Written by </Th> <Th> Original air date </Th> <Th> Production code </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 178 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "Down and Out in Malibu: Part 1" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Martha Williamson </Td> <Td> September 26, 1987 (1987 - 09 - 26) </Td> <Td> 903 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Jo is stranded in Malibu for the summer and gets a job housesitting for Richard Moll . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 179 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "Down and Out in Malibu: Part 2" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Ross Brown </Td> <Td> October 3, 1987 (1987 - 10 - 03) </Td> <Td> 904 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Richard Moll has the girls put in prison when he sees what has happened to his house . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 180 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "Rumor Has It" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Michael Poryes </Td> <Td> October 17, 1987 (1987 - 10 - 17) </Td> <Td> 901 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Things get interesting in Blair's law class when a rumor goes around campus about her and the professor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 181 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "Before the Fall" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> R.J. Colleary </Td> <Td> October 24, 1987 (1987 - 10 - 24) </Td> <Td> 905 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Natalie lands a freelance assignment from the local newspaper to do an undercover article on Langley's ROTC, which may lead to more assignments . But she must face her fears when the job entails skydiving from an airplane . Dennis Haysbert has a small role as a drill sergeant . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 182 </Th> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> "Sweet Charity" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Phil Doran & Douglas Arango </Td> <Td> November 7, 1987 (1987 - 11 - 07) </Td> <Td> 907 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Jo goes looking for a job only to find one in the least likely place, and it is up to Blair to save the community center from going under . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 183 </Th> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> "Up from Down Under" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Austin and Irma Kalish </Td> <Td> November 14, 1987 (1987 - 11 - 14) </Td> <Td> 910 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> <P> Pippa McKenna, a teenage girl from Eastland's Australian sister school Colunga Academy, enrolls at Eastland . </P> Notes: Sherrie Krenn marks her first appearance as Pippa McKenna in this episode, she is marked on / off regular in few episodes and then becomes a main regular in the thirteenth episode . This episode also features new opening credit sequences for Lisa Whelchel and Mackenzie Astin . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 184 </Th> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> "The More the Marrier" </Td> <Td> Valentine Mayer </Td> <Td> Lawrence H. Levy </Td> <Td> November 21, 1987 (1987 - 11 - 21) </Td> <Td> 908 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> It's winter carnival time and Tootie has her hands full when her boyfriend Jeff shows up . Natalie's boyfriend Snake (Robert Romanus) is introduced . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 185 </Th> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> "A Rose by Any Other Age" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Mark Tuttle & Barbara Berkowitz </Td> <Td> November 28, 1987 (1987 - 11 - 28) </Td> <Td> 902 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Blair has the hots for her study partner but he is more interested in Beverly Ann . Meanwhile, Andy tries to get help with a bully . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 186 </Th> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> "Adventures in Baileysitting" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Story by: Jeri Barchilon & Michele Gendleman Teleplay by: Jeri Barchilon </Td> <Td> December 5, 1987 (1987 - 12 - 05) </Td> <Td> 912 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Blair's baby sister Bailey gets lost while in the girls' care; Tootie gets her engagement ring . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 187 </Th> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> "It's a Wonderful Christmas" </Td> <Td> Valentine Mayer </Td> <Td> Marily Anderson & Renee Orin </Td> <Td> December 12, 1987 (1987 - 12 - 12) </Td> <Td> 909 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Beverly Ann feels unwanted at Christmas and wonders what it would be like if she had never come to Peekskill . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 188 </Th> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> "Golden Oldies" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> John Boni </Td> <Td> January 2, 1988 (1988 - 01 - 02) </Td> <Td> 906 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> The girls imagine what their lives will be like decades in the future . Bill Macy appears as Jo's "ex-husband ." </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 189 </Th> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> "A Thousand Frowns" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Harvey Weitzman and David DiGregorio & Arnie Wess </Td> <Td> January 9, 1988 (1988 - 01 - 09) </Td> <Td> 911 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> <P> Jo meets Rick Bonner (Scott Bryce in his first of four appearances) at a community center while trying to find Andy a male role model . Rick is turning 30, and believes he will die soon, as no men in his family have lived longer than his upcoming age . </P> Note: This is Sherrie Krenn's last episode as a recurring character, becoming a main cast member for the rest of the season . This is also the final episode showing the eighth season cast scene at the end of the opening credits . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 190 </Th> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> "Something in Common" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Michael Poryes </Td> <Td> January 16, 1988 (1988 - 01 - 16) </Td> <Td> 917 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> <P> Jo's dad comes for a visit and finds Rick has more in common with him than he likes . Meanwhile, plans are made to close Over Our Heads and convert it into living spaces for Pippa and Andy . </P> Notes: Kim Fields is absent for the first and only time in this episode . Sherrie Krenn continues the season as a main cast member in this episode . A new ninth season cast photo set around the piano is seen at the end of the opening credits and continues the rest of the season . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 191 </Th> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> "Peekskill Law" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Mark Tuttle </Td> <Td> January 23, 1988 (1988 - 01 - 23) </Td> <Td> 918 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Blair gets involved in a big law case but the lawyer ends up being her ex-professor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 192 </Th> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> "A House Divided" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Mark Tuttle </Td> <Td> January 30, 1988 (1988 - 01 - 30) </Td> <Td> 913 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Natalie and Tootie plan the perfect evening with their boyfriends, only to have the two end up fighting and causing the girls to take sides . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 193 </Th> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> "The First Time" </Td> <Td> Marian Deaton </Td> <Td> Ross Brown </Td> <Td> February 6, 1988 (1988 - 02 - 06) </Td> <Td> 915 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> <P> Natalie loses her virginity with her boyfriend, Snake . </P> Note: Lisa Whelchel is absent for the first and only time in this episode . The producers originally wanted Whelchel's character to lose her virginity but Whelchel refused to take part in this episode due to her religious beliefs . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 194 </Th> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> "Let's Face the Music" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Phil Doran & Douglas Arango </Td> <Td> February 13, 1988 (1988 - 02 - 13) </Td> <Td> 916 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> A slip - up at a beauty parlor turns Jo's hair blond and Blair's hair green, causing problems at a fund raiser . Later, in a fantasy sequence Pippa's band and the girls perform at the event . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 195 </Th> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> "Less Than Perfect" </Td> <Td> Valentine Mayer </Td> <Td> Martha Williamson </Td> <Td> February 20, 1988 (1988 - 02 - 20) </Td> <Td> 914 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> <P> Blair gets into a serious car accident when she falls asleep at the wheel, and she is devastated when it results in a large cut across her forehead . </P> Note: The ninth season cast piano scene from the opening credits was taken during the filming break of this episode . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 196 </Th> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> "Till Marriage Do Us Part" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Ross Brown </Td> <Td> February 27, 1988 (1988 - 02 - 27) </Td> <Td> 922 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Rick proposes to Jo and after some thought and reflection she accepts, becoming the first of the girls to get married . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 197 </Th> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> "Present Imperfect" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Kathy Lette </Td> <Td> March 5, 1988 (1988 - 03 - 05) </Td> <Td> 920 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> When Jeff's grandmother (Beah Richards) gives Tootie an ugly pendant, Pippa loses it and then it gets damaged . Tootie then has to stand up to Jeff's grandma to get her blessing . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 198 </Th> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> "On the Edge" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> R.J. Colleary </Td> <Td> March 12, 1988 (1988 - 03 - 12) </Td> <Td> 919 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Jo finds herself in a tough spot when the suicide counselor decides she wants to die, and it is up to Jo to talk her out of it . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 199 </Th> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> "Big Apple Blues" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Martha Williamson </Td> <Td> March 19, 1988 (1988 - 03 - 19) </Td> <Td> 921 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> Natalie moves to an apartment in SoHo, where she meets some eccentric characters . David Spade and Richard Grieco guest star . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 200 </Th> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td> "The Beginning of the End" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Austin and Irma Kalish </Td> <Td> April 30, 1988 (1988 - 04 - 30) </Td> <Td> 923 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> <P> When Blair discovers that Eastland Academy is in dire financial straits, she decides she has to make a tough decision about her future; she uses her trust fund to buy the school and save it from closing--and Eastland admits male students for the very first time . Juliette Lewis, Mayim Bialik, Seth Green, Meredith Scott Lynn and Kathleen Freeman appear in this two - part finale . </P> Note: This is part one of the two - part series finale, with less focus on the core group and the introduction of many new characters in what seems to be the set up for a spin - off that never happened . It is also the 200th episode of the show and Mackenzie Astin's final appearance . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 201 </Th> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> "The Beginning of the Beginning" </Td> <Td> John Bowab </Td> <Td> Austin and Irma Kalish </Td> <Td> May 7, 1988 (1988 - 05 - 07) </Td> <Td> 924 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="7"> <P> Blair faces her first challenge as headmaster of Eastland as she helps a student who is trying to get expelled . </P> Note: This is the conclusion of the series; the girls end up going their own ways: Blair is at Eastland, Tootie is off to acting school in London, Natalie has moved to Soho to pursue her writing career, and Jo's husband returns from his European tour to start their married lives . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> No. in series </Th> <Th> No. in season </Th> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Directed by </Th> <Th> Written by </Th> <Th> Original air date </Th> <Th> Production code </Th> </Tr>

The last episode of the facts of life