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How It Started, How It Ended

How It Started, How It Ended

Written by: Bobby Meadows and Angela Johnson Meadows
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A monthly podcast where hosts Bobby Meadows and Angela Johnson Meadows revisit the first and last episodes of a classic TV series.

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Episodes
  • Facts of Life: Pilot vs. Finale

    Facts of Life: Pilot vs. Finale
    Oct 1 2026
    In this episode of How It Started, How It Ended, Angela and Bobby revisit the pilot and series finale of The Facts of Life, the beloved NBC sitcom that began as a spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes and followed a group of girls growing up at an all-girls boarding school.Before diving into the episodes, they look back at how the show came together, beginning with Mrs. Garrett's temporary move from the Drummond family's apartment to Eastland School. They discuss the original oversized cast, Charlotte Rae's role as the housemother, and the young actors who would become familiar faces—including Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields, and an 11-year-old Molly Ringwald.Angela shares her memories of watching The Facts of Life during her childhood and why the show felt like "must-see TV before there was Must See TV." They also discuss how the series became known for its "very special episodes" and its willingness to tackle issues facing young women, including body image, peer pressure, relationships, and questions about what it meant to be feminine.When they revisit the pilot, they find a show still figuring out what it wants to be. The episode brings back several Diff'rent Strokes characters, introduces the original group of seven girls, and centers on the school's Harvest Festival and competition for Harvest Queen. They discuss the episode's storyline about Cindy, a tomboy who is encouraged to run against Blair, and how Mrs. Garrett uses the situation to challenge assumptions based on appearance and behavior.By the time they reach the ninth-season finale, almost everything has changed. The original seven girls have been reduced to the four characters most closely associated with the series: Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie. Mrs. Garrett has left, the girls are no longer students at Eastland, and the group has moved through Edna's Edibles and Over Our Heads. The finale then takes the show in yet another direction, turning the Eastland School into a co-ed institution and introducing a largely new cast.Verdict: Angela and Bobby agree that The Facts of Life does not stick the landing. The two-part finale feels more like a backdoor pilot than a conclusion to nine seasons, with most of the focus on a new group of characters and only limited attention given to the women viewers had followed for years.In this episode:How The Facts of Life spun off from Diff'rent StrokesCharlotte Rae's role as Mrs. GarrettThe show's original seven-girl castHow Mindy Cohn was discovered while producers were researching the schoolKim Fields and Tootie's roller skatesAn 11-year-old Molly Ringwald's early television roleAngela's memories of watching The Facts of Life as a childThe original theme song and why it didn't lastThe Harvest Festival storyline in the pilotBlair and Cindy's conflict over femininity and gender expectationsThe show's early approach to "very special episode" topicsThe ongoing focus on weight and body imageWhy the original cast was dramatically reduced after Season 1The introduction of Nancy McKeon's Jo PolniaczekHow the girls' lives changed as the characters grew olderEdna's Edibles and Over Our HeadsCharlotte Rae's departure and Cloris Leachman's arrivalGeorge Clooney's early appearance on the showThe young actors who appeared in the series finale, including Seth Green, Juliette Lewis, and Mayim BialikWhy the finale feels more like a backdoor pilot than a series finaleThe different directions Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie were headingWhy the finale gives the original characters so little closureThe enduring popularity of The Facts of Life and later reunionsThe 2019 live television re-creation starring Jennifer Aniston, Gabrielle Union, and Kathryn HahnShows and People Discussed:ShowsThe Facts of LifeDiff'rent StrokesThe Bob Newhart ShowThe Mary Tyler Moore ShowFamily TiesPeopleCharlotte RaeMindy CohnKim FieldsMolly RingwaldNancy McKeonLisa WhelchelGeorge ClooneyCloris LeachmanSeth GreenJuliette LewisMayim BialikJennifer AnistonGabrielle UnionKathryn HahnGary ColemanConrad BainTodd BridgesDana PlatoSend us Fan MailIf you enjoyed the show, follow How It Started, How It Ended wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for more conversations about the TV shows that got us hooked—and whether they delivered the ending they deserved.
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    30 mins
  • Modern Family: Pilot vs. Finale

    Modern Family: Pilot vs. Finale
    Sep 1 2026
    In this episode of How It Started, How It Ended, Angela and Bobby revisit the pilot and series finale of Modern Family, the Emmy-winning sitcom that followed three interconnected families navigating marriage, parenthood, adolescence, and the many ways a family can look.Before diving into the episodes, they look at how creators Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd developed the show, including their decision to center three very different but related families and include a gay couple at a time when they worried that storyline might hurt the show's chances. They also discuss the show's mockumentary format, its place in the changing television landscape of the late 2000s, and the casting of Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, Ty Burrell, and the show's unusually large ensemble.The conversation explores how the pilot introduces the Dunphys, Pritchetts, and Tucker-Pritchetts and establishes the dynamics that would drive the series for 11 seasons. Angela and Bobby discuss the parenting struggles, sibling rivalry, cultural differences, and relationship dynamics that make the pilot work, from Phil and Claire's attempts to parent their three very different children to Jay's adjustment to his new family and Mitchell and Cam's nervous return from Vietnam with their newly adopted daughter, Lily.When they reach the finale, they discuss the many ways the characters' lives have changed while still remaining recognizably themselves. Haley and Dylan are parents, Luke is heading to college, Alex is leaving for Switzerland, Mitchell and Cam are moving to Missouri, and Manny is preparing to travel abroad with his father, Javier. They also look at the show's callbacks to the pilot, the bittersweet final moments between the siblings, and the meaning behind the Dunphys' porch light.The finale may run a little long, but Angela and Bobby agree that it succeeds where it matters most: after 11 seasons, Modern Family still feels like the same family they met in the pilot.Verdict: Modern Family sticks the landing.In this episode:• How Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd created Modern Family• Why the show's creators wanted to include a gay couple• The mockumentary style shared by Modern Family, The Office, and Parks and Recreation• Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, and Ty Burrell's roles in the show's development• Why Ty Burrell had to audition multiple times for Phil Dunphy• How the pilot introduces the three interconnected families• The parenting dynamics between Phil, Claire, Jay, Gloria, Mitchell, and Cam• The show's portrayal of different family structures• The memorable BB gun storyline involving Luke and Alex• The introduction of Dylan and Haley's relationship• Mitchell and Cam introducing Lily to the family• Jay's evolving relationship with Mitchell and his acceptance of Cam and Lily• How the characters and families change over 11 seasons• Haley and Dylan's journey from the pilot to becoming parents• Mitchell and Cam's move to Missouri• The evolution of Lily's character and the recasting that took place in Season 3• Manny and Joe's relationship• Phil and Claire becoming empty nesters• The significance of the Dunphys' porch light• Callbacks connecting the pilot and finale• Whether the two-part finale was necessary• Why Angela and Bobby both felt the finale remained true to the showShows and people discussed:• Modern Family• Steve Levitan• Christopher Lloyd• Ed O'Neill• Sofia Vergara• Ty Burrell• Julie Bowen• Sarah Hyland• Aubrey Anderson-Emmons• Chris Rock• The Office• Parks and Recreation• Everybody Loves Raymond• Back to the Future• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire• Survivor• Family Ties• Diff'rent Strokes• The Lion KingSend us Fan MailIf you enjoyed the show, follow How It Started, How It Ended wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for more conversations about the TV shows that got us hooked—and whether they delivered the ending they deserved.
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    26 mins
  • Scrubs: Pilot vs Finale

    Scrubs: Pilot vs Finale
    Aug 1 2026
    In this episode of How It Started, How It Ended, Angela and Bobby revisit the pilot and Season 8 finale of Scrubs, the medical sitcom that blended absurd comedy, surreal fantasy sequences, and surprisingly emotional storytelling during its run at Sacred Heart Hospital.Before diving into the episodes, they look back at how creator Bill Lawrence developed the series, drawing inspiration from the experiences of a college friend who became a doctor. They also discuss the cast, including then-relative newcomer Zach Braff as JD, Donald Faison as Turk, Sarah Chalke as Elliot, Judy Reyes as Carla, and John C. McGinley as Dr. Cox—and the real-life friendship between Braff and Faison that grew out of the show.The conversation explores how the pilot establishes nearly everything that would make Scrubs distinctive: JD's fantasies, his bromance with Turk, his immediate attraction to Elliot, the intimidating Dr. Cox, the seemingly friendly Dr. Kelso, and the Janitor's grudge over a penny stuck in a door. Angela and Bobby also discuss how the episode moves between comedy and more serious moments as JD confronts the realities of being a doctor, including losing his first patient.When they reach the finale, they look at how much the characters have changed—and how much has remained remarkably consistent—over eight seasons. They discuss JD and Elliot's relationship, Turk and Carla's marriage, the resolution of the Janitor's eight-year penny mystery, and JD's complicated final goodbye to Dr. Cox. They also revisit the finale's emotional closing sequence, as JD walks past familiar faces from his years at Sacred Heart before imagining the future he hopes awaits him.Verdict: Angela calls it a perfect, “chef's kiss” finale, while Bobby ranks it among his favorite sitcom endings. Scrubs sticks the landing.In this episode:• How Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence drew inspiration from a real-life friend in medicine• Zach Braff and Donald Faison's friendship on and off screen• How the pilot introduces JD, Turk, Elliot, Carla, Dr. Cox, Dr. Kelso, and the Janitor• The surreal fantasies that helped set Scrubs apart from other sitcoms• How the show balances absurd comedy with the realities of working in medicine• JD's evolution from overwhelmed intern to experienced doctor• The relationships that changed over eight seasons—and the character dynamics that didn't• The payoff to the Janitor's long-running penny grudge• Why JD's relationship with Dr. Cox is central to the finale• The emotional hallway sequence featuring familiar faces from JD's past• JD's vision of his future set to Peter Gabriel's “The Book of Love”• Why the finale feels like a complete ending to JD's journeyShows and people discussed:• Scrubs• Zach Braff• Donald Faison• Sarah Chalke• Judy Reyes• John C. McGinley• Bill Lawrence• Spin City• Friends• Clueless• Roseanne• M*A*S*H• Doogie Howser, M.D.• My Wife and Kids• Peter GabrielWhere to watch Scrubs:HuluDisney+|Apple TVAmazon PrimeSend us Fan MailIf you enjoyed the show, follow How It Started, How It Ended wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for more conversations about the TV shows that got us hooked—and whether they delivered the ending they deserved.
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    28 mins
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