Surprising Stories from the Set of The Facts of Life

Nancy McKeon didn’t land the role of Jo on The Facts of Life by acting tough alone. Producers needed someone who could handle Jo’s hard edge and still show real vulnerability when the story demanded it.

McKeon caught the right attention at the right time. NBC chief Fred Silverman noticed her emotional range after seeing her shed real tears in a 1978 Hallmark commercial. That moment proved she could cry on cue, sealing the deal and helping turn Jo into one of the show’s most layered characters.