Talk about playing hooky. When Kim Fields -- Tootie on NBC's girl's school comedy, The Facts of
Life -- gets a break, she heads the casting call and goes fishing. Kim's usual angling buddy is her
uncle Luther Moore.
My [Facts] colleagues have never gone out with me, she reports "Todd
Bridges [of Diff'rent Strokes] and I set up a couple of times to go but things didn't work out". Kim
and Uncle Luther usually head for Santa Monica or a spot ... lake 50 miles north of Los Angeles
where the pictures on this page were taken. Mandatory gear includes the "lucky hat" Kim's
wearing here. Uncle Luther gave her the head gear on their first outing. Sure enough, Kim
nabbed a fish that day. She was also wearing the hat when she made her biggest haul -- two
bass; Each about the length of my arm. Did they taste good? "I don't eat 'em, I just catch 'em"
she replies. Fourteen this week ... sounds disgusting. Kim admits "It is disgusting, but its kind of
fun." Best of all though is displaying your prize catch -- like the trout Kim and Uncle Luther are
hefting at bottom right.
But Uh, Kim -- isn't there something fishy here?
Indeed, the trout were borrowed. "We were in a rocky part of the lake, Kim concedes, "and we
couldn't catch anything" Be proud of the girl Mrs. Garrett, she may not always catch
whoppers -- but she doesn't tell 'em either.