Ep 14. The Marriage Brokers

The Facts of Life season 3 episode 14 titled "The Marriage Brokers" follows the girls of Eastland School as they become enmeshed in the world of marriage matchmaking. The episode begins with Mrs. Garrett discussing her recent failed attempts at matchmaking with her new friend, Mrs. Mahoney. Mrs. Mahoney suggests that Mrs. Garrett give up on trying to matchmake and instead become a professional matchmaker.

Mrs. Garrett initially rejects the idea, but when she sees the success of Mrs. Mahoney's business, she decides to try it out. She enlists the help of Tootie and Natalie as her assistants in the venture, and they set to work creating a questionnaire for potential clients.

Things quickly take a turn for the comedic when the girls begin to get a slew of bizarre and unsuitable responses to their questionnaire. They try to matchmake a struggling musician with a deaf woman who loves listening to music, a cat owner with someone who is allergic to cats, and a man who is looking for a sophisticated woman with a woman who is incredibly clumsy.

The girls' matchmaking business is in danger of failing when they receive a cease and desist letter from a professional matchmaking service accusing them of stealing their questionnaire. Mrs. Garrett confronts the service, but soon realizes that the questionnaire was not her own work and that she should have been more cautious. However, Mrs. Garrett does not give up and decides to pursue an alternate approach to matchmaking.

She decides to host a mixer for all the singles in Peekskill, where she convinces them to take a chance on each other. Amidst all the chaos, Jo meets Charlie, a young man who she initially dismisses as unsuitable but ultimately grows to like. Blair, on the other hand, becomes interested in a man named Rob who constantly talks about his upcoming skydiving adventure.

The mixer event turns out to be a success, with many of the attendees finding love and even Mrs. Mahoney making a romantic connection. In the end, Mrs. Garrett realizes that matchmaking is not something that can be successfully done with a formula or a questionnaire but instead requires a deeper understanding of people's desires and passions.

Overall, "The Marriage Brokers" is a lighthearted and enjoyable episode that combines humor with themes of friendship, love, and the complexities of matchmaking. With its relatable characters and witty writing, it is a standout episode in the series.