Lisa Whelchel Talks New Season of ‘Collector’s Call’ and Why There Aren’t More ‘Facts of Life’ Collectibles (Exclusive)
Lisa Whelchel got her start as a cast member of The New Mickey Mouse Club, which aired from 1977 to 1979. She later starred as Blair Warner in The Facts of Life, which ran for nine seasons on NBC from 1979 to 1988. But today, she hosts MeTV’s Collector’s Call.
Each season, Whelchel travels across America, meeting collectors and exploring their fascinating passions. She enlists the help of professional appraisers and experts to assess the value of each collector’s prized items. Every week, there’s a twist—as experts attempt to entice collectors with a trade, offering them a coveted item that could be the perfect addition to their collections.
This Sunday, April 6, 2025, marks the kickoff of season six of Collector’s Call, airing at 6:30pm ET on MeTV. The new 26-episode season will feature collectors of Hot Wheels, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Snoopy, Drew Barrymore, Cyndi Lauper, and possibly Charlie’s Angels. In advance of that, Whelchel sat down with ReMIND to discuss her thoughts on collecting, being immortalized on a lunchbox, and the special collectible from her past that she always wanted … but only just received.
What is your favorite thing about Collector’s Call?
Lisa: The collectors and their stories and their passion and their purpose, it’s inspiring and I learn a lot.
Who has been your favorite collector on the show.
Lisa: Oh, most definitely this great collector Mike [Pingel], who had a wonderful Charlie’s Angels collection. [we both laugh]
Oh Stop. [blushing] Do you have a favorite one other than me?
Lisa: It was Larry Strauss who was Charlotte Rae‘s son, and after she passed, he shared her personal collection with us. We filmed a great episode, and I, even though I’d worked with her for nine years and knew her for decades. I think I learned more about her from her collection than I even did knowing her.
Courtesy of Collector’s Call
Has the show inspired you to collect?
Lisa: I’m not a collector by nature, but it has inspired me to collect things from any of the projects that I work on. I regret that I didn’t have the forethought to bring things home from the set, from other things that I had done in my past, and so I’m trying to remedy that by going back and getting some things. But man, I just let go of so many great things that I wish I’d hung on to.
How does it feel to be pictured on a lunch box collectible for The New Mickey Mouse Club?
Lisa: That feels like it’s a perfect fit for Collector’s Call because those lunchboxes, they embody pop culture, they embody our childhood, they embody a time in life and they embody just such a great item to collect. So, if I get to be on a lunchbox – I feel I’m worthy of being the Collector’s Call host.
Were you sad that they never made anything collectible for The Facts of Life?
Lisa: Very sad and really surprised. I don’t quite understand it. We were on for a long time. Kids enjoyed the show. I don’t know why they didn’t make more things. I am disappointed about that. That would have been fun to collect for our own children and grandchildren.
Has there ever been any item on Collector’s Call that you would want to take home yourself?
Lisa: There was there. A couple of collectors I ran across had a The Facts of Life Eastland Pendant and I wanted it forever. My husband even tried to get it for me for my 60th birthday and it was too expensive, but then a couple of years ago, I was visiting Nancy McKeon [who played Jo on The Facts of Life] at her home and having dinner and sharing with her that I wish I had brought more things home from the set. And she had a whole box of stuff she brought home and she had The Facts of Life, the Eastland School pendant and also the Langley pendant. She gave them to me and I actually have them here and framed.
Walt Disney/ Courtesy: Everett Collection.
Is there a collection or something you would like to see on Collector’s Call next season?
Lisa: Yeah, I’ve been trying to get them to do The New Mickey Mouse Club collection and have Julie Pikarski [Lisa’s co-star from the show] as the collector because she has a lot of stuff. She’s got The New Mickey Mouse Club bar, stool and the phone and the coloring books and the puzzles. She collected a lot and kept it. So, I’m really hoping to have her on the show. But all of her collection is in her hometown of Missouri, and we have to find some other collectors in that area to be able to go there.
That would be a great episode. You should have some pull to get that happening, as you are the host of the Collector’s Call!
Lisa: No kidding! Exactly!
The season 6 premiere episode on April 6 spotlights collector Bruce Pascal and his incredible Hot Wheels collection. As an exclusive treat for ReMIND readers, here’s a sneak peek from the first episode!
Collector’s Call will air on Sundays at 6:30pm ET on MeTV beginning April 6 and lasting all summer long.
The first four episodes will include:
Sunday, April 6: “Meet Bruce Pascal – Hot Wheels”
Sunday, April 13: “Meet Shawn Peterson – PEZ”
Sunday, April 20: “Meet Ashley Sero – Dolls”
Sunday, April 27: “Meet Doogie Sandtiger – Crocs”
MeTV [Memorable Entertainment Television] is the definitive destination for classic TV. The network shows programming from the 1930s-the 1990s. The channel can be found off live broadcasts (via rabbit ears), cable channels, and streaming on Frndly TV, Philo TV, and DirectTV streaming.
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August 2021
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