Backdrop image for Diff'rent Strokes
tv series

Diff'rent Strokes

TV-PG
1978 - 1986

Description

The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African American boys from Harlem who are taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman named Phillip Drummond and his daughter Kimberly, for whom their deceased mother previously worked. During the first season and first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred as the Drummonds' housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett.

Episodes

19 Episodes
Thumbnail image for Sam's Missing (1)
EP01

Sam's Missing (1)

A family whose little boy died, forces the father to kidnap Sam, who is shopping for some snacks in a grocery store. After the kidnapping, the man threatens to kill Sam's parents if he attempts in any way to escape.

27 September 1985
Thumbnail image for Sam's Missing (2)
EP02

Sam's Missing (2)

The Drummonds, desperate to get Sam back, go on the news to try and advertise to get Sam back. In the meantime Sam risks everything to tell the Drummonds where he is.

27 September 1985
Thumbnail image for Bully for Arnold
EP03

Bully for Arnold

Guarding the school bully's girlfriend, Ramona, seems like a simple task to Arnold, until his natural Jackson ""charm"" creates some problems, Ramona falls head over heels for him and Herman, the bully, wants to rearrange his face.

4 October 1985
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EP04

Love on the Run

Sam and Arnold fear that the time their parents are spending apart is a symptom of an ailing marriage and the boys attempt to give them a dose of romance, hoping it will be the cure that will keep them from divorce.

11 October 1985
Thumbnail image for Willis Goes to College
EP05

Willis Goes to College

Willis takes a big step when he leave home for college, but fears his initiation to dorm life is only one of the freshman experiences he may not be ready to handle.

18 October 1985
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EP06

Arnold's Job

Arnold's dream of becoming an ""overnight"" success as a photo-journalist run headlong into reality when he gets his first job on a local newspaper.

25 October 1985
Thumbnail image for A Tale of Two Teachers
EP07

A Tale of Two Teachers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar guest stars as a high school English teacher who gives Arnold a ""classic"" punishment for ""goofing off"" in class and the freshman quickly learns his lesson when his penace is teaching ""A Tale of Two Cities"" to his rowdy classmates.

8 November 1985
Thumbnail image for So You Want to Be a Rock Star
EP08

So You Want to Be a Rock Star

A music instructor ""backs up"" Arnold after he claims to be an expert sax player in order to impress a girl.

15 November 1985
Thumbnail image for Speak No Evil
EP09

Speak No Evil

Father and son are feuding over First Amendment rights when an outraged Arnold objects to a white supremacy organization speaking at his high school and a discerning Drummond can't support Arnold's fury on the basis of the American right to free speech.

29 November 1985
Thumbnail image for Arnold's Bad Rep
EP010

Arnold's Bad Rep

Arnold succumbs to peer pressure and boasts he went ""all the way"" with his girlfriend, but his lie puts him in a more awkward position once the girl finds out about his claim to fame.

6 December 1985
Thumbnail image for It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To
EP011

It's My Party and I'll Cry if ...

Drummond has ""insured"" that Sam will have an unforgettable birthday party by arranging for a local television personality to be the main attraction, until the swash-buckling ""Captain Jack"" steals the show and the birthday boy jumps ship.

13 December 1985
Thumbnail image for Arnold's Initiation
EP012

Arnold's Initiation

Arnold's initiation into the ""cool"" club at school jeopardizes his friendship with the mildly-retarded dishwasher at the Hamburger Hangar, after a prank Arnold ""must"" pull causes the man to lose his job.

10 January 1986
Thumbnail image for Bulimia
EP013

Bulimia

Arnold suspects that Kimberly has an eating disorder when his slender sister is secretly gorging himself, but not gaining any weight. Arnold seeks Drummond's help in confronting Kimberly with her problem and the family comes together to help her fight the eating disorder, bulimia.

17 January 1986
Thumbnail image for Sam's Big Brother
EP014

Sam's Big Brother

Arnold's preoccupation with girls and school leaves younger brother Sam alone and bored until Willis steps in, takes over as ""big bro"" and causes a row when Arnold decides to fight back for the title.

24 January 1986
Thumbnail image for Arnold's Tangled Web
EP015

Arnold's Tangled Web

To prevent Drummond from seeing his ""F"" in geometry, Arnold arranges to have Drummond's signature forged on his report on his report card, but the scheme backfires when Drummond insists on a personal inspection of Arnold's grades.

31 January 1986
Thumbnail image for Lifestyles of the Poor and Unknown
EP016

Lifestyles of the Poor and Unk...

Sam's contempt for a classmate who incessantly insults and badgers him is pacified when he learns that the boy is an orphan who's jealous of Sam's ""perfect"" family life.

7 February 1986
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EP017

The Big Bribe

A date with a gorgeous girl has Arnold walking on a cloud, until he learns she was bribed by Willis to go out with him.

21 February 1986
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EP018

The Photo Club

Arnold is disgruntled over being partnered with archenemy Lisa in photography class but his frustration soars when the two are accidentally locked together in the basement darkroom.

28 February 1986
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EP019

The Front Page

Arnold's feature story about his high school football team threatens to turn into a controversial expose for the school newspaper when he witnesses team members buying steroids.

7 March 1986