Diff'rent Strokes

7.1
197830m

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.

Production

Logo for Tandem Productions

Seasons

24 Episodes • Premiered 1978

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 1: Movin' In

1. Movin' In

5.0

Multi-millionaire Phillip Drummond, who has agreed to the death-bed wish of his housekeeper to raise her two small sons as his own, welcomes 8-year-old Arnold and 12-year-old Willis into his lavish penthouse. Anxious to make them feel at home, he showers them with gifts and love -- and is puzzled when he learns that the boys are planning to sneak from the lap of luxury back to Harlem. Aiding Drummond in his effort to make the street-wise, ghetto youngsters feel welcome in the affluent white world are Drummond's new housekeeper Mrs. Garrett and his 13-year-old daughter Kimberly.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 2: The Social Worker

2. The Social Worker

Arnold's eavesdropping leads to trouble when a misunderstanding causes Willis and him to think that Mr. Drummond no longer wants them around; he has heard Drummond tell a social worker that ""black children belong with black families.""

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 3: Mother's Last Visit

3. Mother's Last Visit

Mr. Drummond's socialite and rather snobbish mother arrives and finds there's a lot she doesn't like about her son's new sons, but she soon learns a valuable lesson about what's really important in a person.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 4: Prep School

4. Prep School

When Mr. Drummond tries to get Arnold and Willis into an exclusive prep school, it turns out to be just a little too exclusive for everyone's tastes.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 5: The Spanking

5. The Spanking

Arnold ignores warnings and continues to drop water balloons from the balcony. Mr. Drummond's decision to punish Arnold for the prank with a spanking becomes a learning lesson for Willis too, when he insists that he be the one to spank Arnold -- but where's Arnold?

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 6: Goodbye Dolly

6. Goodbye Dolly

When Arnold loses his favorite doll, he makes sure that his misery is shared equally by the various members of his household, who soon try everything to get it back.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 7: The Trial

7. The Trial

When Arnold is in trouble for putting his goldfish in Mr. Drummond's hot tub, Willis insists that it is wrong to convict him without a trial. The whole family, with Mrs. Garrett as judge, comes up with an important verdict.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 8: Retrospective (1)

8. Retrospective (1)

7.0

Mr. Drummond and family gather around their Christmas tree and recall the many humorous incidents that the family has shared since Arnold and Willis moved in. This special one-hour episode features highlights from previous shows.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 9: Retrospective (2)

9. Retrospective (2)

Mr. Drummond and family gather around their Christmas tree and recall the many humorous incidents that the family has shared since Arnold and Willis moved in. This special one-hour episode features highlights from previous shows.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 10: The Fight

10. The Fight

Willis puts Arnold in training to fight the local bully, but Mr. Drummond insists more civilized solutions be employed.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 11: The Club Meeting

11. The Club Meeting

Willis invites his neighborhood club from Harlem to visit, but things get out of hand when he tries to impress them with his new wealth.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 12: The Woman

12. The Woman

Mr. Drummond's intention to marry an attractive widow doesn't meet with his children's approval, and Arnold, Willis and Kimberly devise a scheme they hope will turn his ""romantic"" proposal into a disaster.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 13: No Time for Arnold

13. No Time for Arnold

A lonely Arnold comes up with a method of gaining his family's attention. Unfortunately his plan works a little too well; he ends up with everyone's attention, including the family doctor.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 14: The Relative

14. The Relative

LaWanda Page guest stars as a cousin of Willis and Arnold who, after seeing the boys in their comfortable new surroundings, knows she should stay closer to her long-lost little relatives.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 15: The Tutor

15. The Tutor

Drummond hires a tutor for Willis and Arnold who does practically everything but teach.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 16: The New Landlord

16. The New Landlord

3.0

The kids devise a scheme hoping to make Arnold convince the new landlord to let the family keep the penthouse.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 17: Willis' Privacy

17. Willis' Privacy

To get rid of his pesky little brother, Willis divides the bedroom in half and spends more time at his friend's house.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 18: Mrs. Garrett's Crisis

18. Mrs. Garrett's Crisis

When Mrs. Garrett decides her life as a housekeeper is unfulfilling, she ends up being a guest in the Drummond home, and then makes an important decision concerning the future.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 19: The Job (a.k.a.) Willis' Job

19. The Job (a.k.a.) Willis' Job

In order to earn the money to buy disco skates, and to prove a point to Mr. Drummond, Willis gets a job...but is fired on his first working day.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 20: The Trip (I)

20. The Trip (I)

The stars of "Diff'rent Strokes" and "Hello, Larry" get together in a special, hilarious hour in which Phillip Drummond realizes that the purchase of a Portland radio station could mean the loss of a job for his old friend Larry Alder. The crossover continues on Hello, Larry S01E10 The Trip (II).

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 21: The Trip (2)

21. The Trip (2)

10.0

The stars of "Diff'rent Strokes" and "Hello, Larry" get together in a special, hilarious hour in which Phillip Drummond realizes that the purchase of a Portland radio station could mean the loss of a job for his old friend Larry Alder. **Part two originally aired as an episode of "Hello, Larry".

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 22: Getting Involved

22. Getting Involved

7.0

When Arnold is witness to a hold up, the robber tries to ensure that the youngster will not identify him.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 23: Willis' Birthday

23. Willis' Birthday

Willis is hurt when he thinks his family has forgotten his upcoming birthday. After dropping several unsubtle hints he discovers that not only has everyone remembered, but also his fondest wish has been granted -- a birthday party in his old Harlem neighborhood.

Still image for Diff'rent Strokes season 1 episode 24: The Girls School (a.k.a.) Garrett's Girls

24. The Girls School (a.k.a.) Garrett's Girls

Mrs. Garrett visits Kimberly's school and takes on its pushy principal with surprising results.

Cast

Photo of Conrad Bain

Conrad Bain

Phillip Drummond

Photo of Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman

Arnold Jackson

Photo of Todd Bridges

Todd Bridges

Willis Jackson

Photo of Mary Jo Catlett

Mary Jo Catlett

Pearl Gallagher

Photo of Danny Cooksey

Danny Cooksey

Sam McKinney

Photo of Mary Ann Mobley

Mary Ann Mobley

Maggie Drummond

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