Episode Data

Diff'rent Strokes

update

Season 0

• 1: A Look Back at Diff'rent Strokes

  A special feature for the DVD release of the first season featuring interviews with cast and crew.

• 2: Whatchoo Talkin Bout

  A special feature for the DVD release of the first season featuring interviews with cast and crew who discuss how the famous catch phrase "whatchoo Talking Bout" came about.

• _{not specified}

  4: A Look Back At Diff'rent Strokes

  A look back at the production of Diff'rent Strokes

• _{not specified}

  5: Whatchoo Talkin' About

  Look Back At Gary Coleman

• _{Wednesday, April 1st, 2009}

  3: The Biography Channel: Different Strokes

  What do a softcore porn star-turned-armed robber, a rehabilitated coke addict, and a bankrupt 4'8" 40-year-old have in common? They were the child stars of Diff'rent Strokes, the popular NBC/ABC sitcom that aired from the late '70s to the mid '80s. From what happened behind the scenes to what went wrong after the cameras stopped rolling, we'll find out what the gang was really talkin' about when Gary Coleman would ask, "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

Season 1

• _{Friday, November 3rd, 1978}

  1: Movin' In

  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.

• _{Friday, November 10th, 1978}

  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."

• _{Friday, November 17th, 1978}

  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.

• _{Friday, November 24th, 1978}

  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.

• _{Friday, December 1st, 1978}

  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?

• _{Friday, December 8th, 1978}

  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.

• _{Friday, December 15th, 1978}

  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.

• _{Friday, December 29th, 1978}

  8: Retrospective (1)

  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.

• _{Friday, December 29th, 1978}

  9: Retrospective (2)

  Life in the household is recalled in clips from early episodes.

• _{Friday, January 5th, 1979}

  10: The Fight

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

• _{Friday, January 12th, 1979}

  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.

• _{Friday, January 19th, 1979}

  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.

• _{Friday, January 26th, 1979}

  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.

• _{Friday, February 2nd, 1979}

  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.

• _{Friday, February 9th, 1979}

  15: The Tutor

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

• _{Friday, February 16th, 1979}

  16: The New Landlord

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

• _{Friday, February 23rd, 1979}

  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.

• _{Friday, March 2nd, 1979}

  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.

• _{Friday, March 16th, 1979}

  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.

• _{Friday, March 30th, 1979}

  20: The Trip (1)

  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.

• _{Friday, March 30th, 1979}

  21: The Trip (2)

  Drummond and his brood visit his newly purchased radio station.

• _{Friday, April 6th, 1979}

  22: Getting Involved

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

• _{Friday, April 13th, 1979}

  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.

• _{Friday, May 4th, 1979}

  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.

Season 2

• _{Friday, September 21st, 1979}

  1: Arnold's Girlfriend (1)

  Arnold has appendicitis and Drummond has to deal with the bigotry of Fred Tanner, a potential housing project investor whose daughter is the key to getting Arnold to sit still for the operation.

• _{Friday, September 21st, 1979}

  2: Arnold's Girlfriend (2)

  Arnold's life is endangered when the kids find out they can't share a room in the hospital and run away on the eve of Arnold's surgery.

• _{Friday, September 28th, 1979}

  3: Feudin' and Fussin' (1)

  Arnold's well-intentioned endorsement of Larry Alder's hosting talents to a New York TV big-wig gives Larry the opportunity of a lifetime and brings the family to the big apple. Larry's try-out as a New York television talk-show house may be doomed from the start, one disaster follows another and not everyone on the Alder team may be rooting for him to win the job.

• _{Friday, September 28th, 1979}

  4: Feudin' and Fussin' (2)

  Arnold's well-intentioned endorsement of Larry Alder's hosting talents to a New York TV big-wig gives Larry the opportunity of a lifetime and brings the family to the big apple. Larry's try-out as a New York television talk-show house may be doomed from the start, one disaster follows another and not everyone on the Alder team may be rooting for him to win the job.

• _{Friday, October 12th, 1979}

  5: Mrs. Garrett's Romance

  The Drummond household's curiosity over Mrs. Garrett's new beau turns first to surprise and then to alarm. Mrs. Garrett is in a dither over her first date with Leon, especially when it is followed by a very important question.

• _{Friday, October 19th, 1979}

  6: Birds and Bees

  Willis' fishy version of the facts of life leaves Arnold with misconceptions and Mr. Drummond on tender hooks. Arnold repeats his "knowledge" to a neighbor's daughter, but the girl's mother is not amused.

• _{Wednesday, October 24th, 1979}

  7: Arnold's Hero (a.k.a.) The Hero

  Arnold's wildest dream is realized when he comes face-to-knee with "The Champ" -- special guest star Muhammad Ali. When the meeting arranged by Mr. Drummond between Arnold and his idol, Muhammad Ali, falls through, Kimberly and Willis concoct a wild scheme to insure that Arnold's dream will come true.

• _{Wednesday, October 31st, 1979}

  8: The Adoption (1)

  The Drummond family celebrates the day Arnold and Willis are supposed to be officially adopted until the visit of a "relative" leaves their plans in jeopardy. Whitman Mayo guest stars as Jethro Simpson, who sees his way to go from junk to jewels in a last will and testament leaving a fortune to Willis and Arnold.

• _{Wednesday, November 7th, 1979}

  9: The Adoption (2)

  It appears that Mr. Drummond's attempts to adopt Arnold and Willis will be aborted by a conniving junk dealer until the boys take matters into their own hands. Whitman Mayo guest stars as "long-lost relative" Jethro Simpson who has arrived with a letter supposedly written by the boys' father, leaving Arnold and Willis in his custody.

• _{Wednesday, November 14th, 1979}

  10: Father and Son Day

  Willis' cut-throat competitiveness with another boy at his gym leads him to a decision that he will very much regret, especially after it hurts Mr. Drummond and gives Arnold the right to say "I told you so." Baseball great Reggie Jackson makes his acting debut playing a key, but unsuspecting role in Willis' questionable scheme.

• _{Wednesday, November 28th, 1979}

  11: Thanksgiving Crossover (1)

  The Alders and the Drummonds are together again in New York, and Arnold, Willis and Kimberly plan a second Thanksgiving feast with friends Diane and Ruthie. But even the huge Drummond penthouse isn't big enough to hold the exploding tempers that threaten Phil and Larry's long-standing relationship, on a special one-hour episode featuring the stars of "Hello, Larry." Morgan and all the kids get caught up in the feud when Larry learns friendship doesn't necessarily make for good business.

• _{Wednesday, November 28th, 1979}

  12: Thanksgiving Crossover (2)

  The misunderstanding threatens Drummond and Larry's friendship.

• _{Wednesday, December 5th, 1979}

  13: The Rivals

  Arnold and Willis' relationship is threatened when a fickle female classmate, the object of Arnold's affection, turns her attention toward Willis. Arnold's first love is also his first lesson in jealously as he competes with Willis for the same girl.

• _{Wednesday, December 12th, 1979}

  14: Hot Watch

  Discovered in the wrong place at the wrong time, Willis and Arnold become prime suspects when their neighbor's apartment is robbed and they're caught with one of the stolen items. Mr. Drummond is convinced of his sons' innocence even though Willis' fingerprints are all over the place.

• _{Wednesday, December 19th, 1979}

  15: The Dog Story (a.k.a.) A Dog Story

  Arnold saves a dog's life, is bitten and then the dog is needed to save Arnold. The Drummond household members frantically search for the ungrateful canine, while Arnold faces a series of rabies shots or death.

• _{Wednesday, January 9th, 1980}

  16: The Election

  Drummond puts his convictions on the line to run for city council, and rooting him on are Arnold, Willis, Kimberly, and an "unexpected" new addition to the household. Nedra Volz plays Adelaide Brubaker, the small but sassy housekeeper who helps Drummond mobilize the family for a "win."

• _{Wednesday, January 16th, 1980}

  17: Friendly-Mate

  Mr. Drummond is in "double-trouble" when Willis and Arnold decide to get him a date. Feeling a little lonely, Drummond tells the kids what he needs is a little companionship, so they decide to call a computer dating service.

• _{Wednesday, January 23rd, 1980}

  18: Poor Drummond

  A crucially important business deal keeps Mr. Drummond on edge and Arnold and Willis wondering whether they pack for a California vacation or move back to Harlem.

• _{Wednesday, January 30th, 1980}

  19: Big Business

  Willis and Arnold scheme to make extra "dough" by selling brownies, only to discover they can't stand the heat of big business and may soon have to get out of the kitchen.

• _{Wednesday, February 6th, 1980}

  20: Return of the Gooch

  The "Gooch" is back and this time he's terrorizing Arnold, but Arnold plans to be ready when the bully strikes. In building Arnold's confidence, Willis convinces him that his martial arts lesson has given him a "killer" foot.

• _{Wednesday, February 13th, 1980}

  21: Valentine's Day Retrospective (a.k.a.) Valentine's Vigil

  Arnold and Willis are trapped in the basement and while they await rescue they reminisce about their recent past...both the good times and the bad. Arnold insists he must wear his Superman outfit to the family's Valentine's Day trip to the circus; the resultant search leads to the basement and a locked door. This show highlights some of the best moments from the past episodes.

• _{Wednesday, February 20th, 1980}

  22: Skin Deep or True Blue (a.k.a.) Guess Who?

  Kimberly's new beau, Roger, suggests pairing his sister with Willis for a double-date, until he finds out the color of his true love's brother. When Kimberly discovers her new friend is a bigot, her face burns red and then a far darker shade.

• _{Wednesday, February 27th, 1980}

  23: Teacher's Pet

  Parent-teacher night leads Mr. Drummond to a romance with Arnold's teacher and poor Arnold to the jealousy of his classmates. Arnold tries every trick in the book to win back his classmates, including one which may have him expelled.

• _{Wednesday, March 12th, 1980}

  24: The Slumber Party

  Leaving Willis in charge of the house for Kimberly's slumber party is a mistake Mr. Drummond soon regrets as the ensuing chaos disrupts his own date with a lovely lady. The Facts of Life stars Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields, Julie Anne Haddock, and Molly Ringwald guest star.

• _{Wednesday, March 19th, 1980}

  25: Arnold Faces Fatality (a.k.a.) The Will (a.k.a.) Drummond's Will

  Arnold fears that his loved ones are checking out of his life when he stumbles upon Drummond's will and then uncovers the fact that his goldfish has given up the ghost.

• _{Wednesday, March 26th, 1980}

  26: The Squealer

  Willis seeks comradeship as a member of the Tarantulas, a street gang, but finds only deceit as he gets caught in a web of misplace loyalties. Willis allows himself to be arrested rather than "squeal" on his fellow-gang members by telling the truth.

Season 3

• _{Wednesday, November 12th, 1980}

  1: The Bank Job (1)

  Willis accompanies Arnold as he sets out to withdraw some money from his bank account to pay for his first "real" date, but two bank robbers force a change of plans when they attempt their own, very large withdrawal, in the first episode of a special two-part story.

• _{Wednesday, November 12th, 1980}

  2: The Bank Job (2)

  Drummond offers himself and his company airplane as hostages to protect Arnold and Willis, but his sons' future hangs in the balance when the robbers announce their own very different choice of hostages, in the conclusion of a special two-part story.

• _{Wednesday, November 19th, 1980}

  3: Small Claims Court

  Arnold has his day in court when an unfortunate "train" of events puts him at odds with a less than understanding merchant.

• _{Wednesday, November 26th, 1980}

  4: Substitute Mother

  Arnold falls head-over-heels for a temporary housekeeper and embarks on a romantic scheme he hopes will make her a permanent member of the Drummond household.

• _{Wednesday, December 3rd, 1980}

  5: The Accident (1)

  The festive family celebration of Drummond's 50th birthday suddenly becomes a disaster after a drunk driver puts Drummond in the hospital, unconscious, his life hanging in the balance, in the first episode of a special two-part story.

• _{Wednesday, December 3rd, 1980}

  6: The Accident (2)

  When Drummond finally comes to, he is suffering from amnesia and unless he can regain his memory, he may lose not only his business, but also custody of Arnold, Willis and Kimberly.

• _{Wednesday, December 10th, 1980}

  7: Little Mother

  Kimberly's efforts to help a pregnant girl friend, have Willis and Arnold convinced the Kimberly's the one expecting.

• _{Wednesday, December 17th, 1980}

  8: Football Father

  After Arnold fails to measure up to the demands of the basketball, baseball and volleyball teams, Drummond convinces the boy to try football on for size and then pays the coach a clandestine visit to ensure Arnold a place on the team.

• _{Wednesday, December 31st, 1980}

  9: First Love

  Drummond orders Willis to spend more time with his studies and less time with his "first love," but Willis and Arnold concoct a plan they're sure will fulfill the wishes of both father and son.

• _{Wednesday, January 7th, 1981}

  10: Count Your Blessings

  Arnold tries a regimen of stretching exercises and a change of diet to speed his growth, but Drummond finds he must go to a very special source to get the boy to accept that he will never be tall.

• _{Wednesday, January 14th, 1981}

  11: The Loan

  Arnold learns the true value of a dollar when Drummond turns down his request to lend $4,000 to the apartment building doorman anxious to take part in an attractive business deal.

• _{Wednesday, January 21st, 1981}

  12: Roots

  Willis and Arnold turn the Drummond household upside down as they try to prove to their old Harlem neighbors -- and themselves -- that they haven't lost tough with their cultural roots.

• _{Wednesday, January 28th, 1981}

  13: Junk Food Junkie (a.k.a.) Junk Food

  Arnold's poor dental checkup and a visit by Drummond's health-conscious sister, Sophia, launches Drummond on a campaign to have "junk" food machines banned from Arnold's school, even though Arnold's drive for his class' presidency may depend on keeping the machines in place.

• _{Wednesday, February 4th, 1981}

  14: The Bus

  Arnold's excitement at being one of a small group of students in an exchange program with an all-white school is turned to fear by a threatening phone call from a zealous busing opponent.

• _{Wednesday, February 25th, 1981}

  15: The Older Man

  Through Blair's makeup artistry, 15-year-old Kimberly discovers she can pass for 20, but when she accepts a date with a 25-year-old and the passes start flying, she finds there may be more to being older than looking it.

• _{Wednesday, March 4th, 1981}

  16: Where There's Hope

  Arnold's tenth birthday party means a lot to him, but for some reason it means a whole lot more to the one person he's determined won't be invited -- a pesky young lady who always tries just too hard to be friends.

• _{Wednesday, March 11th, 1981}

  17: The Magician (a.k.a.) It's Magic

  Arnold's "famous" magic disappearing act, designed to impress a magazine reporter and special guest star Dallas Cowboys' defensive end Ed "Too Tall" Jones, leaves him dangerously high and dry, with no place to go but down -- about 30 stories.

• _{Wednesday, March 18th, 1981}

  18: Drummond's Fair Lady

  Drummond runs into some stiff competition to the candidate he's chosen to head a new division of his company -- his board members think the attractive young executive's sex disqualifies her -- and his family thinks he's being used.

• _{Wednesday, March 25th, 1981}

  19: The Ancestors

  Drummond and his sister Sophia inherit a prime piece of land in Harlem from a long lost ancestor, but their plan to dedicate it to a cultural center in his name could spell disaster if the truth of their ancestor's life gets out.

• _{Wednesday, April 1st, 1981}

  20: Almost American

  Arnold's dejection at being grounded for a "D" on a history test turns to inspiration after an immigrant studying for naturalization introduces him to another perspective on America.

• _{Wednesday, May 6th, 1981}

  21: Room for One More

  Dudley, fearing his foster father's lost job means he's headed back to the orphanage, cons Arnold into getting Drummond to consider adopting him into their family.

• _{Wednesday, May 13th, 1981}

  22: The Athlete

  The coach of the city's top high school baseball team is after Willis and is prepared to do anything to make it possible for Willis to attend his school.

Season 4

• _{Thursday, October 29th, 1981}

  1: Growing Up

  His friends' stories of their sexual exploits convince Willis it's time he became a man, so now he must convince his girlfriend Charlene.

• _{Thursday, November 5th, 1981}

  2: First Day Blues

  Willis has jitters on his first day of high school but hooks up with a bad group who ask him to supply drugs for their party.

• _{Thursday, November 12th, 1981}

  3: The Model

  Kimberly's first attempt at modeling may lead to an opportunity in Paris, but her father is not prepared to let her go there on her own.

• _{Thursday, November 19th, 1981}

  4: The Team

  Drummond faces a lawsuit when he hires a black man for an executive position, and Willis seeks justice when he is denied a spot on the basketball team because of his race.

• _{Thursday, November 26th, 1981}

  5: The Big Heist

  Arnold is accepted into an elite club at school, but his membership could lead him to commit a crime as part of the secret initiation.

• _{Thursday, December 3rd, 1981}

  6: Double Date (a.k.a.) Blind Date

  Arnold's big plans for his first real date are deflated by his father's restrictions.

• _{Thursday, December 10th, 1981}

  7: The Ski Weekend

  Kimberly, fed up with her father's smothering, elects to spend a ski weekend with a popular boy, but her meddling family can't manage to stay away.

• _{Thursday, December 17th, 1981}

  8: Health Club

  Arnold and Willis discover that Drummond's health club, which has just named him the recipient of an award, excludes minorities from membership.

• _{Thursday, January 7th, 1982}

  9: Burial Ground

  Drummond's company may destroy what could be an ancient Indian burial ground.

• _{Thursday, January 14th, 1982}

  10: Hello, Daddy

  Does Drummond have a third son? There's a young man at the door who thinks so.

• _{Thursday, January 21st, 1982}

  11: Jilted

  Willis takes his girlfriend for granted and risks losing her to another guy, so he makes a romantic play to keep her.

• _{Thursday, January 28th, 1982}

  12: Dreams

  A cancelled fishing trip leaves Arnold having a series of bad dreams that the entire family loses sleep over, until a psychiatrist's examination reveals what really is causing his nighttime terror.

• _{Thursday, February 4th, 1982}

  13: Kathy

  Arnold and his friend Kathy face big challenges in their lives and each holds the key to overcoming the other's obstacles, but when Arnold takes the first step forward, their entire relationship takes a big step backwards.

• _{Thursday, February 11th, 1982}

  14: Fire

  A fire traps Drummond and his family in their penthouse and has him "working" overtime trying to protect them without letting on that there's anything wrong.

• _{Thursday, February 18th, 1982}

  15: The Squatter

  Drummond learns the hard way that converting apartments into condominiums can mean hurting lots of innocent people when he becomes the unsuspecting "victim" of an eccentric tenant he's displacing.

• _{Thursday, February 25th, 1982}

  16: The Car

  When his girlfriend plans on taking a drive with someone else, a careless Willis -- refusing to be outdone -- gets an idea for a real joy ride neither of them will forget.

• _{Thursday, March 11th, 1982}

  17: Crime Story (Part 1) (a.k.a.) Crime in the Schools

  Arnold and his friend Dudley are scared to death by two teenage bullies who pose the intimidating demand "your lunch money or your life."

• _{Thursday, March 18th, 1982}

  18: Crime Story (Part 2) (a.k.a.) Crime in the Schools

  Arnold doesn't know when to leave well enough alone after Willis comes to his rescue, he gets himself involved in an "undercover" scheme to capture the "punks" at school who have been harassing him.

• _{Thursday, March 25th, 1982}

  19: B.M.O.C.

  Willis' obsession with joining an "exclusive" high school club rocks the Drummond household and leaves several victims in its wake, including a shaken Arnold who takes his brother's "insensitive" actions to heart.

• _{Thursday, April 1st, 1982}

  20: Green Hair

  An adamant Drummond ignores sister Sophia's pleas to get involved in a group effort to combat air pollution, until Kimberly becomes victimized by the unnatural phenomenon.

• _{Thursday, April 8th, 1982}

  21: Have I Got a Girl for You

  Aunt Sophia's matchmaking unites an unsuspecting Drummond with her "working-class" hairdresser, but a slip of Arnold's tongue ignites charges that Drummond is a snob, turning a "budding romance" into a roaring feud.

• _{Thursday, April 15th, 1982}

  22: Lifesavers

  A quick-thinking, fast-acting Willis saves Arnold from a near-fatal accident and in doing so unleashes an adoring monster who dedicates his life to repaying his "hero."

• _{Thursday, April 22nd, 1982}

  23: Stress? What Stress?

  Stress is diagnosed as the cause of hard-working Drummond's frequent attacks of pain, but suddenly young, healthy and "normal" Willis learns that he, too, is a prime candidate for the same debilitating "attacks."

• _{Thursday, May 6th, 1982}

  24: The Music Man

  Willis sets what he's sure is a "cinch" audition for girlfriend Charlene to sing with his musical group, but his "big plane" hit a sour not when Arnold's intervention threatens to destroy both Charlene's chances with the group and her relationship with Willis.

• _{Thursday, May 13th, 1982}

  25: Short But Sweet

  Arnold feels shortchanged, he's growing older but he's not getting any taller and he's convinced that's the reason why he doesn't have a girlfriend.

• _{Thursday, May 20th, 1982}

  26: On Your Toes

  A famed choreographer encourages Arnold to learn ballet, but his youthful dancing days could be numbered when Willis' taunting remarks convince Arnold to drop out of an upcoming recital.

Season 5

• _{Saturday, October 2nd, 1982}

  1: Shoot-Out at the O.K. Arcade

  Arnold is determined to defeat brother Willis at his own game and dethrone him as local video game champ, but in doing so Arnold's passion becomes a destructive "addiction" that could have serious consequences.

• _{Saturday, October 9th, 1982}

  2: In the Swim

  Willis is completely supportive of Kimberly's transfer into his public school, until his sister's "innocent" actions begin getting him into hot water.

• _{Saturday, October 16th, 1982}

  3: Cyrano De Jackson

  Arnold's on the outs with his best friend Dudley after he innocently offers to help his bashful buddy win the heart of a young lady -- who falls for Arnold instead.

• _{Saturday, October 23rd, 1982}

  4: Big Brother

  Arnold's got a "can't lose" plan for curing a new classmate's loneliness -- sharing big brother Willis -- but his kind of intentions leave Arnold feeling like the lonely, only child.

• _{Saturday, October 30th, 1982}

  5: The Peacemaker

  Willis' personal safety is in jeopardy when his noble attempt to mediate a feud between rival gangs backfires, forcing him to take a drastic step to insure his protection -- purchasing a handgun.

• _{Saturday, November 6th, 1982}

  6: Substitute Teacher

  Arnold and his buddies fabricate a "little white lie" in an attempt to get rid of an overly-conscientious substitute teacher, but their tell tale could result in more than just removing the teacher from the classroom -- it could destroy his entire career.

• _{Saturday, November 13th, 1982}

  7: The Older Woman

  A false I.D. and a false bravado create real problems for Willis and a beautiful "older" woman when an evening on the town doesn't go quite as he had planned.

• _{Saturday, November 20th, 1982}

  8: A Case of Overexposure (a.k.a.) Overexposure

  Arnold must face the bare facts -- his chances of winning a prestigious school election seem desperately slim, thanks to an "overexposed" candid campaign photo taken by sister Kimberly.

• _{Saturday, November 27th, 1982}

  9: Memories

  A long lost trunk returned to the boys contains a tape recording of their deceased mother which brings to the surface a previously unrecognized problem that triggers uncharacteristic behavior from a usually happy-go-lucky Arnold.

• _{Saturday, December 4th, 1982}

  10: Push Comes to Shove

  Arnold's unexpected confrontation with the new building manager's son leads to a chilling series of events that could get the entire Drummond family evicted.

• _{Saturday, December 11th, 1982}

  11: The Executives

  Willis learns that even a little power in the wrong hands can be dangerous when he oversteps the bounds of his authority in his afterschool job at his father's office.

• _{Saturday, December 18th, 1982}

  12: Santa's Helper

  Arnold falls innocent victim to a beguiling street-corner Santa who has an ulterior financial motive for hiring him as a holiday "helper".

• _{Saturday, January 8th, 1983}

  13: A Growing Problem

  At 16, Willis thinks he's man enough and old enough to "top" a few drinks with the guys, but Drummond's objections send Willis storming out of the house intent on proving his father wrong.

• _{Saturday, January 15th, 1983}

  14: Parents Have Rights, Too

  Drummond's plans for a quiet and private weekend "alone" don't quite work out as he had intended, when a storm sends Arnold, Willis and Kimberly home from a camping trip early -- catching him off guard in a compromising situation.

• _{Saturday, January 22nd, 1983}

  15: Independent Woman

  A new job and a handsome new boss add up to trouble for an innocent Kimberly when her new employer starts displaying a more than casual interest in her -- hoping that his "special attention" will help land him a position within Drummond's prestigious company.

• _{Saturday, February 5th, 1983}

  16: The Bicycle Man (1)

  Unaware that he's being lured into the carefully crafted trap of a child molester, Arnold eagerly agrees to perform a simple task in return for an overly generous reward from a "friendly" neighborhood merchant.

• _{Saturday, February 12th, 1983}

  17: The Bicycle Man (2)

  Arnold and Dudley's "friendship" with a local merchant reaches a dangerous turning point when, unbeknownst to the boys, the man, who is actually a child molester, is about to make his move.

• _{Saturday, February 19th, 1983}

  18: Family on Ice

  Kimberly is overjoyed when Olympic Gold Medalist Dorothy Hamill sees great promise in her as a competitive figure skater, but she's even more astounded when Drummond agrees to let her leave the New York "nest" to train full time with the award-winning skater... in Los Angeles.

• _{Saturday, February 26th, 1983}

  19: Hall Monitor

  Arnold's good intentions backfire when his efforts to help his handicapped friend Kathy adjust to life in public school cost him the esteem of his classmates and the friendship of pals Dudley and Robbie.

• _{Saturday, March 5th, 1983}

  20: The Cricket

  To try to curb Arnold's run of bad luck, Drummond gives him a pet cricket, but the Japanese "good luck charm" brings nothing but sleepless nights and dreams of "pesticide" to the rest of the household.

• _{Saturday, March 12th, 1983}

  21: Roommates

  The household's turned upside down when Drummond becomes Arnold's roommate for a week.

• _{Saturday, March 19th, 1983}

  22: The Reporter

  Determined to prove he didn't fabricate a story about drug abuse in his grade school just to win a journalism contest, Arnold takes his article to the New York City newspaper sponsoring the competition, and when they run his story on the front page, Arnold receives some unexpected more support from First Lady Nancy Reagan.

• _{Saturday, April 30th, 1983}

  23: Romeo and Juliet

  Arnold's Romeo is steeped in more turmoil than Shakespeare ever intended when he's tricked by his "best friends" into playing opposite arch-nemisis Lisa's Juliet.

• _{Saturday, May 7th, 1983}

  24: My Fair Larry (a.k.a.) My Fair Lady

  School thug Larry coerces Willis into teaching him how to "make it" with girls, but things go from bad to worse when Larry's first target is Willis' sister Kimberly.

Season 6

• _{Saturday, October 1st, 1983}

  1: Mr. T.... and Mr. T

  Arnold's ecstasy over meeting his hero Mr. T goes from elation to emulation when the young girl he's trying to impress snubs him in favor of his idol. Former bouncer and bodyguard Mr. T, who came to national prominence as Sylvester Stallone's opponent in "Rocky III" and was the star of the hit television series "The A-Team," makes a special guest appearance as "The A-Team's" B.A.

• _{Saturday, October 15th, 1983}

  2: The Goat

  Arnold's first day at junior high is emotionally devastating when he's shunned for not measuring up to the expectations that everyone had for Willis Jackson's brother, but Arnold devises a risky scheme that he feels certain will elevate his prestige.

• _{Saturday, October 22nd, 1983}

  3: Rashomon II

  Drummond, Willis and Arnold bravely subdue a burglar who had been holding the family at gunpoint, but the arresting officer is befuddled when the three "crime fighters" relate differing versions of the apprehension.

• _{Saturday, October 29th, 1983}

  4: The Lie

  Willis' seemingly harmless disregard for the truth turns dangerous when a self-serving lie about knowing CPR jeopardizes Arnold's life.

• _{Saturday, November 12th, 1983}

  5: Drafted

  When 13-year-old Arnold is notified to register for the draft, Drummond's over reaction to the obvious error turns Arnold's dreams into nightmares.

• _{Saturday, November 19th, 1983}

  6: The Van Drummonds

  A short visit to the United States by Phillip Drummond's Dutch cousin Anna and her son Hans becomes an eternity for Arnold and Willis, who are made scapegoats for cousin Hans' mischief.

• _{Saturday, November 26th, 1983}

  7: The Moonlighter

  Arnold is disappointed to discover that his favorite teacher moonlights as a cocktail waitress, but he's stunned when he learns why she has to work the second job.

• _{Saturday, December 3rd, 1983}

  8: Coming of Age

  Kimberly's 18th birthday present from daddy -- a trust fund -- will make her a wealthy woman, but her free-spirited dreams of independence could be cut short when Drummond discovers just how she intends to spend her "fortune."

• _{Saturday, December 10th, 1983}

  9: Assert Yourself

  Arnold turns a pal into an opponent when he resigns as Dudley's campaign manager and declares his own candiacy for class president.

• _{Saturday, December 17th, 1983}

  10: Mrs. Z

  Drummond's provided with police protection of a most unusual kind after his charitable philanthrophy leads to a $1,000,000 extortion threat against him.

• _{Saturday, January 7th, 1984}

  11: The Senior Class Queen

  When Kimberly starts a campaign to open the school's Lettermen's Club to female membership, an embarrassed Willis retaliates with chauvinistic aplomb by becoming the first male contestant in the Senior Class Beauty Pageant.

• _{Saturday, January 14th, 1984}

  12: Where There's Smoke

  Arnold and Dudley succumb to peer pressure and ignore warnings against cigarette smoking, only to have the harsh realities brought to light by Dudley's father, a chronic smoker.

• _{Saturday, January 21st, 1984}

  13: Drummond's Lady

  Arnold unwittingly solves his father's dilemma -- trying to make romance and finance go hand-in-hand -- when Drummond finds himself falling for an attractive local television aerobics instructor that his company is attempting to turn into an international success. Veteran Broadway and television actress Dixie Carter is introduced in the role of fitness instructor Maggie McKinney.

• _{Saturday, January 28th, 1984}

  14: The Hitchhikers (1) (a.k.a.) Hitchhiking (1)

  Kimberly and Arnold break a long-standing family rule and face death when, on their return from a shopping trip, they find themselves short of cash and decide to hitch a ride home rather than call home for assistance.

• _{Saturday, February 4th, 1984}

  15: The Hitchhikers (2) (a.k.a.) Hitchhiking (2)

  Hitchhiking leads to kidnapping for Arnold and Kimberly, but Arnold escapes and he is so disoriented he is unable to remember the location of the kidnapper's apartment so that the police can rescue Kimberly who's still being held captive ... and this time, her captor (who, as will be revealed later) has done this before and is determined this time to succeed.

• _{Saturday, February 11th, 1984}

  16: Hooray for Hollywood (1)

  Upset over Maggie breaking off their relationship, Drummond chases her to Hollywood to win back her heart, but while he woos Maggie, Arnold and Dudley sneak away from a studio tour to find the star of Knight Rider and wind up in a life threatening situation.

• _{Saturday, February 18th, 1984}

  17: Hooray for Hollywood (2)

  Arnold's joy over being saved from an explosion by "Knight Rider's" David Hasselhoff quickly turns to dismay when he learns his father is getting married and a little brother comes along with the package.

• _{Saturday, February 25th, 1984}

  18: The Wedding (1)

  Maggie's reaction to a proposed pre-nuptial agreement threatens to hamper Phillip's happiness -- but could eliminate Arnold's fear about "inheriting" a strict new mother and a pesky little brother.

• _{Saturday, February 25th, 1984}

  19: The Wedding (2)

  Their family and friends assembled, Phillip and Maggie meet at the altar, only to realize each has made a major mistake, in the concluding part of a special two-part story. Charlotte Rae, Dody Goodman, Janet Jackson and Nedra Volz, each of who had appeared in recurring roles on "Diff'rent Strokes," return as their original characters for the Drummond nuptials.

• _{Saturday, March 3rd, 1984}

  20: The Honeymoon's Over

  Arnold and Pearl fall into a depression when Maggie and Phillip return from their honeymoon with a temporary eviction notice for Pearl, and orders for Arnold to babysit for his "tag-along" little brother Sam instead of going to a party.

• _{Saturday, March 17th, 1984}

  21: The Bar Mitzvah Boy

  In a quest for religion started by Maggie and his father, Arnold thinks he has found it after attending an impressive bar mitzvah where his friend "Becomes a man" at age 13.

• _{Saturday, March 24th, 1984}

  22: Kathy's Olympics

  The money for the National Wheelchair Games that Arnold's class has raised and entrusted to him is missing--leaving Arnold embarrassed and his family "in the dumps."

• _{Saturday, May 5th, 1984}

  23: The Houseguest

  Willis and Charlene's budding young love begins to wilt when she moves in as a temporary houseguest at the Drummond's. Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson's younger sister, returns in her role as Willis' girl friend Charlene.

• _{Saturday, May 12th, 1984}

  24: The Boyfriend

  Blinded by love, Kimberly takes an enormous and deceptive risk when she talks her father into allowing her to move into an apartment, allegedly with her girl friend.

Season 7

• _{Saturday, September 29th, 1984}

  1: A Haunting We Will Go

  When Arnold and Sam creep through the crevices of the neighborhood's haunted house they find the ghost boasts a bounty of surprises--the biggest being a love for people and contempt for war.

• _{Saturday, October 6th, 1984}

  2: Arnold and Lisa's Mother

  Arnold thinks the school science fair is the perfect opportunity to sabotage the project of his least favorite female classmate, but with a closer look he wonders if her aggravating behavior is really a cry for help.

• _{Saturday, October 13th, 1984}

  3: Bed-Wetting

  The Drummond household is faced with Sam's bed-wetting problem trying everything from scolding to fawning, only to have Sam become more frustrated and hurt.

• _{Saturday, October 20th, 1984}

  4: Undercover Lover

  Willis becomes the middleman in a police effort to halt use and trafficking of drugs at his high school.

• _{Saturday, October 27th, 1984}

  5: Arnold's Strike

  Arnold risks expulsion from school when he leads a strike against some new rules he feels are "unfair."

• _{Saturday, November 3rd, 1984}

  6: Sam's Father

  Sam must choose between a penthouse apartment and a honky-tonk club when his real father comes knocking on the Drummond's door, wanting to take Sam with him.

• _{Saturday, November 10th, 1984}

  7: Carmella Meets the Gooch

  The Gooch returns to taunt Arnold and take on a new target--Sam, only to face his first challenge in the Drummond's new neighbor, an Italian foreign exchange student.

• _{Saturday, November 17th, 1984}

  8: Arnold the Entrepreneur

  Entrepreneur Arnold reluctantly allows Sam to be a part of his new scheme, when Sam realizes only Arnold will reap the profits, he breaks up the partnership and becomes the competition.

• _{Saturday, November 24th, 1984}

  9: The Honorable Arnold J. Jackson

  When Arnold is appointed judge of the school court, he is suddenly faced with jeopardizing a longtime friendship or losing a date with the school heartthrob--everyone has their day in court.

• _{Saturday, December 1st, 1984}

  10: The Gymnasts

  Drummond's surprise meant to encourage an Olympic hopeful felled by a tragic accident backfires when the young man instead becomes embittered at meeting the 1984 Men's Olympic Gold Medal-winning Gymnastics Team until Willis and Sam take on the challenge of setting things right.

• _{Saturday, December 8th, 1984}

  11: Tonsils

  Drummond is a tower of strength for Sam as he prepares to have his tonsils removed, but what will happen when Drummond finds out he is to be Sam's roommate while having some "minor" knee surgery.

• _{Saturday, December 15th, 1984}

  12: Arnold's Songbird

  In order to be elected the entertainment chairman for a school charity fundraiser, Arnold promises to get a celebrity but when it's time to deliver, he's forced to look to his nemesis Carmella for help, hoping she can save the day.

• _{Saturday, January 5th, 1985}

  13: Baseball Blues

  Sam persuades a reluctant Mr. Drummond to become the coach of his bad news baseball team and then regrets it after he winds up on the bench.

• _{Saturday, January 12th, 1985}

  14: Arnold Saves the Squirrel

  When Sam visits a taping of "The Sandy Squirrel Show" he is overcome by the news his favorite television idol is about to be cancelled, but it's big brother Arnold to the rescue as he rallies the Boy Scouts of Manhattan to demand the Squirrel be given a reprieve.

• _{Saturday, January 19th, 1985}

  15: Sam Adopts a Grandparent

  The Drummonds are concerned when the normally lovable Sam battles with a cynical senior who rejects the Cub Scout's "Adopt A Grandparent" program, leaving Sam with a tainted view of older people.

• _{Saturday, January 26th, 1985}

  16: Happy Birthday Drummond

  Kimberly returns home from school in Paris to surprise Drummond on his birthday prompting Arnold and Willis to try and match her special gift, they decide to change their name to Drummond, until Willis suddenly has second thoughts.

• _{Saturday, February 2nd, 1985}

  17: Sam's New Pal

  Sam is taken aback when he realizes his new "buddy" is a girl, but Mr. Drummond is even more dumbfounded when the kids want to have a sleepover.

• _{Saturday, February 9th, 1985}

  18: Russian Embassy

  When Arnold's rocket for his school project is accidentally set off and lands atop the Russian Embassy, the state department is led to suspect the Drummond's participation is foul play.

• _{Saturday, February 16th, 1985}

  19: Cheers to Arnold

  Arnold's attempt to stop a friend from drinking backfires as he's left standing in the boy's bathroom holding a bottle of booze when the teacher walks in.

• _{Saturday, February 23rd, 1985}

  20: A Camping We Will Go

  A camping trip with Arnold and Sam intended to strengthen Drummond's relationship with Sam goes awry when Sam's real father shows up and invites himself along.

• _{Saturday, March 2nd, 1985}

  21: Beauty is in the Eye of Arnold

  Arnold is faced with a dilemma when his friends insist he take a cute cheerleader to the dance instead of the girl Arnold really likes who they consider an "ugly duckling."

• _{Saturday, March 9th, 1985}

  22: Blue Collar Drummond

  When Drummond is accused of being out of touch with his employees, he secretly takes a job in one of his own factories working on an assembly line. Much to his surprise, his job is threatened when he makes suggestions to boost morale and improve production.

• _{Saturday, March 23rd, 1985}

  23: Street Smarts

  Although Arnold boasts he held his own in a mugging, Drummond fears the incident goes deeper than Arnold will admit and becomes concerned when he finds Arnold has sought a dangerous method of protection.

• _{Saturday, May 4th, 1985}

  24: A Special Friend

  Arnold and Sam's new friendship with a street performer gets mired in fear and confusion when they discover she has epilepsy.

Season 8

• _{Friday, September 27th, 1985}

  1: 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.

• _{Friday, September 27th, 1985}

  2: 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.

• _{Friday, October 4th, 1985}

  3: 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.

• _{Friday, October 11th, 1985}

  4: 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.

• _{Friday, October 18th, 1985}

  5: 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.

• _{Friday, October 25th, 1985}

  6: 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.

• _{Friday, November 8th, 1985}

  7: 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.

• _{Friday, November 15th, 1985}

  8: 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.

• _{Friday, November 29th, 1985}

  9: 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.

• _{Friday, December 6th, 1985}

  10: 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.

• _{Friday, December 13th, 1985}

  11: It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To

  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.

• _{Friday, January 10th, 1986}

  12: 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.

• _{Friday, January 17th, 1986}

  13: Bulimia

  Arnold suspects that Kimberly has an eating disorder when his slender sister is secretly gorging herself, 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.

• _{Friday, January 24th, 1986}

  14: 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.

• _{Friday, January 31st, 1986}

  15: 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.

• _{Friday, February 7th, 1986}

  16: Lifestyles of the Poor and Unknown

  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.

• _{Friday, February 21st, 1986}

  17: 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.

• _{Friday, February 28th, 1986}

  18: 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.

• _{Friday, March 7th, 1986}

  19: 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.