Diff'rent Strokes
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1. Movin' In
First aired: 11/3/1978 Production Code: 0101Multi-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.
2. The Social Worker
First aired: 11/10/1978 Production Code: 0102Arnold's eavesdropping leads to trouble when a misunderstanding causes Willis and him to think that Mr. Drummond no longer wants them around; a social worker tells Drummond that "black children belong with black families." Arnold overhears Drummond telling Mrs. Garrett and mistakenly believes that it's Drummond's opinion.
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Guest star: Ellen Travolta (Ms. Aimsly), J.A. Preston (Geoffrey Thompson), Fran Bennett (Olivia Thompson)
3. Mother's Last Visit
Community Score
| 6.9 Fair |
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.
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Guest star: Irene Tedrow (Mrs. Drummond), Richard Fults (Doorman)
4. Prep School
First aired: 11/24/1978 Production Code: 0105When 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.
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Guest star: Howard Morton (Miles Bordinay)
5. The Spanking
First aired: 12/1/1978 Production Code: 0104Arnold 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?
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Guest star: Frank Farmer (Police Officer), Jerry Marshak (Little Boy), Weldon Bleiler (Maintenance Man)
6. Goodbye Dolly
Community Score
| 7.7 Good |
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.
7. The Trial
Community Score
| 7.6 Good |
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.
8. Retrospective (1)
First aired: 12/29/1978 Production Code: 0116AMr. 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.
9. Retrospective (2)
Community Score
| 6.7 Fair |
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.
10. The Fight
Community Score
| 7.8 Good |
Willis puts Arnold in training to fight the local bully, but Mr. Drummond insists more civilized solutions be employed.
11. The Club Meeting
Community Score
| 7.4 Good |
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.
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Guest star: Billy Attmore (Bubba), Anthony Thompkins (Vernon), Brian Salmon (Charles), Tony Williams (William)
12. The Woman
Community Score
| 7.4 Good |
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.
13. No Time for Arnold
Community Score
| 8.1 Great |
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.
14. The Relative
Community Score
| 7.6 Good |
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.
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Guest star: LaWanda Page (Myrtle Waters)
15. The Tutor
Community Score
| 7.8 Good |
Drummond hires a tutor for Willis and Arnold who does practically everything but teach.
16. The New Landlord
Community Score
| 7.8 Good |
The kids devise a scheme hoping to make Arnold convince the new landlord to let the family keep the penthouse.
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Guest star: Jack Riley (Charles Sutton), Erica Yohn (Emily Sutton), Deborah Zon (Barbie)
17. Willis' Privacy
Community Score
| 7.4 Good |
To get rid of his pesky little brother, Willis divides the bedroom in half and spends more time at his friend's house.
18. Mrs. Garrett's Crisis
Community Score
| 7.1 Good |
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.
19. The Job (a.k.a.) Willis' Job
Community Score
| 7.4 Good |
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.
20. The Trip (1)
Community Score
| 4.1 Poor |
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.
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Guest star: McLean Stevenson (Larry Alder), Kim Richards (Ruthie), Joanna Gleason (Morgan Winslow) , Donna Wilkes (Diane), George Memmoli (Carl)
21. The Trip (2)
Community Score
| 4.0 Poor |
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.
Director: Doug Rogers
Guest star: McLean Stevenson (Larry Alder), Kim Richards (Ruthie), Joanna Gleason (Morgan Winslow) , Donna Wilkes (Diane), George Memmoli (Carl)
22. Getting Involved
Community Score
| 8.0 Great |
When Arnold is witness to a hold up, the robber tries to ensure that the youngster will not identify him.
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Guest star: Ron Feinberg (Detective Morrison), Carl Byrd (Mr. Adams), Lawrie Osag (Mr. Kwambe), John Mayer (I) (Photographer), Michael Lamont (Police Officer)
23. Willis' Birthday
Community Score
| 7.9 Good |
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.
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Guest star: Anthony Thompkins (Vernon), Brian Salmon (Tiny), Tony Williams (Charles), LaShana Dendy (Francine), Betty A. Bridges (Mrs. Brooks), Carl M. Craig (Police Officer), Scorpio (Luther)
24. The Girls School (a.k.a.) Garrett's Girls
Community Score
| 8.0 Great |
Mrs. Garrett visits Kimberly's school and takes on its pushy principal with surprising results.
Director: Herbert Kenwith
Guest star: Kim Fields (Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey) , Felice Schachter (Nancy Olson), Julie Piekarski (Sue Ann Weaver), Lisa Whelchel (Blair Warner), Jennifer Rooney (Jennifer), Peter Hobbs (Mr. Robinson), Laura Shuman (Laura), Jack Riley (Mr. Crocker)
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