S01E01 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...
Diff'rent Strokes
Overview
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
S01E02 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...
S01E03 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.
S01E04 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.
S01E05 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...
S01E06 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.
S01E07 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...
S01E08 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.
S01E09 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.
S01E10 The Fight
Willis puts Arnold in training to fight the local bully, but Mr. Drummond insists more civilized solutions be employed.
S01E11 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.
S01E12 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.
S01E13 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.
S01E14 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.
S01E15 The Tutor
Drummond hires a tutor for Willis and Arnold who does practically everything but teach.
S01E16 The New Landlord
The kids devise a scheme hoping to make Arnold convince the new landlord to let the family keep the penthouse.
S01E17 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.
S01E18 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.
S01E19 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.
S01E20 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...
S01E21 The Trip (2)
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...
S01E22 Getting Involved
When Arnold is witness to a hold up, the robber tries to ensure that the youngster will not identify him.
S01E23 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 --...
S01E24 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
Conrad Bain
Phillip Drummond
Gary Coleman
Arnold Jackson
Todd Bridges
Willis Jackson
Mary Jo Catlett
Pearl Gallagher
Danny Cooksey
Sam McKinney
Mary Ann Mobley
Maggie Drummond
