Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
TV ShowEnded

Diff'rent Strokes

7.1 / 10
1978
8 seasons
189 episodes
ComedyFamilyDrama

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.

Sign in to add to your list

What critics are saying

Verdicts use the same scale as your list: highly recommended through avoid — plus optional scores and blurbs.

Highly recommended Recommend Give it a go Neutral Avoid

Nobody on Critic, Sir! has logged a verdict for this title yet. The silence is either respectful or suspicious.

Sign in and use Add to My List below to share your own verdict.

Cast

Seasons

  • Movin' In

    1.Movin' In

    5.0
    03-11-1978

    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 Willi...

  • The Social Worker

    2.The Social Worker

    10-11-1978

    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 wo...

  • Mother's Last Visit

    3.Mother's Last Visit

    17-11-1978

    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 re...

  • Prep School

    4.Prep School

    24-11-1978

    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.

  • The Spanking

    5.The Spanking

    01-12-1978

    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...

  • Goodbye Dolly

    6.Goodbye Dolly

    08-12-1978

    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.

  • The Trial

    7.The Trial

    15-12-1978

    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...

  • Retrospective (1)

    8.Retrospective (1)

    7.0
    29-12-197830m

    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...

  • Retrospective (2)

    9.Retrospective (2)

    29-12-1978

    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...

  • The Fight

    10.The Fight

    05-01-1979

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

  • The Club Meeting

    11.The Club Meeting

    12-01-1979

    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.

  • The Woman

    12.The Woman

    19-01-1979

    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"...

  • No Time for Arnold

    13.No Time for Arnold

    26-01-1979

    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...

  • The Relative

    14.The Relative

    02-02-1979

    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 rel...

  • The Tutor

    15.The Tutor

    09-02-1979

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

  • The New Landlord

    16.The New Landlord

    3.0
    16-02-1979

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

  • Willis' Privacy

    17.Willis' Privacy

    23-02-1979

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

  • Mrs. Garrett's Crisis

    18.Mrs. Garrett's Crisis

    02-03-1979

    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.

  • The Job (a.k.a.) Willis' Job

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

    16-03-1979

    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.

  • The Trip (I)

    20.The Trip (I)

    30-03-1979

    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...

  • The Trip (2)

    21.The Trip (2)

    10.0
    30-03-1979

    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...

  • Getting Involved

    22.Getting Involved

    7.0
    06-04-197930m

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

  • Willis' Birthday

    23.Willis' Birthday

    13-04-1979

    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...

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

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

    04-05-1979

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

Watching Lists

Sign in to create and edit public lists.

Loading lists…

Purchase & Discovery

Find this title on Amazon

Digital

Prime Video & digital

Amazon mixes rent, buy, and Prime in one place — one search covers the usual options.

As an Amazon Associate, Critic, Sir! earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure