™
Create a free account to see where Diff'rent Strokes is streaming, with prices and your services first.
Where to watch
Not available to stream in US
🔔 Notify me about new seasonsSynopsis
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.
Themes
Episodes
Create a free account to track the episodes you’ve watched.
- E1 Movin' InNext upNov 3, 1978 · 25 min · ★ 5.0
Synopsis
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.
- E2 The Social WorkerNov 10, 1978 · 25 min
Synopsis
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.""
Guest stars: Ellen Travolta, Fran Bennett
- E3 Mother's Last VisitNov 17, 1978 · 25 min
Synopsis
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.
Guest stars: Irene Tedrow
- E4 Prep SchoolNov 24, 1978 · 25 min
Synopsis
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.
Guest stars: Howard Morton
- E5 The SpankingDec 1, 1978 · 25 min
Synopsis
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?
Guest stars: Frank Farmer (Policeman), Jerry Marshak (Little Boy), Weldon Bleiler (Maintenance Man)
- E6 Goodbye DollyDec 8, 1978 · 25 min
Synopsis
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.
Guest stars: Jack Riley (Mr. Crocker)
- E7 The TrialDec 15, 1978
Synopsis
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.
- E8 Retrospective (1)Dec 29, 1978 · 25 min
Synopsis
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.
- E9 Retrospective (2)Dec 29, 1978
Synopsis
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.
- E10 The FightJan 5, 1979
Synopsis
Willis puts Arnold in training to fight the local bully, but Mr. Drummond insists more civilized solutions be employed.
- E11 The Club MeetingJan 12, 1979
Synopsis
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.
- E12 The WomanJan 19, 1979
Synopsis
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.
Guest stars: Elinor Donahue
- E13 No Time for ArnoldJan 26, 1979
Synopsis
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.
- E14 The RelativeFeb 2, 1979
Synopsis
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.
Guest stars: LaWanda Page
- E15 The TutorFeb 9, 1979
Synopsis
Drummond hires a tutor for Willis and Arnold who does practically everything but teach.
- E16 The New LandlordFeb 16, 1979
Synopsis
The kids devise a scheme hoping to make Arnold convince the new landlord to let the family keep the penthouse.
Guest stars: Jack Riley (Mr. Crocker)
- E17 Willis' PrivacyFeb 23, 1979
Synopsis
To get rid of his pesky little brother, Willis divides the bedroom in half and spends more time at his friend's house.
Guest stars: Anthony Thompkins (Vernon)
- E18 Mrs. Garrett's CrisisMar 2, 1979
Synopsis
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.
- E19 The Job (a.k.a.) Willis' JobMar 16, 1979
Synopsis
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.
- E20 The Trip (I)Mar 30, 1979
Synopsis
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).
Guest stars: George Memmoli, Joanna Gleason
- E21 The Trip (2)Mar 30, 1979
Synopsis
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".
- E22 Getting InvolvedApr 6, 1979 · 30 min
Synopsis
When Arnold is witness to a hold up, the robber tries to ensure that the youngster will not identify him.
- E23 Willis' BirthdayApr 13, 1979
Synopsis
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.
Guest stars: Carl M. Craig
- E24 The Girls School (a.k.a.) Garrett's GirlsMay 4, 1979
Synopsis
Mrs. Garrett visits Kimberly's school and takes on its pushy principal with surprising results.
Guest stars: Jack Riley (Mr. Crocker), Molly Ringwald (Molly Parker), Felice Schachter (Nancy Olson), Kim Fields (Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey), Peter Hobbs (Mr. Robinson), Julie Piekarski (Sue Ann Weaver), Lisa Whelchel (Blair Warner)
Cast & crew
Created by Bernie Kukoff, Jeff Harris
Conrad Bain
Gary Coleman
Todd Bridges
Mary Jo Catlett
Danny Cooksey
Mary Ann MobleyImages · 14
