Diff'rent Strokes
Phillip Drummond, a widowed Manhattan millionaire and president of the mega-firm Trans Allied Inc., adopts two African American orphans from Harlem, 8-year-old Arnold and 12-year-old Willis. Drummond had made a promise to their dying mother, his housekeeper, that he would care for the boys after she passes away; their father had died years earlier. The boys, whom Drummond always introduced as his two sons, went from rags to riches literally overnight. At first, Willis was rather skeptical of their newfound wealth, but eventually, both he and Arnold felt right at home in their newfound surroundings. Also part of the family were Drummond's beautiful daughter, 13-year-old Kimberly; and his no-nonsense housekeeper, Edna Garrett. As the years passed, Mrs. Garrett left to become housemother at the Eastland School for Girls; she was replaced by the cantankerous Adelaide Brubaker and still later, charming Pearl Gallagher. Arnold's friends, Dudley and Robbie (and later, Charlie); Willis' girlfriend, Charlene; cast members from "The Facts of Life"; and Drummond's sister, Sophia, were frequently seen. In early 1984, Drummond found true love, marrying fitness instructor Maggie McKinney; she had a 6-year-old son, Sam. While most series revolved around the typical lessons of growing up, some were quite serious (including a frightening encounter with a child molester and a memorable episode dealing with drug abuse guest starring First Lady Nancy Reagan).
- 1978-1986
- 8 seasons
- Amazon Prime Video
- Comedy, Drama
- TV-14
Phillip Drummond, a widowed Manhattan millionaire and president of the mega-firm Trans Allied Inc., adopts two African American orphans from Harlem, 8-year-old Arnold and 12-year-old Willis. Drummond had made a promise to their dying mother, his housekeeper, that he would care for the boys after she passes away; their father had died years earlier. The boys, whom Drummond always introduced as his two sons, went from rags to riches literally overnight. At first, Willis was rather skeptical of their newfound wealth, but eventually, both he and Arnold felt right at home in their newfound surroundings. Also part of the family were Drummond's beautiful daughter, 13-year-old Kimberly; and his no-nonsense housekeeper, Edna Garrett. As the years passed, Mrs. Garrett left to become housemother at the Eastland School for Girls; she was replaced by the cantankerous Adelaide Brubaker and still later, charming Pearl Gallagher. Arnold's friends, Dudley and Robbie (and later, Charlie); Willis' girlfriend, Charlene; cast members from "The Facts of Life"; and Drummond's sister, Sophia, were frequently seen. In early 1984, Drummond found true love, marrying fitness instructor Maggie McKinney; she had a 6-year-old son, Sam. While most series revolved around the typical lessons of growing up, some were quite serious (including a frightening encounter with a child molester and a memorable episode dealing with drug abuse guest starring First Lady Nancy Reagan).
Season 3 Episode Guide
20 Episodes 1980 - 1981
Episode 1
The Bank Job
Wed, Nov 12, 1980 46 mins
As the hostage crisis continues at the bank, the bank robbers learn that Drummond is a multi-millionaire and decide to use Arnold and Willis as bargaining tools to ensure their demands are met. Drummond decides to assist with a plan to save his adopted sons and have the robbers captured, knowing full well that failure could mean death.
Episode 2
Small Claims Court
Wed, Nov 19, 1980 25 mins
After Arnold buys a toy train that doesn't work, he takes the owner of the store, who refuses to refund his money, to small claims court.
Episode 3
Substitute Mother
Wed, Nov 26, 1980 25 mins
When Adelaide goes away, Drummond hires a temporary housekeeper to take her place. With the new housekeeper, Arnold soon realizes that she reminds him a lot of his mom and tries to arrange it so that she and Drummond fall in love.
Episode 4
The Accident
Wed, Dec 3, 1980 48 mins
Drummond eventually awakens - and recovers, at least physically - from life-threatening injuries suffered in a car crash. However, a concussion Drummond suffered in the wreck leaves him with amnesia ... and unless he can regain his memory, the potential loss of both his company and his family.
Episode 5
Little Mother
Wed, Dec 10, 1980 25 mins
A misunderstanding with a visiting friend leads Drummond, Arnold, and Willis to believe that Kimberly is pregnant.
Episode 6
Football Father
Wed, Dec 17, 1980 25 mins
When he sees that Arnold is heartbroken after not making his Pee Wee league football team, Drummond secretly meets with the coach and agrees to buy the team new uniforms in exchange for Arnold being given a spot on the team.
Episode 7
First Love
Wed, Dec 31, 1980 25 mins
With his grades down, Drummond forbids Willis to see his new girlfriend, Charlene. However, a love-struck Willis is determined to see her, even if means doing it behind Drummond's back.
Episode 8
Count Your Blessings
Wed, Jan 7, 1981 25 mins
When Arnold finds out that he will only grow to be 5 foot tall, he becomes very depressed. To make him feel better, Drummond introduces him to a friend's daughter who is very upbeat despite being confined to a wheelchair.
Episode 9
The Loan
Wed, Jan 14, 1981 25 mins
Arnold befriends the doorman who asks him for a $100 loan so he can bet it on a horse race.
Episode 10
Roots
Wed, Jan 21, 1981 25 mins
Mr. Drummond worries that Willis's newfound Afrocentric attitudes are dividing the family.
Episode 11
Junk Food Junkie
Wed, Jan 28, 1981 25 mins
Arnold's poor dental checkup has Drummond suspecting that the easy availability of junk food from vending machines at school is to blame. But when Drummond begins a campaign to replace the hot dogs, cookies, potato chips and soft drinks with more healthy foods, Arnold's friends try to convince him to get his father to reconsider.
Episode 12
The Bus
Wed, Feb 4, 1981 25 mins
Arnold's joy of being transferred to an all-white school (and riding a bus to get there) is shaken to its very core when a racist busing opponent calls the Drummond household warning the pro-busing family patriarch not to send his black children to the new school, or else.
Episode 13
The Older Man
Wed, Feb 25, 1981 25 mins
Kimberly gets a role in a school play, and turns to Blair for help in looking like an older woman. While rehearsing, she meets and accepts a date from a 25-year-old man who thinks she's at least 20. Arnold and Willis find out about the date and sneak off to the movie theater to try to stop the date before Drummond finds out.
Episode 14
Where There's Hope
Wed, Mar 4, 1981 25 mins
Arnold gets annoyed with the new girl next door and makes it known that he does not want her at his 10th birthday party. However, when Drummond finds out from her parents that she has leukemia, he tries to get Arnold to re-invite her without telling him of her illness.
Episode 15
The Magician
Wed, Mar 11, 1981 25 mins
With a magazine reporter and Ed "Too Tall" Jones coming over to the house, Arnold decides to show off his talents by putting on a magic show. He plays a silly trick on everyone that leaves him out on the balcony ledge, afraid to move.
Episode 16
Drummond's Fair Lady
Wed, Mar 18, 1981 25 mins
Drummond creates controversy with his shareholders when he recommends hiring a woman with whom he starts dating to head up a new division in his company. The children, shareholders themselves, are all for it until Kimberly overhears her talking to a mystery man on the phone.
Episode 17
The Ancestors
Wed, Mar 25, 1981 25 mins
Drummond is initially excited to hear that he is the owner of a two million dollar piece of land in Harlem only to later find out that the ancestor whom he inherited it from was a slave trader. He must now decide whether to donate it to be used as a community center or decline it.
Episode 18
Almost American
Wed, Apr 1, 1981 25 mins
After getting a D in history, Arnold is forced to stay home from a hockey game to study. While at home, he and Drummond meet Milos, a Czech immigrant who is going to night school to try and become a US citizen.
Episode 19
Room for One More
Wed, May 6, 1981 25 mins
Worried that his foster father's unemployed status will send him to another foster home, Dudley runs away and hides in Arnold's room in hopes that Arnold can convince Drummond to adopt him too.
Episode 20
The Athlete
Wed, May 13, 1981 25 mins
Willis, the star pitcher of his junior high team, is recruited by a coach from a high school with a reputation for producing major league talent. When Drummonds learns that attending this school entails lying and grade fixing, he forbids Willis to go.