Diff'rent Strokes (1979)
The misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem.
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Episode 1 - Movin' In
Release Date: 3 Nov. 1978Philip Drummond is a wealthy Manhattan industrialist who takes in Arnold and Willis Jackson, the two sons of his late housekeeper; Drummond is white and the boys are black. Arnold, age 8, is excited about the opportunity of a privileged life, but Willis, age 13, feels that Mr. Drummond is trying to buy their love with expensive gifts.
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Episode 2 - The Social Worker
Release Date: 10 Nov. 1978A social worker investigates the boys' home life and tells Mr. Drummond that she believes black children belong in black households. When Drummond tells this to Mrs. Garrett while she is vacuuming the living room, Arnold overhears this and comes to the conclusion that he doesn't want them around anymore.
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Episode 3 - Mother's Last Visit
Release Date: 17 Nov. 1978Mr. Drummond's mother arrives for an unscheduled visit and has an adverse reaction to her son's new family situation.
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Episode 4 - Prep School
Release Date: 24 Nov. 1978Mr. Drummond is excited about the possibility of the boys enrolling at his old prep school.
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Episode 5 - The Spanking
Release Date: 1 Dec. 1978Arnold is caught throwing water bombs off the balcony and Mr. Drummond feels that a fitting punishment is a spanking.
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Episode 6 - Goodbye Dolly
Release Date: 8 Dec. 1978After Kimberly donates Arnold's ratty old doll named Homer to charity and it is sold, he can't sleep. Mr. Drummond quickly tires of this, so he hires a detective to try and find the doll.
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Episode 7 - The Trial
Release Date: 15 Dec. 1978After reading a book on the American legal system, Willis demands a fair trial for Arnold after he is accused of putting his goldfish in the hot tub.
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Episode 8 - Retrospective
Release Date: 29 Dec. 1978The Drummonds reminisce about the time they have spent together since Arnold and Willis joined the family. Clips from past episodes are featured.
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Episode 9 - The Fight
Release Date: 5 Jan. 1979Over Mr. Drummond's objections, Willis teaches Arnold how to fight a playground bully.
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Episode 10 - The Club Meeting
Release Date: 12 Jan. 1979Willis misses his friends from Harlem so he has a club meeting at the penthouse.
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Episode 11 - The Woman
Release Date: 19 Jan. 1979Mr. Drummond introduces the family to a woman in his life that he plans to propose to.
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Episode 12 - No Time for Arnold
Release Date: 26 Jan. 1979Arnold feels he's being ignored by the other members of the family, so he pretends to wet the bed in order to get attention and sympathy.
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Episode 13 - The Relative
Release Date: 2 Feb. 1979A relative of the boys comes to visit from Detroit. She plans to stay only a night, but then fakes an injury and quickly overstays her welcome.
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Episode 14 - The Tutor
Release Date: 9 Feb. 1979Willis is doing poorly in school, so Mr. Drummond hires a tutor. However, he is not pleased by his unconventional methods of teaching.
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Episode 15 - The New Landlord
Release Date: 16 Feb. 1979The Drummonds may have to move when the new landlord enforces a rule forbidding children Arnold's age from living there.
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Episode 16 - Willis' Privacy
Release Date: 23 Feb. 1979Willis starts to feel that Arnold is a nuisance and wants his own space away from him.
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Episode 17 - Mrs. Garrett's Crisis
Release Date: 2 Mar. 1979Mrs. Garrett feels that her life goals have not been fulfilled and she wants to leave her job.
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Episode 18 - The Job
Release Date: 16 Mar. 1979Willis gets a job at a gas station, which lasts for only a few hours.
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Episode 19 - The Trip: Part 1
Release Date: 30 Mar. 1979Mr. Drummond's company has bought out a radio station in Portland, Oregon, where his old army buddy, Larry Alder, hosts a talk show.
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Episode 20 - Getting Involved
Release Date: 6 Apr. 1979Arnold witnesses a mugging with his telescope.
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Episode 21 - Willis' Birthday
Release Date: 13 Apr. 1979Willis wants to have his birthday party at a friend's house in Harlem, but Mr. Drummond is concerned about going there on a Saturday night.
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Episode 22 - The Girls School
Release Date: 4 May 1979Mrs. Garrett bonds with the girls at Eastlake Academy, the school Kimberly attends.