The Best of Diff'rent Strokes

The Best of DIFF’RENT STROKES (ABC & NBC)

Creators: Jeff Harris, Bernie Kukoff

Seasons: 8 Episodes: 181 Years: 1978-1986

Premise: Wealthy white guy adopts two African American kids.

My 20 Standout Episodes

1. Movin’ In S01E01 | #01

Arnold & Willis are adopted by Mr. Drummond but Willis wants to leave

2. The Spanking S01E05 | #05

Arnold hides when he’s to receive a spanking for dropping water balloons

3. Arnold’s Girlfriend, Part I & II S02E01-02 | #25 & #26

Arnold gets a new friend when he has appendicitis, but her father’s a bigot

4. The Hero S02E06 | #31

Arnold fakes that he is dying in order to have Muhammad Ali visit him

5. The Accident, Part I & II S03E05-06 | #55 & #56

Mr. Drummond loses his memory after a car accident

6. Cyrano de Jackson S05E03 | #101

Arnold helps Dudley woo a girl Cyrano-style but the girl falls for Arnold

7. Overexposure S05E08 | #106

Kimberly’s photo of Arnold’s bare butt may cost him the school election

8. The Bicycle Man, Part I & II S05E16-17 | #114 & #115

A bike store owner lures Arnold and Dudley to his back room

9. Roommates S05E21 | #119

Mr. Drummond has a rough time rooming with Arnold

10. The Reporter S05E22 | #120

Nancy Reagan drops by to help Arnold talk about drugs at his school

11. Romeo and Juliet S05E23 | #121

Arnold is paired up with Lisa for the balcony scene

12. Mr.T and mr.t S06E01 | #123

Arnold is jealous when Dudley’s cousin pays more attention to Mr. T

13. The Moonlighter S06E07 | #129

Arnold can’t believe that his teacher also works at the Foxy Club

14. Hitchhiking, Part I & II S06E14-15 | #136 & #137

On Mr. Drummond’s birthday, Arnold & Kimberly hitchhike

15. Hooray for Hollywood, Part I & II S06E16-17 | #138 & #139

Mr. Drummond chases Maggie to Universal Studios to propose

16. The Honeymoon’s Over S06E20 | #142

Arnold leaves Sam for a party when he’s supposed to be babysitting

17. Sam’s New Pal S07E17 | #163

Parents are worried when Sam and a girl want a sleepover

18. Street Smarts S07E23 | #169

Arnold starts bringing a knife to school when he gets mugged

19. Sam’s Missing, Part I & II S08E01-02 | #171 & #172

Sam is kidnapped by a family who lost a son the same age

20. The Front Page S08E19 | #189

Arnold goes undercover to expose steroid use at the gym

My Top Five

1. Mr.T and mr.t

2. Cyrano de Jackson

3. The Spanking

4. The Bicycle Man, Part I & II

5. Hooray for Hollywood, Part I & II