TV series
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.
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Checked Jul 22, 2026
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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.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Willis accompanies Arnold as he sets out to withdraw some money from his bank account to pay for his first ""real"" date, but two bank robbers force a change of plans when they attempt their own, very large withdrawal, in the first episode of a special two-part story.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Dick O'Neill, Kim Fields
Episode 2
Drummond offers himself and his company airplane as hostages to protect Arnold and Willis, but his sons' future hangs in the balance when the robbers announce their own very different choice of hostages, in the conclusion of a special two-part story.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Dick O'Neill, Kim Fields
Episode 3
Arnold has his day in court when an unfortunate ""train"" of events puts him at odds with a less than understanding merchant.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Gordon Mitchell, Ed Jurist, Hugh Wedlock Jr., Hugh Wedlock Jr., Ben Gershman, Ben Gershman
Episode 4
Arnold falls head-over-heels for a temporary housekeeper and embarks on a romantic scheme he hopes will make her a permanent member of the Drummond household.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Debra Frank, Scott RubensteinGuest stars Nedra Volz, Denise Nicholas
Episode 5
The festive family celebration of Drummond's 50th birthday suddenly becomes a disaster after a drunk driver puts Drummond in the hospital, unconscious, his life hanging in the balance, in the first episode of a special two-part story.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Tom Rosqui, Nedra Volz, Rana Ford
Episode 6
When Drummond finally comes to, he is suffering from amnesia and unless he can regain his memory, he may lose not only his business, but also custody of Arnold, Willis and Kimberly.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Tom Rosqui, Nedra Volz
Episode 7
Kimberly's efforts to help a pregnant girl friend, have Willis and Arnold convinced the Kimberly's the one expecting.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Ed JuristGuest stars Kari Michaelsen
Episode 8
After Arnold fails to measure up to the demands of the basketball, baseball and volleyball teams, Drummond convinces the boy to try football on for size and then pays the coach a clandestine visit to ensure Arnold a place on the team.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Donald RossGuest stars Shavar Ross, Nedra Volz, Meeno Peluce, Greg Mullavey, Le Tari
Episode 9
Drummond orders Willis to spend more time with his studies and less time with his ""first love,"" but Willis and Arnold concoct a plan they're sure will fulfill the wishes of both father and son.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Arthur Burghardt, Nedra Volz, Janet Jackson
Episode 10
Arnold tries a regimen of stretching exercises and a change of diet to speed his growth, but Drummond finds he must go to a very special source to get the boy to accept that he will never be tall.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Melanie Watson
Episode 11
Arnold learns the true value of a dollar when Drummond turns down his request to lend $4,000 to the apartment building doorman anxious to take part in an attractive business deal.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Tommy Aguilar, Dave Johnson
Episode 12
Willis and Arnold turn the Drummond household upside down as they try to prove to their old Harlem neighbors -- and themselves -- that they haven't lost tough with their cultural roots.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Howard MeyersGuest stars Nedra Volz, Tony Williams, Erik Moses, Lee Chamberlin
Episode 13
Arnold's poor dental checkup and a visit by Drummond's health-conscious sister, Sophia, launches Drummond on a campaign to have ""junk"" food machines banned from Arnold's school, even though Arnold's drive for his class' presidency may depend on keeping the machines in place.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Shavar Ross, Dody Goodman, Steven Mond
Episode 14
Arnold's excitement at being one of a small group of students in an exchange program with an all-white school is turned to fear by a threatening phone call from a zealous busing opponent.
Directed by Gerren Keith
Episode 15
Through Blair's makeup artistry, 15-year-old Kimberly discovers she can pass for 20, but when she accepts a date with a 25-year-old and the passes start flying, she finds there may be more to being older than looking it.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Mindy Cohn, Lisa Whelchel
Episode 16
Arnold's tenth birthday party means a lot to him, but for some reason it means a whole lot more to the one person he's determined won't be invited -- a pesky young lady who always tries just too hard to be friends.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Howard MeyersGuest stars Shavar Ross
Episode 17
Arnold's ""famous"" magic disappearing act, designed to impress a magazine reporter and special guest star Dallas Cowboys' defensive end Ed ""Too Tall"" Jones, leaves him dangerously high and dry, with no place to go but down -- about 30 stories.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Gordon Mitchell, Ed Jurist, Louis Smallwood, Louis Smallwood, M. Martez Thomas, M. Martez ThomasGuest stars Ed Jones, Veronica Redd
Episode 18
Drummond runs into some stiff competition to the candidate he's chosen to head a new division of his company -- his board members think the attractive young executive's sex disqualifies her -- and his family thinks he's being used.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Wendy Fulton
Episode 19
Drummond and his sister Sophia inherit a prime piece of land in Harlem from a long lost ancestor, but their plan to dedicate it to a cultural center in his name could spell disaster if the truth of their ancestor's life gets out.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Ed Jurist
Episode 20
Arnold's dejection at being grounded for a ""D"" on a history test turns to inspiration after an immigrant studying for naturalization introduces him to another perspective on America.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Ernie Hudson, Rosalind Chao
Episode 21
Dudley, fearing his foster father's lost job means he's headed back to the orphanage, cons Arnold into getting Drummond to consider adopting him into their family.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Seaman JacobsGuest stars Shavar Ross, Nedra Volz, Le Tari
Episode 22
The coach of the city's top high school baseball team is after Willis and is prepared to do anything to make it possible for Willis to attend his school.
Directed by Gerren KeithWritten by Gordon MitchellGuest stars Jack Knight, John Starr, Giovanni Jackson
Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026
Conrad BainPhillip Drummond
Gary ColemanArnold Jackson
Todd BridgesWillis Jackson
Dana PlatoKimberly Drummond
Mary Jo CatlettPearl Gallagher
Danny CookseySam McKinney
Dixie CarterMaggie McKinney
Charlotte RaeEdna Garrett
ABCUnited States
NBCUnited States
Tandem ProductionsUnited States
