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.
Cast, crew and production details
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 StatesWatch options above are for the show and may vary by season or episode.
Episode 1
When Arnold and Sam creep through the crevices of the neighborhood's haunted house they find the ghost boasts a bounty of surprises--the biggest being a love for people and contempt for war.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Ray Bolger, Shavar Ross, John Astin
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Episode 2
Arnold thinks the school science fair is the perfect opportunity to sabotage the project of his least favorite female classmate, but with a closer look he wonders if her aggravating behavior is really a cry for help.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Shavar Ross, Steven Mond
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Episode 3
The Drummond household is faced with Sam's bed-wetting problem trying everything from scolding to fawning, only to have Sam become more frustrated and hurt.
Directed by Gerren Keith
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Episode 4
Willis becomes the middleman in a police effort to halt use and trafficking of drugs at his high school.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Brian Robbins, Anne-Marie Johnson
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Episode 5
Arnold risks expulsion from school when he leads a strike against some new rules he feels are ""unfair.""
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Shavar Ross, Dick Sargent, Steven Mond
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Episode 6
Sam must choose between a penthouse apartment and a honky-tonk club when his real father comes knocking on the Drummond's door, wanting to take Sam with him.
Directed by Gerren Keith
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Episode 7
""The Gooch"" returns to taunt Arnold and take on a new target--Sam, only to face his first challenge in the Drummond's new neighbor, an Italian foreign exchange student.
Directed by Gerren Keith
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Episode 8
Entrepreneur Arnold reluctantly allows Sam to be a part of his new scheme, when Sam realizes only Arnold will reap the profits, he breaks up the partnership and becomes the competition.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Hervé Villechaize
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Episode 9
When Arnold is appointed judge of the school court, he is suddenly faced with jeopardizing a longtime friendship or losing a date with the school heartthrob--everyone has their day in court.
Directed by Mel FerberGuest stars Shavar Ross, Dick Sargent, Steven Mond
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Episode 10
Drummond's surprise meant to encourage an Olympic hopeful felled by a tragic accident backfires when the young man instead becomes embittered at meeting the 1984 Men's Olympic Gold Medal-winning Gymnastics Team until Willis and Sam take on the challenge of setting things right.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Peter Vidmar, Mitch Gaylord, Tim Daggett, Scott Johnson, Jim Hartung, Bart Conner
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Episode 11
Drummond is a tower of strength for Sam as he prepares to have his tonsils removed, but what will happen when Drummond finds out he is to be Sam's roommate while having some ""minor"" knee surgery.
Directed by Mel FerberGuest stars Marla Pennington
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Episode 12
In order to be elected the entertainment chairman for a school charity fundraiser, Arnold promises to get a celebrity but when it's time to deliver, he's forced to look to his nemesis Carmella for help, hoping she can save the day.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Shavar Ross, Steven Mond
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Episode 13
Sam persuades a reluctant Mr. Drummond to become the coach of his bad news baseball team and then regrets it after he winds up on the bench.
Directed by Gerren Keith
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Episode 14
When Sam visits a taping of ""The Sandy Squirrel Show"" he is overcome by the news his favorite television idol is about to be cancelled, but it's big brother Arnold to the rescue as he rallies the Boy Scouts of Manhattan to demand the Squirrel be given a reprieve.
Directed by Mel FerberGuest stars Chuck McCann
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Episode 15
The Drummonds are concerned when the normally lovable Sam battles with a cynical senior who rejects the Cub Scout's ""Adopt A Grandparent"" program, leaving Sam with a tainted view of older people.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Troy Slaten, John McIntire
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Episode 16
Kimberly returns home from school in Paris to surprise Drummond on his birthday prompting Arnold and Willis to try and match her special gift, they decide to change their name to Drummond, until Willis suddenly has second thoughts.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Dana Plato
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Episode 17
Sam is taken aback when he realizes his new ""buddy"" is a girl, but Mr. Drummond is even more dumbfounded when the kids want to have a sleepover.
Directed by Gerren Keith
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Episode 18
When Arnold's rocket for his school project is accidentally set off and lands atop the Russian Embassy, the state department is led to suspect the Drummond's participation is foul play.
Directed by Gerren Keith
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Episode 19
Arnold's attempt to stop a friend from drinking backfires as he's left standing in the boy's bathroom holding a bottle of booze when the teacher walks in.
Guest stars Shavar Ross, James A. Watson, Jr, Robert Jayne, Steven Mond
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Episode 20
A camping trip with Arnold and Sam intended to strengthen Drummond's relationship with Sam goes awry when Sam's real father shows up and invites himself along.
Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel
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Episode 21
Arnold is faced with a dilemma when his friends insist he take a cute cheerleader to the dance instead of the girl Arnold really likes who they consider an ""ugly duckling.""
Guest stars Jack Riley, Tammy Townsend, Shavar Ross, Robert Jayne
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Episode 22
When Drummond is accused of being out of touch with his employee, he secretly takes a job in one of his own factories working on an assembly line. Much to his surprise, his job is threatened when he makes suggestions to boost morale and improve production.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Jack Riley, Lee Weaver
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Episode 23
Although Arnold boasts he held his own in a mugging, Drummond fears the incident goes deeper than Arnold will admit and becomes concerned when he finds Arnold has sought a dangerous method of protection.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Shavar Ross, Michael Tucci, James A. Watson, Jr, Robert Jayne
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Episode 24
Arnold and Sam's new friendship with a street performer gets mired in fear and confusion when they discover she has epilepsy.
Directed by Gerren KeithGuest stars Dana Plato, Julia Parton
Where to watch Diff'rent StrokesEpisode information updated Jul 22, 2026
