Bernie Kukoff
Director
Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
Season 6
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.
Released Nov. 3, 1978
Episode 29 min
10+
Keywords: tmdb.wealthy, tmdb.orphan, tmdb.manhattan-new-york-city, tmdb.sitcom, tmdb.family-relationships, tmdb.class-differences, tmdb.widower + 53 more, tmdb.interracial-adoption, tmdb.adopted-child, tmdb.brother-brother-relationship, tmdb.african-american, imdb.famous-opening-theme, imdb.catch-phrase, imdb.9-year-old, imdb.13-year-old, imdb.8-year-old, imdb.12-year-old, imdb.laugh-track, imdb.bunk-bed, imdb.interracial-family, imdb.intentionally-misspelled-title, imdb.apostrophe-in-title, imdb.two-word-title, imdb.cult-tv, tmdb.child-care, imdb.1970s, imdb.1980s, imdb.manhattan-new-york-city, imdb.culture-clash, imdb.wealth, imdb.class-differences, imdb.adopted-child, imdb.adopted-son, imdb.little-boy, imdb.teenager, imdb.teenage-girl, imdb.housekeeper, imdb.maid, imdb.widower, imdb.millionaire, imdb.african-american, imdb.father-daughter-relationship, imdb.brother-sister-relationship, imdb.brother-brother-relationship, imdb.father-son-relationship, imdb.single-parent, imdb.single-father, imdb.orphan, imdb.interracial-adoption, imdb.family-relationships, imdb.new-york, imdb.child-actor, imdb.new-york-city, imdb.adoption, imdb.sitcom, imdb.sitcom-comedy, imdb.20th-century, imdb.child-abuse, imdb.bigotry, imdb.racism
Watch Providers: Tubi TV
Production Companies: Norman Lear/Tandem Productions, Embassy Television, Embassy Pictures Corporation, Tandem Productions
Network: ABC
Country: United States
Languages:
English
S6E1 - Mr. T and mr. t
Arnold's ecstasy over meeting his hero Mr. T goes from elation to emulation when the young girl he's trying to impress snubs him in favor of his idol. Former bouncer and bodyguard Mr. T, who came to national prominence as Sylvester Stallone's opponent in ""Rocky III"" and was the star of the hit television series ""The A-Team,"" makes a special guest appearance as ""The A-Team's"" B.A.
Oct. 1, 1983, midnight
S6E2 - The Goat
Arnold's first day at junior high is emotionally devastating when he's shunned for not measuring up to the expectations that everyone had for Willis Jackson's brother, but Arnold devises a risky scheme that he feels certain will elevate his prestige.
Oct. 15, 1983, midnight
S6E3 - Rashomon II
Drummond, Willis and Arnold bravely subdue a burglar who had been holding the family at gunpoint, but the arresting officer is befuddled when the three ""crime fighters"" relate differing versions of the apprehension.
Oct. 22, 1983, midnight
S6E4 - The Lie
Willis' seemingly harmless disregard for the truth turns dangerous when a self-serving lie about knowing CPR jeopardizes Arnold's life.
Oct. 29, 1983, midnight
S6E5 - Drafted
When 13-year-old Arnold is notified to register for the draft, Drummond's over reaction to the obvious error turns Arnold's dreams into nightmares.
Nov. 12, 1983, midnight
S6E6 - The Van Drummonds
A short visit to the United States by Phillip Drummond's Dutch cousin Anna and her son Hans becomes an eternity for Arnold and Willis, who are made scapegoats for cousin Hans' mischief.
Nov. 19, 1983, midnight
S6E7 - The Moonlighter
Arnold is disappointed to discover that his favorite teacher moonlights as a cocktail waitress, but he's stunned when he learns why she has to work the second job.
Nov. 26, 1983, midnight
S6E8 - Coming of Age
Kimberly's 18th birthday present from daddy -- a trust fund -- will make her a wealthy woman, but her free-spirited dreams of independence could be cut short when Drummond discovers just how she intends to spend her ""fortune.""
Dec. 3, 1983, midnight
S6E9 - Assert Yourself
Arnold turns a pal into an opponent when he resigns as Dudley's campaign manager and declares his own candiacy for class president.
Dec. 10, 1983, midnight
S6E10 - Mrs. Z
Drummond's provided with police protection of a most unusual kind after his charitable philanthrophy leads to a $1,000,000 extortion threat against him.
Dec. 17, 1983, midnight
S6E11 - The Senior Class Queen
When Kimberly starts a campaign to open the school's Lettermen's Club to female membership, an embarrassed Willis retaliates with chauvinistic aplomb by becoming the first male contestant in the Senior Class Beauty Pageant.
Jan. 7, 1984, midnight
S6E12 - Where There's Smoke
Arnold and Dudley succumb to peer pressure and ignore warnings against cigarette smoking, only to have the harsh realities brought to light by Dudley's father, a chronic smoker.
Jan. 14, 1984, midnight
S6E13 - Drummond's Lady
Arnold unwittingly solves his father's dilemma -- trying to make romance and finance go hand-in-hand -- when Drummond finds himself falling for an attractive local television aerobics instructor that his company is attempting to turn into an international success. Veteran Broadway and television actress Dixie Carter is introduced in the role of fitness instructor Maggie McKinney.
Jan. 21, 1984, midnight
S6E14 - The Hitchhikers (1) (a.k.a.) Hitchhiking (1)
Kimberly and Arnold break a long-standing family rule and face death when, on their return from a shopping trip, they find themselves short of cash and decide to hitch a ride home rather than call home for assistance.
Jan. 28, 1984, midnight
S6E15 - The Hitchhikers (2) (a.k.a.) Hitchhiking (2)
Hitchhiking leads to kidnapping for Arnold and Kimberly, but Arnold escapes and he is so disoriented he is unable to remember the location of the kidnapper's apartment so that the police can rescue Kimberly who's till being held captive.
Feb. 4, 1984, midnight
S6E16 - Hooray for Hollywood (1)
Upset over Maggie breaking off their relationship, Drummond chases her to Hollywood to win back her heart, but while he woos Maggie, Arnold and Dudley sneak away from a studio tour to find the star of Knight Rider and wind up in a life threatening situation.
Feb. 11, 1984, midnight
S6E17 - Hooray for Hollywood (2)
Arnold's joy over being saved from an explosion by ""Knight Rider's"" David Hasselhoff quickly turns to dismay when he learns his father is getting married and a little brother comes along with the package.
Feb. 18, 1984, midnight
S6E18 - The Wedding (1)
Maggie's reaction to a proposed pre-nuptial agreement threatens to hamper Phillip's happiness -- but could eliminate Arnold's fear about ""inheriting"" a strict new mother and a pesky little brother.
Feb. 25, 1984, midnight
S6E19 - The Wedding (2)
Their family and friends assembled, Phillip and Maggie meet at the altar, only to realize each has made a major mistake, in the concluding part of a special two-part story. Charlotte Rae, Dody Goodman, Janet Jackson and Nedra Volz, each of who had appeared in recurring roles on ""Diff'rent Strokes,"" return as their original characters for the Drummond nuptials.
Feb. 25, 1984, midnight
S6E20 - The Honeymoon's Over
Arnold and Pearl fall into a depression when Maggie and Phillip return from their honeymoon with a temporary eviction notice for Pearl, and orders for Arnold to babysit for his ""tag-along"" little brother Sam instead of going to a party.
March 3, 1984, midnight
S6E21 - The Bar Mitzvah Boy
In a quest for religion started by Maggie and his father, Arnold thinks he has found it after attending an impressive bar mitzvah where his friend ""Becomes a man"" at age 13.
March 17, 1984, midnight
S6E22 - Kathy's Olympics
The money for the National Wheelchair Games that Arnold's class has raised and entrusted to him is missing--leaving Arnold embarrassed and his family ""in the dumps.""
March 24, 1984, midnight
S6E23 - The Houseguest
Willis and Charlene's budding young love begins to wilt when she moves in as a temporary houseguest at the Drummond's. Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson's younger sister, returns in her role as Willis' girl friend Charlene.
May 5, 1984, midnight
S6E24 - The Boyfriend
Blinded by love, Kimberly takes an enormous and deceptive risk when she talks her father into allowing her to move into an apartment, allegedly with her girl friend.
May 12, 1984, midnight
Network: ABC
Episode Runtime: 29 min.
Season Runtime: 204 min.
Released: Nov. 3, 1978
Last Air Date: March 7, 1986, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: TV-PG
Common sense age: 10+
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