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The Best Episodes of Diff'rent Strokes Season 1

Every episode of Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Diff'rent Strokes Season 1!

The Best Episodes of Diff'rent Strokes Season 1

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...

Seasons8

  1. Background image for Movin' In
    7.2/10(185 votes)

    #1 - Movin' In

    S1:E1

    Multi-millionaire Phillip Drummond, who has agreed to the death-bed wish of his housekeeper to raise her two small sons as his own, welcomes 8-year-old Arnold and 12-year-old Willis into his lavish penthouse. Anxious to make them feel at home, he showers them with gifts and love -- and is puzzled when he learns that the boys are planning to sneak from the lap of luxury back to Harlem. Aiding Drummond in his effort to make the street-wise, ghetto youngsters feel welcome in the affluent white world are Drummond's new housekeeper Mrs. Garrett and his 13-year-old daughter Kimberly.

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    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for The Social Worker
    7.2/10(142 votes)

    #2 - The Social Worker

    S1:E2

    Arnold's eavesdropping leads to trouble when a misunderstanding causes Willis and him to think that Mr. Drummond no longer wants them around; he has heard Drummond tell a social worker that ""black children belong with black families.""

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    Writer:Unknown
  3. Background image for Mother's Last Visit
    7.0/10(140 votes)

    #3 - Mother's Last Visit

    S1:E3

    Mr. Drummond's socialite and rather snobbish mother arrives and finds there's a lot she doesn't like about her son's new sons, but she soon learns a valuable lesson about what's really important in a person.

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  4. Background image for Prep School
    7.0/10(124 votes)

    #4 - Prep School

    S1:E4

    When Mr. Drummond tries to get Arnold and Willis into an exclusive prep school, it turns out to be just a little too exclusive for everyone's tastes.

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    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for The Spanking
    7.1/10(135 votes)

    #5 - The Spanking

    S1:E5

    Arnold ignores warnings and continues to drop water balloons from the balcony. Mr. Drummond's decision to punish Arnold for the prank with a spanking becomes a learning lesson for Willis too, when he insists that he be the one to spank Arnold -- but where's Arnold?

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  6. Background image for Goodbye Dolly
    7.0/10(126 votes)

    #6 - Goodbye Dolly

    S1:E6

    When Arnold loses his favorite doll, he makes sure that his misery is shared equally by the various members of his household, who soon try everything to get it back.

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    Writer:Unknown
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  8. Background image for The Trial
    7.5/10(115 votes)

    #7 - The Trial

    S1:E7

    When Arnold is in trouble for putting his goldfish in Mr. Drummond's hot tub, Willis insists that it is wrong to convict him without a trial. The whole family, with Mrs. Garrett as judge, comes up with an important verdict.

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    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Retrospective (1)
    6.0/10(111 votes)

    #8 - Retrospective (1)

    S1:E8

    Mr. Drummond and family gather around their Christmas tree and recall the many humorous incidents that the family has shared since Arnold and Willis moved in. This special one-hour episode features highlights from previous shows.

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    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for Retrospective (2)
    7.3/10(114 votes)

    #9 - Retrospective (2)

    S1:E9

    Mr. Drummond and family gather around their Christmas tree and recall the many humorous incidents that the family has shared since Arnold and Willis moved in. This special one-hour episode features highlights from previous shows.

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    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for The Fight
    7.0/10(109 votes)

    #10 - The Fight

    S1:E10

    Willis puts Arnold in training to fight the local bully, but Mr. Drummond insists more civilized solutions be employed.

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    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for The Club Meeting
    7.3/10(110 votes)

    #11 - The Club Meeting

    S1:E11

    Willis invites his neighborhood club from Harlem to visit, but things get out of hand when he tries to impress them with his new wealth.

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    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for The Woman
    7.5/10(108 votes)

    #12 - The Woman

    S1:E12

    Mr. Drummond's intention to marry an attractive widow doesn't meet with his children's approval, and Arnold, Willis and Kimberly devise a scheme they hope will turn his ""romantic"" proposal into a disaster.

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    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for No Time for Arnold
    6.9/10(110 votes)

    #13 - No Time for Arnold

    S1:E13

    A lonely Arnold comes up with a method of gaining his family's attention. Unfortunately his plan works a little too well; he ends up with everyone's attention, including the family doctor.

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    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for The Relative
    7.1/10(108 votes)

    #14 - The Relative

    S1:E14

    LaWanda Page guest stars as a cousin of Willis and Arnold who, after seeing the boys in their comfortable new surroundings, knows she should stay closer to her long-lost little relatives.

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  16. Background image for The Tutor
    7.1/10(106 votes)

    #15 - The Tutor

    S1:E15

    Drummond hires a tutor for Willis and Arnold who does practically everything but teach.

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    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for The New Landlord
    7.3/10(110 votes)

    #16 - The New Landlord

    S1:E16

    The kids devise a scheme hoping to make Arnold convince the new landlord to let the family keep the penthouse.

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    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for Willis' Privacy
    6.9/10(98 votes)

    #17 - Willis' Privacy

    S1:E17

    To get rid of his pesky little brother, Willis divides the bedroom in half and spends more time at his friend's house.

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    Writer:Unknown
  19. Background image for Mrs. Garrett's Crisis
    6.7/10(104 votes)

    #18 - Mrs. Garrett's Crisis

    S1:E18

    When Mrs. Garrett decides her life as a housekeeper is unfulfilling, she ends up being a guest in the Drummond home, and then makes an important decision concerning the future.

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    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for The Job (a.k.a.) Willis' Job
    7.4/10(114 votes)

    #19 - The Job (a.k.a.) Willis' Job

    S1:E19

    In order to earn the money to buy disco skates, and to prove a point to Mr. Drummond, Willis gets a job...but is fired on his first working day.

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    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for The Trip (I)
    6.9/10(100 votes)

    #20 - The Trip (I)

    S1:E20

    The stars of "Diff'rent Strokes" and "Hello, Larry" get together in a special, hilarious hour in which Phillip Drummond realizes that the purchase of a Portland radio station could mean the loss of a job for his old friend Larry Alder. The crossover continues on Hello, Larry S01E10 The Trip (II).

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    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for The Trip (2)
    7.2/10(106 votes)

    #21 - The Trip (2)

    S1:E21

    The stars of "Diff'rent Strokes" and "Hello, Larry" get together in a special, hilarious hour in which Phillip Drummond realizes that the purchase of a Portland radio station could mean the loss of a job for his old friend Larry Alder. **Part two originally aired as an episode of "Hello, Larry".

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    Director:Unknown
  23. Background image for Getting Involved
    7.2/10(124 votes)

    #22 - Getting Involved

    S1:E22

    When Arnold is witness to a hold up, the robber tries to ensure that the youngster will not identify him.

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    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for Willis' Birthday
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Willis' Birthday

    S1:E23

    Willis is hurt when he thinks his family has forgotten his upcoming birthday. After dropping several unsubtle hints he discovers that not only has everyone remembered, but also his fondest wish has been granted -- a birthday party in his old Harlem neighborhood.

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    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for The Girls School (a.k.a.) Garrett's Girls
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #24 - The Girls School (a.k.a.) Garrett's Girls

    S1:E24

    Mrs. Garrett visits Kimberly's school and takes on its pushy principal with surprising results.

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    Writer:Unknown

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Movin' In" is the best rated episode of "Diff'rent Strokes" season 1. It scored 7.2/10 based on 185 votes. Directed by Herbert Kenwith and written by Unknown, it aired on 11/3/1978. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "The Social Worker".