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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!

Binge this in 1h 0m•Peaking at 7.5/10

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 1 - Movin' In
    7.2/10(199 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 2 - The Social Worker
    7.2/10(150 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.""

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 3 - Mother's Last Visit
    7.0/10(149 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Myles Wilder

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  4. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 4 - Prep School
    7.1/10(132 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 5 - The Spanking
    7.1/10(143 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?

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Seaman Jacobs

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  6. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 6 - Goodbye Dolly
    7.2/10(133 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 7 - The Trial
    7.5/10(121 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 8 - Retrospective (1)
    6.1/10(117 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 9 - Retrospective (2)
    7.4/10(121 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 10 - The Fight
    7.0/10(116 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 11 - The Club Meeting
    7.3/10(117 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 12 - The Woman
    7.5/10(115 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 13 - No Time for Arnold
    7.0/10(118 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 14 - The Relative
    7.1/10(116 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Seaman Jacobs

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  15. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 15 - The Tutor
    7.2/10(114 votes)

    #15 - The Tutor

    S1:E15

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

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 16 - The New Landlord
    7.3/10(117 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 17 - Willis' Privacy
    7.0/10(105 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 18 - Mrs. Garrett's Crisis
    6.8/10(111 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 19 - The Job (a.k.a.) Willis' Job
    7.3/10(123 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 20 - The Trip (I)
    6.9/10(106 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).

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 21 - The Trip (2)
    7.2/10(113 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".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Woody Kling

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  22. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 22 - Getting Involved
    7.0/10(129 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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 23 - Willis' Birthday
    0.0/10(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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Diff'rent Strokes Season 1 Episode 24 - The Girls School (a.k.a.) Garrett's Girls
    0.0/10(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.

    Director:Herbert Kenwith
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Movin' In" is the best rated episode of "Diff'rent Strokes" season 1. It scored 7.2/10 based on 199 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".