The BEST episodes of Diff'rent Strokes season 6

Every episode of Diff'rent Strokes season 6, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Diff'rent Strokes season 6!

Two orphaned brothers, Arnold & Willis Jackson, are adopted by wealthy Manhattan widower Phillip Drummond when their mother (Drummond's maid) passes away. Along with Drummond's daughter Kimberly & housekeeper Mrs. Garrett, this family sitcom covers topics such as wealth- & racial- inequality. This was Gary Coleman's breakout role as short but sassy Arnold, whose catchphrase "What'choo talkin' 'bout?" became a national trend.

Last Updated: 11/2/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
Share:
The Goat
star
7.38
8 votes

#1 - The Goat

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/15/1983

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Amazon
The Van Drummonds
star
7.25
4 votes

#2 - The Van Drummonds

Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/19/1983

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Writer: Paul Haggis
Watch Now:Amazon
Hooray for Hollywood (1)
star
7.25
8 votes

#3 - Hooray for Hollywood (1)

Season 6 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/11/1984

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.

Watch Now:Amazon
Mr. T.... and Mr. T
star
7.20
10 votes

#4 - Mr. T.... and Mr. T

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/1/1983

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Amazon
The Houseguest
star
7.17
6 votes

#5 - The Houseguest

Season 6 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/5/1984

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Writer: Bruce Taylor
Watch Now:Amazon
Drummond's Lady
star
7.14
7 votes

#6 - Drummond's Lady

Season 6 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/21/1984

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Amazon
The Moonlighter
star
7.00
5 votes

#7 - The Moonlighter

Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/26/1983

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Amazon
Drafted
star
6.83
6 votes

#8 - Drafted

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/12/1983

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:Amazon
Rashomon II
star
6.80
5 votes

#9 - Rashomon II

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/22/1983

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
The Wedding (2)
star
6.80
5 votes

#10 - The Wedding (2)

Season 6 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/25/1984

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Writer: Ifa Baeza
Where There's Smoke
star
6.75
4 votes

#11 - Where There's Smoke

Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/14/1984

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Writer: Bruce Taylor
Mrs. Z
star
6.71
7 votes

#12 - Mrs. Z

Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/17/1983

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
The Lie
star
6.71
7 votes

#13 - The Lie

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/29/1983

Willis' seemingly harmless disregard for the truth turns dangerous when a self-serving lie about knowing CPR jeopardizes Arnold's life.

Directors: Gerren Keith
The Hitchhikers (2) (a.k.a.) Hitchhiking (2)
star
6.67
3 votes

#14 - The Hitchhikers (2) (a.k.a.) Hitchhiking (2)

Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/4/1984

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 still being held captive ... and this time, her captor (who, as will be revealed later) has done this before and is determined this time to succeed.

Directors: Gerren Keith
The Senior Class Queen
star
6.57
7 votes

#15 - The Senior Class Queen

Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/7/1984

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
The Bar Mitzvah Boy
star
6.57
7 votes

#16 - The Bar Mitzvah Boy

Season 6 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/17/1984

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.

Directors: Linda Day
Writer: Martin Cohan
Coming of Age
star
6.50
8 votes

#17 - Coming of Age

Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/3/1983

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."

Directors: Gerren Keith
The Hitchhikers (1) (a.k.a.) Hitchhiking (1)
star
6.50
4 votes

#18 - The Hitchhikers (1) (a.k.a.) Hitchhiking (1)

Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/28/1984

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Hooray for Hollywood (2)
star
6.50
4 votes

#19 - Hooray for Hollywood (2)

Season 6 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/18/1984

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.

The Boyfriend
star
6.50
4 votes

#20 - The Boyfriend

Season 6 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/12/1984

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
The Wedding (1)
star
6.40
5 votes

#21 - The Wedding (1)

Season 6 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/25/1984

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
The Honeymoon's Over
star
6.25
4 votes

#22 - The Honeymoon's Over

Season 6 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/3/1984

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.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Kathy's Olympics
star
6.25
4 votes

#23 - Kathy's Olympics

Season 6 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/24/1984

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."

Directors: Ellen Gittelsohn
Assert Yourself
star
6.00
3 votes

#24 - Assert Yourself

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/10/1983

Arnold turns a pal into an opponent when he resigns as Dudley's campaign manager and declares his own candiacy for class president.

Directors: Gerren Keith