The WORST episodes of Diff'rent Strokes
Every episode of Diff'rent Strokes ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Diff'rent Strokes!
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.
#1 - 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."
#2 - Roommates
Season 5 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/12/1983
The household's turned upside down when Drummond becomes Arnold's roommate for a week.
#3 - The Reporter
Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/19/1983
Determined to prove he didn't fabricate a story about drug abuse in his grade school just to win a journalism contest, Arnold takes his article to the New York City newspaper sponsoring the competition, and when they run his story on the front page, Arnold receives some unexpected more support from First Lady Nancy Reagan.
#4 - Romeo and Juliet
Season 5 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/30/1983
Arnold's Romeo is steeped in more turmoil than Shakespeare ever intended when he's tricked by his "best friends" into playing opposite arch-nemisis Lisa's Juliet.
#5 - My Fair Larry (a.k.a.) My Fair Lady
Season 5 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/7/1983
School thug Larry coerces Willis into teaching him how to "make it" with girls, but things go from bad to worse when Larry's first target is Willis' sister Kimberly.
#6 - 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.
#7 - 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.
#8 - 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.
#9 - 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.
#10 - 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.
#11 - 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.
#12 - 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.
#13 - The Cricket
Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/5/1983
To try to curb Arnold's run of bad luck, Drummond gives him a pet cricket, but the Japanese "good luck charm" brings nothing but sleepless nights and dreams of "pesticide" to the rest of the household.
#14 - 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.
#15 - 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.
#16 - 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.
#17 - 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.
#18 - 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.
#19 - 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.
#20 - 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.
#21 - 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.
#22 - 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.
#23 - 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.
#24 - 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.
#25 - A Case of Overexposure (a.k.a.) Overexposure
Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/20/1982
Arnold must face the bare facts -- his chances of winning a prestigious school election seem desperately slim, thanks to an "overexposed" candid campaign photo taken by sister Kimberly.