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 - Hall Monitor
Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/26/1983
Arnold's good intentions backfire when his efforts to help his handicapped friend Kathy adjust to life in public school cost him the esteem of his classmates and the friendship of pals Dudley and Robbie.
#2 - Family on Ice
Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/19/1983
Kimberly is overjoyed when Olympic Gold Medalist Dorothy Hamill sees great promise in her as a competitive figure skater, but she's even more astounded when Drummond agrees to let her leave the New York "nest" to train full time with the award-winning skater... in Los Angeles.
#3 - 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.
#4 - 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.
#5 - Stress? What Stress?
Season 4 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/22/1982
Stress is diagnosed as the cause of hard-working Drummond's frequent attacks of pain, but suddenly young, healthy and "normal" Willis learns that he, too, is a prime candidate for the same debilitating "attacks."
#6 - Burial Ground
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/7/1982
Drummond's company may destroy what could be an ancient Indian burial ground.
#7 - 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.
#8 - Have I Got a Girl for You
Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/8/1982
Aunt Sophia's matchmaking unites an unsuspecting Drummond with her "working-class" hairdresser, but a slip of Arnold's tongue ignites charges that Drummond is a snob, turning a "budding romance" into a roaring feud.
#9 - Almost American
Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/1/1981
Arnold's dejection at being grounded for a "D" on a history test turns to inspiration after an immigrant studying for naturalization introduces him to another perspective on America.
#10 - B.M.O.C.
Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/25/1982
Willis' obsession with joining an "exclusive" high school club rocks the Drummond household and leaves several victims in its wake, including a shaken Arnold who takes his brother's "insensitive" actions to heart.
#11 - Undercover Lover
Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/20/1984
Willis becomes the middleman in a police effort to halt use and trafficking of drugs at his high school.
#12 - Green Hair
Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/1/1982
An adamant Drummond ignores sister Sophia's pleas to get involved in a group effort to combat air pollution, until Kimberly becomes victimized by the unnatural phenomenon.
#13 - The Peacemaker
Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/30/1982
Willis' personal safety is in jeopardy when his noble attempt to mediate a feud between rival gangs backfires, forcing him to take a drastic step to insure his protection -- purchasing a handgun.
#14 - Beauty is in the Eye of Arnold
Season 7 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/2/1985
Arnold is faced with a dilemma when his friends insist he take a cute cheerleader to the dance instead of the girl Arnold really likes who they consider an "ugly duckling."
#15 - 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.
#16 - Independent Woman
Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/22/1983
A new job and a handsome new boss add up to trouble for an innocent Kimberly when her new employer starts displaying a more than casual interest in her -- hoping that his "special attention" will help land him a position within Drummond's prestigious company.
#17 - Cyrano De Jackson
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/16/1982
Arnold's on the outs with his best friend Dudley after he innocently offers to help his bashful buddy win the heart of a young lady -- who falls for Arnold instead.
#18 - Lifesavers
Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/15/1982
A quick-thinking, fast-acting Willis saves Arnold from a near-fatal accident and in doing so unleashes an adoring monster who dedicates his life to repaying his "hero."
#19 - Hello, Daddy
Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/14/1982
Does Drummond have a third son? There's a young man at the door who thinks so.
#20 - The Gymnasts
Season 7 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/1/1984
Drummond's surprise meant to encourage an Olympic hopeful felled by a tragic accident backfires when the young man instead becomes embittered at meeting the 1984 Men's Olympic Gold Medal-winning Gymnastics Team until Willis and Sam take on the challenge of setting things right.
#21 - Crime Story (Part 2) (a.k.a.) Crime in the Schools
Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/18/1982
Arnold doesn't know when to leave well enough alone after Willis comes to his rescue, he gets himself involved in an "undercover" scheme to capture the "punks" at school who have been harassing him.
#22 - Push Comes to Shove
Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/4/1982
Arnold's unexpected confrontation with the new building manager's son leads to a chilling series of events that could get the entire Drummond family evicted.
#23 - Short But Sweet
Season 4 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/13/1982
Arnold feels shortchanged, he's growing older but he's not getting any taller and he's convinced that's the reason why he doesn't have a girlfriend.
#24 - The Executives
Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/11/1982
Willis learns that even a little power in the wrong hands can be dangerous when he oversteps the bounds of his authority in his afterschool job at his father's office.
#25 - Sam's Missing (1)
Season 8 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/1985
A family whose little boy died, forces the father to kidnap Sam, who is shopping for some snacks in a grocery store. After the kidnapping, the man threatens to kill Sam's parents if he attempts in any way to escape.