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!
1980s sitcom staple centered around millionaire widower Phillip Drummond, daughter Kimberly, and adopted sons Arnold and Willis.
#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 - 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.
#3 - 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.
#4 - 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.
#5 - 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."
#6 - 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.
#7 - 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.
#8 - 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."
#9 - 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.
#10 - 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.
#11 - Burial Ground
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/7/1982
Drummond's company may destroy what could be an ancient Indian burial ground.
#12 - 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.
#13 - 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.
#14 - Room for One More
Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/6/1981
Dudley, fearing his foster father's lost job means he's headed back to the orphanage, cons Arnold into getting Drummond to consider adopting him into their family.
#15 - Arnold Faces Fatality (a.k.a.) The Will (a.k.a.) Drummond's Will
Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/19/1980
Arnold fears that his loved ones are checking out of his life when he stumbles upon Drummond's will and then uncovers the fact that his goldfish has given up the ghost.
#16 - The Squealer
Season 2 - Episode 26 - Aired 3/26/1980
Willis seeks comradeship as a member of the Tarantulas, a street gang, but finds only deceit as he gets caught in a web of misplace loyalties. Willis allows himself to be arrested rather than "squeal" on his fellow-gang members by telling the truth.
#17 - 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.
#18 - 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.
#19 - 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.
#20 - 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.
#21 - 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.
#22 - 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.
#23 - Tonsils
Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/8/1984
Drummond is a tower of strength for Sam as he prepares to have his tonsils removed, but what will happen when Drummond finds out he is to be Sam's roommate while having some "minor" knee surgery.
#24 - Arnold's Songbird
Season 7 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/15/1984
In order to be elected the entertainment chairman for a school charity fundraiser, Arnold promises to get a celebrity but when it's time to deliver, he's forced to look to his nemesis Carmella for help, hoping she can save the day.
#25 - Baseball Blues
Season 7 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/5/1985
Sam persuades a reluctant Mr. Drummond to become the coach of his bad news baseball team and then regrets it after he winds up on the bench.
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