Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes is a sitcom that centered around millionaire widower Phillip Drummond, his two black adopted sons Arnold and Willis, and daughter Kimberly. Later seasons saw Drummond remarry and bring a new child, Sam, into the family. The show lasted eight seasons on two networks.
Main Cast
Gary Colemanas Arnold Jackson
Conrad Bainas Phillip Drummond
Todd Bridgesas Willis Jackson
Dana Platoas Kimberly Drummond
Mary Jo Catlettas Pearl Gallagher
Danny Cookseyas Sam McKinney
Dixie Carteras Maggie McKinney Drummond
Mary Ann Mobleyas Maggie McKinney Drummond
Charlotte Raeas Edna Garrett
Episode Guide
Season 1
- Episode 1: Movin' In
Aired: Nov 3, 1978In the series' first episode, millionaire Phillip Drummond takes in two Harlem orphans.
- Episode 2: The Social Worker
Aired: Nov 10, 1978A social worker checks up on the adoptees in the Drummond home.
- Episode 3: Mother's Last Visit
Aired: Nov 17, 1978Drummond is paid a surprise visit by his status-conscious mother.
- Episode 4: Prep School
Aired: Nov 24, 1978Drummond wants to send the kids to his boyhood prep school.
- Episode 5: The Spanking
Aired: Dec 1, 1978Drummond must decide how to discipline Arnold for tossing water bombs off the balcony.
- Episode 6: Goodbye Dolly
Aired: Dec 8, 1978The ratty doll Arnold sleeps with is accidentally sold.
- Episode 7: The Trial
Aired: Dec 15, 1978Drummond's teachings about justice backfire when he must give Arnold a fair trial for his misdeeds.
- Episode 8: Retrospective - Part 1
Aired: Dec 29, 1978Clips from early episodes are featured as the Drummonds spend Christmas reminiscing about humorous incidents.
- Episode 9: Retrospective - Part 2
Aired: Dec 29, 1978Life in the household is recalled in clips from early episodes.
- Episode 10: The Fight
Aired: Jan 5, 1979A bully's after Arnold and Willis wants him to fight back, while Drummond wants peace talks.
- Episode 11: The Club Meeting
Aired: Jan 12, 1979The boys show off their new home to their old friends.
- Episode 12: The Woman
Aired: Jan 19, 1979Arnold, Willis and Kimberly are out to foil Drummond's plan to marry a widow
- Episode 13: No Time for Arnold
Aired: Jan 26, 1979Feeling ignored, Arnold feigns bed-wetting to attract attention.
- Episode 14: The Relative
Aired: Feb 2, 1979The boys' cousin Muriel arrives, and she's as broke as she is likable.
- Episode 15: The Tutor
Aired: Feb 9, 1979Basketball-team captain Willis gets some bad news: get better grades or quit the team.
- Episode 16: The New Landlord
Aired: Feb 16, 1979The new landlord decides to evict families with preteens.
- Episode 17: Willis' Privacy
Aired: Feb 23, 1979Willis's demand for privacy sparks a feud with Arnold
- Episode 18: Mrs. Garrett's Crisis
Aired: Mar 2, 1979A reunion with successful friends convinces Mrs. Garrett of her own failure.
- Episode 19: The Job
Aired: Mar 16, 1979A frantic Willis keeps up pretenses after he's fired the first day on a job.
- Episode 20: The Trip - Part 1
Aired: Mar 30, 1979Drummond and his brood journey to Oregon to see his latest acquisition---the radio station where an old Army buddy holds forth. The Trip was a backdoor pilot for TV series "Hello Larry".
- Episode 21: The Trip - Part 2
Aired: Mar 30, 1979Drummond and his brood visit his newly purchased radio station and an old Army buddy. The Trip was a backdoor pilot for TV series "Hello Larry".
- Episode 22: Getting Involved
Aired: Apr 6, 1979Arnold perseveres in an uphill struggle to bring a holdup man to justice.
- Episode 23: Willis's Birthday
Aired: Apr 13, 1979Willis has a special birthday request: a party back in his Harlem neighborhood with his old buddies.
- Episode 24: The Girls' School
Aired: May 4, 1979Mrs. Garrett finds teen pandemonium when she visits Kimberly's school in a backdoor pilot for TV series "The Facts of Life".
Season 2
- Episode 1: Arnold's Girlfriend - Part 1
Aired: Sep 21, 1979Arnold is hospitalized and falls for a young white girl.
- Episode 2: Arnold's Girlfriend - Part 2
Aired: Sep 21, 1979Arnold and Alice decide to run away together.
- Episode 3: Feudin' and Fussin' - Part 1
Aired: Sep 28, 1979The cast of "Hello, Larry" visits the Drummonds.
- Episode 4: Feudin' and Fussin' - Part 2
Aired: Sep 28, 1979Drummond's friend Larry auditions as a TV talk-show host in New York.
- Episode 5: Mrs. Garrett's Romance
Aired: Oct 12, 1979Eyebrows are raised when Mrs. Garrett gets involved with a younger man
- Episode 6: Birds and Bees
Aired: Oct 19, 1979Willis's explanation of the facts of life leads Arnold to think eating salmon causes pregnancy.
- Episode 7: Arnold's Hero (a.k.a.) The Hero
Aired: Oct 24, 1979Willis and Kimberly write to Muhammad Ali and tell him that Arnold's last wish is to meet the champ.
- Episode 8: The Adoption - Part 1
Aired: Oct 31, 1979As Drummond completes adoption legalities, Jethro L. Simpson shows up with a will leaving the boys a fortune.
- Episode 9: The Adoption - Part 2
Aired: Nov 7, 1979Drummond drops adoption proceedings because of Jethro's faked proof of guardianship over Arnold and Willis.
- Episode 10: Father and Son Day
Aired: Nov 14, 1979Larry Moore is drawn into Willis's scheme to win a health club's father-son athletic competition
- Episode 11: Thanksgiving Crossover - Part 1
Aired: Nov 28, 1979A misunderstanding turns the Adlers' visit into a family feud.
- Episode 12: Thanksgiving Crossover - Part 2
Aired: Nov 28, 1979The misunderstanding threatens Drummond and Larry's friendship
- Episode 13: The Rivals
Aired: Dec 5, 1979A sixth-grade temptress flirts with Arnold to get close to her target---Willis
- Episode 14: Hot Watch
Aired: Dec 12, 1979The boys' distrust of the law makes them hide a stolen watch they found.
- Episode 15: The Dog Story (a.k.a.) A Dog Story
Aired: Dec 19, 1979Arnold may have been bitten by a rabid dog he saved from a car.
- Episode 16: The Election
Aired: Jan 9, 1980Drummond runs for city council; a new housekeeper arrives.
- Episode 17: Friendly-Mate
Aired: Jan 16, 1980The boys visit a computer-dating service to get a mate for their father.
- Episode 18: Poor Drummond
Aired: Jan 23, 1980Convinced that Drummond is going bankrupt, Arnold and Willis rush to the welfare office to get $30 million.
- Episode 19: Big Business
Aired: Jan 30, 1980A brownie business turns the household into a hotbed of labor disputes.
- Episode 20: Return of the Gooch
Aired: Feb 6, 1980After a karate course, Arnold wants to challenge his archenemy to a fight.
- Episode 21: Valentine's Day Retrospective (a.k.a.) Valentine's Vigil
Aired: Feb 13, 1980Valentine's Day finds the boys reminiscing about their experiences as Drummond's "sons," including an encounter with Muhammad Ali.
- Episode 22: Skin Deep or True Blue (a.k.a.) Guess Who?
Aired: Feb 20, 1980Kimberly falls for a boy who turns out to be a bigot.
- Episode 23: Teacher's Pet
Aired: Feb 27, 1980Classmates tease Arnold when Drummond starts dating the teacher.
- Episode 24: The Slumber Party
Aired: Mar 12, 1980Drummond's quiet dinner date with a friend is sabotaged by the kids' slumber party.
- Episode 25: Arnold Faces Fatality (a.k.a.) The Will (a.k.a.) Drummond's Will
Aired: Mar 19, 1980Arnold thinks everything he loves is leaving him after his goldfish dies and he finds Drummond's will.
- Episode 26: The Squealer
Aired: Mar 26, 1980Against Drummond's orders, Willis joins a gang and gets arrested for painting graffiti.
Season 3
- Episode 1: The Bank Job - Part 1
Aired: Nov 12, 1980Arnold's first date is held up when he and Willis are taken hostage during a holdup.
- Episode 2: The Bank Job - Part 2
Aired: Nov 12, 1980Drummond tries to negotiate with the bank robbers holding Arnold and Willis hostage.
- Episode 3: Small Claims Court
Aired: Nov 19, 1980Arnold takes a hobby shop to small-claims court over a defective electric train.
- Episode 4: Substitute Mother
Aired: Nov 26, 1980Arnold is so taken with the temporary housekeeper that he concocts a romantic scheme to make her Drummond's new wife.
- Episode 5: The Accident - Part 1
Aired: Dec 3, 1980Drummond is hospitalized with a serious injury.
- Episode 6: The Accident - Part 2
Aired: Dec 3, 1980While Drummond is hospitalized, his partner takes control of the business.
- Episode 7: Little Mother
Aired: Dec 10, 1980A telephone message has even Drummond thinking that Kimberly is pregnant
- Episode 8: Football Father
Aired: Dec 17, 1980Drummond quietly intercedes when Arnold is rejected by a peewee football team.
- Episode 9: First Love
Aired: Dec 31, 1980Arnold helps Willis with a romantic intrigue
- Episode 10: Count Your Blessings
Aired: Jan 7, 1981Drummond arranges for Arnold to see two people who might ease the boy's concern about his size.
- Episode 11: The Loan
Aired: Jan 14, 1981Arnold helps the doorman finance a long shot at the race track.
- Episode 12: Roots
Aired: Jan 21, 1981The boys try to prove to old friends that they haven't forgotten their roots.
- Episode 13: Junk Food Junkie (a.k.a.) Junk Food
Aired: Jan 28, 1981Arnold's poor dental checkup and a visit by health-minded Aunt Sophia spark Drummond's crusade to rid the school of junk-food machines.
- Episode 14: The Bus
Aired: Feb 4, 1981A threatening telephone call casts a pall on Arnold's happy participation in a school program.
- Episode 15: The Older Man
Aired: Feb 25, 1981Disguised by makeup, 15-year-old Kimberly goes out with an "older man" who thinks she's ripe for romance
- Episode 16: Where There's Hope
Aired: Mar 4, 1981Arnold balks at inviting the girl next door to his party, but his attitude changes when he learns she's hospitalized.
- Episode 17: The Magician (a.k.a.) It's Magic
Aired: Mar 11, 1981Magician Arnold "disappears" when a writer visits to do a story on the household.
- Episode 18: Drummond's Fair Lady
Aired: Mar 18, 1981Drummond finds his new division director quite charming despite the fact that everyone else dislikes her
- Episode 19: The Ancestors
Aired: Mar 25, 1981Drummond learns that he's heir to property in Harlem that was owned by his ancestor, a slave trader.
- Episode 20: Almost American
Aired: Apr 1, 1981The trials of an immigrant seeking citizenship provide a lesson for Arnold, who has been failing in American history. A failed backdoor pilot for a spinoff series.
- Episode 21: Room for One More
Aired: May 6, 1981A classmate who fears he's about to lose his foster home cons Arnold into persuading Drummond to adopt him.
- Episode 22: The Athlete
Aired: May 13, 1981An unscrupulous baseball coach tries to get Willis to switch schools and join his team.
Season 4
- Episode 1: Growing Up
Aired: Oct 29, 1981Willis plans to make love to Charlene for the first time.
- Episode 2: First Day Blues
Aired: Nov 5, 1981Willis has trouble making friends at his new school, until it's discovered that his family is rich, so he gets asked to buy marijuana for a party.
- Episode 3: The Model
Aired: Nov 12, 1981Kimberly's job leads to her beginning a modeling career.
- Episode 4: The Team
Aired: Nov 19, 1981Willis want to sue the school because their Affirmative Action policy affects him, meaning he won't be on the team.
- Episode 5: The Big Heist
Aired: Nov 26, 1981Arnold attempts to steal an expensive comic book to get into the Gooch's club and gets taken to court when he's caught.
- Episode 6: Double Date (a.k.a.) Blind Date
Aired: Dec 3, 1981Arnold gets his first date with a girl he likes, but things turn sour when Dudley butts in on them.
- Episode 7: The Ski Weekend
Aired: Dec 10, 1981Kimberly goes on a ski trip with her friend, but doesn't let the family know that there will be boys there. Mr. Drummond and Willis end up surprising her by paying an unannounced visit, but get surprised themselves when they see the boys.
- Episode 8: Health Club
Aired: Dec 17, 1981Arnold and Willis try to get into Mr. Drummond's health club, but are turned away because they are black. When Drummond is honored by the club, a confrontation takes place.
- Episode 9: Burial Ground
Aired: Jan 7, 1982Drummond's building project is discovered to be on the site of an Indian burial ground, which leads to a conflict with a member of the Indian tribe.
- Episode 10: Hello, Daddy
Aired: Jan 14, 1982The son of a woman Mr. Drummond knew during the Korean War shows up claiming that Mr. Drummond is his father. This leads to a reunion with the woman and the truth about who the father really is.
- Episode 11: Jilted
Aired: Jan 21, 1982When Charlene feels Willis is taking her for granted, she dumps him. Willis soon hears she's seeing another guy and he decides it's time to move on, but Arnold has plans to bring them back together.
- Episode 12: Dreams
Aired: Jan 28, 1982Arnold begins having nightmares after he finds out Mr. Drummond is going on a business trip, so a therapist is needed to unlock Arnold's fears.
- Episode 13: Kathy
Aired: Feb 4, 1982Arnold gets reassurance from Kathy when he plays Abraham Lincoln in a school play, but when he tries to get her to use her crutches instead of sitting in a wheelchair, she is furious and blows his confidence before showtime.
- Episode 14: Fire
Aired: Feb 11, 1982A fire has the family trapped in the building and when smoke starts coming through the vents, it makes everyone think the end is near.
- Episode 15: The Squatter
Aired: Feb 18, 1982A woman becomes a squatter in the Drummonds' house after she is forced out of her apartment due to a condominium conversion Mr. Drummond is involved with.
- Episode 16: The Car
Aired: Feb 25, 1982Willis takes the car out without Mr. Drummond's permission in order to pick up Charlene for a date and gets in trouble when he hits a police officer's motorcycle.
- Episode 17: Crime Story (Part 1) (a.k.a.) Crime in the Schools
Aired: Mar 11, 1982Arnold and Dudley are harassed by two bullies who force them to hand over their lunch and money. Willis decides to interfere and gets more than he bargained for.
- Episode 18: Crime Story (Part 2) (a.k.a.) Crime in the Schools
Aired: Mar 18, 1982After Willis is hospitalized for trying to stop the bullies, Arnold is asked to participate in a sting operation to nab them. When Mr. Drummond refuses to allow this, Arnold takes matters into his own hands, as he feels responsible for what happened to Willis.
- Episode 19: B.M.O.C.
Aired: Mar 25, 1982Willis lets his potential membership in an exclusive club go to his head, but falls hard when he alienates the club members.
- Episode 20: Green Hair
Aired: Apr 1, 1982Kimberly's hair turns green before a date, due to using a copper bowl affected by acid rain to wash her hair, which gets the Drummond family talking about how to help the environment.
- Episode 21: Have I Got a Girl for You
Aired: Apr 8, 1982Mr. Drummond has a good time going out with a hairdresser, but when he doesn't invite her to a posh party, she feels like he is secretly embarrassed by her.
- Episode 22: Lifesavers
Aired: Apr 15, 1982Willis saves Arnold's life, so Arnold feels obligated to dote on him constantly. In order to get Arnold off his back, he sets up a fake robbery at his job so Arnold can save him and even the score. When Arnold finds out what Willis is up to, he decides to have a little fun with the "robber," not knowing that a real robber has come to hold up the place.
- Episode 23: Stress? What Stress?
Aired: Apr 22, 1982Willis finds out he has very high stress levels, so Mr. Drummond wants him to lay off on his extracurricular activities, much to Willis' chagrin.
- Episode 24: The Music Man
Aired: May 6, 1982Willis joins a musical group and wants Charlene to join as well, but Kimberly ends up impressing his bandmates so much that they want her in the group instead.
- Episode 25: Short But Sweet
Aired: May 13, 1982Arnold isn't interested in celebrating his birthday because he feels girls aren't interested in him, particularly one girl he really likes, but things change when he invites the girl to his party. However, his intentions aren't made clear and she comes to the party with someone else.
- Episode 26: On Your Toes
Aired: May 20, 1982Arnold attends Kimberly's ballet recital and decides he wants to learn ballet, which makes Willis very uncomfortable and he tries to put a stop to it.
Season 5
- Episode 1: Shoot-Out at the O.K. Arcade
Aired: Oct 2, 1982Arnold tries to outdo Willis on an arcade game, but constant playing takes a toll on his schoolwork.
- Episode 2: In the Swim
Aired: Oct 9, 1982Kimberly decides to transfer to Willis' school and gets into a confrontation when she tries to join the all-male swim team. The Drummonds get a new housekeeper named Pearl.
- Episode 3: Cyrano De Jackson
Aired: Oct 16, 1982Arnold offers to help his bashful buddy Dudley win the affections of a young lady-- who falls for Arnold instead.
- Episode 4: Big Brother
Aired: Oct 23, 1982After learning that Joey, a new boy at his school has no friends, Arnold takes it upon himself to befriend him and take him home to meet his family. While there, he convinces Willis to become a "big brother" to Joey. As a result, everyone at the Drummond household take such a shine to Joey, that Arnold becomes jealous and decides to run away.
- Episode 5: The Peacemaker
Aired: Oct 30, 1982Willis tries to negotiate peace between two rival groups of students at his school, but when one of the students, Larry, has his stuff stolen, Willis becomes the prime suspect and is forced to get a gun to protect himself.
- Episode 6: Substitute Teacher
Aired: Nov 6, 1982A substitute teacher makes life hard for Arnold and Dudley, so they try to make things difficult for him in return. When one of their pranks leads to Arnold getting hit by accident, they go to the principal and tell him that it was done on purpose, which gets the teacher in trouble and nearly gets him fired until Arnold and Dudley come clean about what really happened.
- Episode 7: The Older Woman
Aired: Nov 13, 1982Willis wears a fake mustache to get into a club and lands a date with the waitress.
- Episode 8: A Case of Overexposure (a.k.a.) Overexposure
Aired: Nov 20, 1982When Kimberly submits a candid picture of Arnold with his butt exposed to a photo contest, he is infuriated and demands that Kimberly withdraw it, but the picture remains in the contest by mistake and almost ruins Arnold's chances of winning the class election.
- Episode 9: Memories
Aired: Nov 27, 1982Arnold takes it hard when he hears his mother's voice again on an old audio tape and pretends to lose the tape permanently.
- Episode 10: Push Comes to Shove
Aired: Dec 4, 1982Arnold's confrontation with the son of the new building manager leads to Mr. Drummond punching the manager in the face and almost gets the family thrown out of the building.
- Episode 11: The Executives
Aired: Dec 11, 1982Arnold, Kimberly and Willis get jobs at Mr. Drummond's company, but when Willis finds out that minority kids don't have the same opportunities at employment, he goes undercover to see for himself and goes too far.
- Episode 12: Santa's Helper
Aired: Dec 18, 1982Arnold helps out a street corner Santa Claus, who takes advantage of Arnold and his family's kindness by robbing the Drummonds.
- Episode 13: A Growing Problem
Aired: Jan 8, 1983Willis is forbidden to go to a party when Mr. Drummond finds out there will be drinking there. After Willis disobeys and is caught, he decides to move in with Jerry and ends up in a car crash.
- Episode 14: Parents Have Rights, Too
Aired: Jan 15, 1983Mr. Drummond sneaks around behind the kids' backs while dating his tax attorney and invites her over to the apartment while the rest of the family's away, but when they return early, Mr. Drummond has to explain her presence.
- Episode 15: Independent Woman
Aired: Jan 22, 1983Kimberly stops working at Mr. Drummond's company and takes a job at a burger place, but is sexually harassed by her boss. When he finds out that Kimberly's family is wealthy and live on Park Avenue, he apologizes and ends up becoming romantically involved with her, for the purpose of advancing in her dad's company. Arnold soon learns what he is up to and tells Kimberly.
- Episode 16: The Bicycle Man (1)
Aired: Feb 5, 1983Arnold and Dudley become friends with the owner of a local bicycle shop named Henry, unaware that he is a pedophile looking for his next victim.
- Episode 17: The Bicycle Man (2)
Aired: Feb 12, 1983Drummond and Mr. Ramsey learn the truth about Mr. Horton, the seemingly friendly bicycle shop owner with a very sinister side. It soon becomes a race against time to get details out of Arnold after learning that Dudley is about to become Mr. Horton's latest victim.
- Episode 18: Family on Ice
Aired: Feb 19, 1983Kimberly impresses professional skater Dorothy Hamill with her ice skating and is taken under her wing. However, Kimberly is overwhelmed by the hard work it takes to become a professional skater and devises a way out.
- Episode 19: Hall Monitor
Aired: Feb 26, 1983Kathy transfers to Arnold's school and is treated very poorly because of her disability. When she becomes hall monitor, she rules with an iron fist and doles out demerits to everyone except Arnold. When Arnold feels the heat from his friends over getting away with everything, he tries to get Kathy to lighten up, but she refuses and gets tough with Arnold instead.
- Episode 20: The Cricket
Aired: Mar 5, 1983When Arnold faces a streak of bad luck, he is given a lucky cricket to help him out. Arnold's fortunes soon change and he tries to use the cricket to get out of trouble with the Gooch, but the cricket escapes and Arnold has to come up with a back-up plan.
- Episode 21: Roommates
Aired: Mar 12, 1983Mr. Drummond trades rooms with Willis while he is busy studying for exams. However, sharing a room with Arnold leads to discomfort for Mr. Drummond, while Arnold finds much humor at his expense.
- Episode 22: The Reporter
Aired: Mar 19, 1983Arnold struggles to find a subject for the school's journalism contest. When he discovers that drugs are being sold at the school, he sets up a meeting with the dealer so he can write about it. First Lady Nancy Reagan speaks to his class about the dangers of drug use.
- Episode 23: Romeo and Juliet
Aired: Apr 30, 1983Arnold is tricked into playing Romeo opposite Lisa's Juliet in a class play. Although Arnold works hard for his performance, Lisa is overcome with stage fright and Arnold has to help her out.
- Episode 24: My Fair Larry (a.k.a.) My Fair Lady
Aired: May 7, 1983Willis' classmate Larry wants his help to get a date with a girl at school, so Willis gets Kimberly to assist him, but Larry falls in love with her.
Season 6
- Episode 1: Mr. T....and Mr. t
Aired: Oct 1, 1983When an episode of The A-Team is filmed in the Drummonds' apartment, Arnold has to compete with Mr. T for the affection of Dudley's cousin Angela, so Arnold tries to turn himself into a mini Mr. T, with embarrassing results.
- Episode 2: The Goat
Aired: Oct 15, 1983When Arnold is given the cold shoulder from teachers and classmates at his new school, he concocts a plan to steal the school mascot and pretend to rescue it to get some positive attention, but he gets in trouble with the family when the goat gets loose in the apartment.
- Episode 3: Rashomon II
Aired: Oct 22, 1983A burglar holds the family hostage in the apartment, but is knocked out and arrested. Mr. Drummond, Willis and Arnold all have different interpretations of what happened, but Pearl, who was in the kitchen and saw everything, tells Kimberly what really took place.
- Episode 4: The Lie
Aired: Oct 29, 1983Willis lies to Arnold about knowing first aid in order to get a job at the school carnival, but when Arnold gets an electrical shock, Willis doesn't know how to save him. He later confesses to Arnold what happened and Arnold is angry when he finds out the truth.
- Episode 5: Drafted
Aired: Nov 12, 1983A computer error leads to Arnold getting mail to sign up with the Selective Service System, even though he is too young. When Mr. Drummond complains, he is visited by the authorities, leading Arnold to think he will be drafted.
- Episode 6: The Van Drummonds
Aired: Nov 19, 1983Mr. Drummond's cousin Anna and her son Hans visit the family. As soon as they arrive, Hans starts causing trouble and blames Arnold and Willis for it.
- Episode 7: The Moonlighter
Aired: Nov 26, 1983Arnold finds out his favorite teacher is moonlighting at a gentlemen's club and sneaks into the club to find out if it's true.
- Episode 8: Coming of Age
Aired: Dec 3, 1983Kimberly finds out she'll be getting a trust fund on her 18th birthday and has plans to travel to Europe. When Mr. Drummond refuses to support her decision and threatens to keep the money from her until she's older, Kimberly plans to work as an au pair for a European family.
- Episode 9: Assert Yourself
Aired: Dec 10, 1983Arnold plans to have Dudley run for class president so he can control him behind the scenes. When Arnold sees that Dudley isn't doing things the way he wants him to, he decides to run against him. In the end, both lose out to a third candidate.
- Episode 10: Mrs. Z
Aired: Dec 17, 1983After Mr. Drummond becomes the target of an extortionist, he hires an imposing female bodyguard to protect his family.
- Episode 11: The Senior Class Queen
Aired: Jan 7, 1984When Kimberly tries to get into Willis' all-male letterman's club at school, he gets back at her by becoming a contestant in the school's beauty pageant.
- Episode 12: Where There's Smoke
Aired: Jan 14, 1984Arnold takes up smoking cigarettes to impress the kids at school, but ruins his brand new sweater when he gets burning ashes on it. He then learns the dangers of smoking from Dudley's father, who is in need of surgery because of his habit.
- Episode 13: Drummond's Lady
Aired: Jan 21, 1984Mr. Drummond tries to make a business deal with exercise instructor Maggie McKinney and falls in love with her.
- Episode 14: The Hitchhikers (1) (a.k.a.) Hitchhiking (1)
Aired: Jan 28, 1984Arnold and Kimberly hitchhike to get home for Mr. Drummond's birthday party and are picked up by a man who takes them to his apartment and tries to have his way with Kimberly.
- Episode 15: The Hitchhikers (2) (a.k.a.) Hitchhiking (2)
Aired: Feb 4, 1984Arnold escapes from the kidnapper and makes it home, but leaves Kimberly behind and can't remember where she is. A policeman helps Arnold remember by hypnotizing him and getting him to reveal the license plate number of the kidnapper so the police can track him down to arrest him.
- Episode 16: Hooray for Hollywood (1)
Aired: Feb 11, 1984Mr. Drummond travels to Hollywood and proposes to Maggie and finds out she has a young son named Sam. Meanwhile, Arnold and Dudley try to meet the star of Knight Rider and sneak into a car on the set that's about to be blown up.
- Episode 17: Hooray for Hollywood (2)
Aired: Feb 18, 1984David Hasselhoff rescues Arnold and Dudley just in time and the rest of the family find out about Mr. Drummond's marriage plans. Arnold is less than thrilled, especially when he finds out he's getting a new little brother as part of the deal.
- Episode 18: The Wedding (1)
Aired: Feb 25, 1984Arrangements are being made for the wedding between Mr. Drummond and Maggie and Maggie becomes furious when she finds out that Mr. Drummond's lawyer suggested a pre-nuptial agreement.
- Episode 19: The Wedding (2)
Aired: Feb 25, 1984The wedding is about to take place, until Maggie and Mr. Drummond realize that neither of them called anybody to perform the ceremony.
- Episode 20: The Honeymoon's Over
Aired: Mar 3, 1984Mr. Drummond and Maggie return from their honeymoon and find out that Arnold had been taking advantage of Sam while they were away.
- Episode 21: The Bar Mitzvah Boy
Aired: Mar 17, 1984When Arnold loses interest in attending church, he tries to find a religion more to his liking, so he decides to convert to Judaism, but is convinced otherwise by a rabbi.
- Episode 22: Kathy's Olympics
Aired: Mar 24, 1984Arnold is in charge of keeping donations for a fundraising drive at school, but loses the money when he puts it in an old pair of shoes that gets thrown out, so the rest of the family has to dig through the garbage to find them. Fortunately for Arnold, Sam saved the shoes and money from being thrown away.
- Episode 23: The Houseguest
Aired: May 5, 1984After an argument with her father, Charlene moves in with the Drummonds and ends up fighting with Willis.
- Episode 24: The Boyfriend
Aired: May 12, 1984Kimberly plans to move in with her boyfriend, whom her dad doesn't like, by tricking the family into thinking she's moving in with her girlfriend, Michelle instead.
Season 7
- Episode 1: A Haunting We Will Go
Aired: Sep 29, 1984In this take-off on Ghostbusters, Arnold and Sam explore a haunted house.
- Episode 2: Arnold and Lisa's Mother
Aired: Oct 6, 1984Arnold and his pals think they have the solution to contemptible classmate Lisa: they'll doctor her science experiment.
- Episode 3: Bed-Wetting
Aired: Oct 13, 1984When news of Sam's bed-wetting gets out, the family goes overboard to make him feel wanted, leaving Arnold feeling neglected.
- Episode 4: Undercover Lover
Aired: Oct 20, 1984Willis's involvement with a new girlfriend puts him smack in the middle of a drug bust at school.
- Episode 5: Arnold's Strike
Aired: Oct 27, 1984Arnold's strike against the school dress code loses support when the strikers are threatened with suspension.
- Episode 6: Sam's Father
Aired: Nov 3, 1984Sam's father, a singer, shows up and hopes Sam will go live with him.
- Episode 7: Carmella Meets the Gooch
Aired: Nov 10, 1984The school bully faces a challenge from tough new student Carmella
- Episode 8: Arnold the Entrepreneur
Aired: Nov 17, 1984Arnold gets a crash course in free enterprise after a rift with Sam puts the boys in competition as bug-spray salesmen.
- Episode 9: The Honorable Arnold J. Jackson
Aired: Nov 24, 1984As judge of his school's student court, Arnold must choose between his friend and his girlfriend
- Episode 10: The Gymnasts
Aired: Dec 1, 1984An episode about an Olympic hopeful, disabled in an accident, who could use encouragement features members of the 1984 Olympic gymnastic team.
- Episode 11: Tonsils
Aired: Dec 8, 1984Sam's sore throat may get him out of school, but fails to get him out of a tonsillectomy.
- Episode 12: Arnold's Songbird
Aired: Dec 15, 1984Arnold can't deliver on his promise to get a celebrity for his school's charity night so he turns to Carmella for help.
- Episode 13: Baseball Blues
Aired: Jan 5, 1985As the coach of Sam's Little League team, Drummond suffers the agony of defeat---and the cold shoulder from Sam
- Episode 14: Arnold Saves the Squirrel
Aired: Jan 12, 1985Sam's favorite TV show is cancelled to make room for Maggie's exercise program.
- Episode 15: Sam Adopts a Grandparent
Aired: Jan 19, 1985Sam's view of the elderly becomes distorted after a cranky senior citizen refuses to team with him on a project.
- Episode 16: Happy Birthday Drummond
Aired: Jan 26, 1985Maggie and Sam surprise Mr. Drummond for his birthday by having Kimberly return from France to visit him. She brings a present of her own, the Drummond family tree, but the happiness turns to sadness when Mr. Drummond realizes that he is the last person to carry on the Drummond name. Arnold comes up with a solution; he and Willis will have their names legally changed to "Drummond," which makes Mr. Drummond happy, but Willis has second thoughts.
- Episode 17: Sam's New Pal
Aired: Feb 2, 1985Sam innocently invites a female friend to sleep over.
- Episode 18: Russian Embassy
Aired: Feb 9, 1985Arnold's rocket---containing a camera and Sam's pet mouse---crashes into the Russian Embassy.
- Episode 19: Cheers to Arnold
Aired: Feb 16, 1985Arnold finds himself on the hot seat after he succumbs to pressure to drink with the guys.
- Episode 20: A Camping We Will Go
Aired: Feb 23, 1985Sam's dad tags along on a camping trip designed to bring Drummond and Sam closer together.
- Episode 21: Beauty is in the Eye of Arnold
Aired: Mar 2, 1985Arnold's friends start hanging out with cheerleaders, but Arnold's got his eye on a plain girl, which, he learns, makes him a nobody.
- Episode 22: Blue Collar Drummond
Aired: Mar 9, 1985Drummond goes to work at one of his factories to prove he's in touch with his workers, but things go awry when the family tries to live on his paycheck.
- Episode 23: Street Smarts
Aired: Mar 23, 1985Arnold gets mugged but suppresses the experience until a policeman offering safety tips unlocks his trauma.
- Episode 24: A Special Friend
Aired: May 4, 1985Arnold and Sam are so shaken by a friend's epileptic seizure that they're afraid to be around her again.
Season 8
- Episode 1: Sam's Missing - Part 1
Aired: Sep 27, 1985Arnold sends Sam to the market, but he fails to return.
- Episode 2: Sam's Missing - Part 2
Aired: Sep 27, 1985After the Drummonds learn Sam disappeared with a stranger, they notify the police and distribute flyers.
- Episode 3: Bully for Arnold
Aired: Oct 4, 1985The school bully asks Arnold to entertain his girlfriend while he's away, and Arnold does the job only too well.
- Episode 4: Love on the Run
Aired: Oct 11, 1985Phillip and Maggie seem to have less time for each other, and Sam is worried their marriage is destined for divorce.
- Episode 5: Willis Goes to College
Aired: Oct 18, 1985During his first week away at college, hotshot Willis doesn't want anyone to know he has the freshman blues.
- Episode 6: Arnold's Job
Aired: Oct 25, 1985Arnold starts his first job as a photographer's assistant on a newspaper.
- Episode 7: A Tale of Two Teachers
Aired: Nov 8, 1985Arnold gets a tough assignment from his English teacher: teaching "A Tale of Two Cities" to his unruly class.
- Episode 8: So You Want to Be a Rock Star
Aired: Nov 15, 1985Arnold starts a rock group, but after a few rehearsals the band is ready to fire him.
- Episode 9: Speak No Evil
Aired: Nov 29, 1985The First-Amendment rights of a white-supremacy group become the subject of controversy in the Drummond household.
- Episode 10: Arnold's Bad Rep
Aired: Dec 6, 1985Arnold kisses and tells, bragging about his exploits with his girlfriend to enhance his reputation as a lady-killer.
- Episode 11: It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To
Aired: Dec 13, 1985Sam assumes none of his buddies will attend his party, but they all show up when they learn who the guest will be.
- Episode 12: Arnold's Initiation
Aired: Jan 10, 1986Arnold plays a cruel trick to gain membership in the Squires Club, and the prank costs a friend his job.
- Episode 13: Bulimia
Aired: Jan 17, 1986When massive quantities of food disappear, Arnold and Sam find out that Kimberly is suffering from bulimia.
- Episode 14: Sam's Big Brother
Aired: Jan 24, 1986Arnold fumes when Sam begins spending all his time with Willis, and Sam blames himself for the discord between his brothers.
- Episode 15: Arnold's Tangled Web
Aired: Jan 31, 1986Arnold hires Spider the Action Man to change an F to a B on his report card.
- Episode 16: Lifestyles of the Poor and Unknown
Aired: Feb 7, 1986Tired of a bullying classmate, Sam prepares for a fist fight. That is, until he learns the reason for the kid's hostility.
- Episode 17: The Big Bribe
Aired: Feb 21, 1986Arnold is heartbroken that his heartthrob accepted a date with him only because Willis bribed her with concert tickets.
- Episode 18: The Photo Club
Aired: Feb 28, 1986Arnold and his obnoxious nemesis Lisa are trapped in the boiler room while working on a photography project.
- Episode 19: The Front Page
Aired: Mar 7, 1986Arnold's doing an article on the football players and makes a discovery: some school jocks are using steroids.