Diff'rent Strokes poster

Diff'rent Strokes

1978–1985 Comedy • Drama • Family

The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African American boys from Harlem who are taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman named Phillip Drummond and his daughter Kimberly, for whom their deceased mother previously worked. During the first season and first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred as the Drummonds' housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett.

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Overview

The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African American boys from Harlem who are taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman named Phillip Drummond and his daughter Kimberly, for whom their deceased mother previously worked. During the first season and first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred as the Drummonds' housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett.

Series Snapshot

Status
Released
Total Seasons
8
Total Episodes
189
First Air Date
Nov 3, 1978
Most Recent Air Date
Mar 7, 1986
Network / Platform
Tubi TV
Original Language
en-US

Themes

Tone & Style

  • Lighter moments and character-driven humor shape the pacing.
  • Serialized structure rewards long-form viewing over stand-alone episodes.
  • Completed run offers a finite, binge-friendly arc.

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Creators & Cast

Main cast:

Rating
1.2
Seasons
8
Episodes
189

Subscriptions are only available for ongoing series.

Metadata

Seasons

Season 1

1978 • 24 episodes

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Season 2

1979 • 26 episodes

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Season 3

1980 • 22 episodes

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Season 4

1981 • 26 episodes

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Season 5

1982 • 24 episodes

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Season 6

1983 • 24 episodes

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Season 7

1984 • 24 episodes

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Season 8

1985 • 19 episodes

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