Diff'rent Strokes


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tabs

About

Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986. 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 (Conrad Bain) and his daughter Kimberly (Dana Plato), 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 (who ultimately spun-off into her own successful show, The Facts of Life).

Created by Jeff Harris and Bernie Kukoff

Highlights
Ben Starr on the creation of Diff'rent Strokes
02:48
Elinor Donahue on a guest appearance on Diff'rent Strokes
00:48
Michael Moye on writing an episode of Diff'rent Strokes
01:17
Fred Silverman on his first success at NBC: Diff'rent Strokes
00:51
Ben Starr on coming up with the catchphrase "Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?" for Diff'rent Strokes
00:38
Charlotte Rae on how she came to be cast as "Mrs. Garrett" on Diff'rent Strokes
04:41
Who talked about this show

Elinor Donahue

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Elinor Donahue on a guest appearance on Diff'rent Strokes
00:48

Leslie H. Martinson

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Leslie H. Martinson on directing Diff'rent Strokes and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
06:36

Michael Moye

View Interview
Michael Moye on writing an episode of Diff'rent Strokes
01:17

Charlotte Rae

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Charlotte Rae on how she came to be cast as "Mrs. Garrett" on Diff'rent Strokes
04:41
Charlotte Rae on Gary Coleman as "Arnold Drummond" on Diff'rent Strokes
01:33
Charlotte Rae on her transition from Diff'rent Strokes to the spin-off, The Facts of Life
05:17

Fred Silverman

View Interview
Fred Silverman on his first success at NBC: Diff'rent Strokes
00:51

Ben Starr

View Interview
Ben Starr on the creation of Diff'rent Strokes
02:48
Ben Starr on coming up with the catchphrase "Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?" for Diff'rent Strokes
00:38
Ben Starr on writing and casting the pilot of Diff'rent Strokes
06:07
Ben Starr on Todd Bridges and Dana Plato's difficulties on Diff'rent Strokes
03:33
Ben Starr on the production of Diff'rent Strokes
05:31
Ben Starr on becoming a producer and working with writers on Diff'rent Strokes
01:46

Bud Yorkin

View Interview
Bud Yorkin on leaving All in the Family, producing Diff'rent Strokes, and leaving Tandem Productions
02:16

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