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{{Refimprove|date=June 2007}}
{{infobox television |
 | show_name = Diff'rent Strokes
 | image = [[Image:diffrentstrokes.jpg|200px]]
 | caption =
 | format = [[Sitcom]]
 | runtime = 30 Minutes
 | creator = [[Jeff Harris]]<br />[[Bernie Kukoff]]
 | starring = [[Gary Coleman]]<br>[[Conrad Bain]]<br>[[Todd Bridges]] (1978-1985)<br>[[Dana Plato]] (1978-1984)<br>[[Charlotte Rae]] (1978-1979)<br>[[Nedra Volz]] (1980-1982)<br>[[Mary Jo Catlett]] (1982-1986)<br>[[Janet Jackson]] (1980-1984)<br>[[Dixie Carter]] (1984-1985)<br>[[Danny Cooksey]] (1984-1986)<br>[[Shavar Ross]] (1980-1986)<br>[[Mary Ann Mobley]] (1985-1986)
 | country = {{USA}}
 | network = [[National Broadcasting Company|NBC]] (1978-1985)<br>[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (1985-1986)
 | first_aired = [[November 3]], [[1978 in television|1978]]
 | last_aired = [[March 7]], [[1986 in television|1986]]
 | num_seasons = 8
 | num_episodes = [[List of Diff'rent Strokes episodes|189]]
 | imdb_id = 0077003
 | tv.com_id = 601
|}}

'''''Diff'rent Strokes''''' is a popular [[United States|American]] [[television program|sitcom]] that aired on the [[National Broadcasting Company|NBC]] [[television network]] from [[November 3]], [[1978 in television|1978]] to [[May 4]], [[1985 in television|]] to [[May 4]], [[1985]], and on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from [[September 27]], [[1985 in television|1985]] to [[March 7]], [[1986 in television|1986]], when the series was again cancelled.

==Synopsis==
This sitcom starred [[Gary Coleman]] as [[Arnold Jackson (character)|Arnold Jackson]] and [[Todd Bridges]] as his older brother, [[Willis Jackson (character)|Willis]]. They played two African-American children from a poor [[Harlem]] neighborhood whose deceased mother previously worked for a rich white widower, [[Phillip Drummond (character)|Philip Drummond]] ([[Conrad Bain]]), who eventually adopted them. They lived in a penthouse with Mr. Drummond, Mr. Drummond's daughter [[Kimberly Drummond (character)|Kimberly]] ([[Dana Plato]]), and their maid.  There were three maids during the show's run: [[Edna Garrett]] (played by [[Charlotte Rae]]), Adelaide Brubaker (played by [[Nedra Volz]]), and Pearl Gallagher (played by [[Mary Jo Catlett]]).  They lived on [[Park Avenue (Manhattan)|Park Avenue]] in [[New York City]]. As Arnold, Coleman popularized the [[catch phrase]] "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" which was popular in the late [[1970s]] and early [[1980s]], and is still mentioned in [[pop culture]] references today. The line was originally scripted as be "What are you talking about, Willis?" but Coleman pronounced it differently and, after that, it was spelled "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" even on the script.

(contracted; show full)

Dixie Carter started to have problems with fellow [[cast member]] [[Gary Coleman]] and she would depart from the series at the end of the seventh season. In the summer of 
[[1985 in television|1985]], [[NBC]] canceled the series due to poor ratings and Gary Coleman's raise to $50,000 per episode. In the final season of the series, [[Mary Ann Mobley]] replaced [[Dixie Carter]] as the new Maggie McKinney Drummond, and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] aired the show on [[Saturday]] nights.  The series was canceled after 19 episodes, and aired its final episode on [[March 7]], [[1986 in television|1986]].

==Cast==
* [[Conrad Bain]] - Phillip Drummond
* [[Gary Coleman]] - Arnold Jackson
* [[Todd Bridges]] - Willis Jackson
* [[Dana Plato]] - Kimberly Drummond
* [[Charlotte Rae]] - Mrs. Edna Garrett
* [[Nedra Volz]] - Adelaide Brubaker
* [[Dixie Carter]]/[[Mary Ann Mobley]] - Mrs. Maggie McKinney-Drummond 
* [[Danny Cooksey]] - Sam McKinney
* [[Mary Jo Catlett]] - Pearl Gallagher

==Spin-off==
The television sitcom ''[[The Facts of Life (TV series)|The Facts of Life]]'' ([[1979]] &ndash; [[1988]]) was a [[spin-off]] of ''Diff'rent Strokes'', involving Mr. Drummond's former maid, Mrs. Garrett, as the house-mother for a dormitory at an all-girls private school. The series was introduced in the first season ''Diff'rent Strokes'' episode "The Girls School". There were a number of changes made for the actual series; and Kimberly (featured in "The Girls School" as a pupil of the school) did not appear in the spin-off. In addition, Charlotte Rae was guaranteed that she could return to ''Diff'rent Strokes'', should the new series fail. When ''The Facts of Life'' proved to be a success, a number of its characters made guest appearances on ''Diff'rent Strokes''.

==Ratings==
''Diff'rent Strokes'' was a hit for the first three seasons. This is a list of the ratings:
* [[1978]]-[[-1979]]: #27
* [[1979]]-[[-1980]]: #26
* [[1980]]-[[-1981]]: #19

==Post-show troubles==
{{Unreferenced|date=July 2007}}
Three of the [[child star]]s ended up having problems after the show ended. Plato went on to pose for ''[[Playboy]]'', and she also appeared in [[softcore]] [[pornography]]. Plato was later arrested twice (once for armed robbery, again for forging a prescription for [[Valium]]). She died of a [[drug overdose]] in [[1999]] at the age of 34.

Todd Bridges was arrested in [[1994]] after allegedly ramming someone's car after an argument. He also had issues with illegal drugs for several years, before turning his life around. He has since traveled across the U.S.A., speaking to over 6,000 kids a day in schools and churches, discussing the dangers of drug use, negative peer pressure, and promoting his religious beliefs. In [[2001]], Bridges rescued a woman, who fell from her wheelchair while she was fishing.

In 1989, Coleman sued his parents and his former manager over misappropriation of his [[trust fund]]. Although he was awarded over $1,000,000 in the decision, he filed for [[bankruptcy]] in 1999. Coleman was charged with assault in 1998 after he punched a woman while he was working as a security guard at a shopping mall. In 2001, Coleman (still working as a security guard) was videotaped trying to stop a vehicle from entering th(contracted; show full)

==Music connection==
The name of the show was derived from a popular [[catch phrase]], "diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks", popularized by [[rock music|rock band]] [[Sly & The Family Stone]] with their 
[[1968]] hit "[[Everyday People (Sly & the Family Stone song)|Everyday People]]." The show's theme song was written by [[Al Burton]], [[Alan Thicke]], and [[Gloria Loring]].

==Docudramas==
Two unofficial docu-dramas were produced about the show:
* In [[2000 in television|2000]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] broadcast a one-hour television movie, '''''After Diff'rent Strokes: When the Laughter Stopped'''''. This film, which starred unknown actors, focused on Dana Plato's life after the show, leading to her untimely death. Todd Bridges guest starred in this film as a drug dealer who sold drugs — to a younger Todd Bridges.<ref>[http://www.longislandpress.com/?cp=168&show=article&a_id=917 longisdlandpress.com]</ref>
* On [[September 4]], [[2006 in television|2006]], NBC aired a television drama entitled '''''Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Diff'rent Strokes'''''. The film, which chronicles the rise and decline of the sitcom's child stars, also features recent interview clips with Coleman and Bridges. The two also star in the movie as themselves (briefly) in the final scene, standing by Dana Plato's grave.

==DVD releases==
(contracted; show full)[[Category:1980s American television series]]
[[Category:1986 television series endings]]

[[es:Blanco y negro (serie)]]
[[fr:Arnold et Willy]]
[[it:Il mio amico Arnold]]
[[ja:アーノルド坊やは人気者]]
[[pt:Diff'rent Strokes]]