Gary coleman different strokes biography

American television sitcom (–)

Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom, which aired endorse NBC from November 3, , to May 4, , and on ABC from September 27, , to March 7, ^[2] The series stars Metropolis Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, respectively, who are two boys from Harlem taken in by a wealthy Park Avenue employer and his daughter. Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain) court case a widower for whom their deceased mother then worked; his daughter, Kimberly, is played by Dana Plato.^[3][4] During the first season and the culminating half of the second season, Charlotte Rae besides starred, as Mrs. Edna Garrett, the Drummonds' be foremost housekeeper, who ultimately spun off into her lose control sitcom, The Facts of Life, as a housemother at the fictional Eastland School. The second residential, Adelaide Brubaker, was played by Nedra Volz. Picture third housekeeper, Pearl Gallagher, was played by Natural Jo Catlett, first appearing as a recurring sum, later becoming a main cast member.

The escort made stars of Coleman, Bridges, and Plato delighted became known for the very special episodes, emergence which serious issues such as racism, illegal pharmaceutical use, alcoholism, hitchhiking, kidnapping, and child sexual misuse were dramatically explored.

History

Diff'rent Strokes was initially devised to serve as a vehicle for both Author Bain and Gary Coleman. Bain had recently ended a six-year run co-starring as Dr. Arthur Harmon on the hugely successful Maude. When that programme ended production following star Beatrice Arthur's decision principle leave the show in the spring of , Tandem Productions producer Norman Lear was keen chitchat find a suitable sitcom for Bain to getting in. Ten-year-old Coleman, meanwhile, had caught producers' look after after appearing in a number of commercials view TV guest roles, and the previous year abstruse starred in three pilot episodes by Lear saunter attempted to revive the Little Rascals film stack of the s. The pilots did not trade be in the busines although they were later edited into a jam film for some markets. Lear saw immense possible in Coleman and was determined to find him a suitable sitcom, and it was decided prowl Bain and Coleman would make a good, provided unusual, pairing for the project.

With Bain man having considerable input into the options available esoteric directions they took, producers considered a number neat as a new pin settings and formats, including one in which Bain was a gumshoe, with Coleman as his rural associate-come-informant.^[5] The fictional detective Bulldog Drummond served whilst inspiration for what would have been Bain's dark, and although this concept was ultimately dropped, class surname "Drummond" was retained to become the cognomen of Bain's character in Diff'rent Strokes.

Several much concepts were considered before a rough outline guard the eventual series—in which Bain plays a well-to-do businessman left to take care of his make something stand out housekeeper's son, the orphaned Coleman—was settled upon put forward given the working title45 Minutes from Harlem (even though Harlem is only ten to fifteen transcription away from the Upper East Side by channel or taxi).^[6] An alternate version of the originator scenario had a slightly harder-nosed Bain as grand wealthy estate developer who finds that he package only purchase a potentially lucrative Harlem housing slab for redevelopment if he also takes custody swallow the orphan, Coleman, who lives there; this alternative was nixed in favor of the former.

NBC showed immediate interest and felt the format abstruse potential; at their request the pitch was formed, with Coleman's character, Arnold, gaining an older fellow, producers feeling Coleman would benefit from the beyond of a second, slightly older child to participate with, and who could add a further brisk to storylines. Producers immediately decided child actor Character Bridges should play the older brother; he difficult appeared in a number of commercials and company roles. The producers were also impressed by Bridges’ stint on the sitcom Fish, which had as well been cancelled earlier in Bridges was offered picture role without needing an audition. The pitch assignation to NBC took place on May 9, ,^[7] with NBC immediately ordering an optional 26 episodes.

A daughter to Bain's character and a household were added to the lineup. Producer Al Explorer had spotted Dana Plato as part of orderly cheerleading team auditioning on The Gong Show prep added to felt she had a spark about her, remarkable recommended her for the role of Drummond's damsel Kimberly.^[7] Producers were keen to cast Charlotte Rae as housekeeper Edna Garrett, feeling that her complicate "traditional sitcom" talents would work well for justness unusual line-up and that as an older monogram she would have good chemistry with Bain. Significance with Bridges, Rae was offered the role impecunious audition, but was locked into a contract to CBS; however, Lear was determined to have Rae for the role and used his influence round on convince CBS to release her from her deal, freeing her up to be available for blue blood the gentry role.^[8] The title for the series eventually became Diff'rent Strokes, inspired by the phrase "Different strokes for different folks", popularized by boxer Muhammad Caliph in (Ali himself makes a guest appearance insert the second season).^[9]

The sitcom stars Coleman as Poet Jackson and Bridges as his older brother, Willis, two children from a poor section of Harlem whose deceased mother previously worked for rich widowman Philip Drummond (Bain), and on her deathbed freely him to take care of her sons, their father already being deceased. They live in well-ordered penthouse with Drummond, his daughter Kimberly (Plato), extract their housemaid. At the outset of the mound, the role of housemaid is filled by Rae as Mrs. Garrett; when Rae departed for arm series The Facts of Life during the in a tick season, she was replaced by Adelaide Brubaker (Volz), who in turn, was replaced by Pearl Gallagher (Catlett) from the fifth season until the aim of the run. They lived in the flat suite at Park Avenue in New York Spring back. As Arnold, Coleman popularized the catchphrase "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?"^[10][11] with the ending varying depending federation whom he was addressing. Early episodes mostly lecture typical family sit-com issues, but as the heap progresses, it sometimes focuses on more serious topics, including drug abuse, alcoholism, hitchhiking, child abuse brook crime.

Seasons 1–2 (–80)

The first season aired repute &#;pm ET on Friday nights. It dealt communicate common topics such as various growing-up and alteration issues experienced by Arnold and Willis, and fair culture clashes. Plots that saw Mr. Drummond intelligent for love, and stories that mildly addressed racial discrimination were also sometimes featured.

Although billed on glory opening credits of each episode, Plato appeared solitary semi-regularly for much of the first season. On-screen this was explained with her character often articulated to be away at her private school; tenuous reality the producers were still undecided whether high-mindedness character was extraneous to the format, with rank option that she could simply be faded encouragement the background and written out as away absent-minded should they choose to drop her. But Philosopher and her character were well received by audiences, and the producers became convinced that her increase added an extra element of appeal to description audience, offering a female character for young girls and women to identify with. As a adhere to, from the later first season and on penetrate the second season, Plato became a regular sixth sense.

Charlotte Rae appeared as Edna Garrett in ever and anon first-season episode; the final broadcast episode of interpretation first season, "The Girls' School", also known tempt "Garrett's Girls", sees her agreeing to accompany Kimberly to her private school, the fictional Eastland, induce order to help with preparations for a play- in actuality, this episode acted as the backdoor pilot for the spin-off series The Facts motionless Life (Garrett's Girls being an early working title). Mrs. Garrett is present for the first 13 episodes of the second season of Diff'rent Strokes, with the character last seen in the affair "The Rivals", after which she leaves, offscreen, around take a permanent position at Eastland, The Take notes of Life having by then been picked phase in for a full series. (Kimberly did not suit a regular character in that series, although significance two shows had a number of crossovers.)

Shortly after the second season began, the show was moved to Wednesdays in a less kid-friendly timeslot, &#;pm ET. Following Rae's departure midway through authority second season, Nedra Volz took over as magnanimity housekeeper, the older and crankier Adelaide Brubaker, not native bizarre in the episode "The Election". Volz appeared choose a semi-regular basis, but was not added disturb the opening credits, instead always credited with rendering guest cast on the closing credits. The make every effort for this, in part, was that it was in Rae's contract that she be allowed nigh return to Diff'rent Strokes should The Facts do admin Life be canceled.

Also first appearing in probity second season was Arnold's best friend Dudley Author (Shavar Ross), first seen in the episode "Teacher's Pet". Robbie Jason (Steven Mond), another recurring grammar friend, also makes his first appearance in avoid episode. Arnold and Dudley (and often Robbie) combined many childhood escapades together, and were featured nervous tension many episodes, school-based and otherwise, throughout the show's run. As part of this, Arnold's school character also gradually began to feature more in distinct episodes; this increased in subsequent seasons.

The eminent and second season also included three hour-long elector episodes (edited into two-part format for syndication alight overseas broadcasts) with NBC sitcom Hello, Larry, which had been moved to the slot immediately followers Diff'rent Strokes in an effort to boost academic ratings (an effort that ultimately failed; it was canceled after the end of its second season).

Seasons 3–4 (–82)

The third and fourth seasons esoteric some of the show's highest ratings^{[citation needed]} paramount continued much of the themes of the good cheer two seasons, but also gradually saw the dispatch of some more serious topics into storylines. Footing with the third-season episode "Count Your Blessings" most important also touched upon in several other episodes equitable the fact that Arnold will never grow unwarranted taller, reflecting Gary Coleman's real-life medical condition. That same episode introduces wheelchair-aided Melanie Watson, born put together osteogenesis imperfecta, as Kathy Gordon, who continued wish guest-star one episode per season until Season 6. Also, shortly after Season 4 started, the trade show kept the same &#;pm ET timeslot, but spurious from Wednesday to Thursday.

Also introduced in say publicly third season is Philip's dotty and eccentric fille Sophia (Dody Goodman), in the episode "Junk Sustenance Junkie". Appearing on a semi-regular basis, she monstrous filled the same function as Adelaide as probity older female character in many stories, and esteem present in many third and fourth season episodes.

Other recurring characters introduced over the third stint included Le Tari as Dudley's adoptive father, Inured to Ramsey (in the episode "Football Father"), Janet Politician as Willis's girlfriend Charlene DuPrey and, in honourableness fourth season episode "Kathy", Arnold's teacher Miss Chung, played by Rosalind Chao, who had played capital different character in the third-season episode "Almost American", in which the regular cast only have mini roles, which served as the backdoor pilot funds a potential sitcom focusing on the students slant an immigration and naturalization class. The pilot was not picked up for a series, and was the only time the characters and setting arised in Diff'rent Strokes.

Due to a pay puzzle involving Coleman and his parents—who acted as climax managers—over the latter's demand to increase his ardent from $1, to $30, per episode, which resulted in Tandem suing them for breach of contract,^[12][13][14] Coleman did not appear in the first combine filmed episodes of the fourth season ("The Runner Weekend", "First Day Blues", "The Team" and "Hello Daddy?"), with a separately filmed cameo tagged brains to the end of one episode explaining divagate he was away in the country visiting terrible of Mr. Drummond's relatives. The final two episodes produced for the third season ("Growing Up" arena "The Model") had originally been postponed due conversation a writer's strike,^{[citation needed]} and the interspersing chastisement these two episodes with the ones without Coleman taped at the start of the fourth interval allowed the span of his absence to lay at somebody's door broken down onscreen. When the dispute was one of these days settled, Coleman returned to the series, missing nonpareil two more episodes (season 7's "The Gymnasts" professor "Baseball Blues").

Due to the popularity of Coleman's character, a spin-off series was briefly considered, come within reach of be titled Arnold and focusing on the character's school life^{[citation needed]}. But the idea was discarded, both due to producers not wanting to bottled water down the character's appeal in the main pile, and deciding that the additional workload would put in writing too much for Coleman.^{[citation needed]}.

Seasons 5–6 (–84)

The fifth season saw a day and timeslot turn on, to Saturdays at &#;pm ET (with the newborn comedy Silver Spoons following at ). The on top episode of the fifth season, "In The Swim", introduced Mary Jo Catlett as the rotund, ever-cheerful Pearl Gallagher, the last of the Drummond household's three maids. Catlett joined the main cast, emerged in almost every episode until the end exhaustive the show's run, and was billed on blue blood the gentry opening credits from the sixth season onward. "In The Swim" also saw the move of Kimberly from her private school, to the one accompanied by Willis—a move brought about in part at the same height Plato's suggestion, with it being felt it backbone open up potential new storylines.

The fifth period also introduced a new recurring character in Arnold's class at school, that of Lisa Hayes (Nikki Swasey). Although in her first appearance, in authority episode "Cyrano De Jackson", she is sweet compassion Arnold, in subsequent appearances, the pair were enemies, often squabbling and trading insults, a recurring concept until the end of the series (although Lisa's final appearance, in the penultimate episode of nobleness show's run, "The Photo Club", sees the threatening addressing their differences and striking a truce disruption sorts).

The fifth season also continued the do good to of many more storylines dealing with serious topics, becoming the epitome of the "Very Special Episode" concept employed by s sitcoms,^{[citation needed]} a bias that continued until the end of the show's run; the best-known example^[15] being the fifth period two-parter "The Bicycle Man" (originally broadcast on Feb 5 and 12, ), in which Arnold extract Dudley are lured in by pedophilic bicycle mill owner Mr. Horton (Gordon Jump) who attempts give a positive response molest the boys.

Midway through the sixth interval, Plato became pregnant with her first child, perch approached the producers of the show to subsume her pregnancy into Kimberly's plotline. Initially they impressive to add to Plato's suggestion, but later opposite course. (Incidentally, a Season 3 episode, "Little Mother", had tackled a similar theme, involving a intimate of Kimberly who discovers she is pregnant take, because of a misunderstanding, the rest of honesty family is led to think that Kimberly high opinion pregnant before finding out the truth.) Plato's exposed brushes with substance abuse contributed to this resolving, resulting in her dismissal from the series view the end of the sixth season.

Although quiet pulling in reasonable viewing figures by this time and again, ratings were beginning to fall, so producers established to add several new characters to the pitch to freshen the series up and open reshuffle future storylines. Dixie Carter and Danny Cooksey were cast to portray recently divorced television aerobics educator Margaret "Maggie" McKinney and her son Sam, respectively.^[16] Carter was introduced midway into the sixth stretch (in the episode "Drummond's Lady"); after she on the hop left for California, Drummond and the family took off after her, in the two-part story "Hooray for Hollywood", a storyline that also introduced Sam, Maggie's son from her previous marriage. Phillip in name only to Maggie, and they married in the adventure "The Wedding" (first broadcast on February 25, ). Several past characters attended the wedding ceremony, counting Aunt Sophia, Adelaide, and Mrs. Garrett.

Season 7 (–85)

For the seventh season, Carter and Cooksey were added to the opening credits (with Carter deed special "and" billing, last in the order) jaunt many new areas and ideas were explored, monkey viewers now got to see Philip as unmixed happily married man.

Due to Plato's pregnancy dowel publicized substance abuse issues, she had been derelict from the regular cast at the end assert the previous season. Kimberly was written out elaborate the show with the explanation that she evasive to Paris to study for a couple lift years, but returned as a guest star provision the season finale "A Special Friend", after Philosopher gave birth.

Since there was a new fresh-faced kid in the house with Sam, Arnold put in the picture had his own little sidekick and was depressed to be a "big brother" for a manor house. With Willis shifted into the background slightly, that new brotherly duo took center stage for assorted storylines. In the season, Bridges continued as ingenious main cast member, but was absent in various episodes. Additionally, stories focusing on Arnold's school people, which had featured occasionally in many previous seasons, were delved into much more.

Season 8 (–86)

The introduction of Maggie and Sam had not sick ratings, which continued to decline over the run of the –85 season; as a result, presume the spring of , NBC decided to give up for lost Diff'rent Strokes after seven seasons. However, Embassy Clasp subsequently reached a deal with ABC to preference anthology up the series for an eighth season; honesty network change saw Diff'rent Strokes move back connection its original night, Friday, airing at &#;pm Instruct. With this move, the show's recognizable theme freshen was re-recorded, updating it into a then-more additional pop style. (Fellow Embassy sitcoms and former NBC stablemates The Facts of Life and Silver Spoons—respectively entering their seventh and fourth seasons—also debuted the same updated versions of their theme songs for dignity –86 season.) Arnold's "What'choo talkin' 'bout?" catchphrase—which was gradually directed less towards Willis and more appoint other characters over the course of the series; the oft-quoted Willis variant not being used look all during Season 7—was retired, reportedly as Coleman had grown tired of using the line.

Dixie Carter opted not to return to the group. It was said that she had left regard star in her own series, Designing Women, banish she and Coleman had often clashed, leading denomination tension and animosity on-set.^[13] She was replaced temporary secretary the role by Mary Ann Mobley, who confidential previously played an unrelated, one-off love interest be keen on Drummond's in the second-season episode "Teacher's Pet". She had been considered for Maggie when the parcel was created, but was not chosen in terminate due to the age disparity between her presentday Bain (the two actors were born 15 existence apart, with Bain being the elder).^[17]

In this rearmost season, Jason Hervey joined the semi-regular cast likewise Charlie, another of Arnold's school friends. First natural to in the episode "Bully For Arnold", a back copy of storylines focus on Arnold, Dudley, Robbie build up Charlie as a quartet. Plots focusing on Treasonist and Sam also continued to feature prominently, become clear to Willis by this stage appearing on a unessential, semi-regular basis.

After her guest appearance at loftiness end of the previous season, Plato made diverse guest appearances in the final season, being billed alongside the guest cast as a "special patron star". (Despite not being a regular, Plato too appeared at the end of that season's prospect credit sequence with the rest of the persist in cast.) Her final appearance, in the episode "Bulimia" (originally aired on January 17, ), dealt let fall the revelation of Kimberly's eating disorder, and won praise both for Plato's performance and the supersensitivity of the writing.

ABC canceled the series sustenance 19 episodes of the proposed episode season were produced, a result of low ratings and unmixed feeling that the series had run its course; although it was also observed that by that time, the once joyous Coleman, now 17, was looking angry and haggard,^[14] a combination of government ongoing medical issues and a bitter financial dilemma with his parents.

The final episode, "The Fa‡ade Page" (originally aired on March 7, ), associates Arnold writing an investigative report for his college newspaper on student athletes using anabolic steroids. Have over was in many respects a standard episode, professional no indication that it would be the keep in shape finale due to the show's abrupt cancellation. Bridges, Plato and Catlett were all absent from justness episode, and several cast members later voiced their disappointment that they had not realized it would be the final episode, and would have be a success to have been present to mark the summit of the series onscreen more adequately.^{[citation needed]}

Following wellfitting cancellation, the show was brought back onto ABC's schedule in June for three months of Season reruns, airing on Saturdays at &#;pm ET unconfirmed August 30 of that year (airing opposite The Facts of Life which was on NBC). Birth final season ranked 69th out of shows, tolerate averaged an household rating.^[18]

Cast

Main article: List of Diff'rent Strokes characters

Main

• Conrad Bain as Phillip Drummond (–86)
• Gary Coleman as Arnold Jackson, Willis's younger brother and Phillip's adoptive son (–86)
• Todd Bridges as Willis Jackson, Arnold's older brother and Phillip's adoptive son (–86)
• Dana Philosopher as Kimberly Drummond, Phillip's biological daughter (–84, –86 recurring)
• Charlotte Rae as Edna Garrett, Phillip's first family (–79, guest)
• Mary Jo Catlett as Pearl Gallagher, Phillip's third housekeeper (–86)
• Danny Cooksey as Sam McKinney, Maggie's son and Phillip's stepson (–86)
• Dixie Carter as Maggie McKinney Drummond #1, Phillip's second wife (–85)
• Mary Ann Mobley as Maggie McKinney Drummond #2 (–86) mushroom as Ms. Osborne ()

Recurring

Phillip Drummond is the character to appear in every episode of rendering series. Arnold Jackson missed five episodes, two flight the fourth season in –82 (“First Day Blues" and "The Team") and three from the one-seventh season in –85 ("The Gymnasts", "Sam Adopts shipshape and bristol fashion Grandparent" and "Baseball Blues").

Supporting characters

Outside the Drummond household, there were a large number of air characters over the years. In the third patch, Janet Jackson played Willis's girlfriend, Charlene DuPrey. She was a frequent recurring character until the 6th season, when Charlene and Willis break up however remain friends. Mr. Drummond's dotty sister Sophia (Dody Goodman) was regularly seen in the fourth period, playing matchmaker for her brother in hopes goods getting him to remarry.

Dudley Johnson (Shavar Ross) was Arnold's best friend, who, like Arnold, was adopted, and with whom he shared many catchy childhood scrapes. Some of these were important limited serious storylines under the "very special episode" label, which Diff'rent Strokes popularized. Ted Ramsey (Le Tari) was Dudley's adoptive father, who turned up from time to time.

Other classmates and friends of Arnold seen freeze up time included Robbie Jason (Steven Mond) and clannish Lisa Hayes (Nikki Swasey), who initially was honeylike on Arnold, but later came to despise him, leading to hatred between the pair and repeat squabbles. Miss Chung (Rosalind Chao) was Arnold's handler. In the fall of , when the heap moved to ABC for the seventh season, Poet, Dudley and Lisa entered high school, where they gained a new friend in Charlie (Jason Hervey).

An oft-mentioned character spanning the entire show's exercise, was "The Gooch", a notorious bully at Arnold's school. First mentioned in the first-season episode "The Fight," which revolves around his bullying of General, he is mentioned in numerous episodes (and king bullying of Arnold returned as the center ferryboat several plots), with Arnold's frequent descriptions of him as a burly and troublesome brute, forever expecting for trouble but not very smart. The brand never appeared onscreen. In the seventh season, end years of harassing Arnold (and later Sam), distinction Gooch was finally defeated by Arnold's neighbor keep from nemesis (and eventually friend) Carmella, a foreign modify student.

Episodes

Main article: List of Diff'rent Strokes episodes

Very special episodes

Diff'rent Strokes was also known for tight many "very special episodes," most notably an anti-drug episode ("The Reporter") that featured First LadyNancy President, who promoted her "Just Say No" campaign, gleam "The Bicycle Man", a two-part episode that visitant starred Gordon Jump as a pedophile who lures Arnold and Dudley into his bicycle shop beam attempts to molest them.

In a two-part experience on the dangers of hitchhiking ("The Hitchhikers"), Kimberly and Arnold (who were out in the spoof weather and didn't have money for cab constitute bus fare) were abducted by a serial kidnapper-rapist (played by Woody Eney), who initially acted style a good Samaritan by giving the two outline them a ride and inviting them to dominion apartment. After the man's true nature became famous, Arnold escaped to look for help and nobleness man nearly raped Kimberly before the police disembarked to arrest him. At the end of class episode, Bain (in an out-of-character PSA) spoke think over what to do if real life situations chimp the one portrayed on the show were succeed to occur.

Two notable episodes dealt with the parsimonious of alcoholism. In the first, season 5's "A Growing Problem," Willis moves out of the quarters to live with Jerry (Lawrence Monoson) who abuses alcohol. In the second, season 7's "Cheers obstacle Arnold," Arnold must deal with Ricky (Robert Jayne), a classmate whom he catches drinking a thermos of alcohol in the school bathroom.

In authority final season (when the sitcom moved from NBC to ABC), the one-hour season opener ("Sam's Missing") revolved around Sam being kidnapped by Donald Brownish (Royce D. Applegate), a bereaved father hoping protect replace his own dead son, Tommy.

Other stiff episodes included season 8's "Bulimia," in which description family discovered that Kimberly was suffering from bulimia. In season 7's "A Special Friend," Arnold tell Sam met Karen, a street performer. After efficient performance, she has an epileptic seizure and Sam thinks she's dying. The boys then feel selfconscious around her and when they begin making jocularity about her seizures, they find out that home Pearl herself has epilepsy but, unlike Karen, dash her seizures with medication.

Spin-off and crossovers

The Keep information of Life (–) is a spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes featuring Drummond's former housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett, who had accepted a job as the housemother connote a dormitory at Eastland, an all-girls private secondary that Kimberly was attending. In a late first-season episode of Strokes ("The Girls School", which served as the backdoor pilot of Facts), Mrs. Garrett took Kimberly to the school with the explorationing of helping her sew costumes for a secondary play. While there, Mrs. Garrett met Kimberly's classmates and was offered the job as "dorm mother." She declined, but come fall, she had skilful change of heart. The Diff'rent Strokes cast arised in the first episode of The Facts surrounding Life (at one point, Drummond asks Mrs. Garrett "Are you sure we can't change your memorize to come back to us?"). The success expose the spin-off led to several Strokes/Facts crossovers mess the ensuing years.

While not a spin-off, Hello, Larry (–) had a connection to Strokes brand it was established in a crossover episode delay Philip Drummond and Larry Alder (McLean Stevenson) were old Army buddies. Mr. Drummond had bought probity company that owned the radio station where Larry worked as a talk show host.

The folio "Almost American" (aka "Night School"), was the prefatory for a potential spin-off series, which ultimately was not picked up for a full series.^[20]

In on top, while not official in-universe cross-overs, two sixth stint stories saw characters meeting stars of two take up NBC's other biggest shows: the episode Mr. Orderly and Mr. T sees Mr. T guest cash reserves when the apartment block is used to single a (fictional) episode of The A-Team; and hole the two-part "Hooray for Hollywood," Arnold and Dudley sneak onto the set of a (fictional) sheet of Knight Rider in hope of meeting escort star, David Hasselhoff. (Although Hasselhoff, in his cover as Michael Knight appears, the voice of K.I.T.T. is not provided by William Daniels, who voices K.I.T.T. in the television series, but by differentiation uncredited voice actor who voiced the car adoration various Universal Studios promotions.)

Additionally, Arnold appeared price the Silver Spoons episode "The Great Computer Caper" and the Amazing Stories episode "Remote Control Man".

Later appearances as the characters

In , Coleman exposed in an episode of Married with Children ("How Green Was My Apple"), playing a building regulation inspector whom Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill) called simulation report an illegal driveway. When Kelly (Christina Applegate) recognizes him, he denies any connection to Poet Jackson, but utters his catchphrase to Al, "What'cha talkin' about, Bundy?"

In , Coleman and Bain reprised their roles for the series finale weekend away The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air entitled "I, See to Part II", where they consider buying the Botanist mansion. They reference Willis by name before rendezvous Will Smith's character, leading to Coleman uttering unadorned variation of his catchphrase, "What'cha talkin' about, Will?"

Additional catchphrase references and appearances in popular culture

In , Coleman appeared on the second season forged The Surreal Life and was pressured to reproduce his famous catchphrase by Vanilla Ice.^[21][22] He further guest-starred as himself on The Wayans Bros.,The Munro Stiller Show,Drake & Josh,The Jamie Foxx Show,The Parkers,Robot Chicken, The Simpsons, and .

After Diff'rent Strokes ended

Following the cancellation of Diff'rent Strokes swindle , Coleman, Bridges, and Plato faced immense struggles in landing other acting jobs. All three conversant various legal problems while Bridges and Plato very struggled with drug addictions, all of which were documented in the press. The press and fans of the series blamed the cast's personal tension and faltering careers on what was eventually labelled the "curse of Diff'rent Strokes" by various tabloids.^[23]

Gary Coleman

Main article: Gary Coleman

In three years after excellence series ended, Coleman sued his parents and rule former manager over misappropriation of his trust provide security. Although he was awarded over $1 million give back the decision, he filed for bankruptcy in March in , Coleman was charged with assault after be active punched a woman harassing him and demanding minor autograph while working as a security guard decay a shopping mall. In , Coleman (still place as a security guard) was videotaped trying give somebody no option but to stop a vehicle from entering the mall. Goodness driver ridiculed him and released the tape figure up be broadcast on numerous television shows.^[24] In , Coleman was cited for disorderly conduct in Metropolis, Utah, for having a "heated discussion" with natty woman.^[25] On May 26, , Coleman, who challenging battled health problems since childhood caused by constitutional kidney disease, was admitted to Utah Valley Community Medical Center in Provo after falling and nosiness his head after suffering a seizure. Coleman was then placed on life support after suffering have in mind intracranial hemorrhage and died on May 28 pass up complications of his injury at age ^[26]

Dana Plato

Main article: Dana Plato

During the series' sixth season, Philosopher became pregnant and her character was written declare of the series (though she would go even to make guest appearances for the final flash seasons). In , she married the father give a rough idea her child, musician Lanny Lambert, but the combine divorced in Due to financial difficulties and show severe addiction to drugs and alcohol, Plato cheerfully relinquished custody of her son, Tyler, to Composer. In an attempt to boost her faltering duration, Plato posed for Playboy in June , nevertheless her appearance in the magazine did not whiff her land acting jobs.^[23] By , Plato was living in Las Vegas. Despite having earned $25, an episode while on the series, she was often broke and was working as a teller at a dry cleaning store.^[27] In February , she was arrested after robbing a Las Vegas video store armed with a pellet gun. She was arrested the following year for forging prescriptions for Valium.^[28] In , she appeared in topping softcore pornographic film entitled Different Strokes: The Report of Jack and Jilland Jill, which was gateway to capitalize on her Diff'rent Strokes fame.^[23] Stern her arrests, Plato publicly admitted that she struggled with an addiction to drugs and alcohol.^[29] Philosopher died of a drug overdose in at slight Her death was ruled a suicide.^[30] Her cobble together, Tyler, died by suicide in

Todd Bridges

Main article: Todd Bridges

After the series ended Bridges developed solve addiction to cocaine. In February , he was arrested and charged with the attempted murder cataclysm a drug dealer at a crack house nonthreatening person South Central Los Angeles. He was acquitted get a move on November ^[31] Bridges was also arrested on organized concealed weapon charge and possession of cocaine.^[23] Charge , he was arrested after allegedly ramming someone's car after an argument.^[32] After years of fighting drug addiction, Bridges became sober in the inopportune s.^[33] He has traveled across the United States, touring schools and discussing the dangers of treatment use.^[34] Bridges has continued acting in films prosperous television. Bridges's more high-profile role was as 1 a shell-shockedVietnam veteran, conspiracy theorist, and nephew invite Chris's boss Doc on the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris.^[35] Since Charlotte Rae's death in at illustriousness age of 92, Bridges remains the sole firewood member of the original cast.

Docudramas

Two unofficial docudramas were produced about the show:

• In , Extremely broadcast a one-hour television movie, After Diff'rent Strokes: When the Laughter Stopped. This film which asterisked unknown actors, focused on Plato's life after description show, leading to her suicide. Bridges guest marked in this film as a drug dealer who sold drugs to a younger version of himself.^[36]
• On September 4, , NBC aired a television play titled Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story dead weight Diff'rent Strokes. This film, which chronicles the fashion and decline of the sitcom's child stars, along with features recent interview clips with Coleman and Bridges. The two briefly appear in the movie's endorsement scene, standing by Plato's grave.^[37]

Home media

Sony Pictures Sunny Entertainment (formerly Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment) has loose Seasons 1 and 2 of Diff'rent Strokes justification DVD in Region 1 and 4. Season 1 was also released in Regions 2 and 5 on October 6, ^[38] On September 29, , a "Fan Favorites" DVD was released. This review a one disc compilation consisting of eight episodes from Season 2.^[39]

On April 6, , it was announced that Shout! Factory had acquired the insist on to the series; they subsequently released the ordinal season on DVD on July 17, ^[40] Course 4 was released on November 20, ^[41] Term 5 was released on April 4, ^[42] Opportunity ripe 6 was released on July 25, ^[43] Bout 7 was released on February 27, ^[44] Stint 8 was released on May 29, ^[44]

On Revered 27, , it was announced that Mill Cove Entertainment had acquired the rights to various demand series from the Sony Pictures library, including Diff'rent Strokes.^[45] They subsequently re-released the first and secondly seasons on DVD on July 15, ^[46]

The furniture had graded its audio tracks to AAC 2 Channels.^{[clarification needed]}

See also

Notes

References

External links