Diff'rent Strokes: The Girls [sic] School

Diff'rent Strokes: The  Girls [sic] School 
NBC
May 4, 1979
Sitcom
C+

This episode written by Leeds & Starr with Dick Clair & Jenna McMahon (who had done an early Bob Newhart Show episode) is more interesting than entertaining.  It is of course the pilot for the spin-off Facts of Life.  The main flaw here is that there are just too many characters, including girls who wouldn't make it to the Fall.  And, although I certainly watched FoL, it, like DS, isn't a series I feel much nostalgia over.  (And so I won't be tagging the  cast, although Julie Piekarski, AKA Sue Ann, at least would guest on Three's Company, while Kim "Tootie" Fields would appear on Mork & Mindy.)

Peter Hobbs, who has two M*A*S*H credits, has his first of two DS roles here, as Mr. Robinson.  This time Jack Riley plays the headmaster, Mr. Crocker.

Diff'rent Strokes in its first season ranges from  a C+ to a B, with the exception of the premature flashback episode, and the overall average is a high  C+.  It's a pleasant show and I kept  watching it to the end, as I did FoL, through my adolescence, but you can see why I haven't  followed up on it as an adult.  It doesn't have the campiness of The Brady Bunch or the solid cast of the first season  or two of Welcome Back, Kotter, and Gary Coleman just  isn't enough .

Diff'rent Strokes: Willis' [sic] Birthday

Diff'rent Strokes: Willis' [sic] Birthday
NBC
April 13, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Willis wants to have his 14th birthday (yes, he was 12 five months ago) in Harlem, but Mr. Drummond is hesitant to have himself, Mrs. Garrett, and Kimberly go there.  The episode is comparatively daring, acknowledging fears and prejudices even in a liberal, although of course there's no real threat.  As with the "hold-up" episode, the father figure learns at least as many lessons as the kids do.

Betty Bridges, yes, Todd's mother, plays Vernon's mother and would soon be Dwayne's mother on What's Happening!!  Tony Williams, who previously played William, becomes Charles, as he would be for his two future appearances, while Brian Salmon, who was Charles, is now Tiny.  (Sadly, Salmon died at age 17 in February of that year, probably soon after this was filmed.)  Anthony Thompkins remains Vernon, although before his last name had been credited without the H.

Diff'rent Strokes: Getting Involved

Diff'rent Strokes: Getting Involved
NBC
April 6, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This second of two DS teleplays by Norm Liebmann, this one based on a story by Leeds, Starr, and Cohan, is predictable at times, with Arnold again using his telescope, but this time witnessing a far-fetched-sounding hold-up and eventually picking the robber out of a line-up.  But I like the way that the main cop interacts with Arnold, both the physical comedy and the more serious moments; it's good to know it's the first of two appearances by Detective Morrison (Ron Feinberg, who had done some voicework for Hong Kong Phooey).  Also, I like that Mr. Drummond is understandably protective of Arnold, but we see not only his perspective but that of the Jackson brothers.

Michael Lamont, who plays an Officer, would be a Corporal on M*A*S*H.

Diff'rent Strokes: The Trip, Part 1

Diff'rent Strokes: The Trip, Part 1
NBC
March 30, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
B

Although Hello, Larry had premiered only a couple months before, I recall it as a ratings bomb from early on, although it would limp along for another thirteen months after this, while DS of course lasted into '86.  The MAD Magazine satire "Diff'rent Jokes" (http://www.madmagazine.com/sites/default/files/MAD-Magazine-Diffrent-Jokes-Splash.jpg) would in fact appear that same Spring of '80 and mock both shows for the cross-promotion.   The idea of a cross-over isn't too contrived though, and I totally buy that Phil and Larry are old chums.  (Their kids remark they both tell bad jokes.)  And somehow, cross-breeding the corniness improves things.

Phil's corporation has bought Larry's Portland, Oregon radio station, and unfortunately "the computer" thinks the station should be automated.  Never mind that Phil dismissed what the social worker's computer said about inter-racial adoption, this time Phil's going along with it and wants to break the bad news to his friend in person.  The whole family goes along, although Mrs. Garrett is taking a side trip to Seattle to see her sister Beverly.  (Years before Cloris Leachman showed up in the role on Facts of Life.)

Considering that Colonel Blake isn't too appealing a character (I definitely prefer Potter), I'm not sure why I'm so fond of McLean Stevenson, but I think it's actually these loser roles he played post-M*A*S*H, a bunch of guys who weren't succeeding, on shows that weren't succeeding.  By this point he has the slumped shoulders (definitely in the MAD satire) and weariness that I equate with McLean.  As for his onscreen daughters, you can see that Kim Richards, playing Ruthie, was an old pro at the age of 14 (about eight years after The Nanny & the Professor), while Donna Wilkes, as Diane, is pleasant but forgettable enough that the role would be recast in the Fall (in time for the Thanksgiving cross-over).

Note that the script is by Howard Leeds (his second for DS), Ben Starr (his third), and Martin Cohan (his first for this show, although he'd done some for The Bob Newhart Show among others).  I don't know about Part 2, which is technically a Hello, Larry episode, although thankfully packaged on the DS DVD set, so I'll get to it next.

Diff'rent Strokes: The Job

Diff'rent Strokes: The Job
NBC
March 16, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Albert E. Lewin's third DS story is very Bradyesque, with the 13-year-old middle child getting fired from his first job, although Willis outdoes Peter by getting fired from a second job in the same episode!  Willis is trying to earn enough money to buy "disco skates."

Diff'rent Strokes: Mrs. Garrett's Crisis

Diff'rent Strokes: Mrs. Garrett's Crisis
NBC
March 2, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Mrs. Garrett feels unfulfilled as "just a housekeeper" until the family repeatedly reassures her that she's more than that.  The episode is of course ironic considering it wouldn't be long before Rae would spin off to Facts of Life.  Both Rae and Coleman have a lot of physical comedy in this one, as well as a heartwarming moment when he tells her she reminds him of another housekeeper, his mother.

Diff'rent Strokes: Willis' [sic] Privacy

Diff'rent Strokes: Willis' [sic] Privacy
NBC
February 23, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This Rosen & Rubin story covers familiar, yes, Bradyesque territory, with Willis wanting his own space and dividing up the bedroom.  But both Coleman and Bridges give good performances, showing the progress they've made this season.  Notice the remote control unit, something Peter and Bobby Brady didn't have, although there are still the jokes about who's closest to the bathroom.  Also, this episode contains back-to-back "Whatcu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" lines.

Anthony Tompkins returns as Vernon.

Diff'rent Strokes: The New Landlord

Diff'rent Strokes: The New Landlord
NBC
February 16, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Jack Riley returns, this time as the title character, who, like Mr. Carlin, is a heartless landlord.  This, the first of two DS stories by Norman Liebmann. is another episode where the kids team up, this time trying to pass off Arnold on stilts as 15-year-old "Arthur" so they won't be evicted.  Note that by this point, Kimberly is 14 and Willis 13.

Diff'rent Strokes: The Tutor

Diff'rent Strokes: The Tutor
NBC
February 9, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

In this Sandy Veith story, the title character, Danny Rose (Barry Diamond, who'd be Albon Degas on Bosom Buddies), has an informal, sort of Kotteresque approach, which rubs Mr. Drummond the wrong way.  I could've done with less of the ethnic accents, as well as Mr. D calling his Japanese client "inscrutable."  I do like how Danny figures out why Willis has a block about 1975, the year his father died, although that's not exactly the year most identified with Watergate.

Diff'rent Strokes: The Relative

Diff'rent Strokes: The Relative
NBC
February 2, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Sanford and Son's Lawanda Page guest-stars as the boy's cousin from Detroit, Myrtle Waters, in this Fox & Jacobs story.  I might've gone with a B-, but I'm not sure how much we're supposed to believe Myrtle even after her confession.  By this point in the season, the studio audience is tuned into Arnold's most famous catchphrase, and "Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis?" even gets a little applause.

Diff'rent Strokes: No Time for Arnold

Diff'rent Strokes: No Time for Arnold
NBC
January 26, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

In this Albert E. Lewin story, no one in the family can tell the difference between pee and water.  And Willis teaches Kimberly to dance to "Le Freak."

Diff'rent Strokes: The Woman

Diff'rent Strokes: The Woman
NBC
January 19, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
B

This is the first episode of the series where everything clicks.  The kids unite to stop Mr. Drummond from marrying a woman who sends her own children to foreign boarding schools.  Elinor Donahue is of course best known for her role as Betty on Father Knows Best, but she had played Medley Blaine in Gidget Gets Married and would show up on Mork & Mindy a couple years after this.  She does well with the role of Diane Sloane here, showing us why Phil would be so infatuated after six weeks but also revealing why she would not be a good member of this close-knit family.  (And I have to wonder if she's influenced by Phil's money, since the audience audibly reacts to the huge engagement ring.)  There are a couple nice, more serious scenes between Mr. Drummond and Mrs. Garrett.  Sadly, the writer Ron Alexander has no other credit at IMDB.  It would've been interesting to see what else he was capable of.

Diff'rent Strokes: The Club Meeting

Diff'rent Strokes: The Club Meeting
NBC
January 12, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

More Brady writers join in, this time Tom & Helen August.  So it's not too surprising that when Willis invites his old friends from Harlem over to the apartment, he gets a swell head about his new wealth.

Confusingly, Tony Williams, who plays William, would return as Charles, while Brian Salmon, who's Charles here, would be back as Tiny.  Anthony Thompkins would, however, consistently be Vernon.  And Pop Attmore, who's Bubba, was Dwayne on the "Kelly's Kids" episode of The Brady Bunch, when he was known as William Attmore II.

Diff'rent Strokes: The Fight

Diff'rent Strokes: The Fight
NBC
January 5, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This is the first of six DS episodes by Sandy Veith and while it treads a familiar and, yes, Bradyesque path, it does a couple different things with the material.  One is that it gives Coleman a chance to act tough and even imitate Muhammad Ali.  Another is that it adds another layer to the conflict between Willis and Mr. Drummond over who is Arnold's "father."  Note that Kimberly shares a bathroom with the boys, and we get a glimpse of the hallway outside the boys' bedroom.

Diff'rent Strokes: Retrospective

Diff'rent Strokes: Retrospective
NBC
December 29, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
C-

A one-hour retrospective?  I can see that after seven seasons, but after seven episodes?  And we get flashbacks to more than one scene of each of those seven episodes, with the family, together for 56 days and about to celebrate Christmas, reminiscing in the frame sequences written by Gilligan's Island veteran Budd Grossman and Brady Bunch vets Howard Leeds (writer of one episode but producer of all) and Ben Starr (three Brady scripts).  Riley and Travolta are re-tagged since their cameos are long enough.

Diff'rent Strokes: The Trial

Diff'rent Strokes: The Trial
NBC
December 15, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This Rosen & Rubin episode is one of the better ones so far.  It takes the sitcom situation of a mock trial, as on, yes, The Brady Bunch (and again the maid presides as judge), but adds the layer of whether justice is as accessible for poor blacks as for rich whites.  (And, yes, there's irony to this episode, knowing what the three child actors would experience with the law in later years.)  Note that at this point Kimberly doesn't really have a personality or interests, beyond being a stereotypical teenage girl.

Diff'rent Strokes: Goodbye Dolly

Diff'rent Strokes: Goodbye Dolly
NBC
December 8, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This was written by another Brady Bunch veteran.  (I'm assuming the thinking of the DS producers was that both shows were about kids in blended families.)  It's the first of ten scripts by Albert E. Lewin, who'd done three for the Bunch.  And it's about as corny as the rest of the episodes so far.  Which is a shame, because while it's nice to see Jack Riley in his first of four appearances on the show, here as '40sish detective Miles Monroe, it makes me sad that he's not getting better material to work with in his early post-Bob-Newhart days.  Note that Arnold's doll, one, is actually a stuffed animal, not a doll; and two, looks like a Paddington bear rip-off.

Diff'rent Strokes: The Spanking

Diff'rent Strokes: The Spanking
NBC
December 1, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Arnold drops water-bombs, so Mr. Drummond threatens to spank him.  The females are anti-corporal-punishment, while Willis thinks he should be the spanker as Arnold's blood relative.

Among writing partners Seaman Jacobs and Fred S. Fox's writing credits are an episode of Wait Till Your Father Gets Home, unspecified episodes of Hong Kong Phooey, and an episode of What's Happening!!  This is their first of four for DS.  

Diff'rent Strokes: Prep School

Diff'rent Strokes: Prep School
NBC
November 24, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This is the first of seven DS stories written by Alan Rosen and Fred Rubin, but the only one by Michael Russnow, who doesn't seem to have written for any other of my shows.  Mr. Drummond wants the boys to attend his alta mater, but he doesn't realize that the current headmaster, Miles Bordinay (Howard Morton, who was Slocum on That Girl), is a bigot, or at least a snob.  He gives Willis and Arnold entrance exams that they can't answer correctly because of their background.  I find it unlikely that 13-year-old Willis has never heard of the female symbol of Justice, but otherwise the episode makes the point that some intelligence tests measure "class" rather than intelligence.  Note that the school is an hour a way, so we know from the beginning that the boys won't end up going there, since they'd probably just come home on weekends, as with the absent Kimberly.

Diff'rent Strokes: Mother's Last Visit

Diff'rent Strokes: Mother's Last Visit
NBC
November 17, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This is the only DS episode written by William Raynor and Myles Wilder, who had co-written one for Wait Till Your Father Gets Home, three for The Brady Bunch, and one for Welcome Back, Kotter.  Mr. Drummond's 73-year-old mother visits for the first time in about a year.  He has neglected to tell her that he's adopted two poor black boys and she does not react well when she finds out.  I find her turnaround at the end a bit much even for a sitcom, and the idea that Kimberly would twice refer to her developing chest in front of both her grandmother and her father completely implausible even in the late '70s.  Note that this must be the weekend, since Kimberly isn't off at her boarding school.  And we find out that the boys' late father was a janitor at the UN.