Diff'rent Strokes

Sam and Arnold fear that the time their parents are spending apart is a symptom of an ailing marriage and the boys attempt to give them a dose of romance, hoping it will be the cure that will keep them from divorce. DanaPlato makes a special guest-starring appearance as Kimberly Drummond, who has returned home from being away at school in Paris.

Guarding the school bully's girlfriend, Ramona, seems like a simple task to Arnold, until his natural Jackson "charm" creates some problems -- Ramona falls head over heels for him -- and Herman, the bully, wants to rearrange his face.

Arnold's dream of becoming an "overnight" success as a photojournalist runs headlong into reality when he gets his first job on a local newspaper.

Sam becomes the victim of a bizarre kidnapping in the special one-hour, eighth season premiere episode of DIFF'RENT STROKES. The Drummond's worst fear is realized when they learn that Sam's trip to the market ended when the youngster left the store with a stranger. The distraught Drummonds seek the aid of the police in their frantic search to find Sam before it's too late.

Sam becomes the victim of a bizarre kidnapping in the special one-hour, eighth season premiere episode of DIFF'RENT STROKES. The Drummond's worst fear is realized when they learn that Sam's trip to the market ended when the youngster left the store with a stranger. The distraught Drummonds seek the aid of the police in their frantic search to find Sam before it's too late.

Drummond has "insured" that Sam will have an unforgettable birthday party by arranging for a local television personality to be the main attraction, until the swash-buckling "Captain Jack" steals the show and the birthday boy jumps ship.

Willis takes a big step when he leaves home for college, but fears his initiation to dorm life is only one of the freshman experiences he may not be ready to handle.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar guest stars as a high school English teacher who gives Arnold a "classic" punishment for "goofing off" in class and the freshman quickly learns his lesson when his penance is teaching "A Tale of Two Cities" to his rowdy classmates.

Father and son are feuding over First Amendment rights when an outraged Arnold objects to a white supremacy organization speaking at his high school and a discerning Drummond can't support Arnold's fury on the basis of the American right to free speech.

Superstar saxophonist Clarence Clemons guest stars as a music instructor who "backs up" Arnold after he claims to be an expert sax player in order to impress a girl. Clarence Clemons, the "Big Man" for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band makes his television acting debut.

Arnold suspects that Kimberly has an eating disorder when his slender sister is secretly gorging herself, but not gaining any weight. Arnold seeks Drummond's help in confronting Kimberly with her problem and the family comes together to help her fight the eating disorder, bulimia.

Arnold succumbs to peer pressure and boasts he went "all the way" with his girlfriend, but his lie puts him in a more awkward position once the girl finds out about his claim to fame.

Arnold's initiation into the "cool" club at school jeopardizes his friendship with the mildly-retarded dishwasher at the Hamburger Hangar, after a prank Arnold "must" pull causes the man to lose his job.

Arnold's preoccupation with girls and school leaves younger brother Sam alone and bored until Willis steps in, takes over as "big bro" and causes a row when Arnold decides to fight back for the title.

To prevent Dad from seeing his "F" in geometry, Arnold arranges to have Drummond's signature forged on his report card, but the scheme backfires when Drummond insists on a personal inspection of Arnold's grades, on DIFF'RENT STROKES.

Sam's contempt for a classmate who incessantly insults and badgers him is pacified when he learns that the boy is an orphan who's jealous of Sam's "perfect" family life.

A date with a gorgeous girl has Arnold walking on a cloud, until he learns she was bribed by Willis to go out with him.

Arnold is disgruntled over being partnered with archenemy Lisa in photography class but his frustration soars when the two are accidentally locked together in the basement darkroom.

Arnold's feature story about his high school football team threatens to turn into a controversial expos or the school newspaper when he witnesses team members buying steroids.