CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US Comedy Series
<Previous          "Diff'rent Strokes"                     Next>
Starring Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges
Season 8 (ABC) (1985-86)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
references:
TV Guide /   Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive

############# Diff'rent Strokes ##############
############# season 8 1985-86 ##############
############### (final season) ###############
(Change of Network from NBC to ABC)
ABC Fridays 9:00pm Eastern (19 episodes)
Produced by Al Aidekman and Richard Gurman

8.1/8.2 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Sam's Missing : pt. I & II (60 min.)
prod. nos. 804-805 / 27Sep85 ABC Fri
Written by Bob Brunner, Ken Hecht (pt I)
Written by Richard Gurman (pt II)
Directed by Gerren Keith.
(pt 1) A stranger kidnaps Sam in the market.
(pt II) The police join the search for Sam.

8.3 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Bully for Arnold
prod. no. 0802 / 4Oct85 ABC Fri
written by Robert Jayson, A. Dudley Johnson, Jr.
Directed by Gerren Keith.
A bully's girlfriend falls for Arnold.

8.4 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Love on the Run
prod. no. 801 / 11Oct85 ABC Fri
Written by Jose Rivera.
Directed by Gerren Keith.
Arnold and Sam boost their parents' romance.

8.5 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Willis Goes To College
prod. no. 807 / 18Oct85 ABC Fri
Written by Richard Gurman.
Directed by Tony Singletary.
Freshman Willis heads off to college.

8.6 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Arnold's job
prod. no. 0803 / 25Oct85 ABC Fri
Written by Bob Brunner, Ken Hecht.
Directed by Gerren Keith.
Arnold gets a job on a local newspaper.

8.7 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Tale of Two Teachers
prod. no. 808 / 8Nov85 ABC Fri
Written by Richard Gurman.
Directed by Gerren Keith.
A teacher gives lazy Arnold a unique punishment.

8.8 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: So You Want To Be a Rock and Roll Star
prod. no. 0810 / 15Nov85 ABC Fri
Written by Glenn Padnick.
Directed by Mel Ferber
A music teacher (Clarence Clemons) helps Arnold.

8.9 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Speak No Evil
prod. no. 0809 / 29Nov85 ABC Fri
Written by Glenn Padnick.
Directed by Gerren Keith.
Arnold and Drummond clash over free speech.

8.10 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Arnold's Bad Rep
prod. no. 0812 / 6Dec85 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Jose Rivera; Story by Robert Jayson, A. Dudley Johnson, Jr.
Directed by Mel Ferber.
Arnold lies about his girlfriend ti impress the guys.

8.11 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To
prod. no. 806 / 13Dec85 ABC Fri
Written by Al Aidekman.
Directed by Gerren Keith.
Arnold books a celebrity for Sam's birthday.

8.12 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Arnold's Initiation
prod. no. 0813 / 10Jan86 ABC Fri
Written by Robbie Jayson, A. Dudley Johnson.
Directed by Tony Singletary.
Arnold must pull a cruel prank to join a club.

8.13 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Bulimia
prod. no. 0811 / 17Jan86 ABC Fri
Written by Janna Lowell.
Directed by Barbara Schultz.
Arnold suspects Kimberly has an eating disorder.

8.14 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Sam's Big Brother
prod. no. 0814 / 24Jan86 ABC Fri
Written by Susan H. Lee.
Directed by Mel Ferber.
Willis takes over as Sam's big brother.

8.15 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Arnold's Tangled Web
prod. no. 0815 / 31Jan86 ABC Fri
Written by Barry Rubinowitz.
Directed by Selig Frank
Arnold plots to hide his failing grade.

8.16 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: Lifestyles of the Poor and Unknown.
prod. no. 0816 / 7Feb86 ABC Fri
Written by Barry Gold.
Directed by Mel Ferber
Sam finds the truth behind a classmate's taunts.

8.17 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: The Big Bribe
prod. no. 0817 / 14Feb86 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Robert Jayson & A. Dudley Johnson, Jr; Story by Janna Lowell.
Directed by Mel Feber
Willis bribes a girl to go out with Arnold.

8.18 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: The Photo Club
prod. no. 0818 / 21Feb86 ABC Fri
Directed by Jeremiah Morris.
Arnold is stuck in a darkroom with Lisa.

8.19 [--] Diff'rent Strokes: The Front Page (final episode)
prod. no. 0819 / 7Mar86 ABC Fri
Written by Al Aidekman, Richard Gurman.
Directed by Gerren Keith
Arnold sees high-school athletes take steroids.

 Have you any comments, corrections, episode titles, air dates, production numbers, directors, writers, story/synopsis, guest stars, cast lists, etc?
Have you any old videos, or tv guides? Dust them off and let us know if you have any information on this series or any other tv series from the
Golden Age of TV, which is missing from any episode guides on the web. Perhaps a certain episode of a particular series coincided with a key
moment in your life, or in world events - and or has left a vivid memory of when it was shown. Let us know. Would you like to see any other
tv series guides on this site? If so please e-mail The Classic TV Archive - see Feedback below.
This guide may be distributed and copied freely, in its entirety, for personal use. All original author and copyright information must
remain intact. Any sales or other uses of this document are expressly forbidden, without the specific consent of the author(s).
Copyright © The Classic TV Archive. All rights reserved.

Return to The Classic TV Archive Home Page
Feedback  -  Comedy Forum