Season 3
Season 3

Season 3

Diff'rent Strokes

22 episodes12/11/1980

Episodes

The Bank Job (1)
S3 · E1 · 12/11/1980

The Bank Job (1)

Willis accompanies Arnold as he sets out to withdraw some money from his bank account to pay for his first ""real"" date, but two bank robbers force a change of plans when they attempt their own, very large withdrawal, in the first episode of a special two-part story.

The Bank Job (2)
S3 · E2 · 12/11/1980

The Bank Job (2)

Drummond offers himself and his company airplane as hostages to protect Arnold and Willis, but his sons' future hangs in the balance when the robbers announce their own very different choice of hostages, in the conclusion of a special two-part story.

Small Claims Court
S3 · E3 · 19/11/1980

Small Claims Court

Arnold has his day in court when an unfortunate ""train"" of events puts him at odds with a less than understanding merchant.

Substitute Mother
S3 · E4 · 26/11/1980

Substitute Mother

Arnold falls head-over-heels for a temporary housekeeper and embarks on a romantic scheme he hopes will make her a permanent member of the Drummond household.

The Accident (1)
S3 · E5 · 03/12/1980

The Accident (1)

The festive family celebration of Drummond's 50th birthday suddenly becomes a disaster after a drunk driver puts Drummond in the hospital, unconscious, his life hanging in the balance, in the first episode of a special two-part story.

The Accident (2)
S3 · E6 · 03/12/1980

The Accident (2)

When Drummond finally comes to, he is suffering from amnesia and unless he can regain his memory, he may lose not only his business, but also custody of Arnold, Willis and Kimberly.

Little Mother
S3 · E7 · 10/12/1980

Little Mother

Kimberly's efforts to help a pregnant girl friend, have Willis and Arnold convinced the Kimberly's the one expecting.

Football Father
S3 · E8 · 17/12/1980

Football Father

After Arnold fails to measure up to the demands of the basketball, baseball and volleyball teams, Drummond convinces the boy to try football on for size and then pays the coach a clandestine visit to ensure Arnold a place on the team.

First Love
S3 · E9 · 31/12/1980

First Love

Drummond orders Willis to spend more time with his studies and less time with his ""first love,"" but Willis and Arnold concoct a plan they're sure will fulfill the wishes of both father and son.

Count Your Blessings
S3 · E10 · 07/01/1981

Count Your Blessings

Arnold tries a regimen of stretching exercises and a change of diet to speed his growth, but Drummond finds he must go to a very special source to get the boy to accept that he will never be tall.

The Loan
S3 · E11 · 14/01/1981

The Loan

Arnold learns the true value of a dollar when Drummond turns down his request to lend $4,000 to the apartment building doorman anxious to take part in an attractive business deal.

Roots
S3 · E12 · 21/01/1981

Roots

Willis and Arnold turn the Drummond household upside down as they try to prove to their old Harlem neighbors -- and themselves -- that they haven't lost tough with their cultural roots.

Junk Food Junkie (a.k.a.) Junk Food
S3 · E13 · 28/01/1981

Junk Food Junkie (a.k.a.) Junk Food

Arnold's poor dental checkup and a visit by Drummond's health-conscious sister, Sophia, launches Drummond on a campaign to have ""junk"" food machines banned from Arnold's school, even though Arnold's drive for his class' presidency may depend on keeping the machines in place.

The Bus
S3 · E14 · 04/02/1981

The Bus

Arnold's excitement at being one of a small group of students in an exchange program with an all-white school is turned to fear by a threatening phone call from a zealous busing opponent.

The Older Man
S3 · E15 · 25/02/1981

The Older Man

Through Blair's makeup artistry, 15-year-old Kimberly discovers she can pass for 20, but when she accepts a date with a 25-year-old and the passes start flying, she finds there may be more to being older than looking it.

Where There's Hope
S3 · E16 · 04/03/1981

Where There's Hope

Arnold's tenth birthday party means a lot to him, but for some reason it means a whole lot more to the one person he's determined won't be invited -- a pesky young lady who always tries just too hard to be friends.

The Magician (a.k.a.) It's Magic
S3 · E17 · 11/03/1981

The Magician (a.k.a.) It's Magic

Arnold's ""famous"" magic disappearing act, designed to impress a magazine reporter and special guest star Dallas Cowboys' defensive end Ed ""Too Tall"" Jones, leaves him dangerously high and dry, with no place to go but down -- about 30 stories.

Drummond's Fair Lady
S3 · E18 · 18/03/1981

Drummond's Fair Lady

Drummond runs into some stiff competition to the candidate he's chosen to head a new division of his company -- his board members think the attractive young executive's sex disqualifies her -- and his family thinks he's being used.

The Ancestors
S3 · E19 · 25/03/1981

The Ancestors

Drummond and his sister Sophia inherit a prime piece of land in Harlem from a long lost ancestor, but their plan to dedicate it to a cultural center in his name could spell disaster if the truth of their ancestor's life gets out.

Almost American
S3 · E20 · 01/04/1981

Almost American

Arnold's dejection at being grounded for a ""D"" on a history test turns to inspiration after an immigrant studying for naturalization introduces him to another perspective on America.

Room for One More
S3 · E21 · 06/05/1981

Room for One More

Dudley, fearing his foster father's lost job means he's headed back to the orphanage, cons Arnold into getting Drummond to consider adopting him into their family.

The Athlete
S3 · E22 · 13/05/1981

The Athlete

The coach of the city's top high school baseball team is after Willis and is prepared to do anything to make it possible for Willis to attend his school.

Photos

Season cast