The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African American boys from Harlem who are taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman named Phillip Drummond and his daughter Kimberly, for whom their deceased mother previously worked. During the first season and first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred as the Drummonds' housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett.
Where to watch
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Tubi TV
see all options Availability data: JustWatch
- Seasons
- 8
- Episodes aired
- 189
- Latest aired
- S08E19
- Total runtime
- 14h 19min
Timeline when each season aired
- Season 1 November 1978 – May 1979 24 episodes
- Season 2 September 1979 – March 1980 26 episodes
- Season 3 November 1980 – May 1981 22 episodes
- Season 4 October 1981 – May 1982 26 episodes
- Season 5 October 1982 – May 1983 24 episodes
- Season 6 October 1983 – May 1984 24 episodes
- Season 7 September 1984 – May 1985 24 episodes
- Season 8 September 1985 – March 1986 19 episodes
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S02E01 Arnold's Girlfriend (1)
September 21 find the promo
Show synopsis
Arnold has appendicitis and Drummond has to deal with the bigotry of Fred Tanner, a potential housing project investor whose daughter is the key to getting Arnold to sit still for the operation.
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S02E02 Arnold's Girlfriend (2)
September 21 find the promo
Show synopsis
Arnold's life is endangered when the kids find out they can't share a room in the hospital and run away on the eve of Arnold's surgery.
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S02E03 Feudin' and Fussin' (I)
September 28 find the promo
Show synopsis
Arnold's well-intentioned endorsement of Larry Alder's hosting talents to a New York TV big-wig gives Larry the opportunity of a lifetime and brings the family to the big apple. Larry's try-out as a New York television talk-show house may be doomed from the start, one disaster follows another and not everyone on the Alder team may be rooting for him to win the job. The crossover continues on Hello, Larry S02E01 Feudin' and Fussin' (II).
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S02E04 Feudin' and Fussin' (2)
September 28 find the promo
Show synopsis
Arnold's well-intentioned endorsement of Larry Alder's hosting talents to a New York TV big-wig gives Larry the opportunity of a lifetime and brings the family to the big apple. Larry's try-out as a New York television talk-show house may be doomed from the start, one disaster follows another and not everyone on the Alder team may be rooting for him to win the job. **Part two originally aired as an episode of "Hello, Larry".
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S02E05 Mrs. Garrett's Romance
October 12 · 30min find the promo
Show synopsis
The Drummond household's curiosity over Mrs. Garrett's new beau turns first to surprise and then to alarm. Mrs. Garrett is in a dither over her first date with Leon, especially when it is followed by a very important question.
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S02E06 Birds and Bees
October 19 find the promo
Show synopsis
Willis' fishy version of the facts of life leaves Arnold with misconceptions and Mr. Drummond on tender hooks. Arnold repeats his ""knowledge"" to a neighbor's daughter, but the girl's mother is not amused.
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S02E07 Arnold's Hero (a.k.a.) The Hero
October 24 find the promo
Show synopsis
Arnold's wildest dream is realized when he comes face-to-knee with ""The Champ"" -- special guest star Muhammad Ali. When the meeting arranged by Mr. Drummond between Arnold and his idol, Muhammad Ali, falls through, Kimberly and Willis concoct a wild scheme to insure that Arnold's dream will come true.
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S02E08 The Adoption (1)
October 31 find the promo
Show synopsis
The Drummond family celebrates the day Arnold and Willis are supposed to be officially adopted until the visit of a ""relative"" leaves their plans in jeopardy. Whitman Mayo guest stars as Jethro Simpson, who sees his way to go from junk to jewels in a last will and testament leaving a fortune to Willis and Arnold.
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S02E09 The Adoption (2)
November 7 find the promo
Show synopsis
It appears that Mr. Drummond's attempts to adopt Arnold and Willis will be aborted by a conniving junk dealer until the boys take matters into their own hands. Whitman Mayo guest stars as ""long-lost relative"" Jethro Simpson who has arrived with a letter supposedly written by the boys' father, leaving Arnold and Willis in his custody.
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S02E10 Father and Son Day
November 14 find the promo
Show synopsis
Willis' cut-throat competitiveness with another boy at his gym leads him to a decision that he will very much regret, especially after it hurts Mr. Drummond and gives Arnold the right to say ""I told you so."" Baseball great Reggie Jackson makes his acting debut playing a key, but unsuspecting role in Willis' questionable scheme.
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S02E11 Thanksgiving Crossover (I)
November 28 find the promo
Show synopsis
The Alders and the Drummonds are together again in New York, and Arnold, Willis and Kimberly plan a second Thanksgiving feast with friends Diane and Ruthie. But even the huge Drummond penthouse isn't big enough to hold the exploding tempers that threaten Phil and Larry's long-standing relationship, on a special one-hour episode featuring the stars of "Hello, Larry." Morgan and all the kids get caught up in the feud when Larry learns friendship doesn't necessarily make for good business. The crossover continues on Hello, Larry S02E10 Thanksgiving Crossover (II).
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S02E12 Thanksgiving Crossover (2)
November 28 find the promo
Show synopsis
The Alders and the Drummonds are together again in New York, and Arnold, Willis and Kimberly plan a second Thanksgiving feast with friends Diane and Ruthie. But even the huge Drummond penthouse isn't big enough to hold the exploding tempers that threaten Phil and Larry's long-standing relationship, on a special one-hour episode featuring the stars of "Hello, Larry." Morgan and all the kids get caught up in the feud when Larry learns friendship doesn't necessarily make for good business. **Part two originally aired as an episode of "Hello, Larry".
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S02E13 The Rivals
December 5 find the promo
Show synopsis
Arnold and Willis' relationship is threatened when a fickle female classmate, the object of Arnold's affection, turns her attention toward Willis. Arnold's first love is also his first lesson in jealously as he competes with Willis for the same girl.
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S02E14 Hot Watch
December 12 find the promo
Show synopsis
Discovered in the wrong place at the wrong time, Willis and Arnold become prime suspects when their neighbor's apartment is robbed and they're caught with one of the stolen items. Mr. Drummond is convinced of his sons' innocence even though Willis' fingerprints are all over the place.
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S02E15 The Dog Story (a.k.a.) A Dog Story
December 19 find the promo
Show synopsis
Arnold saves a dog's life, is bitten and then the dog is needed to save Arnold. The Drummond household members frantically search for the ungrateful canine, while Arnold faces a series of rabies shots or death.
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S02E16 The Election
January 9 find the promo
Show synopsis
Drummond puts his convictions on the line to run for city council, and rooting him on are Arnold, Willis, Kimberly, and an ""unexpected"" new addition to the household. Nedra Volz plays Adelaide Brubaker, the small but sassy housekeeper who helps Drummond mobilize the family for a ""win.""
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S02E17 Friendly-Mate
January 16 find the promo
Show synopsis
Mr. Drummond is in ""double-trouble"" when Willis and Arnold decide to get him a date. Feeling a little lonely, Drummond tells the kids what he needs is a little companionship, so they decide to call a computer dating service.
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S02E18 Poor Drummond
January 23 find the promo
Show synopsis
A crucially important business deal keeps Mr. Drummond on edge and Arnold and Willis wondering whether they pack for a California vacation or move back to Harlem.
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S02E19 Big Business
January 30 · 30min find the promo
Show synopsis
Willis and Arnold scheme to make extra ""dough"" by selling brownies, only to discover they can't stand the heat of big business and may soon have to get out of the kitchen.
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S02E20 Return of the Gooch
February 6 find the promo
Show synopsis
The ""Gooch"" is back and this time he's terrorizing Arnold, but Arnold plans to be ready when the bully strikes. In building Arnold's confidence, Willis convinces him that his martial arts lesson has given him a ""killer"" foot.
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S02E21 Valentine's Day Retrospective (a.k.a.) Valentine's Vigil
February 13 find the promo
Show synopsis
Arnold and Willis are trapped in the basement and while they await rescue they reminisce about their recent past...both the good times and the bad. Arnold insists he must wear his Superman outfit to the family's Valentine's Day trip to the circus; the resultant search leads to the basement and a locked door. This show highlights some of the best moments from the past episodes.
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S02E22 Skin Deep or True Blue (a.k.a.) Guess Who?
February 20 find the promo
Show synopsis
Kimberly's new beau, Roger, suggests pairing his sister with Willis for a double-date, until he finds out the color of his true love's brother. When Kimberly discovers her new friend is a bigot, her face burns red and then a far darker shade.
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S02E23 Teacher's Pet
February 27 find the promo
Show synopsis
Parent-teacher night leads Mr. Drummond to a romance with Arnold's teacher and poor Arnold to the jealousy of his classmates. Arnold tries every trick in the book to win back his classmates, including one which may have him expelled.
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S02E24 The Slumber Party
March 12 find the promo
Show synopsis
Leaving Willis in charge of the house for Kimberly's slumber party is a mistake Mr. Drummond soon regrets as the ensuing chaos disrupts his own date with a lovely lady. The Facts of Life stars Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields, Julie Anne Haddock, and Molly Ringwald guest star.
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S02E25 Arnold Faces Fatality (a.k.a.) The Will (a.k.a.) Drummond's Will
March 19 find the promo
Show synopsis
Arnold fears that his loved ones are checking out of his life when he stumbles upon Drummond's will and then uncovers the fact that his goldfish has given up the ghost.
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S02E26 The Squealer
March 26 find the promo
Show synopsis
Willis seeks comradeship as a member of the Tarantulas, a street gang, but finds only deceit as he gets caught in a web of misplace loyalties. Willis allows himself to be arrested rather than ""squeal"" on his fellow-gang members by telling the truth.