Diff'rent Strokes

branie2

Anyone here ever watch this TV comedy series about a white businessman who adopts two black boy? It was famous for the catchprase "Whatchoo talkin' about, Willis?"

BorneTobyWilde

What you talking bout ?

Silvera

I remember it well! ...and that famous catchphrase!

IIRC, the 'father' in the series was a lawyer.

Tigger

branie2 wrote: »

Anyone here ever watch this TV comedy series about a white businessman who adopts two black boy? It was famous for the catchprase "Whatchoo talkin' about, Willis?"

I used to be an early riser, I'd get up and play the binatone till swap shop started
Well I remember seeing inthe paper that a program called different strokes was on at 0730 and I assumed it was a swimming program
Remember there were swimming programme on back then
So I didn't watch it till I turned it on by accident
Poor Kim early

hungry hypno toad

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

What you talking bout ?

Willis?

Tigger

Silvera wrote: »

I remember it well! ...and that famous catchphrase!

IIRC, the 'father' in the series was a lawyer.

He's a man of means till along came two

hungry hypno toad

Silvera wrote: »

I remember it well! ...and that famous catchphrase!

IIRC, the 'father' in the series was a lawyer.

Mr. Drummond, wasn't it?

Arthur Daley

Used to be on utv about 5.15. Similar slot to blockbusters.

darkdubh

They used to do these "issue" episodes around drugs etc. Remember the episode with the paedophile neighbour who invites Arnold to watch videos?

jimgoose

hungry hypno toad wrote: »

Mr. Drummond, wasn't it?

Yurp. Phil Drummond, played by Conrad Bain. He died a few years ago aged 89.

milli milli

Oh the memories!
Watched this all the time.
Remembered an episode where Kimberley's boyfriend was racist so Kimberley 'blacked up' for a fancy dress and the boyfriend didn't like it.

Also remember the Christmas episode was on about a week before Christmas and for the end credits, the cast sang some Christmas song and I remember being extremely excited as our Christmas wasn't too far away!

I always liked the girl's name - Kimberley - we had those Kimberley biscuits and it was so unusual.

There was a bit of a curse on that show though. The kids didn't fare too well as adults, did they?
I think that era just didn't give a crap about child welfare. Also they probably couldn't shake off their childhood roles and just didn't transition well as adults. It leaves a sad air to the whole thing really.

nitsujj

Tragically, the girl who played the boys step sister, Kimberley,  died of a drug overdose in 1999.

Jimbob1977

Todd Bridges (Willis) had trouble with drugs and alcohol.

However, he became a hero when he saved a person from drowning in a lake.

Gary Coleman (Arnold) had a tragic life. He was suing his parents for mis-managing his business affairs. He had to work as a security guard to make ends meet.

He got married and his life became a 'reality tv show. His wife was allegedly mistreating him. Died a few years ago. The wife posted photos of him lying in a coma. Pretty low.

rubadub

darkdubh wrote: »

They used to do these "issue" episodes around drugs etc. Remember the episode with the paedophile neighbour who invites Arnold to watch videos?

wiki has a "very special episode" about these
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_special_episode

Diff'rent Strokes featured some very special episodes that involved child molestation, child pornography, pedophilia, hitchhiking, kidnapping, sexual assault, epileptic seizure, bullies, racism, bulimia, drunk driving and drug abuse.

milli milli wrote: »

I always liked the girl's name - Kimberley - we had those Kimberley biscuits and it was so unusual.

Kimberley biscuits are said to be named after the kimberley diamond mine, which was in the news at the time of their introduction in 1893. The oversized granulated sugar is supposed to be like diamonds.

A guy called Jacobs discovered the mine, dunno if that is more reason they picked it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberley,_Northern_Cape

Mikados came out a few years before in 1888, named after Gilbert & Sullivans opera

darkdubh

rubadub wrote: »

wiki has a "very special episode" about these
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_special_episode



Kimberley biscuits are said to be named after the kimberley diamond mine, which was in the news at the time of their introduction in 1893. The oversized granulated sugar is supposed to be like diamonds.

A guy called Jacobs discovered the mine, dunno if that is more reason they picked it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberley,_Northern_Cape

Mikados came out a few years before in 1888, named after Gilbert & Sullivans opera

I also remember the one where Nancy Reagan appeared as herself to warn kids about drugs. It felt bizarre even then.

rubadub

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TENJNk4Wk4g

not as bad/cringey as I expected.

mean gene

rubadub wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TENJNk4Wk4g

not as bad/cringey as I expected.

really thought it was worse than cringe

MysticMonk

Tr making that series now and BLM would probably burn the studio to the ground!