I can't remember him missing any shows. Also, once Sam came on board I don't remember him missing any shows either.

I watched every Episode of Diff'rent Strokes and I remember Him being in every Episode of Diff'rent Strokes.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
I can't remember him missing any shows. Also, once Sam came on board I don't remember him missing any shows either.


Mr. Drummond and Sam were the only characters on the show to appear in every episode.

That's what I thought. I could see Conrad Bain being in every show but what was the purpose of Sam being in every single one? That was unnecessary to me. Also, does anyone know if Gary Coleman ever missed an episode for a reason other than his health? I believe he was written out when he was ill or undergoing surgery but did they ever just give him a week off the way that players like Willis, Pearl, Maggie etc got?

Originally posted by jamesanthony
That's what I thought. I could see Conrad Bain being in every show but what was the purpose of Sam being in every single one? That was unnecessary to me. Also, does anyone know if Gary Coleman ever missed an episode for a reason other than his health? I believe he was written out when he was ill or undergoing surgery but did they ever just give him a week off the way that players like Willis, Pearl, Maggie etc got?

I think all Coleman's absences was due to health reasons. The thing i never understood was why Kim fields filled in for him everytime he was out.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
I think all Coleman's absences was due to health reasons. The thing i never understood was why Kim fields filled in for him everytime he was out.

I don't think she did EVERY time. He was sick that often? Even in the last season there is at least one without him.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
I don't think she did EVERY time. He was sick that often? Even in the last season there is at least one without him.

Maybe I'm thinking about the 81-82 season when Kim Fields guest starred 3 times in a row

Kim Fields was very good friends with Todd Bridges plus she was familiar to the crew and she worked at NBC. It wouldn't have made sense to bring anyone else in under an emergency situation.

Originally posted by TJ
Kim Fields was very good friends with Todd Bridges plus she was familiar to the crew and she worked at NBC. It wouldn't have made sense to bring anyone else in under an emergency situation.


I wonder how they became good friends because they never worked together on a another show before Different Strokes. Unless they became very good friends from the times Kim Fields guest starred on DS between 1979 and 1981

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Mr. Drummond and Sam were the only characters on the show to appear in every episode.

I didn't know Sam appeared in the first season! :eek: I thought he came about around 1984, six years after the show premiered.

Originally posted by James
I didn't know Sam appeared in the first season! :eek: I thought he came about around 1984, six years after the show premiered.


I'm talking about from the time Sam apperared on the show, he appeared in every episode.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
I'm talking about from the time Sam apperared on the show, he appeared in every episode.

I thought it was very unnecessary for him to be in every episode when the other kids went missing so much at that time. If Dana Plato didn't get pregnant would they have even added him into the picture? Her dismissal pretty much coincides with the appearance of Sam and Maggie. Dixie Carter's Maggie was better than Mary Ann Mobley who was like watching a wooden mannequin try to act, and Sam could only be tolerated in limited doses, not in every episode.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
I wonder how they became good friends because they never worked together on a another show before Different Strokes. Unless they became very good friends from the times Kim Fields guest starred on DS between 1979 and 1981 That's because the cast of Different Strokes and Facts Of Life crossed over several times between 1979 and 1981. On The Facts Of Life,when Jo joined the cast,Arnold visited Eastman to see Mrs. Garrett. In another episode, Willis spent the night there. On Different Strokes,in addition to the ones Tootie was in, Blair and Natalie was in the episode where Kimberly gets friendly with a guy nearly 10 years older than she was.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
I thought it was very unnecessary for him to be in every episode when the other kids went missing so much at that time. If Dana Plato didn't get pregnant would they have even added him into the picture? Her dismissal pretty much coincides with the appearance of Sam and Maggie. Dixie Carter's Maggie was better than Mary Ann Mobley who was like watching a wooden mannequin try to act, and Sam could only be tolerated in limited doses, not in every episode.


Maggie and Sam would have been brought in anyway since the show was running very low on steam by the end of the sixth season and needed some changes.
I agree Sam was a bit annoying at times, but the show would have been worse if it had carried on as it was.