I never really liked the 78-80 era because Willis and Arnold life revolved around Mr. Drummond and being in the penthouse. And the 84-86 era was less screen time for Willis, no more apperances by Tootie or any other Facts of Life cast members and too much Sam and Maggie. But the 1981-84 era was when you saw Willis with a girlfriend, Arnold with friends, Arnold in school, then Dudley was introduced, in addition to guest appearances by the Facts of Life girls. Arnold even went on a date in the 81-84 era. This is why I can't wait to record season 4, season 5, and season 6 on Comcast on Demand. Defintely the best era

Let's just hope they keep showing them. I want the episodes with Dana Kimmel.

Let's just hope they keep showing them. I want the episodes with Dana Kimmel.



Who was Dana Kimmel?

She was an actress in the early 80's. She did some soaps, tv show guest appearances, and few horror movies. She is best known for the movie Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3D. I think she was in at least three DS episodes in 1984.

Dana was also in the FOL episode when Blair visits her rich snooty friend in New York. I know she got mad at Blair because Blair became "watered down" at Eastland and wasn't so snooty anymore. I think this was also the episode where Jo tries stopping her street friend from ruining the painting in the rec center.

seasons 3-6 were definately my favorite, but I'd take seasons 1 and 2 over 7 and 8 any day.

gary has said that he liked seasons 1 thru 4 the best i like all seasons except 7 that was really awful

gary has said that he liked seasons 1 thru 4 the best i like all seasons except 7 that was really awful


Seasons 3 and 4 were really good. I think the worst seasons was 1 and 8

Seasons 3 and 4 were really good. I think the worst seasons was 1 and 8

I agree season 1 definately isn't the best. that's why I want at least season 2 to come out on DVD. Season 1 has way too much of a "Arnold and Willis are settling in" mood, throughout the entire season. Plus, outside of the episode that sets up FOL and the cross-over with Hello Larry, it seems like you see very little outside of the Drummond penthouse.

Season 2 has some great episodes like The Rivals, I'm ready for the DVD

i hope season 2 comes out soon its my fave season one great ep after another

I happen to agree with you somewhat Solomon. The better episodes were the ones surrounding Arnold's outside life with his friends.

I just wish Sony would give us 2-8 on DVD already, haha.

I am not the biggest season 1 fan, but I ordered the DVD before it came out with the hope that my support would help release the rest of the seasons. I am content if they do 1 a year for now, but I would love to see season 2 one of these days.

I at least hope we get through the time Sam is introduced, that is the "jump the shark" moment for me.

I bought season 1 for the same reason. I want to show my support for future releases.

I'm a fan of the whole series. I enjoyed all the seasons a great deal as a kid, including the Sam episodes.

I hope we get Season 2 on DVD soon...HOPEFULLY by Christmas.

I would be very surprised if Season 1 didn't sell well for the following reasons...

1. The iconic status of the show

2. The very cheap price tag (it sold for about $22 in my area)

3. The set contained bonus materials

C'mon Sony, lets pick up the pace with the Diff'rent Strokes DVDs...

BTW, I'm jealous of those of you who have Comcast Digital Cable, and can watch the show digitally and uncut! :p

I'm a fan of the whole series. I enjoyed all the seasons a great deal as a kid, including the Sam episodes.

I hope we get Season 2 on DVD soon...HOPEFULLY by Christmas.

I would be very surprised if Season 1 didn't sell well for the following reasons...

1. The iconic status of the show

2. The very cheap price tag (it sold for about $22 in my area)

3. The set contained bonus materials

C'mon Sony, lets pick up the pace with the Diff'rent Strokes DVDs...

BTW, I'm jealous of those of you who have Comcast Digital Cable, and can watch the show digitally and uncut! :p



Well don't be too jealous because Comcast has not Added any new eps in about 2weeks

I'm a fan of the whole series. I enjoyed all the seasons a great deal as a kid, including the Sam episodes.

I hope we get Season 2 on DVD soon...HOPEFULLY by Christmas.

I would be very surprised if Season 1 didn't sell well for the following reasons...

1. The iconic status of the show

2. The very cheap price tag (it sold for about $22 in my area)

3. The set contained bonus materials

C'mon Sony, lets pick up the pace with the Diff'rent Strokes DVDs...

BTW, I'm jealous of those of you who have Comcast Digital Cable, and can watch the show digitally and uncut! :p

yep!. While I think it's pretty obvious this hasn't sold Chappelle, Simpson or Seinfeld numbers, I think DS has probably moved very well for a show from it's period. I've seen a ton of posters here who have cited DS season 1 as part of their DVD collection. Sony usually really does a bad job between seasons 1 and 2 and 2 and 3, but after 3, they start popping the babies out as fast as they can.

I don't care if seasons 2-8 don't contain any more documentaries or commentary tracks, just being able to own these episodes would be well worth it for me, considering DS is so scarce on television these days unless you have Comcast.

yep!. While I think it's pretty obvious this hasn't sold Chappelle, Simpson or Seinfeld numbers, I think DS has probably moved very well for a show from it's period. I've seen a ton of posters here who have cited DS season 1 as part of their DVD collection. Sony usually really does a bad job between seasons 1 and 2 and 2 and 3, but after 3, they start popping the babies out as fast as they can.

I don't care if seasons 2-8 don't contain any more documentaries or commentary tracks, just being able to own these episodes would be well worth it for me, considering DS is so scarce on television these days unless you have Comcast.


That's True-lol Two new DS eps added this morning

seasons 3-6 were definately my favorite, but I'd take seasons 1 and 2 over 7 and 8 any day.

The last two seasons are really bad.Gary Coleman did not even need to mention them, you can tell just by watching that these episodes are completely lackluster and "automatic"...
(please note that i've seen them dubbed in french which makes them even worse obviously).

I noticed that 1982 episodes were generally quite good, i don't know what season it is.

The main seasons that I have watched a lot of are Season 1 (I have the DVD) and Seasons 3-5, which were on tv quite regularly in the UK about two years ago.

I have seen very little of Seasons 2, 6, 7 and 8, so it would be difficult for me to say whether the 1981-1984 era was the best. However, I remember the episodes from Seasons 3-5 (1980-1983) being very entertaining and this was the main reason why I wanted to buy Diff'rent Strokes on DVD.

Seasons 3-5 were, on the whole, better than Season 1 in my opinion, although I'm still very glad that I bought the Season 1 DVD, and I hope that Season 2 gets released.

Scott

The last two seasons are really bad.Gary Coleman did not even need to mention them, you can tell just by watching that these episodes are completely lackluster and "automatic"...
(please note that i've seen them dubbed in french which makes them even worse obviously).

I noticed that 1982 episodes were generally quite good, i don't know what season it is.



Seasons 4 and 5

The last season was unwatchable. The whole cast was barely in any episodes together.

The last season was unwatchable. The whole cast was barely in any episodes together.


Especially Willis

Willis became annoying as he got older. He dressed like a Michael Jackson wannabe.

Willis became annoying as he got older. He dressed like a Michael Jackson wannabe.


I'm the complete opposite, to me he was annoying when he was younger-Seasons 1 and 2, but after that he changed a lot