Season 3 DVD. The season 3 ep about some American History class when you only see the cast in the beginning of the ep and the end of the ep


this is another example of thinking you are about to see a great ep-"willis, arnold, and kimberly going to a hockey game and then all of a sudden arnold has to stay home because of a D on his history paper and then we are treated to a class of students we never sawe before-lol


This ep should not be in syndication at all

Reading more about the episode confirmed my thoughts about it. TV.com (http://www.tv.com/diffrent-strokes/almost-american/episode/27168/summary.html?tag=ep_list;ep_title;19) reports that this episode was supposed to be a pilot for a series featuring the teacher and the students in that class, but it didn't sell. So I guess that explains the point of it.

I didn't think it was that bad of an episode. I just thought it was rather random.

Reading more about the episode confirmed my thoughts about it. TV.com (http://www.tv.com/diffrent-strokes/almost-american/episode/27168/summary.html?tag=ep_list;ep_title;19) reports that this episode was supposed to be a pilot for a series featuring the teacher and the students in that class, but it didn't sell. So I guess that explains the point of it.

I didn't think it was that bad of an episode. I just thought it was rather random.

it was "back door pilot" as they say in the industry.

it was "back door pilot" as they say in the industry.


Yep, something FOL did quite often...

Season 3 DVD. The season 3 ep about some American History class when you only see the cast in the beginning of the ep and the end of the ep


this is another example of thinking you are about to see a great ep-"willis, arnold, and kimberly going to a hockey game and then all of a sudden arnold has to stay home because of a D on his history paper and then we are treated to a class of students we never sawe before-lol


This ep should not be in syndication at all

I remember that episode. I was saying to myself at the time it aired, "What does this have to do with "Diff'rent Strokes?"

That ep should not be in the ep lineup on the DVD, only as a extra and it shouldn't be in syndication at all-lol

And if it wasn't in syndication, someone would be crying, "I want to see the lost episode of DS." :lol:

And if it wasn't in syndication, someone would be crying, "I want to see the lost episode of DS." :lol:


It wasn't a lost pilot of DS, it was a lost pilot of whoever that guy was-lol Meaning that DS shouldn't have cared

It wasn't a lost pilot of DS, it was a lost pilot of whoever that guy was-lol Meaning that DS shouldn't have cared
I know it is not a lost episode, but if the episode NEVER aired in syndication, someone who knows the show very well would be crying, "Why don't they air that episode _________. I want to see that lost episode." :lol: It never fails. You can't win either way. People get mad at episodes that air and they get mad if an episode doesn't air.

I know it is not a lost episode, but if the episode NEVER aired in syndication, someone who knows the show very well would be crying, "Why don't they air that episode _________. I want to see that lost episode." :lol: It never fails. You can't win either way. People get mad at episodes that air and they get mad if an episode doesn't air.
so true. If I hated the episode that badly, if it were on DVD I would just skip it.

well, we gotta remember this sort of episode is how we got FOL, no complaints there :D

Exactly John. For every dud, there is a gem in those episodes. ;) And like mentioned above, just skip the episode on the DVD, what is so hard abt that? Someone will like it.

I think spinoff ideas work better when it's not so overly premeditated. FOL worked as a spinoff from DS because it was Mrs. Garrett going on to a new program. It would've been less successful if out of nowhere, Mrs. Garrett was introduced just to give the series a spinoff, which was the case with this episode, and a number of FOL episodes

A genuine spinoff always works better--where an established supporting character goes off to a new life, etc. These "use a hit series to launch an unrelated new show" spinoffs don't come off as too successful. I watched recently Doris Day Show Season 3 and one episode was like this. And may I say, boring as all get out. Has there been any case where a spinoff was a success from launching that way? Maybe "Mork and Mindy"?

A genuine spinoff always works better--where an established supporting character goes off to a new life, etc. These "use a hit series to launch an unrelated new show" spinoffs don't come off as too successful. I watched recently Doris Day Show Season 3 and one episode was like this. And may I say, boring as all get out. Has there been any case where a spinoff was a success from launching that way? Maybe "Mork and Mindy"?


That may have been the only one

And if it wasn't in syndication, someone would be crying, "I want to see the lost episode of DS." :lol:


THANK YOU! That person would be me!

THANK YOU! That person would be me!
:lol:

Irene I won't lie to you. I am glad that the episode is included in the package. But I did not like these shows that would focus on some characters that we barely knew. Folks, if you know of any programs that focused on other characters or guest stars with the purpose of spinning them off, pleae respond to my topic on the "spinoff/one year wonder board".

Irene I won't lie to you. I am glad that the episode is included in the package. But I did not like these shows that would focus on some characters that we barely knew. Folks, if you know of any programs that focused on other characters or guest stars with the purpose of spinning them off, pleae respond to my topic on the "spinoff/one year wonder board".
I hear ya. It is like that one episode on FACTS OF LIFE that had nothing to do with the girls or the school, but it was an episode that was supposed to be a spin-off. It never happened. When I get the DVD's of any show, I would merely skip any episode I didn't want to watch, simple as that. It's not like it is a VHS tape where you would have to sit there and fast forward through the entire episode. :lol: