I mean, he loved the boys and at times was color blind. But it seems he always wanted the boys to live in his world. He wanted them to go to that racist prep school, and they did not fit in, he wanted them to join that racist health club, where blacks never been a member. Mr D was so white with loot, he didn't even know what was really going on in the world. It had to take episode "Roots" for them to bring that to Drummond's attention. And when Willis wanted to have his birthday in Harlem, Drummond was to scared to go. So yes, Mr. D kept Arnold away from their culture.

I don't think he did it on purpose per se. I think he thought the boys would appreciate the lifestyle he had known almost all his life. I think it is a goof and misinterpretation that children who are removed from a poor lifestyle, wouldn't want to have some sort of connection with what they knew. I don't know how much of a negative lifestyle they had with their mother, but these boys were exposed to a lot of negative stuff living it up on Park Avenue in a penthouse. :crazy: I mean Arnold was a victim of a sexual predator and he was held against his will along with Kimberly, he probably had more drama in the "white world" than he did in his "black world". :lol:

I don't think he did it on purpose per se. I think he thought the boys would appreciate the lifestyle he had known almost all his life. I think it is a goof and misinterpretation that children who are removed from a poor lifestyle, wouldn't want to have some sort of connection with what they knew. I don't know how much of a negative lifestyle they had with their mother, but these boys were exposed to a lot of negative stuff living it up on Park Avenue in a penthouse. :crazy: I mean Arnold was a victim of a sexual predator and he was held against his will along with Kimberly, he probably had more drama in the "white world" than he did in his "black world". :lol:

No, he didn't do it on purpose. But he should have seen Willis's attitude in the pilot episode. He should have seen that he couldn't easily reach out to Willis. He was comfortable with the Harlem lifestyle. Willis was street and Drummond was cracking jokes left and right that young blacks couldn't relate to at the time.

True. I think the adjustment was what was hitting Willis hard. They had lost their mother and here they were becoming the children of a rich, white man. Willis did have an attitude and who could blame him?

I do agree it would have been nice to see Mr. D. expose the boys to some of their culture and history. Too bad Mr. Huxtable was not around. :lol:

This sort of reminds me of the FOL episode where Tootie is challenged by that black delivery guy that she has been made over into the white image. When she goes to Mrs G for advice, Mrs G truthfully explains that as much as she would like to help Tootie, she can't because "the black experience isn't my experience"

True. I think the adjustment was what was hitting Willis hard. They had lost their mother and here they were becoming the children of a rich, white man. Willis did have an attitude and who could blame him?

I do agree it would have been nice to see Mr. D. expose the boys to some of their culture and history. Too bad Mr. Huxtable was not around. :lol:



I agree and Arnold was too young to understand why willis was feeling the way he was

I find this to be a very interesting question. Hard to believe it hasn't come up before.

Had the show perhaps been going for a more serious tone -- like a Norman Lear sitcom -- I think the issue of Arnold and Willis lacking exposure to their heritage probably would have come up.

However, aside from the occasional "very special episode", DS was just your typical schmaltzy family sitcom. It was obvious that the writers/producers were going for laughs, not thought-provoking storytelling.

And I thought that THE FACTS OF LIFE, while also being a typical sitcom, did a much better job of pushing the envelope at times and dared to tackle some pretty big issues. Heck, they even did an episode addressing Tootie's lack of exposure to her African-American roots. That was one of my favorite episodes as a matter of fact.

It was always my personal opinion that DS would have made a better hour-long drama than a 30 minute sitcom.

DS was more than a family sitcom, it brought forth many episodes that dealt with serious issues, such as the molester episode, the bed-wetting episode, hitch-hiking, drugs, etc. And DS came around shortly after all the Norman Lear shows, so it is a wonder why their culture and how they were dealing with being the black children of a white man was never really thoroughly mentioned.

i also noticed they never went back visit their old neighborhood visit their friends in harlem brought them all back visit i know they did once i like the episode when they got all them kids jobs at drummonds company.

I find this to be a very interesting question. Hard to believe it hasn't come up before.

Had the show perhaps been going for a more serious tone -- like a Norman Lear sitcom -- I think the issue of Arnold and Willis lacking exposure to their heritage probably would have come up.

However, aside from the occasional "very special episode", DS was just your typical schmaltzy family sitcom. It was obvious that the writers/producers were going for laughs, not thought-provoking storytelling.

And I thought that THE FACTS OF LIFE, while also being a typical sitcom, did a much better job of pushing the envelope at times and dared to tackle some pretty big issues. Heck, they even did an episode addressing Tootie's lack of exposure to her African-American roots. That was one of my favorite episodes as a matter of fact.

It was always my personal opinion that DS would have made a better hour-long drama than a 30 minute sitcom.

If I am not mistaken, the show was created by someone on Norman Lear's staff, though not a Norman Lear show, but it had a connection to his shows, just like Three's Company.

i also noticed they never went back visit their old neighborhood visit their friends in harlem brought them all back visit i know they did once i like the episode when they got all them kids jobs at drummonds company.

It would have been nice to see Vernon, Charles and Jimmy in the later years though.

yeah n go visit their home anyone notice willis and arnold didnt have many birthdays but mr drummond had 2 did kimberly even have a birthday

While Norman Lear himself did not create the show, it was his company behind it.

But I do seem to recall one episode where the boys did explore their African roots, dressing in traditional native clothing, etc. Am I wrong?

Sorry, Mike, but Arnold had at least three episodes devoted to his birthdays :lol:

I couldn't stand Charles

i also noticed they never went back visit their old neighborhood visit their friends in harlem brought them all back visit i know they did once i like the episode when they got all them kids jobs at drummonds company.
You are right, it was as if once they became Drummond's children, their past was definitely behind them.

While Norman Lear himself did not create the show, it was his company behind it.

But I do seem to recall one episode where the boys did explore their African roots, dressing in traditional native clothing, etc. Am I wrong?

Sorry, Mike, but Arnold had at least three episodes devoted to his birthdays :lol:

no your not wrong i remember the apendix one when he went to hospital i think they could found another way to celebrate his bday.

and they did dress n african clothes and acted in a native attitude which was both very good episodes.

I couldn't stand Charles

whos charles

whos charles

One of Willis's childhood friends from Harlem. I think he was seen in 1 or 2 episodes.

One of Willis's childhood friends from Harlem. I think he was seen in 1 or 2 episodes.


I think Vernon was the one who was shown the most. Was that the same actor who also appeared on OL, challenging Tootie to be more "black"? I think the one who played Jimmy, was the white kid, correct? If so he was also in that same FOL episode, as Tootie's dance partner in the contest.

I think Vernon was the one who was shown the most. Was that the same actor who also appeared on OL, challenging Tootie to be more "black"? I think the one who played Jimmy, was the white kid, correct? If so he was also in that same FOL episode, as Tootie's dance partner in the contest.


Whoever was the guy who told Willis his dad company is racist is the one I never liked.

me either

Whoever was the guy who told Willis his dad company is racist is the one I never liked.

Maybe that was Charles. I couldn't keep the names straight--it was not like the characters were recurring like Arnold's friends Dudley and Robbie.

I found it interesting that the actor who played Robbie stated he was not really close to the other castmates and considered himself an "outsider" on DS because he was only called in a few times a year to do the part.

Maybe that was Charles. I couldn't keep the names straight--it was not like the characters were recurring like Arnold's friends Dudley and Robbie.

I found it interesting that the actor who played Robbie stated he was not really close to the other castmates and considered himself an "outsider" on DS because he was only called in a few times a year to do the part.


Well that's understandable-lol I really don't think he was needed on the show, just came across as a RED HEADED Screech

Well, thankfully he is not a real life Dustin Diamond! :lol:

The guy that said his company was racist was JUames he first appeared in season 2 on the episode when Willis and Arnold got Reggie Jackson to be their father because they thought Drummond was weak

*James

The guy that said his company was racist was JUames he first appeared in season 2 on the episode when Willis and Arnold got Reggie Jackson to be their father because they thought Drummond was weak


Yes James, plus he reminded me of a guy I hated in highschool-lol

i also noticed they never went back visit their old neighborhood visit their friends in harlem brought them all back visit i know they did once i like the episode when they got all them kids jobs at drummonds company.

It also appeared that both sets of Willis and Arnold's grandparents were dead. And they didn't find any aunts or uncles, which would be their parents siblings.

It also appeared that both sets of Willis and Arnold's grandparents were dead. And they didn't find any aunts or uncles, which would be their parents siblings.
It did appear that way didn't it? As if there were no other relatives. That may be why their mother asked Mr. Drummond to take care of them.

It did appear that way didn't it? As if there were no other relatives. That may be why their mother asked Mr. Drummond to take care of them.
It is a shame isn't it Irene?

It is a shame isn't it Irene?
It is. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose my family members and not have anyone to turn to. :(