Because in another year or two SAM would have been taller than Arnold too:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


And that would have just been so odd looking. Sam was damm near his height before the show ended so it was only a matter of time. I don't think I could have handled that:lol:

You know, I never thought about that. But you're definitely right. In time, Sam would have been much taller than Arnold.

You know, I never thought about that. But you're definitely right. In time, Sam would have been much taller than Arnold.


So yup they had to end that sh*T in 86 before Sam got any taller LOL

So yup they had to end that sh*T in 86 before Sam got any taller LOL
It was a race against time! :lol:

to be honest the show ended when i think it was suppose to it was loosing its touch because the show was better when arnold was younger and more cute

Willis was taller than Arnold. I dont think it should have ended the show based on that. End the show because its running out of steam. Besides, that kid Sam, annoyed me sometimes.

Willis was taller than Arnold. I dont think it should have ended the show based on that. End the show because its running out of steam. Besides, that kid Sam, annoyed me sometimes.

But Willis was supposed to be taller than Arnold. He was several years older than him.

But Willis was supposed to be taller than Arnold. He was several years older than him.

Thank you, plus Sam was 6 years younger than Arnold on the show

It had to end because the cast wasn't even on all the episodes together anymore. When that happens, it's time to turn off the lights.

It had to end because the cast wasn't even on all the episodes together anymore. When that happens, it's time to turn off the lights.


I know and I was upset that Willis had a gerri-curl in season 8 LOL

I know and I was upset that Willis had a gerri-curl in season 8 LOL
Me too! I hated Willis' geri-curl. He looked like a weirdo. :lol:

Me too! I hated Willis' geri-curl. He looked like a weirdo. :lol:

And that gray leather jacket :lol: :lol: :lol:

And that gray leather jacket :lol: :lol: :lol:
That was a really BAD look! And when I say bad, I mean UGLY! :lol:

That was a really BAD look! And when I say bad, I mean UGLY! :lol:


It's almost like he was going for the Michael Jackson look lol

Never gave that much thought, but its true Sam definitely would've been taller...lol. But I honestly believe when NBC cancelled Diff'rent Strokes is because the show was losing its flair as the kids had gotten older. That was the whole purpose for bringing in the Sam character. Gary was no longer the precocious little one, so they began to morph Sam into the new "Arnold" with him becoming the center of a lot of the stories. Then of course, the switch to ABC, and the changing of Maggie didn't make it any better. I know that's when the show started to fall off for me.

Never gave that much thought, but its true Sam definitely would've been taller...lol. But I honestly believe when NBC cancelled Diff'rent Strokes is because the show was losing its flair as the kids had gotten older. That was the whole purpose for bringing in the Sam character. Gary was no longer the precocious little one, so they began to morph Sam into the new "Arnold" with him becoming the center of a lot of the stories. Then of course, the switch to ABC, and the changing of Maggie didn't make it any better. I know that's when the show started to fall off for me.


They were damm near the same height in season 8 lol

Season 8 was terrible worst season by far (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077003/board/flat/228259703?p=1)

The last year was awful! (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077003/board/flat/215483002?p=1)

The final season - WTF? (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077003/board/flat/107176871?p=1)

The height factor of Sam plus many other reasons were why the show got canned, tiresome sitcom, cast members absent for most of the season.

I wonder if the show went on yet a couple of more years they would have eventually written in Kimberly getting pregnant as an excuse to bring in yet another cute kid. :p

two more seasons sam would be have been taller lol

I'm sure that this has been asked before, but why did ABC feel the need to pick up DS for what turned out to be its final season in 1985-86? Where they in desperate need for hits at the time! Incidentally, they already had their own Diff'rent Strokes in Webster (which I think was paired w/ DS on Friday nights that year).

I think most people seem to agree that DS had pretty much run its course. I'm guessing that's the main reason why NBC canceled it after the seventh season. Plus, Gary Coleman (and Todd Bridges for that matter) was getting older and was apparently getting sick of doing the show, Dana Plato was gone (because of her pregnancy), the show had pretty much officially jumped the shark w/ the introduction of Sam. I've said elsewhere that DS probably should've ended when Philip married Maggie, instead of slugging along for two and a half more years.

I'm sure that this has been asked before, but why did ABC feel the need to pick up DS for what turned out to be its final season in 1985-86? Where they in desperate need for hits at the time! Incidentally, they already had their own Diff'rent Strokes in Webster (which I think was paired w/ DS on Friday nights that year).

I think most people seem to agree that DS had pretty much run its course. I'm guessing that's the main reason why NBC canceled it after the seventh season. Plus, Gary Coleman (and Todd Bridges for that matter) was getting older and was apparently getting sick of doing the show, Dana Plato was gone (because of her pregnancy), the show had pretty much officially jumped the shark w/ the introduction of Sam. I've said elsewhere that DS probably should've ended when Philip married Maggie, instead of slugging along for two and a half more years.
ABC had sunk to last place by then so yea they were desperate.

I saw it up to season 4 so I didn't miss anything.

I'm sure that this has been asked before, but why did ABC feel the need to pick up DS for what turned out to be its final season in 1985-86? Where they in desperate need for hits at the time! Incidentally, they already had their own Diff'rent Strokes in Webster (which I think was paired w/ DS on Friday nights that year).
Actually my memory could be hazy but I think it was paired with Mr. Belvedere and then for the '86-'87 season Mr. Belvedere took it's place to be followed by Webster.

Man I remember Friday nights so vividly because while ABC was floundering with their shows over at NBC they had V-The Series in '84 and Misfits Of Science in '85.

I saw V not Misfits of Science.

Actually my memory could be hazy but I think it was paired with Mr. Belvedere and then for the '86-'87 season Mr. Belvedere took it's place to be followed by Webster.

Man I remember Friday nights so vividly because while ABC was floundering with their shows over at NBC they had V-The Series in '84 and Misfits Of Science in '85.
Friday nights was Dallas for me so I saw very few episodes of that year's DS. After I saw them in syndication, I saw that I wasn't missing much. lol

Never gave that much thought, but its true Sam definitely would've been taller...lol. But I honestly believe when NBC cancelled Diff'rent Strokes is because the show was losing its flair as the kids had gotten older. That was the whole purpose for bringing in the Sam character. Gary was no longer the precocious little one, so they began to morph Sam into the new "Arnold" with him becoming the center of a lot of the stories. Then of course, the switch to ABC, and the changing of Maggie didn't make it any better. I know that's when the show started to fall off for me.

I wonder if The Cosby Show also had a hand in NBC getting rid of DS. What I mean is that The Cosby Show was considered groundbreaking for its time because it featured an upper-middle class, affluent African American family w/ both parents being successful professionals. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the whole premise of DS (i.e. a rich white man "rescuing" two orphaned, underprivileged African American kids) didn't quite resonate anymore. What didn't help is that TCS is often credited for "saving" the sitcom format, which DS arguably helped get to the point in which it needed "saving" in the first place (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=325685).

Yes, the Cosby Show was bringing greater sophistication to TV. This show had run its course. I watched it when it was on NBC, but didn't discover it again on ABC until it was nearly over. Arnold had become a jerk and Sam was plain obnoxious.

They should have ended the show before Sam even came on. That kid was obnoxious.

Regarding Willis and the Jheri Curl, he rocked it well. It looked good on him and plus, it was the 1980's. Many had Jheri Curls..

Regarding Willis and the Jheri Curl, he rocked it well. It looked good on him and plus, it was the 1980's. Many had Jheri Curls..



I think he may have been the only black adult male character on a sitcom with a jheri curl at that time

I think he may have been the only black adult male character on a sitcom with a jheri curl at that time

No way, man! LOL. Have you seen Miami Vice(drama) or Charlie and Co? LOL. A couple of years before that, The New Odd Couple.

No way, man! LOL. Have you seen Miami Vice(drama) or Charlie and Co? LOL. A couple of years before that, The New Odd Couple.


Oh yeah the Older Brother on Charlie and Company

It needed at least a few more episodes to wrap things up. Kimberly was no longer living at home. Willis had moved off to college. The series finale needed to be something big, but by this time everything was sort of done once Mr. D. married Maggie.

It needed at least a few more episodes to wrap things up. Kimberly was no longer living at home. Willis had moved off to college. The series finale needed to be something big, but by this time everything was sort of done once Mr. D. married Maggie.
Since DS was already axed by NBC that should have given the writers when it moved to ABC a clue to maybe develop stronger episodes by then, the episode with Kimberly's eating disorder was a good start but the show was way past its prime.

ABC had sunk to last place by then so yea they were desperate.

Yup, after ABC refused to green light The Cosby Show, only to see it become a big success on NBC, their ratings went right into the commode, as The Cosby Show was so popular, that it created a ripple effect at NBC in which several of its other programs, many of them heretofore struggling with viewership, also became hugely popular in the ratings as well.

I thought the last season of DS was ok. I mean I did think it was a little overwhelming at first. Think about it. New network, new theme song, new color scheme on the apartment, no Kimberly, new Maggie. I mean, for a viewer, that would be a lot to digest.

ABC had sunk to last place by then so yea they were desperate.

I think that also, Gary Coleman's parents convinced him to keep going with Diff'rent Strokes for one more year (on another network) after he had had enough and his body was giving out from overwork. Basically, Gary was told that dozens of people would've lost their jobs had he left.