View Full Version : Final thoughts on Diff'rent Strokes


Curtis3331
07-02-2002, 11:49 AM
Well, we've seen all the episodes now both on TNN and TVland. And now they're airing the pilot. I think it's pretty amazing we all saw them grow up, well .......in Gary's case not physically. LOL. Sorry just had to throw that in there. :D But I've always wondered what it would be like if things had not gone wrong with the cast. There would probably be a reunion and maybe they would make it big again in another sitcom or in movies. But what a sad way to end a show. There wasn't any big finale or goodbyes like other shows like Three's Company.

I'm glad though we get to see this show back on syndication. It had the cornyness of The Brady Bunch but yet was a little bit more sophisticated. It taught valuable lessons to kids especially to me, because I grew up around that time in the 80's. Of course though, some episodes were a bit exaggerated and dramatic but, I always thought that was what made the show so interesting and not boring. I'll never forget Arnold's humor, Mr. D and Willis' personality, and of course Kimberly's smile.

JethroSimpson
07-02-2002, 01:36 PM
Nicely said!

DS still stands out as my favourite American Sitcom. It was innocent and funny which is a hard combination to match.
I like the way it dealt with issues, unlike The Brady Bunch who were stuck in a perfect world, DS showed things like Racism, Drugs and alcahol and showed that the world is not perfect and things will go wrong for everyone.
One moment from the show that still sticks out is in the "Growing Problem" episode when Willis' friend dies from drink driving, can you imagine that in the Brady Bunch?

Maybe there could still be a reunion one day although it obviously couldn't be the same without Dana.
Obviously the misfortunes of the cast put a shadow over it, but it was a great show and I don't think there can ever be another one like it. :)
Long live DS!

tvje
07-03-2002, 04:40 PM
The serious episode that is all Norman Leer. He bought drama to comedy. Before All in the Family no sitcom exept maybe Julia did drama. His probuction company is also the company that bought us Mary Hartman Mary Hatmen and I think Soap. I am not sure about that one.

But I agree it had a little bit of the Brady Bunch some of the episode were pure rip offs of a Brady Bunch episode. Unfortunitly they tries the Cousin Oliver thing in the end. It had that Brady Bunch combine with the socal cunceze of Leer's 70's shows like All in the Family, One Day at a Time, Good Times (with a catch prase and Janet Jackson).

Brian Damage
07-04-2002, 06:13 PM
I grew up with DS, so it holds a special place in my heart. I don't think any of the core actors would find much success outside of the show because they were all unfairly typecast. I do agree, however, the biggest crime of DS was that there was no finale! :(

SoFl123
07-04-2002, 06:24 PM
same executive producer, so a few episodes might have been similar to Brady.
There was a huge idfferent in appearnce of the cast by the end of the run. Gary may not have grew, but he went through alot of change in the face. when Dana left in 1984 and came back for a few episodes, she looked like she grewup 5 years. Todd really grew as well.

JethroSimpson
07-05-2002, 08:42 AM
I didn't mean similar Brady episodes, I meant the kind of show that it was was different.

I thought the only big change Gary ever made on the show was during the 7th season when he had the kidney transplant and he looked a lot older.

SoFl123
07-05-2002, 08:54 AM
well i remember a few episodes in the first season were slightly similar to brady episodes, not exactly, none come to mind right now but if i saw an episode i could identify it.

JethroSimpson
07-05-2002, 12:34 PM
There was a Brady episode were they were trying to get Alice to stay, like "Mrs Garret's Crisis.

And wasn't there another Brady episode were one of them was put on trial with Alice as Judge just like "The Trial" DS episode.

SoFl123
07-05-2002, 02:53 PM
yep. Those come to mind.

SoFl123
07-09-2002, 02:07 AM
My Final Thoughts are, it is a great show, i loved watching it every dayand this show will long live for generations.
This time around i dont think ill be watching it all the way around again though.

Curtis3331
07-09-2002, 02:03 PM
Originally posted by SoFl123
My Final Thoughts are, it is a great show, i loved watching it every dayand this show will long live for generations.
This time around i dont think ill be watching it all the way around again though.

Yup, I've got all the episodes I wanted now. I think I'll just be watching it if I have the time. Not like when they were airing the final season, I would set my alarm and make sure I watched and tape it. But I don't think I'll every get tired of watching the first season.