I was reminded about this while looking through Bluesky today (https://bsky.app/profile/programminginsider.bsky.social/post/3ljt2jne77r2s):
�� March 7, 1986 (https://www.tvtango.com/listings/1986/03/07): Arnold (Gary Coleman) does an article (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0560061/) on the school's football team and discovers some of its players are using steroids (https://books.google.com/books?id=DSBIAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA23&dq=Diff%27rent+Strokes+ABC&article_id=1024,6487334&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQiKn-oPmLAxUoJDQIHQG7CZkQ6AF6BAgLEAM) on the series finale of "Diff'rent Strokes" on ABC. The sitcom ran for 7 previous seasons on NBC (https://books.google.com/books?id=1BoyAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA18&dq=Diff%27rent+Strokes+ABC+cancelled&article_id=3406,393353&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwifuaPAofmLAxVaJTQIHQUAA-44ChDoAXoECAYQAw#v=onepage&q=Diff'rent%20Strokes%20ABC%20cancelled&f=false) (1978-85) before airing (https://www.google.com/search?q=Diff%27rent+Strokes+ABC&sca_esv=57cfc5a4add668e8&udm=36&sxsrf=AHTn8zrz2-KuEhoRdcwCrlG1sITrdTvXnQ%3A1741395144068&source=lnt&tbs=bkt%3As%2Ccdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A1%2F1%2F1985%2Ccd_max%3A12%2F31%2F1985&tbm=) its final season in 1985-86 (http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/1991/08/1985-86-ratings-history_15.html) on ABC (https://youtu.be/0Deb9nHiJB4?t=165).

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7aunvqwyi6q6hi6adsdaiu6k/bafkreigy4td4chveicoxunvyhbbj22jybcnxyulxwx6ezx5dzrryxcloj4@jpeg

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40 years ago tonight, the last episode of Diff'rent Strokes aired on ABC (https://www.reddit.com/r/sitcoms/comments/1rnqhjf/40_years_ago_tonight_the_last_episode_of_diffrent/)

Synopsis: Arnold finds out that several athletes at school are using anabolic steroids, so he goes undercover to expose the full story.

Cast members Tood Bridges (Willis), Mary Jo Catlett (Pearl), and Dana Plato (Kimberly) did not appear as this was an unplanned series finale; ABC cancelled 5 episodes early.


40 years ago today, March 7th, 1986, Different Strokes aired its last episode after a 8 year run. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/classic.television.shows.group/posts/2000130710634915/)


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