the episode where Sam gets kidnapped - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

chris jacob · 08-20-2020, 11:48 PM

that guy who kiddknapped sam was very mean kidknapping him and on top of that thretaning to kill his parents

anyone Else

Mace Dolex · 08-21-2020, 12:39 AM

Yeah it was pretty dark for a sitcom but not as uncomfortable as the stupid laugh track being heard during the inappropriate moments.

someguy23475 · 09-30-2020, 10:33 PM

Terrible episode and dumb plot, but ABC needed something to draw viewers to their recent pickup. The only good thing was seeing Ronne Troup as the mom, who was always a delight in My Three Sons, but never really had many roles after that.

TMC · 01-25-2024, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

Yeah it was pretty dark for a sitcom but not as uncomfortable as the stupid laugh track being heard during the inappropriate moments.

I don't absolutely know if there's any official or actual correlation, but keep in mind that this was not too long after several high profile kidnappings/abductions/murders of children like Etan Patz and Adam Walsh. The 1980s were likely the peak of the "stranger danger" hysteria or panic, particularly after the Adam Walsh tragedy.

EccentricGenius · 01-25-2024, 08:28 PM

"Sam's Missing" was a pretty dark (not to mention pretty inferior) season premiere for the eighth--and unfortunately final--season of Diff'rent Strokes; coincidentally, it was also the first episode to air on Strokes' new network, ABC (ABC picked up Strokes in the autumn of '85 after NBC dropped it from its schedule the previous spring). The late Royce D. Applegate's performance as Sam's abductor Don Brown was very godd**n menacing, especially for eighties television.

stevea · 01-25-2024, 09:44 PM

I'll preface this criticism by saying Mary Ann Mobley walked into a difficult spot, taking over Dixie Carter's part. But her over-acting just sounded so fake in these episodes, which for me was a turn-off. Her reactions to what happened were natural, but she just didn't put them over well.

ABC also made a bad decision to use these dark episodes as the season premiere; the show runners intended "Love on the Run" as the first episode.

DJM77 · 01-25-2024, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by someguy23475

The only good thing was seeing Ronne Troup as the mom

I felt so bad for her character in this episode.

08-20-2020, 11:48 PM	#1
chris jacob Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 06, 2000 Location: Hartford Posts: 751	the episode where Sam gets kidnapped that guy who kiddknapped sam was very mean kidknapping him and on top of that thretaning to kill his parents anyone Else
	__________________ chris jacob

08-21-2020, 12:39 AM	#2
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,660	Yeah it was pretty dark for a sitcom but not as uncomfortable as the stupid laugh track being heard during the inappropriate moments.

09-30-2020, 10:33 PM	#3
someguy23475 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 02, 2006 Posts: 167	Terrible episode and dumb plot, but ABC needed something to draw viewers to their recent pickup. The only good thing was seeing Ronne Troup as the mom, who was always a delight in My Three Sons, but never really had many roles after that.

01-25-2024, 08:28 PM	#5
EccentricGenius Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2015 Posts: 766	"Sam's Missing" was a pretty dark (not to mention pretty inferior) season premiere for the eighth--and unfortunately final--season of Diff'rent Strokes; coincidentally, it was also the first episode to air on Strokes' new network, ABC (ABC picked up Strokes in the autumn of '85 after NBC dropped it from its schedule the previous spring). The late Royce D. Applegate's performance as Sam's abductor Don Brown was very godd**n menacing, especially for eighties television.

01-25-2024, 09:44 PM	#6
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,202	I'll preface this criticism by saying Mary Ann Mobley walked into a difficult spot, taking over Dixie Carter's part. But her over-acting just sounded so fake in these episodes, which for me was a turn-off. Her reactions to what happened were natural, but she just didn't put them over well. ABC also made a bad decision to use these dark episodes as the season premiere; the show runners intended "Love on the Run" as the first episode.