Season 3

22 EPISODES • 1980

Season 3 of Diff'rent Strokes was released on November 12 and consists of 22 episodes.

Episodes

1: The Bank Job (1)

Nov 12, 1980

Willis accompanies Arnold as he sets out to withdraw some money from his bank account to pay for his first ""real"" date, but two bank robbers force a change of plans when they attempt their own, very large withdrawal, in the first episode of a special two-part story.

2: The Bank Job (2)

Nov 12, 1980

Drummond offers himself and his company airplane as hostages to protect Arnold and Willis, but his sons' future hangs in the balance when the robbers announce their own very different choice of hostages, in the conclusion of a special two-part story.

3: Small Claims Court

Nov 19, 1980

Arnold has his day in court when an unfortunate ""train"" of events puts him at odds with a less than understanding merchant.

4: Substitute Mother

Nov 26, 1980

Arnold falls head-over-heels for a temporary housekeeper and embarks on a romantic scheme he hopes will make her a permanent member of the Drummond household.

5: The Accident (1)

Dec 3, 1980

The festive family celebration of Drummond's 50th birthday suddenly becomes a disaster after a drunk driver puts Drummond in the hospital, unconscious, his life hanging in the balance, in the first episode of a special two-part story.

6: The Accident (2)

Dec 3, 1980

When Drummond finally comes to, he is suffering from amnesia and unless he can regain his memory, he may lose not only his business, but also custody of Arnold, Willis and Kimberly.

7: Little Mother

Dec 10, 1980

Kimberly's efforts to help a pregnant girl friend, have Willis and Arnold convinced the Kimberly's the one expecting.

8: Football Father

Dec 17, 1980

After Arnold fails to measure up to the demands of the basketball, baseball and volleyball teams, Drummond convinces the boy to try football on for size and then pays the coach a clandestine visit to ensure Arnold a place on the team.

9: First Love

Dec 31, 1980

Drummond orders Willis to spend more time with his studies and less time with his ""first love,"" but Willis and Arnold concoct a plan they're sure will fulfill the wishes of both father and son.

10: Count Your Blessings

Jan 7, 1981

Arnold tries a regimen of stretching exercises and a change of diet to speed his growth, but Drummond finds he must go to a very special source to get the boy to accept that he will never be tall.

11: The Loan

Jan 14, 1981

Arnold learns the true value of a dollar when Drummond turns down his request to lend $4,000 to the apartment building doorman anxious to take part in an attractive business deal.

12: Roots

Jan 21, 1981

Willis and Arnold turn the Drummond household upside down as they try to prove to their old Harlem neighbors -- and themselves -- that they haven't lost tough with their cultural roots.

13: Junk Food Junkie (a.k.a.) Junk Food

Jan 28, 1981

Arnold's poor dental checkup and a visit by Drummond's health-conscious sister, Sophia, launches Drummond on a campaign to have ""junk"" food machines banned from Arnold's school, even though Arnold's drive for his class' presidency may depend on keeping the machines in place.

14: The Bus

Feb 4, 1981

Arnold's excitement at being one of a small group of students in an exchange program with an all-white school is turned to fear by a threatening phone call from a zealous busing opponent.

15: The Older Man

Feb 25, 1981

Through Blair's makeup artistry, 15-year-old Kimberly discovers she can pass for 20, but when she accepts a date with a 25-year-old and the passes start flying, she finds there may be more to being older than looking it.

16: Where There's Hope

Mar 4, 1981

Arnold's tenth birthday party means a lot to him, but for some reason it means a whole lot more to the one person he's determined won't be invited -- a pesky young lady who always tries just too hard to be friends.

17: The Magician (a.k.a.) It's Magic

Mar 11, 1981

Arnold's ""famous"" magic disappearing act, designed to impress a magazine reporter and special guest star Dallas Cowboys' defensive end Ed ""Too Tall"" Jones, leaves him dangerously high and dry, with no place to go but down -- about 30 stories.

18: Drummond's Fair Lady

Mar 18, 1981

Drummond runs into some stiff competition to the candidate he's chosen to head a new division of his company -- his board members think the attractive young executive's sex disqualifies her -- and his family thinks he's being used.

19: The Ancestors

Mar 25, 1981

Drummond and his sister Sophia inherit a prime piece of land in Harlem from a long lost ancestor, but their plan to dedicate it to a cultural center in his name could spell disaster if the truth of their ancestor's life gets out.

20: Almost American

Apr 1, 1981

Arnold's dejection at being grounded for a ""D"" on a history test turns to inspiration after an immigrant studying for naturalization introduces him to another perspective on America.

21: Room for One More

May 6, 1981

Dudley, fearing his foster father's lost job means he's headed back to the orphanage, cons Arnold into getting Drummond to consider adopting him into their family.

22: The Athlete

May 13, 1981

The coach of the city's top high school baseball team is after Willis and is prepared to do anything to make it possible for Willis to attend his school.

Season 4

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