Episode guide
Diff'rent Strokes: Season 3
22 episodes · premiered Nov 12, 1980
TMDB has no overview for this season.
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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.
- Episode 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.
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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.
- Episode 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.
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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.
- Episode 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.
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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.
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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…
- Episode 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.
- Episode 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.
- Episode 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.