Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete First Season (1978)

Funny...lots of laughs

I can only say I LOVE IT! Need to get rest of the seasons! April 14, 2008

Great Show!

This show has been one of my favorites for many years. And I know remember why I liked it so much. Arnold is just hillarious and cute, and anytime he says anything it is just so amazingly funny. The whole family is great together on the show. So I would recommend anybody to get the first season of diff'rent strokes. April 12, 2008

The Best Show Ever Part I

This was very nostalgic. I thoroughly enjoyed the first season. I watched it with my husband and we laughed for hours. A truly, quality show! April 8, 2008

Watch & Remember the Comedic Genius of Gary Coleman

With all of the problems that the three child stars of Diff'rent Strokes faced, people often forget what a talented cast the show had, especially that of 10-year-old Gary Coleman. Anyone who has forgotten can now easily go back and reminice with this first season boxed set.

What made Gary Coleman, as Arnold Jackson, an overnight sensation was his sense of comedic timing. In fact, I put him up there with Cary Grant and Michael J. Fox as far as comedic timing goes, and Gary Coleman was a kid! I grew up with Diff'rent Strokes, so as a child, I couldn't appreciate the acting abilities of Gary, but now as an adult, I can truly marvel at the level of talent that this young kid had, especially for a young kid who was plagued with kidney problems throughout his childhood.

Comedic timing wasn't his only ability. Just watch his broad range of facial expressions that he used. And, of course, his signature line that he will forever be remembered for, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" VH1 has him ranked as the #1 greatest child star, and deservedly so. Gary was the heart and soul of the show. This was a kid who was overflowing with joy and affection, and he often demonstrated this in his character.

The rest of the cast was great as well in the first season. Todd Bridges, already a veteran child actor in such roles as in Little House on the Prairie, plays Willis. Todd and Gary worked well off one another, and it showed. Willis Jackson has pride, and it's this pride that often gets him into trouble. Arnold has to talk Willis out of leaving Mr. Drummond in the pilot episode.

Dana Plato didn't really solidify her role until subsequent seasons that followed. You'll notice that she isn't in the first season a whole lot. I think producers were initially unsure of whether or not she would be a permanent character. Rumors had it that she was going to be part of the "Facts of Life" cast. You see more of her character in season 2 as Kimberly.

Who can forget Diff'rent Strokes' first and best housekeeper, Edna Garrett played with true charm by Charlotte Rae. Obviously the producers quickly saw her great acting ability and quickly figured that she should have her own show.

Conrad Bain, a veteran of such sitcoms as Maude, was a brilliant choice to play Philip Drummond, the guardian of Arnold and Willis. While he certainly has comedic talent, he wonderfully balances it with wisdom and discipline. Mr. Drummond usually butts heads the most with Willis.

You have to remember the time that this show was running. It was quite a new idea to have two African-American boys going to live with Caucasian man. Many of the episodes in the first couple of seasons had the boys and Mr. Drummond dealing with prejudicial people and their views. A social worker who visits states that, "black children belong with black families." The social worker quickly finds out that it's love that counts, not the color of your skin, and this is the point that the show drove home each week.

I'd been waiting for this show to come to DVD for some time now. I still enjoy watching this show as well as watching and appreciating the comedic genius of Gary Coleman. On this show, he truly was a joy to watch.
December 17, 2007

Spanish?

I thought the languages that had this DVD on the description saying English and Spanish, when it DOES NOT come in Spanish, :( thats a lie thats why i bought it but anyways iamnot really happy with this Item. September 25, 2007

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