In memory of Charlotte Rae, I managed to find this-her first appearance as Mrs. Garrett, a role she played on "Diff'rent Strokes" during the first and part of second seasons before then starring as her on "The Facts of Life". When this ep begins, she's only been employed by millionaire Philip Drummond (Conrad Bain) for one day as she's replacing the late mother of two boys who are about to arrive at Drummond mansion to live in. When the bell rings, in walk little Arnold Jackson (Gary Coleman) and his older teen brother Willis (Todd Bridges). Philip's teen daughter Kimberly (Dana Plato) also comes in from school. Mr. Drummond gives the boys a warm welcome but Willis is set on not staying as he doesn't think he belongs there though Arnold begs to differ...This was quite funny and touching though the end seems a little rushed. Still, Coleman's lines are still very funny and I love Ms. Rae's funny asides and her occasional good advice as when she tells Bain's character what her family did to have fun. Oh, and I also loved seeing her do her old-fashioned dancing before Arnold then switches the radio to a disco song (the intro to The Tramps' "Disco Inferno") and precedes to shake 'em down as Mrs. Garrett follows along! So now only Todd Bridges survives of this show's original cast. Farewell, Mrs. Garrett, may you live forever in TV rerun Heaven on "DS" and "The Facts of Life".
2 Reviews
Movin' Up
safenoe19 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Diff'rent Strokes was the sensation of the late 70s for sure. This episode set the tone with pathos, humor, wealth, privilege and race. Yes, R for Race. Gary Coleman is the breakout star for sure in this episode, and not even Nostradamus could have presaged the tragic fates of Gary Coleman and Dana Plato and her son, and Todd Willis.
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