DIFF'RENT STROKES {DIFFERENT STROKES}: THE HOUSEGUEST (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedies about the family life of wealthy white industrialist Philip Drummond and his adopted African-American sons, Arnold and Willis. In this episode, Mr. Drummond walks in on Willis and Charlene sharing a romantic moment, and they explain that there is a big school dance coming up. Charlene then tells Willis about her problems with her strict policeman father, and he assures her that they will marry after high school and she will move out. They decide to announce their pre-engagement at the dance, and he gives her his class ring. Mr. Drummond cooks dinner, as Maggie and Pearl are on vacation, though the meal proves unsatisfying. Just then, Charlene arrives with a suitcase, explaining that she left home after a blow-up with her father, and Mr. Drummon permits her to stay as long as she works things out with her dad soon. The couple decides that living together will be a good test for their upcoming marriage, and Willis makes sense to spruce himself up before Charlene comes to kiss him good night, though Arnold is not a fan of his cologne. The next day, Willis is taken aback by Charlene's early-morning appearance, and further surprised when she reveals that she does not cook. She goes on to say that she wishes to be a "career woman" rather than a housewife and has no interest in having children, which conflicts strongly with his ideas of the perfect marriage. They argue, and she angrily returns his ring.
Willis talks to his father, who suggests that he is being "old-fashioned" in his views and tells him to apologize to her in a mature fashion. Elsewhere, Kimberly talks to Charlene and tells her to "rise above" and apologize first, thus shaming Willis into contrition. The couple reconvenes and they both attempt to be extremely adult, but they soon resume their argument and decide to break up, feeling that their views are too different. Later, however, they both plan to attend the dance anyway, and Charlene is offended to learn that Willis has another date already. She has a date of her own, however, and the dapper Ron soon arrives to pick her up. Willis' date, Rosalyn, arrives as well, but they both leave when they learn of Willis and Charlene's recent relationship troubles, though Ron attempts to woo Rosalyn on the way out. Mr. Drummond sits the two of them down and puts an end to their sniping, pointing out that they are clearly not ready for marriage. He tells Charlene that her father has decided to work things out with her and wants her to come home, and encourages them to attend the dance as a regular couple. They agree, though they take his instruction to "kiss and make up" a bit too far. After they leave, Arnold approaches his father with questions, admitting he was eavesdropping and wanting to know "everything" so that he too can be a helpful parent someday. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: May 5, 1984 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:22:09
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:56545
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Families; African-American Collection - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1978-1985; ABC - 1985-1986
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Howard Leeds … Executive Producer
- Blake Hunter … Executive Producer
- Martin Cohan … Producer
- Roxie Wenk-Evans … Associate Producer
- Gerren Keith … Director
- Bernie Kukoff … Created by
- Jeff Harris … Created by
- Bruce Taylor … Writer
- Gloria Loring … Theme Music by
- Alan Thicke … Theme Music by
- Al Burton … Theme Music by
- Conrad Bain … Cast, Philip Drummond
- Gary Coleman … Cast, Arnold Jackson
- Todd Bridges … Cast, Willis Jackson
- Mary Jo Catlett … Cast, Pearl Gallagher
- Dana Plato … Cast, Kimberly Drummond
- Janet Jackson … Cast, Charlene
- Danny Cooksey … Cast, Sam
- Renée Jones … Cast, Rosalyn
- Calvin Mason … Cast, Ron