DIFF'RENT STROKES {DIFFERENT STROKES}: THE SPANKING (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 presents the boys with a telescope, though Arnold is more interested in his new favorite pastime: making water bombs. He drops one off the balcony and uses the telescope to observe the amusing results, but his target, Henry the maintenance man, soon comes up to the apartment to complain to Mr. Drummond. Arnold feigns innocence when Mr. Drummond questions him, but he soon lets slip his guilt. Mrs. Garrett and Kimberly agree that he deserves some form of reprimand, though when Mr. Drummond decides to spank Arnold, Kimberly protests that corporal punishment is "barbaric."
The family then finds that Arnold has run away rather than face the spanking, and they begin to search for him in a panic, annoyed when a policeman shows up with a little boy of the wrong race. Mrs. Garrett then finds Arnold hiding under the sink and tries to clue Mr. Drummond in, but Arnold vanishes again, finally turning up in the hot tub. Mr. Drummond reacts with relief to finding him safe, but declares that he must still face the consequences of his water-bomb antics. Willis intervenes and suggests that he, as the blood relative, should be the one to deliver the spanking, and though Arnold is sure that his brother will secretly let him off easy, Willis lets him have his just desserts. Both boys are upset by the experience, and Arnold vows to mend his delinquent ways. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 29, 1978 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:19
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:61209
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1978-1985; ABC - 1985-1986
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Budd Grossman … Executive Producer
- Howard Leeds … Producer
- Herbert Kenwith … Producer, Director
- John Maxwell Anderson … Associate Producer
- Bernie Kukoff … Created by
- Jeff Harris … Created by
- Fred S. Fox … Writer
- Seaman Jacobs … 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
- Ken Olfson … Cast, Mr. Cribbs
- Dana Plato … Cast, Kimberly Drummond
- Charlotte Rae … Cast, Edna Garrett
- Frank Farmer … Cast, Policeman
- Jerry Marshak … Cast, Little Boy
- Weldon Bleiler … Cast, Maintenance Man