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Early episodes mostly address typical family sit-com issues, but as the series progresses, it sometimes focuses on more serious topics, including drug abuse, alcoholism, hitchhiking, child abuse and crime. During Season 6 of "Diff'rent Strokes," writers decided to switch up the premise and revitalize the aging series by giving doting dad Philip Drummond a permanent love interest. Edna Garrett (Rae)s story began on Diffrent Strokes. Im grateful for the life Ive already had.. More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest Willis: OK, we unapologize. She said she felt as if Mrs. Garrett did all she could for the girls. Later this year, catch her acting with Peter OToole and Marcia Gay Harden in Christmas Cottage. With this move, the show's recognizable opening credits theme song was rerecorded, updating it into a then-more modern pop style. Go on, I mean it! Mrs. Garrett opened Ednas Edibles. Over the course of her decades-long career, Rae remained synonymous with Mrs. Garrett. The Diff'rent Strokes cast appeared in the first episode of The Facts of Life (at one point, Drummond asks Mrs. Garrett "Are you sure we can't change your mind to come back to us?"). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But the idea was dropped, both due to producers not wanting to water down the character's appeal in the main series, and deciding that the additional workload would be too much for Coleman. Beginning with the third-season episode "Count Your Blessings" and also touched upon in several other episodes is the fact that Arnold will never grow much taller, reflecting Gary Coleman's real-life medical condition. The fifth season also introduced a new recurring character in Arnold's class at school, that of Lisa Hayes (Nikki Swasey). Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain) is a widower for whom their deceased mother previously worked; his daughter, Kimberly is played by Dana Plato. She returned to television as a series regular on all five seasons of the FOX sitcom Living Single. She declined, but come fall, she had a change of heart. Mrs. Garrett feels that her life goals have not been fulfilled and she wants to leave her job. Her sister Beverly Ann Stickle (Cloris Leachman) stepped in, adopted young Andy. Other recurring characters introduced over the third season included Le Tari as Dudley's adoptive father, Ted Ramsey (in the episode "Football Father"), Janet Jackson as Willis's girlfriend Charlene DuPrey and, in the fourth season episode "Kathy", Arnold's teacher Miss Chung, played by Rosalind Chao, who had played a different character in the third-season episode "Almost American", in which the regular cast only have minor roles, which served as the backdoor pilot for a potential sitcom focusing on the students of an immigration and naturalization class. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. The divorce was difficult, but they remained friends and supported each other until he died in 2011, Rae said. When that series ended production following star Beatrice Arthur's decision to leave the show in the spring 1978, Tandem Productions producer Norman Lear was keen to find a suitable sitcom for Bain to star in. Her final appearance which is the episode "Bulimia", dealt with the revelation of Kimberly's eating disorder, and won praise both for Plato's performance and the sensitivity of the writing. In 1983, 19-year-old Plato announced her pregnancy, and in the following year, she was let go from "Diff'rent Strokes," returning only for a handful of guest spots in the show's final two seasons. For nine seasons, The Facts of Life was a staple of NBCs primetime schedule. The introduction of Maggie and Sam had not boosted ratings, and in the spring of 1985, in the face of sagging ratings, NBC cancelled Diff'rent Strokes. You never know when your next job is going to come along.. Born Charlotte Rae Lubotsky in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rae got her start doing theater and radio (where she was told to drop her last name). 03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD) In terms of keeping touch with her girls, Rae recently said, Im very close with Lisa [Whelchel] and her husband and children and Nancy McKeon and her husband, and she has two little ones. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The 50 greatest TV and movie detectives of all time. As much as she was beloved by TV watchers throughout the 80s, she remained associated with the beloved character of Mrs. Garrett thanks to reruns. It wasn't that Cloris Leachman wasn't a good actress, it's just that the character of Mrs. Garrett had a better developed realationship with the girls. A sticky-sweet network sitcom the whole family could enjoy, "Diff'rent Strokes" was a smash hit for NBC (before a late-run move to ABC) for almost a decade, airing from 1978 to 1986. She is still very active in movies and television and has three films currently in the works. She doesnt like it when I say I discovered her, but its true. She was best known as Edna Garrett, a flame-haired housekeeper to three children on Diffrent Strokes. Bridges, Plato and Catlett were all absent from the episode, and several cast members later voiced their disappointment that they had not realized it would be the final episode, and would have liked to have been present to mark the end of the series onscreen more adequately. Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain) is a . Rae left the series in 1986 when Mrs. Garrett got married and she rejoined the Peace Corps with her new husband. The one where EW follows up with the cast. [19] After her arrests, Plato publicly admitted that she struggled with an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Where can I stream different strokes live? While family issues, race relations, and economic disparity were part of the DNA of "Diff'rent Strokes," what made it popular was that it was a fun and funny sitcom, thanks in large part to wildly charismatic, preternaturally-talented child actor Gary Coleman. [27] Bridges was also arrested on a concealed weapon charge and possession of cocaine. The latter is one of the few he also performed himself, along with the "Diff'rent Strokes" opening tune, which Thicke sang with his then-wife, Gloria Loring. The pilots did not sell although they were later edited into a television film for some markets. However, its her television work that made her a household name. The first season dealt with common topics such as various growing-up and adjustment issues experienced by Arnold and Willis, and mild culture clashes. She has also won a record-breaking eight primetime Emmys, and one daytime Emmy Award for shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show (which was spun off to her own show, Phyllis), and Malcolm in the Middle. Edna: Oh, you don't have to apologize to me boys! She fell into drug addiction and died of an overdose in 1999. Diff'rent Strokes Live Cast: Who Plays Arnold, Willis, Mr. Drummond True to her irreverent nature, Leachman couldnt even keep the title of the show straight. I thought, its time to get back and say Cloris is here, Leachman said. Due to the popularity of Coleman's character, a spin-off series was briefly considered, to be titled Arnold and focusing on the character's school life[citation needed]. When Mrs. Garrett departed, she was replaced by this maid. [20] In 2007, Coleman was cited for disorderly conduct in Provo, Utah, for having a "heated discussion" with a woman. On-screen this was explained with her character often said to be away at her private school; in reality the producers were still undecided whether the character was extraneous to the format, with the option that she could simply be faded into the background and written out as away studying should they choose to drop her. Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom, which aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. My own fun that I have in my own life with whatever Im doingtheyre catching that in my character.. In a later interview, she said that she also left because it made sense for the growing girls to see less and less of Mrs. Garrett. I lost my hair, but I had beautiful wigs. The series made stars of Coleman, Bridges, and Plato and became known for the "very special episodes", in which serious issues such as racism, illegal drug use, alcoholism, hitchhiking, kidnapping, and child sexual abuse were dramatically explored. Mindy Cohn, 41, was cast as Natalie when Rae and producers were doing research at the Westlake School in North Hollywood. //-->. She was 92. Personally, I think it's great she left the role, dont' get me wrong the eps without Mrs.G aren't as good, but it shows that she knows when she can keep going, and when she can't.I admire her. "Diff'rent Strokes" aired for a robust eight seasons and produced one spinoff that ran even longer, "The Facts of Life." OnDecember 7, 2021, ABC's third installment of its occasional "Live in Front of a Studio Audience" specials, produced by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and prolific TV producer Norman Lear, is scheduled to focus on the classic series. The actress was married from 1951 to 1975 to composer and sound editor John Strauss, with whom she often collaborated. Why Charlotte Rae left 'The Facts of Life' In the two part season 8 premiere, Mrs. Garrett reunited with Bruce Gaines (Robert Mandan), an old flame from her time in the Peace Corps. Charlotte Rae Dies at 92 After Cancer Battle - People we felt we were owed., So what are the former Eastland girls doing these days? McKeon was officially unavailable for the project but later admitted, Im just not a fan of that kind of thing. The show is wonderfully popular and the public loves all the characters, but I just felt I had done all that I could do with Mrs. Garrett. Rae thus disappeared from the original show midway through its second season (returning for one cameo appearance in 1984) and stayed with "The Facts of Life" until 1986. Nedra Volz (Adelaide Brubaker) Nedra Volzs (June 18, 1908 January 20, 2003) character, Adelaide Brubaker, replaced Mrs Garrett. By far, the most popular and enduring element "Diff'rent Strokes" unleashed into the popular culture was the catchphrase uttered countless times by star Gary Coleman as sassy kid Arnold Jackson. . homophobia. From Season 1 Episode 18 'Mrs. Garrett's Cr. [3][4] During the first season and the first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred, as Mrs. Edna Garrett, the Drummonds' first housekeeper, who ultimately spun off into her own sitcom, The Facts of Life, as a housemother at the fictional Eastland School. It wasn't the same after she left. Rae originated the role of Edna Garrett on Diff'rent Strokes in 1978 as the Drummond housekeeper before moving on to The Facts of Life a year later when Mrs. Garrett took the job as house mother . Nobody ever knew. ", "Diff'rent Strokes 'The Complete 4th Season' is Scheduled by Shout! Because of the obvious white father-African American kids plotline, this kind of social issue was always discussed and debunked in the show. A tremendous talent.. First Lady Nancy Reagan launched the "Just Say No" campaign in 1986 (per History), formalizing the anti-drug abuse platform she'd worked on since early in the presidential administration of her husband, Ronald Reagan. 05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series Kevin Hart and cast surprises rescue 'Facts of Life' and 'Diff'rent Strokes' revival. What About the Rest? Now, I want you both to apologize to her! In the seventh season, after years of harassing Arnold (and later Sam), the Gooch was finally defeated by Arnold's neighbor and nemesis (and eventually friend) Carmella, a foreign exchange student. The boys then feel uncomfortable around her and when they begin making jokes about her seizures, they find out that housekeeper Pearl herself has epilepsy but, unlike Karen, controls her seizures with medication. I personally would have liked to see her in the episode where Blair has the accident. Leachman was making a conscious move to get back into television a decade after her Phyllis spinoff ended. I thought Id like to go back and do the stage, and travel, and enjoy myself, and do other things, which I did, she said in 2017. An oft-mentioned character spanning the entire show's run, was "The Gooch", a notorious bully at Arnold's school. Additionally, Arnold appeared on the Silver Spoons episode "The Great Computer Caper" and the Amazing Stories episode "Remote Control Man". Also introduced in the third season is Philip's dotty and eccentric sister Sophia (Dody Goodman), in the episode "Junk Food Junkie". 01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series Copyright TV Series Finale. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Islamophobia. All the names of these shows are so similar, Leachman told the Times. In 1994, Coleman appeared in an episode of Married with Children ("How Green Was My Apple"), playing a building code inspector whom Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill) called to report an illegal driveway. In season 7's "A Special Friend," Arnold and Sam met Karen, a street performer. Dana Plato was a child actress on the television show Diffrent Strokes. She was married to businessman Johnathon Franklin Freeman for six years before they divorced. She was a frequent recurring character until the sixth season, when Charlene and Willis break up but remain friends. Was she really even committed to the show? Director Herbert Kenwith Writers Karyl Miller Bernie Kukoff Jeff Harris Stars Conrad Bain Gary Coleman Todd Bridges See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video included with Prime More watch options Add to Watchlist 1 Critic review Mr. Drummond's dotty sister Sophia (Dody Goodman) was regularly seen in the fourth season, playing matchmaker for her brother in hopes of getting him to remarry. By Season 3 of "Diff'rent Strokes," the comedy was a top 20 hit, and with more seasons on the way and reruns poised to enter the lucrative five-days-a-week syndication market Coleman's people once again wanted more money. When Kelly (Christina Applegate) recognizes him, he denies any connection to Arnold Jackson, but utters his catchphrase to Al, "What'cha talkin' about, Bundy? One of the most vital, memorable elements of "Diff'rent Strokes" is its jaunty, hard-charging theme song. Midway through the sixth season, Plato became pregnant and approached the producers of the show to include her pregnancy. [31] Since Charlotte Rae's death in 2018 at the age of 92, Bridges is the only living member of the original cast. Several such concepts were considered before a rough outline for the eventual seriesin which Bain plays a wealthy businessman left to take care of his late housekeeper's son, the orphaned Colemanwas settled upon and given the working title 45 Minutes from Harlem (even though Harlem is only ten to fifteen minutes away from the Upper East Side by subway or taxi). Stevenson's character was a radio personality on a Portland station owned by Philip Drummond (Conrad Bain), an old army pal (and the leading adult on "Diff'rent Strokes"), and Larry made a crossover appearance in a Season 1 episode. Mrs. Garrett headed back to the big city and the Park Avenue apartment she resided in for years for the second half of the show focused on Diff'rent Strokes. In an Oct. 17, 1986 interview with the Orlando Sentinel, via Newspapers.com, Rae explained her departure. Id like to choose life. "), with a separately filmed cameo tagged on to the end of one episode explaining that he was away in the country visiting some of Mr. Drummond's relatives. After the series ended Bridges developed an addiction to cocaine. When her time as Tootie ended, she took some time off and attended Pepperdine University. 05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series "Backdoor pilot" is a TV industry term for when a show airs an episode in which few of its regular characters appear, with the action focusing on brand new people and situations, all with the intent of setting up a brand new show which would technically be a spinoff of the mother series. 04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray) In a two-part episode on the dangers of hitchhiking ("The Hitchhikers"), Kimberly and Arnold (who were out in the cold weather and didn't have money for cab or bus fare) were abducted by a serial kidnapper-rapist (played by Woody Eney), who initially acted as a good Samaritan by giving the two of them a ride and inviting them to his apartment. For the role of kindly Mr. Drummond, he inserted Conrad Bain, who had a deal to star in another show as soon as possible following the end of his previous series, "Maude," a Lear production. Then came Adelaide Brubaker. Why did Miss Garrett leave Different Strokes? Debbie Reynolds during her high-school years, in the late 1940s. Whatever Happened To The Cast Of Diff'rent Strokes? - Looper Rae has never been shy about describing the difficulty of being an actor in those days: Being an actor is not like any other job. The Story Behind Charlotte Rae's Decision to leave Diff'rent Strokes STARZ's Run the World Returns May 26; Netflix Animated Comedy from the Minds Behind 30 Rock [citation needed], After it was canceled the show returned to ABC's schedule in June for three months of summer reruns, which ended on August 30, 1986. 02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series Im feeling so terrific and so glad to be above ground. The sex symbol confessed that "girls thought I was a jokea happy buffoon," before he met his wife. So why did she leave? Ad Choices. The character never appeared onscreen. The pair had two sons, Larry and Andy Strauss; Andy, who had autism, died of a heart attack in his forties. The actresss career spanned several decades in theater, television, and the movies. Factory had acquired the rights to the series; they subsequently released the third season on DVD on July 17, 2012. "We thought her presence at the studio all day would make her role more meaningful," Reagan's press secretary Sheila Tate said. She carried on the role until 1984, going between that show and The Facts of Life. While some actors bristle against such close association with a character, Rae enjoyed the attention, telling the HuffPost in 2016 that she didnt mind when people on the street called her famous characters name. I really like that actress! According to Richard Irvin's "Spinning Laughter," the proposed series was written by three "Diff'rent Strokes" staff writers and concerned Catherine Armstrong (portrayed by Maureen McNamara), an inexperienced teacher who takes a job helping a group of first-generation immigrants from around the world prepare for their American citizenship test. Rae died Sunday at her Los Angeles home, according to The New York Times. All rights reserved. The sudden, drastic change in Maggie's appearance was not acknowledged on the show, nor was the confusing fact that Mobley had already appeared on "Diff'rent Strokes." In the seventh season, Carter and Cooksey were added to the opening credits (with Carter getting special "and" billing, last in the order) and many new areas and ideas were explored, as viewers now got to see Philip as a happily married man. This new take on "Diff'rent Strokes" stars John Lithgow as Philip Drummond, Ann Dowd as Mrs. Garrett, and two adult comedians playing the child Jackson brothers: Kevin Hart and Damon Wayans as Arnold and Willis, respectively. Diff'rent Strokes was initially devised to serve as a vehicle for both Conrad Bain and Gary Coleman. decades later, his son Robin Thicke would join the family business, becoming a chart-topping singer/songwriter. The Los Angeles Times interviewed Leachman for an article on Oct. 14, 1986 about joining The Facts of Life. She was arrested the following year for forging prescriptions for Valium. Appearing on a semi-regular basis, she effectively filled the same function as Adelaide as the older female character in many stories, and is present in many third and fourth season episodes.