Ep 7. Arnold's Hero

Arnold's Hero is the seventh episode of the second season of the popular American television sitcom, Diff'rent Strokes. First airing on November 25, 1979, the show was created by Jeff Harris, Bernie Kukoff, and Michael Leeson and was produced by Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear. The show revolves around the lives and adventures of the Drummond family, specifically the two young black boys they adopt from Harlem, Arnold and Willis Jackson.

In this episode, Arnold finds a new hero in a newly-arrived, African-American astronaut named Ronald McNair. Excited at the thought of meeting an actual astronaut, Arnold talks about it constantly, much to the annoyance of his family. In Arnold's eyes, McNair represents everything he wants to be when he grows up: smart, brave, adventurous, and determined. Arnold's hero worship of McNair only increases when he discovers that he and McNair share an interest in science and space.

Arnold finally gets his chance to meet McNair when he is scheduled to visit his school and give a speech to the students. Arnold is beyond thrilled at the opportunity to meet and talk to McNair, but things don't go as planned. McNair gets stuck in traffic and is running late, causing Arnold to become more and more worried about missing his chance to talk to his hero.

Meanwhile, back at the Drummond household, Mr. Drummond, Willis, and Kimberly are dealing with their own problems. Mr. Drummond's old friend and business associate, Roger, has fallen on hard times and has come to stay with the family until he can get back on his feet. However, Roger's presence quickly becomes a nuisance, as he constantly complains about everything and tries to take over the household. Willis is also dealing with his own problems as he tries to teach drum lessons to a stubborn student who is more interested in chatting on the phone than in practicing.

Despite these distractions, Arnold's enthusiasm for meeting McNair remains undiminished. But as the day wears on and McNair continues to be delayed, Arnold begins to lose hope. Finally, when it seems that McNair may not be able to make it at all, Arnold decides to take matters into his own hands. He sneaks away from school and sets out to find McNair, determined to meet his hero no matter what.

What follows is a heartwarming and humorous adventure as Arnold sets out on a mission to find McNair and make his dream come true. Along the way, he meets all sorts of interesting characters, from a friendly janitor to a group of street musicians. Despite the obstacles and setbacks he encounters, Arnold never gives up and remains determined to meet his hero.

In the end, Arnold's determination pays off and he finally meets McNair. However, he soon realizes that his hero is just a regular guy, with strengths and weaknesses like anyone else. Arnold learns that heroes come in all shapes and sizes and that the most important thing is to believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams.

Overall, Arnold's Hero is a touching and entertaining episode of Diff'rent Strokes that is sure to appeal to audiences of all ages. It teaches valuable lessons about perseverance, determination, and the importance of having heroes, all while delivering plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments along the way.