<![CDATA[Arnold's inconsistent birthday!]]>Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Diff'rent Strokes

SimbaSam — 11 years ago(October 05, 2014 09:18 PM)

This is just something I happen to obsessively notice while watching numerous episodes on Demand while I was sick. It's not meant to be taken too seriously, just a funny inconsistency about Arnold's birthday that I noticed.
In a season 5 episode, Dudley runs against Arnold for Class President and says "If I'm elected, I'll make it so you don't have to go to school on your birthday!" Everyone cheers except Arnold, who complains "No fair! MY birthday is during summer vacation!!"
Flash forward to Arnold's 11th birthday where school is CLEARLY in session that week. Arnold announces the party during lunch time and invites all his friends WHILE at school. The party was during the upcoming weekend and it definitely was not summer vacation.
Another funny thing: While Arnold is planning his 11th birthday, Dudley reminisces about Arnolds LAST birthday party and how they all played "Spin the bottle." I laughed because I had just watched the episode with Arnold's previous birthday (his 10th birthday) and they didn't play Spin the BottleThey wound up taking the entire party to the Hospital where a sick little girl with Lukemia was having blood work done and so she had to miss the party, so nice guy Arnold decided to take the party to her. I doubt there was much bottle-spinning going on by her hospital bed!
I always thought it would be funny if the writers were all 100% consistent and Dudley ACTUALLY said "Remember your birthday last year? When We visited Susie in the hospital?"
and then Arnold replied "Yeaand then she died. What a crummy birthday!"
hahahahahahaha

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/topic/191208/arnold-s-inconsistent-birthdayRSS for NodeWed, 13 May 2026 04:34:30 GMTWed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:23 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Arnold's inconsistent birthday! on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:30 GMT]]>mistersparkle — 9 years ago(February 02, 2017 05:06 PM)

If Mr Carlson tried to touch my wiener, I wouldn't bring it up again either!
You have many question, Mr Sparkle. I send you premium answer question, hundred percent!

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603581https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603581Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Arnold's inconsistent birthday! on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:29 GMT]]>crypticanomaly73 — 9 years ago(January 05, 2017 06:58 PM)

Well they were hardly going to show anything else happen. I think it was meant to be implied or show that Dudley was in peril.
Sometimes a movie or tv show plot is so stupid that only the stupid can understand it.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603580https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603580Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Arnold's inconsistent birthday! on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:28 GMT]]>DusterJ79 — 9 years ago(January 03, 2017 04:02 PM)

Dudley never got molested though, he just drank and took his shirt off..

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603579https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603579Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Arnold's inconsistent birthday! on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:27 GMT]]>crypticanomaly73 — 9 years ago(December 31, 2016 01:28 PM)

the show wasn't about Dudley, he likely got those things at other times, and because he was a side character you didn't hear about it..
True, but we could have seen it through Arnold's eyes, his friend going to therapy, Arnold going to court etc. It's not just that incident either, there were plenty of "Very Special Episodes" where you never hear about it again even when it does affect one of the main cast.
Sometimes a movie or tv show plot is so stupid that only the stupid can understand it.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603578https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603578Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Arnold's inconsistent birthday! on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:26 GMT]]>DusterJ79 — 9 years ago(December 31, 2016 10:43 AM)

the show wasn't about Dudley, he likely got those things at other times, and because he was a side character you didn't hear about it..

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603577https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603577Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Arnold's inconsistent birthday! on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:25 GMT]]>crypticanomaly73 — 9 years ago(December 10, 2016 09:07 AM)

Yeah all shows are full of inconsistencies. One of the biggest on DS is Dudley being molested and than never hearing about it again. Dudley didn't get counselling, no court cases etc??
Sometimes a movie or tv show plot is so stupid that only the stupid can understand it.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603576https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603576Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Arnold's inconsistent birthday! on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:24 GMT]]>jdchisholm — 9 years ago(December 06, 2016 07:45 AM)

In the last season, Arnold should've been 15 but I think he was younger.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603575https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1603575Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:41:24 GMT