The year was 1978 and I was a teen-ager when I first saw Dana Plato on Diff'rent Strokes.  While I found the premise somewhat amusing, I must admit to watching the show initially because of Dana.  Like every other young boy in America, I had such a crush on her.

A few years later, as an aspiring writer with 50 plus rejection letters taped to my bedroom walls, I sold my first piece of writing ever -- an episode of Diff'rent Strokes.

Titled "Memories," the plot of this episode was this: A long lost trunk being returned to the boys contains a tape recording of their deceased mother which brings to the surface a previously unrecognized problem that triggers uncharacteristic behavior from a usually happy-go-lucky Arnold.

I wrote my original version a year prior to its sell, but I was stuck on one plot point: what the heck was in the long lost trunk?  I had no clue.

The project sat in a drawer for a year until one day while spring cleaning, I discovered a cassette tape featuring the voice of my older brother who died 18 months prior.  Like a lightening bolt from the heavens, I immediately knew what was in the trunk: a cassette tape featuring the voice of the boys' mother.  My agent sent it in, they bought it and the rest is history.

What I originally wrote and what finally made it to the screen had only minor similarities.  Seven other writers rewrote the script and I ended up with "Story By" credit.  But no matter. During the week the episode aired, I was the toast of my tiny Midwestern town.  To this day, 20 plus years later, people still walk up to me and ask: "Aren't you that Diff'rent Strokes guy?"

I guess I owe that on-going 15 minutes of fame to Dana, for had she not been so cute, I probably would have never watched the show week after week.

Thanks, Dana.  May God bless you.

Brian Keith Moody, Webmaster
danaplatotribute@hotmail.com