Diff’rent Strokes “The Bicycle Man” Historical Criticism

Salvatore Catherincchia

Central Michigan University

BCA 503

Prof. Stohlman

10/3/23
 Whether it be the joys of playing with friends on the playground or the thrill of learning

to ride a bike. There’s nothing quite like childhood wonder. However, the reality of the world

that surrounds such wonder can tend to be harsh or unforgiving to its sentimentalities, leaving the

child’s protection and preparation up to their parents. The thought of what someone with the

wrong intentions could do to a vulnerable child is sometimes unbearable to ponder, but despite

this, media and entertainment tackles such issues head on. One example of a show that took on

this uncomfortable problem was the sitcom Diff’rent Strokes during season five in their 16th and

17th very special episode titled “The Bicycle Man” which released on February 5th and 12th,

1983. The episode fully covered the taboo subjects of pedophilia and all that encompassed it at a

time where such issues rarely saw the light of day. This episode demonstrates how television can

not only address the ugliest of this world’s realities, but also grant insight into the topical

questions or stereotypes that surround such discourse.

The series follows the day-to-day life of two young African American boys from Harlem

who are taken in and raised by a kind and wealthy employer of their late mother. The episode

follows the youngest boy, Arnold who desperately wants his father to buy him a bike from the

local shop operated by the humorous Mister Horton. Arnold’s father, Mister Drummond, assures

him that he will buy him the bike for his birthday, and Horton tells the boy that in the meantime

if he hands out flyers for the shop, he’ll throw in a free radio to go with his new ride. After

gaining the assistance of his classmate, Dudley, Arnold, and his pal hand out flyers while also

spending more time with Mister Horton, who secretly brings the two into his private office filled

with ice cream, comic books, and video games. The three begin spending every day after school

together in the back room where Horton provides fun and junk food all under the shared idea that

the two boys don’t tell their parents about it. Eventually, Mister Horton begins allowing the boys
to read dirty magazines, look at pictures of skinny-dipping, and even offers the two glasses of

wine to drink whenever they’re over.

After coming home one evening with the smell of wine on his breath, Arnold’s brother

and adoptive sister, Willis, and Kimberly, confront him, but Arnold shrugs them off and tells

them Dudley’s father offered them the wine and he won’t do it again. The next day at the bicycle

shop, Horton gives the boys more wine, shows them dirty cartoons, and takes shirtless pictures of

the boys playing Tarzan leading to Arnold becoming uncomfortable and leaving Dudley at the

shop alone with Horton. It’s revealed at home after a visit from Dudley’s father that his son told

him Mister Drummond gave them the wine, but after Arnold returns home the truth is revealed

prompting the group to call the police and quickly race back to the shop to get Dudley. Upon

their arrival the police apprehend Horton and Dudley tells his father about how Horton attempted

to touch him in the bathroom, leading to his father hugging and comforting the shaken-up boy.

The reason why “The Bicycle Man” has become one of the most infamous “very special”

episodes to come from sitcom history has to do mainly with its real and uncomfortable depiction

of pedophilia. It addresses how these sorts of unhealthy relationships develop and then fully

displays the unnatural and often saddening nature of these crimes. At the time of this episode’s

release the world was beginning to see a serious change in who people could trust especially with

their children. The 1980’s saw a developing rise in child abuse cases. “In the 1980s, hundreds of

daycare workers across the country were questioned and investigated on suspicions of child

abuse. Many were tried and convicted for horrible sex crimes involving the children in their

care” (M.N). The citizens of America were living in a world where it had become questionable

whether letting a child go outside alone was safe and whether people had to keep an eye on the

people around their child.

 The episode shows the viewers how at the end of the day it was neither boys’ fault for

what happened, and how Mister Horton had essentially fooled the community into believing he

was harmless. However, we also see how Horton had a history of this behavior through the

skinny-dipping pictures and how he keeps his secrets by manipulating Arnold and Dudley into

casually keeping quiet so the fun wouldn’t have to end. The episode demonstrates despite its

network restraints the true nature about these horrible incidents through uncomfortable situations

and dialogue, that are not meant to make the audience unhappy but to educate them on things

that they needed to understand. The episode shows viewers how the parents respond to these kids

and the right avenues for discussion and healing to form after such trauma. The world was

changing, and this sitcom simply had to pause and reflect on such issues so that families across

the nation could understand the next steps needed to be taken in protecting its youth both

physically and mentally.

Furthermore, on the subject of sexual abuse another factor that lied dormant behind the

scenes was the issue’s weight on the show Diff’rent Strokes itself. Hollywood has a long and

tragic history with abusers and abusees, but nothing quite stands out like the many cases of child

stars being caught up in the crossfire of such gross actions. One in particular was that of actor

Todd Bridges who played Arnold’s older brother Willis who was dealing with a similar situation,

“Early in An Open Secret, Todd Bridges of Diff'rent Strokes says that he was reluctant to appear

in that special episode because he had been abused by his publicist for years — a secret nobody

on the show knew” (Scherstuhl). While the specifics are unknown it’s clear that this issue was

substantial enough to be covered considering the fact it had been happening all along underneath

everyone’s noses. The episode itself serves as testament to the bravery of Bridges for
contributing to the episode’s existence through his role, without the light this episode gave to

shine on the darkness of this issue other cases may never have been uncovered.

In the episode’s conclusion, Willis says to the police officer, “I never would’ve guessed

Mister Horton was, well you know...gay” to which the officer replies, “Well he’s not Willis, you

know that’s the common fallacy about child molesters, they’re not gay they’re only interested in

little boys or little girls, not adults” (Hunter 1983). This brief yet very intentional dialogue brings

to light an issue not often addressed but very important for the time. While times were changing,

homosexuality was still a very misunderstood concept in the public eye leading to countless

stereotypes both mild and severe for the community. A stereotype that created real havoc for the

homosexual community at the time was the belief that child molesters who targeted little boys

were gay and that if someone was gay, they had a higher chance of targeting children. Of course,

this stereotype carried no real truth. “Using phallometric test sensitivities to calculate the

proportion of true pedophiles among various groups of sex offenders against children and taking

into consideration previously reported mean numbers of victims per offender group, the ratio of

heterosexual to homosexual pedophiles was calculated to be approximately 11:1.” (Freund,

Watson). Despite this, the stereotype itself caused great harm and demonized a community

completely unrelated to the issue at hand.

At the show’s beginning, the intro song tells the audience, “Now the world don’t move to

the beat of just one drum. What might be right for you, may not be right for some” (Thicke

1978). While these words could just be deemed preamble to the show, it also serves as

intentional statements to some of the show’s big themes. The truth of the matter of

homosexuality’s connection to pedophilia can simply be summed in research. “Dr. A. Nicholas

Groth, researcher on adult male offenders and author of ’Men Who Rape: Psychology of the
Offender‘, states that it is a myth that adult males who molest boys are homosexual. He provides

several clinical examples to backup his finding including the connection that molesters see

themselves in their victims, but would not be attracted to adult males” (Zero abuse project). The

crime itself is saddening and pitiful towards those who would conduct such behavior but the

belief that sexual orientation had anything to do with it is preposterous. Thankfully the show

itself properly informs its audience this, and works towards separating the issue from the

stereotypes it creates. The writers simply did not have to include something like this in the show,

but it speaks solely to their care for the subject matter that they would feature this truth to squash

a growing hysteria based on lies.

The Inside Hook states ““The Bicycle Man” was an important episode and, surprisingly

for a mainstream show, unafraid to show predatory behavior on-camera (which is why the

episodes came with pre- and post-show warnings and public service announcements). For a show

that often relied on obvious laughs, catchphrases and big-name ‘80s guest stars (Mr. T, Dorothy

Hamill, David Hasselhoff), the episode was fairly grounded and disturbingly realistic” (Miller).

While some issues may appear understated or dulled down for television, it is undeniable the

chilling feeling of watching this episode unfold. What this episode accomplishes is a realistic

depiction of a scary situation, how bad it could’ve been, and how it must be handled. Characters

don’t lower themselves to make light of such darkness and it never shows too much, it exists on

the line and delivers an informative take on an issue that weighed heavy on the hearts of

Americans. What makes this a perfect “very special” episode is the fact that the show lands its

characters in the realities of pedophilia, and all that encompasses it and then leans solely on its

heart to see it through. The image of Dudley’s father hugging his son in this vulnerable moment

tells the audience that it’s going to be okay and that while the world is a scary place, society can
only get through it together, and like the show’s theme song says, “Together we’ll be fine

(Thicke 1978).”
 References

Alan Thicke. (1978). It Takes Diff’rent Strokes . Hollywood, California; NBC.

Hunter, B. (Writer), Gerren, K. (Director). (1983, February 5). “The Bicycle Man” (Season 5

Episode 16/17) [TV Series Episode]. In B. Hunter, H. Leeds, B. Brunner (Executive

Producers), Diff’rent Strokes. Tandem Productions.

Miller, K. (2023, June 15). How this “Diff’rent strokes” episode changed TV history.

InsideHook. https://www.insidehook.com/article/television/diffrent-strokes-bicycle-man

RJ;, F. K. (n.d.). The proportions of heterosexual and homosexual pedophiles among sex

offenders against children: An exploratory study. Journal of sex & marital therapy.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1556756/

Scherstuhl, A. (2015, June 4). An open secret exposes Hollywood pedophilia - but not quite a

conspiracy. Westword. https://www.westword.com/film/an-open-secret-exposes-

hollywood-pedophilia-but-not-quite-a-conspiracy-6777084

Sexuality of offenders. Zero Abuse Project. (2021, May 26).

https://www.zeroabuseproject.org/victim-assistance/jwrc/keep-kids-safe/sexuality-of-

offenders/

Staff, M. N. (2019, July 14). On child abuse hysteria in the 1980s.

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/08/21/bcst-books-thread-we-believe-the-children