Ep. 30 Beyond the Laughter

Stardom, Race, & Gary Coleman’s Legacy with Dion Mial

EPISODE 30 / 06.25.2025

Get ready for a wild ride down memory lane as Todd and Bettijo welcome special guest Dion Mial! This episode reveals what it was really like growing up in Hollywood, including never-before-heard details about Gary Coleman’s life and legacy.

Show Notes

Hosts Todd & Bettijo Bridges welcome Todd’s childhood friend, designer Dion Mial—Gary Coleman’s best friend—for a behind-the-scenes tour of Diff’rent Strokes. Expect wild go-kart adventures, on-set pranks, Dana Plato’s Universal Studios driving fiasco, and lots of nostalgia! Plus, hear about Dion and Gary’s music collab, Todd’s secret album, and how Diff’rent Strokes broke barriers long before social media pulled back the curtain on fame.

On a heavier note, Dion & Todd share Gary’s 30‑year fight with renal disease (far exceeding his prognosis), his abusive relationship with Shannon Price, and the troubling aftermath of his death. Plus, get exclusive insight into the Gary documentary and A&E’s upcoming Lie Detector series premiere—both aiming to uncover the truth and honor Gary’s legacy.

EPISODE Highlights

• Growing up in Hollywood – Todd and Dion share how they met and became friends, bonding over a go-kart. (02:23)
• Life on the Diff’rent Strokes Set – Insights into sitcom filming schedules and the dynamic between the child actors. (04:32)
• Dana Plato’s Mischievous Antics – Todd and Dion recall Dana’s daring drive through the Universal Studios spinning tunnel. (7:51)
• Gary and Todd Were Like Brothers – Todd reflects on his relationship with Gary Coleman and what drove a wedge between them. (10:16)
• Reconciliation – The crazy circumstances that brought Todd and Gary back together. (12:19)
• Pranks on Set – Hilarious stories of Todd and Gary rigging cigarettes with poppers and other mischief. (15:16)
• On-Set Politics & Pioneering Diversity – Todd discusses a director’s replacement due to personal bias, leading to a significant step in racial representation for Diff’rent Strokes. (18:08)
• Cancelled – What finally took Diff’rent Strokes off the air. (21:45)
• The Social Media Effect – Reflections on the differences in Hollywood life with and without social media. (25:35)
• Upcoming Gary Coleman Projects – Discussion about the Gary documentary on Peacock and the new Lie Detector show on A&E. (30:36)
• Gary Coleman’s Lifelong Health Battle – Dion explains Gary’s childhood prognosis and his continuous fight with renal disease. (33:20)
• Gary Coleman’s Troubled Relationship with Shannon Price – Discussions about abuse and his later-revealed secret divorce. (36:40)
• Todd Meets Shannon Price – Todd’s direct encounter with Shannon Price with Gary in a wheelchair. (38:09)
• Gary’s Worthiness and Abandonment Issues – Dion and Todd discuss the psychological reasons Gary stayed in a toxic relationship. (39:14)
• The Circumstances of Gary’s Death – Todd and Dion recount the puzzling details surrounding Gary’s hospital stay and Shannon’s actions. (43:00)
• A&E Lie Detector Premier – Shannon Price has taken a lie detector test involving the circumstances surrounding Gary’s death, and the results are featured in the series premier of A&E new true crime series Lie Detector: Truth or Deception premieres July 10, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT. (47:00)
• “The Outlaw and the Indian” Project – Dion shares the story behind his musical collaboration with Gary Coleman. (52:30)
• Todd Bridges’ Unreleased Album – Bettijo tells Dion about a full album Todd recorded that was never released. Watch a snippet of Todd Bridges performing his single Summertime at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but it was never actually released. We think it might be buried in the CBS archives and hope we can dig it up some day. (55:25)

ToddFlix Pick

Listen to Learn

• The incredible health challenges Gary Coleman faced throughout his life and how he defied the odds.
• The personal struggles Gary Coleman endured in his later years, including a tumultuous relationship and worthiness issues.
• The mischievous pranks and bond between Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman on the set of Diff’rent Strokes.
• The groundbreaking ways Diff’rent Strokes addressed racial themes and societal norms in 70s and 80s television.

Don’t miss this unforgettable journey back in time with Todd, Bettijo, and Dion. Hit play  now to hear incredible untold stories straight from the source!