 Even though this show was considered a spin off of  _"Diffrent Strokes" (1978)_ (qv), the connection between the two  shows wasnt explained until a few months after the show premiered.  Since both shows were produced by the same company, it was decided  to have a plot where Larry Alder and Phillip Drummond  (McLean Stevenson (qv) and Conrad Bain (qv) respectively) were  old army buddies from Korea as a way of having the shows cross over  and boost the ratings of Hello Larry.