A Different World 

A group of students at a historically Black university struggle to make it through college.

Creator:

Bill Cosby

Stars:

Lisa Bonet, Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 17 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Jasmine Guy	...	Whitley Gilbert 142 episodes, 1987-1993
Kadeem Hardison	...	Dwayne Wayne 141 episodes, 1987-1993
Darryl M. Bell	...	Ron Johnson 121 episodes, 1987-1993
Charnele Brown	...	Kim Reese 115 episodes, 1988-1993
Dawnn Lewis	...	Jaleesa Vinson 114 episodes, 1987-1992
Cree Summer	...	Freddie Brooks 111 episodes, 1988-1993
Lou Myers	...	Vernon Gaines 94 episodes, 1988-1993
Glynn Turman	...	Colonel Brad Taylor 78 episodes, 1988-1993
Sinbad	...	Coach Walter Oakes 66 episodes, 1987-1991

Storyline

A group of students at a historically Black university struggle to make it through college.

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Plot Keywords:

sitcom | historically black college | african american | boy wears eyeglasses | university | 

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Taglines:

Big laughs on campus.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The nickname of the Hillman athletic teams was The Falcons.

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Goofs

Throughout the course of the series, Whitley's talents go back and forth between being an accomplished singer/dancer and having little to no singing/dancing skills at all.

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Quotes

Gina Devereaux: It's not what you think, Whitley. Dion is the sweetest, most romantic guy I've ever gone out with.
Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne: So I've heard. He's just nervous about the concert.
Gina Devereaux: Well, you know how I am - I'm so self-centered and I'm always running off at the mouth, and you know how I flirt.
Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne: There's no excuse for what he did to you, Gina. You're much smarter than this.
Gina Devereaux: But he loves me... and I don't want to break up with him.
[Sniffs]
Gina Devereaux: I just want him to stop.
Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne: Throwing jabs? You're making a big mistake, Gina, if you think you can...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Psych: Let's Get Hairy (2009)

User Reviews

2nd Season

I wish the second season would hurry up and come out. I loved the Special Feature when all of the cast talked about how the show improved. Even when the show was a little goofier, who didn't think Lisa Bonet looked adorable in her pig snout. I started a petition to get the second season out there. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do it. I like to watch people that are my age get to experience the college life, going to an HBCU, pledging, loving, befriending, and just hanging out. I wanted to go to an HBCU as soon as I saw "A Different World" and I actually created my book, Change for a Twenty, around the college crowd. I just think it's so commendable when black people can be on a show without a bunch of stereotypes. It gave other young people someone to model their character on.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 September 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Different World

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bill Cosby, Carsey-Werner Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (142 episodes) 60 min (1 episode)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1