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 16 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Jasmine Guy	...	Whitley Gilbert 141 episodes, 1987-1993
Kadeem Hardison	...	Dwayne Wayne 139 episodes, 1987-1993
Darryl M. Bell	...	Ron Johnson 120 episodes, 1987-1993
Charnele Brown	...	Kim Reese 112 episodes, 1988-1993
Dawnn Lewis	...	Jaleesa Vinson 109 episodes, 1987-1992
Cree Summer	...	Freddie Brooks 105 episodes, 1988-1993
Lou Myers	...	Vernon Gaines 88 episodes, 1988-1993
Glynn Turman	...	Colonel Brad Taylor 68 episodes, 1988-1993
Sinbad	...	Coach Walter Oakes 60 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 | university | college | 

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Taglines:

Big laughs on campus.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the show's final season, Kim, who had been a pre-med major, was attending medical school while Freddie was attending law school. These reflected the careers of Cliff and Claire Huxtable from The Cosby Show (1984).

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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

Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne: [after sleeping with Dwayne the night before] Last night didn't mean anything. As far as Dwayne is concerned, that ship has sailed and sunk.
Kim Reese: Not if you can't tell Bryon about it.
Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne: Why? We're not even an official couple yet.
Kim Reese: Whitley, if you can't tell him, maybe last night meant more than you think.
Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne: Such pearls of wisdom from one who pines over that swine Ron Johnson.
Kim Reese: Well, at least I've got it numbered down to one.
Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne: But has he?

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Connections

Featured in 20 Years of Must See TV (2002)

User Reviews

Great show once it was retooled!

Lisa Bonet appearing as a witch in "Angel Heart" threatened to tarnish the clean cut image of "The Cosby Show" so the team of Carsey-Werner(in association with Bill Cosby of course) sent Denise away to college in the spin-off "A Different World". Life wasn't peaches and cream in a different world. It was in danger of being a flop. It was very lucky that it came after the ratings grabbing "Cosby Show". Watching the pilot of this series was like watching old people eat! The original set-up was that the fictional Hillman College be an integrated college, much like the one Bill Cosby attended. The following season Evette Lee was brought in to produce the show, while Howard University Alum (and Phylicia Rashad's sister) was brought in to direct it! This is when Hillman became a "Historically Black Institution!"

Lisa Bonet's supporting cast was talented but they could not overcome the fact that a"A Different World" was lame in it's premier season! In fact the talent of: Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison and the remaining cast made Lisa Bonet expendable! So,after one season, she had to crawl back to "the Cosby Show" with her tail between her legs! The series continued for a long time without her! This series also served as a springboard for Jada Pinket.