If you wanted to know what it was like to be part of just being a student on a predominately black college,or college life in general,then
"A Different World" was the show to watch. Each week,the students at fictional Hillman College were faced with college life on one end and some issues that were very affective and informative while at the same time provided some hardy laughs during the show's run. Interesting point about the show's first season: Oscar winner Marisa Tomei(who was white) was one of the students who was roommates with 'Cosby' show regular Lisa Bonet and friend Jalessa(played by Dawnn Lewis,who in turn wrote and sang the theme song) who Bonet had the hots for Dwayne Wayne played by Kerideem Hardison. However,after the first season,Bonet and Tomei were dropped,replacing them with Cree Sumner,Sinbad,and Darryl Bell(which him and Hardison along with actors Glynn Turman and Jasmine Guy,and Cree Sumner remain throughout the show's run)and Lou Myers. The show was a top ratings winner when NBC ruled Thursday nights(which consisted of "The Cosby Show","Family Ties","Cheers","Night Court",and the crime drama of "L.A. Law")during the 80's and early 90's. Another point about "A Different World" too,it launched the careers of some very establish unknowns including Jada Pinkett and one episode that featured a boyish looking Morris Chestnut(who would go on to become a hot commodity in Hollywood). Catch the repeats on area local stations and weekdays on Superstation TBS in Atlanta,and Superstation WGN in Chicago.