Description: From the creators of the top-rated THE COSBY SHOW comes A DIFFERENT WORLD, a fresh funny situation comedy that follows the triumphs, trials, and tribulations of students of Hillman College. This half-hour spin off of the top rated THE COSBY SHOW, was the first ensemble situation comedy to immerse America in student life at a historically black college. Enjoying a successful 6-run season run on NBC, from 1987 to 1993, A DIFFERENT WORLD bas been widely honored for its sensitive, intelligent treatment of contemporary issues.
Amazon.com: Set at the fictional Hillman College, A Different World was originally conceived as a vehicle for Lisa Bonet's Denise Huxtable. (Based on Bill Cosby’s Atlanta-based alma mater, the exteriors were even filmed at Spelman.) Positioned between The Cosby Show and Cheers, the top-rated sitcom quickly became a group effort as the "ordinary" Denise was frequently upstaged by self-obsessed Southern belle Whitley (six-time Image Award winner Jasmine Guy), lovelorn smarty-pants Dwayne Wayne (two-time winner Kadeem Hardison), and his sharp-dressed pal, Ron (Darryl M. Bell).
During the first episode ("Reconcilable Differences"), sophomore student Denise meets resident director Stevie (Loretta Devine), a single mother, and roommate Jaleesa, a 26-year-old divorcée (Dawnn Lewis, who co-wrote the show’s Phoebe Snow-sung theme). She and Jaleesa don't hit it off initially, but eventually find common ground--like their aversion to the "Mouth of the South," i.e. Whitley. In the pilot, which aired next, they meet their third roommate, Midwestern motor mouth Maggie (future Oscar winner Marisa Tomei), and the Gilbert Hall triumvirate was complete. Stevie, meanwhile, would leave midway through the season to be replaced by the more imposing Lettie (Tony winner Mary Alice), who is introduced in "The Prime of Miss Lettie Bostic."
Several Cosby Show actors dropped in during the first season to show their support, including Keisha Knight Pulliam ("Rudy and the Snow Queen"), Malcolm Jamal-Warner ("My Dinner With Theo"), Phylicia Rashad ("Clair's Last Stand"), and Cosby himself ("If Chosen, I May Not Run"). (Knight Pulliam and Cosby also appear in the pilot). Other guest stars include Keenen Ivory Wayans ("War of the Words") and various In Living Color cast mates, like David Allen Grier ("Romancing Mr. Stone"). Although Bonet and Tomei would leave at the end of the season, A Different World recovered from the loss and aired on NBC for another five seasons. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Very Silly but Still, Very Enjoyable. Sure, this first season of A Different World may be lacking in various areas. As in, you've got Denise (Lisa Bonet) being depicted as this young woman with all the potential in the world who does almost nothing to further her ccareer. And, you've got Marissa Tomei fretting over the loss of an eggby and the size of her body buffer zone. But, this writer still enjoys the memories and the presence of the both of them.
Okay, maybe the series improved after the first season and the departure of Lisa & Marissa. But, the real helper was the arrival of Debbie Allen. She probably could've improved the Denise and Maggie characters in the confines of the script, if either of them had decided to stick around.
Anyway, it's still great to witness the way that Dwayne, Whitley, Jalessa, Ron, Millie, Stevie and Lettie's characters all began. And, the antics they all got into were all very cute and memorable. [As in Dwayne saying to a pignosed Denise, "Whattaya say, we get out of here and go dig for truffles?" Personally, I quite enjoy watching that. And, Lisa actually looks real cute in that nose. Then, there's her Porky reference at the end of the episode.]
Also, I got a major kick out of the use of "Seven More Days" by Terence Trent D'Arby in the 12th episode, "Advise and Desent." Watching that episode as many times as I did - along with the rest of the set - is what led me to purchasing my own copy of the first record by TTD (or Sananda).
Please Release Seasons 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6! First Look Home Entertainment, I hope you have plans to the 5 remaining seasons of A Different World, after The Complete Series of The Cosby Show, which will be released on DVD, on November 11, 2008. A Different World Season 2 should be released on DVD, sometime in Decemeber. I also hope Seasons 3-6 are released as well. Please release the 5 remaining Seasons on DVD, in the near future!
The Benet yrs were BAD!!! I wished they knew that no one likes the Benet years. A Different World was soooooooo much better when Whitley and Dwayne were the leads!!!
Great show but this is the worst season Growing up I always thought that colleage would be similar to this show . Every Thrusday I tuned in to watch the show, my favorite charcter was Dwayne Wayne and I was so happy when he married Whitley. This show made colleage real on some levels and fake on some but it's still one of my favorite shows and always be. Sadly season 1 is the worst in the series and the show really didn't pick up until season 2.
A Different World season 1 This show was really a great funny show, for those who like to laugh. I can't wait for the other seasons to come out. I recommend this for the library. Thanks to the Cos for a great show.
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