"A Different World" (1987)TV series 1987-1993

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

24 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Big laughs on campus.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

African American | Sitcom | Historically Black College

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 16 wins & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 29	2:30 AM	BET
Wed. July 30	3:00 AM	BET

Cast

Jasmine Guy	...	Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne / ... (136 episodes, 1987-1993)
Kadeem Hardison	...	Dwayne Cleophus Wayne (132 episodes, 1987-1993)
Darryl M. Bell	...	Ronald 'Ron' Johnson / ... (103 episodes, 1987-1993)
Charnele Brown	...	Kimberly 'Kim' Reese (90 episodes, 1988-1993)
Dawnn Lewis	...	Jaleesa Vinson Taylor / ... (89 episodes, 1987-1992)
Cree Summer	...	Winifred 'Freddie' Brooks (87 episodes, 1988-1993)
Lou Myers	...	Vernon Gaines (65 episodes, 1988-1993)

Runtime:

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

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Bill Cosby

Trivia:

The visuals of the campus buildings and entrance to the fictional Hillman College were of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Quotes:

Julian Day: [Whitley and Julian are breaking up in an Italian restaurant] Waiter, check please.
Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne: Yes, la cuenta and *fast*!
Julian Day: It's "il conto".
Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne: Oh, cuenta, conto, Kunta Kinte, just get the ding-dang check!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "I Love the '80s Strikes Back" (2003)

"I Know My Parents Love Me. . ."

This was not just one of the few shows that depicted college life, It was the only show that showed life at a Black College. From exam craziness, relationships, and finding part-time jobs to interracial dating, Step shows, and hate crimes, This show handled it all and with style. Even difficult topics (HIV/AIDS, going to war, ex-prisoners)were addressed in the way would make you laugh and think. An amazing number of famous Black Actors and Actresses passed through Hillman halls (even Whoopi Goldberg was a professor on an episode). What was originally just a Cosby spin-off proved to be truly a force of it's own. (Although you didn't really see them study after Junior Year)