Watch A Different World

TV-PG
1987
6 Seasons
6.9 (7,253)

A Different World is a sitcom that features the college life of the character Denise Huxtable and her college mates at Hillman College. The show is a spinoff of the sitcom The Cosby Show, which was the family Denise grew up in. The show based each episode on issues facing the students at the historically black college and their student life. A Different World was very controversial, but also groundbreaking, for all the topics and issues of the day that the writers and actors addressed; issues such as the Persian GUlf War, date rape, drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS were discussed. Writers strove to present ideas and situations as they would have happened in a way that would open them up to common discussion and activism. While the characters changed from season to season, there were a few principal actors that did go on to work in much larger roles on the screen and stage following the final season of A Different World. After the fifth season, and some cross-over between the two shows, producers decided to end the show's production.

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25. A Rock, a River, a Lena

July 8, 1993

Everyone at Hillman is anxiously awaiting the visit of Miss Lena Horne. She's inspired many people, from the Dean, who's singing her praises, to Mr. Gaines, who claims to have met her years ago.

24. College Kid

July 1, 1993

Lena, Gina, Charmaine, Dorian and Terrell decide to rent a house together. While seeing the temperamental landlord about a plumbing problem, Gina, Charmaine and Terrell discover that he is Langston Paige, a former majorÂ league baseball star.

23. Homie, Don't Ya Know Me?

June 17, 1993

Lena's childhood pals from Baltimore visit her at Hillman and proceed to butt heads with her new college friends.

22. Cabin in the Sky

June 10, 1993

Dwayne and Whitley want to spend a quiet weekend away but they must share the cost of a cabin with another couple. They get Mr. Gaines and his wife, Velma, to come along. What a mistake!

21. Dancing Machines

June 3, 1992

Whitley agrees to baby-sit a prankster student, Deshawn, for the weekend. She thinks it will be a good opportunity to turn the student into a lady. Deshawn is always into mischief, such as rigging the phone and radio not to work.

20. Lean On Me

May 27, 1993

Dwayne is applying for a summer management position at a company in Japan. He seems like the perfect man for this job, so much so, his friends are already planning a celebration.

19. Great X-Pectations

June 24, 1993

When Terrel and Charmaine are harassed by a street gang, Terrel is embarrassed by his inability to defend himself. Dorian suggests he report the incident but Terrel's solution is to start carrying a gun.

18. When One Door Closes... Part 2

May 8, 1993

It's official, Dwayne and Whitley are expecting a baby, Kimberly and Spencer are engaged and Dwayne's new job means they're moving to Japan! Things get complicated by the meddling, future grandmoms, who aren't so pleased about the Japan move.

17. When One Door Closes... Part 1

May 8, 1993

It takes Kimberly to make Whitley realize she's got all the signs of pregnancy. Whitley is reluctant to tell Dwayne who's all wrapped up pursuing an idea for a computer game that a corporation is very interested in.

16. Mind Your Own Business

January 21, 1993

Ron convinces Mr. Gaines to become his business partner in managing a dance club. However, they each have a different opinion on what the club should be. Ron wants a hot, booty-shaking place and recruits fly girls on campus for cocktail waitresses.

15. Happy Birthday to Moi

January 14, 1993

Dwayne and Kim are planning a surprise birthday party for Whitley. Dwayne discovers Whitley not only knows about the party but is suggesting the guest list. He decides to give her a jolt.

14. To Whit, With Love

January 7, 1993

Whitley has found work as an elementary school teacher in a class full of unruly, disrespectful kids. Not only are the kids challenging, but all signs indicate she's not cut out for this type of work.

13. White Christmas

December 17, 1992

Freddie's mother Joan, who is white and a real hippie of the "˜60's, comes to visit for Christmas and creates a stir. She gets the whole dorm chanting and feeling auras.

12. Occupational Hazards

December 3, 1992

Whitley is up for a job interview and wants a new outfit. Without Dwayne's knowledge she borrows his credit card and buys a $700 suit, intending to return it.

11. Original Teacher

November 19, 1992

Freddie has a group of youth offenders brought to Hillman as part of a pa Program. Dwayne gets two really difficult kids, Michael and Billy. They think only of violence and they're about to kill each other over gang affiliation.

10. Faith, Hope, and Charity, Part 2

November 12, 1992

Whitley and Dwayne's mothers are both visiting them for Thanksgiving! It's a constant battle as the two moms try to overtake each other starting with Thanksgiving dinner.

9. Faith, Hope, and Charity, Part 1

November 12, 1992

As Whitley is pounding the pavement looking for secretarial work to help pay the bills, her mother phones with a pre-Thanksgiving message; she's coming to visit for the holiday.

8. Baby, It's Cold Outside

November 5, 1992

No matter what Whitley tries, she can't seem to keep Dwayne's interest. She's convinced that the romance in their marriage is lost. Whitley becomes so desperate that she calls in to the Montel Williams Show for advice.

7. The Little Mister

October 29, 1992

A Halloween costume party prompts Dwayne and Whitley to discuss male and females. Soon Dwayne has a bizarre dream where male and female positions in the political world are switched.

6. Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Axed

October 29, 1992

Whitley believes her pay raise is imminent and so she persuades a reluctant Dwayne to invest $3,000 for a painting. Ron has also been doing a lot of persuading and finally gets Kim to let him spend the night. Is the grass always greener?

5. Really Gross Anatomy

October 22, 1992

Whitley is out of town for a 3-day business trip and Dwayne, missing her, immediately tries to keep himself occupied. When the Colonel, Ron and Mr. Gaines drop by, their conversation only makes Dwayne miss Whitley more.

4. Somebody Say Ho!

October 15, 1992

Charmaine is such a mathematics know-it-all that Terrel posts a note on her back in class which reads "Digital Ho". Charmaine, not taking kindly to use of the word "Ho", decides to file an official complaint on the use of derogatory language.

3. Interior Desecration or Sofa So Good

October 8, 1992

Sharing their first apartment, newlyweds Dwayne and Whitley find themselves in a constant argument over whose belongings will go and whose will stay.

2. Honeymoon in L.A. Part 2

October 1, 1992

Whitley and Dwayne celebrate their honeymoon in Los Angeles just as the riots break out! Perfect timing! During the chaos, the two get separated from each other.

1. Honeymoon in LA Part 1

September 24, 1992

The new semester has brought some startling new changes to Hillman. Dwayne and Whitley are back... as a married couple!

Description

A Different World was very controversial, but also groundbreaking, for all the topics and issues of the day that the writers and actors addressed; issues such as the Persian GUlf War, date rape, drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS were discussed. Writers strove to present ideas and situations as they would have happened in a way that would open them up to common discussion and activism.

While the characters changed from season to season, there were a few principal actors that did go on to work in much larger roles on the screen and stage following the final season of A Different World. After the fifth season, and some cross-over between the two shows, producers decided to end the show's production.

A Different World is a series that is currently running and has 6 seasons (144 episodes). The series first aired on September 24, 1987.

Where to Watch A Different World

A Different World is available for streaming on the Carsey Werner website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch A Different World on demand at HBO Max and Amazon.