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{{short description|American sitcom (1987–1993)}}
{{other uses|Different World (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = A Different World (Carsey-Warner sitcom) logo.svg
| image_alt            = 
| caption              = 
| genre                = [[Sitcom]]
| creator              = [[Bill Cosby]]
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
*[[Lisa Bonet]]
*[[Marisa Tomei]] 
*[[Dawnn Lewis]]
*[[Jasmine Guy]]
*[[Kadeem Hardison]]
*[[Mary Alice]]
*[[Loretta Devine]]
*[[Darryl M. Bell]]
*[[Sinbad (actor)|Sinbad]]
*[[Charnele Brown]]
*[[Cree Summer]]
*[[Glynn Turman]]
*[[Lou Myers (actor)|Lou Myers]]
*[[Ajai Sanders]]
*[[Jada Pinkett Smith|Jada Pinkett]]
*[[Karen Malina White]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist|
*[[Stu Gardner]]
*[[Bill Cosby]]
*[[Dawnn Lewis]]
}}
| composer = {{Plainlist|
* Stu Gardner
* Art Lisi
}}
| opentheme            = Performed by:<br />[[Phoebe Snow]] (season 1)<br />[[Aretha Franklin]] (seasons 2–5)<br />[[Boyz II Men]] and Terrence Forsythe (season 6)
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 6
| num_episodes         = 144
| list_episodes        = List of A Different World episodes
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist|
*Marcy Carsey
*[[Tom Werner]]
*Caryn Mandabach
*Susan Fales
}}
| camera               = [[Videotape]]; [[Multiple-camera setup|Multi-camera]]
| runtime              = 23–25 minutes
| company              = [[Carsey-Werner Productions]]
| network              = [[NBC]]
| first_aired          = {{start date|1987|9|24}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|1993|7|9}}
| related              = ''[[The Cosby Show]]''
}}

'''''A Different World''''' is an American [[sitcom]] television series and a [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] of ''[[The Cosby Show]]''. It aired for six seasons on [[NBC]] from September 24, 1987, to July 9, 1993.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/d/differentworlda_1299000904.shtml|title=BBC - Comedy Guide - A Different World|date=March 17, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050317092041/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/d/differentworlda_1299000904.shtml |archive-date=March 17, 2005 }}</ref> The series originally centered on [[Denise Huxtable]] ([[Lisa Bonet]]) and the life of students at Hillman College, a fictional [[historically black colleges and universities|historically black college]] in Virginia. It was inspired by student life at historically black colleges and universities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hamptonu.edu/news/hm/2012_02_artists.cfm |title=Hampton U the Real Hillman: Bledsoe and Bell Share with HU Students |work=[[Hampton University]] |access-date=February 6, 2017 |archive-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207113655/http://www.hamptonu.edu/news/hm/2012_02_artists.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name = "latimes_different touch">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-06-ca-4490-story.html |title=Different Touch to 'Different World' |author=Haithman, Diane |date = October 6, 1988 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 2, 2010}}</ref><ref name="emmytvlegends.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/shows/different-world-a|title=Different World, A|work=Archive of American Television|access-date=December 14, 2016}}</ref>

After Bonet's departure in the first season, the remainder of the series primarily focused more on Southern belle [[Whitley Gilbert-Wayne]], played by [[Jasmine Guy]], and math whiz [[Dwayne Cleofis Wayne]], played by [[Kadeem Hardison]].

==Concept==
While it was a spin-off from ''The Cosby Show'', ''A Different World'' typically addressed issues that were avoided by ''The Cosby Show'' writers (race and class relations, [[sexual assault]], or the [[Equal Rights Amendment]]). One episode that aired in 1990 was one of the first American network television episodes to address the [[epidemiology of HIV/AIDS]].<ref name = "latimes_beyond sitcom">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-13-ca-145-story.html |title='Different World' Goes Beyond Realm of 'Sitcom' |author=La Deane, Alice |date = January 13, 1992 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 2, 2010}}</ref>

The original premise was to focus on a white student at a historically black university and feature [[Lena Horne]] as an acting teacher, but in production, the premise changed from being a story about a white student in a black college to a black student ([[Denise Huxtable]]) in a black college with a white friend.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/jay-sandrich?clip=15546#show-clips |title=Jay Sandrich |work=Archive of American Television |access-date=March 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/anne-beatts?clip=57252#show-clips |title=Anne Beatts |work=Archive of American Television |access-date=March 9, 2014}}</ref> It was ultimately decided that Denise, who was of college age, would be spun off and have a white roommate in order to show the dynamic of a white girl in predominantly black surroundings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/marcy-carsey?clip=86454#show-clips |title=Marcy Carsey |work=Archive of American Television |access-date=March 9, 2014}}</ref> [[Meg Ryan]] was originally cast for this role, but she decided to pursue a film career, so [[Marisa Tomei]] was cast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/a-different-world-originally-starred-meg-ryan/|title=Was A Different World Originally Going to Star a White Student?|first=Brian|last=Cronin|date=June 23, 2022|website=CBR}}</ref> 

===Season two changes===
After the first season, it came to Cosby's and the producers' attention that the series was not accurately portraying a [[historically black college]] and life on campus, so [[Debbie Allen]], an alumna of [[Howard University]], was hired as the chief creative force to revamp the show. During the summer of 1988, Lisa Bonet announced that she and her husband [[Lenny Kravitz]] were [[Zoë Kravitz|having a baby]]. Allen was in favor of having a young pregnant student in the show, but Cosby said that Lisa Bonet could be pregnant but not Denise Huxtable.<ref name="Debbie Allen">{{cite web|url=http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/debbie-allen |title=Debbie Allen |work=Archive of American Television |access-date=March 9, 2014}}</ref>

It was felt that viewers would not accept Denise as an unwed mother, having grown to know her as a "good girl" after four seasons of ''The Cosby Show''. Thus it was decided that Denise would drop out of Hillman, return home to her family, and eventually travel to Africa throughout the fifth season of ''The Cosby Show'', ensuring that viewers would not see a pregnant Denise. Allen was also in favor of keeping Tomei, as she herself recalled a white student at Howard and wanted to relate that in the show and even had possible premises for her character, such as meeting Dwayne's parents and seeing the other side of racism.<ref name="Debbie Allen"/>

However, the network rejected this storyline and the producers released Tomei from the show, and she and [[Marie-Alise Recasner]] were replaced by [[Cree Summer]] and [[Charnele Brown]], respectively. [[Darryl M. Bell]] and [[Sinbad (comedian)|Sinbad]] were promoted to the principal cast, and [[Glynn Turman]] and [[Lou Myers (actor)|Lou Myers]] were added as supporting cast members. These changes led to the placement of Whitley and Dwayne at the center of a wider ensemble.

==Cast and characters==
{{Main|List of A Different World characters}}

===Main===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 160px;"|Actor
! rowspan="2" style="width: 220px;"|Character
! colspan="6"|Seasons
|-
! style="width:8%;"| 1
! style="width:8%;"| 2
! style="width:8%;"| 3
! style="width:8%;"| 4
! style="width:8%;"| 5
! style="width:8%;"| 6
|-
| [[Lisa Bonet]] || [[Denise Huxtable]] || colspan="1" {{CMain}} || colspan="1" {{CNone}} || colspan="1" {{CGuest}} || colspan="3" {{CNone}}
|-
| [[Marisa Tomei]] || Maggie Lauten|| {{CMain|Main}} || colspan="5" {{CNone}}
|-
| [[Dawnn Lewis]] || Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor|| colspan="5" {{CMain|Main}} || {{CNone}}
|-
| [[Jasmine Guy]] || [[Whitley Gilbert-Wayne]]|| colspan="6" {{CMain|Main}}
|-
| [[Kadeem Hardison]] || [[Dwayne Cleofis Wayne]]|| colspan="6" {{CMain|Main}} 
|-
| [[Mary Alice]] || Leticia "Lettie" Bostic|| colspan="2" {{CMain|Main}} || colspan="4" {{CNone}}
|-
| [[Loretta Devine]] || Stevie Rallen|| {{CMain|Main}} || colspan="5" {{CNone}}
|-
| [[Darryl M. Bell]] || Ronald "Ron" Marlon Johnson|| {{CRecurring}} || colspan="5" {{CMain|Main}} 
|-
| [[Sinbad (comedian)|Sinbad]] || Coach Walter Oakes|| {{CRecurring|Recurring}} || colspan="3" {{CMain|Main}} || colspan="2" {{CNone}}
|-
| [[Charnele Brown]] || Kimberly Reese|| {{CNone}}|| colspan="5" {{CMain|Main}} 
|-
| [[Cree Summer]] || Winifred "Freddie" Brooks|| {{CNone}}|| colspan="5" {{CMain|Main}} 
|-
|| [[Glynn Turman]] || Colonel Bradford Taylor|| {{CNone}}|| colspan="5" {{CMain|Main}} 
|-
| [[Lou Myers (actor)|Lou Myers]] || Vernon Gaines|| {{CNone}}|| colspan="5" {{CMain|Main}} 
|-
| [[Ajai Sanders]] || Gina Deveaux|| colspan="3" {{CNone}}|| colspan="2" {{CRecurring|Recurring}} || {{CMain|Main}} 
|-

| [[Jada Pinkett Smith]] || Lena James|| colspan="4" {{CNone}}|| {{CRecurring|Recurring}} || {{CMain|Main}} 
|-
| [[Karen Malina White]] ||Charmaine Tyesha Brown|| colspan="4" {{CNone}} || colspan="1" {{CGuest|Guest}} || {{CMain|Main}} 
|-
|}

===Recurring===
* [[Joe Morton]] as Byron Douglas III (season 5)
* Cory Tyler as Terrence Taylor (seasons 4 and 5)
* Patrick Malone as Terrell Walker (season 6)
* [[Bumper Robinson]] as Dorian Heywood (season 6)
* [[Michael Ralph]] as Spencer Boyer (season 6), various characters (seasons 4 and 5)
* [[Gary Dourdan]] as Shazza Zulu (seasons 5 and 6, guest starring in episode 86)
* [[Marie-Alise Recasner]] as Millie (season 1)
* [[Andrew Lowery]] as Matthew (Freddie's cousin/Kim's boyfriend; season 4)
* [[Kim Wayans]] as Allison (season 1)
* [[Dominic Hoffman]] as Ken Souje (Season 1), Julian Day (Whitley's boyfriend, 8 episodes)
* Alisa Gyse Dickens as Kinu Owens (Dwayne's girlfriend; 9 episodes)
* [[Jenifer Lewis]] as Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport (9 episodes)
* [[Diahann Carroll]] as Marion Gilbert (Whitley's mother; 7 episodes)
* [[Patti LaBelle]] as Adele Wayne (Dwayne's mother; 7 episodes)
* [[Roger Guenveur Smith]] as Prof. Howard Randolph (season 4)
* [[Rosalind Cash]] as Dean Hughes (4 episodes)
* [[Ron O'Neal]] as Mercer Gilbert (Whitley's father; 4 episodes)
* [[Phylicia Rashad]] as [[Clair Huxtable]] (4 episodes)
* Jonell Green as Dashawn Curtis (4 episodes)
* [[Bill Cosby]] as [[Cliff Huxtable]] (3 episodes)
* [[Keshia Knight Pulliam]] as [[Rudy Huxtable]] (3 episodes)
* [[Robert Guillaume]] as Dean Winston and Professor Murphy (history professor/Kim's medical professor; 3 episodes)
* [[Harold Sylvester]] as Woodson Wayne (Dwayne's father; 3 episodes)
* [[Malcolm-Jamal Warner]] as [[Theodore Huxtable]] (2 episodes)

===Guest stars===
* [[Vanessa Bell Calloway]] as Lily Connors (season 3, episode 18) & Jaleesa's sister (Danielle; season 4, episode 18)
* [[Tisha Campbell]] as Josie Webb (2 episodes)
* [[Nestor Carbonell]] as Malik Velasquez (Whitley's mother's hired "boyfriend"; 2 episodes)
* [[Art Evans (actor)|Art Evans]] as Mr. Johnson (Ron's father; 2 episodes)
* [[IMx]] as Whitley's students (2 episodes)
* [[Richard Roundtree]] as Clinton Reese (Kim's father; Season 3 episodes 8 & 9)
* [[Halle Berry]] as Jaclyn (Ron's girlfriend; season 4, episode 15)
* [[The Boys (American band)|The Boys]] as Mice 2 Men (singing group; season 5, episode 13)
* [[Dean Cain]] as Eddie (A&M University student; season 5, episode 14)
* [[Wayne Federman]] as A&M Wolf (season 5, episode 14)
* [[Ernie Sabella]] as Campus Security (season 5, episode 14)
* [[En Vogue]] as Faith, Hope, Charity, and Henrietta (Mr. Gaines' grandnieces; season 6, episode 16)
* [[Whoopi Goldberg]] as Dr. Jordan (professor; season 4, episode 24)
* [[David Alan Grier]] as Professor Byron Walcott (season 1, episode 9)
* [[James Avery (actor)|James Avery]] as bowler (season 3, episode 4)
* [[Alfonso Ribeiro]] as Zach Duncan (prospective freshman; season 3, episode 19)
* [[Heavy D]] as himself (season 3, episode 6)
* [[Lena Horne]] as herself (season 6, episode 25)
* [[Jesse Jackson]] as himself (season 2, episode 21)
* [[Trina McGee]] as Gennifer (season 5, episode 18)
* [[Khandi Alexander]] as Theressa Stone (season 2, episode 21)
* [[Gladys Knight]] as herself (season 2, episode 5)
* [[Kris Kross]] as Dwayne's juvenile mentees (season 6, episode 11)
* [[Tupac Shakur]] as Piccolo (season 6, episode 21)
* [[Obba Babatundé]] as Frank (season 3, episode 22)
* [[Blair Underwood]] as Zelmer Collier (season 4, episode 14)
* [[Billy Dee Williams]] as Langston Paige (landlord; season 6, episode 23)
* [[Thomas Mikal Ford]] as Lamar Vinson (Jaleesa's ex-husband, season 2, episode 17)
* [[Raven-Symoné]] as [[Olivia Kendall]] (Denise's step-daughter, season 3, episode 5)
* [[Joseph C. Phillips]] as Lt. Martin Kendall (Denise's husband, season 3 episode 5)

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of A Different World episodes}}
{{:List of A Different World episodes}}

==Connections to ''The Cosby Show''==
As a show developed by Bill Cosby for a character from ''The Cosby Show'', ''A Different World'' had many connections to its parent program, even before the latter program was created. The third season finale of ''The Cosby Show'', entitled "Hillman", was essentially a pilot episode for the new show.

The theme song was co-written by [[Stu Gardner]], Bill Cosby, and Dawnn Lewis – who was also a cast member. In the online interviews related to the 2006 "Hillman College Reunion", Lewis revealed that her being approached to write the song and to audition were two separate events that occurred within a short time of each other, such that she thought it was a [[practical joke]] by her friends.

The spin-off program featured many appearances by characters from the parent program, especially in the initial season, in which Denise's father [[Cliff Huxtable]] ([[Bill Cosby]]), mother [[Clair Huxtable]] ([[Phylicia Rashad]]), younger sisters [[Vanessa Huxtable]] ([[Tempestt Bledsoe]]) and [[Rudy Huxtable]] ([[Keshia Knight Pulliam|Keshia Knight-Pulliam]]), brother [[Theodore Huxtable]] ([[Malcolm-Jamal Warner]]), and grandfather [[List of The Cosby Show characters#Russell and Anna Huxtable|Russell]] ([[Earle Hyman]]) all appeared on the show, either at Hillman or at the other end of a phone call. Denise's departure from Hillman after Season 1 did not stop her mother from reappearing on the show.

Three of Phylicia Rashad's four appearances as Hillman alumna Clair Huxtable took place after season one, and in one of these, she brought her younger daughter Vanessa to tour the college. Sondra (played by [[Sabrina Le Beauf]] in the parent series) was the only Huxtable child not to appear on the show. Martin ([[Joseph C. Phillips]]) and Olivia ([[Raven-Symoné]]) appear in season 3 episode "Forever Hold Your Peace", along with Phylicia Rashad and Lisa Bonet. Elvin ([[Geoffrey Owens]]) and Pam ([[Erika Alexander]]) also never appeared on the show.

Producer/director Debbie Allen is the real-life sister of Phylicia Rashad. Allen made one guest appearance on ''The Cosby Show'', playing an aggressive aerobics instructor who helps Clair slim down for a special occasion. Allen appeared in later seasons in a recurring role as Whitley's psychiatrist. Dwayne and Whitley also visited the Huxtable home in an episode featuring the revelation that Denise had married and would not return to Hillman.

A young Kadeem Hardison appeared on ''The Cosby Show'' as one of Theo Huxtable's friends in the first-season episode "A Shirt Story", though not playing Dwayne.

Sinbad also appeared on ''The Cosby Show'' as a car salesman in third-season episode "Say Hello to a Good Buy".

A Hillman alumna by the name of "Louise Sujay" was mentioned on both ''Cosby'' and ''A Different World'' by Clair Huxtable, Whitley Gilbert and her mother Marion.

Like Lisa Bonet, Karen Malina White brought her ''[[The Cosby Show]]'' character to Hillman. Charmaine was the best friend of Clair Huxtable's cousin [[Pam Tucker]]. White's ''Cosby Show'' costar [[Allen Payne]] turned down an offer to bring his role as Charmaine's boyfriend Lance Rodman to ''A Different World'' as a regular during Season 6, preferring instead to pursue a movie career; he and Jada Pinkett Smith starred in the 1994 film ''[[Jason's Lyric]]'', which is considered to be a milestone in both their careers.

Payne appeared in one episode during season five in which Charmaine visits Hillman as a prospective student, bringing Lance along to see if he can gain admission as well. When Charmaine arrives at Hillman, she and Lance are maintaining a long-distance relationship and he is mentioned in multiple episodes. Lance and Charmaine later break up over the phone.

Years later, Tempestt Bledsoe (who played Vanessa on ''Cosby'') and Darryl M. Bell (who played Ron on ''A Different World'') became a real-life couple and co-starred on the 2009 [[Fox Reality Channel]] series ''[[Househusbands of Hollywood]]''.

=== Hillman College ===
Hillman College is a fictional [[historically black colleges and universities|historically black college]], founded in 1881 and located in the commonwealth of [[Virginia]]. The exact locality of the school is never revealed, but several geographic references are made which allude to the campus either being located somewhere in the [[Hampton Roads]] area or in the [[Roanoke Metropolitan Area]]. The school's motto is ''Deus Nondum Te Confecit'', which literally translates from Latin to: ''God has not yet finished you''. The school colors are maroon and white. Visual shots of the Hillman campus that were used in the series were actually filmed at two real-life Black colleges, [[Clark Atlanta University]] and [[Spelman College]], both in [[Atlanta, Georgia]].

The first references to Hillman on ''The Cosby Show'' were made during season one, when it is mentioned as the place where Cliff Huxtable and Clair Hanks went to school while they were engaged. Cliff's father Russell is also a Hillman alumnus. The school made its first on-screen appearance in the third-season finale of ''The Cosby Show'', titled "Hillman", when Cliff and Clair and their family attend a Hillman commencement ceremony which also honored a retiring professor.

Monica Calhoun, who appeared as a guest star on season six episode "Homey Don't You Know Me" co-starred with Patrick Y. Malone (Terrell) on Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit and with Bumper Robinson (Dorian) in the miniseries The Jacksons An American Dream.

Other notable connections:

Glynn Turman (Colonel Bradford Taylor) was once married to Aretha Franklin (who sang the theme from seasons 2-5) from 1978 to 1984.

==Home media==
Urban Works released Season 1 of ''A Different World'' on DVD in Region 1 on November 8, 2005. Several release dates for a Season 2 DVD were announced (May 2006,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lambert|first1=David|title=A Different World DVD news: Release Date & Too-Good-To-Be-True Price For A Different World - Season 2|publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Different-World/4799|access-date=January 19, 2018|date=December 31, 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120070307/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Different-World/4799|archive-date=January 20, 2018}}</ref> July 2006,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lambert|first1=David|title=A Different World DVD news: A Different DVD Delay|publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Different-World/5566|access-date=January 19, 2018|date=April 29, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120070753/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Different-World/5566|archive-date=January 20, 2018}}</ref> and September 2006<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lambert|first1=David|title=A Different World DVD news: What's going on with season 2?|publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Different-World/6137|access-date=January 19, 2018|date=July 27, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120070740/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Different-World/6137|archive-date=January 20, 2018}}</ref>), but the DVD was never released. Urban Works was acquired by [[First Look Studios]] in early 2006. The distribution rights for the series have since reverted to the production company, [[Carsey-Werner Productions]]. FilmRise has currently made the series available on streaming services, especially Amazon Prime and Netflix.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! DVD title
! Release date
! {{Abbr|No.|Number}} of<br />Episodes
! Additional information
|-
| Season 1
| November 8, 2005 
| style="text-align:center;"| 22
|
* cast interviews
* out-takes
* a retrospective overview of the series with cast members
* an un-aired, "lost" episode featuring Tupac Shakur and Jada Pinkett-Smith
|}

==Reception==

=== Critical response ===
Despite strong viewership due to its timeslot, ''A Different World'' initially received negative reviews from television critics,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oliver |first=Robin |date=February 22, 1988 |title=A Different World |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-a-different-wo/140548816/ |access-date=February 13, 2025 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |quote=no matter how doomed to early closure we may feel this program to be - and how readily dismissed it was by some of the American critics when it first appeared on their screens last September the evidence is that A Different World is a raging success.}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=James |first=Emily St. |author-link=Emily St. James |date=January 14, 2013 |title=A Different World was the last black sitcom to be a hit—but why? |url=https://www.avclub.com/a-different-world-was-the-last-black-sitcom-to-be-a-hit-1798235602 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227151313/https://www.avclub.com/a-different-world-was-the-last-black-sitcom-to-be-a-hit-1798235602 |archive-date=February 27, 2023 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |quote=The show was a big hit, but that was almost entirely thanks to being sandwiched between Cosby and Cheers. Critics weren’t kind, and the show deserved it.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kovalchik |first=Kara |date=January 7, 2016 |title=14 Facts About A Different World |url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/62212/14-things-you-might-not-know-about-different-world |access-date=February 13, 2025 |work=[[Mental Floss]] |quote=The ratings for Season One were strong ... The reviews, on the other hand, were scathing}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Haithman |first=Diane |date=October 6, 1998 |title=Different Touch to 'Different World' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-06-ca-4490-story.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224160719/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-06-ca-4490-story.html |archive-date=December 24, 2024 |access-date=February 19, 2025 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |quote=TV critics flat out didn’t like it}}</ref> who found it juvenile, unrealistic,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Gerard |first=Jeremy |date=November 25, 1990 |title=Producers Carsey and Werner: What Have They Done for Us Lately? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/25/magazine/producers-carsey-and-werner-what-have-they-done-for-us-lately.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412004223/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/25/magazine/producers-carsey-and-werner-what-have-they-done-for-us-lately.html |archive-date=April 12, 2022 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> humorless,<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |last=Harris |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Harris (journalist) |date=April 12, 1991 |title=From the EW archives: The evolution of A Different World |url=http://ew.com/article/1991/04/12/evolution-different-world/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215221230/http://ew.com/article/1991/04/12/evolution-different-world/ |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> boring,<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Ramos |first=Dino-Ray |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Binge-Watching 'A Different World': 17 Things You Totally Forgot About This Guilt-Free 'Cosby Show' Spin-Off |url=https://www.etonline.com/news/163731_17_things_you_forgot_about_a_different_world |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515224640/https://www.etonline.com/news/163731_17_things_you_forgot_about_a_different_world |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |work=[[Entertainment Tonight]] |quote=the tone and overall energy of the show was criticized widely for being boring and bland.}}</ref> and overly reliant on its parent show.<ref name=":2" /> The first season holds an approval rating of 11% on [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on 19 reviews; its critical consensus reads: "Relying too heavily on the success of ''The Cosby Show'', ''A Different World'' lacks the charisma of its predecessor, while managing to make the collegiate setting predictable and monotonous".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Season 1 – A Different World |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/a_different_world/s01 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> Journalist [[Mark Harris (journalist)|Mark Harris]] reported that the show "drew one of the most concentrated doses of critical vituperation ever to greet an instant ratings hit".<ref name=":1" /> The ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]''<nowiki/>'s Ron Weiskind said the show is "at best, an average, mediocre situation comedy".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weiskind |first=Ron |date=September 24, 1987 |title='Tour of Duty' gets off to a strong start in CBS defense |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-a-different-worl/140611637/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Several reviewers blamed Denise's characterization and Bonet's performance for making the series' early episodes uninteresting.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nittle |first=Nadra |date=January 24, 2018 |title='Grown-ish' Quietly Champions Modest Dressing |url=https://www.racked.com/2018/1/24/16928380/yara-shahidi-grown-ish-clothes-costumes-modest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818051510/https://www.racked.com/2018/1/24/16928380/yara-shahidi-grown-ish-clothes-costumes-modest |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |work=[[Racked]] |quote=While saintly Denise was so dull she made the first season of A Different World fall flat}}</ref> The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' wrote "it doesn't seem that Bonet is a compelling enough actress to carry a show by herself, but ''A Different World'' probably will do well because of its fortuitous time slot, and whoever said that life on television was fair?".<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 24, 1987 |title='Tour of Duty' May Be Short for Wrong Reason |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/09/24/tour-of-duty-may-be-short-for-wrong-reason/ |access-date=February 12, 2025 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Other reviews compared it unfavorably to ''[[The Facts of Life (TV series)|The Facts of Life]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holloway |first=Diane |date=September 24, 1987 |title=A Different World / Tour of Duty |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-a-different-wo/140547959/ |access-date=February 13, 2025 |work=[[Austin American-Statesman]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |quote=It's a slightly hipper version of Facts of Life and just about as funny.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weinberg |first=Scott |date=November 15, 2005 |title=Different World - Season 1, A |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/18736/different-world-season-1-a/ |access-date=February 13, 2025 |work=[[DVD Talk]]}}</ref> including the ''[[South Florida Sun Sentinel]]''<nowiki/>'s Bill Kelley who dismissed the show as "a greed-motivated sitcom that doesn't serve any function beyond milking a few million extra dollars from TV's most popular comedy franchise".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Bill |date=September 24, 1987 |title='Different World' merely rides on Cosby coattails |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel-a-different-w/140611738/ |access-date=February 18, 2025 |work=[[South Florida Sun Sentinel]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> On the contrary, television critic [[Marvin Kitman]] admitted to having been secretly enjoying the season, praising its simplicity and the performances of Bonet and Tomei in particular.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Kitman |first=Marvin |author-link=Marvin Kitman |date=October 8, 1987 |title=A 'Different' Sort of Spin-Off From 'Cosby' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/704778009/ |access-date=February 13, 2025 |work=[[Newsday]] |via=[[Newspaper.com]]}}</ref> Additionally, radio personalities [[Howard Stern]] and [[Robin Quivers]] lambasted the show on their [[talk radio]] program.<ref name=":5" />

Critics and journalists agree that Allen's involvement and extensive revisions strengthened the quality of the show,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Morgan |first=Lauren |date=May 10, 2021 |title=The 50 best teen shows of all time |url=https://ew.com/tv/50-best-teen-shows/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> and reviews improved from season two onward.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> Her direction was praised for incorporating elements such as dance and fashion, as well as raising awareness about topics particularly significant to the Black community.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Manning |first=Kiara |date=October 3, 2017 |title=Thirty years later, 'A Different World' remains as relevant as ever |url=https://thedmonline.com/a-different-world-30-years-later/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812103239/https://thedmonline.com/a-different-world-30-years-later/ |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |work=[[The Daily Mississippian]]}}</ref> Dino-Ray Ramos of ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'' said the sitcom evolved into "a fresh balance of comedy and drama that spoke true to the experiences of young black adults in the early-'90s".<ref name=":3" /> The series also drew acclaim for broaching topics rarely discussed on similar programs at the time, such as HIV, racism, and sexual and physical abuse.<ref name=":4" /> The sixth and final season has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Season 6 – A Different World |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/a_different_world/s06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803210617/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/a_different_world/s06 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref>

===Ratings===
Critics say that ''A Different World'' benefited from airing between ''[[The Cosby Show]]'' and ''[[Cheers]]'' on Thursday night.  The show consistently ranked first or second among African American viewers during most of its run.<ref name="museum"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Viewership and ratings per season of ''A Different World''
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Season
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Time slot ([[Eastern Time Zone|ET]])
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Episodes
! scope="col" colspan="3"| First aired
! scope="col" colspan="3"| Last aired
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| TV season
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Rank
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| {{abbr|Avg.|Average}} HH<br/>rating
|-
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| {{abbr|HH|Household}}<br />[[Nielsen ratings|rating]]
! scope="col"| Viewers<br />(millions)
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| HH<br />rating
! scope="col"| Viewers<br />(millions)
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[List of A Different World episodes#Season 1 (1987–88)|1]]
| rowspan="5"| Thursday 8:30&nbsp;p.m.
| 22
| September 24, 1987
| 31.3<ref>{{cite news |date=September 30, 1987 |title=Nielsen ratings |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|305922933}}}}</ref>
| {{n/a}}
| July 7, 1988
| 17.0<ref>{{cite news |date=July 13, 1988 |title=Nielsen ratings |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306059443}}}}</ref>
| {{n/a}}
| [[1987–88 United States network television schedule|1987–88]]
| 2<ref name="Brooks"/>
| 25.0<ref name="Brooks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[List of A Different World episodes#Season 2 (1988–89)|2]]
| 22
| October 6, 1988
| 22.7<ref name="2.01">{{cite news |date=October 12, 1988 |title=Nielsen ratings |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306106992}}}}</ref>
| 34.3<ref name="2.01"/>
| May 4, 1989
| 20.7<ref name="2.22">{{cite news |date=May 10, 1989 |title=Bright spots for No. 3 ABC |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306210811}}}}</ref>
| 30.8<ref name="2.22"/>
| [[1988–89 United States network television schedule|1988–89]]
| 3<ref name="Brooks"/>
| 23.0<ref name="Brooks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[List of A Different World episodes#Season 3 (1989–90)|3]]
| 25
| September 28, 1989
| 23.4<ref name="3.01">{{cite news |date=October 4, 1989 |title=NBC wins but loses viewers |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306272544}}}}</ref>
| 36.6<ref name="3.01"/>
| May 3, 1990
| 18.1<ref name="3.25">{{cite news |date=May 9, 1990 |title=NBC barely sweeping by CBS |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306332954}}}}</ref>
| 27.6<ref name="3.25"/>
| [[1989–90 United States network television schedule|1989–90]]
| 4<ref name="Brooks"/>
| 21.1<ref name="Brooks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[List of A Different World episodes#Season 4 (1990–91)|4]]
| 25
| September 20, 1990
| 18.6<ref name="4.01">{{cite news |date=September 26, 1990 |title=CBS has its eye on first |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |author=Donlon, Brian |id={{ProQuest|306354668}}}}</ref>
| 28.6<ref name="4.01"/>
| May 2, 1991
| 16.3<ref name="4.25">{{cite news |date=May 8, 1991 |title=Sweeps lure straying viewers |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |author=Donlon, Brian}}</ref>
| 24.1<ref name="4.25"/>
| [[1990–91 United States network television schedule|1990–91]]
| 4<ref name="Brooks"/>
| 17.5<ref name="Brooks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[List of A Different World episodes#Season 5 (1991–92)|5]]
| 25
| September 19, 1991
| 18.9<ref name="5.01">{{cite news |date=September 25, 1991 |title=New faces try to save 'One Life to Live' |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |author=Donlon, Brian}}</ref>
| 29.0<ref name="5.01"/>
| May 14, 1992
| 16.2<ref name="5.24">{{cite news |date=May 20, 1992 |title=Weddings blissful for NBC |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |author=Gable, Donna}}</ref>
| 23.6<ref name="5.24"/>
| [[1991–92 United States network television schedule|1991–92]]
| 17<ref name="Brooks"/>
| 15.2<ref name="Brooks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| [[List of A Different World episodes#Season 6 (1992–93)|6]]
| Thursday 8:00&nbsp;p.m.{{efn|name=timeslot|Episodes 1–9 and 19–21 aired on Thursday at 8:00 p.m., episodes 10–16 aired on Thursday at 8:30 p.m., and other episodes aired in various time slots.}}<br />Thursday 8:30&nbsp;p.m.{{efn|name=timeslot}}
| 25
| September 24, 1992
| 11.1<ref name="6.01">{{cite news |date=September 30, 1992 |title='Murphy' wave carries CBS |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |author=Gable, Donna}}</ref>
| 15.3<ref name="6.01"/>
| July 9, 1993
| 3.5<ref name="6.22">{{cite news |date=July 14, 1993 |title=CBS takes top spot |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |author=Gable, Donna}}</ref>
| 4.3<ref name="6.22"/>
| [[1992–93 United States network television schedule|1992–93]]
| 71<ref name="S6AVG"/>
| 9.6<ref name="S6AVG"/>
|-
|}

===Media reaction===
''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' is quoted as stating that when Debbie Allen became the producer (and usually director) of ''A Different World'' after the first season, she transformed it "from a bland ''Cosby'' spin-off into a lively, socially responsible, ensemble situation comedy."<ref name="museum">{{cite web|url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/D/htmlD/differentwor/differentwor.htm |title=The Museum of Broadcast Communications – Encyclopedia of Television |work=Museum.tv |access-date=November 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210085528/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/D/htmlD/differentwor/differentwor.htm |archive-date=February 10, 2006  }}</ref>

The [[Museum of Broadcast Communications]] states that Debbie Allen:

<blockquote>a graduate of historically black [[Howard University]] – drew from her college experiences in an effort to accurately reflect in the show the social and political life on black campuses. Moreover, Allen instituted a yearly spring trip to Atlanta where series writers visited three of the nation's leading black colleges, [[Clark Atlanta University|Clark Atlanta]], [[Morehouse College|Morehouse]] and [[Spelman College|Spelman]]. During these visits, ideas for several of the episodes emerged from meetings with students and faculty.<ref name="museum"/></blockquote>

===Impact on African-American culture===
Because of Debbie Allen's influence as the producer (and usually director) of ''A Different World'' after the first season, African-American youth who watched the show often cite it as a defining reason why many of them decided to attend a historically Black college or university.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle-moodiemills/lessons-from-a-different-_b_1916758.html |first=Danielle |last=Moodie-Mills |title=Lessons From 'A Different World' |work=[[Huffington Post]] |date=December 1, 2012 |access-date=November 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://madamenoire.com/109856/will-the-days-of-the-black-television-sitcom-ever-return/ |title=Will The Days of "A Different World" Ever Return? |work=Madamenoire.com |date=May 24, 2011 |access-date=November 11, 2013}}</ref>

==Hillman College Reunion==
In August 2006, [[Nick at Nite]] aired a week-long marathon showing episodes of ''A Different World''. [[Lisa Bonet]], [[Dawnn Lewis]], [[Jasmine Guy]], [[Kadeem Hardison]], [[Darryl M. Bell]], [[Cree Summer]], and [[Sinbad (actor)|Sinbad]] reunited for short vignettes that provided a glimpse of the current state of their characters. Nick at Nite's "Hillman College Reunion"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvland.com/nickatnite/shows/differentworld/hillmancollege/ |title=Hillman College Reunion |work=[[TV Land]] |access-date=August 30, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901095233/http://www.tvland.com/nickatnite/shows/differentworld/hillmancollege/ |archive-date=September 1, 2006  }}</ref> website added details beyond those shown on television.

==Sequel==
On August 23 and 24, 2012, Debbie Allen, the former chief creative force of ''A Different World'' from 1988 to 1993, wrote on [[Twitter]] that she wanted to reboot the series. Over a million people on [[Facebook]], Twitter and blogs reacted to the tweet and approved of the potential reboot.{{Citation needed|reason=I cannot find the original tweet or evidence of this claim|date=March 2025}}

The original cast reunited early 2024 on ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]'' and ''[[The View (talk show)|The View]]'' to celebrate ''A Different World''{{'}}s ongoing impact and legacy. In February, they kicked off a 10-city tour stopping at many [[Historically black colleges and universities|HBCUs]] to encourage student enrollment. 

On August 7, 2024, it was announced that a sequel to the series was in the works at [[Netflix]]. It would focus on characters Whitley & Dwayne's daughter that attends Hillman College. It will be a single-cam, half-hour comedy series from writer/executive producer [[Felicia Pride]], who has worked on ''[[Bel-Air (TV series)|Bel-Air]]'' and ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'', and executive producers [[Debbie Allen]], Mandy Summers, [[Tom Werner]], [[Gina Prince-Bythewood]] and [[Reggie Rock Bythewood|Reggie Bythewood]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Cordero |first=Rosy|url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/a-different-world-sequel-series-netflix-1236033238/|title='A Different World' Sequel Series About Whitley & Dwayne's Daughter From Felicia Pride In Works At Netflix |work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |date=August 7, 2024 |access-date=August 7, 2024}}</ref> On March 28, 2025, Netflix ordered a pilot of the sequel series.<ref>{{cite web|last=Otterson|first=Joe|url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/a-different-world-sequel-series-netflix-pilot-order-1236351356/|title='A Different World' Sequel Gets Rare Netflix Pilot Order|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 28, 2025|access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref>

On December 17, it was announced that original "A Different World" stars Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Cree Summer, and Darryl M. Bell will reprise their original roles in the sequel series. <ref>{{cite web|last=Cordero |first=Rosy|url=https://deadline.com/2025/12/a-different-world-kadeem-hardison-jasmine-guy-netflix-1236650501/|title=Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer & Darryl M. Bell To Reprise Roles In ‘A Different World’ Sequel Series|work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|date=December 17, 2025 |access-date=December 17, 2025}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|United States|1980s|1990s|comedy|Television}}
* [[Historically black colleges and universities]]
* [[Television pilot#Ratings|List of highest-rated television pilots]] {{ndash}} On September 24, 1987, the pilot episode of ''A Different World'' became the highest-rated television pilot in history.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{Cite magazine |first=Leah Faye |last=Cooper |date=2021-05-25 |title='A Different World': Cast Members and Crew Tell the Oral History |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/05/a-different-world-cast-members-and-crew-oral-history |access-date=2023-10-01 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}

==External links==
* [https://www.carseywerner.com/show/a-different-world/ Carsey Werner - ''A Different World'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060210085528/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/D/htmlD/differentwor/differentwor.htm ''A Different World''] at the [[Museum of Broadcast Communications]]
* [http://www.billcosby.com/ Official Bill Cosby website]
* {{IMDb title|0092339|A Different World}}
* {{epguides|DifferentWorld|A Different World}}
* {{emmytvlegends title|different-world-a}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''A Different World''
|list =
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Comedy Series}}
{{People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy}}
}}
{{The Cosby Show}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Different World, A}}
[[Category:1980s American black sitcoms]]
[[Category:1980s American college television series]]
[[Category:1980s American multi-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:1987 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1990s American black sitcoms]]
[[Category:1990s American college television series]]
[[Category:1990s American multi-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:1993 American television series endings]]
[[Category:American television spinoffs]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television series by Carsey-Werner Productions]]
[[Category:Television series created by Bill Cosby]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Virginia]]
[[Category:The Cosby Show]]
[[Category:NBC sitcoms]]