Everything You Need to Know About ‘A Different World’ and How to Watch It

On September 24, 1987, following the Season Four debut of “The Cosby Show” on NBC, audiences were welcomed into Hillman College as Denise, daughter of Clair and Cliff Huxtable, began her new semester.

Initially a spinoff of “The Cosby Show,” “A Different World” grew into a beloved series over six seasons, telling a compelling ensemble narrative about a group of friends navigating life at a historically Black college.

After more than 37 years since its launch, “A Different World” arrived on Netflix on February 7. It was previously offered for streaming on Max.

The show is celebrated for its authentic depiction of the HBCU experience and its fearless exploration of themes such as racism, sexual assault, the HIV/AIDS crisis, and various other social issues, solidifying its impact over time.

“People who weren’t even born during our filming are now discovering the show,” Dawnn Lewis, known for her role as Jaleesa Vinson, shared with NBC News in 2017. “Children born in the ’90s or 2000s tell me how the show motivates and inspires them. There are fan sites passionately lobbying for a reboot… it’s incredibly humbling.”

Here’s what you need to know about the show.

Who’s who in the cast of ‘A Different World’?

• Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable
• Marisa Tomei as Maggie Lauten
• Dawnn Lewis as Jaleesa Vinson
• Jasmine Guy as Whitley Gilbert
• Loretta Devine as Stevie Rallen
• Kadeem Hardison as Dwayne Wayne
• Mary Alice as Lettie Bostic
• Darryl M. Bell as Ron Johnson
• Sinbad as Walter Oakes
• Charnele Brown as Kim Reese
• Cree Summer as Freddie Brooks
• Glynn Turman as Col. Brad Taylor
• Lou Myers as Vernon Gaines
• Ajai Sanders as Gina Devereaux
• Jada Pinkett Smith as Lena James
• Karen Malina White as Charmaine Brown

What to know about ‘A Different World’

‘A Different World’ started out as a spinoff of ‘The Cosby Show’

“A Different World” debuted on September 24, 1987, focusing on Denise Huxtable’s (Lisa Bonet) experiences at Hillman College—a historically Black institution. Prior to this, Bonet portrayed Denise, the second-eldest child of Cliff and Clair Huxtable, for three seasons on “The Cosby Show.”

Viewers were captivated by Denise’s trendy fashion sense and her spirited, independent character. “A Different World,” just like “The Cosby Show,” was developed by Bill Cosby.

In the early seasons of “A Different World,” family members from the Huxtable clan made guest appearances, including Cliff (Cosby), Clair (Phylicia Rashad), as well as siblings Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe), Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam), and Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner).

Denise begins her first year sharing a dorm with a student named Maggie Lauten (Marisa Tomei), alongside an older divorced student, Jaleesa Vinson.

Meg Ryan was initially cast for Marisa Tomei’s role in ‘A Different World’

Originally, “A Different World” was conceived without Denise as the main character. Jay Sandrich, who worked on “The Cosby Show” and directed one of the first episodes of “A Different World,” recounted in a 2001 interview with the Television Academy Foundation that the concept centered on a white student navigating an HBCU. While Denise would still remain as a roommate, the main storyline would revolve around “the experience of being a white girl in a Black environment,” he explained.

The premise suggested this student enrolled at Hillman due to an acting course taught by Lena Horne.

“We did preliminary casting,” Sandrich mentioned. “A girl arrived from Los Angeles to meet with us, designated to be the roommate. The script wasn’t ready, but we were all charmed by her; her name was Meg Ryan.”

Ultimately, Ryan’s agents decided against her participating in television.

“Marisa Tomei then came in and was fantastic,” Sandrich noted.

Horne ended up not joining the cast, and the show’s direction shifted to focus on Denise.

Two of the show’s main characters departed after Season 1

Initially, “A Different World” concentrated on the trio of Denise, Maggie, and Jaleesa as they navigated college life together.

However, after Season One, Bonet announced her pregnancy with musician Lenny Kravitz, leading to the birth of daughter Zoe Kravitz in December 1988.

Debbie Allen, who joined the show as a producer in Season Two, recounted that she and Bonet informed Cosby together about her pregnancy. Allen expressed a desire to incorporate the storyline into the series.

“After I took charge, we began discussing potential story arcs, but shortly thereafter, Cosby stated, ‘Debbie, no. Denise Huxtable is not pregnant,'” Allen revealed in a 2011 interview with the Television Academy Foundation.

Bonet subsequently left “A Different World” yet returned to “The Cosby Show” starting in its fifth season, continuing until Season Seven.

Similarly, Tomei’s character was written off the show. In a 2024 interview on TODAY, Tomei remarked that she “enjoyed my time on (‘A Different World’), despite my unfortunate haircut.”

In a 2001 interview, Sandrich noted the writers were uncertain about crafting suitable material for Marisa. Allen indicated in her interview that she was “excited” about the story arcs planned for Maggie, but they never materialized.

Starting from Season Two onward, Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) took center stage, with their romantic journey becoming one of the show’s principal narratives, although the series is celebrated for its ensemble cast.

Cree Summer and Charnele Brown also joined as the free-spirited and activist Freddie Brooks and watchful premedical student Kim Reese, respectively.

“One of the true gems of ‘A Different World’ was that we presented various dimensions of young Black life that had rarely been shown before on television,” Summer stated during a 2024 TODAY interview.

Debbie Allen revitalized the show in Season 2

While Sandrich and some writers from “The Cosby Show” contributed to the initial episodes of “A Different World,” they primarily returned to the flagship sitcom afterward.

“The show didn’t quite find its footing until Debbie Allen joined, about two or three years later,” Sandrich said. “It evolved into something entirely different.”

Allen joined the show in Season Two and has been recognized as its primary creative influence.

“When I arrived, they told me, ‘Debbie, we need you to enhance this. Make it relevant, make it authentic,'” Allen explained in a 2011 interview.

Aretha Franklin performed the iconic theme song for ‘A Different World’

Each episode of “A Different World” opened with a memorable theme song that remains unforgettable to fans. The jazzy, vibrant piece began with the lines, “I know my parents love me …”

The track was co-written and composed by Lewis, who revealed to Vulture in 2018 that she was originally slated to sing it for the opening credits.

“It was ultimately decided that it wouldn’t be suitable for me to perform the song because it was Lisa Bonet’s show, and they felt it would draw too much attention to me as the singer, composer, and co-star,” Lewis noted. They began seeking other options.

In Season One, the theme was sung by Phoebe Snow. To freshen things up for the next season, the legendary Aretha Franklin lent her voice to the theme.

Allen recounted that securing Franklin involved just a phone call.

“I wanted her—everyone did,” stated Allen. “… she came all the way from Detroit to California and re-recorded the song for us, which became the iconic version associated with ‘A Different World.'”

Franklin’s rendition was used in the opening for Seasons Two through Five.

“They initially thought they would switch the song again in the next season, but once Aretha recorded it, it was clear no one else could do it,” Lewis told Vulture.

Notably, the theme for Season Six was performed by Boyz II Men.

The series addressed crucial issues such as racism, homelessness, sexual violence, and more

The “A Different World” cast reunited on TODAY in 2024 to honor the show’s enduring significance. When asked to identify the most memorable scene, the cast unanimously pointed to the moment Dwayne interrupted Whitley’s wedding at the finale of Season Five, declaring his love for her.

Beyond the romantic moments, the series tackled significant topics such as racism, sexual assault, apartheid, and other societal issues.

In one impactful Season Five episode, Ron and Dwayne confronted three white students from a rival institution post-football game. The episode skillfully depicted the complex racial tensions that led to the conflict.

“We addressed topics like date rape, AIDS, war, gun violence, and homelessness while still managing to invoke humor,” Darryl M. Bell mentioned during the TODAY interview.

Debbie Allen advocated for an episode highlighting the AIDS epidemic

A notable episode featured Whoopi Goldberg as a professor assigning students to draft eulogies. In one segment, a student, played by Tisha Campbell, revealed her HIV positive status while reading her assignment.

The episode, titled “If I Should Die Before I Wake,” aired in April 1991. “I lobbied for a year to make that happen,” Allen shared with Entertainment Weekly that same year.

“The advertisers reacted like we had desecrated something sacred,” Allen later recounted to the Television Academy Foundation.

Allen revealed that the network was outraged, recalling an executive screaming at her over the content.

“Despite the lack of advertising support, it ended up as our most viewed episode, largely because Whoopi was involved, which signaled something important to viewers,” Allen recounted in the 2011 interview.

‘A Different World’ is associated with a rise in HBCU enrollments

Besides entertaining viewers, the series is credited with boosting enrollment at HBCUs, as it portrayed authentic experiences from historically Black colleges and universities.

A 1996 report from the National Center for Education Statistics noted that between 1976 and 1994, enrollment at HBCUs surged by 26%, with nearly all the growth occurring between 1986 and 1994—during the years “A Different World” aired (1987-1993).

“Every day, someone tells me, ‘I chose an HBCU because of ‘A Different World.’ I’m now a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer because of that show,’” Bell shared with TODAY in 2024. “It’s the most fulfilling aspect of the work we’ve accomplished.”

Hillman College is fictional, but HillmanTok University exists

Hillman College is a fictional establishment located in Virginia. (The show utilized real HBCU campuses, including Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College, for various scenes, per Netflix’s Tudum.)

Allen has indicated that her alma mater, Howard University, served as part of the inspiration for “A Different World.”

Even though Hillman College is fictional, HillmanTok University exists in the digital world, originating from a welcome message a professor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University posted on TikTok for her Introduction to African American Studies class.

This video gained traction, prompting more educators to utilize TikTok to showcase their teaching. Enrollees can access a 2025 course catalog on HillmanTok University’s website.

The cast celebrated the show’s legacy at HBCUs nationwide in 2024

To honor the show’s enduring influence, the “A Different World” cast came together for a nationwide tour of HBCUs in 2024. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about HBCUs, engage new audiences, and fund scholarships.

The tour had stops at Howard, Spelman, Morehouse, Bowie State University, and beyond.

Reports suggest a remake is in the pipeline

The year 2024 marked significant developments for “A Different World.” In addition to the tour, various sources indicated in August that a sequel series is being developed by Netflix, focusing on the daughter of Whitley and Dwayne during her collegiate journey at Hillman.

Netflix chose not to comment on this matter at the time.