A Different World

30min

Comedy

Family

A Different World is a spin-off series from The Cosby Show and originally centered on Denise Huxtable and the life of students at Hillman College, a fictional mixed but historically black college in the state of Virginia. After Bonet's departure in the first season, the remainder of the series primarily focused more on Southern belle Whitley Gilbert and mathematics whiz Dwayne Wayne. The series frequently depicted members of the major historically black fraternities and sororities.

Production Companies

Carsey-Werner Company

Bill Cosby

Episodes

Cast

Reconcilable Differences

1. Reconcilable Differences

30min

24th Sep 1987

During her first few days at Hillman College, Denise Huxtable finds herself at odds with her new roommate, Jaleesa, a 26-year-old freshman with a mysterious past.

Pilot

2. Pilot

30min

1st Oct 1987

Denise's financial irresponsibility might get her and Jaleesa thrown out of the dorm.

Porky de Bergerac

3. Porky de Bergerac

30min

15th Oct 1987

Questionable tactics abound when Denise plays dating games and Jaleesa is elected dorm monitor.

Those Who Can't... Tutor

4. Those Who Can't... Tutor

30min

22nd Oct 1987

Denise's calculus tutor Dwayne is caught sneaking out of Whitley's window after curfew.

War of the Words

5. War of the Words

30min

29th Oct 1987

Whitley's claim that women can't succeed at both career and family infuriates Lisa and Maggie.

Rudy and the Snow Queen

6. Rudy and the Snow Queen

30min

5th Nov 1987

Rudy visits Hillman and becomes enchanted by Whitley, who tries to make her into the perfect little lady.

Sometimes You Get the Bear, Sometimes the Bear Gets You

7. Sometimes You Get the Bear, Sometimes the Bear Gets You

30min

19th Nov 1987

The girls plan Operation Yogi, a plot to steal the rival school's bear-head mascot, but a visit from Denise's grandfather makes a boo-boo inevitable.

If Chosen, I May Not Run

8. If Chosen, I May Not Run

30min

3rd Dec 1987

In the family tradition of "Combustible" Huxtable, Denise is chosen for Hillman's track team, but after a few practices she starts running out of steam.

Romancing Mr. Stone

9. Romancing Mr. Stone

30min

10th Dec 1987

A geology professor has every woman in the class fighting for his attention.

The Gift of the Magi

10. The Gift of the Magi

30min

17th Dec 1987

Whitley's secret Santa surprises her with a visit from her newly separated daddy, who walks in with his youthful girlfriend.

Does He or Doesn't He?

11. Does He or Doesn't He?

30min

7th Jan 1988

Tired of being hit on by men, a grad student decides to turn the tables and seduce Dwayne.

Advise and Descent

12. Advise and Descent

30min

14th Jan 1988

During finals week, Denise's work suffers because she decides to be a peer counselor, and the girls' looks suffer under test stress.

The Prime of Miss Lettie Bostic

13. The Prime of Miss Lettie Bostic

30min

21st Jan 1988

Hillman alumna Lettie Bostic fills in as dorm monitor, but her strongly voiced opinions have the girls considering mutiny.

Wild Child

14. Wild Child

30min

4th Feb 1988

Lettie pulls some strings to help a student who has been attending classes without enrolling.

Dr. Cupid

15. Dr. Cupid

30min

11th Feb 1988

Dwayne uses his radio persona "Dr. Cupid" to find a Valentine's Day date, and Denise uses Dr. Cupid to reconcile Lettie and an old love.

The Show Must Go On

16. The Show Must Go On

30min

18th Feb 1988

Denise and Whitley both think they're the apple of the leading man's eye in a play about the Garden of Eden.

Mr. Hillman

17. Mr. Hillman

30min

25th Feb 1988

In the name of sexual equality, Denise convinces Dwayne to run in the Miss Hillman Beauty Pageant against Whitley.

Speech Therapy

18. Speech Therapy

30min

10th Mar 1988

Whitley hides an illegal humidifier; Jaleesa sweats over her fear of oral reports; Maggie steams over the debt Denise owes her.

Clair's Last Stand

19. Clair's Last Stand

30min

24th Mar 1988

Clair Huxtable visits Denise bearing motherly advice as well as news that conflicts with Denise's summer plans.

If Only for One Night

20. If Only for One Night

30min

28th Apr 1988

Whitley panics about spending the summer alone; Dwayne tries a new tack with Denise; and Maggie holds a yard sale.

Come Back, Little Eggby

21. Come Back, Little Eggby

30min

5th May 1988

A psychology experiment in parenting calls for egg-doption, but when Jaleesa loses Maggie's "eggby," she and Denise scramble to find it.

My Dinner With Theo

22. My Dinner With Theo

30min

7th Jul 1988

Denise strains her brain trying to improve her grades, so she invites Theo up for a weekend of family inspiration.

First air date

24th Sep 1987

Last air date

9th Jul 1993

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks