'A Different World' Celebrates 35 Years Of The Legendary Sitcom

It’s homecoming season and ‘A Different World’ is celebrating 35 years of the legendary show with TV One! The impact of Hillman College and its characters single-handedly is the reason why an entire generation decided to attend college and especially historically Black colleges and universities.  From 1987 to 1993 the NBC sitcom showed the life and culture of attending an HBCU from social life, academics, greek life, social issues, and more.

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“There was something for somebody, whatever shade of Black you were or whatever shade of Black you were not,” Charnele Brown who played Kim Reese shared in an interview with NBC. “Whatever age group you were in, whether you were retired and trying to make your contribution to these young people like Mr. Gaines was. Whether you were a former military person like Colonel Taylor was. Whether you were somebody who thought it was over for you, but you were gonna take a chance on yourself and reboot yourself and try again like Jaleesa was. Or you were privileged and really had no concept of what the average person had to deal with like Whitley was…There was something for everybody.” SEE: Recap: HBCU Presidents Dinner In D.C. Highlighted PBIs, Budget Concerns, Bomb Threats And More

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At the time ‘A Different World’ was groundbreakingly covering issues during that time and how they affected black students. From HIV/AIDs, police brutality, date rape, domestic violence, and racism, the show touched on controversial topics that are still relevant to today.  Not only was the content of the show monumental, but the cast has made a huge impact across the culture. Whitley Gilbert played by Jasmine Guy and Dwayne Wayne played by Kadeem Hardison showed black love on a campus that still can be seen as #relationshipgoals for us. Beyond Dwayne and Whitley, the sitcom’s fandom is rooted in the characters from the show. Viewers appreciated the way the characters were portrayed and could see themselves in the students on the screen. ‘A Different World’ also had great guest stars on the show from Tupac, Patti LaBelle, Whoopi Goldberg, Jesse Jackson, Heavy D, and more.  The authenticity and black pride shined through each episode which has led the show to be able to stand the test of time. “People could feel our pride being black,” Charnele Brown told NBC. “This is who we are. We love who we are. We want to learn. We want to grow. We want to be great people. We want to please our parents. I think that’s why a lot of people are holding on to us.” RELATED: Texas Southern University Sees Spike In Enrollment Calling It “The Megan Effect”

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The iconic show displaying black culture through music, art, and fashion while on a college campus made education “cool” for generations to come. Since these things had been ignored previously by the mainstream, ‘A Different World’ became a huge success, especially after Debbie Allen took over as producer and director of the show. “She brought on that awareness with all of the dancing and all of the fun and all of the clubs and all of the stepping and what the life on campus was really about and she infused that in the storylines,” expressed Glynn Turman who played Colonel Brad Taylor. “She was a marvel, a whirlwind that took and turned that upside down.” Howard University graduate Debbie Allen took over the show after getting a call from Bill Cosby “to clean house.” “Having come from Howard University. I knew what to do with the show. I had lived it and breathed it. So I knew the stories that they needed to be telling,” she said. RELATED: HBCUs: From Being The Only Option For Higher Education To The Top Choice For Black Scholars RELATED: Jackson State, Prairie View A&M Among Grant Recipients For Getty’s HBCU Photo Digitization Project  

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While ‘A Different World’ was making a difference culturally on the TV screen, it also made a huge impact in the classrooms. “From the debut of The Cosby Show in 1984 until the end of A Different World in 1993, American higher education grew by 16.8 percent,” Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough, former president of Dillard University, shared during an interview with the New York Times.  “During the same time period, historically black colleges and universities grew by 24.3 percent — 44 percent better than all of higher education.” The show really made a huge impact by showing black academic achievement and cultural identity in the education space. “We’d never seen black kids in college on television,” said Hardison. “Here comes this show and if it caught you at 14 years old it took you through high school and propelled you into college and it created a lot of successful, education-first minded people who can’t let go who know what it was like for them and what it did for them and they want it back. They want it back for their kids and this new generation.” To celebrate A Different World’s 35^th anniversary TV One is having an all-day marathon on Sept. 24 starting at 6 a.m. with Jasmine Guy and Kareem Hardison sharing secrets of the show.  It will also be followed by Kadeem Hardison’s Uncensored episode on Sunday, Sept. 25th at 10p/9c where he will open up about his career and romance he once had with Cree Summer, who played “Freddie”. Go down memory lane of some of the most memorable episodes of the black sitcom that made a huge difference in the culture below. RELATED: Why It’s So Important For HBCUs To Invest In Their Athletic Facilities 

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1. Cat's in the Cradle – Season 5, Episode 14

After Dwayne and Ron get into it with white boys from a rival school because of a bet, the boys end up in jail and racial tensions are high. 

2. Save the Best for Last- Season 5, Episode 25

 On Whitley and Byron’s wedding day, Dwayne Wayne interrupts by professing his love making it one of the most iconic scenes in black sitcom history. 

3. No Means No- Season 2, Episode 20

Freddie goes out with a well-known aggressive baseball player and Dwayne was nervous that she would be a victim of date rape after his teammate says “women need a little help giving it up.”

4. Honeymoon in L.A. – Season 6, Episode 1

This episode gave a perspective of the riots after the Rodney King verdict. Whitley and Dwayne shared their honeymoon experience in Los Angeles while the community was looting in response to the verdict with guest appearances from Sister Souljah. 

5. If I Should Die Before I Wake- Season 4 Episode 23

Tisha Campell, as Josie Webb, discusses that she’s HIV positive during a speech for a class assignment. The episode challenged people to re-examine everything they thought they knew about AIDS.

6. It's Greek To Me- Season 2, Episode 16

Ron and Dwayne decide to pledge and join a fraternity but things get twisted when Ron enjoys the process while Dwayne doesn’t like taking orders from the big brothers.

7. Homie, Don't Ya Know Me?- Season 6, Episode 23

With Tupac as a guest star, Lena’s (Jada Pinkett Smith) old boyfriend and her old neighborhood friends come visit her at college and see how she’s changed over time. 

8. Love Taps- Season 5, Episode 22

Love Taps dives into domestic abuse when Gina’s new rapper boyfriend Dion hits on her and she tries to hide it from her friends. 

9. Citizen Wayne- Season 2, Episode 21

 Jesse Jackson visits Hillman and inspires the students and supports Dwayne in his campaign for student council president. 

10. A World Alike- Season 3, Episode 16

A student protest against the South African apartheid caused Kim to reconsider accepting a scholarship from a company that supports it. 

11. War and Peace- Season 4, Episode 12

Blair Underwood guest stars as Dwayne’s friend who’s battling his decision of going to war.