All Movie Guide

Season one of A Different World focuses primarily on former The Cosby Show regular Lisa Bonet in her familiar role as Denise Huxtable, 19-year-old daughter of Cleveland obstetrician Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby). Having enrolled in Hillman College, the alma mater of both her father and grandfather, Denise is now in her sophomore year, living in the Gilbert Hall dorm with her two roommates: Maggie Lawton (Marisa Tomei), a dreamy and naïve white girl; and Jaleesa Vinson (Dawnn Lewis) a worldly 26-year-old who'd decided to enroll in college after getting a divorce. Much of the fun arises from level-headed Denise's tiltings with her neighbor across the hall, the wealthy, spoiled, and arrogant Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy). In the earliest episodes, Gilbert Hall's dorm director is Stevie Rollins (Loretta Devine), who lives with her son J.T. (Amir Williams). Also showing up on occasion are self-styled campus Casanova Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison), who works as a DJ at the campus radio station; and Dwayne's lazy, irresponsible buddy Ron Johnson (Darryl M. Bell). Midway through the season, Loretta Devine leaves to get married, presumably to handsome Professor Walcott (David Alan Grier). Enter Lettie Bostic (Mary Alice), a globetrotting adventuress who has "seen it all" (and probably done it all), who has shown up on campus to give a lecture about the famous persons of her acquaintance. Enchanted by Lettie, Denise and Jaleesa persuade her to remain at Hillman as Loretta's replacement. Also joining the cast at this juncture is athletic coach Walter Oakes (Sinbad), who runs a local community center. Although A Different World posted excellent ratings its first season on the air, many critics attributed this to the series' enviable Thursday night time slot, hammocked between The Cosby Show and Cheers. Of the series itself, few except its most loyal fans felt that it had any value past its theme song, performed by Phoebe Snow. Clearly, a major shakeup would have to occur if A Different World were to survive past its next season. Hal Erickson

Product Details

• UPC: 634991260220
• Source: URBAN WORKS
• Region Code: 0
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1)
• Time: 9:35:00
• Sales Rank: 25,678

This set contains DVDs which may be available separately:

• A Different World: Reconcilable Differences
• A Different World: Pilot
• A Different World: Porky de Bergerac
• A Different World: Those Who Can't... Tutor
• A Different World: War of the Words
• A Different World: Rudy and the Snow Queen
• A Different World: Sometimes You Get the Bear, Sometimes the Bear Gets You
• A Different World: If Chosen, I May Not Run
• A Different World: Romancing Mr. Stone
• A Different World: The Gift of the Magi
• A Different World: Does He or Doesn't He?
• A Different World: Advise and Descent
• A Different World: The Prime of Miss Lettie Bostic
• A Different World: Wild Child
• A Different World: Dr. Cupid
• A Different World: The Show Must Go On
• A Different World: Mr. Hillman
• A Different World: Speech Therapy
• A Different World: Clair's Last Stand
• A Different World: If Only for One Night
• A Different World: Come Back, Little Eggby
• A Different World: My Dinner with Theo

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