A Different World (1987)
TVPG
Sitcom
A spin-off of The Cosby Show that follows Denise Huxtable and a diverse group of students as they navigate the challenges of college life at the fictional historically black college, Hillman.
Cast & Crew
Lisa Bonet Denise Huxtable
Kadeem Hardison Dwayne Cleophus Wayne
Jasmine Guy Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne
Dawnn Lewis Jaleesa Vinson Taylor
Darryl M. Bell Ronald "Ron" Johnson
Sinbad Walter Oakes
Charnele Brown Kimberly "Kim" Reese
Cree Summer Winifred "Freddie" Brooks
Bill Cosby Creator
Marcy Carsey Executive Producer
Tom Werner Executive Producer
Garvin Eddy Production Design
⨁Full Cast & Crew
Upcoming TV Airings
The airings below are based on a generic national schedule. Times and dates can vary by TV provider.
Sunday, November 23
Honeymoon in L.A. Part 1
Season 6 • Episode 1
Whitley and Dwayne tell new students about their honeymoon in Los Angeles.
Sunday, November 23
Honeymoon in L.A. Part 2
Season 6 • Episode 2
Separated honeymooners Dwayne and Whitley struggle to reunite.
Sunday, November 23
Interior Desecration or Sofa, So Good
Season 6 • Episode 3
Whitley and Dwayne try to combine their possessions in the new apartment.
Sunday, November 23
Somebody Say Ho!
Season 6 • Episode 4
Terrell is charged with verbally abusing Charmaine in Dwayne's class.
Sunday, November 23
Really Gross Anatomy
Season 6 • Episode 5
Kim gets sick dissecting her first cadaver.
Sunday, November 23
Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Axed
Season 6 • Episode 6
Whitley persuades Dwayne to buy an expensive painting, then loses her job.
Sunday, November 23
The Little Mister
Season 6 • Episode 7
In Dwayne's dream, Whitley is running for president against other women.
Sunday, November 23
Baby, It's Cold Outside
Season 6 • Episode 8
Whitley phones Montel Williams for marital advice.
Sunday, November 23
Faith, Hope & Charity
Season 6 • Episode 9
Dwayne's mother, Mrs. Gilbert and her date go to the Waynes' for Thanksgiving.
Sunday, November 23
Faith, Hope & Charity
Season 6 • Episode 10
Dwayne's mother, Mrs. Gilbert and her date go to the Waynes' for Thanksgiving.
Sunday, November 23
The Original Teacher
Season 6 • Episode 11
Dwayne tries to dissuade rival gang members from giving up on their friendship.
Sunday, November 23
Occupational Hazards
Season 6 • Episode 12
Whitley files for unemployment and encounters an officious claims officer (Alaina Reed-Hall).
Sunday, November 23
White Christmas
Season 6 • Episode 13
Freddie's free-spirited mother (Anita Morris) visits; Whitley works on Christmas day.
Sunday, November 23
To Whit, With Love
Season 6 • Episode 14
Dwayne lends a hand when Whitley teaches a remedial class; Lena tries to get a date with Dorian.
Sunday, November 23
To Whit, With Love
Season 6 • Episode 14
Dwayne lends a hand when Whitley teaches a remedial class; Lena tries to get a date with Dorian.
Sunday, November 23
Happy Birthday to Moi
Season 6 • Episode 15
Dwayne plans with Kim to stay one step ahead of Whitley, who wants to plan her own birthday party.
Sunday, November 23
Lean on Me
Season 6 • Episode 19
Dwayne learns an ex-flame will interview him for a coveted summer job.
Sunday, November 23
Dancing Machines
Season 6 • Episode 20
Unrest breaks out at a dance marathon fund-raiser for peace.
Sunday, November 23
Cabin in the Sky
Season 6 • Episode 21
Second honeymooners Dwayne and Whitley must share a cabin with the Gaineses.
Sunday, November 23
Homey, Don't Ya Know Me?
Season 6 • Episode 23
Lena's old boyfriend (Tupac Shakur) from Baltimore comes to visit.
Sunday, November 23
Great X-Pectations
Season 6 • Episode 22
Terrell is caught with a handgun in the classroom; Spencer proposes to Kim.
Sunday, November 23
College Kid
Season 6 • Episode 24
Ex-baseball great Langston Paige (Billy Dee Williams) leases part of his home to the college kids.
Monday, November 24
The Hat Makes the Man
Season 3 • Episode 3
Tensions run high in the dorm when new director Walter clashes with Jaleesa.
Monday, November 24
To Have and Have Not
Season 3 • Episode 4
Whitley loses faith in her youth-center dance students when her pocketbook disappears.
Monday, November 24
Forever Hold Your Peace
Season 3 • Episode 5
Dwayne drives Whitley to her father's wedding.
Monday, November 24
Delusions of Daddyhood
Season 3 • Episode 6
Despite Whitley's objections, rap group Heavy D. & the Boyz arrive at Hillman for a benefit concert.
Tuesday, November 25
Wedding Bells From Hell
Season 3 • Episode 7
Romance is in the air as Walter pops the question to Jaleesa and Dwayne asks Whitley to date him.
Tuesday, November 25
Great Expectations
Season 3 • Episode 8
After her father nixes a rock-concert trip, Kim still goes and leaves Whitley to cover for her.
Tuesday, November 25
Answered Prayers
Season 3 • Episode 9
The gang rushes Kim to see her policeman father, who has been shot while on duty.
Tuesday, November 25
For Whom the Jingle Bell Tolls
Season 3 • Episode 10
Whitley's sleep is troubled by a Christmas nightmare as she sees herself the campus "Scrooge."
Wednesday, November 26
Under One Roof
Season 3 • Episode 11
Whitley misinterprets an invitation to stay at the dean's house for a weekend.
Wednesday, November 26
Here's to Old Friends
Season 3 • Episode 12
Dwayne's friend comes for a visit and tries to convince him to transfer.
Wednesday, November 26
The Power of the Pen
Season 3 • Episode 13
Whitley misconstrues Dwayne's beautiful poetry about mathematics as verses intended for her.
Wednesday, November 26
Pride and Prejudice
Season 3 • Episode 14
Whitley deals with a sales clerk's (Peggy Walton-Walker) racism.
Monday, December 1
Success, Lies and Videotape
Season 3 • Episode 15
A visit by Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) prompts the students to think about their career goals.
Monday, December 1
A World Alike
Season 3 • Episode 16
Kim is offered a scholarship by a company with South African ties.
Monday, December 1
That's the Trouble With You All
Season 3 • Episode 17
Whitley's jealousy gets in the way after she pairs Dwayne with a date.
Monday, December 1
A Campfire Story
Season 3 • Episode 18
Dwayne and Walter regale a group of students with tales of recruiting a star basketball player.
Tuesday, December 2
Hillman Isn't Through With You Yet
Season 3 • Episode 19
Whitley's career planning has fallen a bit short of its intended mark.
Tuesday, December 2
21 Candles
Season 3 • Episode 20
Whitley is convinced that everyone has forgotten her 21st birthday.
Tuesday, December 2
Sweet Charity
Season 3 • Episode 21
The students try to help Kim make money to pay for college, Dwayne and Ron appear in a commercial.
Tuesday, December 2
Soldier Boy
Season 3 • Episode 22
Col. Taylor is roasted at the campus military dinner; Dwayne issues a challenge to Whitley.
Wednesday, December 3
The Getaway
Season 3 • Episode 23
Spring break begins badly when Dwayne and Ron pick up the wrong luggage.
Wednesday, December 3
The Getaway
Season 3 • Episode 24
Spring break is further complicated for Dwayne and Ron by drug dealers who are pursuing them.
Wednesday, December 3
Perhaps Love ...
Season 3 • Episode 25
Whitley finds comfort with Dwayne at his place -- until she mistakes his mother for the maid.
Wednesday, December 3
Everything Must Change
Season 4 • Episode 1
Whitley plans to tell Dwayne that a relationship is possible -- but it may be too late.
Thursday, December 4
How Bittersweet It Is
Season 4 • Episode 2
In an effort to make Dwayne jealous, Whitley accepts a date with Ron.
Thursday, December 4
Blues for Nobody's Child
Season 4 • Episode 3
An orphaned waif (T.J. Evans) plans to make Freddie's dorm room his new home.
Thursday, December 4
Whitley's Last Supper
Season 4 • Episode 4
Whitley's father (Ron O'Neal) puts her on a budget; Kim can't relax before an exam.
Thursday, December 4
The Goodwill Games
Season 4 • Episode 5
Dwayne is in the middle as Whitley and Kinu (Alise Gyse Dickens) compete on rival academic teams.
Thursday, December 4
Sweet Charity
Season 3 • Episode 21
The students try to help Kim make money to pay for college, Dwayne and Ron appear in a commercial.
Thursday, December 4
Soldier Boy
Season 3 • Episode 22
Col. Taylor is roasted at the campus military dinner; Dwayne issues a challenge to Whitley.
Thursday, December 4
The Getaway
Season 3 • Episode 23
Spring break begins badly when Dwayne and Ron pick up the wrong luggage.
Thursday, December 4
The Getaway
Season 3 • Episode 24
Spring break is further complicated for Dwayne and Ron by drug dealers who are pursuing them.
Thursday, December 4
Perhaps Love ...
Season 3 • Episode 25
Whitley finds comfort with Dwayne at his place -- until she mistakes his mother for the maid.
Thursday, December 4
Everything Must Change
Season 4 • Episode 1
Whitley plans to tell Dwayne that a relationship is possible -- but it may be too late.
Thursday, December 4
How Bittersweet It Is
Season 4 • Episode 2
In an effort to make Dwayne jealous, Whitley accepts a date with Ron.
Thursday, December 4
Blues for Nobody's Child
Season 4 • Episode 3
An orphaned waif (T.J. Evans) plans to make Freddie's dorm room his new home.
Friday, December 5
Whitley's Last Supper
Season 4 • Episode 4
Whitley's father (Ron O'Neal) puts her on a budget; Kim can't relax before an exam.
Friday, December 5
The Goodwill Games
Season 4 • Episode 5
Dwayne is in the middle as Whitley and Kinu (Alise Gyse Dickens) compete on rival academic teams.
Friday, December 5
Tales From the Exam Zone
Season 4 • Episode 6
Walter is the host for a "Twilight Zone"-type look at students cramming for midterm exams.
Friday, December 5
Good Help Is Hard to Fire
Season 4 • Episode 7
Dwayne's visiting mom lands in the middle of a melee involving Dwayne, Kinu and Whitley.
Friday, December 5
Love Thy Neighbor
Season 4 • Episode 8
Dwayne and Whitley finally commit themselves to a relationship.
Friday, December 5
Time Keeps on Slippin'
Season 4 • Episode 9
Dwayne's preoccupation with Whitley affects his grades; Ron and Freddie plan a video.
Friday, December 5
Tales From the Exam Zone
Season 4 • Episode 6
Walter is the host for a "Twilight Zone"-type look at students cramming for midterm exams.
Friday, December 5
Good Help Is Hard to Fire
Season 4 • Episode 7
Dwayne's visiting mom lands in the middle of a melee involving Dwayne, Kinu and Whitley.
Friday, December 5
Love Thy Neighbor
Season 4 • Episode 8
Dwayne and Whitley finally commit themselves to a relationship.
Friday, December 5
Time Keeps on Slippin'
Season 4 • Episode 9
Dwayne's preoccupation with Whitley affects his grades; Ron and Freddie plan a video.
Monday, December 8
The Apple Doesn't Fall
Season 4 • Episode 10
Ron considers a career decision; Terrance thinks his father should reject an offer.
Monday, December 8
I'm Dreaming of a Wayne Christmas
Season 4 • Episode 11
Whitley tries to impress Dwayne's parents.
Monday, December 8
War and Peace
Season 4 • Episode 12
Emotions run high as Dwayne's classmates send their friend Zelmer to the Persian Gulf.
Monday, December 8
Ex-Communication or Fiance What?
Season 4 • Episode 13
Whitley consults a counselor for help in coping with her feelings about her ex-fiance.
Tuesday, December 9
Risk Around the Dollar
Season 4 • Episode 14
Whitley needs to replace the rent money she spent; Terrance wants to become a Muslim.
Tuesday, December 9
Love, Hillman Style
Season 4 • Episode 15
Whitley and Dwayne argue over her scheme to publish a "Hillman hunks" calendar.
Tuesday, December 9
A Word in Edgewise
Season 4 • Episode 16
Deaf actors perform at the outreach center; Whitley bets she can zip her lips for a day.
Tuesday, December 9
Ms. Understanding
Season 4 • Episode 17
The battle of the sexes heats up at Hillman, fueled by an article on campus sex roles.
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