A Different World
A group of students at a historically Black university struggle to make it through college.
- 1987-1993
- 6 seasons
- FilmRise
- Comedy
- TV-PG
A group of students at a historically Black university struggle to make it through college.
Season 1 Episode Guide
22 Episodes 1987 - 1988
Episode 1
Reconcilable Differences
Thu, Sep 24, 1987 23 mins
It's the first day at Hillman, and Denise needs to settle with a roommate. As Denise begins her school year at Hillman, she meets her new roommate - a 26-year-old divorcee who makes her feel uncomfortable.
Episode 2
Pilot
Thu, Oct 1, 1987 24 mins
Denise is all set for college - until she finds out that her dorm payment check bounced and that her checking account is overdrawn.
Episode 3
Porky de Bergerac
Thu, Oct 15, 1987 23 mins
Jalessa and Whitley run against each other for Dorm Monitor. Denise leaves a pizza in the lounge and has to wear a pig nose as punishment. After convincing the brand new dorm monitor, her roommate Jaleesa, to run in the first place, Denise has to live with the repercussions of breaking one of the monitor's new rules.
Episode 4
Those Who Can't... Tutor
Thu, Oct 22, 1987 23 mins
When Denise gets a poor grade in calculus, she turns to Dwayne for help. He tutors he rin calculus late into the night and gets trapped in the female dormitory. Dwayne is forced to leave the locked all female dormitory via the fire escape. The problem is, the only way to get to the only unlocked exit is through Whitley's room.
Episode 5
War of the Words
Thu, Oct 29, 1987 23 mins
Maggie and Whitley plan a debate on how women should balance a career and family life, and Dwayne pursues and tries to get a campus disc jockey job.
Episode 6
Rudy and the Snow Queen
Thu, Nov 5, 1987 23 mins
Denise's little sister Rudy comes to Hillman on a visit, but instead of bonding with Denise, she makes Whitley her new role model.
Episode 7
Sometimes You Get the Bear, Sometimes the Bear Gets You
Thu, Nov 19, 1987 23 mins
Denise's grandfather, Russell Huxtable, pays his granddaughter Denise a visit during homecoming weekend, which puts a damper on her plans to pull a prank with her friends. Both he and Denise are planning to steal the rival school's mascot, unbeknownst to the other.
Episode 8
If Chosen, I May Not Run
Thu, Dec 3, 1987 23 mins
Denise's dad is proud when she tries out for the track team. Denise joins the Hillman track team, but to her dismay it turns out to be more than she bargained for when she struggles with the practices. Maggie needs to find a book for her term paper.
Episode 9
Romancing Mr. Stone
Thu, Dec 10, 1987 23 mins
Denise has a crush on her handsome new geology professor, and mistakes his interest in her as romantic. Maggie decides that Americans need too much personal space.
Episode 10
The Gift of the Magi
Thu, Dec 17, 1987 23 mins
Everybody is participating in secret Santa and are surprised to find out who they got. Whitley's father introduces her to his young new girlfriend, and Dwayne tries to win Denise over by having Ron be her servant for the week.
Episode 11
Does He or Doesn't He?
Thu, Jan 7, 1988 23 mins
Jaleesa takes bets on how Dwayne will act when a graduate student tries to seduce him. Denise tries to warn Dwayne when she realizes that his date is actually a set-up, and Jaleesa is wagering on the results.
Episode 12
Advise and Descent
Thu, Jan 14, 1988 21 mins
Denise volunteers as a school counsellor for peer counselling with E.Z. Brooks during final exams to get out of writing a major research paper. Complaints that appearances are neglected during finals week leads to a 'Miss Ugly America' pageant.
Episode 13
The Prime of Miss Lettie Bostic
Thu, Jan 21, 1988 23 mins
A former Hillman student returns to college to earn her degree. Jaleesa fills in as resident director after Stevie leaves to get married, but doesn't want to give up the job when her replacement arrives.
Episode 14
Wild Child
Thu, Feb 4, 1988 30 mins
Denise befriends a new student and tries to help her our with a place to sleep, but gets caught by Lettie before the night is out. Denise leads a campaign to get her streetwise study partner enrolled at Hillman.
Episode 15
Dr. Cupid
Thu, Feb 11, 1988 23 mins
On Valentine's day, Dwayne is the host of a radio station and he decides to find his match through his radio show. Dwayne re-invents himself as a dream man to get a Valentine's Day date, and Lettie gets a surprise visit from an old flame, Marcus Mpepo.
Episode 16
The Show Must Go On
Thu, Feb 18, 1988 30 mins
Denise and Whitley earn roles in Maggie's play and vie for the affections of the leading man. Denise and Whitley both appear in a play, and each believes the leading man is interested in her. Dwayne and Ron try to design sets on a miniscule budget.
Episode 17
Mr. Hillman
Thu, Feb 25, 1988 24 mins
Gilbert must submit an entry for the Miss Hillman pageant. Whitley thinks she has the Miss Hillman pageant sewn up, but then, much to her chagrin, Denise signs Dwayne up to be a contestant. Whitley's mother and grandmother were previously crowned Miss Hillman, and Whitley is concerned she may disappoint her mother.
Episode 18
Speech Therapy
Thu, Mar 10, 1988 23 mins
Maggie obsesses over money Denise owes her. Jaleesa struggles with stage fright before a recitation in speech class. Jaleesa gets help from her roommates in overcoming her stage fright in speech class.
Episode 19
Clair's Last Stand
Thu, Mar 24, 1988 23 mins
Clair visits Denise at Hillman College; Clair tells Denise that she will have to get a summer job instead of going to Greece. Whitley sulks when she thinks no one remembered her birthday and looks for somebody with whom she can celebrate her birthday.
Episode 20
If Only for One Night
Thu, Apr 28, 1988 24 mins
Dwayne finally convinces Denise to go out with him, but the evening doesn't go as planned. Whitley pins her hops on winning a summer internship. Dwayne's date with Denise is interrupted when a despondent Whitley shows up.
Episode 21
Come Back, Little Eggby
Thu, May 5, 1988 23 mins
Maggie cares for an egg as part of a psychology class assignment on parenting. When Maggie and Dwayne care for eggs as part of a project, Maggie recruits Jaleesa to "eggsit" so that she can attend her volleyball game.
Episode 22
My Dinner with Theo
Thu, Jul 7, 1988 22 mins
When Denise needs support, she invites her brother Theo to spend the weekend, but he spends more time with his new Hillman friends than with her. Theo pays an unforgettable visit to his sister Denise at Hillman College.