Memories

rudenessq

After being a Black college student during the Different World years (1987 - 1992), catching these shows on Nick at Night nowadays, brings back great memories.

I remember wearing a pair of Dawayne Wayne flip-up glasses to class (even though I didn't need glasses).

I remember nit-pickin the authenticity of the shows fraternity scenes both before and after I pledged myself.

It's hysterical to see episodes from the first season and how dry they are compared to the 4th and 5th seasons. Marissa Tomei is one of my favorite modern actresses, and an Oscar winner to boot, but she was totally miscast in the season 1 episodes.

As far as the redirection of the show, after Season 1, I think Cos realized that kids weren't interested in seeing his college experiences from the early 60s, and wisely decided to turn over the reins to Debbie Allen, who modernized the series to include issues that probably would've been considered too controversial or ethnic just 5 years earlier.

Who could forget the Hate Crime/Homecoming issue that inventively looked at stereotypes and ethnic violence from both perspectives? How about the amount of fine extras in the classroom and Pit scenes? Based on just the guest musical appearances on the show, I think Different World set the standard for any show of it's era or since. Digital Underground, Envogue, Stevie Wonder, Boys II Men, Tupac, it was a Who's Who of R&B and Hip Hop from the Late 80s early 90s.

The greatest strength of the show was that it portrayed the Black college community as diverse individuals and not caricatures. There were rich kids (Witley/Ron), kids emerging of poverty (Nina), and working class kids(Kim/Dawayne), all making up an interesting mural of African-American college experiences.

score 10/10

rudenessq 24 August 2006

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1457355/