Great show once it was retooled!

skillz

Lisa Bonet appearing as a witch in  "Angel Heart" threatened to tarnish the clean cut image of "The Cosby Show" so the team of Carsey-Werner(in association with Bill Cosby of course) sent Denise away to college in the spin-off "A Different World". Life wasn't peaches and cream in a different world. It was in danger of being a flop. It was very  lucky that it came after the ratings grabbing "Cosby Show". Watching the pilot of this series was like watching old people eat! The original set-up was that the fictional Hillman College be an integrated college, much like the one Bill Cosby attended. The following season Evette Lee was brought in to produce the show, while Howard University Alum (and Phylicia Rashad's sister) was brought in to direct it! This is when Hillman became a "Historically Black Institution!"

Lisa Bonet's supporting cast was talented but they could not overcome the fact that a"A Different World" was lame in it's premier season! In fact the talent of: Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison and the remaining cast made Lisa Bonet expendable! So,after one season, she had to crawl back to "the Cosby Show" with her tail between her legs! The series continued for a long time without her! This series also served as a springboard for Jada Pinket.

score /10

skillz 27 October 2000

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0239781/