On September 24, 1987, “A Different World”, the spin-off of “The Cosby Show”, premiered on NBC. In season one, the show followed Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) to our favorite fictional HBCU, Hillman College. Throughout its six seasons, the show consistently used its platform to tackle a wide range of political, racial, and social issues specific to the Black community, in which it became a staple show.
The iconic cast which included Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Darryl Bell, Cree Summer, and Charnele Brown (or as we know them, Dwayne, Whitley, Ron, Freddie and Kim) inspired generations of African Americans to pursue higher education.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary and tremendous social impact of “A Different Word”, TV One will be airing a 14-hour marathon, starting with the pilot episode.
“TV One is excited to celebrate the 30th anniversary of ‘A Different World,’ a truly iconic television show which displayed the Black college experience in a way that touched and inspired generations of students to pursue a higher education,” said Dexter Cole, TV One’s senior vice president, program scheduling and acquisitions. “After three decades, many of the show’s themes and messages of friendship, coming of age, responsibility and perseverance still ring true. We hope fans will join us as we take a moment to look back with fondness on this American television treasure.”
The marathon is set to start on Sunday, September 24 at 10 a.m. ET on TV One.