A Different World The Reboot
By: Jill Goldsberry
Many of us remember being young, gifted, and Black; , it came with endless possibilities. We tuned in faithfully as Denise Huxtable transitioned from The Cosby Show into her own series, capturing her journey to campus, building new friendships, and taking on life as a student at an HBCU. It was essentially the nineties Black college version of Grown-ish, carving out space during one of the best eras of Black television.
If you caught it during its original run or via reruns, it served as a cultural blueprint for what to anticipate or aspire to, especially at an HBCU. Plainly put, everyone found a mirror image of themselves, regardless of background—from the bougie elite to the mathematical genius, the free spirit, the star athlete, the activist, and the non-traditional student. Before A Different World, mainstream shows for the youth centered on PWIs, wild fraternity blowouts, and routine romantic drama.
Fast forward three decades later, Netflix is bringing this fan favorite from the golden age of the Black sitcoms era back on the air with a new crop of students and situations facing today’s youth. We have been anticipating, and cautiously optimistic about this one because if you watched any episode of the first go-around, we want to keep that vibe intact.
It was a show you didn't want to miss. Hence, watching the trailer and reading the synopsis was a relief.
Netflix tapped veteran actors Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, and Cree Summer to join the cast, respectfully, as their grown-up characters of Whitley Gilbert Wayne, Dwayne Wayne, Ron Johnson, and Freddie Brooks.
The six seasons of the original show touched on a range of topics, from relationships ,to HIV, domestic violence, and world issues like apartheid and police brutality. It was groundbreaking, especially for a show focused on a college campus. Nothing else really compares in the this genre.
But the most anticipated return is the return of the incomparable Debbie Allen as Executive producer and director. She single-handedly brought the HBCU experience to the screen in the original series. As far as I’m concerned, there could not be a better time to bring Black excellence in higher education back to the screen.
The Best of Hillman College is now available on Netflix.
