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(More customer reviews)A Different World Season One is now available on DVD for the very first time. The 4 DVD box set includes 22 episodes from the shows first season and one bonus episode from a later season.
A Different World was created as a spin off series for second to oldest Cosby Show daughter Denise Huxtable portrayed by actress Lisa Bonet. The shwo chronicled her life at a ficticious Historically Black College named Hillman.
A lot of A Different World fans and critics judge the shows first season pretty harshly. Season one, like many television series, was a time of trial and error. As the show would progress it would deal with more serious topics and the writing improved, even still season one was enjoyable.
The DVD box set includes a composition like booklet titled A Different World-Season One Big Laughs On Campus. This booklet is an episode guide and also includes trivia and random facts about the season.
Season One primarily dealt with Lisa Bonet (Denise), and her two roommates Maggie (Marisa Tomei) and Jaleesa (Dawnn Lewis). Denise was away from home for the first time. Her roommate Jaleesa was twenty six and divorced and Maggie was a white girl at an all black college (although no one really made too much of a mention about this.) Acclaimed actress Loretta Devine was the first dorm mother Stevie. She had a small son and was replaced midseason by Mary Alice who took over the dorm mother role as Lettie.
It's a really great season as we are introduced to Whitley. Whitley's voice seems especially high pitched during this season. As the show continued through the years Whitley and Dwayne would become the stars of the show.
Season one was enjoyable but the show would really heat up and become Must See TV in later seasons. Producers of the DVD have provided fans with a taste of what's to come by including the episode "Homie Don't Ya Know Me," from the shows 6th season. The show includes a guest appearance from slain rapper Tupac Shakur. In this episode Leena (Jada Pinkett Smith) is visited on campus by her hometown friend (Monica Calhoun). Her friend happens to bring along Leena's ex-boyfriend Piccollo (Tupac Shakur). Piccollo is set on trying to get Leena back and tries his best to punk her current beau (Bumper Robinson). The two men eventually get into a physical confrontation regarding Leena who not only has to deal with this drama but who finds herself torn between her friends from Baltimore and her friends from Hillman. This episode has run in syndication but never aired during the shows NBC run. This episode can be found on disc 4 with the bonus materials.
Also included on Disc 4 is a E! Entertainment special titled "A Different World: I Was A Network TV Star." Show regulars Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Darryl Bell, Dawnn Lewis and several cast members who joined the show later in it's run appear in this featurette. The cast members and producer Debbie Allen sit around and reminisce about the show--and dish about all of the big stars who appeared on A Different World. It's a great short feature. Disc 4 also includes bloopers.
The show would change in Season 2 with characters Denise and Maggie gone from the show and several new characters introduced including Freddy (Cree Summer). Hopefully, season two will arrive on DVD soon.
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From the creators of the top-rated THE COSBY SHOW comes A DIFFERENT WORLD, a fresh funny situation comedy that follows the triumphs, trials, and tribulations of students of Hillman College.This half-hour spin off of the top rated THE COSBY SHOW, was the first ensemble situation comedy to immerse America in student life at a historically black college.Enjoying a successful 6-run season run on NBC, from 1987 to 1993, A DIFFERENT WORLD bas been widely honored for its sensitive, intelligent treatment of contemporary issues.
Click here for more information about A Different World - Season 1 (1987)
