‘A Different World' Cast Reunites on 'The View' | The View 

Crying. This show pushed me to continue my college education. I am in grad school now at 56, earning my doctorate, and ADW was my catalyst. They inspired me to push through and push HIGHER.

RIP Mr. Gaines (Lou Myers).

I know Kadeem personally and I have told him several times that I am a video games executive now because I saw that it was possible on a Different World. 😊❤

Too bad Charnele Brown wasn't here. Her character and image were a key part of this cast.

Wow Dawn Lewis looks good.. She still looks the same!

Let's give them their flowers while they're still here.

This 64 year old, white haired, white woman from Canada loved this show so much! It made me so happy to watch this reunion. Thank you!👏❤️👏

I hate that people fear mentioning Bill Cosby's name....but this was one of his manifestations. No matter what we think about him personally we must acknowledge his achievements!!!!! Thanks Mr. Cosby. And thank you for this show and The Cosby Show for showing US in a different light.

Cree plays the librarian on Abbot Elementary this season. She wears her signature hat too!🥰🥰🥰😂😂👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Whoopi blushing like Celie from the Color Purple. 😆

Look. Dwayne’s “BABY PLEASE” still gets me in the gut to this day.

They are not lying when they say that show inspired multiple generations to attend HBCU's. The ones who grew up on the show became adults, went to HBCU's, then had babies who grew up, who they then made go to an HBCU, lol. The fictional Hillman College is the most famous HBCU out there. There were people who thought back then that they could actually go there and to many of us who grew up watching A Different World, it is and always will be a real place. Thank you to Ms. Debbie Allen and the cast and crew of this legendary show. They may not have ever received their proper flowers back then, in terms of awards, but thank goodness they are around now to hear generations worth of thank you's, inspired by's and the "I am now this, because you all did that"

This and The Cosby’s changed the game for black representation in television. So so fun to see this!!! Thank you for all you did for us !

I didnt attend an HBCU, but I went to college bc of this show. *relax, relieve, release in my Whitley Gilbert voice"

as an Asian American, i also used to watch ADW religiously. it was such an inspiring and important show for so many POC kids, and propelled us to aspire to higher education.

After over 30 years, "A Different World" and "The Cosby Show" continue to be my favorite tv shows. I watched faithfully from age 10 - 16. Now, I am 47 years-old and it feels like not that long ago that I would be glued to the screen as a kid, so excited for Thursday nights when it would come on. I have so much nostalgia, even just listening to the theme song. It was amazing to see people who looked like me on the screen, growing up in a small town, where my family was the only black family for miles. I loved seeing the friendship bonds and it made going to college seem like a great experience. I ended up going to an HCBU and I am a medical doctor today. Thanks to the cast, Ms. Debbie Allen, the writers,the producers, the behind the scenes staff and Mr. Cosby. You have truly made a difference that will be evident for generations to come!

Proud HBCU grad of Hampton University! This show changed EVERYTHING for the culture.

I love that they had Debbie with them this time. The cast always talks about how she changed the show, so it’s good to hear her perspective.

_A Different World_ had one of the best supporting casts of any sitcom--they were as funny and diverse as the main characters!

Patti LaBelle and Diahann Carroll were also fabulous and hilarious as the fueding mothers of Dwayne (Kadeem Harrison) and Whitley (Jasmine Guy). Love everything about A Different World, from the theme song on down. Disappointed but not surprised it didn't receive much Emmy recognition, besides one-time guest star nominations for Goldberg and Carroll. Everyone named above deserved an award, but especially Jasmine Guy. Her performance was magnificent. The broader industry didn't know how special this sitcom was, but audiences did. Parents need to make sure their kids' cultural education includes watching this amazing, groundbreaking show.

One of the most influential shows of all time! Hillman University may have been "make-believe" but it truly made black children/teens believe they could achieve incredible levels of greatness while still being true to the beauty of their culture❤🤎🖤

I’m a 90’s baby but baby when I tell you I LOVEEEEEE this show!! One of my all time faves!!!!

I’m surprised Jasmine Guy never got into voice acting, the way she switches between Jasmine and Whitley so effortlessly. This show deserves a retroactive Emmy. Not many shows that were out at the time had the cultural impact of “A Different World”.

I'm a 54 year old black women, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend, who attended Dillard University, and became an infrastructure engineer and senior project manager, community activist, and radio show host. These brilliant, iconic trail blazing men and women were instant legends the moment they stepped into our living rooms and forever changed our lives. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

I am a Chicana from California. I graduated high school in 1989 and this show inspired me to go to college! Thank you for showing us 80's kids that college is for everyone. My college experience was just magnificent!

I remember that episode shout out to Tisha Campbell ❤

Everyone look so timeless,ageless, especially Debbie Allen🙏🏾

Ms. Debbie & Her Sister Ms. Phylicia are so Classy & Beautiful even at 70+! Didn't know Ms. Dawn was a Song writer also.

Dawn Lewis looks amazing

They all look great, but Darryl, Dawnn and Debbie…they look FANTASTIC.

I’m an 80s baby. I can say that this show exposed a lot of Black American children to the idea of going to college and what it could be like going to college . My parents were both college graduates but a lot of my friends were first generation college students because of this show 🥰🙏🏽

Ufff... How I felt it when 'Dwayne Wayne' flipped his sunglasses. It took me back to my 10 year old self watching the show and looking up to him so much!

It was the eye glasses flip for me!😂😂😂🥰🥰

Susan Fales-Hill deserves her flowers! She created Whitley & Dwayne and was head writer bringing Debbie's ideas and insight to life! Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince Bythewood met on this show too! Folks always forget the writers. Without them there's no show!

Made me sad Sinbad couldn't be there in the reunion but at least he's recovering ❤

The casting team also needs props because every single character, even recurring, small parts even when they didnt speak... brilliantly done.

I LOVED everything about A Different World. still to this day.

This show showed me a different way to not only see the world, but how to also live in the world and give back to it. I went to college, got a couple degrees, and have happily been a college professor for over 25 years! I have not only educated my students, but have also tried to inspire them as well. Who says TV can't change lives? 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾❤️❤️❤️

This and the Cosby show, two of the greatest shows of all time ❤

I didn’t attend an HBCU but this show changed my life. It let me know how much was possible for me.

PROUD HBCU grad here✅ the MOST iconic show easily within the last thirty years

Always and forever a fan of Debbie Allan ❤🖤

When I got out of high school I had no desire to go to college I went straight to work after I graduated. But was inspired at 42 years of age to go back because of Different World. These characters sparked a fire of learning in my belly. I went for my BA in management and masters in substance abuse counseling. I started my PhD in Behavioral Health and I'm still at it at 67. I will tell you it is never too late to learn. The greatest thing when I started was being accepted by 18, 19 and 20 year olds who just said, come on and study with us. That was the best thing because I needed their energy and feistiness to help me through. Hillman, A Different World, and all it's cast of characters will forever be embedded into our culture and will continue to inspire for others to attend an HBCU. One more thing, I had no idea Dawn Lewis wrote this iconic theme song!

September 24, 1987, the date A Different World first aired was a time of transition for Black America. Thirty years after American schools had been desegregated, the first generation of non segregated Black Americans were graduating colleges and being hired by corporate America. A Different World was one of the shows that inspired us to face the hostile work environments that we were integrating. It was a reminder that Black Americans have always had a supportive community in one another. And it introduced all of us to Black sororities and Black fraternities - which are one of the most powerful organizations within the Black community. America has a Black female Vice President because of it. Vice President Kamala Harris is an HBCU graduate and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. 🎉 For the culture! 🎉

I watched this on The View earlier today and props to the interviewers ( Whoopi, Sunny, and Sara ) for just focusing on A Different World and it's cast and it's legacy and not bringing up Bill Cosby. Very good show.

Gosh, as a kid I absolutely loved this show! One of the most influential shows of my time in my opinion. They were never afraid to tackle any subject from Racism, AIDS, The Rodney King beating, you name it, they covered it!

I got emotional when i saw the cast from A Different World on the View. ADW was my favorite show of all time back in the 90's and i still watch it today in re-runs. This show will go down in history as one of the best shows in television.

I never missed a single episode as a preteen/teenager growing up and most recently I rewatched every single episode through a 50 year olds eyes and it was brilliant. I encourage everyone to watch and have your children watch! It's all relevant today as well.

Great auntie Whoopi and her comfy attire is darn cute 😂 I love her and her modest spirit. It’s crazy how many guest come on and have been connected and touched by her in some way or another. Different World was such a staple in my childhood growing up. Glad they’re getting their flowers. 💐

i remember when the show aired and i made sure to watch each and every episode. This show is still relevant today.

Proud HBCU Alumni undergraduate and graduate 👩‍🎓 because of this show ❤❤

Thank you Bill Cosby for creating this space.

Why am I crying 🥹🥹🥹🥹😭😭😭😭😍😍😍😍😍🤗🤗🤗🤗

I grew up wanting to go to Hillman. I was so upset when I found out it didn’t exist. LOL!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Can we all applaud this beautiful cast ! I mean,everyone looks so good! I was a faithful watcher of A Different World, even when Lisa Bonnet first started playing on it. I really feel they need to give her & Marissa Tomei credit as well. Thank you, The View for bringing this cast together once again ❤️

I attended an hbcu. I was Dwayne Wayne compsci student searching for my Whitley. Lol

We've been waiting SOOOO long for this. 🥰😭🥰😭 Now do Living Single. 🥺❤️

THANKS for your continued influence and spotlight on our beloved HBCUs! 🎓

One of those “you gotta be a certain age” moments. I’m that age. I grew up on this show.

I know Sinbad has been ill and is still recovering. I hope one day, he will be able to join the rest of the cast. He was an important character as well on the show. Continued healing Sinbad❤️🙏🏽. Now 52, I grew up with you all and you all played a huge part in me continuing my education. SsssssssUuuuuuu……Southern University A& M College, Baton Rouge, LA is where I finished. You all are doing a great job and deed in keeping the minority population inspired and motivated. Kudos to the cast! 💐💐💐. Rest in heaven Mary Alice Smith and Lou Myers 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🕊️🕊️🕊️

I always cry when I see them. They changed my life. ❤

I totally love them. I met Cree when I was a teenager on the set of their show and she greeted me with her same smile and proceeded to give me the biggest hug ever. I would never forget her. Much love to the whole cast. Loved the entire cast.💙💙💙

I didn't graduate from high school until a few years after ADW ended its run, but I later graduated from college, so I would be watching this show with a different perspective from that point on from what I had when the show was on NBC. What an influential series that was! I love that its effects are still being felt as of 2024.

This show along with The Cosby Show ARE amongst the MOST influential of the last 30 years! I remember Thursday Nights as a teen in Canada 🇨🇦 watching these shows and thinking higher education is relevant and POSSIBLE for someone like me! Thank you/Merci 🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽 for the BEAUTIFUL memories!

I didn't know Dawn wrote the song😊😊

*The Cosby Show & A Different World greatly influenced my life - from my cultural explorations to the college I attended.*

DAWN LOOKS HELLA GOOD! I grew up on this show as a 56 year old!❤❤❤❤❤

Debbie Allen is creative and talented with an excellent group of actors. Thank you all for the memories!

I loved dawn Lewis hair on different world --it was such a classic refined style

I went to an HBCU because I found out Hillman wasn’t real, and I wanted to be in a college that looked like Hillman. The show completely inspired me and changed my life. Plus, I went to the same school as Lou Myers aka Vernon Gaines.

The wedding!!! I still watch with tears! That indelible scene ❤

Dawnn Lewis is looking GOOD. Imagine writing a song that *Aretha Franklin* turned into a legendary show tune.

Proud HBCU grad (Howard University, C/O ‘06). Grew up watching the show, which inspired me to go to a HBCU. S/O to Bro. Darryl M. Bell, my fellow frat brother!! 06!!!

I still watch the reruns of this show daily...Love It❤

I'm a proud HBCU grad from Morehouse. This show was well written, and these actors created awesome characters were the best representation of people and inspired so many people of color, including myself.

My children ages 12-20 love this show! Watched all seasons 3x through!

I love cree summer's voice, my childhood

Clicked so fast!! A Different World is STILL one of my fav shows and I LOVE Whoopi and Tisha's AIDs episode. My dad passed away due to AIDs complications a month before that episode aired. ADW will forever be an iconic show. I cant wait until my 16month old daughter is old enough to understand it ❤🖤💚

I did not miss many episodes!!! I’m a great grandma now! I absolutely loved, loved, loved that show!! What a cast!!!! 👏🏾❤️ Thank you for the laughs and the class act this show was! They’ll never be another like it!

It's one of my FAVORITE sitcoms of all time! It's truly a brilliant time capsule of a period in time we'll never get back.

When I was a kid I used to have to go to my neighbors house before school in the morning. They would turn on the TV for me and a different world was always on. Been my all time favorite TV show ever since!

My all-time favorite sitcom! I still watch reruns to this day.

I was inspired after watching the show to enter college at a well.Renowned HBCU and get my associates, bachelor's and my master's degree in business management.Thank you a different world for making my dreams come true

This show has single handedly inspired GENERATIONS of Doctors,lawyers and CEO's..I AM SO HAPPY THAT THEY CAN SEE THE IMPACT IT HAS MADE,FOR OVER 30 YEARS! MRS.DEBBIE ALLEN,WE THANK U,WE LOVE U,WE ADMIRE U, FOR HAVING A VISION AND CASTING ALL OF US,COLLECTIVELY, IN A DIFFERENT WORLD! I was in Highschool, when the show was on and there was NOBODY ,that could tell me ,I wasn't going to HILLMAN(I know it is not a real HBCU). BUT WE,MY CLASSMATES AND I DISCUSSED EACH EPISODE ON THE BUS THE NEXT MORNING AND WE WERE ALL READY TO GRADUATE AND DO GREAT THINGS! ABSOLUTELY, THE MOST INFLUENTIAL SHOW OF MY YOUNG LIFE! WELL DONE,MS.DEBBIE... WELL DONE CAST! U MADE US DREAM,U MADE US FEEL SEEN,U MADE US WANT TO ACHIEVE ,U MADE US BELIEVE IT WAS POSSIBLE! I am turning 50 next month and I still watch the show.It catapults me back to my youth and even tho,I was not fortunate enough to attend college,I know,in my heart,I COULD HAVE... THANK U ALL🥹✊🏽🖤💜🫂

Proud HBCU Graduate of Elizabeth City State University!!!! THIS SHOW CHANGED MY LIFE!!!!

This was what I grew up on!!!

HBCU grad (Benedict College) this show was def the reason for me goin! I love yall💯💯

Thank u Whoopi & The View!📺 Thank u Debbie & ADW Cast!💎👑💎👑 I'm from NC, now in SF, CA🙋🏾🌉 Debbie (& Phylicia) NC's loss was the WORLD'S gain.🩰 If you know, then you know...smh😔 THE INFLUENCE: I was in AFROTC at NC A&T in 1990. My brother attended St. Augustine on an Army ROTC scholarship. Currently, he is working on his PhD & teaching at UNC. My oldest son went into the Army. He is a HS Soccer Coach and will get his Bachleor's in Biz this Dec. My youngest son gets his Master's in Mechanical Eng this May while working for a Japanese company. And last year, my sons went to visit their Father's home in Africa...🗺️ Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for showing the VERY BEST of US to the WORLD and to generations to come.👨🏾‍🎓👩🏾‍🎓🤴🏾👸🏾🤴🏾👸🏾🤴🏾👸🏾🤴🏾👸🏾 APRIL 2024

This show started my freshman year of college - they were talking about and experiencing the same stuff I was. Feels like seeing my college friends!

Thank you to the entire cast of A Different World...can't tell you how much this show meant to me as the first person in my branch of the family to even THINK about going to college.

I went off to college for a year because of A Different World, the Cast , Writers, Directors, Thank You Mrs. Debbie. I also love and grew up watching Fame. Thank Yall for bringing Hope into my heart from the projects. My Oldest Daughter Graduated from College and now my Son and Youngest Daughter are in College. I Give All GLORY To GOD!!! kiwanus young

When I was a student at Hampton University, every Thursday night was spent in front of the TV with my housemates. I remember us saying Hillman was really Hampton. 😂❤

A Different World was my show and one of the reasons I went to an HBCU. This cast was iconic and very talented…lightning in a bottle! I’m so happy they’re being recognized and getting their flowers. Omg, I’m tearing up. It’s really a shame that this show and some other iconic shows didn’t get the recognition they deserved when on air…ie Girlfriends, Living Single, Martin, Half & Half, Family Matters, Roc, The Jamie Foxx Show, Smart Guy, The Parkers, Sanford and Son, Good Times, the list goes on. These were well written shows that reflected on parts of the black experience. I love to see it and wish Sinbad was there💜💐👏🏽🔥💯!!!

Relax, relate, RELEASE!

I am a Hillman Alum. I have a t-shirt and everything (I promise you I do). A Different World was the backdrop to my late high school and early college years. It came at a time when Hip Hop was drenched in Pan African Culture. Everything was so afrocentric so A Different World made sense. It was pride in education. Pride in the richness of our culture. Pride in our history. It was our reason to feel like we mattered in a country where we were made to feel like we didnt... and probably still don't. Bringing life to topics that affected us deeply in the late 80s into the early 90s. I love this so much and I'm so glad that younger people are getting to experience A Different World, live and in color. Ever since this show stopped recording, it has never NOT been on the air so we've always had this reminder of our time and place in history and beyond. KUDOS!!! 🎉

I was born in 88 and this show is literally my favorite show to date! I can’t get enough. I wish it was still on streaming services ! 😢

Where is kim? When I was a kid I was so in love with that chocolate Queen

So much greatness on one couch💕

RIP Lou Myers! 10:57 (Vernon Gaines)

I loved this show. In fact, during the pandemic the reruns played every weekend on digital T V -from 9:00a.m. until 12:00p m. It was awesome to see it again ......and I am a 72 year old white woman. ❤