The show finished in the top 5 for four straight seasons and then in the top 20 the next season when it aired after the Cosby Show. Once the Cosby Show was gone and ADW became the lead it BOMBED and wasn't even in the top 30


So was this show really that great or was it just connected to the Cosby Show for so many seasons?

i no we dont see eye to eye on things TVFACTFAN but just listen to me please, i think the show would have still been a huge hit and popular if it was not connected to the cosby show because alot of teenagers and young people in college could relate to what the charaters in the show was going threw in their lives it was a life lesson corny tv show, you have to understand when a show has been on the air for many years viewers lose focus whats going on in the show and ratings drop after that the producers cancel the series.

I always thought the first season was totally connected to TCS. After that I think the show developed it's own audience. The only problem with that though is after TCS ended, ADW dropped so far it makes you wonder.

In my personal opinion, the 1st season was the best. After that the show got progressively worse. I think the show wouldn't have even made the light of day if not for Bill Cosby.

In my personal opinion, the 1st season was the best. After that the show got progressively worse. I think the show wouldn't have even made the light of day if not for Bill Cosby.


My cousin feels that the 1st season is the worst and refuses to buy the 1st season on DVD. Only seasons 2 to 6 because Denise Huxtable was no longer on the show.

I always thought the first season was totally connected to TCS. After that I think the show developed it's own audience. The only problem with that though is after TCS ended, ADW dropped so far it makes you wonder.


I wonder if ADW is the only spinoff to air after it's parent show for 5 straight seasons. lol

My cousin feels that the 1st season is the worst and refuses to buy the 1st season on DVD. Only seasons 2 to 6 because Denise Huxtable was no longer on the show.


I think Denise Huxtable and Marissa Tomei were the saving graces for season 1.

I think Denise Huxtable and Marissa Tomei were the saving graces for season 1.


It was surprising that NBC never moved the show once it became so popular unless they wanted to maintain a strong Thursday Night

It was surprising that NBC never moved the show once it became so popular unless they wanted to maintain a strong Thursday Night


I think they were smart enough to keep that show on Thursdays.

And yet NBC moved Family Ties and Night Court to make room for new shows. I think NBC was afraid to piss off Bill Cosby. lol

And yet NBC moved Family Ties and Night Court to make room for new shows. I think NBC was afraid to piss off Bill Cosby. lol



Could be some truth to that since he was connected to the show-lol

A lot of the "new" characters were unlikeable

A lot of the "new" characters were unlikeable
Freddie was the one new character that I didn't like. She could be annoying. lol

A lot of the "new" characters were unlikeable


Only Freddie comes to mind. :lol:

Freddie
Kimberly
Jada Pinkett's character
Col. Taylor or his son

I didn't really like Jalissa all that much either. lol

Freddie
Kimberly
Jada Pinkett's character
Col. Taylor or his son

I didn't really like Jalissa all that much either. lol


Kimberly was ok, Col taylor was funny but I never liked Jalessa or Freddie

Honestly, I would have loved to see a Dwayne/Whitley spin-off.

Honestly, I would have loved to see a Dwayne/Whitley spin-off.
They were the best part of ADW.

They were the best part of ADW.


Agreed!

people were shock to find out a different world was the complete opposite of the cosby show they only tuned in to see lisa bonet they wanted to see what her character was going to be like i think the show got better after she left she brought nothing on that show

I will always have love for Denise Huxtble on "A Different World". yaaay!

I will always have love for Denise Huxtble on "A Different World". yaaay!

Denise on A Different World sucked, season 1 was horrible, it was so corny. Debbie turned that show around.

I didn't even watch the show during season 1 because I was so angry they moved Family Ties. I watched Sledge Hammer instead. lol

I started watching in season 2 though and I watched it for the rest of it's run.

Denise on A Different World sucked, season 1 was horrible, it was so corny. Debbie turned that show around.


Denise could have worked on season 2 as well with Debbie Allen. We just never got the chance to see it. I support Denise all the way! Never say die!

Denise could have worked on season 2 as well with Debbie Allen. We just never got the chance to see it. I support Denise all the way! Never say die!

I don't think so because at the time Lisa was pregnant, she didn't even last half a season on the Cosby Show's 5th season.

In my personal opinion, the 1st season was the best. After that the show got progressively worse. I think the show wouldn't have even made the light of day if not for Bill Cosby.

Well, you are one of the few people that actually like season one. I am in that minority as well. Sure the first season had its bumps but it was still watchable. Denise (although others will disagree) was my favorite character from season one. I enjoyed season one a lot.

I wonder about your statement about the show getting progressively worse after season one and it riding the cotails of Bill Cosby. Could it possibly hold some weight? TCS has had a great syndication run. ADW was good until the early 2000's and now it has a home on stations that cater to Afro-Americans.

Well, you are one of the few people that actually like season one. I am in that minority as well. Sure the first season had its bumps but it was still watchable. Denise (although others will disagree) was my favorite character from season one. I enjoyed season one a lot.

I wonder about your statement about the show getting progressively worse after season one and it riding the cotails of Bill Cosby. Could it possibly hold some weight? TCS has had a great syndication run. ADW was good until the early 2000's and now it has a home on stations that cater to Afro-Americans.


The one year that ADW didn't air after the Cosby Show the ratings went down the tube.

The one year that ADW didn't air after the Cosby Show the ratings went down the tube.


Well, the show that aired after it was so bad that it was pulled after the fourth episode. I taped four of the five eps when it aired. I liked the show but something was also lacking for me. I could see it even as a fifteen year old kid.

the show: Rythm and Blues with Roger Kabler and Anna Maria Horsford.

Well, the show that aired after it was so bad that it was pulled after the fourth episode. I taped four of the five eps when it aired. I liked the show but something was also lacking for me. I could see it even as a fifteen year old kid.

the show: Rythm and Blues with Roger Kabler and Anna Maria Horsford.


I think I received some eps of Rythm and Blues in a trade but not completely sure. But it was still surprising that ADW was never moved to a new night to help the ratings since it did so well on Thursdays for 5 straight years

The show finished in the top 5 for four straight seasons and then in the top 20 the next season when it aired after the Cosby Show. Once the Cosby Show was gone and ADW became the lead it BOMBED and wasn't even in the top 30


So was this show really that great or was it just connected to the Cosby Show for so many seasons?

The weird or ironic thing about ADW is that even though it was a top five rated show (during the classic NBC Must-See TV era no less) it never seems to acknowledged (e.g. by mainstream pop culture) as such these days (when compared to say, The Cosby Show, Cheers, Seinfeld, and Friends).

The weird or ironic thing about ADW is that even though it was a top five rated show (during the classic NBC Must-See TV era no less) it never seems to acknowledged (e.g. by mainstream pop culture) as such these days (when compared to say, The Cosby Show, Cheers, Seinfeld, and Friends).


Yup just a show for that time period lol

For certain audiences, that is a true statement. With people like me, I enjoy it to the tee.

For certain audiences, that is a true statement. With people like me, I enjoy it to the tee.


I never realized when you think of classic tv ADW never comes to mind. lol


It was a NBC Slot filler:lol: :lol:

I'll take this over The Cosby Show.

I'll take this over The Cosby Show.


You just saying that now because you found out Bill Cosby is kinky LOL

You just saying that now because you found out Bill Cosby is kinky LOL
No. I like this better because Cosby let the college students have the spotlight and not him. This show handled serious subjects better than Cosby.

Yup just a show for that time period lol

I think the fact that ADW was so topical (and dare I say, preachy depending on your point of view) may have hurt it in the long run. Whatever was relevant politically or culturally back in the late '80s-early '90s, may not resonate as instantly now. I think that ADW for better or worse, became pigeonholed as being the "Black Issues Sitcom". It didn't exactly have the wide-spread appeal like say, The Cosby Show. If anything, ADW existed to counteract the criticism that its parent show, often ignored (or whitewashed to be more blunt) heavy-duty social issues surrounding the black community.

I think the fact that ADW was so topical (and dare I say, preachy depending on your point of view) may have hurt it in the long run. Whatever was relevant politically or culturally back in the late '80s-early '90s, may not resonate as instantly now. I think that ADW for better or worse, became pigeonholed as being the "Black Issues Sitcom". It didn't exactly have the wide-spread appeal like say, The Cosby Show. If anything, ADW existed to counteract the criticism that its parent show, often ignored (or whitewashed to be more blunt) heavy-duty social issues surrounding the black community.


Also add that the show was geared toward black women

I was college-age between 1983 and 1987, so I guess I found the actors on ADW interesting because they were closer to my age (than most of the Cosby Show cast). I have to say, not surprisingly to most of you, that I found Jasmine Guy to be pretty hot.

I did most of my dedicated viewing though when ADW went into syndication. I don't remember seeing it all that often in primetime.

I have a love-hate relationship with those glasses Dwayne wore...

I was college-age between 1983 and 1987, so I guess I found the actors on ADW interesting because they were closer to my age (than most of the Cosby Show cast). I have to say, not surprisingly to most of you, that I found Jasmine Guy to be pretty hot.

I did most of my dedicated viewing though when ADW went into syndication. I don't remember seeing it all that often in primetime.

I have a love-hate relationship with those glasses Dwayne wore...


The show was tucked in after the after cosby show for 5 years lol

I wasn't really a regular, dedicated Cosby Show viewer -- there must have been some CBS and ABC shows at times that were pulling me away, I can't remember. In fact, I know for sure that I missed a LOT of Lisa Bonet's eps when they first ran (which I realized when I watched CS later in syndication).

So no lead-in much of the time for me, although I distinctly remember watching the first ADW ep when it premiered.

I have a love-hate relationship with those glasses Dwayne wore...

I used to have some glasses just like Dwayne's. :lol: Mine were non-prescription though.

The one year that ADW didn't air after the Cosby Show the ratings went down the tube.

Well, you know something? Ratings alone can't be a determining factor in a program's success. If NBC did that, then Cheers, Family Ties, Hill Street Blues, and St. Elsewhere would all have gotten cancelled after their respective first seasons.

Well, you know something? Ratings alone can't be a determining factor in a program's success. If NBC did that, then Cheers, Family Ties, Hill Street Blues, and St. Elsewhere would all have gotten cancelled after their respective first seasons.


I could not get into it because it geared toward women

I could not get into it because it geared toward women

I don't understand what you mean by "it was geared toward women."

I don't understand what you mean by "it was geared toward women."


The show and topics were geared toward women and the show featured mainly female characters

You just saying that now because you found out Bill Cosby is kinky LOL
No. I like it better because this was an ensemble cast and it handled serious situations better than Cosby ever would.