Should Allen Payne have accepted a regular cast spot on A Different World?

[TMC]

Allen Payne played a character named Lance Rodman on The Cosby Show, who was the boyfriend of Karen Malina White’s Charmaine Brown (who was the best friend of Erika Alexander’s Pam) during the final two Cosby Show seasons. Payne ultimately got 10 episodes of The Cosby Show while White got 13.

The producers of A Different World planned to bring in the characters of Lance and Charmaine to their show for its sixth season (1992-93) after The Cosby Show ended. White accepted the continuation of her role while Payne turned down the role so he could focus on his film career.

Payne starred in two movies within the two year period from the start of the last season of ADW, 1993’s CB4 and 1994’s Jason’s Lyric, which co-starred ADW regular Jada Pinkett (Smith).

A Different World ultimately, introduced a new character, Terrell Walker played by Patrick Malone. White was in every episode of ADW and Malone was in almost all the episodes despite not being in the opening credits.