A different world
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The cast of A Different World was welcomed at the White House and led the press room in a sing-along of the famed sitcom’s theme song.
On Wednesday (April 10), the cast of the beloved NBC sitcom A Different World was in Washington D.C. on the next stop of their reunion tour which is visiting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the nation. They did make a special stop before visiting Howard University – they visited the White House to see Vice President Kamala Harris and White House Press Secretary Karina Jean-Pierre.
The visit was made more memorable as the cast members led the press room in a sing-a-long of the show’s iconic theme song, first done by the legendary Aretha Franklin. Veteran journalist April D. Ryan of The Grio captured part of the moment on video showing Jean-Pierre enthusiastically singing along with the cast members in the front row, which she shared on her Instagram account.
A Different World ran on NBC for six seasons from 1987 to 1993. The current reunion tour’s mission is to raise funds for scholarships at HBCUs. “By leveraging the star power and cultural impact of A Different World, we aim to inspire a new generation to choose HBCUs as their academic homes,” said the statement from the group which was released as the tour began on February 29 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The tour features the core cast members Darryl M. Bell (Ron Johnson); Charnele Brown (Kimberly Reese); Jasmine Guy (Whitley Gilbert-Wayne); Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Wayne); Dawnn Lewis (Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor); Cree Summer (Winifred Brooks); and Glynn Turman (Col. Bradford Taylor). Sinbad, who played Walter Oakes, has joined in virtually due to his recovery after suffering a stroke a couple of years ago. Producers Debbie Allen and Susan Fales are also on the 10-city tour, which will be announcing tour dates in the fall portion of the year.
Those interested in attending can visit the website for further information.
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Source: Jeff Kravitz / Getty / A Different World
Fans of the iconic NBC sitcom A Different World rejoice: the cast is getting back together.
PEOPLE exclusively reports the cast of A Different World will reunite for a national 10-city tour of historically Black colleges and universities to celebrate the sitcom’s 35-year legacy.
The website reveals that cast members Darryl M. Bell (Ronald ‘Ron’ Johnson), Charnele Brown (Kimberly ‘Kim’ Reese), Jasmine Guy (Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne), Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Cleophus Wayne), Dawnn Lewis (Jaleesa Vinson Taylor), Cree Summer (Winifred ‘Freddie’ Brooks), Glynn Turman (Col. Bradford ‘Brad’ Taylor) and Sinbad (Walter Oakes) will be participating.
The website also notes that Susan Fales and Debbie Allen, who served as producers on the show, will be a part of the tour.
Darryl M. Bell, who organized the tour, says it’s about celebrating the show’s legacy and raising awareness about HBCUs.
“The cast of A Different World has come together to celebrate our 35-year legacy and make more history with today’s HBCUs and tomorrow’s leaders!” Darryl Bell said to PEOPLE.
He continued, “Our mission goes beyond nostalgia. We’re on a quest to raise awareness and enrollment for HBCUs nationwide. By leveraging the star power and cultural impact of A Different World, we aim to inspire a new generation to choose HBCUs as their academic homes,” the website states. “We’re not just telling a story; we’re rewriting the narrative.”
The tour will begin in Atlanta, Georgia, at Atlanta University Center, home of Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College.
PEOPLE states the whole tour lineup will be revealed soon but notes “Washington, DC (hosted by Howard University) and Montgomery, Alabama (hosted by Alabama State University and Tuskegee University), both in April” are among the stops.
A Different World’s History
A Different World was on air for six seasons, from Sept. 24, 1987, to July 9, 1993. It was a spinoff of The Cosby Show and followed Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) as she attended the fictional HBCU Virginia, Hillman University.
Bonet left the show after one season, but other big names like Jada Pinkett Smith, Karen Malina White, and more later joined the cast.
You can head here for more information on the A Different World Tour.
You can watch episodes of A Different World streaming on MAX.
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