A Different World

Denise Huxtable takes up residence in Hillman College's Gilbert Hall and immediately clashes with her assigned roomate, Jaleesa Vinson.

Denise must deal with a financial crisis and a new chatterbox roommate (Marisa Tomei), and has no choice but to call home for help. Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Rudy Huxtable (Keisha Knight Pulliam) make special guest appearances.

Jaleesa is elected dorm monitor and imposes a strict penalty for untidy behavior: those caught littering must wear a pig nose for the entire day. Denise is on board. That is, until she's the one caught littering!

Dwayne Wayne is spotted sneaking out of Whitley's window after a late-night tutoring session with Denise, and rumours begin to circulate about Dwayne and Whitley. Only Denise knows the truth, but will she speak up to save Whitley's reputation?

Maggie and Denise prepare to debate Whitley on the issue of women's rights, and Dwayne finds a way to broadcast it live over the campus radio station. Keenan and Damon Wayans guest star.

When Denise's younger sister Rudy (Keisha Knight Pulliam) visits Hillman, she becomes fast friends with Whitley. As Rudy begins picking up Whitley's affected mannerisms, Denise grows jealous and angry about Rudy's affection for her nemesis. Bill Cosby guest stars.

Denise, Jaleesa and Maggie plan to out-do the men of Hillman College by becoming the first women ever to pull off the traditional Homecoming prank: the swiping of the other team's mascot costume.

Denise joins the track team at Hillman, earning the nickname 'The Little Engine' and the affection of a fellow male track star. However, the intense physical demands required to stay on the team cause her to reconsider her decision. Does she have what it takes to carry on the running Huxtable legacy at Hillman? Bill Cosby guest stars.

Denise crushes hard on the handsome new geology teacher Mr. Stone but hears a rumor that Mr. Stone and Stevie are an item.

Whitley and her father have planned a holiday in Switzerland together for Christmas break, but Whitley is surprised when her father shows up with some unexpected baggage: his new girlfriend.

The women of Gilbert Hall take bets on Dwayne running away when a beautiful grad student attempts to seduce him, but Dwayne hears about their scheme. Does Dwayne turn the tables or does temptation get the best of him?

Denise blows off her final research paper right up to the deadline, confident that her professor will grant her an extension because of her volunteer work, but she soon realizes her laid-back philosophy won't save her when her request is denied.

When beloved older student Lettie Bostic assumes the role of dorm director, the women in the dorm room are taken off guard by her repressive new policies. Mary Alice joins the cast.

Denise becomes friends with Cougar Barnett, a free-spirited though unreliable street-smart girl with serious academic talent. Eventually, however, the truth comes out: Cougar isn't really enrolled as a student at Hillman. In fact, she's homeless.

Dwayne tries to use his campus radio program "Dr. Cupid" to find a Valentine's Day date for a guy who sounds too good to be true. Denise repsonds to Cupid's call only to find that this mystery man is in fact Dwayne himself.

Both Denise and Whitley believe the leading man in a school play, Rick, has fallen for them. They continually try to upstage each other until they're forced to recognize that Rick may not be in love with either of them--he's just a good actor.

In her efforts to smash sexual stereotypes on Hillman's campus, Denise enters Dwayne in the 'Miss Hillman' contest. Whitley is furious at the unexpected competition, but Denise begins to regret her decision when the students start mocking Dwayne.

Maggie tries to convince Jaleesa to deliver the excellent speech Jaleesa has written, although she herself can't find the courage to ask Denise to repay an outstanding loan.

Clair is unhappy to discover Denise has made plans to go to Greece for the summer -- she thinks her daughter should spend summer vacation working a job to help pay for her education. Phylicia Rashad and Keshia Knight Pulliam guest star.

Whitely agrees to loan Dwayne some cash so he can finally take Denise out on "an innocent little date," but on one condition: Whitley has to come along.

Maggie is tasked with taking care of an egg as though it were a child for her psychology class, but is forced to entrust the project to 'egg sitters' Denise and Jaleesa when she leaves campus.

Theo visits Denise at Hillman but ends up spending more time hanging out with the other students than with her. When the two finally sit down to talk, Denise must come to terms with the fact that her little brother isn't so little anymore.