A Different World (1987) — Season 1

During her first few days at Hillman College, Denise Huxtable finds herself at odds with her new roommate, Jaleesa, a 26-year-old freshman with a mysterious past.

Denise's financial irresponsibility might get her and Jaleesa thrown out of the dorm.

Questionable tactics abound when Denise plays dating games and Jaleesa is elected dorm monitor.

Denise's calculus tutor Dwayne is caught sneaking out of Whitley's window after curfew.

Whitley's claim that women can't succeed at both career and family infuriates Lisa and Maggie.

Rudy visits Hillman and becomes enchanted by Whitley, who tries to make her into the perfect little lady.

The girls plan Operation Yogi, a plot to steal the rival school's bear-head mascot, but a visit from Denise's grandfather makes a boo-boo inevitable.

In the family tradition of "Combustible" Huxtable, Denise is chosen for Hillman's track team, but after a few practices she starts running out of steam.

A geology professor has every woman in the class fighting for his attention.

Whitley's secret Santa surprises her with a visit from her newly separated daddy, who walks in with his youthful girlfriend.

Tired of being hit on by men, a grad student decides to turn the tables and seduce Dwayne.

During finals week, Denise's work suffers because she decides to be a peer counselor, and the girls' looks suffer under test stress.

Hillman alumna Lettie Bostic fills in as dorm monitor, but her strongly voiced opinions have the girls considering mutiny.

Lettie pulls some strings to help a student who has been attending classes without enrolling.

Dwayne uses his radio persona "Dr. Cupid" to find a Valentine's Day date, and Denise uses Dr. Cupid to reconcile Lettie and an old love.

Denise and Whitley both think they're the apple of the leading man's eye in a play about the Garden of Eden.

In the name of sexual equality, Denise convinces Dwayne to run in the Miss Hillman Beauty Pageant against Whitley.

Whitley hides an illegal humidifier; Jaleesa sweats over her fear of oral reports; Maggie steams over the debt Denise owes her.

Clair Huxtable visits Denise bearing motherly advice as well as news that conflicts with Denise's summer plans.

Whitley panics about spending the summer alone; Dwayne tries a new tack with Denise; and Maggie holds a yard sale.

A psychology experiment in parenting calls for egg-doption, but when Jaleesa loses Maggie's "eggby," she and Denise scramble to find it.

Denise strains her brain trying to improve her grades, so she invites Theo up for a weekend of family inspiration.