If you’re new here, I am a super fan of “A Different World.” It is my favorite show of all time and that includes all cartoons I watched a child. So, when I heard they might be rebooting the show, I immediately said no like most of us did. Then, we (the collective of people who are a walking encyclopedia of this show) decided as long as Debbie Allen was somewhere in there, we were ok with it. Well, low and behold, not only is Mrs. Debbie involved, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Bythewood are also coming along for the ride, and so now I’m here for it…..BUT AND HOWEVER, I have some non-negotiables that I will lay out in this blog.
Before I start, I do have some house rules. If you have not watch every episode of this show, I do not want to hear your opinion on this. Anything else is free for you and I to have a discussion about, but this is strictly for the walking encyclopedia crowd. Also, I know the writers of this show have already started writing scripts. If I see something I stated in this blog on the first season of this show, I will claim it has my idea. Last but not least, I’m not directing anyone on the show to do anything….these are just heavy, straightforward suggestions.
The Original Cast
You’ve already given me some originals behind the scenes, and I am ecstatic about that. But and however, we’re going to need to see everyone, and I do mean everyone, in this show. They do not all have to be in the first season, but we got to see them with at least one of them being recurring. Musts for season one are as follows: Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, Charlene Brown, and Daryl Bell. I will allow you to slide without seeing Charlene and Cree in the first season, but the other three have to be there. Deborah Wayne is their daughter so we have to see her parents and Ron (Daryl Bell) is their godfather, so again, I need to see the family. I will give you time to figure out Sinbad (Tyler Perry did), Glynn Turman, and Dawn Lewis, but I want them all. Don’t worry, I need to see Jada, Bumper, Cory, Ajai, Karen, and Patrick (better known in the show as Lena, Dorian, Terrance, Gina, Charmaine, and Terrell.) Also, I will not accept these last few without the famed Dean Davenport. Go ahead and call Jennifer Lewis RIGHT NOW.
Extended Cast
I must see Mr. and Mrs. Wayne at some point. I just have to. It sucks that both actors that play Whitley’s parents have actually passed, but I still want acknowledgment of them. NO RECASTING. It is ok that these people are gone and it is ok that we mention that they are gone but were part of this family. Now, hear me out about the legacy this Mr. Gaines. Remember that episode where Velma was trying to get Mr. Gaines and his son to see eye to eye because Vernon just though his son was a lazy mooch. Since the great Lou Myers is gone and the kids need somewhere to eat, have his son run The Pit. The Pit just has to be there at Hillman. What is Hillman without the pit? What is an HBCU without the caf? Make him the new Mr. Gaines but in a different way. Show that he’s made his dad proud and then some. Also, we must see Velma because I love Bebe Drake. (There was a Velma before her but that actress was too soft. When Mrs. Bebe stepped in, we all were like, “Yup. That’s Velma.” I’m not quite sure what to do with Shazza, but I love looking at Gary, so make that call, too.
Lost Storylines
I didn’t know what else to call this section, but you know how in some shows they introduce you to someone and later on you’re like, “What ever happened to that person?” Perfect opportunity to bring Blair Underwood back as Zelmer, Tisha Campbell as Josie, Whoopi Goldberg as Dr. Jordan, and Billie Dee Williams as Langston Paige. Edafe Blackmon had a lot of cameos. Although he’s most remembered for playing Gina’s abusive boyfriend, I remember him as the frustrated French tutor that had to deal with Charmaine. These are people I always wanted to see again or wondered why we never got to really see a proper ending for them. As long as Magic Johnson has been alive and a personal friend of mine who has HIV, Josie should be on campus talking about medicines and Prep or whatever now. We’ve strayed away from HIV/AIDS talk but it’s still important. Zelmer and the whole conversation surrounding entering the military is so relevant today. You want to protect and serve, but with a certain man in office, is it better to serve your country or serve your community? I know the team is at work doing research abut what college students today are fighting for and I think it mirrors the past in a way. Now, we have more influence than we did due to these small devices in our hands that connect us to the world. AI is here and accessible for everyone. How does that effect the landscape of this show? I cannot wait to see how deep they go!
The Name “Deborah”
I read in one article that Deborah is their youngest child, which will be interesting if completely true. I need to know where the name Deborah came from because for some reason it’s not curling all they way over for me. It just seems like a name one of their parents came up with and Dwayne would argue that the child would sound like a lady with a pension. Something about it just doesn’t seem like the Waynes would have picked that name. Now, if we meet these other children and their names are what I anticipate they could be, then Deborah could make sense. But I need that origin story in their first episode. While we’re on the topic of Deborah, if she spent any amount of time in Tokyo before coming back to the States, I want some anime flair. Give me full Black girl Tokyo fashion gamer energy. I want her clothes to reflect that she’s been across the way. We don’t get to see many Black characters like that, but watching various Black female streamer, it’s a section of the Black experience I want to see on TV. Meg thee Stallion cannot be the only Black woman in entertainment watching “Jujutsu Kaisan.”Maybe Deborah wants to marry her mom’s love of art and her dad’s love of engineering into gaming. It’s almost the perfect major for her. I’m just saying, writers, call me.
Kim and Spencer
I know this is a show about the new babies, but I still want some carryover from the first iteration. Could this be my reoccurring roles? (It probably won’t because Charlene, I believe, teaches, but what if?!) They both wanted to be in the medical field and Hillman had a medical program that we didn’t see much of. We got a glimpse of Kim in class, but I think that was when she was in grad school. I’d love for Deborah, or one of her friends, to be a medical student (especially in a time where finding a doctor who looks like you is critical) and we get to see more of the program.
Therapy
Now, I know when Whitley went to therapy, we didn’t take it as seriously as we should have. This time, we might want to take therapy a little more seriously because it’s something Black people still struggle with. It’s the not wanting to tell a stranger your business. It’s the cost. It’s the stigma of thinking something has to be wrong with you to start therapy. It’s also the fear of what will come out in therapy that you don’t want to face just yet. I say all of this to day, someone has to be in therapy, and I must see Debbie Allen as that therapist Whitley had. HEAR ME OUT! There could be someone with some trauma that Deborah, or her friends, convince to go to therapy. Therapy is like dating so to make it funny before we get to the serious, make it a montage of this person meeting various therapists. One of those is Debbie Allen as Dr. Langhorne (I also stole this name for the therapist in the sequel book because I love the show that much!). Levity in pain. And here’s a bonus! Remember when I mentioned Gina’s abusive boyfriend. I don’t know how the kids will know Gina unless someone wants to pledge (which should also be an episode) but she is the perfect person to talk about needing to talk to someone after a traumatic event in their life.
Pledging
Speaking of pledging, maybe we do an episode where Whitley is encouraging her daughter to pledge, and there is some back and forth there. I know there has been some conversation about the Divine Nine, and I think it should be addressed without being disrespectful. I think you could do an episode where she doesn’t pledge and her reason is to just have her own identity. Carve her own path. Maybe the lesson is her sisterhood isn’t a group of strangers but her friends. Just a rough idea.
Trump Era Shenanigans
I don’t know what to call what Trump is doing, but this is the nicest thing I got for this administration. I know Mrs. Allen and the writers will make sure these students respond to the mess. BUT I want episodes like when we met Byron. He was a local running for office. Here’s something I was thinking. Note: I was watching a lot of “Scandal” weeks before this post. So, boom, what if you bring Joe Morton back as Byron with…wait for it….Kerry Washington as someone. Think about it. She is always with a candidate she believes in and is involved with politics to a certain degree and I think her energy could be fresh for this new generation.
LGBTQIA
The one thing we didn’t get deep into with the original was LGBTQIA rights to people for that matter. To make this matter a little funnier, I would love for an elder to be confused by pronouns and they just be a running joke throughout the show because that happens in real life. I want it to be a constant working on that elder to show others how to deal with people who won’t use their proper pronouns. I also really do want to see some representation for our Black and Brown transgender brothers and sisters. It might be a little slippery but I think we can do it.
Last but not least, call me! I’m a super fan and I would love to just come on set and watch someone direct. I don’t want to be on camera, but I’ve always wanted to see the behind the scenes of a set like “A Different World.” I have to shoot my shot here. Someone might read this.
