Season One, Episode Two: "Pilot"

Oddly enough, this SECOND episode is titled "Pilot" and the first episode had a real name, "Reconcilable Differences".

We start off with Dwayne being a stalker. Er, pursuing Denise who has no interest. Stevie tells him to get lost.

Stevie has a new lesbian hair cut. Denise isn't there to complain about Jaleesa. She's late with her dorm fees, despite everyone else paying on time. I find it weird Stevie goes to the Bursar office. When I was in college, we had to go there ourselves. Stevie basically tells her she's a rude bitch in her nice way. Speaking of rude, Denise almost forgets to pay Jaleesa's fee that she promised to pay because Jaleesa lent her money. Who would loan Denise any thing?! Bitch is unreliable.

Whitley comes in and they discuss Maggie, the new army brat roommate  Whitley only makes this appearance and she's looking dated. Stevie said Jaleesa and Denise are getting a new roommate. Apparently, there was a sale on lesbian hair cuts as Jaleesa is supporting one, too.

Whitley looks like Prince and Jaleesa looks like Bobby Brown.

Cut to their dorm room. Denise wants to decorate the room with stuff that looks like a prop that was rejected from The Lost Boys. She is annoyed Jaleesa isn't annoyed they're getting a new room mate. We find out Jaleesa has eight siblings.

Cue Maggie a day early. Maggie is white and a motor mouth. Basically, she's a white(r) version of Denise.

I had forgotten how haggard Marissa Tomei looks. She looks younger almost 30 years later.

Poor Jaleesa. Maggie and Denise are already plotting against her. Both want to go to the flea market for more ugly shit. However, they're both idiots and Jaleesa has to help them function. Literally, she has to help them decide who gets what bunk.

Surprise surprise. Denise's dorm fees bounced. She's indignant the bank yelled at her. She's $180 over drawn, because she's too stupid to keep a bank book. While Maggie's being nice to her, she remembered she covered Jaleesa's fees, too. I hope Jaleesa kicks her flighty ass. Despite her earlier niceness, Maggie doesn't seem to care the other two will get the boot.

Denise thinks the bank will loan her money, because she's a moron. Maggie suggests asking her parents for money. That idea is shot down, because Denis wants to seem responsible. I guess she forgot Cliff and Claire have known her whole life...

Denise applies for a job over the phone. She also wants a 200 dollar advance from a minimum wage job. Things are finally blowing up in her face.

Two episodes in and we're already seeing a Cosby Show cross over. I guess Bill Cosby had little faith in the show. Rudy messed with Denis over the phone. Cliff walks in and messes with Denise, because he knows she's a flighty moron. He can sense when people want money. When he genuinely shows concern when she pretends every thing is fine. Despite also needing money for Jaleesa. There's no fooling Cliff who tells Rudy he knows Denise needs money. He also calls her “pud”. I wonder if that was a Jello plug.

"I gave you your own show. Now, stop calling here" - Cliff

Denise goes back to her room (for the time being) not caring that Jaleesa will also get kicked out. Maggie doesn't seem to care, either.

Jaleesa comes back from work. She claims a guy flirted with her with tooth picks. What a gem of writing. :/

Maggie tries to break the news to Jaleesa with a bunch of stupid cliches. Denise tells her. Despite the news, Jaleesa doesn't seem that mad. I guess she's happy she might not have her as a roommate any more. She tells Denise to be a baby, because she knows it would take her too long to grow up if she's even capable of growing up.

Denise all of sudden has a sense of pride. In what I don't know. Maggie keeps tries to inject herself into the situation. Jaleesa walks out determined to get the money. Saying she'll even call her ex if she has to. I wish they would have left it open. I liked the idea of Jaleesa being willing to sell her body for dorm fees.

Maggie tells Denise to go to the Dean of Students, because she thinks they have some deep connection.

Denise catches the end of his class to talk to him. The class looks like it has furniture from 1920. We see the dean is a hard ass.

I'll prove I'm a mature woman by walking into the classroom like a five year old. What is it with all these old male students? Look at the guy with the tie.

Dr. Harris reveals he knows Denise and her 1.7 (“I'm working on it”) gpa. He basically reads her. Don't be impressed, most of the things you can tell by just looking at her. He also reveals this isn't her first (or third!) rubber check. As he calls it “bounce city”.

"Da faq you want?"

Cringe worthy moment of the show is when she has a “need” for a student loan. Harris reminds her she had a doctor father and a lawyer mother. She tries to have a heartfelt scene where she says she's tried of her parents coming to her rescue. You know, $200 is too much to ask, but making your parents watch your stepchild while you're with with your husband is the least they can do. About $370 now a days according to the inflation calculator (you're welcome ;) )

Damn it! Harris falls for her pride act and offers her a part time job. However, he does look revolted when she hugs him. I would be, too. She looks like she smells like patchouli.

Jaleesa couldn't call her husband. While having a heart felt talk with Maggie, she calls her old.

Denise comes in and acts like she got a job on her own and shows off her uniform. While she should be grateful, she sounds disgusted. We find out Jaleesa is her boss.

Cue to The Cosby Show (yes, again). Ruby and Cliff are playing chess. Cliff doesn't trust Rudy not to cheat. He doesn't turn his back to answer the phone.

I don't blame him. I wouldn't trust a girl with the mustache Rudy will grown when she turns about 10.

Denise calls to brag. She claims he should be proud, too. Cliff senses she's ok.

"Are you eating your Jello Pudding? Ha ha ha"

Back to the dorm and the ugly lamp. Maggie and Jaleesa are sleeping. Denise has no problem stepping on Maggie's face to get to bed. Denise demands an apology from Jaleesa, despite agreeing with her reasoning for yelling at her. Maggie pretends to be Jaleesa and apologizes. Maggie's tone of voice makes it seem she also thinks Jaleesa is a lesbian. I don't blame her, because she only knows her with that new hair cut. Everyone laughs at how moronic they are. Maggie starts a stupid story that no one wants to hear.

I feel like this blog is going to weird, because I feel at times I'm going to say things that some of y'all KNOW and that some of y'all don't know. I know this, because when I talk to the younger generation (teens and younger) they have no idea what A Different World is. If you think that's sad, I remember talking to a group of teenagers bringing up Aliyah and was met with “Who?!”. Parents what are you teaching your babies?! Obviously, not taste.

As some of you know, A Different World started off as a spin off of The Cosby Show. The second oldest daughter, Denise Huxtable (every time I say or write Huxtable, I always think of the time Vanessa's boyfriend said “Thank you Doctah Huxztablllle!” like he was drunk), going to college. This will be the first and last time I mention their last name. I also mention the connection, because The Cosby Show had broadway style opening sequences. The opening for the first season has always been really disappointing to me. The first season is mostly disappointing. Honestly, it's been a few years (decade?) since I've seen it. It really doesn't affect most of the show.

The first episode starts out with Dwayne Wayne being a douchebag and talking to the audience. To pan out and realize and he's just harassing a bunch of young women trying to getting settled into the dorm. It's sort of like the Cos knows Lisa Bonet won't be sticking around long. As much as I don't like Dwayne, I always liked his double glasses (whatever you call them).

He's quickly put in place by the dorm director. She's cool and all. WTF? Why would Dwayne think she was a student? She's clearly old enough to be his mom.

Next, Denise comes in. Dwayne acts like she's a goddess and say his name is Earl. Denise acts like well Denise. Just flighty and annoying. We learn the dorm director's name is Stevie. She finally gets Dwayne out. On a side note, despite The Cosby Show stating Cliff is older than Claire, according to Denise they're the same age. That's the sort of flighty shit I'm talking about. She also seems too awe struck for a sophomore. I had forgotten she wasn't a freshmen.

Next, we met Whitley. It's established she's southern and rich. She's supposed to be annoying, but I'm going to confess I've always loved Whitley. I'm not sure why, she wants to deal with Denise who acts like she hates her. Whitley is looking good in her red and black assemble. I could imagine rocking that in 2014. I'm so jelly of her LV luggage.

                                                                    (check the fur!)

Whitley gives the tea about Jaleisa. Denise claims she doesn't care.

Despite not caring, Denise acts like an asshole infront of Jaleisa . Jaleisa puts her in her place. She was married, no kids, and her husband cheated.

We see Denise is a pig and has a ton of clothes. Not sure why, considering she always looks like she's wearing rags. We also find out Jaleisa is a neat freak. Cue odd couple music.

Dwayne continues to stalk Denise. I actually like her outfit. It's implied he's giving her a manifesto he gives out to any girl that catches his eye. Dwayne really comes off as a rapist/serial killer in the first episode.

                                                " You're my bitch until I kill ya!!!!!!"

Denise goes to complain to Stevie. We find out she's mom. Her son is J.T. His time is short, but his voice is the cliche tv what children should sound like voice.

Denise whines about Jaleisa not putting up with her shit. Stevie tries to pawn her on Whitley, but Denise is even more pissed at that thought. I'm not usually one for passive aggressive people, but I like show Stevie subtly shades Denise. Especially when she tells her “And remember, getting along with different people is a sign of growing up”. Basically, calling her out for being immature.

Denise goes back to room and let's it slip, she told on Jaleisa to Stevie. I think Jaleisa handles it well. Being firm, but not a bitch. She knows Denise is looking for any reason to complain. Denise don't like being read, and threatens to get a new room mate.

We cut to Denise and Whitley’s room. I'm jealous of her ability to “buy everything”. Despite my love of Whitley, she wants to commit disability fraud and put a wheelchair in her car to get disable parking spots. That was cringe worthy.

We find out Whitley “likes” Denise, because her father has a respectable job. Whitley's father is a judge.

Whitley locks her phone. I don't blame her. Denise is selfish and inconsiderate. Again, Whitley is wearing an outfit I feel could be worn in 2014.

We are introduced to The Pitt. It will become a staple meeting place.

Denise tries to have a heart to heart with Whitley, but she's checking out guys who look way too old be in college. Whitley points them out. Then, they fight over who one of the guys is interested in. Chip comes over and is interested in Denise. Whitley’s wearing her first outfit that is dated.

A 26 year old woman is scandalous. These guys look at least 30. No one minds. 

Dwayne comes over to Whitley. History is beginning.

Whitley “gives it to” Denise. She used Dwanye to dance and gets Chip to help her with her convertible. She also calls Denise fat.

Whitley plays a tape of crickets chirping and Denise gets pissed off. Whitley basically tells her to take a seat. She puts the tape back on and goes to sleep on the couch in the common room.

Jaleisa comes down with a letter and gloats. Denise plays it off like her and Whitley get along. In proving how good they get along, she loses her shit. Despite treating Jaleisa like shit and going behind her back to Stevie, she wants sympathy and to be the victim. Not much different than how she acted on The Cosby Show.

Jaleisa isn't falling for it, Denise begs to be taken back. I actually like Jaleisa's outfit. Even Denise's pajamas are ugly.

Denise is annoyed Jaleisa won't just forgive like everyone does in Brooklyn. She claims Jaleisa has a chip on her shoulder, despite imo Jaleisa just not wanting her to be a bossy huge pig. I guess even bossy pigs have rights.

Jaleisa shares a touching scene (and great acting) about wanting the typical college experience, but no one wanting to be her roommate. Denise shows she's a bitch by correcting her when she gets a part of rumor people are spreading about her incorrect.

Then, they compete over who was more wrong. As stupid as that was, at least they both laugh over it and realize it's stupid. Jaleisa than asks how they got into college. Good question. I'm really not getting how Denise got in and made it a whole year. Two semesters! My theory is Claire made a “donation”. Cliff is cheap. Any other theories?