What Might Have Been
Posted July 13th, 2006 by RD Heldenfels
Imagine a race-reversing variation on "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" starring Marisa Tomei and Kadeem Hardison. Debbie Allen thought that would have been a good idea for "A Different World" but she never got to do it.
Allen is here for a "Different World" reunion panel, tied to Nick at Nite's telecasts of "Different World" reruns beginning July 19. A lot of the discussion has involved how uneasy television can still be about matters of race. The cast sees their ensemble anticipating "Friends" (and wonders why, after "Different World's" college life, they couldn't have grown into their own ensemble comedy if NBC was looking for "Friends"-ish ideas). Dawnn Lewis said she did a pilot that was never picked up even though it had an "Alias"-like premise two years before "Alias."
As for Tomei, she was on "Different World" the first season, playing a white student at the school's African-American college. When Allen came in as producer in the show's second season, she wanted to address the racial contrast, making Tomei's character a good friend with Dwayne Wayne (Hardison) and then having her go home for the holidays with Dwayne.
"They didn't like that idea," Allen said. Instead, she said, the show's executives dropped Tomei. But she did all right. Hardison recalled telling Tomei that she'd probably win an Oscar one day — and Tomei did, for "My Cousin Vinny."
July 21st, 2006 at 6:57 pm
I think that a reunion show (tele-movie), versus a series would be a great idea. The "draw" could be the 150 year anniversary of the University. Everyone could come back - and would for such an occasion.
They can play Avery and from there - so much can be logically brought into that scenarios. Everyone from the Huxtables to the "kids" that didn't graduate could attend. Olivia could be a sophomore, trying to decide where the pledge process is for her. Whitley and family could be present to name a law research center in the name of her father. It was just be too cool if Dwayne and Whitley's kid spoke Japanese. And even Earle Hyman can revised his role as a participant in a ceremony recognizing some of the oldest living Hillman grads.
They can even run into the guys at the game that Ron and Dwayne had a run in with before, finding out the one may have become an ACLU attorney because of the experience, but all sharing how there life was better from the experience.
And Maggie should come back as an actress, having finished her degree in LA while becoming discovered. But through it all, she would express her first love for the start and love that she got at Hillman.
I think things should wrap with Denise telling Martin that she was to have her graduate degree say Hillman, because it means so much to she and her family. With promise that this time…she stay the course.