A Different World (Season 1)

Reconcilable Differences (Episode 1) 7.0

Writer: Thad Mumford

Air date: 1987-09-24

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Pilot (Episode 2)

Writer: Carmen Finestra

Air date: 1987-10-01

Runtime: 30 min

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

Porky de Bergerac (Episode 3)

Air date: 1987-10-15

Runtime: 30 min

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

Those Who Can't... Tutor (Episode 4)

Air date: 1987-10-22

Runtime: 30 min

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

War of the Words (Episode 5)

Writer: Joe Gannon

Air date: 1987-10-29

Runtime: 30 min

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

Rudy and the Snow Queen (Episode 6)

Air date: 1987-11-05

Runtime: 30 min

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

Sometimes You Get the Bear, Sometimes the Bear Gets You (Episode 7)

Writer: Thad Mumford

Air date: 1987-11-19

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

If Chosen, I May Not Run (Episode 8)

Writer: Thad Mumford

Air date: 1987-12-03

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Romancing Mr. Stone (Episode 9)

Writer: Scott S. Gorden

Air date: 1987-12-10

Runtime: 30 min

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

The Gift of the Magi (Episode 10)

Air date: 1987-12-17

Runtime: 30 min

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

Does He or Doesn't He? (Episode 11)

Writer: Thad Mumford

Air date: 1988-01-07

Runtime: 30 min

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

Advise and Descent (Episode 12)

Air date: 1988-01-14

Runtime: 30 min

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

The Prime of Miss Lettie Bostic (Episode 13)

Writer: Thad Mumford

Air date: 1988-01-21

Runtime: 30 min

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

Wild Child (Episode 14)

Air date: 1988-02-04

Runtime: 30 min

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

Dr. Cupid (Episode 15) 8.0

Air date: 1988-02-11

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

The Show Must Go On (Episode 16)

Writer: Steven Peterman

Air date: 1988-02-18

Runtime: 30 min

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

Mr. Hillman (Episode 17)

Air date: 1988-02-25

Runtime: 30 min

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

Speech Therapy (Episode 18)

Air date: 1988-03-10

Runtime: 30 min

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

Clair's Last Stand (Episode 19)

Writer: Thad Mumford

Air date: 1988-03-24

Runtime: 30 min

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

If Only for One Night (Episode 20)

Air date: 1988-04-28

Runtime: 30 min

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

Come Back, Little Eggby (Episode 21)

Writer: Scott S. Gorden

Air date: 1988-05-05

Runtime: 30 min

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

My Dinner With Theo (Episode 22)

Writer: Scott S. Gorden

Air date: 1988-07-07

Runtime: 30 min

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