SCHOOL DAZE
VS.
A DIFFERENT WORLD
FIRST OF ALL
I remember sitting in the theater and realizing that School Daze was more the college crew I knew while the students on A Different World at that time seemed more like
"After School Special" College.
However, I have always disliked comparing things just cause "they both black."
Soooooo I had said I was never going to write about School Daze Vs. A Different World.
Fast Forward to the virus panic and Spike Lee claiming Bill Cosby ripped off his idea for A Different World and here we are!
I remember sitting in the theater and realizing that School Daze was more the college crew I knew while the students on A Different World at that time seemed more like
"After School Special" College.
However, I have always disliked comparing things just cause "they both black."
Soooooo I had said I was never going to write about School Daze Vs. A Different World.
Fast Forward to the virus panic and Spike Lee claiming Bill Cosby ripped off his idea for A Different World and here we are!
Which Came First Mission or Hillman?
This may be a long confusing story , especially if you do not follow the inside stories of entertainment.
I will make this as easy as I know how.
Both Mission College and Hillman are fictional colleges to a degree....however...
Mission College was first.
Spike attended but did not graduate from Morehouse College in Atlanta , Ga. School Daze is based on a home coming weekend at "Mission College."
While Cosby gets credit for putting HBCU's on National TV.
He did not attend a Black College.
WHY WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD ON TV in 1987
and SCHOOL DAZE was not in theaters until 1988?
Entertainment production does not release content in real time.
Basic production of a film can be from 2 to 4 years from the time the project is green lit till it comes to a theater.
So Spike had most likely been in pre-production around 1986.
A Different World reached the masses because in 1987 when you are Bill Cosby and your show is number one in all America...your network will want another show and hopefully another show to get after yours.
Cosby was so hot in 1987 if NBC ran The Roller Derby after The Cosby Show Thursdays at 8:30pm .......The Derby would have been in the top 5 every week.
So TV is quicker to produce and even quicker with all the wind in the sails of Cosby.
I will make this as easy as I know how.
Both Mission College and Hillman are fictional colleges to a degree....however...
Mission College was first.
Spike attended but did not graduate from Morehouse College in Atlanta , Ga. School Daze is based on a home coming weekend at "Mission College."
While Cosby gets credit for putting HBCU's on National TV.
He did not attend a Black College.
WHY WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD ON TV in 1987
and SCHOOL DAZE was not in theaters until 1988?
Entertainment production does not release content in real time.
Basic production of a film can be from 2 to 4 years from the time the project is green lit till it comes to a theater.
So Spike had most likely been in pre-production around 1986.
A Different World reached the masses because in 1987 when you are Bill Cosby and your show is number one in all America...your network will want another show and hopefully another show to get after yours.
Cosby was so hot in 1987 if NBC ran The Roller Derby after The Cosby Show Thursdays at 8:30pm .......The Derby would have been in the top 5 every week.
So TV is quicker to produce and even quicker with all the wind in the sails of Cosby.
A Different World was no SCHOOL DAZE
Season One of A Different World was cute and many of us watched because it remains a positive presentation of Black people and more importantly...
A. Young Black People
B. Older Black People as mentors.
However, I remember being shocked seeing ADW stars Jazmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison and Darryl Bell in School Daze. Then as the film progressed I recall thinking "This is going to force Cosby to change A Different World."
Which it did.
The depth of the issues discussed in School Daze from sex, to skin tone , to apartheid in South Africa...School Daze was "All In The Family" season one of ADW was "Andy Griffith."
So even if ADW had been first.
ADW owed the great show it become to Spike.
Season One of A Different World was cute and many of us watched because it remains a positive presentation of Black people and more importantly...
A. Young Black People
B. Older Black People as mentors.
However, I remember being shocked seeing ADW stars Jazmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison and Darryl Bell in School Daze. Then as the film progressed I recall thinking "This is going to force Cosby to change A Different World."
Which it did.
The depth of the issues discussed in School Daze from sex, to skin tone , to apartheid in South Africa...School Daze was "All In The Family" season one of ADW was "Andy Griffith."
So even if ADW had been first.
ADW owed the great show it become to Spike.
At it's release and for years after.
School Daze was the hands down winner.
School Daze was the hands down winner.
As the years and time has rolled on.
A Different World is truly in it's own lane.
Especially for the millions of fans that have enjoyed A Different World but have never seen School Daze or were born in 1988.
A Different World is truly in it's own lane.
Especially for the millions of fans that have enjoyed A Different World but have never seen School Daze or were born in 1988.
A Different World started off very sugary but by Season 4
the show had discussed not only Homecoming at an HBCU but deeper topics such as
the "new" HIV AIDS disease.
the show had discussed not only Homecoming at an HBCU but deeper topics such as
the "new" HIV AIDS disease.
It can said that almost every topic discussed in School Daze had been dealt with in ADW and more.
As a teacher. I could never use School Daze to teach with my students, but I have used several episodes of ADW to open discussions on
What Are HBCU's and why are they important?
Date Rape
Dating Abuse
and more.
School Daze is streaming on Netflix.
I watched it just before writing this.
School Daze is a jewel that gets more remarkable every time I see it. Which maybe why I paid to see it 3 or 4 times in 1988.
You truly do not get to the show
A Different World which still inspires students to pick Black Colleges with out School Daze.
A Different World every season
is now on Amazon Prime.
If the government ever lets us back out...I plan on watching with my niece.
Both are great works of art that make me proud.
Do yourself a favor and enjoy them both...with out thinking as hard as I did about the dates and comparisons.
As a teacher. I could never use School Daze to teach with my students, but I have used several episodes of ADW to open discussions on
What Are HBCU's and why are they important?
Date Rape
Dating Abuse
and more.
School Daze is streaming on Netflix.
I watched it just before writing this.
School Daze is a jewel that gets more remarkable every time I see it. Which maybe why I paid to see it 3 or 4 times in 1988.
You truly do not get to the show
A Different World which still inspires students to pick Black Colleges with out School Daze.
A Different World every season
is now on Amazon Prime.
If the government ever lets us back out...I plan on watching with my niece.
Both are great works of art that make me proud.
Do yourself a favor and enjoy them both...with out thinking as hard as I did about the dates and comparisons.
Join me on Facebook Live at 4pm as we discuss School Daze Vs. A Different World!
--------------------
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