<P> A Different World is an American sitcom (and a spin - off of The Cosby Show) that aired for six seasons on NBC from September 24, 1987 to July 9, 1993 . The series originally centered on Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) and the life of students at Hillman College, a fictional historically black college in Virginia . It was inspired by student life at historically black colleges and universities . After Bonet's departure in the first season, the remainder of the series primarily focused more on Southern belle Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) and math whiz Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison). </P> <P> While it was a spin - off from The Cosby Show, A Different World typically addressed issues that were avoided by The Cosby Show writers (race and class relations, or the Equal Rights Amendment). One episode that aired in 1990 was one of the first American network television episodes to address the HIV / AIDS epidemic . The original premise was to have a white student there and have Lena Horne as an acting teacher, but in production, the premise changed from being a story about a white girl in a black college to a black girl (Denise Huxtable) in a black college with a white friend . It was ultimately decided that Denise, who was of college age, would be spun off and have a white roommate in order to show the dynamic of a white girl in predominantly black surroundings . Meg Ryan was originally cast for this role, but she decided to pursue a film career, so Marisa Tomei was cast . The first season of Hillman's student body consisted of both black and white students, but this was changed at the beginning of the second season and a very predominantly black student body maintained until the series ended . </P> <P> After the first season, it came to Cosby's and the producers' attention that the series was not accurately portraying a historically black college and life on campus, so Debbie Allen, an alumna of Howard University, was hired as the chief creative force to revamp the show . During the summer of 1988, Lisa Bonet announced that she and husband Lenny Kravitz were having a baby . Allen was in favor of having a young pregnant student in the show, but Cosby said that Lisa Bonet may be pregnant but not Denise Huxtable . It was felt that viewers would not accept Denise as an unwed mother, having grown to know her as a "good girl" after four seasons of The Cosby Show . Thus it was decided that Denise would drop out of Hillman, return home to her family, and eventually travel to Africa throughout the fifth season of The Cosby Show, ensuring that viewers would not see a pregnant Denise . Allen was also in favor of keeping Tomei, as she herself recalls a white student at Howard and wanted to relate that in the show and even had possible premises for her character, such as meeting Dwayne's parents and seeing the other side of racism . However, Tomei left the show, and she and Marie - Alise Recasner were replaced by Cree Summer and Charnele Brown, respectively . Darryl M. Bell and Sinbad were promoted to the principal cast, and Glynn Turman and Lou Myers were added as supporting cast members . These changes led to the placement of Whitley and Dwayne at the center of a wider ensemble, dealing with more relevant issues of the day . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Actor </Th> <Th> Character </Th> <Th_colspan="6"> Seasons </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> 5 </Th> <Th> 6 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lisa Bonet </Td> <Td> Denise Huxtable </Td> <Td> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> Guest </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Marisa Tomei </Td> <Td> Maggie Lauten </Td> <Td> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dawnn Lewis </Td> <Td> Jaleesa Vinson - Taylor </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> Main </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jasmine Guy </Td> <Td> Whitley Marion Gilbert </Td> <Td_colspan="6"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Loretta Devine </Td> <Td> Stevie Rallen </Td> <Td> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kadeem Hardison </Td> <Td> Dwayne Cleophus Wayne </Td> <Td_colspan="6"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mary Alice </Td> <Td> Leticia "Lettie" Bostic </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Darryl M. Bell </Td> <Td> Ronald "Ron" Marlon Johnson </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sinbad </Td> <Td> Coach Walter Oakes </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Charnele Brown </Td> <Td> Kimberly Reese </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cree Summer </Td> <Td> Winifred "Freddie" Brooks </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Glynn Turman </Td> <Td> Colonel Bradford Taylor </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lou Myers </Td> <Td> Vernon Gaines </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ajai Sanders </Td> <Td> Gina Deveaux </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Recurring </Td> <Td> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jada Pinkett </Td> <Td> Lena James </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Karen Malina White </Td> <Td> Charmaine Tyesha Brown </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> Guest </Td> <Td> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="16"> After leaving the series, Lisa Bonet returned for a guest appearance as Denise in season three (episode: "Forever Hold Your Peace"). Prior to joining the cast as a regular, Karen Malina White appears as Charmaine in season five (episode: "Conflict of Interest"). </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Where did denise go in a different world
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