2053 replies to this topic

[DeeeDee]

Patti LaBelle and Diahann Carroll rocked! I loved that fight.

Whoever cast those two as Dwayne & Whitley's mothers should've been given an Emmy. Cause they were just too perfect.

I also liked the energy between the cast and all the different perspectives that they each brought to the table which gave a good respresentation (IMO) of what college is really like.

I was a Dwayne/Whitley shipper from day 1. They were perfect for each other, especially when Dwayne stopped being so nervous around her and started holding his own where she was concerned. They both gave as good as they got. And that wedding with the "Baby, baby PLEASE?" Love.it.

Lou Myers *always* used to get a laugh outta me in every episode. Mr. Gaines was just hilarious. "I thought I was the ONE." BWAH!

I wished they'd done a little more with Jaleesa, Brad, Ron, and Freddie though. Given their backgrounds it would've been interesting to hear a little more about their perspectives. Like the little bit we got about Jaleesa's abortion, Brad's marraige & history, or Freddie growing up in New Mexico or Ron's apparent issues with his Dad/family life.

I even liked the last year with Gina/Lena/Dorian/Charmange/Terrell. And I especially liked the continuity of the writers remembering by that point that Gina was a junior, Lena a sophmore and the other three freshmen. I also could see a lot of Dwayne/Ron in Dorian/Terrell but with their own unique spin. And with Lena/Gina/Charmagne they had some interesting perspectives to be mined there too. And throw in the divine Jenifer Lewis as Dean Davenport and you just have non-stop comedy gold.

Aja would crack me up as Gina. From her singing "When The Saints Go Marchin In" to her being surprsingly moving going through her domestic abuse storyline.

The five of them seemed really promising as the new generation.

And that episode where Lena's ex Piccolo (Tupac) visits? Never fails to crack me up. Looking back it's hard to believe that Piccolo's two friends were Monica Calhoun & Shaun Baker (Yum).

[Nflux Forever]

I was living in Virginia for about 2 months at the end of last year and I totally got hooked on the reruns which came on every afternoon and agree that the show got so much better after Lisa Bonet left. I'm left to wonder how easy it would have been for NBC to cancel it after she was gone but I'm glad they didn't. Ron's my favorite and I'm glad that he always had something to do. Anyone notice that Jasmine Guy wrote a few of the last season's episodes. I got to respect that.

[PostToastie]

Ron's my favorite and I'm glad that he always had something to do.

I finally started liking Ron in the later episodes. From time to time I even catch myself saying, "What in the HELL did you do that for?" in true Ron Johnson style.

[Julieyousuck]

I liked the first four years. The fifth year was alright, But I thought the final year with the new students was anooying and unwatchable. No wait let me take that back. The "Denise years" were painful viewing too. Who the Hell thought Lisa Bonet could carry a show? Puh-leaze! Also, they TOTALLY didn't get the concept in those days.

[Kuka]

Just a question: How did Charmaine get cast on DW rather than Pam?
_________

I remember one of the later Cosby episodes where Pam was making a dress for Charmaine and kept angrily sticking her with pins because she was chattering happily about college and Pam knew she couldn't afford to go. I believe the Huxtable parents agreed to help her with tuition. Maybe they changed their minds!

I liked Different World much better than Cosby. My favorites were the Sinbad years. That man is hilarious! Not too fond of the Denise year, or the preachy final year. I just liked that chunk of time with Sinbad, Freddie, Nice-Whitley, and not so dorky Dwayne. And of course I love me some Mr Gaines. I think Debbie Allen was directing at that time too.

[Nflux Forever]

Going back to what I said about Ron a few posts back. It would have been easy to keep Ron just as Dwayne's sidekick but thankfully his part was bigger than that. Loved his courtship of Kim which followed by his inexplicable hooking up with Freddie, which was ok. Just weird. It came out of nowhere.

[kariyaki]

I didn't think it came out of nowhere. Freddie and Ron's fights were always fraught with the requisite sitcom sexual tension. Remember that hurricane episode?

[Sunnybelle]

I love this show! Is there any talk about it coming to DVD?

My favorite episode was when Dwayne and Whitley got married. I really enjoyed the mothers and was very happy that Freddy found a way to make a change in the world without chaining herself to a tree.

I would like to see a reunion with the cast minus Denise.

[nea1982]

When did Whitley lose her virginity?

[Boots]

Whitley lost her virginity during the break between seasons 4 & 5. Season 4 ended with Dwayne proposing as she was about to get on a plane for New York. Then season 5 started with Dwayne and Whitley discussing their engagement, and how they spent the night together after he proposed.

Edited by Boots, Oct 29, 2005 @ 4:58 PM.

[PostToastie]

Lou Myers *always* used to get a laugh outta me in every episode.

'Oh my goodness...Oh my GOODNES!!!!"

I loved the episodes where they would make up songs. He would always complain about 'these children'

[TudorQueen]

This show had a strange effect on me. I never liked the Whitley/Dwayne pairing [thought it was cliched and both characters had to change too much to make it believable] but as soon as they broke up I wanted them to get back together. And one of my least favorite tv cliches in the world is the one where the female character is marrying the 'appropriate' guy [in most cases a rich WASP, in this case a Buppie politician] and the 'inappropriate' match - who the heroine really loves - crashes the wedding and the heroine leaves the inoffensive groom at the altar to be with her truelove...

But when they did it on DW I loved it. When Dwayne said "Whitley, baby PLEEEASE..." Kadeem Hardison's delivery just about tore my heart out and I was crying when she shouted "I do!" and ran to him.

So there's an exception to everything, it seems.

[ajra]

Just a question: How did Charmaine get cast on DW rather than Pam?
***
I remember one of the later Cosby episodes where Pam was making a dress for Charmaine and kept angrily sticking her with pins because she was chattering happily about college and Pam knew she couldn't afford to go. I believe the Huxtable parents agreed to help her with tuition. Maybe they changed their minds!

Pam didn't have the grades. She started pulling her grades up that year, but the counselor told her it wouldn't be enough and that she should go to community college.

The "baby please" at the wedding is my favorite DW moment (and one of my all-time favorite tv moments). My second favorite DW moment is the dorm dedication ceremony. That was another episode that was well done - especially the iciness between Dwayne and Whitley.

Edited by ajra, Mar 26, 2004 @ 10:00 PM.

[YourDensity]

I loved when Dwayne went on the date with a woman before he was going to marry Whitley and he said "Baby, everyone has doubts!" and she said "Doubts, Dwayne. Not.. dates." Just the way she delivered it.

This show really did have a heckuva lot of talent. I always enjoyed when they danced, or put on some sort of show. One that comes to mind is when they transform Kim from Mammy to a queen. It was a really well done piece. Also when they did the step dancing between dorms (early eppie).

Freddy was always one of my favorites, Cree Summer had great comic timing, facial expressions, but could turn on a dime and do serious as well...but it sort of bugged that Freddy ended up with Ron, imho. Ron just bothered me. I know he was supposed to.. but.. he just irritated the crap out of me sometimes. I did think he got off some great zingers from time to time.

I also loved Freddy's cousin (Matthew?) who had a thing with Kim. That was super cute. The best eppies were the Kenu-Dwayne-Whitley episodes. Absolutely hilarious.

And I loved Kim. She was fabulous. I'm so glad they're re-running on TBS.

[AndYourPointIs]

That "Dwayne breaks up Whitley's wedding" scene is also one of my all-time favorite scenes. Both KH and JG did great in that scene and they took a cliche and made it their own (tm Paula Abdul). So many ways that could have gone wrong, but it went so right.

After that, though, the show kind of tail-spinned into mediocrity, imho, which I suppose the network agreed with because after the wedding, the next season was the last and it didn't even finish its entire run. Reruns 4eva, though, as they say.

[appleeyes84]

That "Dwayne breaks up Whitley's wedding" scene is also one of my all-time favorite scenes. Both KH and JG did great in that scene and they took a cliche and made it their own (tm Paula Abdul). So many ways that could have gone wrong, but it went so right.

The funny part is, that I was spoiled that the whole thing was going to happen because my mother read it in Star or the Enquirer ahead of time. That was the only episode I taped and I watched it 600 times after that so it still had an effect on me.

I do wish that the show ended after that season though. I didn't care for the new characters. Freddie's personality transformation came out of nowhere for me. Jaleesa wasn't there anymore and I even missed Terrance.

[Frogbone72]

I believe I saw Kim for the first time since being on DW on an episode of Girlfriends the other week.

[DeeeDee]

Freddie's personality transformation came out of nowhere for me.

I thought that Freddie's arc was one of most organic & sharply executed ones ever on the show IMO. The only arc(s) that rivaled hers on the show was Whitley's individual arc, Dwayne's individual arc, the Whitley/Dwayne 'ship arc, & Ron's overall arc.

I really felt for Col. Taylor, Jalesa, & especially Kim whose arcs all fell apart for various reasons. The newer kids (Lena/Gina/Charmange/Dorian/Terrell) arcs seemed interesting, but didn't get a chance to fully play out IMO.

Edited by DeeeDee, May 1, 2004 @ 4:30 PM.

[kariyaki]

I thought that Freddie's arc was one of most organic & sharply executed ones ever on the show IMO.

I liked that too about Freddie. In her early eps, she was a writing major but then she got into all the proactive causes. I like that she discovered that law was a way she could make a real difference.

[DeeeDee]

I liked that too about Freddie. In her early eps, she was a writing major but then she got into all the proactive causes. I like that she discovered that law was a way she could make a real difference.

ITA Kariyaki. Her development is subtle & complex but was great to watch unfold IMO.

When she first arrived at Hillman she was very naieve, sweet & idealistic.

As her friendships/relationships started to gain depth & she became aware of various issues/causes she gained an underlying cynicsm & became quite outspoken while still attempting (desperately at times) to retain her idealism & initial values.

Once she decided to go into law she managed to streamline her focus & goals, while still staying true to herself & her beliefs.

Which is why Freddie ending up with Ron was almost poetic justice since his overall arc pretty much went the exact opposite way IMO.

Edited by DeeeDee, May 1, 2004 @ 5:51 PM.

[kariyaki]

Once she decided to go into law she managed to streamline her focus & goals, while still staying true to herself & her beliefs.

Exactly. Freddie realized that petitions and protests, while they have good ideals behind them, really do very little to incite change. I also liked how, when her friends were scoffing at her for selling out, she was all, "Well, when you end up in jail for a protest, guess who's going to be the one to bail you out of it?"

[Frogbone72]

I really felt for Col. Taylor, Jalesa, & especially Kim whose arcs all fell apart for various reasons. The newer kids (Lena/Gina/Charmange/Dorian/Terrell) arcs seemed interesting, but didn't get a chance to fully play out IMO.

You're right. When they paired the Colonel and Jalesa together that was just a bad move IMO. Jalesa kinda lost some steam after Sinbad left the show. The writers seem like they could never figure out what to do with her after that.

[kforr981]

Jalesa kinda lost some steam after Sinbad left the show.

You're right. Remember the "Sheila is Jaleesa" ep with Sinbad and that awful dread wig? After he left, they didn't even really keep the Jaleesa/Whitley rivalry thing going. Why do you think that was?

[PostToastie]

After he left, they didn't even really keep the Jaleesa/Whitley rivalry thing going. Why do you think that was?

I think because after he left, almost the entire focus of the show was Whitley/Dwayne. Whitley had to have some place close to Dwayne to live so they moved her in with Jaleesa.

[DeeeDee]

You're right. Remember the "Sheila is Jaleesa" ep with Sinbad and that awful dread wig? After he left, they didn't even really keep the Jaleesa/Whitley rivalry thing going. Why do you think that was?

I liked the Jalesa/Walter 'ship and that's probably my favorite J/W ep. When he comes through the door with the rest of his "band" in that wig, I always crack up laughing.



I think Jalesa's was a very interesting character. The writing in the first season was very sharp for her because she was supposed to be a counterpoint to flaky Denise IMO. Whitley was still being written for in a broad sense which in turn didn't give the divine Jasmine Guy much to work with at that point.

Once Denise left I think that Jalesa lost her primary "sparring partner" and the writers were sort of at a loss of what to do with her since she was older & more experienced than Freddie & Kim and even the Whitley/Dwayne/Ron group.

So she became sort of the big sister to the rest of the group and a sort of-adult (dorm monitor/RA), which conincided with her hooking up with Walter. At that point the writing really went off the hinges for her character since J/W was written rather broadly and the focus was more on Walter (and Sinbad) than her IMO.

By the time Sinbad decided to leave the show, Jalesa was ready to graduate but with Whitley staying in school for another year, the Whitley/Dwayne 'ship gaining steam & Freddie, Ron, and Kim all getting heavier airplay lead to Jalesa sort of being squeezed out.

I thought once she graduated she was going to get "heavier" storylines that would somehow relate back to the rest of the main cast but she only ended up playing an odd couple relationship with Whitley and then eventually marrying Col. Taylor out of the blue.

Jalesa/Brad was a real opportunity to explore & give both characters much need story but sadly it didn't.

Edited by DeeeDee, May 6, 2004 @ 5:55 AM.

[YourDensity]

Though I'm glad Kim ended up with Spencer (I think her and Ron was just WRONG, heck Ron and Freddy was wrong imho, I just didn't like Ron with ANYONE) I was sort of bummed when they abandoned Freddy's cousin Matthew and Kim's relationship. I thought that was really nice pairing and could have opened up an entire slew of interesting plotlines.

But, Spencer was foxy, and I thought he was cool. So. Good for them.

For me the show peaked when Dwayne was with Kenu (KeeKooKalah as Whitley would say) Whitley was with Julian and Freddy WASN'T with Ron.

I liked Kim & Freddy single as well, because then they went out and hit on guys, and that was fun.

[DeeeDee]

For me the show peaked when Dwayne was with Kenu (KeeKooKalah as Whitley would say) Whitley was with Julian and Freddy WASN'T with Ron.

That whole arc was hilarious and Patti Labelle was just the icing on the cake IMO. Whitley bugging the hell out of KeeKooKalah in a French Maid's uniform was perfect. I always knew that Dwayne didn't love Kenu, simply because she didn't challenge him the way that Whit did. I think Whitley also had a similar experience in her relationship with Julian.

I liked Ron/Kim and felt like the pairing should've been explored more because I always saw them as two almost tragically mismatched people, subtlely looking to latch onto something they see in the other.


That's why I liked Freddie with Ron because they were very much alike and yet very much different. It was a shame they didn't spinoff the older group Whit, Dwayne, Ron, Freddie, Kim, Brad, Jalesa (and possibly Gina) onto a different show since Ron/Freddie had the potential to be as interesting as Dwayne/Whitley IMO.


I also liked Kim/Matthew and given her Mammy issues that emerged later, thought they could've also been explored in more depth IMO.

I loved Freddie-Kim-Whitley as friends. They used to make me crack up laughing when they had scenes just of the three of them hanging out together and Whitley calling Freddie, Freddie-La. LOL.

Edited by DeeeDee, May 6, 2004 @ 3:31 PM.

[Frogbone72]

also liked Kim/Matthew and given her Mammy issues that emerged later, thought they could've also been explored in more depth IMO.

I missed that. What happen.

[YourDensity]

I missed that. What happen.

That was a great episode. Basically, they're doing an expo of African-American art/culture through paintings, dance, performances etc at Hillman. One of the exhibits Whitley wants to display is Mammy, who is part of the culture according to Whitley. Many people believe Mammy is a stereotype, and Whitley insists it goes in.

Kim is particularly offended by it, because she thinks she has been compared to Mammy as a child because she has darker skin, because she has more meat on her. She says "Who looks more like Mammy...?" Later, Ron and Dwayne are doing "you're momma's so black" and "your momma is so fat" jokes and Kim goes off. She says she can't be a part of the dance or any of it. Mr. Gaines imparts wisdom about the "colors of the rainbow" and how it's part of the past they have to accept and that Mammy is not something to be ashamed of, but to celebrate as part of their history.

Then they have this kickass dance finale where Kim comes out dressed like Mammy in this HUGE hoop skirt, Freddy comes out from under the skirt, and they take the stereotype and rework Kim's costume into that of an African Queen. It's an amazing transformation and the episode was really interesting, they really dug deep and discussed alot of taboo subjects in a very intelligent way, imho.