‘A Different World’ Stars Darryl M. Bell and Kadeem Hardison Launch Weekly Rewatch Podcast

Just in time for the revival of “A Different World” now airing on Netflix, original stars Darryl M. Bell and Kadeem Hardison — who also have major roles in the new series — are set to launch a weekly rewatch podcast. From iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God’s Black Effect Podcast Network, “A Different World View with Darryl & Kadeem” will premiere next Thursday, Oct. 15. New episodes will drop every Thursday.

“A Different World” executive producer and director Debbie Allen, who is also a part of the revival, will serve as the podcast’s first guest. Bell and Hardison will kick off their rewatch with the original series’ Season 2, Episode 2, which was Allen’s first episode with the series.

Allen is known for helping transform “A Different World” under her oversight, and in the revival she is an executive producer, directed its premiere and appears as Dr. Langhorne.

Here’s a logline for the podcast: “Each week, the pair will bring their nearly 40-year friendship and signature chemistry to conversations spanning entertainment, pop culture, sports and whatever else has their attention before heading back to Hillman. They’ll rewatch ‘A Different World’ episode by episode, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, unpacking why the groundbreaking series continues to resonate nearly four decades later and welcoming familiar faces from the show along the way. They’ll also look ahead to the new Netflix sequel series, with conversations featuring members of both the original and new casts.”

Hardison played Dwayne Wayne on “A Different World” while Bell was Ron Johnson Jr. The duo also appeared together in Spike Lee’s “School Daze.” More recently, they’ve toured historically Black colleges and universities as part of an “A Different World” reunion tour.

“I am beyond excited to finally launch the ‘A Different World View with Darryl and Kadeem’ podcast,” said Bell in a statement. “Kadeem and I have only wanted to do this for over 25 years, and the time is now! I also could not be happier or think of better partners than Charlamagne Tha God, his team at The Black Effect and iHeartMedia.”

Added Hardison: “I’ve been talking to this guy for 40 years. I’m so glad you all get to see what I’ve been dealing with. ‘A Different World View’ coming shortly!”

“A Different World View with Darryl & Kadeem” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is part of the Black Effect Podcast Network.

“‘A Different World’ had an undeniable impact on Black culture, and Kadeem and Darryl are such an important part of that legacy,” said Dollie S. Bishop, president of the Black Effect Podcast Network, in a statement. “We’re excited to give them a platform to bring their friendship and comedy to listeners everywhere, sharing stories fans have never heard and celebrating the series with the generations who grew up with it and those who might just be discovering it today.”

Here’s a trailer to “A Different World View with Darryl & Kadeem”: