In the late '80s to early '90s, "A Different World" often pushed the boundaries of television. The "Cosby Show" spinoff about a group of Hillman College friends tackled a wide variety of provocative cultural issues from politics to sex, and enthralled audiences across the country. It's been more than two decades since the series finale aired, but show director and producer Debbie Allen thinks a modern reboot of "A Different World" would be just as successful today -- and may even happen, as she tells "Oprah: Where Are They Now?"
"I've actually been trying [to resurrect the show]," Allen says. "Bill Cosby wants me to do it. I mean, I've gotten hundreds of thousands of hits saying, 'Debbie, is it happening? We want to see it again.'"
Bringing back "A Different World," she adds, is about more than just a television show; it's about filling a critical void. "We don't have a show that gives the voice of young people who are about what's happening in the country," Allen says. "In a country where the young people are silent, that country is on its way down."
When she's not exploring the possibility of "A Different World" reboot, Allen keep busy with a multitude of other projects -- and her former costars are no different. Since appearing together on the revolutionary series, the cast members have each taken on [passion projects and exciting pursuits], which they each share with Oprah in the above video.
Debbie Allen (director and producer)
"I'm doing a lot of directing. I'm doing 'Scandal,' 'Grey's Anatomy,' Lee Daniels' new show ['Empire'], 'Jane the Virgin,'" says the former dancer. "But I think my big heart and soul is the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. I have just committed a whole other aspect of my life and my heart to giving young people the opportunity of arts that can help stimulate their creativity. And just change the world."
Jasmine Guy ("Whitley")
"I just got a show with Tyler Perry [called 'If Loving You Is Wrong']," she says. "I'm the First Lady and I have a fine-ass son! My God."
Kadeem Hardison ("Dwayne")
"I'm doing 'K.C. Undercover,' a Disney Show with Zendaya," he says. "I play her father."
Darryl M. Bell ("Ron")
"I'm producing with Mr. Bill Cosby. He and I are producing partners," Bell says. "We just did his first stand-up special in 30 years for Comedy Central last year. We've got probably another half a dozen projects in development."
Dawnn Lewis ("Jaleesa")
"I'm still composing. I just composed another film project that I've just finished called 'Shaker Point' and released another film a couple of months ago called 'The Divorce,'" Lewis says. "And [I'm] still back in the studio singing and composing for other projects I'm working on."
Cree Summer ("Freddie")
"I started doing cartoons when I was 12 years old and I still do cartoons. I work for Nickelodeon and Disney -- I'm on about six different shows right now," she says. "I'm the green M&M, for 20 years."
Sinbad ("Coach Walter")
"I've been doing stand-up since 1983. I ain't never stopped," he says. "I've got a band. I play music... We do funk and comedy. And, you know, I think my best stuff is ahead of me."
Flashback: Watch Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison and Sinbad appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 1990.
"Oprah: Where Are They Now?" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on OWN.
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