Columbus Actors Find Their Place at Hillman College in Netflix’s ‘A Different World’ Revival

Veteran local thespians VJ Roberts and Brandy “Angel” Wells-Martin appear in the new generation of the beloved series

For millions of viewers, “A Different World” was more than a television sitcom. It was an introduction to historically Black colleges and universities, Black excellence, friendships, relationships and the sometimes complicated journey of becoming an adult.

Nearly four decades after viewers were first introduced to Hillman College, a new generation has arrived on campus — and two familiar faces from Columbus are part of the journey.

Veteran Columbus thespians VJ Roberts and Brandy “Angel” Wells-Martin landed prominent background roles in the new “A Different World,” which premiered Sept. 24 on Netflix. The sequel series has already been renewed for a second season.

Their participation gives the Columbus arts community a local connection to a television franchise that has maintained a special place in Black popular culture since the original NBC series debuted in 1987.

The new single-camera dramedy returns viewers to the fictional Hillman College, where Deborah, played by Maleah Joi Moon, begins her freshman year. Deborah is the youngest daughter of one of television’s most recognizable couples — Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert.

Like many children of successful parents, Deborah arrives at college carrying both her own ambitions and the weight of a family legacy. Free-spirited and rebellious, she must begin discovering who she is apart from the expectations surrounding her.

The new series also expands the Hillman experience by introducing students representing the broader African diaspora and exploring college life through the experiences of a new generation.

Moon leads a young ensemble that includes Alijah Kai, Cornell Young IV, Kennedi Reece, Jordan Aaron Hall and Chibuikem Uche.

For longtime fans, however, returning to Hillman also means reconnecting with old friends.

Kadeem Hardison returns as Dwayne Wayne, while Jasmine Guy reprises her role as Whitley Gilbert. Cree Summer returns as Freddie Brooks, and Darryl M. Bell also reprises his role from the original series. Their appearances help connect the Hillman remembered by longtime viewers with the campus being introduced to a younger audience.

For Wells-Martin, the road to Hillman began with an email she almost dismissed.

“When I first received the open casting call in my email, I thought it might be a scam,” Wells-Martin recalled. “I told my husband, ‘You know what? I think I’m going to go. I’m going to give it a shot. It may not be a scam after all.’”

When she arrived at the audition, Wells-Martin learned that the woman helping conduct the auditions was also named Brandy. More importantly, she received a piece of advice about legendary director, producer and choreographer Debbie Allen that changed her approach to the audition.

“She told us that Ms. Debbie Allen likes surprises. She likes people who can bring something unexpected to the room,” Wells-Martin said. “That’s when I thought, ‘Well, I can dance.’ They weren’t really auditioning for dancers, but I knew that was something I could bring.”

Wells-Martin decided that if Allen wanted something unexpected, she was going to give it to her.

She called her daughter in Atlanta and asked her to find a ribbon that she could use for the audition.

“My daughter got the ribbon and my husband brought it to me at the audition,” she said. “I walked right up to Debbie Allen and asked her if she would mind if I danced for her.”

Then came the moment Wells-Martin had hoped for.

“She let me dance — and she liked it,” Wells-Martin said. “And that’s how my ribbon dance appeared in the talent show.”

What began as an email she suspected might be a scam ultimately put Wells-Martin on the campus of one of television’s most recognizable fictional colleges.

A reunion years in the making

Roberts’ journey to “A Different World” was different. She already had a history with Allen, having worked with her years earlier on the sitcom “In the House,” starring LL Cool J.

“When I received the call to audition, I went in not knowing exactly what to expect,” Roberts recalled. “But when Debbie saw me, she said, ‘Come here, mama.’ Just like that, she placed me in a scene with Kadeem Hardison and later added me to the convocation scene, where I was seated next to Darryl M. Bell, who plays Ron Johnson.”

For Roberts, who has appeared in numerous movies and television productions throughout her career, being part of “A Different World” carried a special significance.

“I’ve been involved with numerous movies and television series over the years, but the response I’ve received from friends, family and colleagues has been phenomenal,” Roberts said. “There is something special about ‘A Different World’ and what it has meant to generations of people. To have the opportunity to be part of such an iconic show — and to share the screen with some of the people who helped make it iconic — has truly been a blessing.”

The experiences of Roberts and Wells-Martin demonstrate two very different paths to the same destination.

For Wells-Martin, it took answering an email she initially questioned, trusting her instincts and having the courage to walk up to Debbie Allen with a ribbon and ask for an opportunity to dance.

For Roberts, it was a reunion with a woman she had worked with years before — and two simple words from Allen: “Come here.”

Both ended up at Hillman.

Their appearances are particularly meaningful for Columbus, where both women have spent years contributing to theater and the performing arts. Their participation in a nationally distributed production represents another example of local talent finding its way onto a much larger stage.

It also places them, however briefly, within the continuing legacy of a television series that helped reshape how Black college life was portrayed on American television.

The original “A Different World,” which aired from 1987 to 1993, introduced audiences across the country to life at an HBCU at a time when such institutions rarely received sustained attention on network television. Through humor and drama, the series tackled relationships, racism, politics, social responsibility, education and Black identity while showing young Black students preparing to become professionals and leaders.

Now Hillman College is back in session.

The faces may be younger and the issues may reflect a different generation, but the familiar Hillman spirit remains.

And this time, when Columbus viewers tune in, they have another reason to watch closely.

Among the students, faculty and activity surrounding Hillman College are two performers from their own community — VJ Roberts and Brandy “Angel” Wells-Martin — reminders that sometimes the road from Columbus to Hollywood can run straight through Hillman.