If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.
A Different World watch order: How to watch it and The Cosby Show in order on Netflix and Prime Video
Bill Cosby's tainted legacy doesn't change the fact that both these shows were highly successful and influential sitcoms in the 80s and 90s.
Popverse's top stories of the day
- Exclusive: Star Trek's big 2025 storyline is "House of M meets Secret Wars" says editor
- Watch: Baldur's Gate 3: Neil Newbon talks his influences for Astarion and his love of D&D
- Hayao Miyazaki uses his acceptance speech at Ramon Magsaysay Awards to acknowledge Japanese actions during World War II
Few shows have the same complicated legacy as The Cosby Show. It was a trailblazer in many ways, framing Bill Cosby’s Cliff Huxtable as a stable Black family man at a time when that wasn’t a common portrayal on television. It even spawned a successful spin-off series in A Different World, but its legacy was tarnished when Bill Cosby was accused of sexual abuse in 2014.
Despite the lead actor’s very public fall from grace, both The Cosby Show and A Different World have an important place in television history. With the spin-off about to start streaming on Netflix, here is the best way to watch these influential sitcoms in order.
How to watch The Cosby Show and A Different World in order
The original The Cosby Show ran from 1984 to 1992 for a total of 201 episodes and was almost immediately a critical and ratings hit. Like many successful sitcoms, it spawned a spin-off in the form of A Different World, which ran from 1987 to 1993. Both shows were big successes for NBC in the '80s and '90s.
A Different World followed Lisa Bonet’s Denise Huxtable as she went to the fictional Hillman College, though she was quickly written out of the show and returned to The Cosby Show when the actor became pregnant with her husband Lenny Kravitz.
Here is the best watch order for The Cosby Show and A Different World:
- The Cosby Show season 1
- The Cosby Show season 2
- The Cosby Show season 3
- The Cosby Show season 4
- A Different World season 1
- The Cosby Show season 5
- A Different World season 2
- The Cosby Show season 6
- A Different World season 3
- The Cosby Show season 7
- A Different World season 4
- The Cosby Show season 8
- A Different World season 5
- A Different World season 6
How do The Bill Cosby Show and Cosby fit into the timeline
While it was certainly the most influential and well-received, The Cosby Show wasn’t the first eponymous television series Bill Cosby made. That was The Bill Cosby Show, which aired from 1969 to 1971. Despite the similar title, the two shows are not related in any way.
Even more confusing is Cosby, a sitcom starring Bill Cosby that aired from 1996-2000. While it once again stars Phylicia Rashad as Cosby’s wife, their characters are totally unrelated to the Huxtables from The Cosby Show.
- The Bill Cosby Show (1969-1971)
- Cosby (1996-2000)
Where can I watch The Cosby Show and A Different World?
Both A Different World and The Cosby Show played on syndication for years until Bill Cosby's history of sexual assault came to light in 2014. Most networks and streaming services pulled The Cosby Show at that time, so the only place to watch it without tracking down physical media is on Amazon's Prime Video.
A Different World will be available to stream starting in December 2024 on Netflix, but that isn’t the only development the streaming giant has for fans of these two series…
What’s next for A Different World and The Cosby Show?
A sequel to A Different World was first reported to be in development back in August 2024, with the sequel series from Netflix focusing on the daughter of Whitley Gilbert and Dwayne Wayne from the original series. In it, she attends the same university that her parents met at and, presumably, has all sorts of misadventures along the way.
No release date for the A Different World sequel series has been announced, nor has Netflix officially acknowledged the reports, so it may be sometime before the show sees the light of day.
Want to know what's coming up next in pop culture? Check out Popverse's guides to:
And if you're looking for specific franchises or genres, we've also got lists for the:
Finally, if you're a fan of superheroes and not specific to just Marvel or DC, we have overall guides to:
Follow Popverse for upcoming event coverage and news
Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy
Let Popverse be your tour guide through the wilderness of pop culture
Sign in and let us help you find your new favorite thing.
Comments
Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.