Debbie Allen Movies
African American actress/dancer Debbie Allen had built up a solid reputation as a Broadway choreographer by the time she made her screen debut in The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979). In 1980, she created the role of demanding dance instructor Lydia Grant in Fame (1980), a role she carried over into the long-running TV series of the same name. Each and every episode of this five-season series began with Debbie addressing a roomful of students: "You want fame?...Well, fame costs. And the price is sweat." Practicing what she preached, Debbie not only co-starred in the series but directed several episodes and handled the choreography, winning a brace of Emmies in the process. She went on to be nominated for a Tony award for the 1986 Broadway revival of Sweet Charity. The older sister of Cosby Show co-star Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen has herself remained active on the small screen, in the early '90s mapping out the production numbers of the annual Academy Awards telecast and in the mid-'90s co-starring with rapper LL Cool J on the weekly NBC sitcom In the House. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A love affair with a drug dealer's squeeze lands an L.A. dee-jay (rap artist LL Cool J) in a heap of trouble. Soon he finds himself not only running from the crooks, but the cops as well. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victoria Dillard, Yaphet Kotto, (more)
- 1993
- 1993
To cut down on costs, Lena (Jada Pinkett, Gina (Ajai Sanders), Charmaine (Karen Malina White), Dorian (Bumper Robinson) and Terrell (Patrick Y. Malone) all move into the same apartment. Almost immediately, they clash with their landlord Langston Paige (Billy Dee Williams), who turns out to be a former big-league baseball star. Gradually the kids grow to like Paige, and even encourage him to enroll in college--where he is reunited with his ex-girlfriend, Professor Redding (Leslie Uggams). Elsewhere, Gina's abusive former boyfriend Dion (Edafe Blackmon) breaks the rules of his probations in a desperate effort to win her back. Originally scheduled to air July 1, 1993 as the pilot for a spinoff series starring Billy Dee Williams, this final episode of A Different World was not shown on NBC, though it was included in the syndication package. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Having spent everything he has (and then some) to open his own club, Ron (Darryl M. Bell) panics when the band he has booked walks out on him. Fortunately, Ron's partner Mr. Gaines (Lou Myers) has four country-bumpkin grandnieces whom he believes are pretty fair singers. Indeed they are: the rustic foursome is portrayed by the popular girl group En Vogue, who perform their hit song "Free Your Mind". This was the final Different World episode to air in the series' traditional Thursday-night timeslot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Taking on a temporary teaching assignment at a very tough junior-high remedial class, Whitley (Jasmine Guy) discovers that her students have been deliberately failing because of peer pressure. Never one to back down from a challenge, Whitley is determined to help the youngsters succeed, even if it means relying on her own inner resources rather than the school's antiquated textbooks. Elsewhere, Dorian (Bumper Robinson) finally asks Lena (Jada Pinkett) out--with a surprise revelation attached. Featured as two of Whitley's hardcase students are Marques Houston and Jerome Jones, late of the R&B group Immature. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) lands a lucrative job with the Kineshawa company--one that will force him and Whitley (Jasmine Guy) to move to Japan. En route to her new home, Whitley delivers her baby, somewhat to the surprise of her friends, who hadn't even been informed that she was pregnant. Back at Hillman, Ron (Darryl M. Bell) prepares to sue Dwayne for copyright infringement, thereby alienating Freddie (Cree Summer); and Kim (Charnele Brown) and Spencer (Michael Ralph) announce their engagement. Though intended as the series finale for A Different World, this episode was ultimately followed by seven "leftover" episodes, two of which did not air until the series left NBC and entered syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Led to believe that Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) can't afford to give her a surprise birthday party, Whitley (Jasmine Guy) manipulates Kim (Charnele Brown) into planning the festivities (a plotline taken from an actual experience in the life of episode scriptwriter Thomas Perry Dance). Elsewhere, Charmaine (Karen Malina White) and Terrell (Patrick Y. Malone) balk at being tutored by Gina (Ajai Sanders) for their French exam, but they aren't above planting a "bug" on Gina to get the right answers. In this episode, we finally learn the name of Col. Taylor's new daughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Originally aired on CBS in 1992, Stompin' at the Savoy was produced and directed by Broadway choreographer and actress Debbie Allen. Set in New York City during the late '30s, the story concerns the economic survival of four young women trying to achieve their dreams at the end of the Harlem Renaissance. Pop star Vanessa Williams stars as Pauline, a domestic worker trying to make it as a singer. After work, she frequents the happening Savoy Ballroom along with Esther (Lynn Whitfield), Alice (Jasmine Guy), and Dorothy (Vanessa Bell Calloway). Eventually, fame and WWII come between the four friends. Though nominated for several Emmy awards for choreography and costume design, Stompin' at the Savoy has never been released on home video. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynn Whitfield, Vanessa Williams, (more)
- 1992
As the sixth and final season of A Different World gets under way, newlyweds Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) are returning from their honeymoon in Los Angeles -- which unfortunately coincided with the Rodney King riots! Nor is life a bed of roses for the couple upon settling into their new home. Whitley loses her position at the art gallery, forcing Dwayne to hold down three different jobs to make ends meet. Things look temporarily brighter when Dwayne is offered a lucrative job in Japan, but alas, this opportunity also comes a-cropper. And on top of everything, Whitley learns she is pregnant! Meanwhile, Dwayne's formerly footloose roommate Ron (Darryl M. Bell) has matured sufficiently to assume the management of a trendy nightclub. As for Ron's erstwhile girlfriend Freddie (Cree Summer), she has apparently forsaken her tacky Annie Hall wardrobe and her artistic inclinations for a stylish business suit and a career in law, leading the increasingly militant Lena (Jada Pinkett) to label Freddie a sellout -- at least until she realizes that Freddie intends to improve the system from within, rather than as the perennial outsider. As for Whitley's no-nonsense former roommate Kim (Charnele Brown), she has finally settled upon a boyfriend who is truly marriage material (it's taken her long enough). Newcomers to the cast includes Gary Dourdan as Shazza Zulu, whom Freddie briefly dates before returning to Ron; Karen Malina White as the garrulous and somewhat pushy college freshman Charmaine Brown, a character carried over from A Different World's "parent" series The Cosby Show; Patrick Malone as Terrell, a student who may look and act like a thug but isn't...and may be a potential boyfriend for Charmaine. When near the end of the series' run Lena, Charmaine, Terrell, and Gina Devereaux (Ajai Sanders) decide to rent a house together, the casual viewer might assume that the producers had a spin-off series in mind, but this never came to fruition. Before leaving A Different World, let us give an affectionate nod to actor Lou Myers, who has woven in an out of the proceedings as Vernon Gaines, chef at the campus hangout The Pit. The series' resident philosopher, Vernon is known far and wide for occasionally bending the truth to serve his needs -- but in the season six episode "A Rock, A River, A Lena," we are offered proof incarnate that Vernon did indeed make the acquaintance of guest star Lena Horne during WWII. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, (more)
- 1992
Anita Morris guest stars as Freddie's mom Joni, who insists upon interfering in her daughter's life--and in the lives of all of her daughter's friends. As for Freddie (Cree Summer) herself, she's more mixed up than ever over her feelings toward Ron (Darryl M. Bell) and Shazza (Gary Dourdan). Meanwhile, Whitley (Jasmine Guy) is forced to work at a pancake house on Christmas day in order to afford a Yuletide gift for husband Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Signing on with Freddie's new mentorship program for the teenagers at Juvenile Hall, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison)i tries to mediate between youthful parolees Billy (Chris Kelly) and Michael (Chris Smith, whose friendship has been torn asunder by gang-related violence. Dwayne's efforts to patch up the boys' differences are stymied by Billy's hostile father Loco (Ronald William Lawrence). The crisis is resolved with a lively musical number performed by guest stars Thomas and Wilson, better known as the rap duo Kriss Kross. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the second episode of a three-part story, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) seems unconcerned over Whitley's new romance with senatorial candidate Byron Douglas (Joe Morton)--and Whitley (Jasmine Guy)is disappointed that Dwayne isn't jealous. Meanwhile, Kim (Charnele Brown) believes that Dwayne and Whitley can be brought back together under the right circumstances, and she might be right. But Kim isn't quite so certain that Ron (Darryl M. Bell) will be able give up his womanizing for her sake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
As a project for her sociology class, Charmaine (Karen Malina White) follows Whitley (Jasmine Guy) around at her place of employment. As it turns out, Charmaine couldn't have picked a worse time: Whitley is laid off after the company suffers a setback, and as Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) tries to cheer up his wife, he ends up in his own deep funk upon discovering that their apartment has been burglarized. Elsewhere, Kim (Charnele Brown), Ron (Darryl M. Bell), Freddie (Cree Summer) and Shazza (Gary Dourdan) have a disastrous time trying to patch up their various romantic travails. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the first episode of a two-part story, Whitley's overbearing mother Marion (Diahann Carroll) visits Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison). It's bad enough that Whitley is unable to admit that she's lost her job; it's even worse when she meets Marion's much-younger boyfriend Malik (Nestor Carbonell). But the fur doesn't really begin to fly until Dwayne's mom Adele (Patti LaBelle) shows up, still unable to forgive her son for marrying Whitley without her O.K., and absolutely unprepared to make nice-nice with Marion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
After making a few stupidly sexist remarks at a Halloween party, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) has a dream in which all the candidates in the 1992 Presidential race are female: Georgia Mush, Rose Godot, et. al. In the episode's most memorable (and, as it turns out, most forward-looking) sequence, candidate "Jill Blinton", aka Whitley (Jasmine Guy), must deal with the sexual peccadilloes of her husband "Hilliard", aka Dwayne. This is one of the few episodes in which star Jasmine Guy is heard using her own, very lovely singing voice, instead of the tone-deaf caterwauling of her "Whitley" character. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the conclusion of A Different World's two-part Season Six opener, Whitley (Jasmine Guy and Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) continue to recall their chaotic honeymoon in riot-torn Los Angeles. At the same time, the couple's friends react to the violence (inspired by the infamous Rodney King verdict) in a variety of ways: Col. Taylor (Glynn Turman) is disillusioned over the fact that race relations haven't progressed much since the Watts riots, Lena (Jada Pinkett) places all the blame on the white population, and Freddie (Cree Summer) attempts to be level-headed--a difficult feat, inasmuch as she is being hit on by Ron (Darryl M. Bell) while his girlfriend Kim (Charnele Brown) fumes. Appearing in cameo roles are sitcom diva Roseanne and her then-husband Tom Arnold. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Thanksgiving dinner at the home of Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley (Jasmine Guy) degenerates into a slapstick food fight, thanks to the couple's respective mothers Adele (Patti LaBelle) and Marion (Diahann Carroll). Later on, the two warring moms land in jail after getting involved in a rally-turned-riot for starving Haitians, organized by the well-meaning Freddie (Cree Summer) and attended by Marion's new "boy toy" Malik (Nestor Carbonell). Fortunately, Adele and Marion finally settle their differences when they discover that Dwayne and Whitley are flat broke; unfortunately, the bungled rally causes a rift between Freddie and her activist boyfriend Shazza (Gary Dourdan). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
New student Charmaine (Karen Malina White) is so overbearing in Dwayne's statistics class that someone slaps a sign on her back reading "Digit Ho." Convinced that punkish Terrell Walker (Patrick Y. Malone) is the guilty party, Charmaine files a formal complaint against him. Taking on the task of defending Terrell in Student Court, Freddie (Cree Summer) realizes anew that in certain cases, everyone is a little bit guilty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Now that Ron (Darryl M. Bell) and Freddie (Cree Summer) are aware of their mutual attraction, things get dicey for Ron when Freddie continues seeing Shazza (Gary Dourdan)--and for Kim (Charnele Brown),who feels that Freddie is responsible when a disconsolate Ron moves in with newlyweds Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison). As for that "loving couple," they're in the middle of their first real marital quarrel over how to decorate their apartment (she wants to keep her possessions and throw his out, and vice versa). Elsewhere, Lena (Jada Pinkett) manages to turn a coed "step" demonstation into a major controversy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the conclusion of A Different World's two-part Season Five finale, Whitley (Jasmine Guy)is just about to wed Byron Douglas III (Joe Morton) when she realizes that she is still in love with Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison). Whitley's social-climbing mom Marion (Diahann Carroll) works overtime to convince her daughter to go through with the ceremony whether she wants to or not. Wackiness ensues (as wackiness often does), and the episode comes to a surprising and slightly surreal conclusion. "Saving the Best for Last" marks the final series appearance of Dawnn Lewis as Jaleesa Taylor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the first episode of A Different World's two-part Season Five finale, it is one day before the wedding of Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Byron (Joe Morton). As Whitley frets over inconsequential things, Kim (Charnele Brown) still seeks out a way to convince her friend that she's making a mistake--and in the process, Kim finds her own true love in the form of Ron (Darryl M. Bell). On the day of the ceremony, Whitley's ex-fiancee Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) unexpectedly shows up, leading to several equally unexpected complications. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Season Six of A Different World opens with the first episode of a two-part story, in which newlyweds Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley (Jasmine Guy) regale their friends with their recollection of the chaotic events surrounding their honeymoon. No sooner has the couple set foot in Los Angeles than the city is thrown into a frenzy over the Rodney King verdict. Trapped in the middle of the city-wide riots, the newlyweds are separated and Dwayne ends up in jail for no reason whatsover. And back at Hillman, incoming law-school student Freddie (Cree Summer) surprises one and all with her "new look"; Kim begins her first year in med school; and Lena has turned into a social activist, accusing practically everyone of selling out. New regulars include Cosby Show alumnus Karen Malina White) in her familiar role as garrulous Charmaine Brown; Bumper Robinson as goofy freshman Dorian Heywood; Patrick Y. Malone as punkish student Terrell Walker; and Jenifer Lewis as Hillman's dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Serious-minded Kim (Charnele Brown) begins to wonder if her actor boyfriend Matthew (Andrew Lowery) is too frivolous for her tastes. Long-suffering Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) bets motor-mouthed Whitley (Jasmine Guy) that she can't go 24 hours without talking. And four members of the National Theater of the Deaf (C.J. Jones, Mike Lamiola), Cathleen Riddley, Bobbie Beth Scoggins) give a memorable performance for the Community Center outreach program. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Whitley (Jasmine Guy) is outraged that her fiance Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) has been dating an attractive science professor, and never mind that it was Whitley's own bad attitude that drove Dwayne away from her. At the same time, Whitley's mom Marion (iahann Carroll) and Dwayne's mom Adele (Patti LaBelle) meet for the first time--and detest each other on sight. Eventually, Marion and Adele negotiate a temporary detente...which, alas, is more than can be said for Whitley and Dwayne. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Season five of A Different World finds sweethearts (and recent college grads) Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) resuming their romance; Whitley's pal Jaleesa (Dawnn Lewis) surprising one and all by eloping with hard-nosed calculus professor Col. Clayton Taylor (Glynn Turnan); and the off-and-on relationship between Ron (Darryl M. Bell) and Freddie (Cree Summer) back in "on" mode, with Ron actually evincing signs of growing up and accepting responsibility by heading a band called X-Pression. New to the cast is Jada Pinkett as streetwise freshman Lena James, who, thanks to a computer glitch, ends up staying in Whitley's extra bedroom. Lena later gets in trouble for her flagrant disregard of dorm rules; after setting fire to her room in an effort to cook dinner, Lena is forced to pay damages by the new dorm director -- none other than Whitley. This enables Lou Myers to make several amusing appearances as Vernon Gaines, chef at the local hamburger joint where Lena has landed a job in order to make money in a hurry. Ultimately, Lena is reinstated at the dorm, with fellow freshman Gina Devereaux (Ajai Sanders) as her roommate. Meanwhile, grad student Dwayne is teaching classes at Hillman college, with Whitley's former roomie Kim as his assistant. Feeling emboldened by his new status and a regular paycheck, Dwayne finally proposes to Whitley, and she accepts -- only to take back her "yes" when it appears that Dwayne has been unfaithful to her. It is at this point that Joe Morton joins the cast as Hillside alumnus Senator Byron Douglas III, who launches his own crusade to make Whitley his wife. Season five ends as Whitley prepares to march down the altar with Byron -- whereupon Dwayne appears, setting the stage for a gentle revision of the finale of the 1967 film The Graduate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jasmine Guy, Dawnn Lewis, (more)
