"A Different World" is still considered one of the best Black sitcoms of the 1990s, which is fitting given its effect on pop culture. Watching a group of friends navigate co-ed life at the renowned Hillman College served as a weekly reminder that young adulthood could be fun and emotional. In the same breath, it inspired millions of students to enroll in college. Unfortunately, the "A Different World" cast didn’t know about the show’s influence during the series’ original run, according to Kadeem Hardison. Hardison explained why he and his co-stars had no idea the sitcom would become so iconic.

For multiple generations, the "K.C. Undercover" dad will always be the nerdy engineer student Dwayne Wayne. His fashion alone made an impact on mainstream culture. While viewers loved the character and the show, Hardison didn’t necessarily hear about its influence during the NBC sitcom’s heyday.