Remember “Kim Reese” on A Different World? Her real name is Charnele Brown. One interesting thing about her is that before we came to know her as the cute girl at “Hillman College,” she walked away from a very promising career that many parents would have given her the side-eye for stepping away from. Especially considering the fact that she’d gotten a shot at a then-unknown TV sitcom that didn’t yet involve a promising and consistent paycheck.

However, Charnele didn’t feel that way, and in 1987 when she got the call that the producers wanted to try her out for It’s A Different World, she’d instantly ended her career as a stock broker on Wall Street in New York City! That’s right…she packed her bags up, and headed to Los Angeles with the quickness!

During her time as a stock broker, Charnele Brown was also a struggling actress who was constantly looking for work and facing repeated rejection from casting calls because they would tell her that as a brown girl, her look wasn’t “in.” That is absolutely ridiculous, but Charnele never let the ignorance of the entertainment industry hamper her determination, nor her drive. So the day before Black Monday on Wall Street, she put it all on the line with the hope that her role on It’s A Different World would stick…and fortunately it did.

That last we heard…Charnele is now doing more work behind the scenes, writing several stage plays for the theatrical world in Houston, TX and she was also working on developing a sitcom to give mainstream media more positive African American representations on television. And she doesn’t bite her tongue when it comes to voicing her dislike for the shows she sees on television today. This is what she said about today’s entertainment climate:

Via Style Magazine – “Twenty years ago if someone would have told me we love to see black women on TV back biting and fighting, I would have laughed in their face. Now we have to bring back the wholesomeness in television. We can bring back dignity through reality TV,” [said Charnele Brown].  Charnele is a Christian who is objective enough to understand that acting and entertainment is simply a job. Actors must make the decision within themselves to go as far as they want. “I don’t like that people talk about Beyonce. She is a light and a woman of God. Anyone who judges her and can’t see the light within her doesn’t have the light within themselves.”

We understand where Charnele is coming from. Although I don’t knock reality shows, I do think it’s time to bring more balance to the TV screen and mainstream media overall…just as we desperately need more balance with today’s music. We wish Charnele Brown much success with her attempt to contribute to helping to bring about that change.

-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, Old School news with a new point of view

The post This Actress Quit Very Lucrative ‘Normal’ Career To Star On “It’s A Different World” appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Remember “Kim Reese” on A Different World? Her real name is Charnele Brown. One interesting thing about her is that before we came to know her as the cute girl at “Hillman College,” she walked away from a very promising career that many parents would have given her the side eye for stepping away from just because she got a shot at a then unknown TV show that didn’t involve a promising and consistent paycheck yet. Charnele didn’t feel that way though, and in 1987 when she got the call that the producers wanted to try her out for A Different World, her life changed and she immediately said ‘Peace out’ to a very promising career.

The Career She Quit For “Different World

What Charnele Brown Is Doing Now

Nowadays Charnele is doing more work behind the scenes, writing several stage plays for the theatrical world in Houston, TX. She currently owns an acting school, Tri-Wen Productions.

Additionally, Charnele was working on developing a sitcom to give mainstream media more positive African American representations on television. Charnele doesn’t hold her tongue when it comes to voicing her dislike for the shows she sees on television today. This is what she said about today’s entertainment climate:

“Twenty years ago if someone would have told me we love to see black women on TV back biting and fighting, I would have laughed in their face. Now we have to bring back the wholesomeness in television. We can bring back dignity through reality TV.” Charnele is a Christian who is objective enough to understand that acting and entertainment is simply a job. Actors must make the decision within themselves to go as far as they want. “I don’t like that people talk about Beyonce. She is a light and a woman of God. Anyone who judges her and can’t see the light within her doesn’t have the light within themselves.”

[Source: Style Magazine]

We understand where Charnele is coming from. Although I don’t knock reality shows, I do think it’s time to bring more balance to the TV screen, just as we desperately need more balance with today’s music. We wish Charnele Brown much success with her attempt to contribute to helping to bring about that change.

Watch Interview With Charnele Brown:

-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, Old School news with a new point of view

The post Ambitious: “A Different World” Star Quit Super Successful Career For Show & Fans Had No Idea appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Fans have been dying to see the cast of A Different World reunite for quite some time and now it’s really happened! For the first time in more than 20 years, the full cast of the classic show reunited for the Where Are They Now segment on The Steve Harvey Show.

Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Cree Summer, Darryl Bell and Charnele Brown all sat down to discuss the show, which has actually been off the air for more than 25 years now. The memorable days at Hillman College are a reminder of just how fast time flies! Although Hillman was a fictitious college, the fervent love for the highly lauded HBCU actually contributed to the massive enrollment spike at historically black colleges and universities around the country back in the 90s.

The memorable days at Hillman College are a reminder of just how fast time flies! Although Hillman was a fictitious college, the fervent love for the highly lauded HBCU actually contributed to the massive enrollment spike at historically black colleges and universities around the country back in the 90s.

However, the cast’s discussion didn’t stop with Hillman reminiscence. They also delved into more intense topics currently plaguing America today. From the HIV/AIDs viruses to racially charged issues.

But, nevertheless, the nostalgic interview could make anyone miss those eventful days at Hillman College! Be sure to check out their discussion on The Steve Harvey Show. 

The post They’ve FINALLY Reunited, And It Couldn’t Have Been Better! (A Different World Cast) appeared first on I Love Old School Music.