Kim Coles
Appearances
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I'll go get it. She's looking for, that's actually like a release for you. Like you don't know who's coming to the door.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Formulates. And I love this sort of sideways walk that y'all are doing into the kitchen. And he's, I don't remember him saying hello to everybody, you know, good evening. He's going to still be pleasant, like, good evening, everybody. Good evening. Oh, my God, what's about to happen?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Yeah, yeah, my mother takes in laundry from the neighborhoods. Meanwhile, there was nobody with a blonde hair living in his neighborhood. No, no. And so he said, the laundry commingled with my T-shirts and that is why.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
If you notice, feels, look to the camera is so quick. It's great. She goes, never heard of it. Never heard of it.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Right, right. What's the worst lie that you ever told a lover or boyfriend? Oh, me. Wow.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
So that means the audience is like, oh, yay, that was for us. Yeah.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
And I love that sweet moment. So we know that you all have been teasing each other already, you know, for episode and episode and episode. We see this relationship beginning. But there's a softening that he has for you. Like, you know I'm your friend. Of course I'll help you. And then, of course, then it goes right back. I'm going to enjoy being your man.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I'm going to take advantage of this moment because I'm actually attracted to you anyway, so oh well.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Okay, I'm thinking for that moment he enjoyed doing it because he's always wanted to. That's what I've interpreted. Look, I don't think so.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I love that in the moment of you grabbing him and taking him to have a private conversation, he observes the entire scene. He takes it all in. He sees your old boyfriend, his fine fiance. So he was able to take that because, you know, he's a ladies man anyway. So he took it out. He knew what was going on. And you, a spinster. A spinster. And he says it in that English accent.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Because we rely, as women, we relied on men to take care of us. Yeah, that's how. And so if you couldn't get married, if nobody would marry you, nobody would be with you, then you were a spinster. And it was the worst thing in the world. Yeah. However.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Nowadays, I have had several aunties who have spun that whole spinster thing into a whole other... Their lives were fabulous because they didn't get married, because they didn't have children, because they didn't... Oh, come on. It's a whole thing. It's a whole thing.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Indeed. Indeed. I want to know, do you think that Max thinks of herself as a spinster? No.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I should have known. Points off. And he's out. He's out. And he had a baby with her, but that's another story. Oh, my God. It gets worse. You can't hurt me. With a laundress? It was a laundress. No, he said that the hair of the person whose mother's clothing was washing with his, commingled.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
And that was just within you. That wasn't something that your mother placed in you or something you saw, just born like, ah, being a woman in this society is going to feel restrictive because of what I'm being told.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I mean, why are you choosing that on my behalf? Wow. Because we were girls. Let me ask you this. When was the first moment that you realized that you could break through all that? Like, how old were you when you were like, wait a minute, just because these roles have been given to me by this time and this space and where I was, that I don't have to do that?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
And I was like, you have to understand, I had to pull the blonde hair out of the fibers of your- What was it, a pubic hair?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Right, right. I'm going to ask you this, though. So you have been given this body, this package. Look at how much you have done with being a woman and what you have overcome. Or you say there's still some roads to hoe, and I'm not calling you a hoe. Okay. Thanks. But look at what you have done with what you have. That's true.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
It was long and it was blonde. That's all you need to know. Wow. Yeah.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
We have one of the writers who created this dynamic right here, right now. Please welcome to the stage the great Rob Horst. Rob Horn.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Now, was that baked in already or did you develop that you and Danny and Yvette and the rest of the writers, you know, just develop that, you know, it becomes sort of an unveiling for you. And then we as actors get the script and then we go and play. But how does that get unveiled or unearthed for you?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
The two of you, I think, were some of the best at that because that was also baked into your relationship. Like you knew how to play and the acerbic and the sarcasm and the play. It was just, it was perfect.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
You know, now that I'm hearing your love of the characters, your love of women and your love of finding that balance between, you know, being acerbic and sarcastic. How do you as a writer feel when you hear your words displayed on stage? How does that feel to you? Do we do it right? Do we do it wrong? Are you there with us? What do you feel?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I love the depth of this, you know, so someone watching this show feels it and sees it and feels the relatability and they resonate. But to hear this, you know, this deep voice. This deep work that goes into developing these characters, putting them in places so that they have another place to go is really rich. And I hope that the audience is loving this other level to it.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
It's not just words on a page and a bunch of actors read the words. This is thought out. I think the best shows are well thought out. I didn't even think about the integrity piece. That's incredible.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I've heard that there's a legend of her being able to run a writer's room so that the writers felt supported and felt ready for the whole season. Can you talk a little bit about the power of the writer's room and the power of having an executive producer who has the vision so clear that all you have to do is step in and do the work?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
But the writers don't take a hiatus. You all are still in there working, right? So the actors are off stage, but you all are still in there doing it. So this is a beautiful perspective to hear because, again, we do sometimes I used to think of it's You know, the writers over there, the studio over there, the network over there. And we come together a couple of times a week to together.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
But there's no time for those conversations. That's powerful.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
So we're talking about an episode called A Kiss Before Lying, but I want to just tell you, no lie, I love my earrings. So Erica gave me these earrings. You were recently in Brooklyn. Yeah. You know that I'm from Brooklyn, and so I hope y'all are getting up on these beautiful Brooklyn earrings. They're great on you.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Woo! Masterclass. That's a masterclass right there. That's a masterclass right there.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I'll tell you the truth. I'm going to give you your flowers, Rob, just a moment here. I can tell you, I'm going to speak for myself, but I bet you I speak for most of us. When we would see you and Danny's name on a script, we'd be like, oh, this is going to be good.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I'm not saying it wasn't the case for the other people, but we knew what we were fitting to get because of the magic that you all so uniquely brought. And it would be like, oh, good, good.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I love it. Welcome. I'm always thinking of it. I didn't even know about these and I, you know, made it happen for the show today. You sure did. No lie. No lie. No lie at all. So thank you. No lying. This week we're going to be talking about lying. Right. A lot. Yeah. A kiss before lying. Yeah. Yeah. this episode. So what happens in this episode?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
We did. That was something else. We know how much you got and wrote and understood the Max and Kyle characters and their trajectory. We have to know. what do you think they would be like today?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Is that- Flavor magazine? That was when- Yeah, Flavor magazine. Oh, that was when Louise Jefferson- Louise Jefferson.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
beignets oh yes we talked about that oh beignets oh beignets that was that was mine you know what it is i remember that it was you know nobody expects that overton would know what a beignet is because he's such a you know salt and salt but i loved that he was a renaissance guy yes I love that. You got that.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Now let's talk about that. Why would this man come to meet you with his fiance, knowing that you all were broken up?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
They got it. Ladies and gentlemen, the great Robert Horne. Thank you. Bye. Bye. That was great.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
That right there is a skill... And there's another piece in something you just said about The Dead of Night. You know, this is the work that most people don't get to see. It's not the glamorous side, unless you're winning the awards on Broadway and blah, blah, blah. But we know, you know, sometimes we would get rewrites and they don't come until two, three o'clock in the morning.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
And that's the team behind the scenes putting it on the page. And, you know, as actors, we often get the glory because the light is on us. But I love that you... really wanted to bring him in and give him his shine and give him his, and all the writers. It was a teamwork.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
And I really hope that people are listening. There's so many nuggets that are applicable in your life and in your work as well. Absolutely.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
This is The Reverb, our time to reflect on the episode's themes and how they still echo throughout the culture. Welcome back. Now, we're talking about how Living Single explored whether women with careers felt like they were enough on their own. So, you know, the 90s was a time that I think it was a really big time that we were really discussing whether or not women could have it all.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Right. And having it all is, you know, some of the pressure and also some of the freedom that you now, you know, my mother's generation, my mother, my mother married at 25 and 25 was old back in her day. Like you needed to be married and have your kids. And for her generation and from where she's from, it was have your education and your marriage and your kids.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
He believed me. He believed you. They want to. They want to. They need to believe that.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
But, you know, and the B story is... Overton is trying to fix the water pressure in the apartment. There you go. And he's good at that, right? But he's also trying to fix some other water, some other pressure. He's trying to put some pressure... Overton... Yeah, on who? On me. Okay, well.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
And then there's the other piece of it, too, of working and working to raise up the ranks at the job, right? So that's like also part of the ladder. And there's women who've had to make that decision. I'm going to, you know, put off getting married or put off having children because I want to, you know, rise up this ladder. And I guess now we have more choice than ever. And now...
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
There's ways to have babies a little bit later and you can decide if you want to get married or not. There's all kinds of rules that have been broken and meant to be broken.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I'd like to strike that from the record that that's not something that you should do. Shouldn't do, but it is possible.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I'm lucky that, you know, listen, my mother didn't. My mother, who was very, grew up in a very traditional time, I know that she had a little bit of rebel aura. On her and rebel in that, you know, she grew up in the South and it was expected to get married right away and get your education right away, get married right away, start having children right away.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
My parents got married at 25, which was late for that generation and didn't start having children until she was 32. So she was already married.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Yeah. And really clear, I want to finish my education. Your father and I decided that we wanted to have enough money and have a home already. And so it was never instilled upon in me that you must do it this way. You must do it. It has to be this way. I want grandbabies by a certain time. And so I'm grateful for that. The freedom was given.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Not pressure, but he has set his sights on me, and he's using fixing things in my fascination with him, with his ability to fix things, to woo me.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
So I'm trying to... Or had a boyfriend. Put it in my brain, what does this have to do with this whole have it all? So you're saying these women are saying that we can have it all.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
But is it having it all? It's having it all through the lens of what is having it all? Maybe that's the question. What does it mean to have it all? And I think it is subjective. I think it is... I think different... ages and stages and different times in history decide what having it all is. So having it all, I think, used to be the traditional, I have a husband, I have 2.3 kids, we have a house.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
At one point it was, I get to stay at home and he gets to go out and work. Then it became, I want to work and have myself fulfilled and have my gifts fulfilled. So I think the question is really, what is having it all? And I think... Our show and this time that we were doing it, the 90s, was about exploring what having it all really meant and getting to decide for yourself what that meant.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Like you were unlovable, unlikable. Nobody wanted you. Yeah, nobody bought the cow, man. They didn't want your milk. You know? Worst thing. But now, today, we have this whole other, like, fresh new, you know, rich auntie. Like, I don't want no husband. I don't want no kids. This energy of now I get to have my version of have it all. Like, you don't want me. I don't want you neither.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Let me just do this, you know. One of my favorite makeup lines is a black online called The Lip Bar. And they have a lipstick called Rich Auntie. And when I tell you it is gorgeous... And purple, you know. And so there is that you get to maybe now having it all is having the choice to have it all and getting to decide for yourself what you want.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Yeah. And I will say that there are, in making those decisions, there are... Are there sacrifices or are there something that you give up or is it something that you, you know, there are people who have waited to have their kids and go, I wish I had done it early. Some who missed the window altogether, like, I'm not going to do that. So you get to determine what that is for you.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
And Maxine was demonstrating that you can have, I'm going to say have it all, but you get to choose powerfully for yourself. And that's jarring for folks, I guess, for some. I should say jarring in a bad, that's not the right word. It's new. It's refreshing.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Don't get me started on, you know, femininity and the divine feminine and how the patriarch has been. So like we're back to we got to batten down the hatches on the femininity, batten down the hatches on the sexuality, batten down the hatches. Like it's like it's something scary. But why is it scary is the magic question.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
And it's an open door. It's a softer landing for people. Yeah. They don't even know.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Ready, Frodo's. Isn't it interesting that you were across the street, but you were always there. You were always here. So this decision to create a remove, literal and figurative and physical remove, actually didn't work whatsoever.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
All right. We're getting to one of my favorite parts of the show where we hear from you, our listeners, our people. And we have a question. Our family, our fans, our friends. All of the above. Come on. All of the above.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I think what's interesting about them is that they had this really great ability to write quips and back and forth, great back and forth, quippy, clippy, snappy.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
A lot of wisdom to drop. Speaking of wisdom that was dropped, Robert Horn was absolutely delicious. Bravo. Delicious. Thank you. Yeah, it was beautiful.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
And we want all of you to keep tuning in every week, all the places where the podcasts are. And you can write us at relivingsinglepodcast at heartbeat.com. And that's H-A-R-T-B-E-A-T dot com. Tell your friends. Isn't this good? It's good. It's great. Juicy conversations. And we look amazing.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
That's really... Listen, if you're watching, if you're listening, you might want to watch the video, the VOD part of the VOD cast.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
All right, we'll see y'all next week. Yep. Okay, bye-bye now. Bye. Bye-bye now. Reliving Single is hosted by Erica Alexander and me, Kim Coles. Reliving Single is a production of Heartbeat in association with Color Farm Media. Executive produced by Kevin Hart, Jeff Clannigan, Eric Eddings, Leslie Guam, Erica Alexander, and Ben Arnon. This show is produced by Kim Coles.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Amber Watson is our senior producer. Our associate producer... And a special thanks to Dr. E.J. Johnson.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
She really is. John Hinton says, and I hope I'm not going to get in trouble saying this, he says she's scary sexy. I said, well, John, what do you mean by this? I can't, I can't. If you don't understand, you don't understand. He says she's scary. But it's not put on. It's not fake. It's her DNA. She just exudes this sensual beingness.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
She's also kind and sweet and all that goes along with it. But there is a sensuality about her that just is natural. And who else do we have? We have Jeffrey Sams, who is lovely. Yeah.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
We had Jeffree Sam's before all this other, all the other things happened.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Does she say to you that you did it well? That she really resonates with what you did or that you healed something or that she saw it a different way because of the way you played the character?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
I pride myself on being a truth teller. I have not lied to boyfriends or lovers. I tell the truth always. Now that's a lie. It is a lie. It's a lie. But I've been lied to. And you remember, I'm not going to say his name. You remember somebody that I was dating. He liked to sing. I remember that. He liked to sing, yes. He liked to sing ballads. He did. Just one.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
So we're now seeing Maxine Shaw in her full glory. Is this your first A story?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Yeah. Wearing these sort of more masculinized looks in order to really assert their power. That's true. But I didn't think they were masculinized because I looked like a girl.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
It's true. I'm just saying, in general, the look was, now we're going to wear suits like men. Yours was, you know, it was shaped. Tapered. Right. And you always wore like a, you know, like a pencil skirt or something.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Right. And we all know that that's a big deal. Like, oh, so there's a, you know, Khadijah coming in like, no, we're not having it. And I'm like, let me just see if that's the right guy. You mean raggedy old. And so I repeat exactly what you've been saying that, Greg, you're like, I might've talked about it once or twice. Exactly.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
Here's what's beautiful about that. If someone starts with that episode, they now know that there's a history, that she's been talking about this forever. They don't have to have watched all the episodes leading up to it, that that's the power of great writing.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
We care so much about you. We're telling you, cut him off, cut him off, cut him off. You know what?
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
He ended it for her, right? Because then he broke up with her and just sort of left.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
But I love that she's not, you know, I want to see, you know, how he chose someone over me. It's just in that moment of like, fine, I look forward to seeing you. Fine. I think I did disagree to that.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
He was a, you might call him a balladeer. So I went to hug him one time. And when I hugged him, there was a blonde hair on his shoulder. And I was like, what's this? And he says, that's yours. I was like, look, I don't have any blonde hair. And he said, oh, oh, my mother is a laundress. A laundress? The last time that was a profession was 1853.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
The fun and the family of all that, because we're seeing now that they're really a family, too, and how we're going to support you through this ring of fire.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
So I wanted to say something about the beignets. And there's something else I just remembered that was happening at the same time. So, you know, we see Overton as, you know, just sort of a salt of the earth place. you know, easy, you know, simple Midwestern guy. And I remember that what was part of that script, you know, the beignets were there.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
So when Overton came into the room, he said, oh, beignets. And it was like, wow, what does he know about a beignet? And it's like, it gave you a little sense of there's more sophistication, there's more worldliness there than we think. And that was a little thing that was added there that was really beautiful. So to this day, when I have a beignet, I think of y'all going, ooh, beignets. Beignets.
ReLiving Single
No Lie featuring Robert Horn
You know what I'm saying? She's telling you that you will be better set up for success if you also have one of your boy toys show up and pretend to be something that's really not even happening.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I mean, it's awful now. I get the note and I got to... And she's so naive. He said, are you all right, baby? Which I love. Yeah. Because I'm just reminding you that I'm amused and I have these. She doesn't know how to pretend to be anything other than what she really is.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I'm amused. I have these. The other thing that's important to note is that we're in our world, and so far we've seen Flavor Magazine, we've seen The Living Room, we're meeting the characters, The Kitchen, all the basic sets. And we're now in a high-class French restaurant. And so the audience is now getting a sense of us, you know, our lives, really.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And I like that we go to a high class place. This is not a chicken wing joint. No, this is beautiful.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Where would he take it? Of course, a fancy French restaurant. Overton might take you to a joint. Right. How did you feel whenever we would have a set that was not our own set? Did it take you a while to get used to it or to get comfortable in it or to make it your own in some kind of way?
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Yeah, you can take it as far as you want to go. No doubt. Now, a phone call, you know, and another interruption comes and Sinclair's, no, sir, there will be no more interruptions. And we find out it's a call for Dr. Edwards. Right. Which is actually kind of sexy if you think about it.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
We do have masks. But I think I learned early on, like, what you see is what you get. So there's like, you know, the freshly, fresh-faced version of you. And I've never been a faker. Like, what you see is what you get. I'm going to pass gas. Enjoy. You may pass gas, too. Enjoy. You're lying straight up. Oh, oh, oh. Let me say this.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
This is nuts. No, I have dialed up my femininity. Duh. That part. You've teased me about that now that I think about it.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I've had guys say to me, it's refreshing that you are authentic. I don't put on airs. Listen, I don't put on airs for long. I can't hold it that long. That's the thing. Just long enough to travel.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I love that. I love that. So now we have a repeat of what is happening with the girls and Overton has found his way. Do you think Kyle put him up to that? Of course he did.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
It's perfect. He kissed me on the cheek. The audience is now disappointed. Like, wow, this is a really good date for her. Okay, this would be a good catch. And I'm understanding as I would be and hopefully go help that puppy's nose or whatever it was. You're speaking at the very top of your- What is that voice I was doing? I don't know. It's femininity. Just turn on the- But my way.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
That was the Regine way. What I also love about the richness of this episode is we have a callback in the first scene of a dude, a dude, and now we have another, you call it a twin narrative.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And trying to fix the date to be the way they need it to be. And we find out that Kyle is doing the same thing.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And it's revealed beautifully. How am I doing? And he's like... Keep going, keep going.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And Mac Me does. And that now Kyle gets to be the puppeteer. You all were the puppeteers for the first scene. And now Kyle gets to be the puppeteer.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I love it. Cyrano dead on and a comedy of errors of like, how am I doing it? You know, all the things. And that's just great writing. Yeah.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Welcome back to Reliving Single, the official, unofficial Living Single Rewatch podcast. Yes. So, okay, Kim, how are you? I am excellent. I'm enjoying this with you. Nice. This is fun. How about you?
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
That's improv. I love this moment of coming in. And we know that he took her bowling. So that's more Overton speed. He took her to a world where he felt comfortable and where he could show off because he's a good bowler.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
You can absolutely keep that up. We're going to have fun all the time. I love this. I love this sweet moment of this was good. Do we kiss? Do we not kiss? And, you know, he offers it. offers himself, and she kisses him on the cheek, which is perfect. She gets to have, you know, he asks her for permission in that way. Very important.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And she chooses to give him a kiss on the cheek, which is just enough.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I would have tongued him down. You would have taken him in. Oh, I would have tongued him down. On the first date. Then, you know, second date. We'll talk. So it was perfect. And he was thrilled. He was over the moon with that. You know, Kyle sees that as like, oh, you got a kiss on the cheek and inches away from your lips. And uh-uh.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Thrilled. My plan has moved up now. Not a year's plan. It's six months now. All right now. Perfect.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
There's also something else that happens there, too. This Watchdog Bow Wow, I think I remember in the pilot, they played a game of some kind, and John and T.C.,
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
ad-libbed this watchdog bow wow this thing and that remained throughout the show like that was something they would always do when they pounded each other so that's like a personal thing that they made a thing for the show yeah and they were always trying to do that trying to separate their relationship from the four women yeah and build it out and that was important to them so they didn't become just the joke or
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
We had conversations about making sure they didn't turn into Lenny and Squiggy.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
So Lenny and Squiggy were two characters on Laverne and Shirley that were very funny. Every time they opened the door, they're like, hello. And they were weird and funny and wacky. But we wanted our men. They were the punchline. Always. And these guys are.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
No. And so we all agreed that they can be funny, but they have to still be men and still have, you know, important things to say and still have interests and not there just to serve the comedy. No. And so you see now this friendship, you see this coaching, you see their belief in each other. You know, Kyle believes in him if he's going to coach him.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
You know, it's unencumbered with a lot of other stuff. Yeah. One of my favorite things I remember hearing during our run, somebody, some critics said that if Sinclair and Overton were on a white show, they would have won an Emmy. Because this arc is something that we hadn't seen.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
We hadn't seen this, you know, sort of, you don't like the word innocent, but I'll say innocent because I can't find enough. Naive, sort of pure, just pure innocence. And I'm really proud of that. I'm really proud that as black folks, we got to show an element of love.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Yeah. Let's talk about this episode, Sinclair went on a date. Yes. And you all helped me get ready for the date. I believe it's called Whose Date Is It?
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I think it's promising also for people who feel a little different, feel a little weird. Like, I'm not cool. I've never been cool, and Sinclair is not. She's not cool. She's not perfect. She doesn't even quite know who she is other than she loves life and loves people. And again, I'm going to use the word pure. I don't mean perfect, but just like what you see is what you get.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And so I think it gave... you know people hope and guys like Overton are like I'm not fancy I'm not a doctor I don't know a lot of things I just know what I know and he's actually brilliant an inventor a philosopher as we heard that it gives hope to people who are like I just want to keep it what you see is what you get but did we know that they were an endgame
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
That they were always going to be together in the show? I think once the audience buys in, you hear... You know, we had a live audience every week. And you hear the audience going, aww, or yay. But did the writers know it? I think they knew.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I didn't know it happened so soon, though. Because you think, like... Well, they have to start somewhere. They do have to start. This is the start. This is the start. Did you have a chemistry read for John? No, we did not have a chemistry read. But I had respect for John Hinton because he was a comic who was beloved and he had heat on him. So the fact that Yvette was able to get him was... Great.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
This was perfect. So I knew of him and nothing but respect because we both came from the world of stand-up. And does that move you think that Overton did still hold up?
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
So the girls set me up on a date and you all show up to spy on me to make sure that it goes well and make sure that I take your dating advice.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I'd like to believe that if you appreciate that, that could hold up. So there's a story in which... I don't know. You then go back to your apartment. It's like, he didn't tongue me down like I wanted him to. Don't he know? And there's also... Look, my beloved EJ made me wait for months before we kissed, before we did anything. And that was new for me. And it was...
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Not innocent, but it was a decision to go, let's make sure that we can remain friends no matter what. Let's make sure that we really get to know each other.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I think you're starting to smoke right now. I was like, am I going to get this kiss tonight? And he was like, okay, good night. My Lord. Good night. You were burning rubber. I was burning- Like, come on, let's get in there. I know, that's right. Yeah. He said, no, this was- Good man. And I allowed to go on that trip.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Because what it does, it creates a bond that is now we know each other more. And so I think that that's sweet. I think that there are women who would appreciate a man who didn't like, here's my tongue, enjoy. And I'm sure there are men who would appreciate- She gave me a little peck on the cheek. There's something to look forward to.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
This is The Reverb, our time to reflect on the episode's themes and how they still echo throughout the culture. Welcome back. So before we dive into how living single shaped modern dating, can we just take a little stroll through memory lane? If I can remember that far back. Let's talk about dating in the 90s. Right. What do you remember? You know, there's beepers, there's mixtapes.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Paging someone. Right. Like it was a love letter. Yeah. I never had a pager.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
That's so funny. Like the thing, you know, and I grew up in New York. So for God's sake, you know, would you go with me? And go like, yes, thank you. And then what do they do?
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
It was understood. You know, either you got some sort of item of some kind, or it was just understood that you were the, not property, but you belonged to.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I didn't need another person's. Right, right. Here's what's funny about you, though. For somebody who didn't want to be claimed, like, you have long-term relationships. Like, you and Richard were together for eight years.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And so, for somebody who didn't want to be claimed, so I guess it's not about the time spent or saying that you're with someone, but you didn't want to be claimed, and yet you... You were locked down.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Overton already has the eyes for her. And I don't think she got it yet. Again, because she's sort of naive and been sheltered. So she likes him and enjoys him, but she doesn't get like, you know, that this could be like a thing. And we know that this is the beginning of a thing. You all set me up on a date.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
We have friends in our world who have done that. And I go like, but they know who, absolutely.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And they interview them like, hey, so why did you have your balloon unplugged? I wanted to see what she was talking about. She's attracted. No, but let me say this. There's a difference between a dating app or going on a reality show. Because a lot of times, those people on those shows, they're doing it. And my Instagram is Amber22999. They're going because it's publicity.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Oh, there have been people who've gone on two or three of those episodes. But wait, it's so popular that Netflix gave them a deal. And they should have. It's actually too slick for me.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
So what's your name? My name is Joey, and I have a business. Yeah, I'm a business owner, and I believe in God. I'm an entrepreneur. What do you want in a woman? She got to believe in God. Yeah. And not smoke too much reefer. And I like when she shows her, you know, her body off.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
So I couldn't. So this could not have happened in the 90s, but in the 90s, we were exploring. Girl, come on. You had to meet someone.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Are people really going on that show to really find love? I think there's some... I do. You think there's some?
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Well, because you knew how to play that and add that. But do you think that there are men who would be intimidated by Max? There were men.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
The thing is that we don't know until we get to know her that there is a softness, there is a femininity. Well, she's all feminine.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Right. But still wanting to date. You know, she got to date basketball players and football players on the show and all of this. And still very much wanting to add that into her life. And you, who were like, you weren't a man eater. You just were very clear that you could have your sex and eat it too. No, that came out wrong.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
No, because you use your puss too much. It stays up on the shelf because it needs to rest too much.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And because Overton hasn't made his move and he's not listening to Kyle to make his move, y'all swoop somebody else up in there. And I would like to thank you. I'd like to thank the producers. I'd like to thank the universe. Let's watch. It's time for The Rewind, where we watch and relive living single with you.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Like you said, you didn't want to get pregnant and you don't want to be considered too fast, especially in those environments that are, you know, smaller and more traditional. There's rules about when and why and who with who and all that.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And roles are getting even softer, right? So you have young people now who are like, who don't assign the same meaningfulness to sex that we did. You know, in our generation, not only did sex mean that you were going to get pregnant, sex meant that you could die. Yeah. Because STDs, it wasn't like you just get a shot of penicillin and you'd be fine. Age was very much prominent. Right?
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
So you're just coming off of that. It still is prevalent, especially in our communities. But it's not a death sentence as it was untreated.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
So the rules have softened. Yeah. And so when you meet someone, you have to go.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
What are your pronouns and what do you like and what don't you like and what are the rules here?
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Me, myself, and I. And now it's time for True Blue, where we get to hear from you. By the way, we'd love to get your questions and we'll sit here and we will answer them with love. All you have to do is go to relivingsinglepodcast at heartbeat.com. Write us. Tell us what you want to know. We'll tell you almost everything.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Let me tell you, have you been watching any of Pierce Brosnan's latest work? He has aged like a fine wine.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Listen, and James Bond. And here's, you know what? I like Pierce Brosnan. Because his woman is thick and he likes her thick. Boom.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
You ever see how he holds on to her? Come on. Right here. And people have said, oh, your wife is, he's not. I like it.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I like my lassie. So I always liked that he liked a woman with some curves.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I'm trying to think who else I would choose. I don't know. None of the pop stars because I wouldn't want to compete with the groupies. But yeah, you didn't say who you did. I didn't say because I don't have a... But you said you'd go out with anybody. Now you're being picky. That's not what I said. I said, if I go on a first date, they're going to be my boyfriend.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Because that justifies what's going to happen by date three. So do you like any rapper? LL Cool J would be my speed. He's a Capricorn. He licks his lips. But I don't want to disrespect his wife.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Flavor Flav is charming. Yeah. I see Flavor Flav gets it because he's charming. There's a light. And hey, Kim. Hey, Kimmy Kim. He's darling. A darling.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I love Richard to this day. And, you know, he's a well sought after acting coach and director. He works with Queen Latifah all the time. And just as an inside, you all can hear Richard every week on Living Single because he had this distinctive laugh. And to this day, if you listen to the show, you can hear his laugh. You want to do his laugh together? Here we go. Yeah.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
You told me about someone, I won't say I'll say when the show's, when we're not rolling, somebody who said to, I'm really feeling you, girl. I'm feeling you.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Erica went to the concert and you went backstage. It was a fashion show. It was a fashion show. And he said, hey, girl.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Maxwell. Don't feel me. Please don't feel me. Yeah, I don't even let myself go there. The 90s.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Thank you, Janae, for asking me a question and getting us to reminisce.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Life is moments like this. You reminded that life is so short and you must share your light. You know, Tommy shared his light beautifully yesterday. Kind, loving man. I'm told he was a great father and a great dad.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
So much so. And so it says to all of us to live now and live your light and be the best version of you always so that you can be remembered and loved on just like this. Come back.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Reliving Single is hosted by Erica Alexander and me, Kim Coles. Reliving Single is a production of Heartbeat in association with Color Farm Media. Executive produced by Kevin Hart, Jeff Clannigan, Eric Eddings, Leslie Guam, Erica Alexander, and Ben Arnon. This show is produced by Kim Coles. Amber Watson is our senior producer. Our associate producer...
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
is Kenny Jackson our video editor is Shannon Joy Rogers our sound engineers are Eric Hicks and Cedric Wilson production supervision by Razak Boykin additional production support from Alex Atkins and Z Taylor and a special thanks to Dr. EJ Johnson
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Really? So this is my first A story, Sinclair's first A story. And you all are seeing this pattern of A stories and B stories, but they all blend beautifully together. And the writers are showing Sinclair's approach to what it would be like. And so she's been asked that on a date already by this doctor.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
She didn't need a setup at all. She was throwing that in her back pocket the whole time. I didn't. Which is nuts. But I was listening to the advice and I need somebody who's got this and has this and has to have a butt and has to, or no butt, no date. What great, great advice. Right.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Right, right. I love that line. Setting up on a date with a dude? Yeah, with a dude. Because, you know, he's like, this is my girl.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Hello. Hello. You know, from watching all the great comedy on TV growing up, you know, in the late 60s and the 70s. And so I'm really just pulling from all of my favorites. And so, you know, that little... Because who does that in real life? But, you know, I got an idea. And so... Getting a chance to play. Because I don't even know what the line said. It was like, hello. I was like, hello.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And I also love that Regine kind of throws it away. Like, you know, a man has walked into the room, a perfectly, you know, nice looking, you know, viable guy. And yeah, yeah. Now that we're done with that. Now let's get back to you, you know, and finding. So it's like there was somebody in the house and it was Overton, but y'all didn't see him.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
The audience felt his disappointment, and I feel like they knew. Of course, Sinclair didn't know, but the audience already knew, like, aww. They knew that it could be something good there. Like, come on, girl. It's right in front of your face. Yeah, that's true.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Yeah, but once y'all got me onto the fact that I might meet a shepherd, I was like, well, that's really interesting.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I love now that you're getting a deeper, richer look into the relationship between Kyle and Overton. That he can come in and tease him about his, you know, his hammer. And he sees that his buddy is down. And like, why aren't you laughing, man? And what's going on? And, you know, we're now getting more about Kyle, that he's a ladies' man. We can tell, but now we know.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And I love that, you know, the thing about Sinclair and Overton is that, you know, people sometimes say, well, y'all are dumb. It's like, Overton is not dumb. He gets this advice like, oh, so you're telling me all this. And yeah, fine. You're the master, huh?
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Yeah, more... More proprietary or something. Yeah, a little bit more stereotypical. And territorial or something.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
He said, I think it was a multi-year plan. Year one. So here's what's great about the writing there is that we don't even know how many years he's going to plan this, but we know that year one, this is what the plan is like. No, no, no. Let's stop that right now. Yeah, no. That's too much. That's never going to happen. Yeah.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
The other thing that they did so masterfully in the writing of this episode is something called the callback. So we see in the apartment, Overton says, they're setting you up. What? With a dude?
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And in the hallway- Kyle repeats the line, what, would a dude? And so that's just sitcom heaven.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
That's all there is to it. Disaster ensues because I think you all get me ready for this date because I've already been asked out on the date. It ain't going to be a shepherd. It's a doctor. Ain't going to be no shepherd. Yeah.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
All caring enough to get me ready for this date because this is a good catch. He's a doctor.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Because it's too much. Because y'all are making me look like a harlot. Well, Regine is making me look like a harlot. That's true. It's just too much. And it's not me. And I guess as my older cousin, she's like, that's too much. You know, like your mom didn't send you here to live with me for you to go out like that. And so that's a beautiful little touch.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Well, I ask because I have a very different experience because I... I'm a terrible first dater because I date and then I make them my boyfriend right away.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Very much. Actually, Sinclair is a huge people pleaser. Huge. I'm falling over my words because that's something that we have in common, I will admit. Oh, absolutely. For sure. Oh, peacemaker, pleaser, wants everybody to get along. Yeah.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
that chaotic and stability all in one yeah okay see that's a people please yeah I insulted you and softened it yeah but and you said you like it I do like it because I know that in chaos can often be I know that creativity can be chaotic look at you trying to really work it
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
You are all getting me ready for this date in your way, teaching me what I need to know from your perspective. This one is telling me to show my cleavage. You know, this one's doing my makeup. You're showing me how to walk. And, you know, my butt, I was trying to get that swing.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I got a high booty. And so that skirt was helping me out to make that swing look even better. You look like a cartoon mule. Thank you. Is that sexy? It's funny. And that's what really matters. Yeah. So now Michael's at the door. I love that Regine is going to go get him for me so I can make an entrance.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Okay, so let's talk about my date. My date is the one and only beloved, beloved Tommy Michael Ford.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And he was so, I mean, he's no longer with us on this plane, but so sweet, so kind, just easy to be around.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
What was it like working with him? Oh, lovely, because he's easy to work with. And I had done, I think I had already done an episode of Martin or something. You know, I'd been around him before. You did an episode of Martin? Yeah, I was Bonequisha. Bonequisha. Me and Yo-Yo and Shanaynay.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
I know that dating is tough. And I know that Sinclair had it rough because she was very sheltered and, you know, from Minnesota. Yeah, Minnesota. Wow, I hear that.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And Tommy, of course. Kind, sweet, funny, just like you see him. Lovely.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
And unaware of how, you know, there's guys who, like, you know, obviously Dr. Edwards is, you know, being charming and handsome, but Tommy was unaware of how handsome and charming he was. Yeah, no pretense. No pretense at all.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
Right. Right. And she wanted a man who loved animals. I mean, he was a veterinarian for heaven's sake and he had his little corny jokes. And so it was like kind of perfect, right? In that way. He's a doctor and all of these little corny ways of being, which was very sweet. I'll tell you something else too. There's a little quick shout out to you.
ReLiving Single
90s Kinda Dating
You know, we're in a beautiful French restaurant, a high class French restaurant. And you said, he said, do you want to order something? Nothing. We'll just eat these biscuits here. It's not a biscuit. It's like a, you know, beautiful French roll or something. You're like, we'll just eat these biscuits. I don't know if that was in the script. I don't know if that was your improv.
ReLiving Single
The Rosetta Stone of Sitcoms featuring Kim Fields
Okay, well, go hang out then. Go hang out. Just hanging out. Just hanging out.
ReLiving Single
The Rosetta Stone of Sitcoms featuring Kim Fields
Jennifer Lewis. Oh, my God. Jennifer Lewis.
ReLiving Single
The Rosetta Stone of Sitcoms featuring Kim Fields
Oh. She's your therapist? Yes. Lord. Yes, exactly. That right there.
ReLiving Single
The Rosetta Stone of Sitcoms featuring Kim Fields
What? She's made of metal. That's all the precious metals. All the precious metals. Right here. All the precious metal. Is that a bar? That's a bar. He gonna call me Tink Tink. Tink Tink. Little Tink Tink. Yeah, you right. I can't, William. Tink Tink. Tink Tink. Let me wipe my eyes, girl.
ReLiving Single
The Rosetta Stone of Sitcoms featuring Kim Fields
That would have been bad. That would have been bad at all. Not at all.
ReLiving Single
The Rosetta Stone of Sitcoms featuring Kim Fields
Oh my God, I remember this. You remember?
ReLiving Single
The Rosetta Stone of Sitcoms featuring Kim Fields
I was like, you can see that in that suit he was wearing?
ReLiving Single
The Rosetta Stone of Sitcoms featuring Kim Fields
See what I did there? She did. I was at that.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Hey, Kim. You know, what is chemistry? You know, chemistry is that sort of je ne sais quoi. You can't quite put your finger on it, but you know it when you feel it, right?
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
So let the record be shown that I, Kim, I did not call you a hussy. You were a gold and gold digger. And you had other goals that you were digging for. For sure. And I was just digging for some brains. Okay, moving on.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I fall for that every time. You've probably worked up quite a thirst. Why don't I get us a beverage?
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Wow. We just discovered this at what age? Wait, wait. So let's talk about the great John Henton. I call him Henton. Fine as hell. Fine as hell. Fine and funny knows best. Listen, I remember watching John Hinton on the Johnny Carson show. And I know I'm dating myself, if those of you remember watching the show.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And as a stand-up comedian myself, I understand the power of a stand-up comedian going on the Johnny Carson show. And Mr. Carson saying, come on over and sit down and talk to me because that's never planned. Unless you're a big, big name. It was his first network television show. And I remember when he said, you know, come on over. The look on John's face was like, I'm about to sit next to...
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And Johnny Carson loved him. And that was the night that John Hinton became a star, like all kinds of phone calls. And we'll have him on the show and tell all that. It's a huge deal.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And you see him establishing a little flirt and a little something going on. So we're giving the audience an insight and inside into what's to come.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And I really, truly believe that we had it at Living Single from episode one, moment one, like right away. That's exactly why they greenlit the show.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
She's gold digging. No, she's childlike wonder. Childlike wonder. Both of them have childlike wonder. And that's why we got along great. Now, so Overton's character, let's talk about that a little bit. Where's he from? From Cleveland. You know, a simple guy. And I don't mean simple as in simpleton. That's another character that people think... You know, he's an inventor. He can fix anything.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
We're still here and it's still on and it is playing somewhere even as we speak right now.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
He knows the inner workings of everything that's happening in the building. He knows the inner workings of relationships. He's actually a meat and potatoes. What you see is what you get. Salt of the earth and strong. Strong. Strong in who he is.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And let me say this about him too. What I love about John is John loves women. He would make every woman who came on the set feel beautiful. How you doing today? Beautiful. He just makes you feel loved and seen and appreciated and loved. He has a thousand sisters, and I think that's where it comes from. He really loves women and made them feel beautiful.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
There we have our men. Come on. Right there. Right there. Rocket and rocket fuel. We loved them and they loved us. Rocket and rocket fuel. We're learning so much. And this is dialogue. A sitcom dialogue. But what have we learned? Now, we're clear that Overton is interested in Sinclair and he wants to get up under that sink.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Very naughty. Very naughty. And then you have this other man come in, which we find out is his roommate. Yes.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
What? What? We had never seen someone like him in the sitcom world. No. Proud, chocolate, black, blackity black.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I embrace it. And we're getting younger and younger fans and people whose kids are watching. So like how many how many Max's have you met?
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
brought that to Kyle. He did. A hundred percent. Even down to the African clothing he would wear, the jewelry he would wear. He really influenced that character and took it all the way there.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
From the very beginning. Talk about chemistry. And so they were roommates who had, but they had known each other. The storyline is that they knew each other in Cleveland. So that's how they came to be friends and live in the big city together.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Okay. But that they were very different, but very much brothers.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And here you come, a force of nature, a force of energy. You come in and we know who you are right away. That you have taken the Winnie Bagel, the this and that. You left it with a lip ball and a what now? A tic-tac. Don't touch me unless you want to get burned.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Wow. That was the scene. So people should know that sometimes the audition that you have for the show is actually in the show. In the show. So you were ready. You were revved up.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Did you strut like that? Did you really work it in the audition too? Yeah, I had to. You know, you get up there like, you know.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I love it. Stay tuned. There's a whole lot more re-watching the re-living show coming after this. Right, Erica? She ain't going nowhere.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
So you talk about this hair. So you're known for these yarns. They're yarn locks.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
It's important that people know that this is how you came to the character. It wasn't like it was decided that you would have these locks or that you would wear this particular style. Erica Alexander was wearing this style. And that's Max's style.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Oh, they gave her across the street from the girl. She's too strong to be in the house with everybody, but you were always there with us, which is also part of the story, part of the joke.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And we hadn't seen someone like her either. We had not. Who was strong in her sexuality, strong in her blackness, clear in, I mean, we've seen versions of it, no doubt. No doubt. And of course, Cecily Tyson and hair. Hello. But this mix of things in a sitcom, I think feels very new.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Because I am a person who lives from the space of childlike wonder, which is why I keep coming to, there are people who have said to me, oh my God, you're just like Sinclair. And I go, I hope that's a good thing. Because I know that there are people who think that she's dumb. It is a good thing. Just like they think that you were whatever you were. And you're richer and deeper than that.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
But the qualities that I am installed in Sinclair are... foundational to me. So if you say that I'm just like Sinclair, it's a compliment.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
People tell me, did you know that was Family Matters? I wasn't thinking about it. I was just like, is this where the sofa is? Is that where the door is? Great, let me just do it. It's not until later that we look back and we go, wow, we were using someone else's set until the show got picked up and we got our family.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
It's all on fire. And it felt good right away. I felt it. It did. We can brag now. We can. We didn't know then. I knew in my soul. You knew? Oh, I knew. Oh, I knew. Because as I've talked about before, I had come off of another show that did not have this chemistry. So if I got to a place where I felt, oh, collaboration, oh, these people all seem to really like each other.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I was like, this has to work. Oh, God, this has to work. Yeah. So I've talked about it and I'll talk about it again because the contrast was incredible to experience. And there was a level of joy and respect. And very quickly we learned to, I could throw the ball to you and I knew that you would throw it back to me and I could trust what you were throwing my way.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And you could trust that what I was throwing your way was going to be golden enough to catch and take to the next level. So I felt good right away.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
So we've met all the characters now. Everybody has been introduced. We're going to get to know them eventually. But the plot of this show, like you said, was Regine was dating a married man.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
We find out he's married. He's perfect except just that little thing. Right. And we have to tell her.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Pobrecito. Pobrecito. He is married. He tells her. She continues to date him. That's right. Right.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
It's Regine, I think. But I love that you say Regine. I love that you give it a hard, like, Regine.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Because what people may not remember, her name is actually Regina. It's Regina. She changed it to Regine to be fancy. She's Regina from Newark. So I'm Regine. You're Regine.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Right. And in the end, isn't that what... You know, true friendships are supposed to be about that. In the end, you will come back home and we will be here to lick our wounds or to love each other or to, you know, encourage each other. That's what friends are for. That's what friends are for.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
What is it? What would the world be like without men, a bunch of fat, happy women and no crime?
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Would you like to live in a world with no- Ever ready. With no men? Oh, it's so much more fun. Fat and happy with no crime. Well, I'm already fat and happy, so that's- No offense.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I think that we need each other. So I think this is a great quote, a bunch of fat, happy women and no crime. So, okay, nice that there will be no crime. But I think that the divine feminine and the divine masculine belong together. We need them.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Let's be honest. I get it. I'm not saying that it can't be done. But I think that if we can all get along, it would be great. We'd be fighting over the one dude. Not me. I wouldn't fight over you. I'm not fighting over you. I'm not fighting. I'm not going to fight. I'm not going to fight. I'm not going to fight. I'm not going to fight. I'm not going to fight. You want to fight?
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I'm not going to fight. I'm not going to fight. I ought to. We've got to finish off the episode here. Let's finish the episode.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
It is. Do you know that they still do chemistry reads on auditions? You want to explain to the people what a chemistry read is?
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
We sing a song. We sing the My Girls thing. We go into the bathroom and we sing and dance together.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
My girls. My girls. My girls. Talking about my girls. And I roboted. I roboted. That's all I remember. My girls. And we're singing and dancing and in love. And we go out. We go out. Well, you know what it says? What does it say? It says that men come and go.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
It feels good to watch it. I can't believe I was that young and that skinny, and I thought I was fat then. Like, I thought I was heavy. Like, I had been a bigger girl, and I had lost weight as I had gotten in the business, and I was told that I needed to lose weight, and I lost a bunch of weight. And I look at that, and I go, oh, my God, I was so chubby. And hello, I would pay for that right now.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I love myself as I am, but it's funny how body image and the eyebrows and the hair. Hindsight gives insight. You ain't never lost. What? Hindsight and hind parts.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Right. But it felt good to watch the pilot. I think it still stands up. This is The Reverb, our time to reflect on the episode's themes and how they still echo throughout the culture. Today, we're talking about the impact of living single and why it's so iconic. Black showbiz gives you more. Black showbiz gives you more. That's a T-shirt.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
What we were showing them is that this is how we're different and this is how we are the same. And I always tell the story of this little Jewish man that I met in a bank who squeezed my arm and said, I love you girls. You girls are beautiful. I'm from Brooklyn, too. I love you girls. I love the queen. I love all the girls.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Episode number one is judging a book by its cover. Yeah. In which Regine thinks that she's found the perfect man, but Sinclair and Khadijah and Max learn that he is, dun-dun-dun, married.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And here they were telling us what our audience looked like and sounded like. And it was actually much wider. Much wider. He absolutely watched it.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
People say that I'm Sinclair. They say I'm you. And you got blonde hair and blue eyes and you're me. And so it's important that we were, we belong to our community at large, our, you know, the black community and we belong to everyone who. Yes.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And it was a beautiful blend. No one was like anyone else. We were all very, very different. And I think we each, each of the characters and each of us represented a different aspect of culture and the culture that was happening at the time. And it just worked.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Well, and you know this, and this happens to you. Don't you ride onto the lot and security guards give you the love? They do. Warner Brothers.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Yeah. And enjoy it, but it's real. And did very, very well. But the legend is that the president of NBC at the time was asked, if there's any show you wish that you had gotten this season, what was it? And he said, Living Single. And then a year or so later, Friends popped up. So we can have a whole conversation around that. Yeah. And that we were on the same, with the same production company.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Which camera is mine? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. No, thank you.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
But we were there so we could talk about it. We were there. Girl, please. Okay. Watch this.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Heartbeat. Heartbeat. Come on now. Come on, let's do it. I'm going to tell you this right now.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
This might come home with me because it's real pretty. They're going to make us one. I hope so. We have a logo and everything. So come on now, Kevin. Come on, Kev. Come on, Kev. And a little gin.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
So I have chosen a script for us to do. I've been thinking about this whole episode, what we should do for chemistry.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Oh, I think so, too. I think so. What'd you pick? I picked Billy Dee Williams and Diana Ross in... Mahogany. Erica and I will read that script together to see if we still got the magic.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
So, ladies and gentlemen, Erica Alexander and Kim Coles will do a scene from Mahogany. I will be playing the Diana Ross role, also known as Mahogany the model.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I'm a widow from the South Side. Who said that? Maybe we don't have chemistry. My old man left me with six kids, and he hasn't been home for weeks. And they all got the flu. What you going to do about that? I can't see who said that. Please let the lady who said that step forward. Please. Mr. Walker, when you're elected, what are you going to do to help me?
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to? Do you know? I cry every time I hear that song. Me too.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Reliving Single is hosted by Erica Alexander and me, Kim Coles. Reliving Single is a production of Heartbeat in association with Color Farm Media. Executive produced by Kevin Hart, Jeff Clannigan, Eric Eddings, Leslie Guam, Erica Alexander, and Ben Arnon. This show is produced by Kim Coles. Amber Watson is our senior producer. Our associate producer is Kenny Jackson.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Our video editor is Shannon Joy Rogers. Our sound engineers are Eric Hicks and Cedric Wilson. Production supervision by Razak Boykin. Additional production support from Alex Atkins and Z Taylor. And a special thanks to Dr. EJ Johnson.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
You'll never watch a sitcom the same way ever again after you know that. Now, you'll see the A story, you'll see the B story, and you'll see how they fold into each other. It's beautiful.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And by the way, Yvette is Yvette Lee Bowser, the creator of the show. You'll learn more about her. Yes. Are we going to watch this episode or what? It's time for The Rewind, where we watch and relive Living Single with you.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
What is that? Okay. So that is not the theme song. The name of the Living Single show was originally My Girls. Okay, I didn't know that. And we were told that it had to be changed because there was a movie of the same name. What movie? My Girl. My Girl. A decision was made, we're going to change the name, and the name was going to be changed to Living Single.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
A sitcom with four black women. And two men. Yeah, it was a tough time. Yeah. So it was changed to Living Single. Okay. Which I thought it was a terrible name. Okay, why? Because nobody talks that way. You say, I'm living the single life. Or, ooh, I'm single and living it up big. Like, who says living single? It sounded harsh and hard to say. What did you do about it? Did you say anything?
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Well, okay, so Dana and I... We went to Warner Brothers and we went to go see Les Moonves, who was running Warner Brothers.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
My memory is that we took a golf cart over from the lot where we were over to the big lot where his office was. And I remember a set of doors opening up as if we were walking into heaven. It was like, oh. The executive office. And it took 15 years to walk to his desk because it was like a long walkway. And we fought for it. We're like, this is a terrible name. And why are you changing the name?
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
It's not going to, nobody's going to say it. And he just listened and said, okay, well, thank you so much for coming back and get on in your golf cart and go on back across. Dismissed. Dismissed. And we had to take it on. And now I couldn't imagine another name.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
You know what I'm saying? And sometimes you lose. You lost. Most times you lose. Right. It's all good. What did we win? We won a great name. Once we got our name, Living Single. Boom. Who wrote the theme song for it? Queen Latifah. Who performed the theme song for it?
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I remember that day, standing and dancing. Okay, so much to talk about there. It's a bop, and it bops to this day.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Big Les is her name. She's an incredible dancer and was, you know, really one of the premier video girls that was happening in the 90s. And she came and did that dance. We've got to have her on the show. We do. She's a wonderful choreographer.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Shut it down. So people come up to us and sing the song all the time. All the time. It has been remixed a thousand times. It's in all sorts of... There's a jazzy version. There you go. There's a country version. And it just, it shows that when you have great music... It lasts the test of time. For sure. She did that. Too blue and tight like glue.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
So one of the things that's really special about this episode is, of course, it was written by our creator, Yvette Denise Lee, and Tom Anderson was brought in to be the overarching showrunner. I'm really... Grateful that Tom Anderson knew to stand down and let Yvette create the show that needed to be created. He was brought in to oversee everything.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
But she wanted to create extraordinary female friendships. And that was the foundation for the show. Right.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I love Sinclair and I don't like that people think she's dumb. She's not dumb. So she did see and, you know, march to the beat of her own drummer. That's dumb. That's dumb. That's not dumb. That's not dumb. She's doing accents. She has thought this through. She wants her cousin's magazine to feel as if it's international.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
So she's willing to put on a fake accent, like, I want people to think this is international. It's fantastic, or whatever she did. She's thought this through. That's not dumb. It's not well-placed, but it's not dumb. It's not effective. I don't even know what to say.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I'm down for it. Okay. Let's do it. I'm a little worried, but no. Okay. Okay. Tell you what. On one condition. What is it though? Okay. If we're going to do a chemistry read, then we need to read a script and I want to choose it. Deal.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And by the way, you're smart. You went to the Brooklyn... Tech, it's a school you have to take a test to get into, but that's neither here nor there. It's one of the top three high schools in New York and in the country. But, you know, to play, you know, someone who was naive and innocent and childlike, you know.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Right. The great Betty White. Please, please. So to have that sort of innocence and childlike wander and wander around the set was fun to play and fun to do. And a great, you know, contrast to Khadijah, who has this magazine and she's pulled it.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
We had chemistry. We shared the same dressing room all five seasons of that show. There was no point that anybody think, oh, let's just separate.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Yes, big breasts. Did they fit in the same room? We would actually, I don't know if people know this, I was smoking at the time. We would go in our little dressing area and smoke cigarettes in between the scenes and go, we'll be right out. Girls, this is something. Oh, I went to a store and bought us a little sofa. We had pillows in there. You did? Oh, it was very nice.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
All right. Wait till you see. I got something in mind. Don't get too excited. I'm excited. All right.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I didn't have nothing but a folding chair. Oh, no. We had plants in there and we would sit and have a cigarette and be like, we'll be right out. Oh, my gosh. That's why we were late all the time.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Curtained off. And you have to quickly, they're called quick change booths. Quick change booths. So you just go in there, change, and get ready for the next scene. And we would go in there and laugh.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And so you had yours, and Kim had hers, and the guys had theirs, and we would go in there and just sit in our underwear and get ready for the... So let's say you and TC were out doing a scene, we'd be in there smoking a cigarette and getting ready for the next scene. Just like, we'll be out shortly. That's what's up. What I like is they got you in that big hat. You look great in hats.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
I love those big hats. You look... It had to be a cap that was easy enough to move on top of all those micro braids. There's a lot of thought that goes into this thing that we're putting together. Even what you wear and the costumes, and we'll talk about that too. It's all a part of the show.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
You'll never find it again. You ain't finding no caviar. But what's really cool about this is that Kim has been working for years and years and had done some work as an adult. But this was really her first role, at least from my perspective, her first role that we see her in a full-on woman. And she stepped into it beautifully. Yes. And owned it. And owned it.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
And the wigs and the clothing and the desire to have a great man. But it really comes from wanting to grow out of this girl who just grew up in New Jersey. She wants this other world of, you know, what she thinks that she wants. Yes. You know, a security.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Unapologetic. I'm going to wear these. I'm going to switch it up. I'm going to serve it. Serve it and enjoy. I guess there's no shame in that game. No, no. You know. If you know it and if you know this is what you want, you know what she was going for. I think she was going for security. And I think people think that her character was a gold digger. I think it was a gold digger, as in G-O-A-L.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
Look at you. Right. Not gold digging, but gold digging. Gold digger. There's a life that you have when you have a wealthy man in the eyes of someone like that.
ReLiving Single
Judging by the Pilot
She would be very upset that we were calling her a hussy, but she's a hussy-ish.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
You're going to see me fade out and I'm going to still get paid. So the most generous thing that he could do was lend his name and his expertise and his vision or whatever he helped her on because sure enough, the next script was accepted. And this is the pilot script. And this is what we're going to shoot now.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Okay, so how much are we telling, girl? I don't know, because loose lips sink ships. All right, well, we got to give the people something.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And I think Yvette would say that she's grateful to him for coming in and having that foresight to go, let me still cook. Let me be over. I'm still going. Let me cook. And he understood. Let me let her cook.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
John was a stand-up. And John was really getting a lot of attention because he was funny and cute and had his own way with words. And then he had done the Johnny Carson show, The Tonight Show, and had just done so well on the show, so well that Johnny Carson invited him over to the sofa. It's a big deal. It's a big deal for Johnny Carson to say, you are amazing.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I do think that John got cast, but I think it was a happy coincidence that he was also part of William Morris. But what about his character? Listen, here's the beauty about creating a show, is that you get to set the worlds that they're in and set the worlds... In the future. So we know that Sinclair and Khadijah are cousins.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Sinclair is going to move from Minnesota and come work and live with her cousin. We know that Khadijah is a business owner and she's struggling to make it and make it big. She's got some success and there's more to have. There's more to come. We know that there's this...
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
best friend that she knew back in New Jersey whose name is really Regina but now she calls herself Regine and she's going to be you know very bougie and she's going to want to date she's going to want to meet a man she wants to meet a man and we know that we're going to give you a love interest and he's going to be a guy named Overton by the way Kyle Bowser is Yvette Lee Bowser's husband and
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
She names Kyle Barker after him. And guess what Kyle Bowser's best friend's name is? Overton. There's a real Overton.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
So there's the story before the story. So we just tell that story, and then we'll get into the story. Okay, I'm with it. So how do you think we're going to do it? Because I don't want to stand here the whole time. Oh, okay. It's a candid conversation with family and friends. You know what we need?
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Right? And so she gave him a best friend, Overton. And so we know that this is going to be your love interest. And so we're going to set it up now. So it's all the worlds that you're creating in that moment and all the worlds that you're opening space for. And of course, then you come along and we're going to talk about that.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I've only had a handful of opportunities that were like, this doesn't happen very often. Most of the time, I'm a samurai, too. I'm sharpening my sword. Well, that's definitely what I am.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
It's a little red. It's reddish. You've got to be kidding me. Candid conversation between friends and family. That was the tagline. And that's what we're going to do. We're friends and family. So this is perfect. See?
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I'm like, what? But now I didn't know where it came from. I was like, why is she being so mean?
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Oh, I did not know that you literally met the spotlight. That's a little bright. That's a little bright. You can't take the pressure. Can't take the pressure. Okay. It's 1993. It is a couple of years after I have been released, let go, fired, fired from In Living Color. Far from my first job in Living Color. And so I've been just out there in the world still doing stand-up.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And it could be somebody says, I like her and I like her. Well, bring her back in.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Oh, you had to audition or you had to take the deal?
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
A lot of people don't know that too, that you actually signed the deal before the final yes happened. Yes, yes. And you sometimes it's kind of onerous. Your next five years or like your salary is negotiated. Now you go and you renegotiate. But people don't know that you have to sign that deal before the final audition.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I had a couple of holding deals. That's when they give talent money to not do anything while they develop something for you, and then nothing gets developed.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I was in the purgatory of waiting to work again. Okay. That's the life of an actor, performer, comedian. It's how it goes. Okay.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And I get a phone call one day. Let's reenact it. Oh, it's my manager, Sinclair. My manager's name was Sinclair. Go figure. Hey, Sinclair. Hey. Yeah, just sit around. I'm not doing nothing. A meeting? What? Where? Warner Brothers. I'm in. And so we go to Warner Brothers to a meeting. I meet with Les Moonves. At the time, it was still called Lorimar, Lorimar Productions. That's right.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
How did they not even give us a chance? Like, I don't believe that you didn't have energy. I don't remember that.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
So you would have been the third wheel if you had said yes to that deal.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
If you felt like outsiders, you weren't outsiders for long.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Is it really? Come on. You acting light skinned it now. No, no. Don't do that, Erica. Don't do that. I'm being funny. I'm sensitive. I'm going to tell you. Okay, you being funny. I am sensitive. Come on now. You can't get sensitive on that. I'm telling you why I'm sensitive. Is it really hard being dark-skinned? Is that what you're saying? That's not what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I'm always sensitive to that because... I have a mother who's brown skin and was the darkest one of her sisters and grew up in the South and is aware of the contrast. And it was like, I see you as chocolatey deliciousness. And I'm going to tell you something else about you, NTC. It's because of you that we ever even won an Emmy. We didn't win any Emmys for our acting or our writing.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Our lighting dude, I asked him, I was like, Brian, I was like, yeah. What's going on? He says, no, when Erica or TC come, they have a special light to illuminate their skin. I'm hooking them up. He won Emmys because of your skin color. So I'm like, it's beautiful. And I sometimes when I hear you talk about it, I feel like, is it? No, don't take it on, Kim.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And so I go up to Warner Brothers and this is, you know, I've been taking meetings all along. So like, OK, another meeting. And in this meeting, the executives and Les say that they want to do a show on. about women, about Black women, about their friendships and relationships and career and sex and, you know, all the things.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Thank you for giving me that other layer because I'm not- I absolve you.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I'm not aware of that because immediately I don't see it that way. Like I said, you know, I grew up in a household with a mother who's brown skinned. It was very, you know, the contrast was talked about and all the things. In fact, my summers were the best because I would get extra money to go to the beach and get brown like a berry like her. And then we would compare.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Fox. So we have a brand new network. Yeah. So we all grew up, at least I grew up with the three, ABC, NBC, CBS. And then we have this brand new network that's new and diverse. different and, you know, deciding what their tone was going to be, what their brand was going to be. They had a Fox strategy.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And they mentioned a very pivotal scene inside of Jungle Fever, affectionately termed the War Council scene. So it's a bunch of women sitting around talking about men and what they're doing, what they're not doing right. And these are the people at Warner Brothers who have mentioned this scene. And you were in the room with Sinclair, just you and Sinclair.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And so they built with communities that had not been seen. So yes, you had Cosby on NBC, but I think that Fox decided to go young, to go urban, to go black, to go Latino. They decided to go a whole other direction.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Also, because the strategy changed at some point. And we'll get to that in a moment. I remember auditioning for In Living Color. And I remember the energy was this is a new network. This is going to be doing new things. It's going to be you can be black. You can be urban. You could be all these things. And it was expected that this new place was going to be a place for us. Right.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And I don't think I was aware of it then. It was, you know, having some some distance from it to really understand, see that and understand that. And so it was scrappy. It was colorful, colorful, energetic. And they were tapping into hip hop.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Right. And even so that on In Living Color, you know, we had a DJ. We invited hip hop artists to come and perform. You know, it's a variety show, but not done the old school way, done this whole new way. And I remember it being the hottest thing. And the numbers were raising. And in fact, we shot the pilot for In Living Color and the show didn't get picked up for like a year or so.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
People had made bootleg tapes. Like you could go up to Harlem and buy a show. Somebody said, I saw you on this show. Living Color on the bootleg. Buying the tapes in front of the Apollo Theater. Because I was performing at the Apollo. Somebody said, I saw you on a show. Like, what show? Living Color? Like, how did you get in Living Color? You know what?
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
They were bootlegging and selling on the street.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Because it was played on Fox, I think that season, playing on... And so we created like some sketches or some... So the break was this halftime show with this... Everybody tuned in for that, even more so than the show.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Yeah. And shows were created that were, that spoke to that audience. And that audience felt as if they had a place they could go that was just for them.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
So it's proof that our culture matters and our culture influences. And they knew that that film and that scene in particular, these women talking was magical. And so I said... I I'd love to do something like that. But if the show is about bashing men, I'm not interested. Now, I realize now that that scene wasn't so much about just bashing men. It was like understanding what men are doing.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And then the strategy changed. And I remember when Living Single got canceled, a new network president was brought in and he decided that he wanted to take it a different direction. And it didn't work right away. It didn't work at all because now you're like wreck it, scratch, scrap. We're going to go in a different direction. It's like, no, we built this.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I hear what you're saying about, you know, then you segregate and you give it a title and you're right. It then marginalize or categorizes it as one thing. You're right. I don't think Sanford and Son was ever called a black show. But I think that something happened when those that title came. started being used, I think our communities began to go, we have ownership on this. This is our show.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
We have the, you know, to this day when people go, I still watch Living Single, you belong to us. So I think there's, there's one part that's setting aside and there's a part that then becomes, we, we get, you're, you're special because you belong to us.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I do think there was a place we returned, but we know that the Cosby show, you know, here's the thing about the Cosby show and and Will Smith show is that we know that it had a wide, wide audience and we know that we had a wide, wide audience. So someone determined, call it a black show. I think that that meant that black folks got to go. This is uniquely ours.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
However, I understand that you're talking black. NBC, bigger budgets. You have Bill Cosby, who at the time, one of the biggest, biggest, biggest ever, right? And then you've got Fox, who my complaint about Fox is that yes, they had a strategy, but they also didn't put the money into the show. So we didn't have the same anything that the network shows had. Here's what Fox would do though.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
It was really interesting. So you had to have a certain number of hours on per week in order to be considered a network. So they were the fourth network when it was convenient for them. Like, oh, we're the fourth. We're coming in. We're the baby. We're the brand new network.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And then when you would want more money, more resources, they would go, oh, well, we don't really have the same number of hours as NBC. And they would say, we really don't have the same advertising. We really don't have the same. So they were a network when it worked for them. And they were not like, oh, we're just the baby network. Yeah, we're the next new guys coming in. Oh, we're just.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
So they played. That was also part of this. strategy. So we don't have the budget. So you're comparing, you know, NBC to Fox.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
What I love about Living Single and what I will say over and over and over again is that we had a wide range of audience and ages and people and people sitting down to watch it together. That would be listening to this, too.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Even though I've been fired. That's a story for another day.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
They did. And his was interesting. He said, if we can give them a little bit of budget and they go to number one, then they're fine. It's like, what would have happened if we had been given the big bucks? What? And, you know, to hear the salaries that were happening over on the other lot or with the other shows is, you know, it's disheartening at best with our little raggedy trailers.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
But I was talent that was sort of being, you know, courted in other places and nothing had landed. So that's nice to know. And it's a nice position to be in to go like we want it. We may want to create something for you. And I was like, that's great. But if it's about bashing men, I'm not. No, thank you. They were like, okay, got it, got it.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
You know, we had trailers out in the middle of a parking lot and, you know, surrounded like the OK Corral with a bunch of feral cats on this lot. And, you know, a brush that hadn't been cleared in years. And we made magic. We made magic. Amazing. And our first craft service guy, you know, it was a bunch of a bunch of eggs and I think in a vat of vinegar or something.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I was like, that's craft services. And it changed and we made it better and we made it work and and we made magic. And I'm proud of that. I'm proud of it.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
The color, yeah. Behind the scenes. Give people a look behind the curtain. I think I'm down. Okay. Reliving Single. Reliving Single. Like a Living Single rewatch podcast where we relive the show with the people. We can relive it. All right. I like that. Yes, yes. It's a show they won't ever let us forget. No, they won't let us forget it.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I like the red tape because we get to share all the stuff, but you don't like the red tape? Well, you know, that's not our vibe.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
All right. So, yeah, we need a little something different. Oh, okay. What about...
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Nice. Nice, cushy seats. What about logo? Yeah, that's what we needed. All right. All right. It's official now. Oh, and we can't begin anything without... Oh, come on, you see my chair? I see you, I see you, go get it, go get it, go get it, go get it, go get it, get it, get it, get it.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Reliving Single is hosted by Erica Alexander and me, Kim Coles. Reliving Single is a production of Heartbeat in association with Color Farm Media. Executive produced by Kevin Hart, Jeff Clannigan, Eric Eddings, Leslie Guam, Erica Alexander, and Ben Arnon. This show is produced by Kim Coles. Amber Watson is our senior producer. Our associate producer is Kenny Jackson.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Our video editor is Shannon Joy Rogers. Our sound engineers are Eric Hicks and Cedric Wilson. Production supervision by Razak Boykin. Additional production support from Alex Atkins and Z Taylor. And a special thanks to Dr. E.J. Johnson.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And then they said, by the way, what do you think of Queen Latifah? I was like, I love Queen Latifah. Oh my goodness, she's amazing. Come on. She and I had just met backstage at an award show. And it's interesting. She was in her mirror this way and I was in my mirror this way in the makeup room. And we both turned around. I was like, oh, my goodness, I love you.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
You know how the fans are always asking us all the Living Single questions, right? Like, you know, is there ever going to be a reboot?
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And she said, oh, my goodness, we watched Living Color on our tour bus. And I was like, oh, my goodness, I've been such a fan. And I'm from Brooklyn. You from Newark. Hey, girl. Reflections of.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Yeah, the magic. That's the magic. Okay. Nice hug. And so I flashed to that moment like, oh my goodness, I love her. And okay, would you like to work with her? I was like, who wouldn't want to work with the queen? This is amazing. I don't even know what this is yet, but I'm a yes. I didn't know that they were having meetings with her at the same time.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
So they must've said, what do you think of Kim Coles? And she signed off on me. Okay, got it. So we both approved of each other. I love it. And I requested that we have Somebody black. Like, can we get someone black to create the show? That would be awesome.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
But what's interesting is I wasn't aware that I was flexing at the moment. I just was like, I'm in a space where I'm just going to ask for what I want. I wasn't even aware of the power of that. I wasn't, I didn't walk in like a boss, like I want this and I want that. I was like, it would be really nice if we could get somebody black.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
That's Tuesday. It's a Tuesday. Come on, queen. But it's like, if you can ask the question, and this is important to know, because I think that we have this expectation or this desire to be a particular way, not knowing that just being ourselves is enough sometimes. I didn't know that I couldn't ask for it. So I was just like, why not? Latifah and I were at the same agency.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
So I was thinking, instead of answering the same questions over and over and over again, why don't we tell our story, how Living Single got started, all the backstage stories?
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
We were both at William Morris. And so it was understood that this was going to be what they call a package. So because you have at least two pieces of the pie that are at the same agency, why not try to keep that going if you can?
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
they get to come in with their power, right? So we were given a list of writers who were in the William Morris family. And on that list was Yvette Denise Lee. Each of us met with her separately. Latif and I talked and said, I like her. I like her too. And Yvette was chosen as the one that could have this opportunity to create the show.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And she had been at Hanging with Mr. Cooper and she had been with- Different World. Right, right. Yeah, she's been doing it. Right. And it was the right time. And young and smart. From Stanford.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And again, young, younger than me. You know, I was older than all of y'all, actually, which is fun to experience. I was like, I didn't I don't think I had myself together at 23, 24 like y'all did.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I get that, but in the moment, I'll take the flowers. I'm just saying. It's important to know I wasn't thinking that at the time. I know. So I'm not putting it down. I'm just saying that it's important to know that I didn't even know what I had. I understand. And imagine if I did, then who knows?
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Yeah. And I'm also saying this to other people who are, you know, growing and learning and building like you don't even know what you what you already have. And so might as well own it and enjoy it. Michelle Obama wrote Becoming. Right. You are in a state of becoming. Of course. Yes. I love it.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
But I wanted to really make this delineation that I really didn't even know what I didn't know that I already had.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Come on. The fans would love it. The fans would love it. And we would get to talk about the process and our approach to comedy.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And so sitting with Yvette and helping to shape who this character Sinclair, like I said, my manager's name was Sinclair. So spelled differently and really developing who she would be, that she was going to be joyful and light and childlike and a little ditzy, a little this and all the things. And Latifah was on her end creating her character. And who do I think this is? And she's an entrepreneur.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
The magazine's name is going to be Flavor and all these other pieces. And Yvette was awesome. also creating all the other characters and all the other pieces that would fit beautifully together. And we know that her vision was powerful female relationships.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Music and movies and a boss. Dana was a boss. The first of her kind. That day that I met her backstage at that award show, I said to her, I want to be a queen. And she was like, you are a queen. Like she got mad at me. So, oh my goodness, I want to be a queen. What? You are a queen.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
She's a powerhouse and has always, you know, from as far as long as we've known her, has always been a powerhouse and has that beautiful balance of strong femininity. And there's a softness in her. And, you know, we got to see it every day because we worked and played with her.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
She really is. She really is the baby of the bunch. There's a sensitivity.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
She's going to be strong and powerful and sensitive and all the things at the same time.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Where are you? I'm in Puerto Rico. I want to tell you that you are looking absolutely gorgeous. Your skin is skinning. You look wonderful.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I remember Yvette telling me about Regine and who she was thinking about for Regine. And she said, Kim Fields. And I was like, oh, that's interesting. Because we had only seen Kim as a child star. I mean, only and ever. And we know that she's growing up and she'd begun doing some other roles. No, the public hadn't really gotten a chance to fall in love with her as a grown woman.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
Every little black girl wanted to be Kim Fields. Exactly. Right. And she did it so well and she had kept her integrity and kept her energy.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
So I know that she was thinking of her all along and I was like, oh, this is fun. So I don't know what the casting situation was for Kim and Kim will come and tell us if she ever comes to visit. Yeah, we gotta have her. Yeah, we gotta have her. And so it just all felt good until... It didn't feel good. So Yvette turned on scripts. We were falling in love with what this is going to be.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And we got a call saying the final script that was turned in is not what we want it to be. OK, so wait a minute. OK. Y'all about to lose the show. We're about to lose the show because there was a script that was turned in that was not to Warner Brothers fans. Or Fox's liking. It just wasn't what they wanted. Wow. And they're like, we've run out of time. We've given her notes.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
She's addressed some of the notes, but it's still not where we need it to be. We're going to have to go. And Latifah and I got on the phone and said... I'm willing to extend my deal if you are. I like this girl. I love this idea. I want to play. And she felt the same way. What do we need to do?
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
And so we requested that William Morris extend our deal so that Yvette would have time to get another script in to get it done.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
For a little while longer. Because you could go back into the pool, like, well, off to the next show. I want to say we extended our deal just another two weeks or another month. It wasn't a long time, but it was enough so that Yvette could get another chance to write. So there was another writer, a showrunner, and that's an important... Distinction. Yeah.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
So... So you have writers and executive producers, and then you have showrunners. And just as the name sounds, it's someone who is experienced or is being given the opportunity to run the show. That means you are the head honcho. You are running the entire experience. You're going to hire everyone. You're going to oversee the writers. You may write yourself.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
This is the person who's really- The buck stops with them. Right. And Yvette had not yet had experience as a showrunner. She had had experience as a writer, and she was well-loved and well-received.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
But not yet as a showrunner. Yeah. It was decided that if we give her a showrunner who has experience, who has knowledge, who can come in and just oversee everything—and I'm using that word— Using that word, oversee the entire project. If we give her someone who will be by her side through this process, then we'll give it another shot.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
I knew you'd come around. Do your hair, get dressed, and let's do this. I got just the place to do it.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
It was a man named Tom Anderson. Sweet white. White guy. As, by the way, most showrunners and writers were. Absolutely. Yeah. And so we got Tom Anderson. Now, here's the beauty. And we know that this could go terribly wrong. Now we've got this guy who doesn't fully understand the vision, maybe, who can't fully get into the experience of what these black women want to say. He's a dude.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
He's a white guy. It's all the things, all the things. However, he understood that Yvette had the vision and Yvette understood. And he had faith in her and said, I'll be here. I'll be here if you need me. You can ask me whatever questions. And, you know, we'll have to talk to Yvette and find out what happened between the two of them.
ReLiving Single
The Pre-Show: Back to the Beginning
But whatever it was, he understood his position and he understood the assignment and he let her do what she needed to do. And if you remember, he was there in the beginning and then we kind of never saw him again. That's real. He was there making sure his hand was there, making sure maybe reviewing the script.
ReLiving Single
ReLiving Single Trailer
I love Sinclair, and I don't like that people think she's dumb.