A Very Synclaire Christmas

Summary

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ReLiving Single: "A Very Synclaire Christmas"

Podcast: ReLiving Single
Hosts: Erika Alexander & Kim Coles
Episode: A Very Synclaire Christmas (Season 1, Episode 15 rewatch: "Living Kringle")
Release Date: August 27, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and hilarious holiday episode, Erika Alexander and Kim Coles dive into Living Single’s first Christmas special, “Living Kringle.” The hosts reminisce about the show's cultural impact, laugh over iconic moments, and share deeply personal stories around memories of Christmas, family traditions, and the enduring innocence and warmth of Synclaire James. The conversation also explores themes of gift-giving, Black holiday representation, and the value of softness and wonder in Black womanhood, both on-screen and off.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holiday Memories: Joys and Hardships

• Kim Coles’ Complicated Relationship With Christmas
  • Kim opens up about a childhood Christmas where, as one of five siblings, she didn’t get a present—only an orange and some nuts ([01:19]). Her mother later gifted her a handwritten promissory note for a future gift, a gesture Kim treasures to this day ([02:08]).
    • “I just tried to be all right with my orange and my nuts and...my mother noticed...she wrote me this card, and it had a note on it...no expiration date. And I could write what I wanted in there.” (B, 02:08)
• Erika’s Enchanted New York Holidays
  • Erika describes magical childhood Christmas Eves in New York City: visiting the Rockefeller Tree, eating roasted chestnuts and fried oysters, and searching the sky for Santa ([09:47]).
    • “Christmas Eve, my dad would take us over to Manhattan to see the Rockefeller center tree...and I would look out the window to see if I could see Santa.” (A, 09:47)

2. “Living Kringle” Recap: Synclaire’s Christmas Spirit

• Episode Setup
  • Synclaire plans a Christmas party for the whole group, but everyone is busy or reluctant ([04:14]). The storyline centers on Synclaire’s longing to gather everyone together and celebrate with handmade, thoughtful gifts.
• Representation and Black Santa
  • The hosts playfully challenge the standard portrayal of Santa, referencing the song “Santa Claus is a Black Man” ([05:37–06:11]).
    • “Why Santa Claus always got to be white?...Santa Claus is a Black man.” (A, 05:19, 05:37)
• Kwanzaa and Non-Commercial Traditions
  • Discussion about incorporating Kwanzaa in the episode as an alternative to the commercialism of Christmas. Kyle is celebrated for championing handmade gifts and connecting to the holiday’s African roots ([08:02–08:27]).
    • “Kwanzaa, it’s a celebration of sharing...I like that Kwanzaa connects us to the motherland.” (A, 08:11)

3. Behind the Scenes: Cast Traditions and On-Set Moments

• TC Carson’s Legendary Christmas Parties
  • Erika describes TC Carson’s (Kyle) elaborate, themed holiday get-togethers, including origami bird decorations and pink-and-green trees ([08:59]).
• The First Synclaire/Overton Kiss
  • The hosts remember the significance of Synclaire and Overton’s first “real” on-screen kiss, reflecting on its sweetness and how it played into the chemistry of their characters ([12:17]).
    • “That kiss, that was our first real full kiss… Y’all made the most of it. You made a meal of it.” (B, 12:17)
• On-Screen Romances vs. Real Life
  • Kim and Erika discuss intimacy on set, the arrival of intimacy coordinators in Hollywood, and memorable stories of kissing (and not kissing) co-stars like Shemar Moore ([14:07–16:03]).

4. Gifts, Selflessness, and Healing through Giving

• Kim’s Unique Gifts—And The Why Behind Them
  • Erika recounts receiving a full-size working parking meter from Kim when she was house shopping—a practical, hilarious, and deeply thoughtful present ([23:35]).
    • “You gave me a working parking meter…you said when you get your house, you could put this by your bed. So when your gentleman callers come over, they have a time limit.” (A, 23:35)
  • Kim reflects that her drive to give unique gifts stems from her childhood experience of being overlooked at Christmas—illuminating the emotional roots of her generosity ([24:29–25:44]).
    • “Now I’m just realizing this…one of the reasons I give gifts…is because I didn’t get one at eight.” (B, 24:29)

5. The “Ditz” Archetype: Synclaire’s Innocence and Impact

• Softness as Strength
  • Kim defends Synclaire (often mislabeled as “dumb” or “ditzy”) as a revolutionary soft Black woman character—sensitive, open, and giving permission to others to be vulnerable ([29:34–31:55]).
    • “I’m really protective of her. I don’t think she was dumb at all... she’s soft and feminine and open to wander... It’s okay to be soft.” (A, 29:34+)
• Comparison with Other Sitcom Archetypes
  • They liken Synclaire to characters like Chrissy (Three’s Company), Betty White’s Rose (Golden Girls), Hilary Banks (Fresh Prince), and Freddie (A Different World), discussing the importance of the “innocent” and “eccentric” archetype in TV ([29:05–29:23]).
• Discovery and Permission
  • Kim describes Synclaire as embodying curiosity, discovery, and an openness to embrace the unknown ([30:44–31:55]).
    • “Sinclair, for me, is about discovery…being willing to not know and being all right with not knowing and being all right to fall in love with life.” (A, 31:26)

6. Astrology of the Living Single Crew (Listener Q&A)

• The hosts lightheartedly assign zodiac signs to each character—and the show itself ([33:44–36:33]):
  • Synclaire: Pisces
  • Max: Aries
  • Regine: Leo
  • Kyle: Gemini/Virgo (debated)
  • Overton: Taurus
  • Khadijah: Capricorn
  • The show: Aquarius (“dreamers and little bit of a rebel”) ([34:42])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kim on Christmas Scarcity:
  “With five or six, they start...They give each person a strawberry and say, good luck. Or promissory note.” (B, 10:49)
• On Black Holiday Icons:
  “Santa Claus is a Black man…Let me give a little contour…” (A, 05:37)
• Gift-Giving Wisdom:
  “One of the reasons I give gifts...is because I didn’t get one at eight…This is therapy. Damn you, Hartbeat!” (B, 24:29–24:49)
• On Synclaire’s Value:
  “The warm and fuzzy feelings that this character has is essential to the show because it balances out people who are more ambitious... You are selfless.” (B, 22:51)
• Softness as a Gift:
  “It’s okay to be soft…to be sensitive…and to give people permission to be sensitive.” (A, 29:34)
• On Intimacy in Acting:
  “I was like, nah, man, I’m gonna get in there and dig in. I’m a method actor.” (B, 15:53)
• Permission & Representation:
  “I know that we’re living in a time now where it is more accepted and more permissible to be your weird and wonderful self...Let what creativity and freedom can come from all of us being our perfectly imperfect, beautiful selves.” (A, 32:36)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:19] Kim’s story about a Christmas without presents
• [02:08] The promissory note from her mother
• [04:14] Episode setup and the “Living Kringle” synopsis
• [05:19–06:11] Black Santa and Christmas representation discussion
• [08:02–08:27] Kwanzaa and handmade gifts
• [08:59] TC Carson’s legendary holiday parties
• [12:17] Synclaire and Overton’s first big on-screen kiss
• [14:07–16:03] On-set intimacy, kissing stories, and the evolution of acting norms
• [23:35] The legendary parking meter gift story
• [24:29–25:44] Kim links her gift-giving to her childhood experience
• [29:34–31:55] Kim unpacks Synclaire’s archetype and emotional resonance
• [33:44–36:33] Listener question: assigning zodiac signs to each character

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Conclusion & Thematic Reflection

The episode closes on a warm note, with both hosts reflecting on selflessness, finding meaning in giving, and the importance of retaining childlike wonder throughout life. Kim’s journey from Christmas disappointment to becoming a gift-giver brings a personal, emotional resonance, while Erika’s stories celebrate enduring traditions and joy.

Kim and Erika reaffirm the impact of Synclaire and Living Single as beacons for Black softness, vulnerability, and friendship—themes that remain vital and refreshing today.

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Listener Engagement

• Highlight: Listener Sid from the Bay Area asks about the Living Single characters’ astrology signs, sparking an energetic, character-deepening segment ([33:44]).
• The hosts encourage listeners to be true to their “weird and wonderful selves” and invite more questions and reflections for future episodes.

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Tone & Style Notes

The episode is heartfelt and hilarious, rich with friendship, gentle ribbing, and honest introspection—mirroring the warmth and spirit of both Living Single and its beloved cast. The hosts’ chemistry and authenticity shine throughout, making “A Very Synclaire Christmas” an essential listen for fans old and new.

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End of Summary

Transcript

[A]

Coming up on Reliving Single, it's Christmas on Living Single.

[B]

Christmas sucks.

[A]

You are a great gift giver.

[B]

Take that, you Christmas forgetters. Bah humbug.

[A]

I put it in my house next to the bed.

[B]

I just tried to be all right with my orange and my nuts.

[A]

Think I see Santa, Daddy.

[B]

I get around. God cackling over our cauldron. He look like he looking for some hoes.

[A]

Welcome back to Reliving Single, the official unofficial Living Single rewatch podcast. And today I am so excited because we are celebrating Christmas. Ho ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. Oh, don't. Don't tell me you don't like Christmas.

[B]

Christmas sucks.

[A]

Oh, tell me how you really feel.

[B]

I once didn't get a gift for Christmas.

[A]

Oh, honey, how old were you?

[B]

Eight.

[A]

I could see how that would suck, for sure.

[B]

Yeah. But look, I don't think anybody meant it. I don't think it was intended. My mother. Each would have a stocking for us, you know, it'd have, you know, nuts in it, you know. You know, not like the ones you get now, shelled nuts. And, you know, everybody would get down with, you know, enjoying Christmas. And it kept going. People were unwrapping gifts, and I was there looking and waiting for one to come to me. And nothing ever happened.

[A]

Oh, no.

[B]

And I just tried to be all right with my orange and my nuts and. Well, listen, my mother noticed, okay? I don't think anybody noticed. Moms always noticed.

[A]

They do. They do.

[B]

And she came to me in our room. Cause all five of us were in the same room, and they playing with their railroad sets and whatever. And whatever. And she said, look, Erica, I'm sorry you didn't get a gift, but, you know, she wrote me this card, and it had a note on it, and it said, the bearer of this promissory note is entitled to. And it had a blank and no expiration date. And I could write what I wanted in there. And. Yeah, that's how that went.

[A]

Did you write in it?

[B]

I didn't. I didn't. I knew she didn't have it, you know, but it meant something that she. She gave it to me, girl. She gave it to me. All right, well, yeah, look, I'm over it. I'm over it now. Therapy helps. Oh, good. That is big success. Big, big. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Take that, you Christmas forgetters. I am big stuff now.

[A]

You are big stuff. That's right. That's right. You could buy your own and do so mostly. That's right.

[B]

Exactly. Yes, yes.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. Girl, you. You want to cry on my shoulder?

[B]

Come over here and then get that going. Thanks, girl.

[A]

It's gonna take me a minute to get.

[B]

I mean. I mean, it hurts.

[A]

I know, I know.

[B]

You know, why don't we go ahead.

[A]

And get into the episode?

[B]

Maybe we need a little break. A little break?

[A]

It might cheer you up. Stay tuned, everybody. This episode is brought to you by JCPenney. Yes, JCPenney.

[B]

And if you've been there recently, you.

[A]

Know it's the place to go.

[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

If you already shop JCPenney, you're already in on the secret.

[B]

But if not, it's time to ask.

[A]

Wait, am I sleeping on JCPenney? Shop jcpenney.com.

[B]

Yes, JCPenney.

[A]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Fiscally responsible financial geniuses, monetary magicians. These are things people say about drivers who switch their car insurance to Progressive and save hundreds. Visit progressive.com to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states or situations. This is Living Single Season 1, Episode 15, Living Kringle. It's Christmas on Living Single. And it's a Sinclair story, which makes me happy because Sinclair is a lover of Christmas and she plans a Christmas party for the entire crew. But everyone has plans. Bah humbug. It's written by David Cohen and Roger Shulman, directed by our Ellen Falcon. Now, Gitelson. Yay. Yay, Christmas. And just to have a little Christmas spirit, we have a little. A little Santa on the set.

[B]

Yes. Thanks. Heartbeat.

[A]

Yeah, that's. Thank you guys for bringing in the Santa, but I would like to say that why Santa Claus always got to be white? Why your show? Why? You know what I'm gonna do? I have some leftover makeup. I'm.

[B]

I'm. No Kim. Somebody stop her.

[A]

Y' all remember that song, her. I don't care what the white man says. Santa Claus is a black man. Let me give a little contour.

[B]

Hold on, hold on. Santa Claus is a black man.

[A]

I don't care.

[B]

You'd give him a beard. That's not. That looks like a light skinned man. Show the people this look like a light skinned dude with a beard. You painting the wrong thing. He's got to keep a white beard.

[A]

All right.

[B]

Got to be a good God.

[A]

No, it's Santa Claus had, uh, some.

[B]

Uh, uh, hair club nor Today desecrated Santa. Lord, now he looked like a cookie.

[A]

Okay. Okay.

[B]

What? Kim, don't mess up his beard no more. Just to his face.

[A]

Yeah, he got a tan.

[B]

He should have known. Yeah, a tan. Thank you. Thanks. All right, let's get going.

[A]

Merry Christmas.

[B]

Merry Christmas. He look like he looking for some hoes.

[A]

He does not.

[B]

Because he black. Now don't get mad at me.

[A]

What are you trying to say?

[B]

I want to be blamed Here. I know where to put them.

[A]

Where? It's time for the rewind. Where we watch and relive Living single with you. Christmas brings back so many memories.

[B]

Leaving cookies for Santa. Rushing to see what was under the tree. Getting my first Barbie. And the Barbie Dream House. Ooh, and the Barbie evening wear.

[A]

You got all those?

[B]

No, I starred in the Nutcracker. Got a standing O note. Stop, please. I was the best rat king that school ever saw. Well, didn't you ever make a star.

[A]

For your Christmas tree? Nope. But when I was little, I found a starfish I wanted to put on top of our Christmas tree. I loved that starfish.

[B]

My mother said we already had a star.

[A]

Khadijah, tonight's the only time we're gonna have to be together before Christmas. I've already called Regine, Max, Kyle and Overton and knacked them into coming. So do not make me beg. Please, please, please.

[B]

So, yeah, that's awesome. We get to spend our first holiday with the living single crew.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

You know what I mean. And your character Sinclair.

[A]

Oh, Sinclair's loving sister. She's got this.

[B]

She's loving it. She's collecting holiday memories from the group. They're all pretty wholesome when you think about it. Really pretty city kids.

[A]

Really pretty wholesome. Beautiful.

[B]

Yeah, it's nice.

[A]

Beautiful memories. I love it.

[B]

Yeah. And Kyle I think is a little bit of an anti capitalists for wanting to celebrate Kwanzaa. Cause doesn't that like have homemade gifts?

[A]

They celebrate giving gifts to one another. That's not store bought. Kwanzaa, it's a celebration of sharing an.

[B]

Alternative to the commercialism of Christmas.

[A]

We emphasize handmade gifts. And you know, Kwanzaa is new, it's a newer holiday. But what I like about Kwanzaa is that it connects us to the motherland. I think that, that someone decided that, you know, there's Christmas. But what do we have that also connects to African principles? And so there's.

[B]

Yes, the motherland Atlanta or the motherland Accra in Ghana.

[A]

Accra.

[B]

Accra.

[A]

You know, and the principles are all around family and unity and peace and all that. And so I love that we see that. And the presidents are wrapped beautifully.

[B]

Yes, probably. You know what? That works for his capitalism because he don't have to spend no money. It's all handmade.

[A]

Side note, we should do a little shout out to TC's Christmas. Have you. You've experienced TC, TC Carson's actual Christmas at his house? Every year he does a theme.

[B]

I have never been invited.

[A]

Oh, every year he does a theme. One year the tree is pink and green. One year, okay, In Atlanta, this is like a couple of years ago, he did origami birds that all. You know, that he alights to the ceiling, to the walls and that they all end up on the tree. It's incredible. Origami folded himself.

[B]

Go for it.

[A]

You've been invited to this.

[B]

I have not been invited Christmas or Thanksgiving Christmas party. But I appreciate that you have, and I'm so glad you're having that dialogue.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah. So, you know, by the way, you're also at work asking to have a tree trimming party. The Sinclair character wants Khadijah to give this tree trimming party. And she's not really down with it, you know, but you begging for it, you know, you're in that spirit, and that's nice.

[A]

So I loved Christmas because my parents would. So Christmas Eve, my dad would take us over to Manhattan to see the Rockefeller center tree, which was magical and big and beautiful and still is every year. And we would get roasted chestnuts and we would stop and get, like, fried oysters. And then on the way back to Brooklyn, I would look out the window to see if I could see Santa, you know, up in the sky on his way in. And my parents would let me. They'd go, oh, great, Kimberly, look outside the. My mother would, great, look and see if you could see Santa. And sometimes we took another neighborhood neighbor family with us. Like, go ahead, children, you look out the window now. And you know, I probably. They were probably snickering the whole time. Look at. See, I got. I think I see Santa, Daddy. Okay, Kimberly. It all ended when I was 11 and my parents got divorced. But until 11, I had this wonderful experience. My mother would make this beautiful tree and the whole. Yeah, whole experience.

[B]

You know, I want to say really quickly, I love this for you. I mean, it was beautiful and people should have that. Especially young little black girl having the magic of Christmas and all of that. But they only had two kids, you and your brother.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

With five or six, they start just. It's closed. They give each person a strawberry and say, good luck. You know what I'm saying?

[A]

Or promissory note.

[B]

A promissory note.

[A]

That's why I love that your mother gave you a promissory note, though with no date on it. So you still have time to fulfill that.

[B]

I know. That's right.

[A]

Sammy's still around.

[B]

She's 83. Where's Mama Sue?

[A]

That's right. That's right.

[B]

Thanks.

[A]

You're welcome. Get that Christmas of life for sure.

[B]

My, my, my. How'd that mistletoe get up there? I got you you now, girl.

[A]

I propose a toast. Here's to Santa for giving me the only Christmas present I wanted. Celebrating with my favorite cousin and best friends. Merry Christmas. Happy Kwanzaa.

[B]

Merry Christmas. Oh, man. That'll be Ms. Meg up in 4B. She got that cranky, low flow American Standard. This could take a while. Sorry, Sinclair.

[A]

I understand.

[B]

Godspeed, Overton. But, hey, we always had a mistletoe.

[A]

Yay.

[B]

Yay.

[A]

Well, I love this.

[B]

Okay, so that kiss, that was our.

[A]

First real full kiss.

[B]

Full on kiss.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yes. And y' all made the most of it. You made a meal.

[A]

Y' all made a meal of it. And if you notice at the end, I, I. You know, I don't. I don't think I know what to do with my mouth after there's no more lips on it. So I just nibble on the cookie right there.

[B]

And then John steps away. March, high step.

[A]

Yeah. And Watchdog. Bow Wow. And there's Kyle, happy for him. Like, you got that kiss. Mistletoe is the perfect, perfect excuse.

[B]

So here they are trimming the tree, and they get started, and then suddenly people start to disappear.

[A]

The first one to go is Overton. That American Standard flow upstairs.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then the next to go is you.

[B]

Yes. Maxine Shaw gets a knock at the door, and it's her boyfriend, Michael. And they just. Boom. Get the. Basically, I ate his face.

[A]

You did. Who was actually your real life boyfriend at the time. Yes. The Richard Lyons.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

But his shoulder pads were out to here. Like, y' all were ready.

[B]

Y' all were ready. Yeah. It was a hot K. And I.

[A]

Like when he pulls away that.

[B]

Yeah. He's smacking. Yeah, yeah. I get. Looky here. I got the girl. Yeah. And then she hops out.

[A]

She hops out. Cause she knows what's my. She knows he wasn't gonna be there.

[B]

People wonder whether, as an actor, how do you prepare for something like that? And when it's your own partner or Boyfriend. You can.

[A]

It was easy.

[B]

Yeah. You can lean in and see.

[A]

Was it weird that you would be.

[B]

Look, you feel freer to have more sexy times. You know what I'm saying? Let me just say that I did not hold back. There was a probably sharing of saliva. That usually does not happen. Ok. Yeah. I think that mostly if you do kissing scene, you prepare your breath, you prepare to make sure you smell good, decent. No colognes, no heavy colognes. Don't do that. Just, you know, your breath clean and you're open to it. That was then. That's what we did ourselves. But now they have intimacy coordinators. Have you ever done that?

[A]

I've never done that. I've only had two on screen kisses. One is John Hinton and the other is Shemar Moore.

[B]

Oh, how'd that go?

[A]

It was very nice. It was very nice.

[B]

Yeah. Now and then.

[A]

Now and then.

[B]

Now he's Hondo.

[A]

He's Hondo.

[B]

Right, Hondo.

[A]

Shemar Moore's character came on the show. He was a classmate of Sinclair's, but Shemar Moore had been on Soul Poppers for years. And he said, actually, I've never kissed before. You'd be my first on screen kiss. Like, how is it that you're on a sitcom and your first. He said he was excited, like, you're my first on screen kiss.

[B]

I was like, okay, Shemar, that's racism extraordinaire. How you gonna have somebody that fine y. And he's not kissing the entire cast.

[A]

And I'm sure after this, including a few dudes.

[B]

No, I'm serious. Meaning that that character could have done a lot of things right.

[A]

But he said, you're my first on screen kiss. I was like, how is that possible?

[B]

Well, did you do any work that your partner or your boyfriend was threatened about? Like, have to get that close.

[A]

Well, I've dated guys who were like, you better not be doing no kissing on the screen. I was like, okay, I won't take any roles where I have to kiss somebody. All right?

[B]

How ridiculous. Were they serious or just playing?

[A]

I think they were serious. I think they were serious.

[B]

Yeah. Please. No, But I'm the whore of Bible. I really am.

[A]

You have quite a few.

[B]

Oh. Oh, Benjamin Brad La Michione. That was the mission. Look, he's married to the great Talisa Soto, one of the baddest mama jamas on this earth.

[A]

Didn't you have a Boris Kojo at one point?

[B]

Boris Kodjoe. Look, I've been.

[A]

I've had nothing.

[B]

I've been around I get around, around, around. She go.

[A]

You have intimacy coordinators. And what do they do?

[B]

Well, now they do. They didn't then. Now they come and say, listen, are there places that you don't want touched? You can have a. You know, what is it? Like something to say that's enough. Like you do a tap on the person.

[A]

Like a safe word.

[B]

Yeah, safe word. Or safe. You know, some kind of signal to the other person you've gone too far. That type of thing. I was like, nah, man, I'm gonna get in there and dig in. I'm a method actor.

[A]

What are you talking. And you're a Scorpio.

[B]

I'm a Scorpio. But I have to say, I've been with gentlemen. They've never done too much. They've done what was appropriate. Appropriate for the scene. And if the scene you getting down, you get down. Now, I've always wondered whether they've gotten stimulated.

[A]

You didn't check?

[B]

Well, I laid it on them. You know what I'm saying? Only they would know. But look, they might have. I'd like to think so.

[A]

They probably did.

[B]

Oh, well. Every time any one of them sees me, they smile big. And then Regine peels off because bring.

[A]

15% commission at the boutique.

[B]

Yeah, she gonna go, I'll be there, girly. You know, she gonna get that money.

[A]

Of course.

[B]

That's the thing.

[A]

Then TC Goes. Now, first of all, let's have a moment for his falsetto in the lake. Snow is missing and he's gotta go. Cause the Tokyo markets are already right.

[B]

But he feels for you. So he goes back and he tosses.

[A]

Some tinsel behind his shoulder and he boogies out. And then we're left, me and Khadijah left. And she offers me to go and hang out at the office and get a little work done.

[B]

She don't wanna do that.

[A]

I don't wanna do that.

[B]

No.

[A]

And then we have some beautiful carolers outside singing the same song. And this is a moment that I could like, really revel. Like, okay, my friends are gone, but they're the carolers. You know, serenading, sleigh bells ring. Oh, we hate it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You're mad because we think you're gonna hang out with them because she's that type of personality. But no, you're fed up. Can we talk about the sing?

[A]

Let's talk about the sing along.

[B]

Sing along was off the chain.

[A]

And it still is a beautiful meme today. Like, you know, it's all over social media. And so you got Khadijah sleigh bells ring. Are you listening?

[B]

And then TC Comes in.

[A]

In the lane, snow is glistening. It's so good.

[B]

But it's hilarious. Cause you don't expect it coming.

[A]

No, no, no, no.

[B]

I laugh every time, every time, every time. And that's what she wanted. But she's not gonna get it. And you know that. Yeah, that's it. Sinclair now has to find somebody to have this Christmas spirit with.

[A]

All this beautiful Christmas spirit is welling up. And what am I gonna do?

[B]

That's the dilemma.

[A]

Here we go. Let's take. Take a look. A starfish. Like the one I had when I was little.

[B]

Merry Christmas past and present.

[A]

All my love, Sinclair. Oh, Corbett. To Regine. Hope you find your dreamhouse and your chocolate can.

[B]

Merry Christmas. Love, Sinclair. To Max, the best Rat King ever. Merry Christmas. Love, Sinclair. What is it? It's just two tickets to the dance theater of Harlem. The Nutcracker. Where is she? I don't know. When I got here, I found this note. To whom it may concern, since you all have more important things to do. I'm going off to find the true spirit of Christmas on my own. Please don't try to find me. Sincerely, Sinclair. She gone, Kyle. We gotta find her. Yeah.

[A]

Sinclair's thoughtful.

[B]

She's very thoughtful. She's thought of everything. It also shows that she's listening to people. Yeah, she, you know, is sort of giving them their heart's desire in a very, you know, pure, very elegant way.

[A]

So obviously these gifts were already planned for them. And this is why she wanted to have this big Christmas celebration. Cause she wanted to present these gifts. But she snuck into all the places she needed to sneak into in order to. How does she get into Max apartment?

[B]

She was a cat burglar or something. She got in my apartment. The Max's apartment. No one's ever seen that, by the way. First time we ever seen Max's.

[A]

You have a fireplace.

[B]

I should have something. I love it. But yeah, that was nice. And you know, she's at the bar. They don't know that she's at the bar with her childlike wonder.

[A]

I know. And the bartender is played by the great Lee weaver. Who is 95 years old and still working as a couple of years ago. So. That's wonderful. We have a Black Santa Claus.

[B]

Black Santa Claus.

[A]

Who's a little depressed.

[B]

Well, you making him sad. You know, you and Lee telling sad stories.

[A]

And he's remembering how bad it can be. I'm there. I'm making some new friends.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Okay, let's see. Well, well, well, it's. If it isn't Ebenezer Khadijah.

[B]

Look, Sinclair, we're sorry we killed your Christmas spirit. Now, if you still want to, we can go home and trim that tree.

[A]

Sinclair, we all let worldly matters get in the way of what really matters.

[B]

He's right. Let's go home.

[A]

Okay, but first, can I get my old friends and my new friends together for just one sing along?

[B]

How about that?

[A]

How about that? I've made a whole new set of friends. They're a raggedy bunch, but at least they're there.

[B]

You look like you really at the, you know, the bus station for Greyhouse.

[A]

Let's talk about who's in that bus station right there. So the two gentlemen that start off singing in the meadow, we can build a snowman.

[B]

Those were the writers.

[A]

That was Roger and David, who wrote.

[B]

Roger Shulman and David Cohen.

[A]

Right. Who wrote this episode. Also in that bar is Pops. Pops, the guy who was craft service.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

And he's the gray haired gentleman who puts his head on Regine's shoulder and she says, can we please go?

[B]

Okay. Chipfields. Was there Chipfields playing another role. Cause it's not the first time we've seen her floating around. And she's gonna do that until she starts to play the role of Regine's mother. Yeah, but there she is again.

[A]

Also in this scene, we see a repeat of Maxine attracting a gold toothed dude. I love that they included that in this episode. Now we're building an even more rich story behind all these characters.

[B]

Yes, it is a great environment and an ecosystem that's constantly being built by the writers to create this world, but also gives a little throwback to other episodes. Well, you know, it's very. A Wonderful Life. You're busy up until the point where you realize your life is predicated on maybe the fact that you're not paying attention to the details and the small things. If you don't pay attention in time, it goes.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And that's what happens in A Wonderful Life. He's like, mary, Mary, don't you recognize me? Mary, Mary.

[A]

It's one of my favorite movies.

[B]

Oh, yeah. It really kills you. But you know, your character and you, I think Kim, believe in magic. You believe in love and you believe in friendship, in mistletoe and all these beautiful, wonderful things that are floating around.

[A]

Driving us crazy and joy and possibilities and capturing the moment.

[B]

Yeah, I love that. I love that too. I love that for her and I think. But you're authentic to that. And it's the thoughtfulness and the warm and fuzzy feelings that this character has is essential to the show because it balances out people who are more ambitious and more cutthroat or just more selfish. You are selfless.

[A]

I want to talk about your selflessness. You, Eric Alexander, it's interesting that you have this story of not getting the gift that you wanted. And I'm sure that being one of five, I'm sure most of your Christmases were maybe a little light until money started coming in. But you are a great gift giver. You give gifts that are not only thoughtful, but are a little out of the box. Okay, I'll give you one. I still have it to this day. And I hope I don't start to cry.

[B]

Oh, Lord.

[A]

There was a point when we were on Living Single and I kept talking about, I'm gonna buy a house. I want to buy a house now. I can afford to buy a house. And you gave me a working parking meter. Like a giant metal. It's heavy. You could put a quarter inside of it. And you said when you get your house, you could put this by your bed. So when your gentleman callers come over, they have a time limit now that you did.

[B]

Yeah, I said that.

[A]

And I put it in my house next to the bed. And it intimidated many a man. Well, I don't sound like a whore. Many. I have it to this day. It doesn't work anymore. Cause I use it as, like a coin, Like a bank.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

And I don't know where you got it from, but. Beautiful. I have another gift. You gave me a beautiful plate that looks like a taxi. And it's out of the box, but thoughtful and fun and because you like.

[B]

Those types of things, too. Well, thank you. I think now, and I'm just realizing this now, and I cannot believe that it took this show for me to realize that one of the reasons I give gifts and I have to stop myself now is because of the fact that I didn't get one at eight. Yeah. Yeah. And this is therapy.

[A]

This is therapy.

[B]

Damn you, heartbeat. I can't believe it. I mean, I really didn't make the connection. Yeah. But to have to tell stories and then realize that, you know, we have maybe, you know, it was traumatic. Of course I did not tell my mother. You know, I didn't want her to feel bad.

[A]

Have you ever told her?

[B]

No, no, no, no. I didn't want her to feel bad. Cause she worked so hard. My parents worked and everybody was doing their thing and it was what it was. And I really felt that in life, the universe, time balances things. And I think as a child, somehow I knew to be selfless and not cry or make a big deal of. It was something that I had learned because my parents were ministers in church, that it was better to give than to receive. And I learned it that day, maybe the hard way, but then also maybe I'm carrying a little bit of now because I want everyone to feel appreciated and I want to listen to them and give them something that I think that they'll appreciate. And the universe has given me so much.

[A]

We can all stop and take a look at all those kinds of moments in our lives when we felt less or than or felt like we weren't getting what we were supposed to have. How those moments inform who we become good and bad. You know, there's plenty of folks who now would have turned that moment into becoming. The world never gives me anything. You could have become an angry, bitter, jacked up person. Instead you turned it became a giver. An angry, bitter giver. No, thank you.

[B]

Angry, bitter giver. Giver. But I'm now realizing that I can sort of work on that because I know now where it comes from. It's just not me being altruistic. There is some thing for me to heal and it. Wow, you know what? This deeper than you know. Do I pay you or do you pay me? Okay, Amber says we pay her. But what are some of the episodes that we've enjoyed in life? It's an anchor to a show to do a holiday episode. It's one of the things that drives Hollywood's marketing, but also anchors the writers to write to these holiday episodes sometime. And there's usually a Christmas episode. So I grew up with a ton of them. Little House of Prairie had a great one with the Gift of the Magi. That's where one of the characters sells their hair to their long hair to, you know, to make money to buy like a watch. Yeah, to buy a watch. A pocket watch or something.

[A]

Or the chain for the pocket watch.

[B]

The chain for the pocke. And then the person sold that watch to buy them a comb for their hair. Child, you know, you remember those things.

[A]

What's also great about this episode is that we highlight Kwanzaa. And who better than us and who better than T.C. carson? Ask Kyle to introduce Kwanzaa in that way.

[B]

That's a rare thing. Cause Kwanzaa wasn't being talked about. So in this series, we got some you know, nice, traditional conversations going that hadn't normally happened in American sitcoms, by the way. People kept going like, the rugrats had a Rugrats. Kwanzaa.

[A]

The proud family had seven days of Kwanzaa.

[B]

Everybody hates Chris. Everybody hates Kwanzaa. And Juneteenth is similar, you know, that we're starting to talk about Juneteenth in a national way. They were doing it in Texas and other places. And maybe if you knew some black people or people who were woke when I mean woke. Woke. But now it is a national holiday.

[A]

It's a national holiday.

[B]

Thank you, Sheila. Jackson Lee. Holidays.

[A]

Holidays.

[B]

That wasn't so bad. This Christmas actually opened me up.

[A]

Good, good.

[B]

You know what I mean?

[A]

Who knew that's what this show was gonna do?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And call Sammy and thank her for that and let her go ahead and fulfill that dream for you.

[B]

Maybe I'll get some fried chicken out of it. Yeah. So let's get ready for the reverb. Reverb, Reverend.

[A]

This is the reverb. Our time to reflect on the episode's themes and how they still echo throughout the culture.

[B]

Hey, so this is reverb. We're gonna talk about the gift of Sinclair James or ode to childlike Vonder of Sinclair James. Yeah.

[A]

I can get my close up.

[B]

Oh, Lord. Yeah. You know what? That is a certain archetype in story and in fiction is one where Sinclair James is the innocent or ditzy or awkward, you know?

[A]

You know, a little daffy, a little innoc. A little. A little weird, too.

[B]

A little weird, yes. Eccentric and that type of thing. And so there's other characters like it. So we talked about Chrissy, Suzanne Somers.

[A]

Oh, yes. Suzanne Somers did it great. So well. And she was sexy and ditzy and all those things all at once.

[B]

The great Betty White.

[A]

Betty White. Nobody that wrote character on Golden Girls. Karen Parsons, Hillary Banks.

[B]

Hillary Banks.

[A]

You know, rich but ditzy. Right. Cree Summers.

[B]

Come on. She was great at that. That's Rinna. Freddie. Freddie. And that's in Different World. Has anybody ever done that to Sinclair, to you? And you ever heard those criticisms about Sinclair being.

[A]

I would hear people say she's so dumb or she's so. You know, and I'm really protective of her because I don't think she was dumb at all. But she's a character we hadn't seen much of. We had seen the strong black woman. We had seen the mom who does it all. We had seen the sexy black woman. We had seen the power hungry you know, the power driven, ambitious woman. But we hadn't seen much of the soft, feminine. Soft and feminine and open to wander. Open to have that freedom to be able to be weird and be something other. I feel that she is who I was in my early 20s, maybe a little smarter, maybe book smart, but sensitive and gives people permission to be sensitive, that it's okay to be. That it's okay to be soft. So one of my favorite stories about me, so I go to high school and what I did was at orientation, I memorized where all of my classes were gonna be. My high school, Brooklyn Technical High School, is huge. It's got, you know, eight floors and, you know, you had to go north and go west. Like the school rooms were like one, west, two, like, where do I go together?

[B]

Oh, it sound like some Harry Potter world.

[A]

It was really that. And so I, during orientation, went around the school and memorized where all of my classes would be so I wouldn't be a freshman looking down at my card and looking at. Because I didn't want people to think I didn't know, when in truth, I'm very curious. And there's nothing wrong with not knowing. And it's okay that Sinclair or anybody else out there who's, you know, who's naive that you don't know as long as you're curious and that you want to learn, you want to know, you want to let life take you where it's supposed to go. I love that Sinclair moves to the big city with her cousin, doesn't know anything about it, and is, you know, surrounded and protected by all these amazing people, and she begins to discover and discover who she is and discover herself. And so Sinclair, for me, is about discovery and being willing to not know and being all right with not knowing and being all right to fall in love with life. And I think there's something about coming from the space of love that no matter what, you're gonna be okay. I think that love leads. And if you lead with love and, you know, we can make it spiritual if you want to. The sort of the creator will protect you if you lead with love.

[B]

I think there's a testimony to how you play it too. You have many notes in there, and that's down to Kim Coles being, you know, as smart as you are, but also just got a delicate touch and.

[A]

Also understanding comedy that I know that one note, playing her as ditzy all the time, one note is not gonna. Not gonna last the series that we had the great joy of doing. I Know that you gotta have levels and moments where she shows that she's angry, which I love that, you know, you think she's all light and love, and then she gets really angry about things. And to have that moment there.

[B]

Sinclair is a beacon for awkward girls every. So let's give a clap to that. Bravo, Kim. Yay. To Kim. Yay. There you go. Thank you.

[A]

I'll take it. I'll take it.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

So permission, I think ultimately is permission. Permission to be whoever you are. And I'm glad that we're living in a time now where I don't know if Sinclair led the charge, but I know that we're living in a time now where it is more accepted and more permissible to be your weird and wonderful self. Let what creativity and freedom can come from all of us being our perfectly imperfect, beautiful selves. Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

[B]

Mic drop.

[A]

And a woo, woo, woo. All right, I want Amber to get ready because we're about to do True Blue, the segment where we hear from our friends, and Amber's going to tell us who we've got.

[B]

All right, so we have Sid from the Bay Area want to say, I absolutely love this show. It makes me feel hope for my own future and comfort in the warmth and coziness of the visuals and relationship dynamics. My question is as follows. What do you guys think? All of the character signs were on the show.

[A]

Okay. I'm pretty sure that Sinclair would be a Pisces. The good news about that is my moon is in Pisces. What would Max be? Max.

[B]

I don't think I know the signs well enough to do this, but I did have this written down somewhere.

[A]

I got it. I got it. Max is an Aries.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

That's it.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

You'll take it?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Fiery.

[B]

That makes sense.

[A]

On edge. You know, you better stay loose. Cause anything can happen.

[B]

Yeah. Also can move for their own selfishness.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know what I'm saying? Great charisma.

[A]

Great charisma.

[B]

But also, I think there's an underlining thing over there that's not so cool.

[A]

It's a little bit. You know, me first. But they're worth it. They're worth it, though. Like, they're gonna produce and they're gonna be amazing, and you're gonna have a great time. It's gonna be me first, and then y' all gonna come right behind me. We're gonna be fine here.

[B]

Okay, Max.

[A]

Aries. Aries.

[B]

Scorpio rising. Gotta get in there.

[A]

I think the show in itself. If the show had a sign. The show would be an Aquarius. Okay. Dreamers and little bit of a rebel.

[B]

Ray Jean gotta be a Leo. She thinks the sun is shining just for her.

[A]

The sun is shining just for her. Even right now, the sun is out. There's Regine.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I actually think that Kyle could be a Gemini. They're smart. They use language really well. Like, if you have a problem, you take it to a Gemini. They're gonna give you a spreadsheet. Okay. There's 15 things that ways that this could go. Here's your options. Here's what you do. And this is what I think you should do.

[B]

I think he's a. What's Beyonce sign?

[A]

Virgo. Okay. You could be a Virgo.

[B]

Yeah. Because Virgos are very organized and they like things to sort of be in his place or Capricorn or something. But I think Virgo because he's also creative and likes to sing. So that's nice.

[A]

I like that.

[B]

What about Overton?

[A]

Overton could be a Taurus. He could be a Taurus because he loves beauty.

[B]

Taurus, the bull.

[A]

He's stable. He loves love. He's a lover. And being that my beloved is a Taurus, I could see. Yeah. John Hinton, he loves. Well, John. Well, not well. John Hinton is a Sagittarius, but I think Overton could be, you know, what you see is what you get. He's, you know, steadfast and.

[B]

Sure. Yeah. So then we all. Khadijah, don't need ya.

[A]

Capricorn.

[B]

For sure. Yes.

[A]

Being that I'm a Capricorn, I could see her as a Capricorn.

[B]

She's a Capricorn.

[A]

Determined, organized. I'm not the most organized Capricorn, but, you know, she has a driven on her dreams.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yes. And rigid. Rigid.

[A]

Rigid.

[B]

Yeah. I'm sorry.

[A]

Stable.

[B]

Rigid.

[A]

Rigid.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Stable.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

See?

[B]

Stably, rigid.

[A]

Stably rigid.

[B]

That's fine.

[A]

You know, also, what you see is what you get very grounded.

[B]

You know, the real person is a Pisces. So Dana's a Pisces.

[A]

She's a Pisces.

[B]

Right. It was. TC is a Scorpio. We have the same date. We already talked about that.

[A]

What is confusing feels is a Taurus.

[B]

That's right. She's the Taurus.

[A]

You know, she used to invite us to her home at the end of every season, and she would cook for us. That is a very sort of Taurus. Welcome to my home. She's not gonna let everybody in her house, only people that she loves.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Yeah, that's right.

[B]

And then John Hinton is a Sagittarius is a sash.

[A]

Fun loving, little bit of fire.

[B]

Do you think Kyle could have been a Sagittarius?

[A]

I think Kyle is too serious. You know, Sagittariuses are more. A little bit more fun loving. They're gonna be fun and they're gonna do too much all the time.

[B]

Really.

[A]

I think. I think Kyle is a Virgo or Gemini.

[B]

Well, I got a weird thing that happens to me and I just could mention it, that most of my leading men for that I'm paired with on screen are Sagittariuses.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah. Somehow I don't meet them in life. They're not like a lover for me in life, but Benjamin Bratt, Scott Cohen from a series I did. And also the great Jeffrey Wright.

[A]

Ooh, I.

[B]

For some reason in the casting room.

[A]

What do they have in common?

[B]

That they're serious players. That you know when you see them, but also when you see their eyes, you lock in. Boom. It's all sexy.

[A]

Okay. Fire. That's the fire.

[B]

Be careful. It's like a tractor beam. Boom. If Jeffrey Wright looks at you, you're in there. You're pregnant. You're not just in there. He's not just in there. You're pregnant.

[A]

How do you think I felt kissing John Hinton and getting paid for it every day. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. Thank you very much. John Hinton every time. Oh, hey, get out of here. Oh, hey, get out of there. Get out of here. Get out of here.

[B]

I love it. God. Cackling over our cauldron.

[A]

Well, that's our show. Please don't forget to send your questions or comments to reliving single podcasteartbeat.com we would love to hear from you. And maybe your question will be on.

[B]

The show fo show. Make sure to follow us on all our socials Living Single podcast and listen to us and Watch us on YouTube and Spotify and on Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[A]

And don't forget to, like, subscribe and watch all the way through. See what you would have missed if.

[B]

You didn't watch this whole show all the way through.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

Please do it all the way through and we'll see you. We'll see y' all next week.

[A]

Bye for now.

[B]

Reliving Single is hosted by me, Eric Alexander and me, Kim Cole. Reliving Single is a production of Heartbeat in association with Color farm media executive.

[A]

Produced by Kevin Hart, Jeff Clanigan, Eric Eddings Leslie Guam, Erica Alexander and Ben Arnon.

[B]

The show is produced by Kim Coles.

[A]

Amber Watson is our senior producer.

[B]

Our associate producer is Kenny Jackson.

[A]

Our other associate producer is Electra Telesford. Our video editor is Nee Kirschman.

[B]

Our sound engineers are Eric Hicks and Cedric Wilson.

[A]

Production supervision by Razak Boykin and Brett Calkins.

[B]

Additional production support from Alex Atkins and Z. Taylor.

[A]

Special thanks to BK Augustine and Dr. E.J. johnson.