Transcript

Erica Alexander (0:00)

Coming up on Reliving Single, I'm gonna.

Kim Coles (0:02)

Give a shout out to my nipples. We were, you know, enjoying life and we come in and there's the trump pop. What's up? What's up?

Erica Alexander (0:10)

What are you gonna do? Hurt him with an Isotoner?

Kim Coles (0:12)

He drove around with a stick in his trunk.

Erica Alexander (0:14)

Stop.

Kim Coles (0:14)

Stop. I know who did it. The crackheads did it. The crackheads did it. We need to find it. What if I'm lying? I'm dying. And I'm sorry about that calculator.

Erica Alexander (0:24)

That's right, Ms. Cleo.

Kim Coles (0:25)

Yeah, sometimes being black has payoff. I think my nipples need an.

Erica Alexander (0:52)

Well, welcome back to Reliving Single, the official unofficial living Single Rewatch podcast. And Erica, this week we are talking about a break in.

Kim Coles (1:01)

Yes, a break in New York. If you were there. It was about that life. It was about that life. And I experienced it firsthand when I lived there. Yeah, my car got broken into.

Erica Alexander (1:10)

Oh, what happened?

Kim Coles (1:11)

Listen, you know, I'm not a person who is usually out there on them streets, but I was doing a play at the Public Theater and my friends would come up on my day off Monday from the University of Arts, Richard and all of them, and they would hang out with me. So Richard drove his Jetta up and back. In the day when you had a car, you know, you had to take the full stereo out. Remember that? You had to take the entire stereo out. You had to put the club on, lock it on. He took the stereo out and then we put it in the trunk and we went about our business and we were enjoying life. And we come in and there's the trunk. Pop. It's open. The clothes they put in it and the stereo are gone. So, you know, I'm with Philly guys. The Philly guys was like, yo, I know who did it. The crackheads did it. The crackheads did it. We need to find them. One of them pulls out a wooden stick. Cause Richard drove around. That's my ex boyfriend. He drove around with a stick in his trunk. Just in case. They were all university. University of the Arts students. But he picks up the stick. So then they go. And sure enough, like a block away, there's the crackhead with our stuff on the streets. If I'm lying, I'm dying.

Summary

ReLiving Single Podcast – “Hide Ya Wigs: Regine Gets Mugged!”

Episode Date: August 20, 2025
Hosts: Erika Alexander & Kim Coles
Podcast Theme: A rewatch and celebration of the iconic sitcom Living Single, blending nostalgia, behind-the-scenes insight, and cultural conversations.

Episode Overview

This week, Erika Alexander and Kim Coles relive Living Single’s Season 1, Episode 14: “Burglar in the House,” where Regine gets mugged and the female-led household faces a traumatic home burglary. Through a mix of hilarious personal stories, inside set secrets, and real-talk reflections, the hosts break down how the sitcom balanced classic comedy with real-life danger and fear, especially for Black women in the ‘90s. They also illuminate the show’s lasting relevance—tackling safety, community, resilience, and the shifting landscape of urban life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Stories: Laughs and Trauma in 90’s New York

Kim’s Wild Break-In Tale
At [01:01], Kim recounts a real New York car burglary involving her actor friends, a trunk full of club-locked stereo equipment, and a memorable showdown with both the thief (“the crackhead”) and sympathetic police.
- Notable Quote:
  “One pulls out a wooden stick... and sure enough, like a block away, there’s the crackhead with our stuff on the street. If I’m lying, I’m dying.” – Kim Coles [01:32]
- Police advice on vigilante justice:
  “Look, man, this is New York. If you do that, you gotta do it at night. If you do it at night, then we don’t have to respond like that. But you did it in broad daylight, man. You can’t do that. They were giving us tips on how to beat down a crackhead.” [02:27]

2. Episode Recap: “Burglar in the House”

Plot Summary ([05:05])
Regine is mugged for her “Chanel” (really “Chanet”) purse, raising fears about home safety. When the apartment is robbed while the girls are inside, comedy collides with very real fears about urban crime.
- Standout comedic moments include the fake “Doberman in a Can” security alarm and Max’s sharp lines about gender and protection.
Physical Comedy & Set Stories
The hosts rave about Kim Fields’ physical performance as Regine and describe on-set antics such as improvised dog-barking contests (“arf, arf, arf!”) between Erika and Queen Latifah.
- “We spent the whole episode going ‘arf, arf, arf, arv!’... the crew would put [Doberman in a Can] up at various times. It became part of our lore.” – Erika Alexander [11:09–13:12]

3. Comedy, Community, and Gender Dynamics

Safety & Black Womanhood
Through lived experience and episode analysis, Erika and Kim explore the constant negotiations of safety, bravado, and vulnerability for Black women:
- “Black women especially... have to look so strong. We came through hell and made it heaven for y’all. We can’t not say what happened.” – Kim Coles [41:23]
Roles of Men and Protection
The episode pokes fun at gendered expectations (“The only thing men have that we don’t isn’t gonna stop a bullet.” [09:21]), but the hosts also reflect on the importance of community—strong men, sisterhood, and sometimes, Doberman in a Can.
Behind Max’s “Nipples of Power” and Set Memories:
Kim jokes about her own “nipples of power” in a yellow sweater:
- “I'm gonna give a shout out to my nipples. 'Cause in that yellow sweater... they cannot be stopped by anybody. The nipples of power have shown up.” – Kim Coles [10:23]

4. 90’s Urban Life: From Knockoff Purses to Street Life

Culture of Designer Knockoffs
The hosts reminisce about buying fake designer goods on 125th Street, with vivid descriptions of the bustling street marketplace.
- “You pick up your fake bag... T shirts and sunglasses... And you’d also hear the cops coming to do a sweep. They’d grab their blankets and run.” – Erika Alexander & Kim Coles [07:05–08:10]

5. Realities of Crime, Policing, and Mass Incarceration (The Reverb)

Racialized Policing & Incarceration ([33:58])
The conversation turns serious, connecting the episode’s plot to the harsher realities of Black communities in the ‘90s—over-policing, three-strikes laws, and the crack vs. cocaine sentencing disparities.
- “Violent crimes were up by half compared to now... They started building prisons all over the place. Who did they look to? People who are brown and Black. It was a money game.” – Kim Coles [35:19]
- “They demonize people, weaponize people, and make tons and tons of money for the love of money.” – Erika Alexander [35:19]
Today’s Perspective:
Crime rates have dropped, but mass incarceration and questions of community safety remain pressing. The hosts discuss how living situations, roommate choices, and even daily subway behavior were shaped by these risks, and how healing and discussion remain urgent.
- “Get the help that you need, talk about it.” – Erika Alexander [41:45]

6. Memorizing Lines & TV Production Wisdom ([45:35])

Acting Tricks & Pressure
Fan letter segment explores how they learned lines amid fast-paced sitcom schedules. Kim records scripts, leaves gaps for her lines on tape, and creates mental images and even sings lines to herself.
- “I have recall better than most people... but I’m always looking for ways to beef it up.” – Kim Coles [49:57]
Vulnerability Under Pressure
Both hosts speak candidly about performance anxiety, perfectionism, and the supportive (and sometimes unforgiving) atmosphere of sitcom sets—reminding everyone that a strong memory is a muscle built over time.

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

| Timestamp | Quote | Attribution | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------| | 01:32 | “One pulls out a wooden stick... there’s the crackhead with our stuff.” | Kim Coles | | 02:27 | “They were giving us tips on how to beat down a crackhead.” | Kim Coles | | 07:05 | “You could smell good, be connected to your spirituality... get a fake bag…” | Erika Alexander | | 09:21 | “The only thing men have that we don’t isn’t gonna stop a bullet.” | Max (in-show) | | 10:23 | “I'm gonna give a shout out to my nipples... The nipples of power have shown up.” | Kim Coles | | 11:09–13:12| “Latifah and I were lobbying to do the sound effect for that [Doberman in a Can].”| Erika Alexander | | 35:19 | “Violent crimes were up by half compared to now... It was a money game.” | Kim Coles | | 35:43 | “You demonize people, weaponize people... tons and tons of money.” | Erika Alexander | | 41:23 | “We came through hell and made it heaven for y’all.” | Kim Coles | | 49:57 | “I have recall better than most people but... always looking for ways to beef it up.”| Kim Coles |

Memorable Moments

Doberman in a Can ([11:07, 13:12]):
The Doberman-in-a-Can joke becomes an on-set legend and cultural shorthand among crew and cast, later reimagined by the hosts with modern security dog alarm sounds ([42:44–44:34]).
Physical Comedy Praise:
The dog alarm and nunchucks scenes are cited as prime examples of Living Single’s blend of slapstick and real-life fear.
Raw Honesty About Women’s Safety:
Both hosts share real stories—navigating the subway, code-switching to stay safe, and how Black women’s toughness is hard-won.[40:14–41:44]

Important Segment Timestamps

[01:01–04:11]: Kim Coles’ firsthand break-in story
[05:05–08:13]: Episode plot breakdown and purse snatching
[11:07–13:12]: “Doberman in a Can” and set pranks
[33:58–38:03]: Reverb—crime, mass incarceration, racialized policing
[41:03–42:05]: Coping behaviors for safety as Black women
[45:35–50:41]: True Blue (fan question) – Memorizing lines, acting under pressure

Conclusion: Why This Episode Still Resonates

This episode of Living Single and its ReLiving Single rewatch demonstrates the art of wrapping real-world trauma in laughter—making it digestible but never dismissible. Erika and Kim highlight how the show used comedy as a coping mechanism, gave voice to Black urban women’s resilience, and—through both nostalgia and candor—encouraged ongoing conversation around community, safety, and healing. The honesty about trauma, the nod to the power of community (“living single really meant living together”), and the sharp wit throughout ensure both a heartfelt and hilarious listen.