Podcast Summary: ReLiving Single – "Kiss & Tell (After 50)" featuring Cree Summer

Date: September 17, 2025
Hosts: Erika Alexander & Kim Coles
Guest: Cree Summer

Episode Overview

This episode of ReLiving Single centers around sex, dating, and authenticity after 50, using a rewatch of Living Single Season 1, Episode 18 ("Love Thy Neighbor") as a springboard. Joining hosts and sitcom legends Erika Alexander and Kim Coles is iconic actress and voiceover superstar Cree Summer. Together, they dive deep into the sitcom’s pivotal “will they, won’t they” romance, navigating representation on TV, slow-burn love, evolving sexuality, menopause, and the joys (and occasional absurdities) of aging, both on-screen and in real life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Behind-the-Scenes of "Love Thy Neighbor" ([02:12]–[14:25])

• Sinclair & Overton’s Slow Burn: The episode focuses on Sinclair’s struggle to admit her feelings for Overton, who is dangling between Sinclair and Cree Summer’s guest character, Summer.
• “Will They, Won’t They” Mechanics: The hosts discuss how slow-burn relationships keep sitcom audiences hooked, and how patience, chemistry, and character quirks shape these storylines.
• Authenticity vs. ‘Awkwardness’: Cree reflects on her earlier roles—especially as Freddie from A Different World—and the importance of showing multidimensional Black women on TV. "God bless the freaks, for the freak shall inherit the earth." ([04:45], Cree Summer)
• Chemistry On-Screen: Cree recalls instant chemistry with John Henton (Overton) and shares the story of being cast at a transitional time in her career—showing how industry nepotism and genuine friendships shaped opportunities ([13:31], Cree Summer).

2. The Evolution of TV & Iconic Characters ([11:59]–[18:02])

• Casting and Friendship: Cree and the hosts reminisce about the familial casting process in 90s television.
• Sitcom’s Unique Energy: The hosts mourn the loss of live audience tapings in sitcoms, agreeing it added energy and responsiveness to a show ([32:09], Cree Summer & Kim Coles).
• Individuality in Sitcoms: Cree emphasizes how well-drawn characters let viewers see themselves on screen: "You have to be smart to play dumb." ([17:51], Cree Summer)

3. Sex, Aging & Menopause: Real Talk ([22:29]–[55:58])

• Sex After 50: All three women discuss how sexuality can become richer and less performative later in life:
  • "I'm having better sex now than I ever had in my life. When I was younger, it was performative... At this age, everything is where it is... it feels better." ([43:43], Cree Summer)
  • The group laughs about noise, referencing the episode’s raucous “neighbor” plot, and agree many older people surprise themselves—and others—by getting “louder” with age.
• Menopause & Transitions: The conversation ventures into myths and truths about menopause, hormone therapy, and the lack of cultural and medical knowledge about women’s aging.
  • “When your body starts behaving in a way that you have no control… Now it's just delighting in how present I am. I feel like I wanna try all kinds of things. And I'm becoming less shy. I used to be quite shy.” ([44:02], Cree Summer)
• Body Image & Grief: Each host shares experiences of grief as fertility ends, the physical changes of menopause, and the need to "reintroduce yourself to your tribe" as you evolve ([53:32], Cree Summer & Erica Alexander).
• Advice for Navigating Transition:
  • Stay curious and present; don’t abandon yourself
  • Seek community or ceremony for life’s big changes
  • Explore your body and identity without comparison
  • Recognize that everyone’s experience is different, especially with menopause
• Practical Tips: From herbal remedies to hormone therapy (hybrid bioidentical pellets, acupuncture, supplements, vibrators like “the rose”), the hosts are candid about coping strategies and encourage listeners to seek what’s right for them.
  • “I've been raw dogging this” (menopause with no meds)—([50:13], Cree Summer)

4. Representation & Sex in Media Today ([57:44]–[60:49])

• Older Female Sexuality: The group highlights the dearth of TV and films about sexual, complex women over 50, shouting out Better Things and “Baby Girl” as rare standouts ([57:44], Cree Summer).
  • "I'd love to see a movie about a woman who comes alive in her 50s... but really, I want to see women taking care of each other and being good to each other as we get older. Less mothering, more sistering." ([59:19], Cree Summer)
• The Evolution of Womanhood: They debate what the next era looks like for women who are no longer wives or mothers, but still vibrant and evolving ("Who do we evolve to?" [60:50]).
• Society’s Youth Obsession: The hosts critique pop culture’s fixation on youth, calling for more stories about the joy, companionship, and sexuality of mature women.

5. Community & Character Growth: "Living Single" Legacy ([64:02]–[69:07])

• Connecting Fiction to Reality: A listener asks how Sinclair and Max would show up for their communities in 2025—and the hosts reflect on how friendship, advocacy, and mutual support are at the core of both the show and their real lives.
  • "We were always involved in each other's lives...the ripple in the pond. So whatever change you're making in the world, I'm gonna be there with you, along with you, and bringing my own energy, my own force." ([65:46], Kim Coles)
  • Erica imagines Max becoming an even bigger advocate and community leader, using her legal skills and life experience to help others, while still wrestling with her own boundaries and needs ([67:39], Erica Alexander).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Quirkiness and Authenticity:
  "I don't know if the term awkward is my favorite because I think it's more she was an authentic girl...we're so many different people, Black people, Black women. Wasn't it a revolution to see all those characters being themselves?"
  — Cree Summer ([04:45])

• On Late-Life Sexual Freedom:
  "The older I get, the more free I'm getting in my body, in my ability to try things."
  — Cree Summer ([08:17])

• On Sex Positivity After 50:
  "I'm having better sex now than I ever had in my life...At this age, everything is where it is...but it feels better. Because I don't have the ability to put on a performance... just delighting in how present I am."
  — Cree Summer ([43:43])

• On Sisterhood Post-Menopause:
  "I want to see movies with women taking care of each other and being good to each other as we get older. A little less mothering and a little more sistering."
  — Cree Summer ([59:44])

• On Self-Discovery:
  "There should be a celebration...that's why I always talk about ceremony. Modern man has no ceremony for these important things. We have to make them."
  — Cree Summer ([52:35])

• On Community:
  "Whatever change you're making in the world, I'm gonna be there with you, along with you, and bringing my own energy, my own force. So that's how I would say it. I don't know what specifics, but all of the ways."
  — Kim Coles ([65:46])

• On Agency After Rejection:
  "She shot her shot...But she leads with her integrity, and...he leaves with a sense of himself. They're all intact. But that's because she's intact."
  — Erica Alexander ([30:13-30:15])

Important Segment Timestamps

• Episode Recap & Set up: [02:12]–[03:49]
• Freddie, Authenticity, and Revolution for Black Women on TV: [04:31]–[05:44]
• Cree Joins—Career and Role Talk: [06:09]–[13:52]
• Sitcom Chemistry, Writing, and Live Audience: [11:59]–[34:09]
• Sex, Aging, and Menopause—Honest Discussion: [42:35]–[55:58]
• Pop Culture, Representation, and Aging: [57:44]–[60:49]
• Listener Q&A: 2025 Community Impact: [64:02]–[69:07]
• Advice for the Next Generation & Final Reflections: [61:06]–[63:14]

Tone and Style

The episode is equal parts heartfelt, hilarious, and unfiltered, with the hosts and Cree riffing off each other’s wisdom and wit. The conversation flows naturally from sitcom analysis to candid discussions of sex, aging, and identity—always rooting their laughs in authentic, lived experiences. The trio maintain a supportive, empowering, and self-deprecating vibe, never shying away from breaking taboos but always circling back to joy, sisterhood, and growth.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

Even if you’ve never seen Living Single, this episode is a masterclass in embracing personal evolution, building community, and challenging stereotypes about aging—especially for Black women. Whether sharing behind-the-scenes sitcom secrets, dissecting sexuality after 50, or naming the grief and triumph of menopause, Erika, Kim, and Cree offer real talk, relatable stories, and hard-won wisdom with warmth and humor.

[End Summary]