Loading summary
A
Coming up on Reliving Single.
B
Everything has happened at your bosom. Hey, Brad Del porro del poro. I'll never tell.
A
Really?
B
Never.
A
Call me. I'm ready. Are you?
B
Did I mention I like sports?
A
It's ridiculous. Hi there and welcome back to Reliving Single, the official unofficial living Single rewatch podcast.
B
Bravo. You did that really well.
A
I did my lips. I have a lot of lip gloss on my lips and I want to slide off the words to slide off the lip gloss.
B
And you failed.
A
I did.
B
Miserably. All right. Okay.
A
So let's talk about rejection.
B
Why do they want us to base ourselves all the time? We're gonna talk about rejection.
A
Well, we're relatable. And the people watching this show may have experienced some of the things that we've experienced and they want to hear our point of view. And today we're going to talk about reject. Listen, as actors, we get rejected all the time. Come on, come on. It's part of the game. It is the game. You know, like 97% of the working actors are not working.
B
Absolutely.
A
Because there's only one or two or three or seven jobs, you know, so we deal with that a lot. But I guess we're talking about rejection in the love department. Have you ever been rejected?
B
You know, I'm sorry, I can't say I have.
A
You're always wanted and desired.
B
Let me tell you something, you know, Have I ever been in a situation where I felt rejected or felt abandoned or. Yes.
A
Okay, okay.
B
But I know I have never. I'm sorry.
A
You got it.
B
That's good. Excuse me. Exactly. I'm not rejected. Okay.
A
No, that's great.
B
Thank you. I thought you'd be happy for me.
A
I'm really. I am happy for you. That is a rare delay. That means that you are the object of all that desire. You and that you desire.
B
Well, see, that's the point. It's. I don't usually desire anybody who I think will reject me. So you're gonna have to work hard to even come for me. I've got to be clear that that's the case.
A
Right? Okay.
B
You know, I don't give a shot. But then there's you, then there's me.
A
Well, I believe in love and looking for love. And let's be very clear.
B
Come on.
A
The ones that rejected me, I'm glad they did. Rejection is God's protection. What? Did you hear that objection? Is God's protection for sure. I've had a few near miss marriage proposals that didn't go through Like, I'm gonna marry you, but I'm never. They never buy the ring, so I've been desired. But then in the end, they change their mind. They're actually very desirable and they change their mind as fools.
B
You know, everybody plays the fool sometimes. But you know my favorite line in all of Living single to this day, I cannot hear it in my head and not crack up.
A
Everybody rejects.
B
You're gonna see in this episode how literally when you say it, I start laughing as Erica in the background.
A
Maybe we need to watch the episode and get away from the pain of my rejection.
B
Yes.
A
Let's do this.
B
Let's do it. Here we go. Living Single Season 1, Episode 13 Love takes a Holiday. Our playboy Kyle Bach falls head over wingtips. Ooh, love that for flavors. Beautiful photographer Stacey Evans, played by Nia Long. But unfortunately, the feeling isn't exactly mutual. And as she puts it, it's a physical thing.
A
Nia Long.
B
Nia Long, icon.
A
TV star.
B
TV star known for all her roles. That's Boyz n the Hood, the best man. Love Jones. Soul food.
A
Yeah.
B
Friday, she was the it girl.
A
She still is.
B
And she was tremendously successful.
A
Yeah.
B
As the object of desire for so many people in the world and more importantly, the audience who loves her, which we love her. Indeed.
A
Can I just say something? Her character's name is Stacey Evans, and Stacey Evans was one of the writer's assistants on this show. And Stacey Evans has gone on to write more shows and do more work. And so we're talking royalty.
B
Another testimony to Yvette Lee Bowser. The way it's like this information highway, but certainly a place where all this beautiful talent that happened to be of color came through. And we all collided all the time. All before we made it big. We made it big altogether.
A
I like. Ooh, I like that.
B
This episode is brought to you by JCPenney.
A
Yes, JCPenney.
B
And if you've been there recently, you know it's the place to go for jaw dropping looks at brag worthy prices. They've got something special for every style and budget. Not to mention rewards and deals that make finding those hidden gems even sweeter.
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
It's time for the rewind where we watch and relive living single with you.
B
Photos don't exactly give me that ho ho ho feeling. I'm sorry. It's just that my boyfriend dumped me. Oh, man, that's too bad. Y' all together for a while. Six worthless years.
A
We're going out with our girlfriends tonight.
B
Why don't you join us? Well, I was planning on cooking my ex boyfriend's clothes on the hibachi. Come on, girl.
A
It'll be good for you.
B
You'll relax, you'll cheer up, and you'll gimme some photos I can use. Okay, but can we not talk about men, relationships or sex?
A
Fine.
B
We'll just pass notes on napkins all night. So it's a breakup. And breakups are hard. Especially when you're at work. Have you ever been to work through a breakup?
A
Oh, yeah. Cause every time you break up, you're still working, aren't you?
B
That's true.
A
Yeah. I remember I almost fainted on the subway once after I broke up with someone. I was so. I was so. Why do you laugh at all?
B
I don't know. I just saw you stumbling around.
A
I was on the subway. I just suddenly felt faint, like. Yeah. And it was just like. And it was a great way to take the day off. I called my boss. I don't feel very well. I had a really difficult yesterday. Very difficult yesterday. Oh, take the day off. You'll be fine. And I went home and took a nap. It was so sad. Cause I believe in each relationship. I believe in them.
B
And I believe that you believe.
A
I do.
B
But can we say Nia Long again? Nia Long. Okay. Who, by the way, would break up with her.
A
Right?
B
This is. We know that this is fiction because. Come on. No, but it happens. No, he says he dumped me.
A
We don't know the reason why. We don't know the reason why. And again, maybe it was for her protection. I'm firmly believing that any breakup I've ever had, it wasn't really meant to be.
B
No, it's true. But because she is the ingenue, which was unique. When I got into the business, there were really no black ingenues. Except for, like, Bernadette Stannis, which is the great Thelma of good times, but not really in the movie scape. Let me take that back. People could look at Dorothy Dandridge and people like Rena Hornets. But she was young. Young. You see what I'm saying? Where you felt like that she had growth in her. Where they were like Carmen.
A
Oh, right. Or they were Donna and Lena Horne was a Dee Dee already. Right, right. Maybe they were not as. They were relatable to us as an audience because we aspired to be them, but they were not. They didn't seem attainable. Nia Long, as cute as she is, she's the girl next door. She's the girl next door and she's relatable.
B
And if you think the next time to come along, somebody was like, that was Halle Berry and that's boomerang, you know. Remember she played the girl next door?
A
Of course.
B
Cause the vamp was who?
A
Robin Givens.
B
Come on, stop playing. Give it, Robin. What was she, badass or what?
A
Badass. I worked with her as a director. She's amazing and misunderstood because, you know, the press made her out to be whatever they did because of the Mike Tyson breakup. She's super smart, super clear and intentional about who she is and what she's here to do, and a phenomenal director to work with and made me a better actress because of it. She got in my face one day. You can do this. You can do this. I was. It was late at night, I was tired. I was like, stop it. You could do this.
B
You felt like, come on, let's do it.
A
Let's do it.
B
I'm going to Tyson.
A
Got that too.
B
The finger. You know, Let me tell you something. I met her a few times at auditions, and she was always lovely, lovely. And by the way, tiny, petite, teeny, tiny almost. She looks like a Barbie doll. You got Sanaa Lathan. She is a classic ingenue, you know.
A
Also very relatable, you know, beautiful and yet seems attainable.
B
Well, Sanaa Lathan doesn't seem attainable to me.
A
You don't.
B
Her role does. But Sanaa is always a little bit beyond your reach to me.
A
Oh, okay. I buy that.
B
Cause she's mysterious.
A
That's her Persona.
B
You hear Sanaa, Sana not be out there in them streets.
A
No, true, true. You know, but she seems like somebody you would want to girlfriend of. Cause she's smart. There's no doubt she comes from great. Her father. She comes from great legacy.
B
Yes.
A
I think of Sanaa Lathan as kind of our Gwyneth Paltrow. So you've got Gwyneth Paltrow, who comes from great stock, which is. There's Blythe Danner's her mom, and Bruce Danner is her dad. You know, established performers and directors. And so Sanaa has Stan Lathan, her.
B
Dad, who is a world renowned, multitalented, award winning director.
A
Award winning director. And especially in the comedy space. That's his, you know, his jam. And her mother is an actor and a director, Eleanor McCoy. Eleanor McCoy. So she comes from great stock. And so maybe that's why there's this sort of mysteriousness about her. Cause she's. She's a princess.
B
Yeah. The ultimate ingenue now is Zendaya.
A
Mm.
B
You know, we've got also. We can't leave out Keke Palmer. She's a fantastic ingenue.
A
My favorite thing about her is that not only can she do the romantically, but she's also so doggone funny.
B
In our space, we often see women as being black women as being seen as strong and comforting and. Come here, girl. Let me tell you about yourself, you know?
A
Or overly sexualized.
B
Overly sexualized. In the 80s, it was really the emergence of the ingenue. And Nia Long is at the head of the class.
A
So, Stacy, what do you do when you're not taking pictures, movie with your boyfriend, dinner with your boyfriend, or just hanging out with your boyfriend?
B
I'm unattached. Really? Isn't that nice?
A
Can I get you anything? My phone number. Can I talk to you babes?
B
Excuse us.
A
So, Kyle, how you doing? Fine.
B
Leave Stacy alone. Guess who done shown up sniffing it out. But in the meantime, you know, he's get. There's the camaraderie of the women, right? And, you know, I guess that's helpful when you're having a breakup so you.
A
Don'T get lonely or go home and feel sorry for yourself. Go out and have a good time and be social, you heard me say?
B
I guess. Cause I knew I.
A
You don't even know. You don't even know.
B
But you know what? It sounds like it's right. When you have a breakup, do you call your girlfriends or what do you do?
A
Most of the breakups I've had, I had already talked to my girlfriends about it. They knew it was coming. Cause I'm trying to. You see it. You know that something's happening, and so you talk it out. So I've already had the camaraderie before. The actual. By the time the breakup comes, like, girl, we told you. We could have told you this.
B
We could have told you that. It's important to have your friends around you because they are often not only the first person to tell you, but they're also, during the relationship, being able to sort of see some things that you might not see in isolation.
A
It's important to have. Yeah, listen, you were married once. You're not married to that man anymore. You've dated and you've not dated. So when you break up, what do you do? Because I'm not. Let's not talk about rejection, because you tell me that you've never been rejected, but when you break up, what do you do?
B
I'm a solo. Yeah, you lick your own.
A
Lick your own wounds. Yeah.
B
I'm like, yeah, if there's a Miles Davis, I grab a horn and okay, yeah, bad like that.
A
And I'm back.
B
And I'm back.
A
That's enough of that.
B
But you know what? I live a lot in my own head and in my own thoughts. And I think it comes because even though I had six brothers and sisters, and I often say this, but the child of two orphans, it's not like they understood how to communicate their feelings. And so I am very vocal now, but I'm still pretty private person. So I tell you all of that, but that kind of stuff, I think it's hard to process. Sometime it is. If you haven't built those relationships like that, this is not the time to be like, hey, girl, you got fucked up. Cause you don't even want to tell them the long history of how you got there, because it's nuanced.
A
It is.
B
You don't want them sometime to feel bad toward the other person because they like them too.
A
Aw.
B
I know relationships are tough, but it.
A
Is important to talk it out and to have a sounding board.
B
Well, you know, when Max is in that scene, she's like a gargoyle. She's hanging out and, you know, watching do his thing.
A
Right.
B
And it's kind of interesting to see. It's a really great commentary as a director to set that up where they're talking to each other. But then you have a silent kind of commentary.
A
But is it. Cause she's a little bit jealous that he's interested in someone? Like, let me see what it like, Is she gonna try to sabotage her a little bit? Cause she wants him for herself.
B
It's funny. I never felt that when I was doing the role. I did feel the feeling of anytime she could sabotage him, she would and descend upon him. Yeah. And that's such a fun thing to play.
A
It is, sure.
B
But obviously, yes. Yes to everything you said. I'm sure that they were setting that up.
A
Of course.
B
So Khadijah, looking at this, takes Kyle into the kitchen and say, yo, man, don't date her.
A
Protecting my friend. Cause I know how you gonna do.
B
You said you took a class on men, right? You were supposed to be the man expert.
A
I didn't say I was the man expert. You said you were.
B
Is he hunting?
A
Oh, he's hunting. He's Hunting. And he probably senses in her some little. She's a little weakened state. Yeah, she's in a little bit of a week. I can get in there.
B
Injured rabbit. I can get in there.
A
But she seems interested. She seems charmed by him. I'll take your card. And you know, she sort of smiles at all of it.
B
She does. By the way. If you've just been dumped and somebody suddenly give you that energy feels the.
A
Best way to get over a man is to get up under nothing as well.
B
Let's see if he gets she gets up under him. So hanging out with the girls did.
A
You some good, huh?
B
Mm, that and doing the wild thing.
A
Hi, Neil. Girlfriend got us some.
B
So what's the four? Uno.
A
Uno, girl.
B
It was incredible. Boyfriend was all there. I hate you. Keep talking. Well, you know how we always pray for. For seconds? This was a sexual salad bar. Did he stay all night? Did he make you breakfast? I was Kyle's breakfast girl.
A
Did you say Kyle? Our Kyle? Hold up.
B
I just went blank.
A
So let's begin with a little art imitating life.
B
Okay.
A
Kyle bringing flowers to the girls is every day for T.C. carson. We got flowers all the time.
B
All the time. T.C. carson. That's his MO.
A
That's his MO. He's gonna show up. He's gonna show up with flowers.
B
And it's actually beautiful to see on this so called sitcom, him being so thoughtful. Cause he brings flowers to also all three. To all three. He is now in a position to be as vulnerable as the women he usually dates. And so we all can see this coming. Yvette Lee wanted to have, I guess, that discussion where a guy is on the opposite side of love and versus.
A
Like right, and flipping the script and listen, we're all human and we know that men go through this. But to see it on a show like this, especially a man who's so confident and he was gonna, you know, just sort of dibble and dabble in her. And then, oh, look, he fell all the way.
B
Yeah, he wanted to have. She was. Now she wants to have sex and he wants a serious relationship. And he wrote her number down in ink.
A
That's a big deal.
B
That's a huge deal. Think about it. I think, how many times have you met somebody and said, let me put this someplace I can find it. Yeah, you know, let me just crumble this in my pocket.
A
Or, you know, the guy that you didn't give the wrong number to, you really hoped he would call.
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And she said, he's good at it. Cause He's a sexual salad bar.
A
Sexual salad bar.
B
Can you imagine?
A
Little bit of this, little bit of that, a whole lot of this. A little extra dressing. Ooh. Yes, I get this. Since it was a buffet and you went back for seconds and thirds and fourths. Yes, yes. Fill up on your roughage. Oh, yes.
B
Get the vibe. No, that's right. Look, it's none of my business, but I'm gonna tell you anyway, if you keep seeing Kyle, he is gonna get hurt. Oh, I don't wanna do that. I really like Kyle. It's just that he came along at the wrong time. Well, then be straight up with her. I should, shouldn't I? I will. But I'm sure gonna miss breakfast in bed. All right, so the decision has been made. It has been made. Khadijah steps up to let Stacey know that Kyle's spring has sprung. Boing.
A
Right. But here's the thing. Here's why that's powerful. Cause it's integrity in Khadijah to tell her staff member.
B
Yes.
A
Just so you know, this is what's happening.
B
That's right.
A
And it's also to protect her friend Kyle.
B
So how do you think that with breaking the news to girlfriend?
A
I think that it was the right thing to do. Just so you know, he's catching feelings and you might want to shut it down before it goes too far.
B
But they didn't hedge either. They basically told her.
A
Right.
B
This is the deal.
A
This is the deal.
B
Yeah, I like that. Because there's no confusion.
A
None. Okay.
B
Do you enjoy doing the office scenes? Because you guys use that office. Really?
A
I did enjoy. Cause I got to, you know, feel my way around and do these little funny walks and be her assistant and mess up sometimes. And sometimes, you know, be her. Her mirror or her, you know, her champion. So it was great. It was my domain, actually.
B
That's true.
A
It was my domain.
B
You ruled the roost there.
A
I did?
B
You were the pilot.
A
I was?
B
Yes. Too bad. You were going down in flames most of the time.
A
Going down with the ship. Thank you.
B
Thank you. Did it. Well.
A
Hi, Stacy.
B
You're here with Kyle. Naturally. I thought you were going to tell Kyle. Real deal. I tried, but then he got all soft and sweet on me and I knew we were both coming here. I didn't want dinner to be awkward.
A
Stacy, what's keeping you in here?
B
Come on.
A
Overton and Sinclair wanna see the bracelet I just got you. What bracelet? What? Check it out. Hi, y'. All.
B
Oh, Stacy, that's lovely. That's Cartier.
A
Love bracelet.
B
That's 18 karat.
A
You sure got it going on, Stace.
B
Good job, good friends. And a man like Kyle, who's generous, devoted, and trusting in a ridiculous way. Well, okay. Come on. It's Thanksgiving.
A
It's Thanksgiving.
B
Wow. And Kyle's date is Stacy. What the hell?
A
She agreed to make it go.
B
She agreed to break it all. And guess what? Lying Kyle gave her a gold Cartier love bracelet.
A
And the bracelet back then would have been like, $2,000.
B
$2,000.
A
And now would have been 7,000.
B
7,000. $7,000.
A
So he's dropping some serious money.
B
Right? And Stacy's going to Liz Taylor's School of Love. Diamonds are a girl best friend. That and the gold. Come on, now. Men try to buy your affection.
A
I told you before, I'm usually the one that was buying the gifts and the. And the trinkets and the suits.
B
Did anyone ever try to.
A
Yes, yes. I received some lovely gifts over the years.
B
You did?
A
But I've gotten the most jewelry in this relationship than ever. Oh, that's lovely.
B
Oh, wonderful.
A
And, you know, quality pieces.
B
Yeah, I've gotten some pieces. My first boyfriend gave me a couple of pieces. And then Tony, my husband.
A
Your ring was gorgeous.
B
It was gorgeous. And he traded me. I was the doll.
A
Yeah, you were.
B
I swear, I was treated like a doll. And I think he liked to adorn me. And it sounds crazy because I'm such a tomb.
A
I loved it. You loved it. You know, I know that. You didn't. You didn't touch the refrigerator. You didn't touch the stove.
B
I didn't. He cooked. He did the shopping.
A
Erica, listen to your. You were a receiver. That's how you were receiving. Now I'm a receiver. You were allowing a man to take.
B
Who had the ky. I don't need it. I don't want this.
A
He took good care of you, and you allowed it. You didn't say no. I don't want that beautiful diamond ring.
B
No, that's right.
A
Custom ring.
B
No, never. I mean, come on. And I know people put a lot of stock in that, so, ladies, please don't. I didn't need any of that. But that's just what he liked to do. And who am I to say no?
A
And I'm gonna see if my memory. Right. If my memory serves you, one of the first gifts you gave you was actually a piece of art. Didn't he draw you? Didn't you sit for him?
B
It's true.
A
And he drew. That's.
B
I married a painter. And, you know, that's how he got me.
A
Yeah, he invited. He invited you to his studio. To his studio. And you said you sat for him. And I did say, still, let me draw. Let me draw.
B
Well, I got word through my manager that the artist wanted to paint me. Now, I'm sorry, I am an actress. And I said, what do you mean he wanted to paint me? And I met him at Chia Venice. Him with his reps and me with mine. He was the hot thing in town. And I didn't know him like that. They just said, a painter. They never said what he was. But during that dinner, he insulted me. And he didn't mean to, but he said, oh, don't play the dumb actress to something I said. And I was like. And he didn't know. That triggered me.
A
Yeah.
B
And so I just ate my bread and my sea bass. And I said, after this date is over, I'm gonna let him paint me. And there's Sirenara, not. I wasn't supposed to be dating him, but I was just like, I don't like that. Like, who are you? I don't dare you. But then I went up to his place. He's playing Motown records and whatever. And he says, yeah, okay, just one second. I'm doing. And everything seems so easy. And there he was in a white shirt and khaki pants rolled up with his shoes off, cooking his ass off like it was. But no big deal. Here's a drink. Here's some whatever. And he said, you can sit right up on the counter. I sat on the counter, and I think that's where it got me. I had never been catered to by a man like that in my life. And in that specific way, right? Because I don't want to take disparage anybody. And I gotta say, yes, he did. Eventually, he took a picture of me and he painted me. So for my engagement gift, he gave me a huge painting. Bigger than this wall of my face with Japanese characters and my hair going past. And I said, wow, is that how you see me? I look a little mean. He goes, no, I see you as fierce. He said, I painted you as fierce.
A
You know, let the receiving begin.
B
Exactly. My puss was just spewing, you dig? Jiggling and doing all the things that a puss is supposed to do. All the things, of course, I was captured like a hook. You understand? I believe that jewelry sometime is your.
A
Mind and man, intellect and charm.
B
Intellect, those are the bobbles.
A
And integrity.
B
Integrity. I look for the baubles that matter.
A
The baubles that matter. And Anybody watching this like, you think that you want all the trappings. No, you want someone to treat you like the God of the. Or God or whatsoever you are.
B
Exactly. Give you a shrimp appetizer, make you a drink.
A
Right.
B
And.
A
And listen. And listen. And paint you. Come on.
B
Personally, I think it's refreshing to see Kyle with a woman who's not inflatable.
A
That's funny, Max. That's funny. I love that face.
B
Look at that face. All right, that's it, Kyle, kitchen.
A
Tsk, tsk. Max, this is so sad. I mean, you look at a couple like us and you figure, mm, that'll never be me.
B
That's right, that will never be me. Because I'm smart enough to know when I'm being played. Kyle, the girl's using you. She don't want you. So now even Maxine, Kyle's nemesis, Kyle, she don't want you, but Kyle's all in.
A
Do you think she's being sincere when she's telling him that she really cares for him?
B
That direct goes to her integrity to say, don't go out there and make a fool of yourself, brother.
A
Right.
B
You know, and I think that that is the wonderful thing about Max is that when she sees that somebody could be hurt, really hurt, she even steps in, right? Yeah.
A
It's her nemesis, but it's still. She doesn't want to see him hurt like that. In the end, we're going to. I'm going to choose to be human here and be your friend. I. I can't believe that she left me like that. I'm Kyle, baby. This kind of thing does not happen to me. I feel so stupid.
B
Everybody plays the fool sometimes. You deserve better than her. She's not worth it. Good Lord, he's ugly when he cries. Kyle, honey, I just have one question.
A
Of course I got the bracelet back.
B
I've taught you so well. Yes.
A
Oh, so much is happening there.
B
That's wonderful.
A
As you have. I've taught you well. He takes her to his. And he gets in there, and that feels like. That was an ad lib. I don't think that that was written.
B
No, no, it wasn't.
A
Yeah, he just fell into the. And you can see by the way she.
B
What he shows that he's recovering.
A
Right. Very quickly. Recover. And he feels covered, safe and warm in Regine's bosom.
B
That's right. And by the way, it is TC Carson first lighted the apple and a story. And it's lovely because there he is. He's got his machoed vest on, looking all, like, casual, even fly. He treats her lovely. We see that in love. That Kyle is not a player. He's a gentleman. He's beautiful.
A
He's generous.
B
Yeah.
A
So he wants to invite her home to meet his family. So we see that. We know that he's a player, but we know that for the right girl.
B
Right.
A
And that's important to see, isn't it?
B
It's important to see, but also to know that she said no to that.
A
Yeah.
B
Not to some. Busta.
A
Wow. Okay. That's right.
B
You know, he did all the right things. I want to introduce you to my parents. What? Oh, baby, I don't care who knows how we love on each other, right? Granted, she had just been dumped. It was too early.
A
Mm.
B
Let me ask.
A
Yes, I have returned. I returned a ring once. It wasn't a diamond ring. It wasn't an engagement ring. It was a piece of jewelry. And I was like, I have to give this back. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I have to give this back.
B
But would you have been able to be break up in that moment when they were giving you the piece of jewelry?
A
Not in the moment, but the next day. Give it back. Because the next day is when I gave it back. Oh, thank you so much. This is really beautiful because I had to think about how I was gonna let him down easy.
B
Did you ever have a dude cry in front of you? Oh, yes.
A
Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
B
Oh, yes. Everything has happened at your bosom. What happened?
A
I think when a man cries, it's actually the most beautiful thing ever. Sure it is.
B
Would they cry? Cause they couldn't have you. Which one?
A
No, no, no, no, no, no.
B
My God, you have a phalanx. An army.
A
At least two cried. Yeah. You know, but listen, be very clear that one of the times it was a ploy to get me back. Like, don't you. I love you, girl. We gonna be together. I thought we were gonna be together forever. Why you treat me like this, girl?
B
And you could tell?
A
Was it? Oh, you could tell. Yeah, you could tell. But in the moment, you know, sometimes in the moment, you gotta let that ride because you don't know what's coming next. I love you. Don't you, darling? Because you don't know. Like, you know, you get. They get emotional, and then something else could happen.
B
Oh, you think physical.
A
Yeah. I love you, girl. Next. That's next. That's next. That's next. Okay, baby. Okay. Okay. Let's talk.
B
It have to navigate a lot of stuff.
A
Oh, my God. My mother calls it Easing your hand out the lion's mouth. Ease your hand out the lion's mouth. And this is not the only opportunity that happens. Sometimes when something is heated. Just ease your hand out because ah. Is the next step. Yeah. Well, Erica, you've had these things happen too.
B
Never.
A
Absolutely.
B
I feel like I'm living some other life.
A
You've had adventures.
B
Girl, you are in the matrix. But you smoked it to the filter. I will always say Kim smoked it to the filter and I admire that. You know, a lot of people haven't lived their lives. You have, Kim.
A
Thank you. Thank you.
B
It's time for the reverb.
A
I smoked it to the filter. This is the reverb. Our time to reflect on the episode's themes and how they still echo throughout the culture.
B
Bought and boss. This new generation has a whole different way of doing the dating thing and finding or looking for their love or looking for, you know, a companion or whatever. They're into the love apps. The love apps, they've got the high end, the mid end and the low end.
A
And there's Millionaire, Match, Luxie, the League, Raya, Elite, Singles.
B
I know none of these Black R Us, J Day. Look at them.
A
Wow.
B
They're calling them out like they're, you know, like some sort of sheep herding dogs. You know what I mean? It's amazing. Have you done any of those?
A
I've not done any of it. None.
B
I just thought that you would have done everything in life.
A
Well, here's the thing about this, is that if I go on one of those apps and if you went on one of those apps, you're Erica Alexander. What is there to discover?
B
Well, for the people who don't know, I would be like, whatever. But the people who do, they probably wouldn't either believe me or, you know, like, it'd be weird.
A
Okay. Like, you know, I would never go on one of those dating shows. You know, like when they have the dating shows and a bunch of men are running.
B
So that's actually from our era. That's like a dating show. The Dating Game.
A
What a good show.
B
That's real. But you know what? I haven't done it either. And I think that it's hard because there's a vetting process that I think that I would need to see if the person is who they say they are.
A
Oh, of course.
B
I know that people are on there lying their butts off and having, you know, relationships that are illicit and that type of. But I would go on there wanting to look for somebody who at least Came in decent.
A
I have a friend who did, actually. She met her husband on one of these, and they talked a lot. She made sure that she was safe. And they talked and they talked. There's all kinds of rules, like meet for coffee, don't meet for. Don't meet for dinner yet. Don't meet it late at night. Like, you know all these rules for vetting and getting information. You know, going on the Google and finding out who somebody is and making sure it's a lot.
B
Let's go on Tinder. Let's do our own Tinder. Amber, can we do Tinder from here? So what I'm going to do is I'm going to present you with men from the 90s, and then you will have to swipe right or swipe left.
A
Swiping left means no, I reject this human being. And swiping right means yes, I'm interested in.
B
I'm interested in it. But it's not just any Tinder. These are people from the 90s that we would be presented with if we were then there, not now. Yes. So we gonna swipe right or left? Right if we dig them, left if we don't. And good luck, girl.
A
Good luck. What if we choose the same one? I'll fight you to the death.
B
Or we'll be sister wives.
A
Okay.
B
Marilyn Manson. That's a left, baby.
A
To the left. To the left.
B
To the left. Yeah. No offense. I just think that's too much powder and too skinny and.
A
And we'd be borrowing each other's makeup.
B
Yeah, well, he frightened me at night, man. Don't get up and go to the bathroom.
A
He doesn't look like that, you know, without all the makeup. That's just the personal.
B
But I saw him in the airplane airport.
A
You did?
B
Yeah. My. My little sister, my Myisha, she was. She wanted to meet Marilyn Manson, and she was real punkhead. And he came and he's like, I'm not doing any autographs. The way he did it was so dismissive. And I thought he could have made a little bit of effort. Like, I appreciate it, but I'm just trying to do mine. No problem. So, no, he looked like he smelled like dry snot. Oh, Tupac. Oh, come on. Come on. Dear Mama, I'm swiping right.
A
Wait, what?
B
Look at his abs. Girl, you crazy. Oh, wow.
A
I would choose Listen, right, for his talent and for his artistry and. But I don't think I could hang with all them girls. He gets a lot of girls. I'll be like, let me go to the left. I'm not trying to throw my hat to that.
B
Right. Right. But you don't know that if you're on the Tinder, so you choose any gargoyle, but that you're gonna pass up.
A
All right? Right.
B
Wow. I have to convince you that. Right. There's a hard left. I'm afraid to say it. On the. On. On the mic.
A
Suge Knight, we're looking at. Right.
B
That's a hard left.
A
Left. But please don't shoot me, because I said that. Don't you hurt me, baby. Sugar Knight. No, no, thank you. Brad Pitt. Right.
B
Come on. But you know what?
A
He dated Robin Givens. He likes chocolate. Go and get that.
B
Go and get a flower film with him.
A
You did. You did. You got stories, too. You do. You have stories, too.
B
I'll never tell.
A
Really?
B
Never.
A
What. Why do you make this?
B
It was nothing nefarious, nothing wrong, nothing this and that. But I know that he does like chocolate. I did full frontal with him and just had, you know, a scene.
A
Full frontal?
B
What you mean frontal? No, that was the name of the movie.
A
Oh. Oh, sorry. Hey.
B
Hey, Brad.
A
Was he charming?
B
He was very charming.
A
But, you know, he likes chocolate.
B
I know it. I know it. That's what you do. I know it. I know it. Yes.
A
D'. Angelo.
B
That's a hard wipe to the right, baby.
A
Right.
B
Always right.
A
Yeah.
B
When he got on that organ, you're not even thinking at that point. You the bride of Frankenstein. You know what I'm saying? On the organ.
A
Yeah. D'. Angelo. Yes. Hard right.
B
Cola, pal. That's a hard left. I'm not in.
A
I like smart men, so I might. I would go on a date with this man, General. You know. You know what he had to do to get there.
B
No doubt. And I.
A
Excellent.
B
Thank you for your service. Absolutely not.
A
I would thank you for your service.
B
You never going to see, homeboy.
A
Perfect.
B
Okay.
A
Perfect. I'm going to be safe. He's going to have a bunker built for us to keep you be safe. Alone.
B
Sit up there turning the TV with your hand. That's. That's where he's parked out. You hear what I'm saying?
A
I hear you.
B
And he's like, baby, we'll just be at this outpost for, you know, the next two years. And you're in. What? Bahooga dega.
A
But I'm gonna be safe.
B
Yeah. Alone. Wondering if that monkey will bring back your ring.
A
Dennis Rodman.
B
Dennis Rodman. Wow.
A
Let me say this, okay?
B
You go for him, for me. I gotta go left. Dennis. No. Offense. And I love Dennis Rodman.
A
I did the Surreal Life with him. I spent two weeks in a house in Mexico with him.
B
Of course you did. Why not? Kim?
A
With Stormy Daniels and Tamar Braxton, I would first think I would go left. He's got a heart of gold.
B
I can feel it.
A
Heart of gold.
B
I can feel it.
A
Kind of broken, loving.
B
Come on.
A
I would go left, but I would be his friend.
B
I know this is date tender.
A
You know what? You go on a date with him, you're gonna have an adventure.
B
And by the way, talk about somebody who slipped and was fluid in gender.
A
100, amazing and comfortable with himself. Comfortable.
B
I just adored that.
A
Couldn't have a bigger heart, though.
B
His own personal.
A
Remember he married himself in Times Square. Wedding dress, orange wig, lipstick.
B
Was that him marrying himself?
A
He married himself.
B
Wow. Man after my heart. Charming.
A
Charming. Smokes too many cigars.
B
Dan Rather. I'd rather not. That's a left. I love you, Dan. He looks like a snooze.
A
You know, I wish I had said that. I'd rather not. I wish I had said that. I'd rather not.
B
Chris Tucker, right to the right. That's lots of fun.
A
I saw him recently.
B
You know him?
A
He looks great. I don't know him well. I just saw him at a. At a. A tribute to Sinbad. He looks amazing. He's kind. He was at Essence Fest, dancing, you know, on the front row. He's lovely in person. Lovely.
B
Oh, Benicio del Toro. That is a hard right.
A
Hard right.
B
Come on. Come on, baby. Oh, my God. Praise God. Benicio.
A
Each day.
B
Come on. By the way, add a little.
A
Oh, you talk about me living.
B
It comes back to me sometimes.
A
What? What? Do tell. Do tell.
B
Well, you know, we were at one point, I think, you know, managed by the same people, and I met him at a party, and I tell you, you sparks. No, nothing happened, but I could feel it.
A
Could feel it.
B
And let me tell you, he was wanting me to feel it. You know, he's everything you think, like some sort of weird panther.
A
Sort of a deep experience.
B
Of course. Of course. Yeah.
A
Benio del Toro.
B
Kim, that was fun. I mean, that was good. Come on, let's make our bio. Okay, so we didn't get a chance. Let's do this one. But 90s 90 stock. Hi. Hi. I'm Erica. And they don't call me the Maverick because I ride horses. My moniker was Cimarron, but Madonna took it as a trademark. I'm adaptable. So why? What? I'm a Scorpio and if you think you want to date me, I'm open to it. Make sure you lean in. Thank you. Great. Cuz they going to put in music.
A
Why you dancing? Hi, I'm Kim. I like someone who's kind and generous and funny and laughs at all of my jokes. Did I say I'm a comedian? I'm a comedian. Laugh at all my jokes. I mean, don't laugh at me, but laugh at all my jokes. I love love. I believe in love. I want to love. I have love to give. I'm ready. Twice divorced. I know what I want now. I know what I want now. And I want you to be kind and loving and supportive and have your own suits. Because I've had a little history with buying men's suits. So have your own. All heights welcome. All girths welcome. As long as your heart is as wide as the rest of you. Call me if you want to have fun. But say fun because I don't ride bikes. I don't run, I don't swim. I mean, look at my hair. Call me. I'm ready. Are you?
B
Did I mention I like sports?
A
It's ridiculous. It's time for True blue. Right, Erica?
B
For sure.
A
This is where we hear from our friends. You write in, you call in, you ask us questions, and we answer them with honesty and integrity and a little bit of ridiculousness.
B
And by the way, videos are very nice.
A
Oh, please send us a video.
B
Yes. This question is from Vin and he says, hello, ladies. Love the show and love the podcast even more. Here's a question from one of your male fans. Other than their living single character, what is your favorite performance of your fellow cast? I'd love to watch TC Carson do his jazz performance. Same here.
A
Which is.
B
Same here. It's fabulous. I don't know if I've gotten a chance to see John Hinton perform as a comedian.
A
Oh, you haven't? I just realized he's phenomenal. So I agree with you with TC and the jazz. John is a great comedian. He's a great writer and a great observer of life. He observes it and he twists it on the side and then gives it back to you. He's awesome.
B
You'd love him. And he was good in the Hughley's.
A
He was wonderful. You'd love him. I love seeing Latifah on stage as Queen Latifah. She rules a stage. There's an energy that comes out that is like, oh, wow. She enraptures an audience.
B
Absolutely. Absolutely. And I have to say the same about you. I've gotten the chance to see you in various roles, and you're just magnificent at what you do in terms of taking over a room.
A
Oh, thank you.
B
Yeah. And you can do so many things. That's the weird part.
A
Weird?
B
Well, no, I mean, it's a person that you just can admire and see that they have skill sets that are transferable to different places.
A
Thank you.
B
And I love that. And I also love Kim Fields. She's doing. I love what she's doing on the Upshaws. But I've also gotten a chance to see her direct. Cause she directed me. She didn't treat me any different or any, you know, just like any other cast member. But also, she knows what I'm capable of, and I really love that.
A
I would say the same. The same. And when she was here, we talked about how she has the ability to hold all of it at the same time. And most of these directing gigs she's doing, she's also acting. And I watch her juggle it. And it's not even a juggle. Like, it's just in balance and in perfect place. And then she steps back and she becomes an actress, and she comes and gives you a note, and because she knows you, there is a trust. And she's even said to me, oh, just do what you do. And you got this. We got this. Yeah. And so I love that. And then for you. I was so happy to see you in American Fiction. I really felt that the audience needed to see you, more of you, see you again. And more important than this. I hope this doesn't sound shallow. I enjoyed watching you navigate the road to the awards.
B
Oh.
A
You showed up on those red carpets dazzling and different. Your hair was different every time. You wore great dresses. You didn't look like anyone else. And it was like, oh, this is the Erica we've been wanting to see. We've been needing to see. You did a great performance in the movie. I'm gonna tell you my favorite scene in a moment, but I really enjoyed watching you get your flowers on the COVID of essence. And we know what a juggernaut that is. That's a machine. I found out it's a machine. And you beautifully navigated it.
B
Thank you.
A
And looked amazing.
B
It was an amazing experience.
A
I would say my favorite scene, though.
B
Okay.
A
Is after you and Jeffrey Wright have obviously had a night of pleasure. And you're coming out of, I suppose, the bathroom, and you're just moisturizing your hands, and it's a very subtle thing. And there's a Smile on your face of satisfaction. But you're moisturizing. Moisturizing your head. And it's just. Mm. What is that? What is that? Is that a choice?
B
Believe it or not, that was written in the script.
A
It was.
B
It was. And when I was doing it, I didn't think about whether it was good or bad. I look back now and say, it's so weird. That cord to show that they had been intimate. Says she's coming out with putting lotion on her hands.
A
Well, she's had a fresh shower.
B
Yes, I've had it.
A
Yeah, because you had a night of pleasure and bodily fluids. Had.
B
Please kill, please.
A
And so you're caring. You're saying you're caring for yourself. It's just. And you're fully dressed, fully clothed, but there's a. You're satisfied and you're moisturized. It's one of my favorite things. Cause it's subtle, but it's there. Just.
B
Well, thank you. I'm glad I could moisturize correctly for you.
A
What the. Thank you, Vin. That was a great question. We got a chance to love on our friends and family. And speaking of friends and family, that's what you are to us. You're our true blue friends and family. Thank you so much for watching our show. You could tell we're having a lot of fun doing this. We really are. So tell your friends.
B
Yes. And don't forget. Don't forget to send your questions in or comments to reliving single podcastartbeat.com and.
A
Of course, like and subscribe if you haven't already. And tell a friend, like, at the end of this show, leave this show and go to send a link to this to a friend and go watch this. I enjoyed Kim and Erica.
B
Exactly. Because that's our show.
A
That's our show.
B
That's it.
A
Follow us on all the socials at reliving single podcast at YouTube, Spotify, Apple, anywhere you get your podcasts. We'd love to see your comments, read your comments and love on you like you're loving on us right now. Thank you.
B
And please watch the whole episode. The whole episode. Let us build this reliving single renaissance and you can host a party or go on and dust off that living single T shirt or whatever. That moment, that favorite moment. Meme. Tag us us. Yes. Yeah, Tell us.
A
Thank you.
B
Yes.
A
See you soon.
B
Bye.
A
Next week, that is.
B
Yes.
A
Yeah.
B
Or perhaps on the apps.
A
I'm not going on those apps. Swiping left, left, left, left, left. My back is aching. My belt too tight. My booty shake from left to right.
B
What Reliving Single is hosted by me, Eric Alexander and me. Kim Kohl's Reliving Single is a production of Heartbeat and associate with Color Farm.
A
Media executive produced by Kevin Hart, Jeff Clanagan, 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.
B
It's been so long. How have you been? Hello?
A
I'm doing well, Dave.
B
Why are you talking that way?
A
Please say one for a compliment or two for a question. Yeah, this is weird. I think I'm gonna go. Talking with an automated phone tree can feel pretty ridiculous.
B
That's why when you call Pacific Source Health Plans, you'll get a real person to answer all your important questions. Pacific Source Health Plans. This is a real person.
A
How can I get help?
B
You human service, not automated phone trees. Find a plan at pacificsourcemembersfirst.
A
Com.
ReLiving Single Podcast Summary: "Kyle Plays the Fool"
Episode Title: Kyle Plays the Fool
Release Date: August 13, 2025
Hosts: Erika Alexander and Kim Coles
In the "Kyle Plays the Fool" episode of ReLiving Single, hosts Erika Alexander and Kim Coles delve deep into themes of rejection, love, and friendship as portrayed in the iconic sitcom Living Single. Through engaging conversation and insightful analysis, Erika and Kim explore how the show's narratives resonate with real-life experiences, particularly focusing on the character dynamics surrounding Kyle Bach.
[01:20] Erika initiates the discussion by addressing the universal experience of rejection both in the acting industry and in personal relationships. She remarks, “As actors, we get rejected all the time. It is part of the game” ([01:25]), highlighting the high rejection rates faced by performers. Kim concurs, emphasizing the inevitability of rejection in love: “Have I ever been in a situation where I felt rejected or felt abandoned? Yes” ([02:02]).
This segment underscores the relatability of Living Single's themes, connecting the audience's personal struggles with the characters' on-screen experiences.
The core of the episode centers around Season 1, Episode 13: "Love Takes a Holiday". Erika and Kim dissect Kyle Bach's romantic misadventures with Stacey Evans, portrayed by Nia Long.
[03:48] Erika introduces the plot: “Kyle Bach falls head over wingtips for Stacy Evans, but her feelings aren’t exactly mutual” ([03:48]). Kim elaborates on Stacey’s character, noting her stature as a successful photographer and the complexities of her relationship with Kyle.
Nia Long's portrayal of Stacey is lauded for bringing depth and relatability, making her a standout character who bridges professional success with personal vulnerability.
Kyle Bach:
Erika and Kim discuss Kyle's transformation from a confident playboy to a man vulnerable in love. [16:30] Erika states, “He is now in a position to be as vulnerable as the women he usually dates,” highlighting Kyle's character development.
Stacey Evans:
Stacey’s role as an "ingenue" is explored, with Kim appreciating her relatability: “Nia Long, as cute as she is, she’s the girl next door. She’s relatable” ([07:53]). They contrast Stacey with historical ingenues, noting her attainability and modern appeal.
Maxine Reed:
Kim touches upon her favorite line delivered by Maxine and how it adds humor to the show: “I cannot hear it in my head and not crack up” ([03:36]). Maxine's role as Kyle's nemesis brings a balanced dynamic of rivalry and camaraderie.
Khadijah James:
Erika praises Khadijah's integrity in protecting her friend Kyle by confronting Stacey directly about his intentions: “It's integrity in Khadijah to tell her staff member” ([18:00]). This action underscores the strength of female friendships portrayed in the series.
The hosts emphasize the importance of friendship in navigating rejection. [12:11] Erika advises, “It’s important to talk it out and to have a sounding board,” reflecting the supportive relationships among the characters. Kim shares her personal approach to dealing with breakups, highlighting the need for introspection and self-reliance: “I'm a solo. I lick my own wounds” ([12:27]).
This discussion mirrors the show’s depiction of strong female bonds, where friends offer both humor and heartfelt support during tough times.
Erika and Kim draw parallels between their own lives and the scenes from Living Single. For instance, Erika recounts a personal experience of breaking up while at work, likening it to Stacey’s breakup scenario: “I almost fainted on the subway once after I broke up with someone” ([06:32]). These anecdotes enrich the conversation, making the analysis both personal and relatable.
Adding a playful twist, the hosts engage in a mock Tinder swiping game featuring 90s male celebrities. This segment serves as a lighthearted interlude, allowing Erika and Kim to showcase their personalities and humor while nostalgically referencing pop culture figures.
Notable Moments:
In the "True Blue" segment, Erika and Kim respond to listener questions, sharing their favorite performances from the Living Single cast.
Key Highlights:
Erika also praises her co-host, emphasizing her multifaceted talents: “You can do so many things. That's the weird part” ([43:10]).
Erika and Kim wrap up the episode by reflecting on how Living Single continues to influence modern portrayals of Black friendship, love, and professional life. They encourage listeners to engage with the podcast, share their favorite moments, and contribute to the ongoing ReLiving Single renaissance.
[47:14] Kim emphasizes community building: “Tell your friends. Like, at the end of this show, leave this show and go to send a link to this to a friend and go watch this.”
Overall, "Kyle Plays the Fool" offers a blend of heartfelt analysis, personal anecdotes, and entertaining segments, celebrating the enduring legacy of Living Single while forging a connection with both longtime fans and new audiences.
These quotes encapsulate the episode’s focus on vulnerability, relatability, and the strength derived from supportive friendships.
Follow "ReLiving Single" Podcast
Stay connected with Erika Alexander and Kim Coles as they continue to explore and celebrate the beloved sitcom Living Single. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and join the conversation to keep the legacy alive.