Asante (1:30)

My name is Asante.

Dustin (1:32)

This is the Friend Zone.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (1:46)

Welcome to the binge where we are in our holiday bag. We're recapping tell black tv black movies that are highlighting the holidays. Right now we're doing Living Single on Hulu, which y' all know is a forever classic. Season 1, episode 15 titled Living Kringle. I really love this episode. It was so cute. Basically the premise is that everyone is being a scrooge, whether it's because of work or they just don't really care for Christmas. I think most of us can relate. But Sinclair, oh sweet Sinclair. She's the only one that was still in the holiday spirit and she was trying to hold onto it, but it was just, it made it hard because no one would do it with her. So let's jump into the cute parts of the episode. I really thought it was funny. Just even in the opening scene where Regine is trying to book a first class flight to Aruba instead of spending time with her family. That's very me So I felt like relatable content. Literally. I would book a flight before I.

Dustin (2:54)

Go home because, what the fuck?

Asante (2:56)

That was legit. What I thought. I was like, she booking this trip? She sound like me right about now. I was like, well, why didn't she book it sooner? I was like, well, damn, why didn't I book mine soon?

Francesca (Hey Friend) (3:04)

And that part was relatable because I told y' all just a couple days ago that I waited till the last minute trying to look at New Year's stuff, literally, what, three weeks before, and the prices are not worth it. But Maxine also supposed to hang out with a date, but she chose to work a case instead. That's also very relatable because most of us are working through the holidays. I mean, we still do that. We did that this Thanksgiving. We were recording up until the day before. Still had episodes going up. Like, the bills don't stop, so the money still needs to be made. A lot of us run on that program. Overton comes in, and he's stressed because he's a maintenance man and the maintenance holiday calls coming in. He says, a lot of people getting fruitcakes stuck in the toilet. I was like, what?

Asante (3:56)

Which was a great setup.

Dustin (3:58)

I don't like fruitcake. Look. For a couple reasons, but I don't like. I don't like fruitcake, though. It just seems nasty. I've never tried it. I don't even want none.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (4:07)

I've had a piece, and it just. I don't get the vision.

Asante (4:10)

I've never had fruitcake. I'm one. Unlike the two of you.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (4:14)

It don't even look good.

Asante (4:15)

Unlike the two of you. I actually don't mind a warm fruit. Okay, but fruitcake. I've never actually endeavored to try a fruitcake. I've never been like, I want fruitcake. Like, no.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (4:25)

Nothing about it. What did y' all think, though, when Overton got another beep and he goes, not another fruitcake. And then Kyle walks in.

Kyle (Living Single Character) (4:36)

Christmas has got to be the handyman's busiest time of the year. I had to leave my beeper upstairs. When will people learn you just can't flush a fruitcake? Not another fruitcake.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (4:58)

The worst kind. It's Kyle that.

Dustin (5:01)

Listen, shout out to the writers.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (5:04)

Worst kind.

Dustin (5:07)

Shout out to the writers. Kyle. And Max's back and forth has never.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (5:10)

There's never been so good.

Dustin (5:13)

It's only people I can think of that that can hang with. Well, it's a couple people I can think of.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (5:18)

Martin and Pam.

Dustin (5:20)

Martin and Pam. Martin and Pam. Fred Sanford. And Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son. They hated each other. It's a few different duos, but they're definitely two of the best. They're two of the best.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (5:34)

Oh, they're so. Because they're just both equally funny, so it just makes it. I love that Kyle was like the hotel on this episode, talking about Kwanzaa gifts and they all wrapped in, like, mud cloth prints. And him talking how they had to be homemade and giving them out. I loved Sinclair's gift for him. No, not Sinclair was. Oh, my God. What is her name? It's. It's escape. Regine. Regine saying she's gonna go second. That reminded me of you, Dustin. When she was like, you know, I like Kwanzaa, too, because it's after Christmas, so I can adjust my gifts accordingly.

Asante (6:16)

She said 50 cents on a dollar.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (6:18)

Okay, 50 cents on the dollar. That was super cute. Sinclair gives the girls holiday cards with the music. That was so nostalgic, too. Cause I remember those cards.

Kim Coles (as Shaniqua) (6:29)

Oh, Sinclair, this is from you.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (6:35)

It plays Joy to the world.

Dustin (6:37)

Yeah.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (6:51)

Thank you.

Asante (6:52)

I ain't seen one of them cars in years. I'm glad I heard.

Dustin (6:57)

I was like.

Asante (6:58)

But I'm. I'm thankful that I ain't seen them in years because that was a real moment where that was broke. Because the car stop playing.

Dustin (7:04)

She can't.

Asante (7:05)

Because, you know, because people be opening and closing them in the store all the time. So, of course, whatever card you choose is going to be some bullshit. So whenever I.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (7:11)

Sometimes it sounds distorted, like the battery.

Asante (7:14)

Be dying on it or the wires weird. It's like, is this. Is this car possessed? What the hell you sending me a spirit for out of here?

Francesca (Hey Friend) (7:21)

I thought it was cute when she. Sinclair, gave her Sycadi. And then Regine just started picking on it and say you'll thank me.

Dustin (7:28)

Thank me later.

Asante (7:29)

She beat the out that card.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (7:31)

That was just cute. Well, what moment stood out to y' all in the episode that y' all just loved? First of all, before. First of all.

Dustin (7:40)

Know it like the back of my.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (7:41)

Head, I figured the.

Dustin (7:43)

The. So two moments. Number one, the sing off, the sing along or whatever, when they kept having to leave and they started the way that they were singing that song when Max was stomping her foot. When they started, like, 1, 2, 3.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (7:58)

Oh, I know. Let's have a sing along. I could get with that. Sleigh bells ring Are you listening?

Asante (8:08)

In the lane Snow is glistening Come on, come on.

Kyle (Living Single Character) (8:19)

Oh, man.

Dustin (8:21)

Say that when Khad started singing it the way she sang it Khada's plaid Carol Kanai vest with those multicolors on it and her crimps. I remember this like the back of my hand. All of that when some of the best comedy on this episode was when Regine became overwhelmed with emotion because Sinclair had given her that convertible Corvette mini car. And when she got to the house and they are all realized that Sinclair had. Yes.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (8:51)

She got the Corvette right there to open the door. How funny that we all felt that part. I died.

Dustin (9:02)

Sinclair's bar friends. Okay, now y' all see what I mean when I said drunk bar lies. Those were the people right there that tell drunk bar lies. And her saying that those are her new friends and she didn't need none of them. All of that was just. It was perfect.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (9:18)

Or when she called her Ebenezer. Khadijah.

Asante (9:22)

Ebenezer. I love when Khadijah went back to work. But before she got there, when they was all dancing in the office.

Dustin (9:30)

Oh, yeah.

Asante (9:31)

And they put. And then she died them out. She was like, oh, and y' all can. What did she say?

Francesca (Hey Friend) (9:37)

Damn cousin of mine in a holiday cheer. I see you're moved, Malcolm.

Dustin (9:45)

I'm going home.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (9:45)

You on your own, babes. And you could take that eggnog out. The file drawn now. The eggnog or something.

Dustin (9:55)

Yeah, something about the cabinet. But that shit was funny.

Asante (9:57)

That part was so fucking funny.

Dustin (9:59)

The way they was partying before she was.

Asante (10:01)

Oh, come on. You don't trust me? No, I don't.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (10:05)

No. But back at the bar, too, when Sinclair was introducing them to her new friends. And then who was it? Was it Regina said they a raggedy bunch. Ain't they Raggedy bunch? Because they did close some sh. Shots of each person. And the scene when they were. The men were leaning on their shoulders. Yes. Oh, that was so funny on Regine. And Max. And Max made that sour. Like if she ate some sour face. Her faces are so good.

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Dustin (10:32)

When she got the call, they wanted her to come work at the boutique. And she's like, I am not coming in. She's like, oh, 15.

Asante (10:42)

Right back.

Dustin (10:44)

Sinclair. That. That was.

Asante (10:46)

So when it was at the boutique. Oh, ma', am, this dress is a little too revealing.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (10:51)

And they shop.

Asante (10:52)

She's like, this one isn't. It's not revealing enough. Whatever. She was like.

Dustin (10:55)

I remember she was singing 15.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (11:04)

Oh, I love the scene with. Where Max was with Michael. And then 20.

Asante (11:12)

20 minutes.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (11:13)

And then he was like, I could do it in 10. She said, for future records.

Dustin (11:17)

That's not a good thing.

Asante (11:20)

That moment I remember.

Dustin (11:21)

Who played Michael?

Asante (11:22)

No. Who played Michael?

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Francesca (Hey Friend) (11:24)

Who's he? Was he someone?

Dustin (11:25)

Let me.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (11:26)

Let me that we should know. I don't. I didn't write Squarespace is the all.

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Francesca (Hey Friend) (13:10)

I just think of back in the day, the little teeny coding I did.

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Dustin (13:51)

In shady times, let there be drag.

RuPaul's Drag Race Announcer (13:56)

RuPaul's Drag Race is back on MTV. 14 new queens shine brighter than ever.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (14:00)

This is OG Drag Race.

Dustin (14:02)

See what everybody is made of.

RuPaul's Drag Race Announcer (14:04)

Who will be crowned America's brightest drag superstar?

Dustin (14:07)

Is this gonna knock me out of this competition?

Asante (14:09)

This is my moment to shine.

RuPaul's Drag Race Announcer (14:11)

And extra special guest judge Cardi B is bringing the drama that was so fun. Drew Paul's Drag Race. New season premieres Friday, January 2nd at 8, 7 Central. Watch on MTV.

Dustin (14:21)

The McDonald's Snack Wrap is back.

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Francesca (Hey Friend) (14:39)

Well, also, when Sinclair left the note saying, like, don't come and find me, but then she drew a map and everybody said, that's so hard. She's so.

Asante (14:52)

What did she say when she first sat down at the bar?

Francesca (Hey Friend) (14:54)

Oh, making a double.

Dustin (14:56)

Yeah.

Asante (14:57)

And she's like, keep them coming, keep them coming.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (15:00)

She said, that's the extent of my bar talk.

Asante (15:03)

He was like, okay, One ginger ale coming up, man.

Dustin (15:07)

Kim Coles. Kim Coles is underrated. For real.

Asante (15:11)

Yeah.

Dustin (15:12)

I will never forget, she used to do the stand up rounds back in the day. So I remember her from, like, Comic Viewer. I think it was like improv. One of them comedian, one of them stand up comedy shows they used to come on on the weekends. And she had a whole routine about black being a black cheerleader where she was saying the difference in, like, the chants. And I remember she was like, my name's Shaniqua. I got a baby. Like that. That was the, that was the chant.

Kim Coles (as Shaniqua) (15:39)

However, when black girls kiss, a little bit different, right? Y' all know about this? First of all, you know, we may or may not cheer for the team who's playing. I don't care. You ready for Kwanza? You ready, Taniqua? Come on, let's go. Here we go. Let's do the cheese.

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Kim Coles (as Shaniqua) (16:04)

My name's Shaniqua. I'm from the Bronze. I think I'm pregnant. I'll rock you.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (16:13)

That's what I'm saying too, about the cast. Everyone pulling their weight. You know, like when everyone is a heavy hitter, it just makes every scene so perfect.

Dustin (16:22)

And this was a cast where everybody was completely committed. Everybody's character was distinct and, and definitive and different. You knew Maxine, right? A spitfire ass lawyer. You knew her money was good and she wasn't having it. She would be there for them if they needed her, but she didn't give a damn. She mooched, but she didn't need to move. You knew Regime was bougie and outside and connected socially. You knew Sinclair was a nerd and a homebody and, you know, and sheltered and a country girl. You knew Overton was the male version of her. You knew Kyle was bougie and a playboy. How you doing? You knew that Khadijah, you know what I'm saying, was a tomboy. Girl that still got the niggas. And everybody just was so dedicated to the bitch. And I think that's what really propelled the show along. You know what I'm saying? That engine of everybody really being like, okay, I'm gonna do this, and I'm gonna give, like, 125% to the attention of the.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (17:20)

To the role. And also the way y' all have to interpret the character. Right. Like, the script can give you, but so much to go on, and then you have to create this, define it. Yes. And that, to me, is the coolest part of watching the person that each of these characters creates. A lot of that wasn't on paper. Like, they have to. They had to craft it, and that's.

Dustin (17:43)

Cool to watch, especially Sinclair and especially Max. To me, those two characters, Sinclair and Maxine, they were so, like, voices, the tones, the. Yeah, they do Max's braids. I saw she. Erica Alexander has done. She's. First of all, she has a whole initiative called the Maxine Shaw. It's like a. A program where they send black Lloyd. Black girl lawyers. Like, it's a pipeline program. It's a whole thing that she has dedicated to the Maxine Shaw character. And she does a lot of panels and, like, interviews and talking about the intention of the character and just explaining it from a technical perspective when it comes to character development and acting. And it's really fascinating when you hear her break it down and she has taken, like, the impact of that role. It kind of reminds me. I ain't trying to be funny, but it reminds me of how, like, Bernadette stands and Essence, you know, how she has taken that character Thelma and, like, giving it leg, branded it, you know what I'm saying? And made it, like a thing. Erica Alexander has done it as well. Now Erica's still working. You know, she had got Oscar buzz for her turn in American Fiction. She said she's got some other stu coming out. She's still outside working a lot more now. She was in the Hulu Show. I mean, the. The Hulu show, the Wu Tang Show.

Asante (19:06)

She was in there.

Dustin (19:07)

She's been in a bunch of now, but she talks a lot about how important it was to her to define the role of Maxine. And those braids were a big part of that. She came to the audition with those and made them the signature hairstyle for the character. Yes, that was her. That was all her. So, like, it was.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (19:26)

It's so perfect. Like, perfect.

Dustin (19:29)

Iconic.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (19:31)

Iconic.

Asante (19:32)

Hell, yeah.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (19:32)

So good. I love the show. I told y' all there was a summer where I wasn't feeling too good mentally. And I was like, I' ma just watch all my old shows and I just binged living single. And it's cool to see these shows as an adult, you know, because it kind of hits differently.

Dustin (19:47)

But especially living in New York as an adult, right? And having like, I understand those characters so much more now. Like, yeah, so much. Even the, the makeup, the way the buildings, the way the sets look, the buildings right here. As a kid, that was different for me because I grew up in the Midwest where we had freestanding single family homes, you know what I'm saying, With yards. And so the apartment building, apartment living, all that was exciting for us to watch. Now that I live here, depending on.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (20:16)

Each other, like, yeah, your friend group more than your family have to that.

Dustin (20:20)

Brooklyn said that look just like them brownstones over on Jefferson. And you know, myrt all that shit all over in there. So I just. I have a lot of love for living single. A lot of love for it. I always will. And I have so many favorite episodes and this is definitely one of them.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (20:39)

Yeah, I was happy. Any thoughts Asante? Cause really, I feel like we hit all the funny, all the funny one liners and scenes. I mean, basically everyone feels guilty, right? Because Sinclair ends up leaving really thoughtful gifts for everybody. Things that she had heard them say they liked or needed or things that meant something, which meant that she like really listened to them and didn't just buy them something, but actually like gave them something that mattered. And it made them feel super guilty because they all kind of went separate ways. Regime went to work. Max went to work, but also went to work with Michael. Khadijah went to the magazines to see what was going on. Kyle, he does finance. So he said, you know, the stocks are going to open up in Asia because of the time zone. And then Overton had all those maintenance calls. So everyone just kind of went their own way. And then they felt guilty when they saw all the sweet gifts. She left and when they came back, she wasn't there. She left a note saying, I'm gonna go find the meaning of Christmas.

Dustin (21:39)

Do not go with me though, Overton. Remember Overton was reading it and he was overcome with emotion. Cause he loved it. Where is she?

Kyle (Living Single Character) (21:46)

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 C. She go.

Dustin (22:08)

That was so funny, man. Like, so funny.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (22:11)

Oh, it was so good. They finally part. Yeah. She's with the friends, her new friends. And then she says that her one wish would be for everyone to just sing Winter Wonderland together. They're like. She's like, where? No, this is the funny part. She. She said, santa's not here. Oh, my God. He brought us together. This is a meaning. He just came to bring us together. And then he came in, said, it's true what they say about beer. You don't buy it. You're in it.

Dustin (22:38)

You're in it.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (22:41)

And then the final, final scene was Reggie, I mean, Sinclair and Overton watching the Elf. What is it? The Elf on a Shelf or something. The movie that he loved growing up. They're watching it on the TV and getting emotional. So.

Asante (22:56)

Yeah.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (22:57)

Such a cute episode. Asante. I don't know if you said there was something you wanted to share about it.

Asante (23:01)

No, it was a great episode. Great selection. I love Living Single as a whole series. It does hit a lot differently as you get older. It's like listening to music, and when a song keeps, like, changing and getting better, you start hearing different elements of it.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (23:13)

Right.

Asante (23:13)

Discovering different things about the show every time you watch it is fun.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (23:17)

Yeah.

Asante (23:17)

That's why I love this show. But this episode, I know it backwards and forwards, too. Like that song.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (23:21)

That's so cool.

Asante (23:23)

That meme first hit Twitter way back when. I remember being like, this is one of my favorite episode. So this has been in the catalog. I love this cast. I love watching all of them have their moments. Everybody in this episode had a great moment, and I feel like every episode, everybody always hits to some degree, sometimes some more than others. But as a total, like, series package, everyone always shows up and commits to the bit as even Chip Fields.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (23:49)

Oh, Chip Fields. Was Chip Fields in this episode?

Dustin (23:53)

No, but she's been on the series, and when she's on there, she commits.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (23:59)

It's such a good cast. And I really love how in the. You know how all these shows, all the black shows would have their, like, Christmas episode and the Thanksgiving episode.

Dustin (24:09)

Like, I love that.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (24:10)

You could just type that up. You could type that up. And it'll come up for, like, every series as just sort of like a classic part of the formula of how TV shows would run throughout the year. And I love that. I think that's.

Dustin (24:22)

We should do a month of the Hawaii episodes of sitcoms. Mama's Family.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (24:28)

Why was that such a thing?

Dustin (24:30)

Hawaii and Disney? Because some of the shows went to Disney. So, like, mama's actually really cute. My wife and kids finding, like, themes.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (24:38)

The Jeffersons TV shows followed and then seeing what all the episodes. I actually think that's a really good idea. We should totally do that.

Dustin (24:45)

And we're gonna do it. We're gonna do that right.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (24:48)

Well, that's it for us. We hope you have a wonderful holiday with your own friends or your family or if you're rolling solo, whatever your configuration is. We w the best. We'll miss you guys, but we shall be back mid January. We'll see you guys.

Dustin (25:03)

We ain't gonna leave you.

Asante (25:04)

Stay black and protect your magic. And happy holidays.

Francesca (Hey Friend) (25:07)

Happy holidays. We love you.

Dustin (25:15)

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