On this episode, we start by checking in on how we're holding up after a month of more breaking news than our newsfeeds (and our spirits) could handle. Then, we chat with Black sitcom legends Kim Fields and Tia Mowry! They discussed their celeb crushes from back in the day, how they've maintained their faith throughout their careers, and how they've seen their purpose evolve. We also get the tea on their latest projects for Netflix, Tia's "Family Reunion" and Kim's "The Upshaws."
Okay, Now Listen Season 2 Episode 7 with Tia Mowry and Kim Fields transcript
[Music In]
Scottie Beam: You're listening to Okay, Now Listen, a weekly show where we chat about what's on our minds, what we're bingeing and what's blown up our timelines. I'm Scottie Beam, a media personality, content creator, music enthusiast, and a wing connoisseur, if I do say so myself.
Sylvia Obell: And I'm Sylvia Obell. I'm a culture writer, host, producer and lover of Beyonce.
Scottie: Okay, Sylvia, it's good to see you. I missed you so much, by the way.
Sylvia: I missed you.
Scottie: Just that this month is finally wrapping up. And I've got to admit, Sylvia, it was a long and tiring ass month. I am exhausted if you can't tell by the voice and the tone of my voice, I am exhausted. I am ready to call this month off.
[Music Out]
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Call it.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Just completely just call it.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] It's like cut the -- cut the tape, deadass. What's that Blac Chyna -- [laughter] What's that Blac Chyna gif? Cut the tape, deadass. That's, that's --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Deadass
Sylvia: That's Scottie right now, and me honestly. It was like -- and unfortunately it was for some of the same old reasons that always make things feel long and tiring these days, like unrelenting violence against Black people in the middle of a panorama, in the middle of a recession, in the middle of everybody trying to get a vaccine or not. And all of these things, it's just too much.
Scottie: White supremacy got me exhausted. This shit is exhausting. Like, you know, the Derek Chauvin whatever, however they say, you say his last fucking name, verdict of him being guilty on all counts, you know. I guess people assume that I was supposed to celebrate or be happy or -.
Sylvia: Mhmm, mhmm.
Scottie: Whatever it was like, celebrate the small wins, whatever the fuck that means. I don't -- you know, George Floyd should be alive.
Sylvia: Right.
Scottie: You know, and so celebrating this is not okay with me. You know, I -- it's a shame that we have to thank the young lady who pulled out her phone and record it.
Sylvia: Right.
Scottie: You know, it's heartbreaking to know, like I said before in the podcast, which is unfortunate that we continue and have to say the same things over and over again. But you know, that we have to record our modern lynching in order for it to, you know, be at least looked at or have a possibility of justice.
Sylvia: Just for it to be examined, perhaps because --
Scottie: Yes, yeah. Just for people to consider that my death wasn't in vain. You know know what I'm saying? Like it's --
Sylvia: Yeah. Like that it happened the way they said it did. It's, it's crazy. And I feel you on that. Like, I don't -- celebration is not really the word. Like I think like -- I don't know, it's like, I feel like we're like, you know, like I'm like y'all, like we don't like enjoy -- we don't enjoy this shit. Like none of this is fun for us. Like it's really --
Scottie: Right.
Sylvia: It's really more so if anything, I think when I watched it, when I watched their verdict be read, obviously there was shock and then -- which is sad -- but also it more so felt like to me a release. Like I started hearing instantly.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Sylvia: But it wasn't like happy tears. And I think I tweeted that.
Scottie: [crosstalk] No.
Sylvia: I was like tears. Just tears. I can't even say they're happy ones. They're just tears because it's more, if anything, that's like a small affirmation that, like, we're not crazy. That, like, this is a thing that people should go to jail for. But it's also sad that it's so rare for us to experience that affirmation of our lives mattering in this very tiny itsy bitsy way where it's almost like, well if it really mattered in the first place, we wouldn't even be here. But at least our -- at least we can, our deaths can be vindicated in some way or like somebody has to pay for his mistakes. And you could see the shock in his eyes, too. Like that was the thing too. Derek's eyes were like, what? You know, like, oh my God. Like, I'm about to really go to jail for this? Because it's not that he's just a --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Sylvia: White man. He's a police officer. And that made it even rarer of a thing. But I --
Scottie: Which is probably why he was just so shocked. He was like --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Yeah. He was like, I'm a police officer.
Scottie: [crosstalk] I'm a police officer. Like, fuck, white, Black. I am blue. So.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I'm blue. And we do this all the time. So I got to go to jail?
Scottie: Right, so.
Sylvia: But like, it's like, it's like so I really, for me, it was more of just like a tiny moment of like, I feel like took a breath and was like, okay, see, exac -- like something -- like it was like something went the way it was supposed to. I shouldn't have to thank you for that. I shouldn't have to feel grateful for that. I shouldn't have to be like, you know, like I feel like some people were like, see Blacks? You got it. Stop saying that we don't whatever. And it's like, no. Like this is just what should happen.
Scottie: Right.
Sylvia: Like we all knew that this wasn't going to change everything. It was just a moment. It was just like, okay, in this instance, this went the way it was supposed to in the court system. But it's only a matter of time before we're dealing with this again. And literally hours later, what happened? Not even days later, hours later. So.
Scottie: The reason why I cried is because I found myself earlier that day, yelling at myself for having faith. I was like, stop having faith in this fucking country. You have to stop. You have to have you stop having hope. You gotta stop. So I was very upset at myself throughout the day and I tried to, like, literally do anything else to keep from thinking about it throughout the day because I was like, I'm not watching that. I'm not watching it. I'm not even looking at it. I'm not even going to you know, eventually it'll show up on Twitter and whatever. I'm not. But of course, I was at my mom's crib and celebrating my dog's 7th birthday. And it was on and -- shout out to Smokey. Yeah. And as soon as they read it, I was crying.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Scottie: I was so angry, I'm still so angry, I think I have just -- I have a very -- this is unforgivable to me.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Scottie: There's nothing that they can do, that anyone can do for me to be like, oh, we're working in the right direction. Not right now. I'm just I'm still at the age of anger, you know what I'm saying?
Sylvia: Yeah.
Scottie: So that's where, you know, finding faith and trying to embrace faith and figure out where it is.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Scottie: Like how to reach the faith and hold on to it. It's very hard for me, especially when it comes to having faith in this country, which I fucking don't. I don't.
Sylvia: Yeah, no. I mean, it's hard to have faith in this country because even like this that can choose, like what happens. Like a thought that haunted me for like the rest of that day was like, I wonder if Ma'khia Bryant saw the verdict and felt relief or excited for a moment. We'll never know.
Scottie: Yeah.
Sylvia: And it's like, that's the thing. It's like, it's literally that's the thing where it's like, even if I did for a moment because Ge -- you know, like I could be George Floyd in any moment still. So what is there to celebrate? And I, to your point about not having faith in the country or the system, which I don't either, it's like so I had -- for me, what I have to do to stay sane and, you know, just for self-care as a Black woman and we talked a lot about last week, a lot of women were saying, like, be gentle with ourselves, like because immediately, whether it's Ma'khia Bryant or Breonna Taylor, we know that it's not going to be the same for us. You know what I mean, even in that sense. So it's kind of a thing where it's like, how do we take care of each other? I really thought about -- like for me, it kind of goes back to even what Dr. Yaba Blay said to us at the end of last week's episode, which was instead of looking at words and putting my energy at the people who are hurting us, for me, how I do it is I look inward and I try to put my faith in us, Black people, Black women, and I kind of try to feed into that. And like, that's where I try to get my source of power from in times like this, where it's like I know if nothing else, at least I have -- my sisters have me. And I think I spend a lot of time trying to you know, I was very -- I felt especially grateful for being able to go offline and it's funny to say escape into your real life. But just live in my circle of my life, because that's where people take care of me. That's where I'm loved. That's where I, you know, feel protected in some sort of way. So for me, it's really about my friends, my girlfriends, my tribe, my -- you know, my people. Like how do they -- like, you know, laughing with them, having moments with them, loving on them, them loving on me. That's all I have. That's all a lot of us feel like we have.
Scottie: But then like that's where-- that's all I have and how do I go into protecting them? Right. So when I think of Ma'khia Bryant and Black women, Black girls, I love that. Yes, I turn to them. But then, how do I turn to you and figure out how to protect you from this? You know. How -- and it's -- that's something we can't answer right now.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Scottie: I understand, I get that. But I think I'm riddled with --
Sylvia: That.
Scottie: That every time. You know, I enjoy you, I love you. You know, I love that the world -- you know, people like me, see you. I love all of that. How do I keep you here?
Sylvia: Yeah.
Scottie: You know? And so that breaks my heart. That is what you know -- lives, these are lives. Like, and our -- and I get emotional every time because these are people's lives. This is somebo -- like, this is somebody. This is not -- doesn't have to be somebody's anybody. This was somebody.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Scottie: You know, and so when I think about keeping the faith and turning to them and talking to them, how do I keep you here longer without thinking about somebody on this earth trying to take you from me, trying to take you from the world. How useful you are to this world. So, yeah, I do love the faith. I'm -- I love the faith, I love the faith that we have in each other. But I also want to figure out how do we keep this faith and how I'll be able to have this faith to protect you. How do I get to protect you better? But I do, I embrace and I accept everything that you say, Sylvia. I just --
Sylvia: Well, no, I feel the exact same way you do. Just because I'm saying it doesn't mean that I don't feel that --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah, yeah, no. I do. Yeah.
Sylvia: It's just more so like -- It's just more so about -- and I get it because it's hard. And I'm not saying like when I talk about like, how do we take care of ourselves and be gentle with ourselves in these moments? It's almost like, I have that worry that that you're talking about that can overtake me. And I -- sometimes I have to like, mentally try to compartmentalize it so that I can just operate and then come back to it, because if I just let it drown me like an ocean, then I can't help anybody, even in the small ways. And I, and I but it's -- that's what's so crippling about it. Like what you're talking about is just that we are kind of in this prison that we didn't create and it feels impossible. And for me -- and I know, you know, it's hard -- like in the moments where I truly get so overwhelmed about my lack of ability to do anything, those are the moments when I have to turn to God or else I will drown. I really think it's my relationship with God that really keeps me above water, at least like just my nose in those moments were like -- because that's the only powerful source I feel like that is powerful enough to maybe make me feel like I don't have to do everything. Like you said, we don't have the answers. So it's kind of just like, where -- I'm either frustrated,like and I am most of the time. Like just frustrated thinking about it. But like we talk about on this podcast a lot, that's why, you know, finding taking it easy and being gentle and finding joy is a revolutionary act, is activism. That's why, you know, enjoying pleasure is a part of liberation for us, because we as Black women have felt so long like we have to carry the load and do all the work and do all the things that we don't, that type of existence. It will take away all of those things only for nothing to ever change. And that's just such a hard reality. It's like I refuse to not enjoy the bits of life I can or you know, be easy when it can be easy because so much is hard.
Scottie: I get to that. No, it's hard. It's crazy. It's so unfortunate. But I know I also get a lot of strength and faith from our amazing conversations that we always have. But one in particular is this week's guest.
Sylvia: Same. Yes. This week we were very blessed to chat with the amazingly amazingly talented and hilarious Tia Mowry and Kim Fields, who are both just -- speaking of faith -- just such strong women of faith. They, you know, they talk -- we talk in our conversation a lot about longevity and managing to maintain just in the midst of all of this. Whether it's work and whatever, love, careers. And just being as Black women, how do we evolve and manage to do that, like in the crazy climate, world, country that we live in? It's hard, but they had -- Tia and Kim had so, so many gems to offer us this week. And we can't wait for you all to listen to our conversation. Check it out.
[Music In]
Sylvia: We are here with two of our favorite actresses, two women who we have grown up watching on television and are so excited, I can't even believe they're right in front of me via Zoom. I'll take it. [laughs] We are -- Okay, Now Listen listeners, welcome please to our show Tia Mowry and Kim Fields! Hi ladies!
[Music Out]
Scottie: Oh my gosh.
Kim Fields: Hi, yay.
Scottie: Oh my God --
Tia Mowry: Hi!
Scottie: The two women like who are partially responsible, I'm not going to put all the responsibility on y'all, but probably responsible for my childhood joy and my adult friendships and my devotedness for my people.
Tia: Aww.
Scottie: So I am so ex -- I'm so excited to talk to you guys. We're excited to talk to you guys. First of all, we got to check in with you all because in a Polly Pocket. Okay, so we got to figure out --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] [laughs] Polly Pocket.
Scottie: You know, how you guys are feeling. How's your heart at this moment?
Tia: Aww. Oh, go ahead, Kim.
Kim: Well, thank you. Great to be here. Feeling really amazing. Very, very blessed. Excited about coming out of last year. Amen and amen.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Amen. Amen. Amen.
Kim: And but being grateful, but being very grateful for the year that -- that it was. The eye opener, the -- the, you know, how many times can you pivot moment. [laughter]
Scottie: Child.
Sylvia: Yes.
Kim: And all of that. The, the leveling up of awareness in terms of health and wellness and everything in that space, the launching of new brands and leveling up new brands and things. So, you know, feeling very, very, very, very excited and quite adventurous actually. So.
Sylvia: Oooh. [laughter]
Kim: That's how my heart is. My heart is full of adventure. [laughs]
Scottie: I like that.
Tia: Ooh, you know, I'd have to I'd have to piggyback on really everything that you said, Kim. You know, at the beginning of this pandemic, there was a lot of anxiety. I was very overwhelmed. But I do foresee optimism. You know, I'm very optimistic. I like the word adventurous. And just so grateful just to be here talking with with you ladies. You know, I'm just so grateful to continuing to be in the space that I am in right now. Meaning, you know, like you were saying, Kim earlier learning. You know what, I've grown so much throughout this this pandemic.
Kim: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Tia: I've learned a lot about myself. I've learned even more about my husband. I mean, we've been together for 21 years but to be in households together as long as we have been, you know, you you learn a lot. I've learned even more about my children. And I feel so grateful to have even spent the time then I am still spending with my children now. But I like that. I like the word gratitude instead of just kind of focusing on the negative.
Kim: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Tia: I'm focusing on the positive and focusing on the positive change that has happened with all of this. And I also felt very grateful to be working through --
Kim: [laughs] Oh yes.
Tia: Through the pandemic. Like man, so grateful. So grateful.
Kim: Mhmm. Definitely.
Sylvia: It is a very big deal to have you two here together on this show for us. You're both legends in the Black sitcom genre, especially every show I was watching one of y'all was on it I felt like. [laughter] Tag teaming. And -- [laughs]
Scottie: [crosstalk] Always. Nonstop. Booked.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] So I wanted to chat a bit about the kind of longevity you guys have had, because as you guys know, for Black women in Hollywood, that is not often the case. And what brought you to it and what keeps you here? So what brought you to acting and what keeps you in it, even through all of the mess that, you know, comes along with fame?
Tia: I have to say, I just, you know, so blessed to be in the same room with Kim. You know, I grew up watching Kim and Kim was that representation for me. [laughter] So, you know, I feel very blessed to be even, you know, sitting here having the conversation with you, Kim. What what keeps me going? You know -- [laughter]
Kim: Thank you. I was, I was rendered speechless at the moment. [laughter] It wasn't like I was sitting here like, yes you should. No.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] That was fine with us. I was okay with the silence, honestly. [laughter] I was like -
Kim: [crosstalk] No! That's not who I am. I just was, I was like, girl.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Mhmm correct.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Kim said, mhmm, correct.
Kim: [crosstalk] Pursing. [laughter] And then I didn't want to interrupt. I got home training. Go.
Tia: No I think what keeps me going is you mentioned longevity and just being in this career for such a long time, or in this business, having this career. I -- I just love to inspire, you know what I mean? I just love to -- and I'm so grateful to be able to do what I love to do. But I had mentioned this before with -- cus Kim, we've had a conversation, too. I never -- about this -- I never really look at things as just about myself, you know what I mean? It's like a bigger picture for me. Representation is so important to me. Representation matters. And to be able to be doing what I'm doing right now and to still be doing it and telling wonderful, amazing stories, whether that's inspiring women, whether that's inspiring through representation, or whether that's inspiring through just making people laugh, it makes thi all feel purposeful, for me. And, you know, I'm just having fun while doing it. But again, I'm just very grateful for the opportunity.
Scottie: Kim?
Kim: [laughs] I should have gone first. How does one follow that up? [laughter] You know, again, Tia and I have very similar journeys, very similar upbringing for that matter. And so we have a lot of of of of similarities, you know. So I think in addition to but still separate from what what what she so eloquently said. And again, thank you so much. I, I -- it's very surreal to to hear that. So I don't know where to exactly put that except in my box of of gratitude.
Scottie: [crosstalk] I love it.
Kim: But the box of gratitude really does close with the lid of surreal. And and so what brought me to this was the craft. I didn't know it as a child to call it that. But, you know, seeing my mom, whose shoulders we both stand on.
Tia: Yes.
Kim: And seeing her perform on Broadway and on -- in theater with the tour, touring company of Hello Dolly! with Pearl Bailey. And so when I visit her on on Broadway or on tour and I would see, you know, the costumes and the wigs and the makeup and the sets and just everything that the people were making, it was like they were making their own kind of magic. And then when you sit in the audience and you watch what you saw behind the scenes come to life and kind of all come together. So that for me was a really big, oh, I really like that. And so to now go full to the other part of the question, what keeps me here and what keeps me coming back is I feel like there's so much I still have not yet crafted.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Mmm.
Tia: [crosstalk] Mmm.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Mmm.
Kim: I, I still love to craft. I am a craftsman. And so I love creating different characters, telling different stories, utilizing technology as it grows damn near every hour --
Tia: I know. [laughs]
Kim: To, to assist our industry, whether it's through social media and and or technology with CG. I mean, there's just so many different things to do now in our industry. And so I feel like that's really what keeps the fire in my belly is just feeling like there's still so many waters that are still uncharted for me.
Tia: Aww.
Scottie: Yeah. I'm so glad that you guys brought up purpose because I love talking about purpose. I feel like throughout our lives, you know, our purpose can change from ten years ago to now. It looks differently. You know, the purpose that you serve today looks completely different from the one that you had 20 years ago.
Kim: [crosstalk] True.
Scottie: So as you evolve, you know, you start to redefine what your purpose is. You know, how has the evolution of your purpose shaped you as the director and actor that you are today?
Tia: I think how my purpose has shaped me as the actress that I am today is, you know, like I was saying earlier, this isn't just about me, right. Yes, I love acting and being on stage and and performing, should I say. But I'm a mom now, you know.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Tia: And I have children and I have a daughter, you know, I have a son, which is amazing and great. But when I talk about my daughter, I say that my daughter, she is an extension of me. Right.
Kim: Mhmm.
Tia: So how I've just evolved and how my purpose is, is constantly evolving is I look at her, you know, and how am I going to inspire her? How am I going to be that example for her? How am I going to, you know, create content -- or not only just content, but navigate through my goals, my dreams, my aspirations? How is she going to -- you know, I'm going to be that model for her and how is she going to, you know, see me? So, you know, everything that I do, it's like I'm I'm --I have her in mind. And I have my children in mind as well when it comes to evolving, you know, with with my purpose.
Scottie: Right.
Kim: Mm hmm. Hmm. [laughs] My my evolution -- and I love how you put that, evolution of purpose. That's, that's -- I'm like, ooh, is that on a mug? Is that a book?
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Yeah! [laughs]
Scottie: [crosstalk] No. I came up with it myself.
Kim: [crosstalk] Where do I purchase that?
Tia: It's so true because I think, I think I should we have to be patient with learning and finding our purpose. You, you don't have -- have, you know, patience with yourself because it -- you have to go through life and journey.
Kim: Listen.
Tia: [crosstalk] Journey.
Kim: [crosstalk] Exactly. Yeah. Yes.
Scottie: Self compassion.
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes.
Scottie: Grace. It all --
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes.
Scottie: You have to have those things --
Kim: [crosstalk] Yeah. Yeah.
Scottie: In order for you to define what your purpose is. Kim, go ahead.
Kim: And it changes, though. But, you know, first you have to acknowledge that purpose does evolve.
Sylvia: Yes.
Kim: You know, people, people, I think you tend it's -- you -- it's like once you have that revelatory moment of, oh, I found my purpose. And then you latch on to that and then you don't realize there's evolution in that and you evolve, hopefully, as a human being.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] [laughs] Yeah.
Kim: And then as a woman. And then as, if you're a parent or a life partner, a daughter -- all those different things, a sister, friend, entrepreneur, a worker, whatever it may be. For me, my my evolution, I'm walking far more boldly than I ever have.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Oooh, yes! Yes. Oooh, yes.
Kim: Far more boldly than I ever have. In the faith community we call it holy boldness. But sometimes it ain't full of holiness. And I am woman enough -- [laughter] And I am a woman enough to claim that, to own that. And walk in that. And again, in evolving my awareness, my self-awareness has has evolved without self-contamination.
Sylvia: Ooh, yes.
Kim: Without self -- I still self-analyze but not quite as harshly. And that's, that's an evolution for me as well, you know. Getting some of the tools in my toolbox, sharpening some of the tools, getting rid of some tools. Like, you know [laughter] the wrench from '85?
Tia: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Gotta go!
Kim: [crosstalk] That's not working anymore.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] No.
Kim: You might have to get a new wrench boo boo.
Tia: [crosstalk] Yes.
Sylvia: Upgrade to a power tool. [laughter]
Tia: I love that Kim!
Sylvia: Right? [laughs]
Tia: That is so --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah. That's it.
Tia: That but that is so true that as we -- you know and it happens with -- it happens as we get older. You know what I mean. I feel like, you know, especially both of us, we are in this business at such a young age. It's it's about always pleasing everyone else, right --
Kim: [crosstalk] Mhmm. Oohwee! Oohwee!
Tia: And not necessarily believing yourself. You know? [laughter]
Sylvia: Listen. We are like -- is there a collection plate being passed around? [laughter]
Scottie: Hello!
Tia: [crosstalk] But again --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Me and my dollars are ready. [laughter]
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes.
Tia: But we were talking about that evolution. Like we had to go through, everyone in life has to go through those challenges, those tribulations to get to where we are now.
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes. Yes.
Tia: And appreciate where we are now.
Kim: And here's the thing, especially about that one up there? In the -- she's in my top right. The thing about like peop -- like like me and Tia, folks think we ain't been through nothing.
Tia: Yes, yes.
Kim: Oh, I think we ain't been through nothing because we insp --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Who's folks? Who do we gotta talk to? [laughter] Who's folks?
Kim: But that's why in my -- that's why with my autobiography, I started with an excerpt from the Langston Hughes poem "Mother to Son" which starts with, "well, some I'll tell you, life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
Tia: [crosstalk] Ain't been no crystal stair. [laughter]
Kim: Because we've been through some stuff!
Tia: [crosstalk] Yes.
Kim: Just cus we ain't messy and just because you ain't seen it --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Talk about it.
Kim: Don't mean it ain't existed.
Tia: Exactly.
Kim: We've been through some -- through some things.
Tia: Yes. Yeah. This business is not easy and it's not easy to grow up in.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Kim: Not at all. [laughter] And just at regular life on top of it.
Tia: Uh huh. Yes.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Child.
Tia: [crosstalk] And regularly life.
Kim: So you know. Yeah. And so and so, you know that -- what did they say? That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Tia: [crosstalk] Stronger. So true.
Kim: So there's some, there's some wisdom and truth to that as well. But again, that's all part of the evolution.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Tia: Yeah.
Sylvia: And I'm so glad you guys brought up that. The fact that people that may not know that you guys have -- what you guys have been through because they've seen you guys on television or even like that, there's challenges. Because I wanted --I know that --
Kim: But look at us! We don't look like we've been through anything. [laughter]
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I mean, thank God we don't look like what we've been through. That's one of my favorite phrases.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Hello!
Kim: [crosstalk] That's right! That's right!
Sylvia: Thank God I don't look like what I been through.
Kim: Baby, we are the poster children --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Thank god.
Kim: For we don't look like what we been through. [laughter]
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Been through. And I love that. I mean, cus listen. Black women are really -- you have a hard time not telling me we're not God's favorite. But what -- [laughter] But I want to get you guys specifically for that reason. So I'm so glad you brought it up. Is what a moment was in your career where you were in between jobs and unsure if you would get back to acting even. And how did you keep the faith and not give up? Because I feel like a lot of us are, especially after this last year in that bridge, right, of in a low point maybe, in between jobs or just not trying to give up on your passion, your struggle. And I know, you know, both of you guys had some gaps in between the shows you guys have been on. So I wanted to know if there was -- if either of you had a moment that you could speak to, that you remember how you got through it.
Tia: I'm sure you -- I'm sure, Kim, you got some moments and I got some moments. [laughter] I saw mine, the seven year gap. It was the seven year gap. It was after Sister, Sister. You know, Sister, Sister was this huge popular show. And then you just go from working, right, for six years in a row, and as a child. And then you just stop. You just stop working. And then nobody's offering you anything. Your auditions are very scarce or you know, very rare. And then the years just keep on going. Year one, okay, we haven't gotten anything. Year two, help. Nothing came through the pipeline.
Kim: [crosstalk] Mhmm.
Tia: Year three, like what is going on? It's just that emotional stress. And like I said, being young and going through that. I will credit my sanity to my parents and then my sister. I did have someone to go through that whole journey with someone else. You know, I would look over to the right and then she was crying, too, just like me. So I never felt alone in that --
Kim: [crosstalk] With my homegirls standing to my left and my right. [laughter]
Tia: Right? I did not -- I didn't feel, I didn't feel alone, though, in that, in that moment. But there was one moment, you guys, where, you know, things just weren't going my way and things weren't happening. And I remember balling up and crying in the back seat of my car because I had finished college and I was just not working. And I was like, what -- what is this? You know? And my husband, I give a lot of credit to my husband. He is so incredibly supportive. And I remember The Game. A script came out and audition came out. And I was so broken. I was like, I'm not going to get this. You know, nobody sees me. They just see me as a child actor. I get -- I can't -- yep, I can't do this. And he was like, Tia, yes, you can. He was like, Tia, this is so you. And I remember I was living in an apartment at the time. We would go to the roof, the rooftop, and he would work with me so much that I would cry because he was just like, you know, it was like a -- what is it? You know, the Jackson Five, Michael Jackson's father. [laughter] It was like he was just really like, come on, Tia!
Scottie: [crosstalk] Bootcamp. Right. Bootcamp.
Tia: [crosstalk] You got this. You can do this. You can do this. And I was like, wahhh. You know? And then he trained me and he prepared me for when I went in on that audition. And even even the creator Mara, she was like looking at me like, you know, what this show is about, right? And I was prepared. I was like, look, I am not a child. I'm an adult. I've gone through adult experiences and I can give a lot to this character. And I fought for it. When I say I fought for it, I didn't get it. Then they brought me back and I had to audition again and then I ended up booking it. So it was just like -- it was a lot. But that was my moment for me. And it was my parents, my family and my -- Corey was my boyfriend at the time. That was just, it's very important to be around people that --you have to believe in you but it's also very important to believe -- I mean, to be around people that even believe in you even more.
Sylvia: Oooh!
Tia: [crosstalk] That uplift you and that support you.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Even more. Absolutely.
Tia: And not, you know, bringing you down --
Kim: [crosstalk] That's that village work.
Tia: It is. And so that that was my moment in my story. Yep.
Kim: Mine was right at the end of Living Single. And, you know, you for me, I was in this place, the space where I was doing another series. And I didn't take for granted the gap that the Tia is talking about, you know, that kind of after college, Facts of Life had ended. But I was in college. I did some guest appearances. I was getting my degree in film and TV, as well as broadcast journalism. I'd launched a talk show while I was in college. So I still felt active and a part, you know, of that -- of of my world, of my passions. But when Living Single when, when it started shifting and, you know, as many know, I left the show a few episodes shy of the, of the end because that was my end for me with that. I felt like the show, for me, it still was a great show. But for me it just was very different. And, you know, yes, there are times where we do what we do for the paper. Don't get it twisted. Every artist still loves art but still loves paper. [laughter] So, you know, when -- but when you turn that corner and you're like, oh, it's even hard to go, oh, the check clears. That's when you know, oh, I need to make an adjustment for me. Still love everybody involved. Everybody is still doing the do. It was me. And so then with that I had a production company with a staff and I felt great about providing jobs for, you know, five to seven people. We had great projects, no deals. We -- I had a marriage that was ending and I couldn't understand what was happening. And I went through what I call the Dark Ages. I love that we all have a term for it.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Yes.
Kim: I had these blackout drapes. And I closed them up and I kind of, just kind of retreated. And my village, my family let me be. And one of my village members, my family said, we're not going to bother you, but we're not going to let you sit in here too long because stagnant water becomes a whole different entity, an element. So we're not gonna let you do that. We'll let you be still for a minute. And I told God, I'm so disappointed. And I ran down my resume. I'm Chip's daughter. I'm a tither. I do this. I help people. I give to the community. I do -- you know, and you just start running down all of this stuff. I'm a good wife. I'm a this. I'm a that. Whose life is this?
Sylvia: Mmmm.
Kim: I felt like I had planted tomato seeds and grew light poles. I mean, it just was so foreign to me. And I just said, game over, I'm done. And so I just stopped and I just, I shut down. And I saw an interview with Liza Minnelli, of all people. I was channel surfing, you know, one of those moments where you ain't showered in -- I mean, God probably can't even stand you with that. [laughter] And so --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Not the spirit. Not the holy spirit left the room.
Kim: [crosstalk] The spirit was just like --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Mh-mm. Girl we gonna come back when you --
Kim: [crosstalk] I'll see you on the other side of this. Right? [laughter] But I saw this interview with the great Liza Minnelli and she was talking about dealing with her demons and getting to the other side because she was about to do a new show. And they said, well, what is it that brought you out. And she said, I looked at my father's work. I thought she was going to say her mother's work. My mother was Judy Garland. Her father was Vincent Minnelli, great film maker, director, producer. She said, I looked at my father's work and I realized I come from that stock.
Sylvia: Ooooh.
Kim: Okay. So I went out to the backyard, looked at the mountains, looked at the sky, breathed air. And I said, I come from this stock.
Tia: [crosstalk] Stock.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Mhmm.
Kim: And that was the turning point. Now, don't get it twisted. I still have been through some things --
Tia: [crosstalk] Of course, of course.
Kim: I still get very disappointed.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Yeah. Yeah.
Kim: Just, you can see it coming. Evolution, you know. And and so there are times when you do go through it and sometimes your rock bottom is actually your trampoline.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Tia: Mhmm. That is so true. I love that!
Scottie: [crosstalk] Most times. Most times. Absolutely. Most times.
Tia: [crosstalk] Oooh! Sometimes your rock bottom is your trampoline.
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes.
Sylvia: That's when the -- like that's when that pressure turns you into the diamond.
Kim: Yes.
Sylvia: Yes. I love that.
Tia: Yeah, it's true. It is so true. You know how I -- what I'm seeing to0? It's about perspective.
Sylvia: It is.
Tia: You know what I mean? It's about perspective.
Sylvia: yeah.
Tia: Once you shifted your perspective --
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes.
Tia: Once I even shifted my perspective and that -- my aha moment came from my husband, you know what I mean.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Kim: [crosstalk] Mhmm, mhmm.
Tia: Like Tia, you got this. Like you can do this.
Scottie: I feel like perspective, you have to change the way you speak to yourself. You have to actually listen to how you talk to yourself. I love that.
Tia: [crosstalk] Can I tell you guys something? Yes, I did. And I encourage all of you guys to do this, too, if you haven't. It was told to me -- someone had told me to do it. And I was actually speaking at a college, this was years ago. And it was a woman that came up to me and she just told me, you know, just go ahead and do this and see how it makes you feel. And I did it. And now I've been encouraging everyone else to do the same thing. Look in the mirror at yourself. Just you and yourself --
Kim: [crosstalk] And smoke a blunt. [laughter]
Sylvia: [crosstalk] You know what? You know what Kim?
Tia: [crosstalk] You can do that too. You can do that too. [laughter]
Scottie: [crosstalk] Please. Please.
Tia: [crosstalk] But while you're doing that, but while you're doing that --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] On this here morning. [laughter]
Kim: [crosstalk] Sylvia must know!
Tia: [crosstalk] While you're doing that --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Smoke a blunt.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Why you're doing this.
Tia: Tell yourself --
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes.
Tia: I love you.
Kim: Mmm.
Tia: And it is so amazing. And I mean it. Look, look at yourself --
Kim: [crosstalk] Mhmm. And mean it.
Tia: In the eyes and say, I love you. And whoo! Just you talk about speaking to yourself.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Kim: Yes.
Tia: The emotions that flow when you tell yourself that because you're always conditioned or told it's, I love you to your mother, your significant other, your babies. l love you. But when do you ever say that to yourself?
Kim: [crosstalk] To yourself.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Never.
Kim: [crosstalk] And mean it, like you said.
Tia: You not waiting on somebody else. And not waiting on somebody else to tell, not waiting on somebody else to tell you that they love you --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] That's key. That's key. That's key.
Tia: But you looking at yourself and saying --
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes, ma’am.
Tia: I love you.
Sylvia: Something that's been very clear even in this interview to me and is -- and that has been the pattern of what I've admired both about you guys, as a fellow Jesus lover, is how you've remained open about your faith in this very secular Hollywood industry. And as somebody who is navigating the dichotomy of -- and I love it. Like, you know what I mean? Like we're talking about I-- Kim, I think you referenced it earlier. Like, you know, bold confidence in faith. But also like also like, listen, I have to have fun and you guys will take these roles. Like, you know, Tia, I feel like when, you know, you were kind of -- kind of inferring to when Mara was like, are you sure about this role as Melanie? And be like -.
Tia: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I'm grown now too!
Tia: [crosstalk] Yes, yes, yes.
Sylvia: But that also comes with people seeing us sometimes as a Christian, it's like, are you down for this role?
Tia: [crosstalk] Yes. Yeah.
Sylvia: Like, are you down for like this thing? And so I just want to -- but I think you guys have done such a good job of balancing that. You know, because for me, I like -- you know, sometimes you think you don't have to just come off as this like church girl, to love God and work. So I wanted to know how you guys balance that dichotomy -- or navigate that dichotomy.
Tia: Kim, we used to go to the same church. Remember we would seeing each other?
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes we did.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Oh hello, hi!
Tia: [crosstalk] We did!
Kim: [crosstalk] See each other in the hallways. Yes, yes, yes, yes. [laughter] You know, for me it's been, again looking through a different lenses at myself, seeing what works and being honest. Like, like for real, for real. Like Tia said. And mean it. Looking at myself going, mmm. I don't think that works for me right now in this moment of where I am. And so, I think about somebody who walks a wire rope, like a tight rope. The idea of balance is never like, you know, fifty percent on this side, fifty percent on this side. It is constant small tweaks and adjustments the whole way across. And so that's how I feel about my life, my faith, my womanhood, my sisterhood, my daughterhood, my parenthood. It's definitely consistently making little tweaks along the way, continue to redefine yourself. And so many times people think that means professionally. It's not just that, you know. I'm amazed at how many times -- and redefining and reinventing? Two different things.
Tia: [crosstalk] Two different things. Yes.
Kim: [crosstalk] Two different things.
Tia: [crosstalk] Thank you for that.
Kim: And so I am learning to redefine who I am in my faith, redefine who I am to certain experiences that I've known as a child or as, as a young adult. And, you know, those sorts of things where it's not a betrayal. It's just, it's a redefining moment.
Tia: Oh, I love that. That's me. Everything that you just said about redefining yourself, that's so me. And when I started to redefine myself, it was when I was allowing myself to be myself and also just to be human. You know what I mean?
Kim: Permission. You gave yourself permission.
Tia: I gave myself permission --
Kim: Mmm. Mmm.
Tia: To be my authentic self.
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes.
Tia: And to be myself and also not judge myself.
Scottie: First, I just need to say that you guys have always, for me, prioritized joy throughout my life. You know, I know that Kim, you've directed Kenan & Kel about 28 episodes of them things.
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes.
Scottie: And, you know, at that time I was a kid and I truly appreciate that. And Taina. Taina was the show for me.
Kim: [crosstalk] Yes.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Top theme song, honestly. [laughs]
Tia: [crosstalk] I remember Taina! I do remember that show.
Scottie: Yes. So, you know, you guys and we put, you know, joy first over here. We -- we only do joy. Me and Sylvia do joy all day.
Tia: [crosstalk] Shout out to Black joy.
Scottie: But something that has always felt so special about Black sitcoms was being able to witness and connect with a diverse range of Black families. I mean, at times they reminded me of my own and other times they were the family I wish I had. You know, shout out to the no-daddies out there. But I always felt grateful that these families existed on screen. And what ways have you guys noticed the growth and changes of the Black families we've seen on screen over time?
Tia: Oooh.
Kim: To me, I think that there's been an evolution of purpose in Black family content, in that the content providers have owned the idea and the fact that they are not trying to speak for every Black family.
Sylvia: Mmm.
Kim: I think Tyler and Spike really kind of helped bust the door open on that fact, which is, I have a specific audience and that's who I'm serving. If that ain't for you, then go over there cus there's something for you over there. [laughter] But so -- so I feel like, you know, all the content providers are in this space now of, you know, the Family Reunion family is the Family Reunion family. The Upshaws will be The Upshaws. Jamie and his daughter will be that family.
Tia: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Kim: The Winslows were different than the Evans.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yep. Absolutely.
Kim: You know. And so I feel like you you don't have to -- I feel like the content provider feels like I don't have to carry the burden of being the role model for Black families. It's okay to be irreverent. It's okay to be funny. Everything doesn't have to have a message. Everybody ain't got to be a role model. So to me, I feel like, again, evolution of purpose really spills into this part of the conversation for Black families in sitcoms, because our purpose is is more broad, I think. The purpose is either entertain or make people laugh. Even the idea of representation matters and being a representation, we are a representation. A, not The.
Sylvia: Yeah. Mhmm.
Tia: Mmm. You know what I've seen -- well, what I'm seeing and I would love to continue to see more. You know, I don't know how this was for you Kim. I'm curious to see this, but when I was doing television shows, you know, we didn't have a lot -- We didn't have our writers' staff be predominantly Black. We didn't have the people behind the scenes, you know, being Black and bringing authenticity to the characters and to the stories and to what's being said. And I'm I'm I'm loving that I'm seeing more of that with the Issa Rae's --
Kim: [crosstalk] Mhmm. Yeah.
Tia: You know what I mean? And even with, you know, Family Reunion, because with that comes the authenticity. It's not someone else telling our story on what they think our story is about. You know what I mean? And I know growing up in the business, it was not like that for me.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Tia: We had maybe sprinkles of, you know, Black writers or the showrunner would be Black or the executive producer would be Black. But I I love that I'm seeing more of that.
Sylvia: I also think a great thing about how it's evolving, the Black family sitcoms, is about even how -- it's reflecting how we're evolving as Black families, right. A lot of things that we're talking about now we weren't talking about in the 90s. And I think that --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Absolutely.
Tia: [crosstalk] Yes.
Sylvia: Tia, you've talked about how in the latest season of Family Reunion it will address mental health and emotional vulnerability, right. And like those type of things --
Tia: [crosstalk] Yes.
Sylvia: I love seeing us being able to have those kind of conversations on screen. And you have also, you've been such an advocate for getting more Black folks to seek therapy and having these conversations openly. How does having these families on screen experience these real struggles help influence -- how do you think it helps influence the Black families who are at home watching?
Tia: I think it -- I mean, you know, television is very powerful. I mean --
Scottie: [crosstalk] It is.
Tia: It's, you know -- what what you see it, you know, you learn from. It, it moves you to spark a conversation, especially if you see someone, representation that looks like you. If you see it, you be it. And you know, one thing that I love that we tackled this year on Family Reunion was you saw this, you know, my husband Moz, who's played by Anthony, he's this football player. He's really big, you know, and and, you know, aggressive. But he was afraid to cry and be emotionally --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Vulnerable.
Tia: Vulnerable in front of his children and in front of his wife. But I, you know, as the character and I encourage other people to do this in real life, I was supporting him and saying, look, it’s okay to show your vulnerability. It's okay to say, you know what, I don't have it all together. Or it’s okay to cry, you know. And I feel like just as a culture, you know, we've been taught to be strong. So I think it's very important. And I hope that it encourages, you know, people who are watching it to take a moment.
Kim: Yeah.
Tia: And know that it’s okay to be vulnerable or to be sad or to be anxious or to be depressed. We are not perfect and it is okay to not be perfect.
Sylvia: Exactly.
Scottie: Right. Kim, I wanted to talk about your new show, though, The Upshaws, coming to Netflix in May. You know, it's about a Black working class family that works hard to get to the next level. Talk to us a bit about what drew you to this show and the lessons you hope Black families get from watching this.
Kim: Well, first, I hope they get the lesson of laugh. Laugh, you know, laughter is, okay. We don't have to take ourselves so seriously all the time and, and laugh at life sometimes. Find some humor in this thing before you get an ulcer or a cancer or a tumor --
Tia: [crosstalk] It's true.
Kim: Or some of these other things that really can stress us because we haven't learned to release. We haven't learned to laugh. We haven't learned to say, okay, all right, it's not that serious. Or those sorts of things. So I hope that, you know, again with that, but again, not putting any responsibility on us because why all the Black shows got to be the one teaching folks stuff? [laughter]
Sylvia: Talk about it.
Kim: Just share the love for a minute, you know?
Scottie: [crosstalk] Exactly. God.
Tia: [crosstalk] That's true.
Kim: But what drew me to the show, because I actually, I wasn't checking to do another comedy. And I damn sure wasn't checking to live in a house full of people again, okay. [laughter] Can I get my own place to live?
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Free me! Free me.
Kim: [crosstalk] I've been a housemate -- Listen! Give us, us free. Give us, us house. [laughter] I have been a roommate, a housemate, a every kind of mate '79. What the hell? But I'm grateful for the gig, Amen --
Tia: [crosstalk] That's hilarious.
Kim: So, so that being said, I wasn't checking to do another comedy, you know. And Tia, you know, I'm sure you understand that sense of, hey, I want to do -- I'm an actor, so I have other things that I enjoy doing. I love doing drama. I love doing single camera. I don't want to do multicamera. I mean, there's all sorts of things. And I felt like, again, what is unchartered waters for me? You know, after 40 something years in the industry, Amen and woney will. But at the end of the day, I still feel like, okay, what's, what's going to make me stretch out? What's going to make me challenge me? What's going to make me get up to go, oh, gosh, I can't wait to go and try this and do the -- adventurer. Adventure spirit. And so I read the script and I realized, oh, okay. Well, Regina Upshaw is not a type of character I've played before. I damn sure didn't want to have no grown ass kids. I was like, wait. [laughter] Who was that? I went to the writers' room. Who, who is Jermelle Simon playing? Oh, that's your son. That shit you say? [laughter]
Sylvia: You a lie, you a lie.
Kim: [crosstalk] The devil is a lie.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] A whole lie. [laughter]
Kim: So so it was basically, you know, and then they were like, well no, you had him in high school. I was like, all right, freshman year. So, you know, like get your period, get a baby. But anyway, that's -- you know [laughter] but that's not the point. Uncharted waters. And that's what I felt like Regina was. And, you know, and honestly, I didn't know -- I really thought that it was Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes. And that, you know, the wife kind of thing was just going to come in every now and then, say some lines and be out. I was like, oh, I'm number two on the -- I'm -- oh, wait a minute. Is -- oh! So I, you know, I didn't realize a lot of stuff until I was in it because I was so -- in my actor process of navigating uncharted waters.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Scottie: That's beautiful. I, I wanted to, you know, talk about something a slightly different. But so I need to say, first of all, before we get off this zoom, that Strong Black Lead asked the question on Twitter, who was your first TV crush? Right. And let me tell you something Tia. Let me tell you, let me tell you something. [laughter] Seventeen Again, Grandpa Gene had a hold on me.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Oh. A hold!
Scottie: [crosstalk] Let me tell you something, sis, let me tell you something.
Tia: [crosstalk] Had a hold.
Scottie: Had a hold -- [laughter] had a hold on me. To this day, to this day! I see Mark Taylor --
Tia: [crosstalk] I know. I know.
Scottie: Okay? And tell him I say hey.
Tia: [crosstalk] He's very good. He -- [laughs]
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Grandpa Gene still look --- he still doing the do. [laughs]
Scottie: Hello.
Tia: [crosstalk] Gene is still a -- and you know? He was so, he was so amazing to work with.
Scottie: Mhmm.
Tia: He was -- my sister, she worked more with him.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah. Yeah.
Tia: Because you know, it was the grandpa situation.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah, yeah.
Tia: But I mean, I was around and --
Scottie: [crosstalk] That's all you needed to be was around.
Tia: [crosstalk] He was so professional.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Absolutely. [laughter] All you needed to be was around, sis.
Tia: He was so great. And it's crazy how he looked the same.
Sylvia: That Black, that melanin, it's really some --
Tia: [crosstalk] Like he look good now too. It just don't crack -- Black don't crack.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Black don't crack. And he Canadian.
Tia: But --
Scottie: No stress.
Tia: That -- and he's Canadian.
Sylvia: I'm crying.
Tia: He's Canadian. He he's -- that is hilarious. He's so cool. Very laid back.
Sylvia: Yeah. Go ahead Scottie.
Scottie: But I wanted to know what you guys if -- cus you guys were a TV child stars too. Did you guys even have crushes back then? Like --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] You know, your first TV crush.
Kim: Yes.
Sylvia: She said yes -- ooh! [laughs] It was a deep breath for me. [laughter] So we wanted to we wanted to definitely end with you guys playing the same game that the Strong Black Lead Twitter played, which was, who was your first TV crush?
Tia: Oh my gosh. Okay, I just realized. Kim, you wanna go first? I just realized mine, or remembered mine.
Scottie: Kim about to cut me up.
Kim: Go.
Tia: Okay, so, I mean, it's kind of sad because he's no longer with us. But -- and he actually was on the the the show. And I felt like he just did not like me at all because I was just, you know, Hiii, how are you? You know? [laughter] But Merlin Santana. Do you know Merlin Santana?
Sylvia: Ohhh!
Kim: [crosstalk] Of course yes.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] That's Romeo!
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yes. wow.
Tia: I had the biggest, I had the biggest crush on him. And he was --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Merlin was --
Kim: [crosstalk] Raise a glass.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Oooh.
Tia: He was just so handsome --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Fine, fine, fine.
Tia: And he was just such a good actor. And I remember when he came on the set, I was so nervous because I had already had a crush and I -- it was Brandon Adams and him. And they they they -- I didn't even know at that time that they were like best friends.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Oooh.
Tia: But those were the two boys that I like grew up. And I met Brandon, you know, because he was -- he came on the scene with Michael Jackson. You know, he was --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yes.
Tia: He was the movie People Under the Stairs and Moonwalker and all of that. And so, you know, I had a little crush on him. But then I really crushed hard on Merlin Santana because he was --
Scottie: [crosstalk] That's right.
Tia: He was talented and he was foine.
Scottie: He's fine. He's in -- he's in the trinity. Definitely the fine man trinity. Absolutely.
Sylvia: So, Kim, let's end with your answer. Let's end with your answer.
Kim: I think that by default, my first crush was Todd because we was just it.
Tia: [crosstalk] Todd!
Kim: We was the only ones.
Tia: Todd Bridges?
Kim: Bridges. Yes
Tia: Oh my god! No way!
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Ooooooh. Cute.
Kim: So I want to say by default, that was my first crush. When I got a touch older, maybe a year or two older, and I realized he really ain't checking for, for me. [laughter] I was, I was so much younger and all kind of stuff.
Tia: [crosstalk] I can't -- [laughs]
Kim: Who really counted for me -- and not that Todd didn't count, but again, we was it. We were the only two. You know?
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I get it, I get it.
Kim: See before, before Diff'rent Strokes and Facts of Life. Don't sleep on Baby, I'm Back. And he was on Fish.
Sylvia: Oooh, you took a back, back into the vault.
Kim: See that? I took it back back. I took it back back. But when I see my overbite from when we were in the Watts Christmas parade, I get it. I get it why he was like, now sis you gonna be in the friendzone for life.
Tia: [crosstalk] Wait a minute, Kim. I completely forgot about the overbite. I completely forgot about your overbite!
Kim: [crosstalk] Girl how did you -- my overbite was infamous. That shit right there. [laughter].
Tia: [crosstalk] But now that you mention it, I remember your overbite!
Sylvia: [crosstalk] It just came back to me --
Kim: [crosstalk] Oh God. That thing will go down in history.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] But I completely had not thought about it.
Kim: Yes. M-mm. But here's -- Okay, but here's my for real, for real crush. My first crush. And it's not really a TV crush because he was not on TV.
Tia: Oh.
Kim: So does that count? Or does it need to be somebody on TV?
Sylvia: No, it's fine. It's whatever you want it to be.
Kim: Lenny Kravitz.
Scottie: Let me tell you something.
Kim: So -- she had to get up! She had to get up! Eh! [laughs]
Tia: [crosstalk] Girl, I had a crush on Lenny Kravitz. Everybody had a crush on Lenny Kravitz.
Sylvia: Welcome. Welcome to the -- Welcome to the club.
Tia: [crosstalk] Hey, hey, hey --
Kim: [crosstalk] No, no, no -- but see everybody -- everybody --
Tia: [crosstalk] I was following Lenny Kravitz on Instagram and my husband got so upset --
Kim: [crosstalk] No, no.
Tia: [crosstalk] He said, oh you following Lenny Kravitz? [laughter] Oh, I'm following him.
Kim: [crosstalk] Listen. Don't -- but here -- here's the thing that's really gonna trip you out, that's really going to trip you out. And I'm about to drop a little exclusive right up in this mug.
Tia: Ok.
Kim: So Lenny Kravitz, don't think about his now.
Tia: Oh.
Kim: Okay. Because it's easy to crush on that motherfucker now. [laughter]
Tia: [crosstalk] Yes.
Kim: No, no, no, no, no, no. Go back to when his ass was Romeo Blue and he was 14 and just starting to make music.
Tia: [crosstalk] Ooooh. I -- yeah.
Kim: And he was 16 and just starting to make music. And he would visit his mama.
Tia: [crosstalk] Mama. Yes.
Kim: Rest in peace. Roxie Roker, who played my mom mama.
Tia: [crosstalk] Yes! Yes! Yes!
Kim: On the show called Change at 125th Street when I was a kid! Okay!
Scottie: Love the history.
Kim: I -- Listen. I am, I am slaying right now with the knowledge.
Tia: Yes.
Kim: Okay?
Scottie: [crosstalk] Hello!
Kim: [crosstalk] So when he would come --
Tia: [crosstalk] You win, you win, Kim. You win. [laughter]
Kim: I win this -- I win this thing right here. When Lenny would come to see his mom and we would be in the hallways because Facts of Life and The Jeffersons, we all filmed in the same soundstage area, in the same dressing room, same -- us, Diff'rent Strokes, Silver Spoons, Facts of Life, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Gimme A Break!
Tia: [crosstalk] Wow.
Kim: Everybody was right up in there, okay?
Sylvia: Wow. Jeez.
Kim: And I would see him in the hallways and oh my god.
Tia: I'm sure.
Kim: Oh my God. And when I tell you he ain't seen me a bit more than he saw the door that he walked by.
Tia: Ahhh, Kim!
Kim: Baby, he was -- he was kind to me. He wasn't rude. He was nice. [laughter] But he was -- he ain't see me at all. Let me tell you how I couldn't stand Lisa Bonet. [laughter]
Tia: [crosstalk] Ooooh.
Kim: Hi, Lisa Bonet. Get that --- Ooooh, I was mad. I was like, I'm on Facts of Life for years! [laughter] For years! And she came up here --
Tia: [crosstalk] Do you know -- do you know to this day, they are like my favorite couple. Like, even though they're not together, to this day, they are like my favorite couple.
Kim: [crosstalk] What kind of friend are you right now? [laughter] What kind of friend are you right now?
Tia: [crosstalk] Sorry Kim. I'm sorry!
Scottie: You're supposed to Tia -- You supposed to be on this side.
Sylvia: You supposed to be on the -- where's your loyalty to this episode?
Tia: [crosstalk] Oh! I'm sorry at Lisa Bonet.
Kim: [crosstalk] I'm saying, I'm saying --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] But Lisa Bonet--
Kim: [crosstalk] You were ride or die all the way through Tia. [laughter] You just fell off. You just fell off.
Sylvia: The fact that Lisa Bonet got Lenny Kravitz and Jason Momoa in the same lifetime --
Kim: [crosstalk] And Jason! Listen, no, no, no, no.
Sylvia: Is absolutely unfair.
Kim: [crosstalk] Yep.
Sylvia: And then they're all just one happy fine-ass family. It's rude! It's rude.
Tia: [crosstalk] Yes. Yes.
Kim: [crosstalk] Let me tell you something.
Tia: [crosstalk] Basically. It is. It's rude.
Kim: [crosstalk] And Lenny thinks -- and because Le --
Tia: [crosstalk] Wow.
Kim: But bring me that, please. Bring me that. And Lenny thinks it is the funniest thing in the world. See, that's Romeo Blue!
Tia: Oooh!
Kim: [crosstalk] That's Romeo Blue, baby.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Wow.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Oooh! He was cute, though.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Oh, Lenny.
Kim: Shit. Don't tell me. Try walking by that in the hallway at 9, 10, 11 years old.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I couldn't. Listen --
Tia: And him -- and him being a musician?
Kim: [crosstalk] Come on now! Thank you.
Tia: Him walking around playing, playing when he walk around playing anything.
Sylvia: Just humming in the hallways on tune.
Kim: I saw him I think one time -- not humming in the hallway. [laughter] I saw him one time with a guitar. And apparently Jesus knew that's all I needed was one time because he ain't let me see that again until Instagram. [laughter] But that was my -- [laughter] but we're friends now. I mean, we've always been friends but you know, reconnecting.
Tia: [crosstalk] You're friends with Lenny Kravitz?
Kim: Yes.
Scottie: [crosstalk] She is.
Kim: And he thinks it is the funniest thing in the world.
Tia: [crosstalk] Tell him I said hi. [laughter] Tell him I said hi.
Kim: And when I did the audio book from my -- I will not, traitor! [laughter] I will not tell him you said a god-darned thing! [laughter]
Tia: No, just tell him I said hi.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Just a little hi -- [laughter]
Kim: [crosstalk] When I did, when I did the audio book -- when I did the the audio book for my autobiography, and I'd get to that part in the autobiography, I sent him a text, I'm like, Yo. I'm recording this part about you right now. And I sent him a picture and he's like, why didn't I know this? What?
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Don't play with me.
Tia: [crosstalk] Wow. He didn't know.
Scottie: [crosstalk] That will shut you up, that will just you up every time.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Don't play with me.
Tia: [crosstalk] Don't play.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I don't even know what his full name is. Don't you -- don't you --
Tia: [crosstalk] Girl.
Scottie: [crosstalk] I ain't the one.
Kim: [crosstalk] I will Dikembe Mutombo you right now. Mmm, mmm, mmm.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Cus we can make up for lost time if you want. [laughs]
Scottie: Hello.
Kim: See -- [laughs]
Scottie: [crosstalk] Hello.
Tia: [crosstalk] Girl
Sylvia: Anyway, we -- this has been such a joy and a pleasure.
Kim: [crosstalk] Thank you guys.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] You guys have been so much fun. I can literally do this for a whole nother hour.
Kim: [crosstalk] Thank you.
Sylvia: But, you know, I -- we really love --
Kim: [crosstalk] Tia I will still watch your show, even though you stabbed me in the back just now.
Tia: [crosstalk] Oh no! No! No! [laughter]
Kim: I'll still watch Family Reunion.
Tia: I'm sorry Kim. I'm sorry!
Kim: And where -- and I'll wear a Loretta Devine t-shirt when I do. [laughter].
Sylvia: Now she has a new favorite character on Family Reunion.
Tia: Oh man. I am so -- [laughter] I didn't even realize I was doing it.
Scottie: Thank you guys for this.
Kim: Thank you.
Scottie: [crosstalk] We appreciate you. Than you so much.
Tia: [crosstalk] Oh yeah. No problem. Lot of fun.
Scottie: For entertaining us on our --
Kim: This was fun.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Scottie: Yes -- mess.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Our mess.
Scottie: Too much. [laughter]
[Music In]
Sylvia: Alright, that's our show. Big thanks again to Tia Mowry and Kim Fields and thank you all for tuning in.
Scottie: Our show is a production of Pineapple Street Studios in partnership with Netflix and Strong Black Lead. Shout out to our team. Our Managing Producer is Agerenesh Ashagre and our Lead Producer is Jess Jupiter. Our music is by Amanda Jones. Special thanks to Max Linsky and Jenna Weiss-Berman.
Sylvia: Make sure you all share your thoughts with us on the episode using the #okaynowlisten. Follow Strong Black Lead on the socials @strongblacklead and follow us too. I'm Sylvia Obell.
Scottie: And I'm Scottie Beam.
Sylvia: Until next time, folks, stay blessed.
[Music Out]