It’s been 20 years since Living Single went off the air, leaving a gaping hole in the sacred (and scarce) pool from which the Black community could see characters that looked, and hear voices that sounded, like themselves on primetime television. Since then, fans have only been able to revisit the series—one that, in its entire five-year run, ranked among the top five sitcoms in African-American households—via syndication, DVD, and digital downloads. But for those who have succumbed to the culture of opting out of cable and seeking near-free, we-want-it-now, on-demand platforms instead, we’ll be able to revisit the long-missed camaraderie between Khadijah, Max, Synclaire, Regine, Kyle and Overton starting today (January 11) on Hulu.
Considering the show starred multi-threat Queen Latifah who, by the time the series premiered, had already delivered “Ladies First,” “Come Into My House,” and “Fly Girl,” it’s no shock that her celebrity status assisted in fellow artists and entertainers flocking to the show for surprise cameos and stunts. Here are 7 moments that need to be remembered.
Heavy D played the recurring role of Darryl, a friend of Regine’s. She first brings him to the crew’s Thanksgiving dinner where he delivers a touching prayer that prompts Khadijah to allow boyfriend Scooter to pursue his dream. Regine and Darryl then briefly date, break up, but vow to remain good friends after realizing they don’t share much in common. Finally, he returns to ask her to coordinate his wedding to a golddigging fiancee (played by Vivica A. Fox), but Regine blows the whistle.
After falling asleep during one of their videos, Overton begins to envision TLC in his dreams (which he continually feels guilt about) before the trio enters Kyle’s psyche instead (which we welcomes with open arms).
Khadijah’s beau, the dull Teddy, asks her to help his sister, played by Monica, through a breakup, but she quickly wears out her welcome by tying up the phone line and complaining about toilet paper.
For her magazine Flavor, Khadijah is tasked with getting an interview and cover shoot with her childhood friend Vinny who, of course, is now a member of Naughty by Nature.
After Max sends Kyle on a date with another woman claiming their inexclusivity, the two argue so much during a Brian McKnight concert that they get thrown out.
T-Boz plays a hitchhiker that Overton, Russell, and Tripp pick up without knowing she’s wanted for robbery.
When Kyle is appointed the church’s new choir director, he’s forced to choose between the tone-deaf, off-key Regine and guest star CeCe Winans for a solo performance.
Kyle attempts to maintain a brokerage account for an eccentric client, a legendary singer played by Eartha Kitt, who he suspects is attracted to him.