''Living Single'' is an American television

sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...

created by

Yvette Lee Bowser Yvette Denise Lee Bowser (born 1965) is an American television writer and producer. She wrote and produced the TV shows ''Living Single'' and ''Half & Half'', and early in her career, worked on ''The Cosby Show'' spin-off ''A Different World''. W ...

that aired for five seasons on the

Fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelve sp ...

network from August 22, 1993, to January 1, 1998. The show centered on the lives of six friends who shared personal and professional experiences while living in a Brooklyn

brownstone Brownstone is a brown Triassic–Jurassic sandstone that was historically a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States and Canada to refer to a townhouse clad in this or any other aesthetically similar material. Type ...

Episodes

''Living Single'' centered on six people consisting of four women and two men living the single life in Prospect Heights,

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

. The series focused on two different households in one brownstone, one shared by a trio of independent women and another shared by two male friends who had known each other since childhood while living in

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

. In the first apartment, Khadijah James (

Queen Latifah Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970), known professionally as Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, actress, and singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989 and released her debut album ''All Hail the Que ...

), a hard-working

editor Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, orga ...

and

publisher Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...

of the fictional urban independent magazine ''Flavor'', lived with her sweet but naive cousin Synclaire James (

Kim Coles Kim LaShaunda Coles (born January 11, 1962) is an American actress, comedian and game show host. Coles is known for her roles as a cast member on ''In Living Color'' for the first season (1990-1991) and as Synclaire James-Jones on television sitco ...

), an aspiring actress who worked as Khadijah's receptionist and had an affinity for

Troll doll A Troll Doll (Danish: ''Gjøltrold'') is a type of plastic doll with furry up-combed hair depicting a troll, also known as a Dam doll after their creator Danish woodcutter Thomas Dam. The inspiration came from trolls in old Scandinavian folklore ...

s, and her childhood friend from

East Orange, New Jersey East Orange is a City (New Jersey), city in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 69,612. The city was List of municipalities in ...

, Regina "Régine" Hunter (

Kim Fields Kim Victoria Fields-Morgan ( Fields, formerly Freeman; born May 12, 1969) is an American actress and director. Fields is best known for her roles as Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey on the NBC sitcom '' The Facts of Life'' (1979–1988), and as Regine Hu ...

), an image-conscious boutique buyer who was on a constant search for a well-to-do man to spend her life (and his money) with. Later in the series, Régine became a costume assistant for the soap opera ''Palo Alto''. When the soap was canceled, she became a wedding planner and left the apartment to move in with her fiancé Dexter Knight (

Don Franklin Don Franklin (born December 14, 1960) is an American actor, best known for his roles in ''seaQuest DSV'' as Commander Jonathan Ford, '' Seven Days'' as Captain Craig Donovan, and as one of ''The Young Riders'' (Noah Dixon). Biography Franklin ...

). Maxine "Max" Shaw (

Erika Alexander Erika Rose Alexander (born November 19, 1969) is an American actress, writer, producer, entrepreneur and activist best known for her roles as Pam Tucker on the NBC sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' (1990–1992), and Maxine Shaw on the FOX sitcom ''Livi ...

), a sharp-tongued Attorney and Khadijah's best friend from their college days at

Howard University Howard University (Howard) is a private, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" and accredited by the Middle States Commissi ...

, frequently stopped by to share her unique insights and the events of her day, to make sure that the girls' refrigerator wasn't overstocked, and to start trouble with Kyle, looking for any chance to make his life worse. Kyle Barker ( T.C. Carson) lived in the second apartment with Overton Wakefield Jones (

John Henton John Henton (born November 23, 1960) is an American actor and comedian. Henton is best known for his roles as Overton Wakefield Jones on the FOX sitcom '' Living Single'' and as Milsap Morris on the ABC/ UPN sitcom '' The Hughleys''. Life and ...

). Overton was the friendly but bucolic maintenance man for the owner of their (and neighboring) building, who held a deep affection for Synclaire and plenty of hilarious homespun wisdom for everyone else. Kyle was a

stockbroker A stockbroker is a regulated broker, broker-dealer, or registered investment adviser (in the United States) who may provide financial advisory and investment management services and execute transactions such as the purchase or sale of stocks an ...

whose constant verbal sparring with Max did little to mask their obvious sexual attraction to each other. Kyle and Max pursued a sexual relationship, but when he decided to take a job in London and invited Max to join him, she turned him down. Maxine subsequently became distraught over her decision and, after defending a man who claimed to be the second coming of

Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

(

Harold Perrineau Harold Perrineau (born August 7, 1963) is an American actor best known for his roles as Michael Dawson in the ABC television series ''Lost'' (2004–2010), Augustus Hill in the HBO television series '' Oz'' (1997–2003), Sheriff Boyd Stevens ...

), she began to take her life more seriously. Through a series of events, Max decided that her purpose must be to become a mother. During the insemination process, she unknowingly picked Kyle's sperm specimen based on a list of qualities she would like for her child to have. Kyle returned in the series finale, and the two reconciled. Overton and Synclaire also got together, and their relationship culminated in marriage by the end of the fourth season. In season five, they moved in together, leaving Overton and Kyle's apartment open for new character Roni DeSantos (

Idalis DeLeon Idalis may refer to: ;People named "Idalis" or "Idalys" * Idalis DeLeón (b. 1966), an American actress, singer, and television host * Idalys Ortiz (b. 1989), a Cuban judoka (judo practitioner) and Olympic medal winner ;Ships * USS ''Idalis'' (SP- ...

), a New York-area D.J., to move in. It was eventually revealed that DeSantos had a fling with Ira Lee "Tripp" Williams III, (

Mel Jackson Mel, Mels or MEL may refer to: Biology * Mouse erythroleukemia cell line (MEL) * National Herbarium of Victoria, a herbarium with the Index Herbariorum code MEL People * Mel (given name), the abbreviated version of several given names (including ...

), a songwriter whom Khadijah and Régine allowed to move in when Synclaire's room became available. Synclaire joined a comedy improv troupe where she gained the attention of Tony Jonas, a

Warner Bros. Television Warner Bros. Television Studios (operating under the name Warner Bros. Television; formerly known as Warner Bros. Television Division) is an American television production and distribution studio of the Warner Bros. Television Group division of ...

executive who cast her as a nun for a new comedy series he was developing. Along with trying to make ''Flavor'' a success, Khadijah also looked for Mr. Right. She eventually found him in childhood friend Scooter (

Cress Williams Cress Williams (born July 26, 1970) is an American actor, known for his roles in ''Prison Break'' and '' Close to Home''. His most recent roles include Mayor Lavon Hayes on The CW series ''Hart of Dixie'' and the title character on The CW's ''Bla ...

), with whom she left the brownstone for the final time in the series finale.

Cast and characters

Regular cast

– Khadijah James,

and

of ''Flavor'' Magazine, an independent magazine devoted to the interests of the African-American community. *

– Synclaire James-Jones, Khadijah's good-natured cousin and roommate; receptionist at ''Flavor'' and aspiring actress. The role of Synclaire was originally intended for Queen Latifah's long-time friend and collaborator,

Monie Love Simone Johnson or Simone Gooden (born 2 July 1970), better known by her stage name Monie Love, is a British rapper, actress and radio personality from London. Best known for her singles during the late–1980s through the 1990s, Monie Love curre ...

, but she was unable to take part. *

– Maxine "Max" Felice Shaw, strong-willed Attorney, Khadijah's best friend and former college roommate, who grew up in Mount Airy, Philadelphia; spends most of her time at the women's apartment. * T.C. Carson – Kyle Barker (Episodes 1–107; guest appearance in episode 118),

and Overton's roommate; Max's verbal sparring partner and on-again-off-again love interest. *

– Overton "Obie" Wakefield Jones, Kyle's roommate and the brownstone's

handyman A handyman, also known as a fixer, handyperson or handyworker, is a person skilled at a wide range of repairs, typically around the home. These tasks include trade skills, repair work, maintenance work, are both interior and exterior, and are so ...

; Synclaire's sweetheart. *

– Regina "Regine" Hunter (Episodes 1–115), Khadijah and Synclaire's gossip-loving roommate; Khadijah's childhood friend. *

– Ira Lee "Tripp" Williams (Season 5), Khadijah and Regine's new roommate; aspiring songwriter.

Recurring cast

Chip Fields Chip Fields, sometimes credited as Chip Hurd or Chip Fields-Hurd, is an American singer, actress, television director, and producer who has appeared in popular films, television shows, and Broadway theatre. She is best known for portraying Lyne ...

— Laverne Hunter, Regine's mother * Rita Owens — Rita James (Season 1–4), Khadijah's mother * Michael Warren — Ed James (Season 4), Khadijah's father * Barbara Montgomery – Nana James (Season 2), Khadijah's grandmother *

Khalil Kain Khalil Kain is an American actor, film producer and rapper best known for his role as Raheem Porter in the 1992 crime thriller film ''Juice'' and as the second Darnell Wilkes on the UPN/CW sitcom '' Girlfriends'' (2001–2008). He is also known f ...

— Keith (Season 3–4), Regine's boyfriend and artist *

— Dexter Knight (Season 5), Regine's boyfriend turned fiancé *

— Terrence "Scooter" Williams, Khadijah's childhood friend and boyfriend *

Isaiah Washington Isaiah Washington IV is an American actor and media personality. Following a series of film appearances, he came to prominence for portraying Dr. Preston Burke in the first three seasons of the series ''Grey's Anatomy'' from 2005 to 2007. Wash ...

— Dr. Charles Roberts (Season 4), Khadijah's anesthesiologist and boyfriend *

Heavy D Dwight Arrington MyersCuda, Heidi Sigmund Keeping it reel. '' Vibe'' ("born Dwight Arrington Myers")Samuels, Anita M. (January 12' 1996)Heavy D, the C.E.O. ''New York Times'' (May 24, 1967 – November 8, 2011), known professionally as Hea ...

- Darryl, Regine's boyfriend (3 episodes) * Shaun Baker — Russell Montego, Jamaican-born music editor at ''Flavor'', in love with Regine. * Bumper Robinson — Ivan Ennis (Season 3–4), ''Flavor'' copy aide and

journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (profes ...

major at

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...

, in love with Khadijah. *

— Roni DeSantos (Season 5), popular New York City

deejay A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile D ...

and Tripp's love interest

Guest cast

Cylk Cozart Calvin Cylk Cozart (born February 1, 1960) is an American actor, director, writer and producer who has appeared in over 30 films and 20 television shows. Early life Cozart was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father is African A ...

– Brad Hamilton, Regine's boyfriend who turned out to be married (Season 1, Episode 1) *

Freda Payne Freda Charcilia Payne (born September 19, 1942Some sources give a birth year of 1945, but this appears to be an error as all sources agree that she is older than her sister Scherrie, born 1944.) is an American singer and actress. Payne is best ...

– Miss Harper (Season 1, Episode 2) *

Thomas Mikal Ford Thomas Mikal Ford (September 5, 1964 – October 12, 2016) was an American actor and comedian. He was best known for his role as Thomas "Tommy" Strawn on the FOX sitcom ''Martin'', which originally aired from 1992 until 1997. He also had a recur ...

– Michael Edwards, Synclaire's date (Season 1, Episode 3) * Jeffrey D. Sams – Greg, Maxine's ex-boyfriend (Season 1, Episode 4) *

Kellita Smith Kellita Smith (born January 15, 1969) is an American actress, model and comedian. She is best known for her role as Wanda McCullough, Bernie Mac's wife on the FOX sitcom ''The Bernie Mac Show''. Life and career Born in Chicago, Illinois, She ...

- Susan, Greg's fiancée (Season 1, Episode 4) * Miguel A. Nunez – Goldie (Season 1, Episode 6 & 20) * Montrose Hagins – Shirley Shortridge (Season 1, Episode 7) *

Marcus Giamatti Marcus Bartlett Giamatti (born October 3, 1961) is an American actor. He is best known for being a regular member of the cast of the CBS drama series '' Judging Amy''. Early life Giamatti was born on October 3, 1961, in New Haven, Connecticut, an ...

– Jack Peabody (Season 1, Episode 7) *

Dominic Hoffman Dominic Hoffman is an American actor and playwright. He is known for his recurring roles on ''The Shield'' as Louis Sperling, ''A Different World'' as Whitley's boyfriend, Julian Day, and ''Grey's Anatomy'' as Dr. Jeff Russell. He is also an acc ...

– Patrick (Season 1, Episode 8) *

Isabel Sanford Isabel Sanford (born Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford; August 29, 1917 – July 9, 2004) was an American stage, film, and television actress and comedian best known for her role as Louise "Weezy" Mills Jefferson on the CBS sitcoms ''All in the Fami ...

– Mrs. Ryan (Season 1, Episode 10) *

Ed McMahon Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. (March 6, 1923 – June 23, 2009) was an American announcer, game show host, comedian, actor, singer, and combat aviator. McMahon and Johnny Carson began their association in their first TV series, the ABC game sh ...

– as himself (Season 1, Episode 12) *

Flip Wilson Clerow "Flip" Wilson Jr. (December 8, 1933 – November 25, 1998) was an American comedian and actor best known for his television appearances during the late 1960s and 1970s. From 1970 to 1974, Wilson hosted his own weekly variety series ''The F ...

- as himself (Season 1, Episode 12) * Dres (rapper) – as himself (Season 1, Episode 12) *

Nia Long Nia Talita Long (born October 30, 1970) is an American actress. Best known for her work in Black cinema, Long rose to prominence after starring in the film ''Boyz n the Hood'' (1991), and for her portrayal of Beullah "Lisa" Wilkes on the NBC sit ...

– Stacey Evans, photographer for ''Flavor'' and Kyle's date (Season 1, Episode 13) *

Terrence Howard Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an American actor. Having his first major roles in the 1995 films ''Dead Presidents'' and '' Mr. Holland's Opus'', Howard broke into the mainstream with a succession of television and cinema roles ...

– Brendan King, Maxine's college-aged boyfriend (Season 1, Episode 17) * Cree Summer – Summer, Overton's date (Season 1, Episode 18) *

Kelvin Mercer Kelvin Mercer (born August 17, 1969), also known by his stage name Posdnuos and occasionally Pos, is an American rapper and producer from East Massapequa, New York best known for his work as one-third of the hip hop trio De La Soul. Throug ...

- Morris King, (Season 1, Episode 18) *

Morris Chestnut Morris Lamont Chestnut (born January 1, 1969) is an American actor. He first came to prominence for his role as Ricky in the 1991 film ''Boyz n the Hood''. He has appeared in feature films and on television series, including the starring role of ...

– Hamilton Brown, the new upstairs neighbor (Season 1, Episode 18) *

Michael Jai White Michael Jai White (born November 10, 1967) is an American actor, director and martial artist. He was the first African American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture, starring as Al Simmons, the protagonist in the 1 ...

– Steve (Season 1, Episode 20) *

Charnele Brown Karen Charnele Brown (née Dozier; born October 30, 1960) is an American actress, producer, writer, fashion designer and singer. Brown is perhaps best known for her role as Kimberly Reese on NBC comedy sitcom ''A Different World'' from 1988 until ...

– Jackie, Khadijah's college friend (Season 1, Episode 21) *

Arsenio Hall Arsenio Hall (born February 12, 1956) is an American comedian, actor and talk show host. He hosted the late-night talk show, ''The Arsenio Hall Show'', from 1989 until 1994, and again from 2013 to 2014. He has appeared in ''Martial Law'', ''Comi ...

– as himself (Season 1, Episode 21) * Mark Curry – Tony Ross, Regine's boyfriend, a standup comedian (Season 1, Episode 25) * Adam Lazarre-White - Alonzo Ford (Season 1, Episode 24 and 27) *

Cheryl Miller Cheryl D. Miller (born January 3, 1964) is an American former basketball player. She was formerly a sideline reporter for NBA games on TNT Sports and also works for NBA TV as a reporter and analyst, having worked previously as a sportscaster f ...

– Denise Hatcher, Khadijah's school basketball rival (Season 2, Episode 2)Basketball Great a Guest Star on 'Living Singe'
. ''Associated Press''. The Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana). August 21, 1994. *

Branford Marsalis Branford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) is an American saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed inst ...

– as himself (Season 2, Episode 2) *

Tamlyn Tomita Tamlyn Naomi Tomita (born January 27, 1966) is a Japanese-American actress and singer. She made her screen debut as Kumiko in ''The Karate Kid Part II'' (1986) and reprised the character for the streaming series ''Cobra Kai'' (2021). She is also ...

– Mary, business client of ''Flavor'' (Season 2, Episode 5) *

Franklin Cover Franklin Edward Cover (November 20, 1928 – February 5, 2006) was an American actor best known for starring in the sitcom ''The Jeffersons''. His character, Tom Willis, was half of one of the first interracial marriages to be seen on prime-time ...

– Professor Fletcher, Synclaire's teacher (Season 2, Episode 6) *

Michole Briana White Michole Briana White (born May 29, 1969) is an American actress. Life and career White was born in Maywood, Illinois. She is known for her role as attorney Fatima Kelly in the A&E series ''100 Centre Street''. She has also guest starred in a ...

— Olivia Imogen Jones (Season 2 Episode 7 & Season 4 Episode 24), Overton's sister *

Gilbert Gottfried Gilbert Jeremy Gottfried (February 28, 1955 – April 12, 2022) was an American stand-up comedian and actor, known for his exaggerated shrill voice, strong New York accent, and his edgy, often controversial, sense of humor. His numerous ro ...

– Lawrence J. Friedlander, telemarketing company owner (Season 2, Episode 10) *

Wayne Federman Wayne Federman (born June 22, 1959) is an Emmy Award winning American comedian, actor, author, writer, comedy historian, producer, and musician. He is noted for numerous stand-up comedy appearances in clubs, theaters, and on television; his book ...

– Fred Meyer, Maxine's public defender (Season 2, Episode 10) *

Diana Bellamy Diana Alice Bellamy (September 19, 1943 – June 17, 2001) was an American character actress of stage, film, and television, during the 1980s and mid-2000s, who was often cast in both comedic and dramatic roles to great acclaim. Bellamy is know ...

– Judge Glazer, the judge at Maxine's trial (Season 2, Episode 10) *

Elayne Boosler {{Orphan, date=July 2021 Elayne is a female given name of French origin, which means "light". The name can be a variant of Elaine or Elena. Elayne may refer to: People * Elayne Angel *Elayne Arrington * Elayne Boosler (born 1952), American comed ...

– Dr. Sheridan, Regine's doctor (Season 2, Episode 11) *

John Capodice John Capodice (born December 25, 1941)John Capodice
. ''TVSA.org''. is an American character actor.

< ...

– neighborhood ice cream man (Season 2, Episode 11) *

Deion Sanders Deion Luwynn Sanders Sr. (born August 9, 1967) is an American football coach and former player who is the head coach at the University of Colorado Boulder. Nicknamed "Prime Time", he played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons ...

– as himself (Season 2, Episode 12) *

Rosie O'Donnell Roseann O'Donnell (born March 21, 1962) is an American comedian, television producer, actress, author, and television personality. She began her comedy career as a teenager and received her breakthrough on the television series ''Star Search'' ...

– Sheri, Khadijah's high school friend (Season 2, Episode 14) *

Bobby Bonilla Roberto Martin Antonio Bonilla (, born February 23, 1963) is an American former professional baseball third baseman and outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1986 to 2001. Bonilla was one of the Major League's best batters a ...

– as himself (Season 2, Episode 16) *

Shemar Moore Shemar Franklin Moore (born April 20, 1970) is an American actor. His notable roles include Malcolm Winters on ''The Young and the Restless'' (1994–2005), Derek Morgan on ''Criminal Minds'' (2005–2016), and the lead role of Sergeant II Dani ...

– Jon Marc, Synclaire's study partner (Season 2, Episode 18) * Phil Morris – Preston August, Maxine's boss and former boyfriend (Season 2, Episode 19) *

Phil LaMarr Phillip LaMarr (born January 24, 1967) is an American actor, comedian and screenwriter. LaMarr was one of the original featured cast members on the sketch comedy television series '' Mad TV''. His voice acting roles in animated series include J ...

– Joe, friend of Regine's boyfriend (Season 2, Episode 19) * Vanessa A. Williams – Hellura, Kyle's date (Season 2, Episode 22) *

Kadeem Hardison Kadeem Hardison (born July 24, 1965) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dwayne Wayne on ''A Different World'', a spin-off of the long-running NBC sitcom ''The Cosby Show''. He starred in the Disney Channel series ''K.C. Under ...

– Marcus Hughes, ''Village Voice'' reporter (Season 2, Episode 23) *

Roberto Durán Roberto Durán Samaniego (born June 16, 1951) is a Panamanian former professional boxer who competed from 1968 to 2001. He held world championships in four weight classes: lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight, as wel ...

– as himself (Season 2, Episode 23) *

Jenifer Lewis Jenifer Jeanette Lewis (born January 25, 1957) is an American actress. She began her career appearing in Broadway musicals and worked as a back-up singer for Bette Midler before appearing in films ''Beaches'' (1988) and ''Sister Act'' (1992). Le ...

– Delia Deveaux, talk show host (Season 2, Episode 25) *

Will Ferrell John William Ferrell (; born July 16, 1967) is an American actor, comedian, and producer. He first established himself in the mid-1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'', where he performed from 1995 to 200 ...

– talk show guest (Season 2, Episode 25) *

Q-Tip (musician) Kamaal Ibn John Fareed (born Jonathan William Davis, April 10, 1970), better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American rapper, record producer, singer, and DJ. Nicknamed The Abstract, he is noted for his innovative jazz-influenced style of ...

- Roberto Hughes (Season 2, Episode 26) *

Bill Erwin William Lindsey Erwin (December 2, 1914 – December 29, 2010) was an American film, stage and television actor and cartoonist with over 250 television and film credits. A veteran character actor, he is widely known for his 1993 Emmy Award-nomi ...

– Mr. Foster, store owner (Season 2, Episode 26) *

Regina King Regina Rene King (born January 15, 1971) is an American actress and director. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and four Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2019, ''Time'' magazine named her one ...

– Zina, possible new roommate (Season 2, Episode 26) *

Tatyana Ali Tatyana Marisol Ali is an American actress and singer best known for her role as Ashley Banks on the NBC sitcom ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' from 1990 to 1996. She starred as Tyana Jones on the TV One original series ''Love That Girl!'', an ...

– Stephanie James (Season 3), Khadijah's half-sister *

CCH Pounder Carol Christine Hilaria Pounder (born December 25, 1952) is a Guyanese-American actress. She has received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her roles in ''The X-Files'', '' ER'', '' The Shield'', and ''The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agenc ...

– Nina Shaw (Season 3), Maxine's mother *

Gladys Knight Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944), known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer, actress and businesswoman. A seven-time Grammy Award-winner, Knight recorded hits through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group Gladys Kn ...

— Odelle Jones (Season 4), Overton's mother *

Antonio Fargas Antonio Juan Fargas (born August 14, 1946) is an American actor known for his roles in 1970s blaxploitation and comedy movies, as well as his portrayal as Huggy Bear in the 1970s TV series '' Starsky & Hutch''. Early life Fargas was born in New ...

— Otis Jones (Season 4), Overton's father *

Denise Nicholas Denise Donna Nicholas (born July 12, 1944) is an American actress, author, and social activist. Nicholas is known primarily for her roles as high-school guidance counselor Liz McIntyre on the ABC comedy-drama series ''Room 222'' and Councilwoma ...

— Lilah James (Season 4), Synclaire's mother *

Ron O'Neal Ron O'Neal (September 1, 1937 – January 14, 2004) was an American actor, director and screenwriter, who rose to fame in his role as Youngblood Priest, a New York cocaine dealer, in the blaxploitation film '' Super Fly'' (1972) and its seq ...

— Clinton James (Season 4), Synclaire's father *

Kenny Blank Kenny Blank (born September 15, 1977), also known as Kenn Michael, is an American actor, musician and director. Blank is best known for his role as Michael Peterson in the television series ''The Parent 'Hood'' from 1995 to 1997 for which he al ...

- as Damon Barker (Season 4), Kyle's brother. *

Dorien Wilson Dorien Leon Wilson (born July 5, 1963) is an American actor known for his role as Professor Stanley Oglevee on the UPN sitcom '' The Parkers'' (the spin-off series of ''Moesha'', which ran from 1999 to 2004), his recurring role as Terrence Winn ...

— Rev. Leslie Taylor (Season 3–4), pastor at the group's church * Grant Hill – as himself (Season 3, Episode 3) *

John O'Hurley John George O'Hurley Jr. (born October 9, 1954) is an American actor, comedian, singer, author, game show host and television personality. He is known for his portrayal of J. Peterman on the NBC sitcom ''Seinfeld'', and was the sixth host of the ...

– as Jean Luc Gerard, Regine new boss (Season 3, Episode 5) *

Eartha Kitt Eartha Kitt (born Eartha Mae Keith; January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer and actress known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Ba ...

– as Jacqueline Richards, Kyle's client (Season 3, Episode 8) * Alonzo Mourning – as himself (Season 3, Episode 10) *

Burt Ward Burt Ward (born Bert John Gervis Jr. , July 6, 1945) is an American actor, animal welfare activist and businessman. He played Dick Grayson's Robin, the sidekick of Batman (played by Adam West), in the television series ''Batman'' (1966–1968), ...

– as himself (Season 3, Episode 11) *

Dean Cain Dean George Cain ( Tanaka; born July 31, 1966) is an American actor. From 1993 to 1997, he played Clark Kent / Superman in the TV series '' Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman''. Cain was the host of ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' and ...

– as himself (Season 3, Episode 11) *

Cris Carter Graduel Christopher Darin Carter (born November 25, 1965) is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles (1987–1989), the Minnesota Vikings (1990–2001) and the Mia ...

– as himself (Season 3, Episode 12) *

Michael Boatman Michael Patrick Boatman (born October 25, 1964) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his roles as New York City mayoral aide Carter Heywood in the ABC sitcom ''Spin City'', as U.S. Army Specialist Samuel Beckett in the ABC drama s ...

– as Brent, Palo Alto Actor (Season 3, Episode 13) *

Dorian Gregory Dorian Gregory (born January 26, 1971) is an American actor and television host who played Darryl Morris on the television show ''Charmed'' (1998–2005) and was the fourth and final permanent host of ''Soul Train'', replacing Shemar Moore. ...

– as Mountie Robeson (Season 3, Episode 13) *

Melvin Van Peebles Melvin Van Peebles (born Melvin Peebles; August 21, 1932 – September 21, 2021) was an American actor, filmmaker, writer, and composer. He worked as an active filmmaker into the 2000s. His feature film debut, ''The Story of a Three-Day Pass'' ( ...

– Warner Devant, Regine's date (Season 3, Episode 16) *

Mario Van Peebles Mario Van Peebles (born January 15, 1957) is an American film director and actor best known for directing and starring in ''New Jack City'' in 1991 and '' USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage'' in 2016. He is the son of actor and filmmaker Melvin Va ...

– Cole Front, Regine's date (Season 3, Episode 16) *

Brian McKnight Brian Kelly McKnight (born June 5, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, radio host and multi-instrumentalist. He is most recognized for his strong head voice, high belting range and melisma. McKnight is known for h ...

– as himself (Season 3, Episode 17) *

Jasmine Guy Jasmine Guy (born March 10, 1962) is an American actress, director, singer and dancer. She is known for her role as Dina in the 1988 film ''School Daze'' and as Whitley Gilbert-Wayne on the NBC ''The Cosby Show'' spin-off ''A Different World'', ...

– Dr. Jessica Bryce, Khadijah's therapist (Season 3, Episode 19) * Monica – Marissa, Khadijah's date's sister (Season 3, Episode 24) *

Giancarlo Esposito Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito (; born April 26, 1958) is an American actor and director. He is best known for portraying Gus Fring in the AMC crime drama series ''Breaking Bad'', from 2009 to 2011, and in its prequel series ''Better Ca ...

– Maxine's client (Season 3, Episode 24) * Jack Carter – Ray Kellum, eccentric man (Season 3, Episode 26; Season 4, Episode 9) *

Bobcat Goldthwait Robert Francis "Bobcat" Goldthwait (born May 26, 1962) is an American actor, comedian, director and screenwriter, known for his black comedy stand-up act, delivered through an energetic stage persona with an unusual raspy and high-pitched voice. ...

– mugger (Season 3, Episode 27; Season 4, Episode 1) *

Tone Loc Anthony Terrell Smith (born March 3, 1966), better known by his stage name Tone Lōc (), is an American rapper, actor, and producer. He is known for his raspy voice, his hit songs " Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina", for which he was nomina ...

– as Lester Tate, picked on Kyle in high school (Season 4, Episode 8) *

Vivica A. Fox Vivica Anjanetta Fox (born July 30, 1964) is an American actress, producer, and television host. Fox began her career on ''Soul Train'' (19821983). She eventually continued her career with roles on the daytime television soap operas ''Days of O ...

– as Darryl's fiancée (Season 4, Episode 9) *

Jeff Blake Jeffrey Bertrand Blake (born December 4, 1970) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. Blake was a member of seven teams during his career, playing his longest stint with the Cin ...

– as himself (Season 4, Episode 10) * Sullivan Walker – as Dr. Booker Burghardt Mountebank (Season 4, Episode 12) *

Evander Holyfield Evander Holyfield (born October 19, 1962) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1984 and 2011. He reigned as the undisputed champion at cruiserweight in the late 1980s and at heavyweight in the early 1990s, and is the on ...

– as himself (Season 4, Episode 15) *

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kareem (alternatively spelled Karim or Kerim) ( ar, کریم) is a common given name and surname of Arabic origin that means "generous", "noble", "honorable". It is also one of the Names of God in Islam in the Quran. Given name Karim * Karim A ...

– as himself (Season 4, Episode 15) *

Susan L. Taylor Susan L. Taylor (born January 23, 1946) is an American editor, writer, and journalist. She served as editor-in-chief of ''Essence'' from 1981 through 2000. In 1994, ''American Libraries'' referred to Taylor as "the most influential black woman i ...

– as herself (Season 4, Episode 15) *

Estelle Harris Estelle Harris (''née'' Nussbaum; April 22, 1928 – April 2, 2022) was an American actress and comedienne, known for her exaggerated shrill, grating voice. She was best known for her role as Estelle Costanza on ''Seinfeld''. Her other roles in ...

– as Esther Brooks, owner of the brownstone (Season 4, Episode 15) *

CeCe Winans Priscilla Marie Winans Love, known professionally as CeCe Winans, (born October 8, 1964) is an American gospel singer. She rose to prominence as a member of the duo BeBe & CeCe Winans; before launching an acclaimed solo career. Winans has been ...

– as LaTrice, in the choir of the group's church (Season 4, Episode 16) *

Sherri Shepherd Sherri Shepherd (born April 22, 1967) is an American actress, comedian, author, broadcaster, and television personality. She currently hosts the daily syndicated daytime talk show, ''Sherri''. From 2007 to 2014, Shepherd was a co-host of the day ...

– comedian (Season 4, Episode 17) *

Joseph Marcell Joseph Marcell (born 18 August 1948) is a British actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Geoffrey Butler, the butler on the NBC sitcom ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' from September 1990 until the show ended in May 1996. Born in S ...

— Reese, the women's house cleaner (Season 4, Episode 19) *

Jim Brown James Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936) is a former American football player, sports analyst and actor. He played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one ...

– as himself (Season 4, Episode 20) *

Kenya Moore Kenya Summer Moore (born January 24, 1971) is an American actress, model, producer, author, television personality, and entrepreneur. She is best known for winning the Miss USA pageant in 1993 and being a main cast member on Bravo's reality seri ...

– as Lisa DeLongPre, Kyle's Date (Season 4, Episode 21) *

Tracy Vilar Tracy Vilar (born Tracy Leigh Vilar April 12, 1968; and sometimes credited Tracy Villars) is an American actress. Career She is best known for her roles as Ro-Ro on the CBS sitcom '' Partners'', Sophia Ortiz on The WB sitcom ''The Steve Harve ...

– as Ava Rivera (Season 4, Episode 22) *

Desmond Howard Desmond Kevin Howard (born May 15, 1970) is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football at Michigan, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a senior. Howard w ...

– as himself (Season 4, Episode 24) *

Marsha Warfield Marsha Francine Warfield (born March 5, 1954) is an American actress and comedian. She grew up on Chicago's South Side, graduating from Calumet High School. She is best known for her 1986–92 role of Roz Russell on the Top 10 rated NBC sitcom ...

– Agnes Finch, cruise social director (Season 5, Episodes 1 and 2) *

Montell Jordan Montell Du'Sean Barnett Jordan (born December 3, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Best known for his 1995 single "This Is How We Do It", Jordan was the primary male solo artist on Def Jam's Def Soul imprint until le ...

– as himself (Season 5, Episode 2) * Vincent Mason - as Christopher Thompson (Season 5, Episode 3) *

Cedric Ceballos Cedric Z. Ceballos (born August 2, 1969) is an American former professional basketball player. As a small forward, he played mostly for the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers, later finishing his National Basketball Association (NBA) career ...

– as himself (Season 5, Episode 3) *

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...

– as herself (Season 5, Episode 6) *

Keyshawn Johnson Joseph Keyshawn Johnson (born July 22, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons. He played college football for the University of Southern Calif ...

– as himself (Season 5, Episode 7) * Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins – hitchhiker (Season 5, Episode 8) *

– Walter Jackson, Maxine's client (Season 5, Episode 9) *

Joyce DeWitt Joyce Anne DeWitt (born April 23, 1949) is an American actress and comedian known for playing Janet Wood on the ABC sitcom ''Three's Company'' from 1977 to 1984. Early life Joyce DeWitt was born April 23, 1949, in Wheeling, West Virginia, and g ...

– as herself (Season 5, Episode 12) *

DJ Premier Christopher Edward Martin (born March 21, 1966), known professionally as DJ Premier (also known as Preemo), is an American record producer and DJ. He is considered one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time. He was half of the hip hop duo ...

as Keyshawn King (Season 5, Episodes 9 and 12)

Home media

Warner Home Video Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc. (formerly known as Warner Home Video and WCI Home Video and sometimes credited as Warner Home Entertainment) is the home video distribution division of Warner Bros. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video ...

released the complete first season of ''Living Single'' on DVD in Region 1 on February 14, 2006. The entire series is also available for digital download on

Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It has been referred to as "one of the most influential economi ...

and the

iTunes Store The iTunes Store is a digital media store operated by Apple Inc. It opened on April 28, 2003, as a result of Steve Jobs' push to open a digital marketplace for music. As of April 2020, iTunes offered 60 million songs, 2.2 million apps, 25,00 ...

Warner Archive The Warner Archive Collection is a home video division for releasing classic and cult films from Warner Bros.' library. It started as a manufactured-on-demand (MOD) DVD series by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 23, 2009, with the inte ...

subsequently released seasons 2–5 on DVD in Region 1. These are Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) releases, available from Warner's online store and Amazon.com.

Production

and

both had development deals with Fox.Bash, Alan (December 17, 1994).
Single and Loving it...Twice
. ''USA Today''. Chillicothe Gazette (Chillicothe, Ohio). In March 1993, Fox announced that Queen Latifah and Coles would star in a comedy sitcom called ''My Girls'', about roommates in New York City. The character of Khadijah was created for Queen Latifah. Khadijah is an entrepreneur who started an urban-lifestyle magazine, much as Latifah is an entrepreneur who started her hip-hop record label. Fox changed the show's name to ''Living Single'' three weeks before its television debut. Creator

's initial goal was to develop a show about herself and her friends that would change the portrayal of young Black people on television. Her overall goal was to portray Black characters positively and less stereotypical. She also noted that the women represented on ''Living Single'' are four different sides of herself, saying in an interview, "I've been as ditsy as Synclaire, as superficial as Regine, as bitter as Max, and as focused and driven as Khadijah." In May 1997, Fox announced that it had ordered 13 episodes of the fifth season of ''Living Single'' but would be delayed until January 1998. Three months later, Fox made a change to its fall schedule, delayed the airing of a new comedy called ''Rewind'', and decided to debut ''Living Single''s fifth season on September 11. The final episode of the fifth season aired on January 1, 1998.

Crossovers

*'' The Crew'': In one episode "The Mating Season" of the short-lived Fox sitcom ''The Crew'', Regine becomes a passenger on a flight and argues with a sassy stewardess in hopes of upgrading to first class. In another episode, "The Worst Noel," Synclaire also becomes a passenger. The episode served as a bridge for ''The Crew'' and its lead-in show, ''Living Single''. *''

Half & Half ''Half & Half'' is an American television sitcom created by Jeffrey Klarik that aired on UPN from September 23, 2002, to May 15, 2006. The show focuses on the lives of two paternal half-sisters in their twenties who were estranged throughout t ...

'':

and T.C. Carson reprised their roles of Maxine Shaw and Kyle Barker on the UPN sitcom, ''Half & Half'' (a series produced by ''Living Single'' creator

). In the episode ("The Big Performance Anxiety Episode," third season), ambitious law student Dee Dee learns that her mother's co-star in a play is engaged to Maxine, Dee Dee's idol. However, her mother gets Maxine's beau, Kyle, fired because she fears he will take attention away from her. The episode also revealed that Maxine and Kyle remained a couple and were the proud parents of their seven-year-old daughter named Kyla.

Syndication

''Living Single'' started reruns in syndication on September 22, 1997, through various Fox, UPN, and WB affiliates; these were later CW affiliates in terms of UPN and WB. The series formerly reran on

USA Network USA Network (simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. It was originally launched in 1977 as Madison ...

Logo TV Logo TV (often shortened to Logo, and stylized as Logo.) is an American basic cable channel owned by Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global. Launched in 2005, Logo was originally dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment progra ...

, and

Oxygen Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as wel ...

. Syndication carriage on the local level fizzled out in 2006. Reruns of the series currently run daily on cable networks TV One,

MTV2 MTV2 (formerly M2) is an American pay television Cable television, channel owned by the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. The channel launched initially as an all-music video service, once the original MTV had started to sh ...

Bounce TV Bounce TV is an American digital multicast television network owned by Katz Broadcasting, a subsidiary of E. W. Scripps Company. Promoted as "the first 24/7 digital multicast broadcast network created to target African Americans", the channel fe ...

, WCIU and VH1. As of January 11, 2018, all episodes began streaming on Hulu.

BET Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los A ...

will air reruns of the series starting October 11, 2021.

Reunion specials

An hour-long retrospective special, ''Living Single: The Reunion Show'', aired on TV One on September 22, 2008. Coles, Henton,

Fields Fields may refer to: Music * Fields (band), an indie rock band formed in 2006 * Fields (progressive rock band), a progressive rock band formed in 1971 * ''Fields'' (album), an LP by Swedish-based indie rock band Junip (2010) * "Fields", a song b ...

Carson Carson may refer to: People *Carson (surname), people with the surname *Carson (given name), people with the given name Places ;In the United States * Carson, California, a city * Carson Township, Fayette County, Illinois *Carson, Iowa, a city * ...

and

Alexander Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...

reunited to share fond memories with the fans.

and

were unavailable to participate. The special featured clips and revealing secrets of the cast from the show's five-year run. From August 24 to 26, 2018, TV One aired a weekend marathon of "Living Single" to highlight the 25th anniversary of the show. Coles, Henton,

, and

reunited once again to share memories with the fans, to share their thoughts on the characters they portrayed and provided a tribute to Rita Owens (Queen Latifah's real-life and TV mother), who had passed in early 2018.

and

were unavailable to participate.

Reception

During ''Living Single''s first season, it consistently garnered higher ratings than ''

Martin Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austr ...

'', which aired in the time slot immediately before it on Thursday nights, and it quickly became the fourth highest-rated show aired on

. Throughout its run, ''Living Single'' became one of the most popular

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

sitcoms of its era, ranking among the top five in African-American ratings in all five seasons.Bash, Alan (January 26, 1995).
2 Tales of Singles in the City, Yet Strangers in the Night
. ''USA Today''. The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). p. D1, D2.Zurawik, David (May 6, 1996).
Blacks, Whites Have Divided Taste in TV
. ''The Baltimore Sun''. Kenosha News (Kenosha, Wisconsin). p. 13.de la Viña, Mark (February 26, 1996).
Surveys Show Blacks, Whites Mostly View Their Own on TV
. ''Philadelphia Daily News''. p. 7.Johnson, Allan (April 18, 1997).
The Difference Between Black and White Viewers a Study in Contrast
. ''Chicago Tribune''. p. Tempo 1, Tempo 3. Newspaper critics contrasted ''Living Single'' with the NBC sitcom ''

Friends ''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa ...

'' which was inspired by the former. ''Living Single'' featured successful Black characters including an attorney, a stockbroker, and a business owner, in contrast to ''Friends'', which featured white characters including a waitress, a folk singer, and an unemployed actor. Show creator

was disappointed that

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

did not promote ''Living Single'' nearly as much as it did ''Friends''.Braxton, Greg (February 1, 1996).
'Single' Asks for a Little Help
. ''Los Angeles Times''. p. F24. ''Living Single'' was never one of the highest-rated programs among audiences during its run from 1993 to 1998. Indeed, the show had struggled to break into lists of top television programs viewed by larger audiences and never broke into the Top 50, though it was a higher performer for the Fox network itself. Those who loved and watched the show regularly have told show creator Yvette Lee Bowser that they connect with its characters, love the cast, and are inspired by the positive, elegant, and professional portrayal of Black people on television. Bowser noted that "People say our characters remind them of themselves, their friends or their relatives. They all know someone like one of the characters."

Awards and nominations

In 1995 and 1996, Living Single was nominated for

Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...

s for Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series (Bryan Hays).And the Emmy Nominees Are
. ''The Los Angeles Times''. July 19, 1996. p. F22.

References

External links

* ''(archived)'' * {{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Comedy Series 1993 American television series debuts 1998 American television series endings 1990s American black sitcoms English-language television shows Fox Broadcasting Company original programming 1990s American romantic comedy television series Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios Television shows filmed in California Television shows set in New York City