Living Single

Plot synopsis:
Living Single centered on six people consisting of four women and two men living the single life in the heart of Brooklyn, New York.
The series focused on two different households in one brownstone, one shared by a trio of independent women and another shared by a pair of male friends who have known each other since they spent their youth in Cleveland, Ohio. In the first apartment, Khadijah James (Queen Latifah), a hard-working editor and publisher of the fictional urban independent monthly Flavor, lived with her sweet, but naive cousin, Synclaire James (Kim Coles), an aspiring actress who worked as Khadijah's receptionist and has an affinity for Troll dolls; and her childhood friend from East Orange, New Jersey, Regina "Régine" Hunter (Kim Fields), an image-conscious, boutique buyer who was in a constant search for a well-to-do man to spend her life with (and spend his money). Later in the series, Régine became a costume assistant for the soap opera Palo Alto. When the show was canceled, she became a wedding planner and left the apartment to move in with her fiance, Dexter Knight (Don Franklin). Maxine "Max" Shaw (Erika Alexander), a sharp-tongued attorney and Khadijah's best friend from their college days at Howard University, frequently stopped by to share her unique insights; keep them entertained by sharing her day; to make sure that the girls' refrigerator isn't overstocked; and to start trouble with Kyle.
Kyle Barker (T.C. Carson) lived in the second apartment with Overton Wakefield Jones (John Henton). Kyle was a stockbroker whose constant verbal sparring with Max did little to mask their obvious sexual attraction. Overton was the friendly but not too bright maintenance man for the owner of their (and neighboring) building who held deep affection for Synclaire. Kyle and Max ended up pursuing 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 claims to be the second coming of Jesus (Harold Perrineau), she began to seriously look for the purpose of her life. Through a series of events, Max decided that her purpose must be to become a mother and during the insemination process 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), 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), the new roommate of Khadijah and Régine who moved in when Synclaire's room became available. Tripp was a songwriter. Synclaire joined a comedy improv troupe where she gained the attention of Tony Jonas, a Warner Bros. television exec who cast her as a nun for a new comedy series he was developing.
Along with trying to make Flavor a success, Khadijah also spent time looking for Mr. Right. She eventually found him in childhood friend Scooter (Cress Williams) with whom she left the brownstone for the final time in the series finale.

Tags: romantic, humor

Review:
Great little sitcom that unfortunately was up against "Seinfeld" for a good portion of its run.
FOX did not handle the exit of the series with any kind of finesse; in fact, it was done very sloppily, with the show being cancelled, and then brought back for a few poorly done episodes.
Synclair and Overton had just about become non-entities after their characters were married.
I like these "Friends" much, much better!.
"Friends" before there were "Friends", Living Single was a far more relatable slice of New York City life and a far funnier one!
Set in 1990's Brooklyn, this story of three female roommates living in the same apartment building as two male roommates, with a single-dweller thrown in was good fun to watch.
The ensemble cast was great with Erika Alexander one of the stand-outs at the always mooching Max and Kim Fields as the mercenary Regine.
And the rest of the cast blended nicely to make for a very funny sitcom.
Each character had its own special sparkle, the dialogue was realistic, and the situations fun.
If I had to choose between reruns of "Friends" or reruns of "Living Single", I'd take "Living Single" 7 days a week and twice on Sundays!
The foundation of most sitcom humor is the weaknesses of characters; this show is a priceless exception.
The writers should be so proud to have presented us with characters who were strong and loving and fun to watch..
Surprisingly, a lot of critics liked this show and compared it to the future megahit FRIENDS.
More critics liked LIVING SINGLE than the latter NBC show and I can see why:  The LS cast was far more funny without being silly.
The show also didn't hit the viewer over the head with the fact that the characters were black, their race just happened to be incidental to the show.
However, the one thing that I DIDN'T exactly buy was the apartments that Kadijah and the girls lived in and Kyle and Overton had.
Somehow, I don't think that these people would have THAT lavish a home considering that "Flava", Kadijah's magazine, wasn't exactly running on the level of, say, "Sister 2 Sister" or "Black Elegance".
I first tuned in because I liked Queen Latifah but soon liked all the other characters, especially Maxine Shaw, Attorney at Law, and Kyle.
The episode where they finally got together was a scream and the cliff-hanger for that season.
I agree that the well-decorated apartments and designer duds were out of sync with the incomes of the characters, but it was fun.
Also interesting about the characters in the context of their upscale lives were their eating habits.
In the end, these were humorous young people engaged in active social lives during the early days of their careers..
If you're as old as I am you may remember not only comparisons to FRIENDS and THE GOLDEN GIRLS, but this sitcom was also called 'a black version of DESIGNING WOMEN' by critics and viewers.
I know we're supposed to be living in a color-blind society denying that any current racism still exists, but this is ridiculous.
How many hundreds of sitcoms are produced in Hollywood (and set in New York) every year which feature swanky apartments that no one with an annual salary of less than $200,000 can actually afford?
Nobody questions why the out-of-work actor or the struggling chef on FRIENDS are in the huge apartments they're in.
It was allowed (after a fashion) to flourish and find its audience and in that time it even started to give shape and background to its core characters- not to mention allowing them to advance (in the way of job promotions, romances, breakups, and even a wedding).
I never thought it ended satisfactorily, but I'm happy for the five years FOX allowed it on the air.
Considering that it preceded FRIENDS on the air by one year, should we conclude that FRIENDS was a white version of LIVING SINGLE?.
Relative to Kim Fields, the site noted that she joined Living Single in 1993.
They identified Living Single as "Fox's African-American ANSWER (emphasis mine) to Friends." How could Living Single be an answer to Friends when it preceded Friends by one year?
If anything Friends was a rip-off of Living Single.
Moreover, Living Single was much better quality show.
With that said, most people would likely describe Friends as groundbreaking and Living Single as derivative.
I loved Living SIngle.
Queen Latifah is one of my idols and I used to make an attempt to take a 30 minute break out of my day to watch this.
I wonder if Max and Kyle reunited for the sake of their unborn child, and if Regine ever got married or settled down with someone, or if Khadijah's magazine made it bigger than what it already was, or if Synclaire and Overton made plenty babies.
Someone should make an attempt to make a Living Single Reunion movie.
Living Single on DVD!.
The first season of Living Single is finally finally on DVD!
There's Cree Summer who was Freddie on ADW as Summer the girl Overton dates right before he and Synclaire get together; Charnele Brown (Kim Reese) as Khadijah's friend who works at Flava and then wants to tattoo permanent makeup for a living; Jasmine Guy (Whitley Gilbert) played a psychologist that Khadijah's goes to see when she's way over-stressed; and Kadeem Harrison (Dwayne Wayne) is a hotshot reporter that tries to beat Kadijah out for the scoop on this fighter who pays off his opponents.
Also the adorable, but pathetic Ivan Ennis is Bumper Robinson who played Dorian Haywood (the guy who wouldn't get with Jada Pinkett Smith's Lena unless they were married) I could go on and on .........See how many you can count!~ Smooches ~"I laughed, I cried and when you opened that coffin, girl, I damn near died!" - Overton after seeing Synclaire perform in The Calling Hours or (as it was renamed) A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To The Funeral...starring Synclaire James!.
Loved this show and it may have been the reason why I never watch Seinfeld when it was on its original time slot.
I wake up at 6:00 AM and watch two episodes back to back.
You just think they are good friends.
I loved the show and I am constantly searching for a download of the song that Kyle (T.C. Carson) and Khadijah (Queen Latifah) sang at Overton (John Hinton) & Synclaire's (Kim Cole) wedding.
Living Single #1.
I record all episodes on Direct TV every day shown on Oxygen.
My 8 yr daughter has become a very big fan of Queen Latifah through watching Living Single reruns.
I love the witty banter shared by the girls and their male friends upstairs.
I love that all the girls were successful in their own careers and always supported each other.
I want to know why Regine left the show so abruptly?
The writers for the show were so very creating for the first 4 years but they let the fans down with the final season ending with some many hanging story lines.
I vote for a Living Single reunion..
"LIVING SINGLE," in my opinion, is an absolute FOX classic!
I don't think I've seen every episode, but I still enjoyed it.
It would have been nice if all the main characters stayed with the show throughout its entire run.
In conclusion, even though it can be seen on Oxygen now, I heartily recommend you catch it just in case it goes off the air for good..
Living Single....the apartments, lifestyles and clothes are not realistic?
I love, love, love Living Single!!
It had some truly great story lines and was funny as all get out....and it "looked" like me.;-) Now, what I am not understanding are the comments suggesting they could not afford their lifestyles.
And, can we not also deduce correctly that since Kyle IS a successful stockbroker ON THE RISE with NO KIDS and NO WIFE, it is completely feasible he can afford the apartment, his designer clothes, and art collection not only WITH Overton, but by himself as well?
Last, but not least, Max lives across the street in the same neighborhood.
I'm thinking EACH one of these "tenants" HAD to make a MINIMUM of $50k per year in NYC, with Kyle, Max, and possibly Khadijah on the higher end of $75-85k or better, wouldn't you agree?
Or, in Kyle's and Overton's case, $1800 a piece BEFORE Overton's "live-in" Handyman's discount is applied, making the apartment surely close to, if not free?
(In Season 4, she was looking for apartments around that price range after her building went co-op and she wasn't sure if she would be able to purchase it).So, my point is (and to sum this sermon up lol).....if Carrie did this on her own with multiple pairs of $450+ shoes in Manhattan on a writer's salary (no matter if we are in TV Land *wink*).....tell me why my beautiful, each successful in their own right, black "family" cannot REALISTICALLY afford their digs in Brooklyn with three apartments and SIX incomes between them.......TOGETHER.....IN THE NINETIES....WITH NO RESPONSIBILITIES.....AND UNDER THE BILL CLINTON ADMINISTRATION???
This show is kinda like THE GOLDEN GIRLS but with a younger cast.
It's funny and highly entertaining; and unlike t.v. shows like FRIENDS, this show is actually funny and intelligent with a brilliant cast!
I really liked this show when it aired from 1993 to 1998.
The characters were interesting and funny.
For a TV show, the characters had great depth.
Like some of the other reviewers, I thought this show was a lot better than "Friends".
I really miss this show, and have not really been interested in any of Fox's offerings since this show left the air in mid-season '98..
I never knew how much I missed this show until the first season came out on DVD, and then I couldn't wait to watch every episode all over again.When the show first came on back in the 1990s I was still a teenager but wanted my life to turn out like theirs.
Living in a big city with my college friends and still being able to hang out with people from my childhood.
Now that I am in my mid 20s some of those things have come true; I have a friend who acts like Max, I still hangout with several of my childhood friends, and I got a Kyle and Overton, we just don't all live in the same area.
Point to all of this is they just don't make shows like this anymore.
I watch crime drama now, but I still like a good laugh now and then, even though the show was fictional a lot of the issues they discuss were real topics.
Me and girlfriends watched the episode when Max started dating Regine's ex and it caused friction between them, we sat and laugh at the episode but we discussed how that would hurt our friendship.
I really miss this show and will always be a Living Single fan....
How long do we have to wait for Season 2 to come out on DVD!!
How long do we have to wait for Season 2 to come out on DVD!!
This show was a forerunner of Friends, Sex in the City, and Girlfriends.
This show was a forerunner of Friends, Sex in the City, and Girlfriends.
I am hoping for more Living Single.
I am hoping for more Living Single.
Living Single is one of my favorite TV shows and I generally don't like sitcoms.
All the characters are great, although Sinclair was my least favorite.
is very funny and relaxed in her role and seems like someone you know.
Maxine was good, but as the series evolved her character became cartoonish.
I wish the actor who played Kyle Barker would show up again somewhere--he was wonderful.
If you get a chance to watch it, then do, cause you will love it.
The Forerunner To Friends: Amusing, Light-Hearted -Yet Far More Intelligent.
Living single was lauded as the African-American version of Designing Women and Friends.
With the latter show being a forerunner to Living Single.
Like Friends, it was based in New York- only this time in Brooklyn and as opposed to just 3 guys and 3 girls, there were 2 guys and 4 girls who all hanged out in a little apartment.
The show's ensemble cast was one of the best, let alone in a Black sitcom; Queen Latifah was superb as Khadijah- she was laid-back but also, had a no-nonsense yet still firm attitude.
Erika was at times hilarious as Maxine, Kim Fields was very, very good as Regine and managed to be sharp and sweet too.
My favourite was Synclaire (notice the spelling, there is an 'e' at the end of it); played by actress and later TV host, Kim Coles.
She was by and large the Black version of 'Phoebe' from Friends.
Another Friends- like character was Kyle- he was the show's version of Ross but he was less goofy and more reserved, he came off as being very 'dashing' and exquisite in contrast.
And last but not least was Overton- he was the more laid-back, easy going, fun loving guy.
Arguably, most of the jokes and funnier moments were much better handled and executed well; thus, it stood out more than NBC's worldwide hit, Friends.
Each character had their own agendas, as well as individual personalities and the actors all had depth and they brought something different to them to make them as likable as interesting as they are.
I also noticed whilst watching a few of the episodes that there seemed to be an air of intelligence, especially in the writing that made this head and shoulders above many other black sitcoms.
The scripting of Living Single was excellent.
One's initial viewing of this show would be this is a 'chick' show, but for a so-called chick sitcom, Living Single was both clever AND amusing.
I read also that like many sitcoms over the last decade, Living Single fell foul to terrible writing towards the last couple of open-ended episodes of the final season, which later resulted in its cancellation by network Fox- only for the series to be brought back and wrapped up in the final 3 eps.
Living Single was very under-rated as a show; the characters were well developed and story-lines were well-written; the writers did extremely well in juggling and handling both the humour and drama.
The rights were never bought in the UK, and so I don't recall Living Single ever being shown on terrestrial and satellite TV over here.
But I have watched a couple of the episodes on-line and for me, it is a really good sitcom.
Overall, it was and still is amusing, light-hearted and one of the most intelligent sitcom shows around.
Living Single may not have been an outright sitcom classic, yet it was terrific fun that during the 00s its relatively short success was later followed by the likes of 'Girlfriends'- another sitcom that was remarkably similar to Living Single in many respects.
Living Single was a show that was fresh and unique that deserved to be handled much, much better than it was by Fox..
I also never watched "Seinfeld" because I liked this series.
Thankfully, I can now see "Seinfeld" on endless re-runs on Fox. These shows went across racial lines.
Who'd ever think that Queen Latifah would become such a big star?
Very funny series.
I used to watch this a while ago when it would come on before The Simpsons on Fox, and I liked it pretty well.
wanting to buy living single series.
I love this show and i bought the first season.
I want to buy the entire season.
Let me know if we need to write someone for them to put this show on the market because it is worth every bit of money that its worth.
Other shows are on sale and I feel like this should also be on sale.
Thanks so much a very true fan of living single...
My favorite show is when kyle and max got together and went to the hotel to get busy and Kim Fields was being nosy and trying to find them too funny..
Looking for New DVD of second season.
I also Would like to know when the second season of Living Single is coming out on DVD.
Please Let me know how to find OUT.I enjoyed Living Single very much It was good to see a black TV show that was good and not made blacks too stupid.
The actors were great, Max got to be a little over the top.
The way Kim Fields was written out was not good, but we don't know all the details of why she left.
I have only recently watch Friends in reruns the show seems to be really silly.
Living Single touch on some important topics at times.
Living Single Follow Up. Actually in the last episode, Max and Kyle ended up leaving together, Regine became engaged to a rich man, Synclair and Ovalton, of course, are married and Khadijah is still dating Scooter from what I remember.
But, they are now showing the Living Single marathon on TV ONE.
It featured all the main characters except Queen Latifah.
They discussed how "Living Single" came about, how they all got their parts, and the experiences they shared working on the show together..
I like the show because the characters are pretty well developed with two pair that are similar.
The first pair is Sinclaire and the apartment handyman Overton.
The other pair is Max the over sexed, man using, lawyer and the commodities broker Kyle.
Kyle rooms with Overton upstairs from the three girls that live together.
Although Max has her own place she is over so much and eats so much free food she might as well live with the others.