Skillz Rossling, TLR

***Skillz Rossling, TLR*** is an American television sitcom created by Brooke Payne. It aired from October 12, 1990 to May 28, 1993 on Magic XL. The series is shot in front of a live studio audience, which is mentioned at the start of each episode.

The series' pilot episode garnered over a million views on its first airing while airing after the *yo, Rizz!* three-part episode "yo, Let's Go To Jamaica!"

## Plot

The series starred Johnny Gill as title character Skillz Rossling in this show. Twenty-year-old Skillz was selling hot dogs with his friend Kari Cremelove (Karyn White) in the fashion district in Washington, D.C. When he is complimented by fashion designer Gladys Glazeman (Gladys Knight), founder and CEO of Glaze Fashions, Inc., Gladys realizes the clothes Skillz is wearing are her designs, but Skillz had altered them to suit his own purposes. Gladys likes the altered design, and hires Skillz to be the TLR (Tailor) of her fashion company's casual clothing division. Skillz hires his best friend Keezy Hill (Keith Sweat) to be his assistant after firing Roach, his former assistant who was upset and bitter about being surpassed in the business by a youth. With Keezy and Kari's help, Skillz works to be the best he can be despite various obstacles such as his self-centered co-worker Luther Milkindell (Luther Vandross), who is less than enthusiastic to be working with a younger person, but the truth is that he is jealous of Skillz because of how Gladys pays more attention to Skillz than he does to him. Skillz sees Luther as an amazing icon in fashion and eventually Luther recognizes Skillz as a fashion equal, though he still taunts Skillz playfully on a regular basis.

## Cast

### Main Cast

* Johnny Gill as Skillz Rossling
* Keith Sweat as Keezy Hill
* Karyn White as Kari Cremelove
* Luther Vandross as Luther Milkindell
* Mariah Carey as Mimi Glazeman (seasons 2-3, recurring season 1)
* Chaka Khan as Chaka Watson
* Gladys Knight as Gladys Glazeman

### Recurring Cast

* Gloria Gaynor as Dangleworm
* Regina Belle as Winnie P.
* Al B. Sure! as Zeke Phillips
* Teddy Pendergrass as Professor Manny Moore
* Smokey Robinson as Carson Denim
* Gerald Levert as Rocky Rhodes
* Donna Summer as Professor Aqua Anderson
* Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds as Scott Wells

## Main Characters

### Skillz Rossling

**John "Skillz" Rossling** (Johnny Gill) is a 20-year-old (22/23 in season 3) young adult who serves as the Tailor of casual fashion at Glaze Fashions, Inc., where he works, and gets into mishaps and has a lot of fun with his friends. He is fairly intelligent and hard working with an odd family. He is usually the most sensible of his friends. In the beginning of the series, he has a crush on Mimi, Ms. Glazeman's nephew, and they eventually become a couple. A running gag in the series is his catchphrase, "Now-now huh?".

### Keezy Hill

**Keith "Keezy" Hill** (Keith Sweat) is the best friend and secretary–assistant of Skillz. He tends to be very "cuckoo", loud, and clueless. He is easily distracted as seen in every episode. Although not many people believe it, he is very intelligent and loves math and science. He also suffers from Trichotillomania which means sucking of thumb. Plus he's also has Ailurophobia which means he somewhat afraid of cats (As he mentions to Skillz in one episode, "They give me the goosebumps but I'm not sure why.").

### Kari Cremelove

**Karyn "Kari" Cremelove** (Karyn White) is the girl best friend of Skillz. Though she does not have an official job at Glaze Fashions, Inc., she always is there to hang out with Skillz and Keezy. She is not very smart and is very clumsy. Kari's middle name is August, but she dislikes it. Chaka is not sure if Cremelove is Kari's real last name, but according to Kari's big sister, she got the name when one of her ancestors was given the name "Cremelove" by her crew captain while she was working on a ship. It is hinted that she has a little crush on Luther, but this no longer acknowledged in the second season due to her affection for Zeke.

### Luther Milkindell

**Luther Milkindell** (Luther Vandross) is one of the many workers at Glaze Fashions, Inc. He is the Tailor of Men's Clothing. Through the beginning of the series, Luther is seen as Skillz's rival as they often fought/disagreed with each other, but Luther is slowly becoming Skillz's friend.

### Mimi Glazeman

**Mimi Glazeman** (Mariah Carey) is the niece of Gladys Glazeman and a mail/package deliverer at Glaze Fashions, Inc. and is the girl of Skillz's affection. She has feelings towards Skillz, but couldn't date him for a while due to a job rule, until Skillz got jealous of a new delivery guy and they became a couple. In the episode Unknown Skillz, Mimi and Skillz are caught kissing by Gladys and she says that in order for them to stay together, one of them must quit. But by the end of the episode, Gladys changes the rule.

### Chaka Watson

**Chaka Watson** (Chaka Khan) is the main secretary and operator for Glaze Fashions, Inc., and works behind the reception desk on the floor where the Glaze Fashions, Inc. offices are. She is often shown taking calls on the telephone or delivering messages to Luther. Known for her funky style and to crack jokes, she tends to speak in a nice, sassy manner. She is flamboyant and wears pearls all the time.

### Gladys Glazeman

**Gladys Glazeman** (Gladys Knight) is the boss and CEO of Glaze Fashions, Inc. and holds all the meetings and other social events, often glorifying Skillz but rarely criticizes him. She is somewhat odd and is Mimi's aunt.