Living Single
A Raze in Harlem
Season 3, Episode 21 · Aired 1996-03-07
Synopsis
Kyle is devastated to learn that an historic jazz club, the Showboat, is to be demolished. All his friends chip in with his campaign to save the club. Kyle fantasizes about the club's heyday, with all of the characters assuming other roles. Kyle is a busboy with a dream of singing on stage; Max is Big Max, the sexist club owner who constantly comes on to him; Khadijah is Kay, the club's singer; Regine is Zelda Fitzsimmons, a diva who seems to be missing a few marbles; Synclaire is Claire, a no-nonsense bible thumper; and Overton is Hooch Jones, the moonshiner who wins her heart when she learns he is funding orphanage repairs. Big Max fires Kyle for refusing to sleep with her, but is forced to let him take the stage when Kay quits to pursue a film career. Before he can sing his first note, the police raid the club. After all efforts to save the Showboat prove fruitless, Kyle heads down to the club to say goodbye. He bribes the construction crew into allowing him a few moments alone. He fulfills his dream of singing on the Showboat stage, then tearfully says farewell to this piece of his musical heritage.Tag:Kyle leaves club and walks down street, circa 1920s.Music:"Taint Nobody's Bizness if I Do," performed by Queen Latifah; "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" and "Honeysuckle Rose," performed by T.C. Carson
In the series
This episode is part of Living Single (1993–1998) on Fox.
Brooklyn brownstone friend group — Black Friends before Friends was a comparison.
Key cast
- Queen Latifah as Khadijah James
- Kim Coles as Synclaire James
- Erika Alexander as Maxine Shaw
- Kim Fields as Regine Hunter
- John Henton as Overton Wakefield Jones
- T.C. Carson as Kyle Barker