- 16 hours ago
On this week's episode: Grace Gealey dishes on her character Anita aka "Boo Boo Kitty" and what it's like to work with fiance, Trai Byers, we recap the season premiere of Empire with the night's 5 best tweets, our primetime premiere panel talks fall
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00:00Today on Essence Live, it's our Shondaland extravaganza.
00:05We have exclusives from behind the scenes of our cover shoot with Shonda and Kerry Washington.
00:10Plus, big congratulations to my girl, Viola Davis.
00:13And my dancing partner, Grace Gilley, stopped by.
00:16Hendrix Gin is here serving us up some prime time cocktails.
00:21Because you can't talk TV without cocktails.
00:23My boo Terrence is joining me.
00:25And we have plenty of Slade or Shade.
00:27Did you know Blackish takes on the N-word in their season premiere?
00:31Don't go anywhere, because Essence Live starts now.
00:44Welcome, welcome, welcome everyone to another fabulous episode of Essence Live.
00:48Today is our Shondaland extravaganza.
00:51I hope you are ready because we have lots of TV to talk about.
00:54But of course, I want to hear from each and every one of you per the usual.
00:58So please reach out to us via social media using the hashtag Essence Live.
01:02And of course, keep it cute, keep it clean.
01:05So before we get started, I have a very, very special treat today.
01:08Hendrix Gin has joined us for the festivities with prime time cocktails.
01:13I mean, how else can you talk about TV without some cocktails?
01:16So we're going to get to that a little bit in the show.
01:18But first, I know you saw that Empire premiere last night.
01:21My girl Grace Geely stopped by a little bit earlier to spill all of the tea on Season 2.
01:25Check it out.
01:26Essence Live, it has been a long, long summer.
01:29But it's not because of like the hot day parties and the brunches and the barbecues.
01:32But it's been a long summer because we had to go without our empire.
01:35But fear no more, it is back.
01:38And also back here on Essence Live, we have the beautiful and talented Ms. Grace Geely.
01:41How are you?
01:42Hi!
01:43Good to be here.
01:44Thanks for turning.
01:45Yes.
01:46Okay, I have tons and tons of questions.
01:47Okay, I'm ready.
01:48So last time you were here, you were not engaged.
01:51Congratulations.
01:54How has that been?
01:55Has it changed your working relationship with Trey now that you're engaged and your relationship
01:58is public?
01:59You know, what's interesting is that we actually don't talk about our relationship.
02:03So...
02:04Which is a good thing.
02:05Yeah.
02:06Yeah, but I will say that we've always been professional and we always will be.
02:10So there's never a moment where you're like, so before you left the house this morning,
02:14you know, you could have put your coffee cup in the sink or none of that.
02:17Oh, that's just me.
02:18I would do that.
02:19Okay, so last time we were waiting to see what was going to happen with Anika and Lucius
02:24and your whole triangle and you caught Lucius.
02:27So now that season two is back, where do we find your character and where...
02:33I know you can't spell too much, but where can we possibly see her going?
02:36Well, a lot of the alliances, like you said, are shifting.
02:38People that you don't think will go through a period of not talking will not talk.
02:43So I think that it's going to be really exciting to kind of see the opposite of what you saw
02:48last season a little bit.
02:49And I think for my character, she gets to show a little bit more...
02:54a few more dimensions, I think.
02:56And so you'll see her make you laugh, she'll make you cry, hopefully.
03:00So you get to see much more of her humanity this time around.
03:04And you get to see how it shifts her relationships with every single person in her life.
03:09And getting to see more of your character may shift some people from Team Cookie to Team Boo Boo Kitty, if you will.
03:14You know what though? I really hope that with this season, instead of being one or the other, that you could be both.
03:21Okay.
03:22Yeah.
03:23I think that's fair enough.
03:24Yeah.
03:25Because especially as women here, in essence, you can kind of see both sides and kind of feel for both characters.
03:29Yeah, and some of my favorite movies or TV shows are the ones where, although there are clear protagonists and antagonists,
03:35you can totally understand where all of them are coming from and it makes you just want to watch everyone's story.
03:42You know, and that's the way that life is.
03:44And that's what keeps us like this every week.
03:45I know.
03:46Yeah.
03:47So that's what I'm hoping for.
03:48And so your alliance with Yaz, are we going to see that play out a little bit more in season two?
03:53I think so.
03:54I think you'll definitely get a chance to see if they really are allied and in what way are they allied.
04:01You get to see if there's loyalty there or if that turns into something deeper, which is going to be really, really jaw-dropping.
04:08Because that dropped my jaw.
04:10Girl, it dropped my jaw.
04:11When you read it in the script, you're like, what now?
04:13I read it in the script.
04:14I was like, wait a minute.
04:15No, no.
04:16Page three.
04:17Just checking.
04:18That was me.
04:19That was me.
04:20I was like, wait a minute.
04:21She got to hit that low?
04:23Is that what's happening?
04:24Is that what we're doing?
04:25Yeah.
04:26As you can see, we had a whole lot, lot of fun.
04:30And now joining me for more tea and much, much more fun, we have three beautiful ladies.
04:34They're no strangers here to Essence Live.
04:36We have Pamela Edwards-Cristiani, beauty and fashion director here at Essence.
04:39How are you?
04:40Good to be here.
04:41Good to be here.
04:42Are you ready to have some popcorn and some drinks?
04:43I'm ready for some cocktails.
04:44Okay, because I mean, you know.
04:45Afternoon delight.
04:46We're going to spill it.
04:47And of course, our boo, Charlie Pan Relationships Editor.
04:49How are you?
04:50Hey, Dana.
04:51Okay.
04:52We're going to talk some juiciness and I hope you're ready.
04:53I'm so ready.
04:54You ready?
04:55Yes.
04:56Let's do it.
04:57Hey.
04:58Hey.
04:59Hey.
05:00Hey.
05:01Hey.
05:02Entertainment director, I know you're ready for this segment.
05:04I'm so ready.
05:05I'm so ready.
05:06I'm so ready.
05:07So we're going to get to the cocktails in a minute.
05:08Jeez, these ladies are aggressive on a Thursday.
05:10It's like turn up Thursday.
05:11I've got to get ready for this.
05:13Hey.
05:14Hey.
05:15So ladies, before we get started in all of the chit-chatter, we have a new segment that
05:18we're introducing here to the Essence Live show.
05:21So each and every week, now that the TV season is back, we're going to feature one show,
05:25one that's really buzz worthy that's happened that week, and we're going to summarize it
05:29in five tweets using tweets from you guys out there.
05:32I always say I want to hear from you and y'all are quite funny.
05:35So make sure you tune in each and every week because your tweet might be featured.
05:38And of course, we have to talk Empire.
05:40So coming up, Empire in five tweets.
05:48You like that little bird?
05:54All right.
05:55So first up, the cubicle chick.
05:57Where can I get my hashtag free Lucius t-shirt?
06:00Hashtag Empire, hashtag Empire Fox.
06:02Now I know that's the next big thing you're going to see everybody on the train with.
06:05Number two, at Dreamin1731, the number of cameos is too damn higher.
06:11Hashtag Empire season two.
06:13Once I saw Andre Leon Talley, I knew it was over.
06:15Number three, at the Limerick Lane.
06:17Lucius got FaceTime in prison too.
06:19Word.
06:20Hashtag Empire.
06:21Number four, at SATC Addict.
06:24So I guess you can just kill people openly in jail with no guards around.
06:27It happens all the time.
06:28You should watch Locked Up Raw.
06:29Number five, at Melissa.
06:32Jamal is going down because you don't disrespect Cookie, your mom and constant cheerleader.
06:37Hashtag Empire season two.
06:39I was waiting for somebody to say that.
06:40I was waiting for somebody.
06:41But he took both of those slaps like a G.
06:43Okay.
06:44He did.
06:45All right, so we are going to jump right into Empire.
06:52I know you all watched the premiere last night.
06:54What are your initial thoughts?
06:55Fashion.
06:56Fashion.
06:57Fashion.
06:58Ooh.
06:59Fashion.
07:00Charlie?
07:01So scandal, so juicy.
07:02I was just like, they didn't waste any time.
07:03Because you have to jump right into it.
07:04Elevating our heart rate.
07:05Because they left us in such a way where you're like, you gotta go.
07:07Corey?
07:08I have to go with the guest star.
07:09Someone tweeted, one you should have had.
07:11Someone said, they did the meme of Oprah when she gave away those cars.
07:15Uh-huh.
07:16And they were like, you get a role.
07:17You get a role.
07:18You get a role.
07:19It's the truth.
07:20It is the truth.
07:21We know we got more people.
07:22Alicia Keys.
07:23Kelly Rowland.
07:24So many people are coming.
07:25Last night it was with Andre Leon Talley.
07:27It was Swiss Beats.
07:28Chris Rock.
07:29Everybody's talking about P.D. Pablo.
07:30Okay.
07:31Okay.
07:32Who can confirm?
07:33I'm excited to see Miss Lawrence.
07:34Because Miss Lawrence can put it down.
07:35Okay.
07:36And I was so upset when you didn't see anything else from the music career.
07:39But laying on the table and singing.
07:41I was like, yes.
07:42And Don Lemon.
07:43And Don Lemon.
07:44Yeah.
07:45There were a lot of not so subliminal subliminals in the show which I really enjoyed.
07:49But first we're going to talk fashion.
07:50Fashion.
07:51So from season one everyone's all about Cookie and what she's wearing and what she's not wearing.
07:54And then old girl came down in a gorilla suit with an illusion mesh and a feather.
07:58Right.
07:59What did you think?
08:00Last season was all like leopard.
08:01It was all just like giving me that.
08:03And that was like gorilla to Gucci.
08:04And she's definitely stepping it up.
08:05And that was a Gucci gown.
08:06It really was.
08:07That sounds like an album.
08:08Was it really last season?
08:09Gorilla to Gucci.
08:10It really was.
08:11But that's quite alright.
08:12It doesn't matter because Cookie's catching up.
08:13Right.
08:14Catching up.
08:15You know she's never going to.
08:16She's got a big personality.
08:17She has to have big, opulent, more is more fashion.
08:20Like that's the way it's going to go with her.
08:22Then that mosquito, that jacket with the Mr. T reference.
08:24Yes.
08:25Like it was just too much, you know.
08:27But too much in a good way.
08:28Right.
08:29I thought Marissa Tomei looked really great.
08:30She did.
08:31Very well edited.
08:32Yes.
08:33Even though she was dancing off rhythm like.
08:34Right.
08:35She was.
08:36That's my girl though.
08:37But we forget her.
08:38She looks great.
08:39She looks amazing.
08:40She looks really, really good.
08:41Yeah.
08:42What about the guys?
08:43Not really too much male fashion happening in season.
08:44The orange.
08:45The orange jumpsuits predominantly.
08:46Orange and black.
08:47That was kind of like cute for a second.
08:48But I mean you know we had to focus on the characters.
08:49Right.
08:50Right.
08:51We had to focus on what's happening with Chris and you know Lucius whatever.
08:52So what would you like to see happen in season two in terms of fashion?
08:53Everybody get their moment.
08:54Because like you said.
08:55So now Marissa Tomei is on here.
08:56Right.
08:57Mimi whatever her name is.
08:58And I got a little like when we were shooting someone else a while ago.
09:00We were in Chicago.
09:01In the fancy Ikram.
09:02Chicago.
09:03And we found out that like a late.
09:04They buy.
09:05They get a lot of clothing for Marissa and some other characters there.
09:08And that's a fantastic boutique.
09:09So you know getting a little inside baseball.
09:10But like she's actually had a little bit of elegance that I loved.
09:13I guess it was kind of like she's sort of the.
09:16She's an antagonistic kind of a thing I mean that's going on.
09:19We don't know the back story.
09:20We just know that she's had some relationships with folks.
09:22Right.
09:23And we know it with folks.
09:24With folks.
09:25Yeah.
09:26And of course you know it's fine to mix it up.
09:27I love that everybody has their own sort of lane.
09:29Everybody can't be cookie and that's okay.
09:31Right.
09:32But you know what though.
09:33I have to say this.
09:34We just sat down with Grace.
09:35I love Grace.
09:36Beautiful girl.
09:37I want to see you take off the bolero cardigan.
09:38I know.
09:39I know.
09:40But she did twerk it.
09:41She did twerk it.
09:42And it looked good.
09:43It was still body con.
09:44Yes.
09:45And I love the yellow when he did that slow-mo walking.
09:47Yeah.
09:48To take over and then they got played.
09:49Yeah.
09:50I loved it.
09:51I like a good slow-mo walk.
09:52Sometimes I want a slow-mo walk in real life.
09:54I know.
09:55I do.
09:56But before we talk scandal I want to check out my boy over here.
09:58Dave.
09:59Dave is our bartender joining us on set today.
10:01Because you can't have gossip and TV chat and all the gals together.
10:05And not have some great cocktails.
10:06So Dave.
10:07Can't do it.
10:08Thank you so very much for joining us today.
10:09Absolutely.
10:10How are you?
10:11Good.
10:12Good.
10:13Okay.
10:14So you're going to be making three cocktails for us.
10:15Yep.
10:16Can you tell us a little bit about one of them and we'll continue to check in with you throughout
10:17the show.
10:18Yeah.
10:19Absolutely.
10:20So the first drink that we're going to be making is called the Lion Legacy.
10:21Oh.
10:22Which you could imagine where that comes from.
10:23It's a little bit bitter, a little bit sweet.
10:26And it's based with Hendrix Gin.
10:27Mm-hmm.
10:28So it's one ounce of Campari, which is a bittersweet orange liqueur.
10:30Mm-hmm.
10:31Then one ounce of sweet vermouth and one ounce of Hendrix.
10:34Stir it up.
10:35Add an orange peel on top as the garnish and that's it.
10:38Now can I make this for my side, boo?
10:40Absolutely.
10:41You could.
10:42I mean, I'd rather you make it for me, but.
10:44Oh, okay.
10:45Well, actually, you're the expert, so I'll let you do that.
10:47And I'll just sit and look cute on the side.
10:49But we could sit together.
10:50And I want to point out that all of our cocktails today are featuring Hendrix Gin.
10:53So, Dave, I'm going to continue to check back in with you.
10:56Yeah, I'll be here.
10:57Dave has an amazing voice, by the way.
10:58I know you hear it out there.
10:59Yes, it's calm, ladies.
11:00He's like, boom.
11:01Okay, so now let's chat a scondalo.
11:03Scandal.
11:04Scandal.
11:05T-G-I-T.
11:06Shonda is tonight.
11:09All right, Charlie, live in Fitz.
11:11Let's talk about it.
11:12Are they going to go make jam in Vermont?
11:13I mean, they better.
11:14They really, you know, they're supposed to be standing in the sun right now.
11:18I mean, it literally ended last season with them about to make love on, like, the patio balcony of the White House.
11:24Like, seriously.
11:25Because TMZ would never see that.
11:26Right, because, like, there's not somebody with, like, because there's not somebody with, like, a telescope, like, you know, eight miles away, watching every, you know?
11:33Okay.
11:34But they were, you know, they were going for it.
11:36And, I mean, the First Lady got kicked out of the White House.
11:38They've got to bring Millie back.
11:39Uh-oh.
11:40They, I love, I am Team Millie.
11:41She's a senator now.
11:42Team Millie.
11:43She doesn't work without Millie.
11:44It doesn't work without Millie.
11:45I know, but right now, you know, she's at her bestie's house with popcorn.
11:49So, Corey, you're Team Millie.
11:51I am Team Millie.
11:52Really?
11:53What do you feel, like, what do you, as an entertainment guru, what do you want to happen?
11:57On Scandal, I want Millie to come back and just cause havoc in that White House.
12:04I want her to come back in and say, nope, this is my husband, fits you or mine.
12:07Yes.
12:08I have been through too much stuff with you.
12:10Olivia, take a seat.
12:11That's what I want.
12:12And I want it to be, like, Olivia versus Millie.
12:14I mean, it's already been that, but I want that to be, like, something.
12:16But hardcore.
12:17Like, totally.
12:18Like, Mayweather's Pacquiao.
12:19Yes.
12:20That would be something to be.
12:21That's what I want.
12:22Yeah, it would be.
12:23I kind of feel like Liv should have never left Jake in the sun.
12:25I know.
12:27That beach was looking amazing to me and she should have, it looked great.
12:29They should have stayed there.
12:30Remember?
12:31They should have, like, that was her moment.
12:32There was some graphic sexual content on that episode, if y'all remember correctly.
12:35So, we have some Scandal.
12:36We're going to watch it all tonight.
12:37I know all of you are going to watch it and you're going to chat with us via hashtag Essence Live.
12:40Maybe you'll be featured next week on our top five tweets.
12:43How to get away with murder.
12:47You can't, and you can't say the title without saying it like that.
12:49You can't, yes.
12:50So, talk to me.
12:51Viola Davis, congratulations.
12:52Shout out.
12:53So, I have to set up straight up because Viola Davis is now an Emmy Award-winning actress.
12:56To go with her Tony Award-winning, I'm voting for her to get the EGOT.
12:59That would be great.
13:00Someone needs to give her a book to do an audio recording and then that Oscar.
13:04And there was some controversy around her speech.
13:05She's getting some backlash from a couple of folks.
13:07Who is this chick from General Hospital?
13:08Nobody knows this chick.
13:09Like, I was like, is that Laurel?
13:11Like, I mean, I was like, who is that?
13:13I have a very good friend that works at General Hospital.
13:16But anyway, but yes, this actress, get her name, came for Viola Davis and black Twitter,
13:21I think actually all of Twitter came for her back and was like, sit down, stay in your lane.
13:26You're angry.
13:27You're probably menopausal.
13:29It's just like, stop.
13:31Right, right.
13:32She was jealous.
13:33She was.
13:34And she didn't say anything necessarily.
13:35I don't think she said anything that was like controversial.
13:37No.
13:38She didn't talk about somebody's mama.
13:39No.
13:40Like, she was just basically saying factual information in a very articulate, very clear, direct manner.
13:44Yes.
13:45I was shocked it was a first.
13:46I couldn't believe, like, I didn't even know that.
13:47I was like, really?
13:48Right.
13:49In 2015.
13:50Yeah.
13:51That's how it explains Kerry Washington's tears.
13:53Absolutely.
13:54You know what I mean?
13:55And what I loved in that moment was the black sister girl moment that they all had in there.
13:58To Raji, the way she got up there.
13:59Right.
14:00Everything.
14:01I mean, I know they were all going, you know, they were all vying for it.
14:03They knew she deserved it.
14:04But they all knew that it was Viola.
14:06And even if everyone else wasn't totally here for it, they were.
14:08Yes.
14:09And that was so special.
14:10Right.
14:11They knew what they were coming to do that night.
14:12Remember?
14:13Right.
14:14It was.
14:15It said she had her girls with her.
14:16Absolutely.
14:17So I think that's sort of what was happening.
14:19Corey, what do you want to see happen in tonight's episode?
14:21All right.
14:22So we know who killed Sam.
14:23Mm-hmm.
14:24And Lila's dead.
14:25Mm-hmm.
14:26Well, Lila's been dead.
14:27Rebecca's now dead.
14:28But we've got to find out between Frank and Viola.
14:30I mean, Annalise, excuse me.
14:32Anna Mae, actually.
14:33She's the Anna Mae.
14:35Look at you.
14:36Cicely Tyson, come back.
14:37And we haven't even had a problem.
14:38We haven't even had a problem.
14:39But ladies, I'm going to have to put you on pause for a brief
14:41moment.
14:42We're going to take a quick commercial break.
14:43Pay the bills.
14:44Okay.
14:45And we're going to get our drinks and our gin going,
14:46our Hendrix gin.
14:47Don't go anywhere.
14:48Essence.com because Shondaland extravaganza continues.
14:52Coming up, exclusive interviews with Carrie and Shonda from,
14:55you know, our cover behind the scenes.
14:57Have you checked it out on newsstands yet?
14:59Essence Live will be right back.
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15:33Welcome back to our Shondaland extravaganza.
15:36I'm joined by Corey, Charlie, and Pam, our fabulous editors.
15:39And, you know, we got a Hendrix mixologist.
15:41Well, you know, bartender, liqueur guru, if you will.
15:45Dave joining us.
15:46Dave with the voice.
15:47Plus, don't forget, please use the hashtag Essence Live if you want
15:50to let us know what's going on in your mind over there.
15:52Any thoughts on about today's show, upcoming shows, etc.
15:55But, of course, like I say always, keep it cute.
15:57Now, Shondaland.
16:00Mmm.
16:01Are y'all ready for tonight?
16:02We're really ready.
16:03Are you really, really ready?
16:04Yeah.
16:05Yeah.
16:06We're having a party.
16:07I'm going to see if you guys are right.
16:08I'm going to tweet every last one of you to see if y'all are
16:09right about your predictions for tonight.
16:11BTW.
16:12Just so you know.
16:13So you have some really fabulous cocktails in front of you.
16:15Yes.
16:16Okay.
16:17This one looks really, really refreshing.
16:18I know.
16:19Dave, my love muffin over there.
16:21Can you tell me a little bit about Pam's drink?
16:23This lovely light green situation.
16:25Absolutely.
16:26So we call that the fixer.
16:27The fixer.
16:28I like it.
16:29That's your Olivia Pope right there.
16:30The fixer.
16:31The fixer.
16:32Uh-huh.
16:33So that is cucumber, a little bit of San Germain, lemon juice, and
16:36Hendrix.
16:37Nice.
16:38And what does Charlie have here with this beautiful orange peel?
16:40Now, first of all, I could never make it look this pretty at my house, just so you
16:43know, FYI.
16:44Seriously.
16:45So what's this one that Charlie has here in the middle with the orange peel?
16:47So the orange peel, that was the Lion Legacy.
16:49The Lion Legacy.
16:50Yeah.
16:51Okay.
16:52And then Corey with the lemon.
16:53And then Corey, you have, that is Annalise's nightcap.
16:56Ooh.
16:57So that one is...
16:59Cheers.
17:00So cheers.
17:01Cheers.
17:02Cheers.
17:03Cheers.
17:04Yes.
17:05Don't go anywhere.
17:06We have more fabulous Shondaland coming up, and of course more Hendrix Gin.
17:10I'm gonna get my own glasses.
17:11Thank you to all of our panelists, Pam, Corey, and Charlie.
17:14Corey's gonna be sticking around for some more Slater Shade.
17:17Don't go anywhere.
17:18More Essence Live coming up.
17:19But right now, we have that behind-the-scenes package from our Shondaland.
17:22Shoot.
17:23Check it out.
17:25So yesterday we had the entire Shondaland family, all of the actors together.
17:34I don't think we've ever actually done anything like that before with all of our cast members.
17:38It was amazing.
17:39It was something that we needed.
17:40What you get is the sense of community, which is so important with actors, to feel that sense of camaraderie.
17:47And it was this moment, I think for a lot of us, some of us got emotional, to sort of realize what we've all accomplished and what was going on.
17:56This was really historic.
17:58It's why I do what I do.
17:59If I could play a character on any other Shondaland show, it would be the character that you have not yet seen.
18:09And that character is the daughter that Annalise Keating gave away and has been raised by her mother.
18:18And this is only, selfishly, so I can be in a scene with Cicely Tyson and Viola Davis.
18:25But the catch is, I don't want to speak because I would be too intimidated.
18:29Probably one of the girls, I think.
18:31They have a lot of fun, you know?
18:34Come on now.
18:36Obviously, I would want to play Olivia Pope.
18:39She's always a step ahead of everyone else, but she also has the biggest heart.
18:43Like, she cares so much and that's why she's so great at her job.
18:46And it's nice when you can be the smartest person in the room.
18:49Always Olivia Pope.
18:51Everyone wants to be Olivia Pope.
18:54In my wildest dreams, I could not have even imagined praying for a boss like Shonda.
19:02She makes you want to step up to the plate and dare yourself to say yes to things that
19:10maybe you don't think you're qualified for or you're scared of.
19:14She's bold, she's brave, she's courageous.
19:17She's really such an example for me as a woman, as a person of color, as a mom.
19:24I've worked with a lot of other people who have been absolutely stupendous also.
19:28But this is a different sort of experience with Shonda Rhimes.
19:32I think what I love most about my job and what I get to do and getting to write these characters
19:37is that I feel like I'm telling the truth.
19:40This idea that, you know, women of color like this don't exist is really upsetting to me.
19:45These women exist. I know them. They're me. They're my mother, my sister, my best friends.
19:50They exist. So I feel like it's wonderful to see them on television.
19:54Welcome back Essence Live. Right now I'm here with the man of the day because we have cocktails on set.
20:01Dave with Hendrickshen. How are you?
20:03Good, good.
20:04Thank you so much for making our cocktails a little bit earlier.
20:06But this was a new one that you made for me.
20:08There was a little bit more liquid in there earlier, but I had a little sit-step.
20:12So tell me a little bit about The Streak and What's In It.
20:15So that one was a play on Cookie actually.
20:19It was called I'm Coming Home.
20:21It was like super refreshing.
20:22I love it.
20:23You know like the type of thing that if you've had a long day and you get back to your couch.
20:27It's very light.
20:28Yeah, that was kind of the whole idea and the thought behind it.
20:31So it's mint, Saint Germain, a little bit of lemon juice, and Hendrickshen.
20:36Okay, now you're a professional. Are these things difficult to make at home?
20:38If I were going to make this at home to watch with my girlfriends, is this, and don't lie.
20:43No, I mean honestly it's a whole lot easier than most people think it is to do at home.
20:49If you have like a lemon or a lime and you have sugar and water and access to spirits, you can make this same drink.
20:58I mean the only thing that you would need other than those would be mint sprigs.
21:02And is this something that you shake or stir?
21:03That you shake.
21:04You shake this one and this is the Annalise Nightcap if you will?
21:07Annalise Nightcap, yeah.
21:08Tell me about this one.
21:09So this is kind of a play on like a perfect martini.
21:12So a perfect Manhattan is when you take both equal parts of sweetened dry vermouth and then you add rye whiskey to it.
21:18So it's equal parts of sweetened dry vermouth and then Hendrickshen.
21:22Of course.
21:23But it's equal parts of each as opposed to where a Manhattan is three quarter ounces of each of the other spirits of your liqueurs and then two ounces of your heavier spirit.
21:33Okay.
21:34This is one ounce of each.
21:35So it's a little bit more balanced in that way.
21:37Now I don't know if you can see that essence, but all of these are beautifully garnished.
21:41And so what's the importance of this is a lemon in this drink?
21:44So the lemon peel, what you want to do with a lemon peel generally is we're trying to just express the essence of the oil.
21:52So the majority of it is really just kind of like you take a peel, maybe this big, a little bit longer if you'd like, and you just kind of squeeze the oil off of the peel.
22:01It's all in the wrist, flick of the wrist.
22:02It's super aromatic.
22:03It's a flick of the wrist, people.
22:04And then just a small little swipe on the outside and inside.
22:07So when you put your nose into the actual drink, you smell all the lemon, but we didn't use lemon juice in there at all.
22:13So just these little touches, they have a really, really big impact.
22:16Don't go anywhere, Essence Live.
22:17We'll have all of these recipes available for you on Essence.com and or our social media.
22:22Dave is going to stick around.
22:24Coming up, we have Slade or Shade.
22:26But first, check out this little sneak peek from our interview with Kerry Washington.
22:31I have to say, I think my favorite line on the show is not a line that I got to say.
22:36I think my favorite line on the show is probably, I'm Quinn, bitch, which was a Katie Lowes line.
22:43So that's probably my favorite.
22:46But I've had some great ones.
22:48I mean, It's Handled is so classic.
22:52That's probably the one that people say to me on the street the most.
22:55I kind of love the Olivia Pope speeches.
22:58You know, when she Popes someone, those moments are really fun because I think, as a woman,
23:05to be able to have that sense of authority and give somebody a good read is really fun.
23:25She can tell you a little bit of a kind of light and don't do it in a comment.
23:27But I love you.
23:28.
23:29So that's the most dynamic.
23:31I love the movie.
23:32I love both of the movies.
23:33So, I like the the main theme.
23:35I love them.
23:36I love them.
23:38So, the movie is the most attractive person.
23:39I love this.
23:40I love you.
23:42I love you too.
23:43I love this.
23:44I love you too.
23:45I love you too.
23:46I love you too.
23:47I love you too.
23:49welcome back to essence live this week has been jam-packed with hot season premieres
24:01of our favorite shows but it's all been jam-packed with some juicy juicy hot topics
24:06so now it's time for slade or shade joining me she was just with us chatting and sipping
24:11on some signature prime time cocktails corey thank you for returning thank you for slade
24:15or she let's see if we can get you another cocktail girl and our next guest is mega tv
24:20personality and host of bevelations on radio and sirius xm miss bevy smith welcome thank you my
24:26love i'm so happy to be here thank you for being here it's your first time to essence live it can't
24:29be your last i better not be no it will not brown girls rule black girl magic yes yes and also new
24:35to the slater shade couches grammy award-winning singer songwriter melanie fiona is joining us
24:39for the first time how are you i'm wonderful thank you my first time as well yes i'm like i'm feeling
24:44all kinds of energy lots of ladies in love today the video for your new single i tried is coming
24:49out next month any tidbits on the kind of visuals we'll see in that piece uh lots of social commentary
24:54a very strong piece of work that i'm very very proud of awesome awesome thank you so much okay so
24:59lastly just like you chimed in last night when you saw boo boo kitty twerk a little something something
25:04we want you to chime in on today's topics join the conversation and let us know if you're slaying
25:08or throwing major shade by using the hashtag essence live all right so we're going to get started
25:13number uno two years after making offensive comments on the talk about natural african-american
25:19hair and apologizing for it co-host cheryl underwood apologized yet again this time on the show the
25:25original comment came during a discussion about how heidi klum saved her biracial children's hair
25:30to which cheryl replied why would you save afro hair you can't weave in afro hair now following those
25:36comments underwood received harsh criticism including people calling her an uncle tom and a coon some
25:41pretty harsh words very strong though cheryl did apologize for her comments previously in other
25:46settings she stated i made some statements that were not only wrong they hurt our community i want
25:51to take the time to apologize especially in the form that this discussion occurred to all of you i say
25:56i'm very sorry for my failed attempt at humor surrounding something that is very sensitive to us
26:00our hair is this a slay because cheryl has taken the time to reflect on the entire experience
26:04and her remarks she re-evaluated herself and felt the incident needed further discussion and even
26:09a more thorough apology or is this shade was this all for ratings she already addressed it in the
26:14past but decided to bring it back up again for the premiere episode of the talk hmm so on the count
26:19of three ladies one two three slayed or shade oh slayed slate and slayed all right coryl why is this
26:25a slay it was actually something i saw you tweet about this situation because i love bevy says on twitter
26:30um but i i think she slayed it because hair amongst us is very sensitive and i think you can always talk
26:37about it and also when apparently she was on um the talk she had her hair she had her natural hair
26:42she took off the wig and everything so i think it was kind of had a lean to it when she took it off
26:48i was pointing out to it she could have styled it sorry continue um maybe that was for ratings
26:53the lean but um but i think but i think that it must have been heavy on her heart and she still
27:01hadn't really uh come to terms with what she said and i think it was her way of just being
27:07really heartfelt okay fair enough baby well you know here's the thing i think that we have way too
27:12harsh with people when it comes to social media and when it comes to people saying things you can't
27:17retract the statement you retract something that you said that you regret and then you're still
27:21lambasted so you can't win for losing so i say kudos to cheryl for actually having the
27:27the balls and the guts to go on national tv remove her like armor which is her hair her wigs
27:33very analese of her yeah and um you know and just to kind of like bear it all and say i apologize
27:40once again i don't think it was a play for ratings because you know the show does quite well so
27:45and she doesn't have to do anything else after that as far as i'm concerned you address it full on
27:49like yeah let's not keep talking about it yeah yeah yeah melody you know i think we have to
27:53remember that she's a comedian and absolutely yeah her comments definitely were taken in offenses
27:58to people and i think slay definitely because she owned it and she says i apologize i offended
28:03people that wasn't my intention but i recognize my error and it takes a big person to apologize
28:08especially nationally and to the world so yeah and like you said have that analese moment it's not
28:13it's not easy to be that vulnerable yeah on that type of platform all right so let's check in with
28:18facebook denise webb said i actually watched the show when cheryl says stuff i take into account
28:22that she is a comedian there she goes signing with you melanie first and foremost her apology
28:26was heartfelt well thank you very much denise for chiming in so number deuce in 2012 tupac's
28:32hologram made a dope and to some kind of creepy appearance at coachella michael jackson's hologram
28:37performed at the 2013 billboard music awards and now it looks like whitney houston is up next to
28:42make her hologram debut according to the estate of the late singer her hologram will be on tour
28:47not just one appearance on a tour coming to a city near you so is this a slay because these
28:52musicians are legends and holograms are a way of paying tribute to them it gives fans though not a
28:57real chance to reconnect with their beloved artists but a chance to reconnect or is this a shade
29:01holograms go way too far they're exploitive creepy and don't let the deceased truly rest in peace
29:07all right slate or shade one two three all shaded y'all like all on the same page bevy i'll start
29:13with you okay here's the thing give it i don't even like a wax museum moment okay so much less a
29:20hologram because i think that's witchcraft you know as black people we don't deal in the witchcraft
29:24you're like sorcery yeah like sorcery so i'm just like i just really just think it goes too far and i
29:31think it's very um it's a last grab for the cash kind of thing from the from the estate you know
29:37do something classy like the maryland monroe estate and initial bottles of wine and perfume and
29:43and appear in a dior commercial or something you know what i mean but don't don't don't have them
29:47performing at concerts right and in a tour melanie how do you feel i mean you're a performer you're a
29:52musician how do you feel about this as an artist as a musician as a huge massive whitney houston fan
29:58and just a lover of artists in general my shade has been sitting up the entire this has been my
30:04posture all day i i have no support for a hologram i mean the the artistry of what live performers are
30:12and what they do their legacy is to respect them we all don't live forever that's the way it goes
30:16but our music does and so that i think exactly what you said i feel like whoever is running that
30:22it's a last grab for cash and it's just disrespectful i think to the art and the person who doesn't get
30:27to say in their likeness being used and sold how it's used and how it's used it's not even i mean
30:32come on the the personal connection is the candid moments in the show is the you know the eye contact
30:38and you know somebody controlling the eye contact it's creepy on many levels i'm shaded all the way
30:43here exactly exactly corey well it's interesting um charlie penn and i were talking outside and she
30:50said she saw the michael jackson hologram in vegas and she said when she's in the room it is a great
30:55experience but she said most people we only see it once it's been photographed and when you see
30:59it photographed it does look weird but she said when you're in there it is sort of awesome but i
31:05think folks when they leave this earth they leave this earth that's what we have their records for
31:09that's what we have their musics for have those moments there like let them let like let rest in
31:15peace like i hate to go very basic about it but it's just like no i don't want to see them
31:19pretending to sing and all of that so it is creepy it is definitely creepy dave i have to ask you what
31:25are your thoughts on this how do you feel about holograms i don't know it would be kind of ill to
31:32like see the hologram of like the guy who invented the blue blazer pouring that fire between cop and
31:3810 but i don't know like i wouldn't want to see michael jackson as a hologram i'd much rather have
31:43seen him alive yeah i don't think i'd pay i think i think as technology is evolving i think that was
31:49their angle of it and i think like if you do go to like a memorabilia museum and it's a one thing
31:54that you stop and see and it's just something to be like hey this is a cool way to see him recreated
31:58or her created but a tour yeah i'm not paying to see that no especially if there's a technical
32:03difficulty then it could be stuck on me yeah it could really go awry and also there's an old film
32:08an old film that came out back in his like 70s called westworld and they're making it into
32:13a series on hbo and it's about like kind of like a amusement park where people are like old west
32:20people and then they malfunction and they come and kill everybody so this is what i'm afraid of
32:25you live that life i'm not about that life i'm not about it all right so lastly essence live
32:30i could not have an episode discussing only the hottest shows on tv right now and not talk about
32:34last night season two premiere of blackish where they decided to take on the use of the n-word the
32:39youngest son jake raps the n-word while performing kanye west gold digger at a school talent show when
32:45jack gets threatened by the school with expulsion it sparks a debate within his family with everyone
32:49taking different sides on whether the word is okay so is this a slay because people of every color
32:54have their own opinions about the n-word and showrunner kenya barris wanted to use blackish
32:59as a platform to continue an open and honest conversation about it or is this shade blackish
33:04featuring the n-word draws unwanted attention to the word and trivializes a very serious topic
33:09all right count to three one two three slate or shade slate slate shade oh melanie okay i'm sorry
33:15i'm on the wrong side actually but i'll say this okay talk to me you can have a cliche listen i believe
33:21in the universe this is what it prompted me to do and this is what came up you know what let me just own
33:26it um i i just think that the both if this could be a slate and a shade i would say yes absolutely
33:32i think it trivializes the word to an extent yes people have their right to express what they say
33:38um you know i'm not a fan of the word at all um but it is in music it is in pop culture which is why
33:43i could also say slayed um and you know and it is a reality of what it is but uh the fact that this is
33:49what came up first i'm gonna own this and i'm just gonna say i don't like that word i don't want to
33:53hear it got you all right corey i what i left about blackish last night was how they really
33:59dwelled into the nuances of that word especially like when um anthony anderson's character came home
34:04and was talking about laurence fishburne like well you said it you know you said it growing up and then
34:08his mom had said it like literally five minutes before so and i grew up in a household with the
34:13word and and i always go back to that chris rock line you know there are black folks and then there
34:17whatever um i admit sometimes i use it but i do remember oprah winfrey saying when she did the
34:25interview with jay-z and you know they had this conversation and jay and she said it's the last
34:29thing folks heard before they were lynched and that made me check myself that i'm like okay i need to
34:35stop saying it as well but i think they slayed it as far as showing all the nuances and how complicated
34:40it is the conversation but white folks shouldn't use it no ever no no you can never use it
34:45tell your friends and if you have friends they can't well nobody actually no one should no one
34:51can't use it and bevy you get the final word well the final word is this for me i think it's a
34:56teachable moment and i think we need more honesty around the word we need to have more conversations
35:02and the fact that it's on a show called blackish that's on abc means the world to me right and you
35:10know and and i think that will there are probably some white people or people that are not black
35:15that have been educated about the nuances of the word because of the show so i say kudos to them i
35:21think kenya is a genius showrunner and i i love the show and i i'm glad they they exist that's very
35:28well said because it's true it's important to use our platforms to have some of those open
35:31conversations and educate can't all just be a shocking job fest yes you have to use your platforms to
35:35educate so thank you to all of today's guests and of course our wonderful viewers make sure you
35:39tune in next week for an all new exclusive essence live exclusive we have michelle obama interview
35:45all right you don't want to miss that everything's about empowerment next week see you next week same
35:50time same place thank you to all of our slater shade panelists as well as pam and charlie and my boo dave
35:56over there with the amazing voice and the amazing cocktails we'll see you next time essence live i'm dana blair
36:01bye bye
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