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On this segment of ESSENCE Live, we discuss the inauguration, the late Rev. Eddie Long, Kamiyah Mobley who was kidnapped at birth, we also sat down with Cynthia Bailey of the Real Housewives of Atlanta and the cast of "The New Edition Story."
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00:01You're watching Essence Live. I'm your host, Dana Blair, and these are the biggest stories you're buzzing about today.
00:11The story of Alexis Manigault, the teen who was kidnapped as a baby from a Florida hospital, keeps getting stranger and stranger.
00:18Charles Manigault told ABC News that his then-girlfriend, the woman who Alexis thought was her mother,
00:23told him she had Alexis while he was away and that the child was the love of his life.
00:27However, Alexis is telling a different story and continues to defend Gloria Williams, the woman who kidnapped her.
00:33She posted to her Facebook page,
00:35He did nothing. He was not there when I moved to Georgia. Never saw him. Who was there? Gloria Williams.
00:41So, what is a Charles Manigault?
00:47Now, it seems Bishop Eddie Long is causing as much controversy in his death as he did in his life.
00:52The longtime pastor of Atlanta's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church died Sunday from cancer,
00:56But now, many of his critics are asking that the allegations of sexual misconduct he faced in 2010 also be remembered.
01:03Amanda Rae wrote on Facebook,
01:05So y'all say an R.I.P. to a pedophile, but nothing to the kids he molested. You guys are sick.
01:10To which Dawn Gadling responded,
01:12No one hasn't forgotten about the children, but at what point do we become so high and mighty that we can judge anyone?
01:17If you feel that compelled, reach out to those children he damaged and offer some help instead of being so angry about it.
01:26All right, all right, all right.
01:28So, it's inauguration time, and many Democrats have vowed to boycott the presidential inauguration
01:33after Donald Trump attacked civil rights icon John Lewis on Twitter.
01:37New York Representative Yvette Clark tweeted,
01:39I will not attend the inauguration of at-real Donald Trump.
01:42When you insult at-rep John Lewis, you insult America.
01:46And Wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan wrote,
01:48At minimum, it's time for Donald Trump to start acting like a President Trump,
01:51not an immature, undignified reality star with questionable friends and a Twitter addiction.
01:56I hope for better, but will not hold my breath.
01:59So, all right, let's do a quick inauguration roll call.
02:01Jennifer Holliday unlocks the Democrats.
02:03They're out.
02:04Um, Talladega College Band, they seem to be in.
02:07And Steve Harvey, well, he's not going because his wife won't let him.
02:10So, we are asking you,
02:12would you accept an invitation to perform or speak at Donald Trump's inauguration?
02:16Send us your votes right now using the hashtag EssenceLive
02:19because we're talking all about it next.
02:21It's Tuesday, January 17th, and EssenceLive starts now.
02:32Welcome to EssenceLive, only the hottest live show on the Internet
02:35in these Internet streets.
02:37I'm just saying.
02:37I'm your host, Dana Blair.
02:39Remember, you can always talk to us with the hashtag EssenceLive
02:41or email us if you want to come on the show
02:43to sound off on topics at essenceslive at essence.com.
02:46Coming up, I have Cynthia Bailey,
02:47who gives us all the tea on her divorce from Peter
02:49and why getting back with her ex, Leon, is not an option.
02:53Plus, the fellas from the new edition story are here,
02:55and we're putting them to the test with some good old trivia.
02:58But first, we're just three days away from the inauguration of Donald Trump,
03:01and the list of black celebrities and attendees is quickly dwindling.
03:04So, today's your poll is this.
03:06Would you accept an invitation to perform or speak
03:09at the inauguration of Donald Trump?
03:10Vote A for yes or B for no.
03:12Send us your votes now using the hashtag EssenceLive,
03:15and we'll read the results a little bit later on in the show.
03:17Joining me now on the phone is someone
03:18with a real connection to this inauguration controversy
03:21because her alma mater's band
03:23will be one of the few black representatives at the ceremony.
03:26Please welcome Shirley Farrell
03:27from Talladega College, class of 1974.
03:29Hi, Shirley. How are you?
03:31Hi, I'm good.
03:32Thank you for having me on.
03:33I appreciate it very, very much.
03:35No problem.
03:36Thank you for joining us here on Essence Live.
03:38So, we now know that the Talladega band
03:40will be performing at the Trump inauguration.
03:43What are your initial thoughts and feelings on this?
03:45My thoughts and feelings remain the same
03:47as when I first heard the announcement,
03:50oh, my God, no.
03:53Oh, oh, my God, no.
03:54So, but then now what?
03:55Did the word spread throughout the Alumni Association?
03:58Did you then begin to reach out
03:59to staff and personnel at the school?
04:00So, I initially tried reaching out to some alumni,
04:07and I also made an attempt to reach out
04:10to officials at the school.
04:12Okay.
04:13That has not gone well.
04:15I have not received a response at all
04:19from College President Dewey Hawkins,
04:23have not had a response from any member
04:25of the Board of Trustees,
04:27have not had a response from the president
04:30of the National Alumni Association.
04:33Now, do you feel it's because they were...
04:35I'm sorry, go ahead.
04:37I've had lots of contact with alumni
04:39who, like myself, are very upset about this.
04:44Now, do you feel it's maybe because they were inundated
04:45with so many calls, or do you feel as though
04:47the alumni are just being ignored in regards to this matter?
04:51I think we're being ignored.
04:53I've sent emails, I have sent text messages,
04:57I have gone to the school,
05:00tried to place calls one day,
05:03and was able to get through to some people
05:05who said, oh, we'll get back to you.
05:07The following day, when I tried,
05:09all my calls went directly to voicemail.
05:12Usually, the voicemail message was
05:14that the voicemail was full,
05:16or it had not been set up.
05:18I even took the extra step
05:19of having a third party to call
05:21and conference me in,
05:23and it went to one of the college extensions
05:27the person answered on the first ring.
05:29Well, Shirley, you know,
05:31we talk a lot about ignoring the inauguration,
05:33not participating,
05:34but, you know, with all of the tension
05:36being a country that's divided,
05:38what about having a conversation?
05:40Don't you feel that we should work
05:41with President-elect Trump
05:42and recognize that this could be
05:44a positive experience
05:45for some of the students at Talladega?
05:46I don't want the band to go.
05:51We can have all the conversations we want.
05:54I don't think that they should go
05:56and represent Talladega College
05:58in a show of support for Donald Trump
06:01based on his current behavior,
06:03his comments,
06:05his failure to try and make any apologies
06:08for those statements or comments or behavior,
06:11and, matter of fact,
06:12he continues to insult African Americans.
06:15And his recent attack on John Lewis
06:18being yet another indicator.
06:21Now, the band agreeing to perform
06:23at the inauguration,
06:24how has that changed your thoughts
06:25and feelings towards your university?
06:27I still love Talladega College.
06:29I've been affiliated with the college
06:31in one way or another
06:32since I was 14 years old,
06:34and I'm 63.
06:36I attended Upward Bound classes there
06:38when I was in high school.
06:40I am matriculated there from 70 to 74.
06:44I've been involved with them since
06:46and support the school.
06:48I'm always going to love Talladega.
06:51There are some things about it
06:52I don't like in that counter-truth
06:54for the rest of the world.
06:56But I especially do not like
06:59that the president,
07:00nor the board of trustees,
07:02has shown any respect for alumni
07:05who are upset.
07:06We have a petition that I started
07:08that has almost 3,000 names on it
07:11saying don't go to the inauguration.
07:15And he has made no attempt
07:16to contact any of us
07:18to say anything other than
07:20the spot that he does on TV interviews.
07:23Well, Shirley, thank you so very much
07:24for joining us here on Essence Live
07:25and shining a light on that subject matter.
07:28Essence Live family,
07:29I want to check in with you on social.
07:30So, Kayla, what's happening
07:31on these Facebook streets?
07:32Hey, first shout-out to Cheryl Wright
07:34who's watching from Tampa, Florida.
07:36Michael Snoopy Wells says aloha.
07:38Dee Collins says hello to us.
07:40And lots of folks are starting to come in
07:42in regards to whether they would speak
07:43or perform at the inauguration.
07:45So lots of folks are saying no.
07:47Samantha Scott says no,
07:48I wouldn't attend.
07:49Kathy Carter says I wouldn't attend,
07:51but I'm not boycotting
07:52because I wouldn't do that for Obama.
07:54So a lot of folks are saying no at all.
07:56All right.
07:56Well, you seem to be pretty consistent out there.
07:58Keep all of your responses
07:59coming in on social media.
08:00We might read your answer
08:00a little bit later on in the show.
08:02Coming up,
08:02I sit down with Atlanta housewife Cynthia Bailey
08:04to talk fashion, life after divorce,
08:06plus the fellas of the new edition story
08:08are standing by
08:09and ready to play a fun game with us.
08:11It's going to get interesting.
08:12But first, Alabama's own Ricky Smiley
08:13weighs in on the controversy
08:14surrounding Talladega College's band
08:16performing at the presidential inauguration.
08:19My thought as far as Talladega College band
08:23going to play for the inauguration,
08:26you have to look at the fact
08:28that here are some kids
08:30that's going to get an opportunity
08:32to not only raise money for their school
08:34because from what I understand,
08:36they've raised close to $300,000
08:38to go to Washington, D.C.
08:41Some of the kids have never seen the White House.
08:43Some of the kids have never been to Washington, D.C.
08:45Some of the kids have never been on a road trip.
08:48Some of the kids probably have never flown on a flight before.
08:51You know, to have an opportunity like that,
08:53regardless of what your political preference is,
08:57imagine what it's going to do for the kids.
09:00They don't have to buy into Donald Trump's speech
09:03or what he say or believe in his politics or whatever,
09:07but the fact that it is a take Trump out of it,
09:10take President Obama out of it,
09:12take Democrat and Republican out of it,
09:14it is a presidential inauguration.
09:18That's what they're going.
09:18They're not going for Trump.
09:21I was an at-risk kid, you know,
09:23but when I got exposed to something,
09:24when I went to Tuskegee my freshman year
09:26and got exposed to seeing Reverend Jesse Jackson,
09:29you know, come to chapel,
09:31and I'm standing up there, I'm looking like,
09:32this is the first black man to run for president
09:34of the United States,
09:35and I'm looking down there like,
09:36at Jesse Jackson came to my school,
09:39people just have to be a little bit open
09:41and get away from the politics
09:43and look at the experience that the students
09:45are going to get to have, you know,
09:47and if you ain't donated no money to Tyler Digger College,
09:52then what do you have to say?
09:54I quote Tom Joyner on that.
09:55He was absolutely right.
09:56He said that.
09:57He was absolutely right.
09:58I agree with Tom Joyner and LaVell Crawford.
10:00They're right.
10:01Look what it's going to do for the kids.
10:03It's not about the politics.
10:04You're watching Essence Live.
10:09I'm your host, Dana Blair.
10:10Remember to keep your votes coming in
10:12for today's viewer poll, which is,
10:14would you accept an invitation to perform
10:16or speak at Donald Trump's inauguration?
10:18Use the hashtag Essence Live to vote.
10:20A for yes, B for no.
10:21And we'll tally the results
10:22a little bit later on in the show.
10:24All right, if you've been watching the season
10:25of The Real Housewives of Atlanta,
10:27you know that Cynthia Bailey has been dealing with a lot
10:29as she ends her marriage to Peter Thomas.
10:31We recently spoke with her about that touchy scene
10:33between her daughter, Noelle, and Peter.
10:35And if there's any truth to those rumors of a spinoff,
10:37take a look.
10:38Welcome to Essence Live, our new home.
10:40I know.
10:41I'm checking this out loud.
10:43You guys have just, like, super upgraded.
10:46We'll change the game.
10:46I know.
10:47We're doing something.
10:47I've been in the Essence family for a long time,
10:49so I remember the first location.
10:51Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
10:52And speaking of being Essence family,
10:54you have two covers with us.
10:55I do.
10:56So you are definitely Essence family.
10:57We've got to get you a fob
10:58so you can slide, just, like, swipe on into the building.
11:00I know.
11:00I'm trying to see if I can get that third cover
11:02and just go ahead and, like, you know, call it a day.
11:05And so on this season of Housewives,
11:06there's a lot going on in your life.
11:09One thing, though, just kind of coming off
11:10of you having your own covers,
11:12you're giving out some modeling advice
11:13to Cherie's son as well.
11:15And now a lot of models are getting into the industry
11:17via social media, such as Instagram
11:19and that sort of thing.
11:20Do you think that models from Instagram
11:22can become runway models, if you will,
11:24high-end editorial models such as yourself?
11:27The game has changed.
11:28Of course, it is viable.
11:29I mean, a lot of great talent is discovered
11:31on social media now.
11:32It's just a different world we live in
11:34than when, you know, I started modeling.
11:36We didn't even have social media when I was modeling.
11:39So it's, you know, the game has changed.
11:41I will say there's something to be said
11:43about, you know, the old-fashioned way.
11:47Really, you know, really, you know,
11:49being in New York and, you know,
11:50hitting the streets and, you know,
11:53going to castings and hear Noah a hundred times
11:55and not really having that readily exposure
11:58to kind of, like, help you.
11:59It's almost like cheating a little bit,
12:01you know, you get a little boost.
12:03We had to do it the hard way.
12:05But, you know, certainly there's a lot
12:06of amazing talent on social media.
12:08And do you have a tip for anyone that, say,
12:10any of our Essence Live viewers
12:11are wanting to break into the modeling industry?
12:14Just do your research
12:15and get as much information as possible.
12:16I think a lot of the mistakes a lot of people make
12:18when they get into,
12:20when they try to get into the industry
12:21is paying too much for photos
12:23and then taking the wrong kind of photos.
12:26Like, do not spend a lot of money
12:28doing these elaborate photo shoots
12:31with boas and all this stuff on.
12:33Like, agencies are just not looking for that.
12:34Like, literally, you can get your girl
12:36or your guy to take a picture with you
12:38with your iPhone.
12:40These phones take incredible shots,
12:41a simple shot in a T-shirt and a pair of jeans
12:44with no makeup on.
12:45They just want to see what you look like.
12:47So no glamour shot with the collar pop
12:48looking over the shoulder?
12:49That's my personal favorite.
12:51That's actually my favorite shot.
12:52Everybody does that shot.
12:53They do.
12:54And I keep saying,
12:54you know how many times, you know,
12:56I have, you know,
12:57kids come to me at the bail agency
12:59and they're like,
12:59oh, you know, we did this photo shoot,
13:01we spent like $2,000
13:02and it's all the wrong stuff.
13:04And it just breaks my heart
13:05because I'm like,
13:06why don't you guys come talk to me
13:07before you spent this money?
13:08Right, right.
13:09And I want to transition from fashion.
13:11Okay.
13:11A little bit about love.
13:13You opened up literally your heart
13:15on this season of Housewives
13:16as we saw your divorce with Peter
13:19starting to take place.
13:20Now, he said publicly
13:21that he didn't know.
13:23And then we also saw Noel and Peter
13:24have a really special moment,
13:26I felt.
13:27And she felt like,
13:28you know,
13:29nobody really talked to me about this.
13:31How was that conversation
13:32between you and Noel
13:33as well as you and Peter?
13:34Did it feel sudden?
13:35Let me just get Peter first.
13:37Yes, yes.
13:38Bring it down.
13:38They moved to Noel and Peter scene.
13:41In terms of Peter not knowing,
13:42Peter knew where we were headed.
13:44Now, did he know that
13:46an interview that I had
13:48about my bag line
13:50where I was asked at the end,
13:52oh, and how are things going with Peter?
13:53And I said, oh,
13:54things are moving,
13:54we're moving forward to divorce.
13:56I didn't even realize that I even,
13:58I had never said
13:58the divorce word at that time.
14:01So I kind of unofficially,
14:03I guess, you know,
14:05put it out there.
14:07Okay, that was not my intention
14:08to do like a press conference about it.
14:10Right.
14:10It just came out.
14:12But certainly he knew
14:13where we were headed.
14:14It was the first time
14:15that it was just out there publicly
14:16where I said it.
14:17So he knew.
14:19You knew.
14:20All right, now let's go to Peter and Noel.
14:22The scene with Peter and Noel
14:23was a little hard for me to watch,
14:28to be honest.
14:29You know, obviously I wasn't there
14:30at that scene.
14:31I didn't know how it went
14:32and, you know, Noel's a teenager.
14:34She's 17.
14:34So when she came home,
14:35I was like, hey, how did it go?
14:37And she was like, it was great.
14:38You know.
14:38It was like a teen answer.
14:39It was fine.
14:40You know, there's not any
14:41like big detailed answer.
14:44So when I watched the scene,
14:46because I don't see the scenes
14:47until, you know,
14:48they, you know,
14:49they send us footage,
14:51you know, before the show comes on.
14:52And then we watch it with you guys.
14:53So I only get a chance
14:54to really see it.
14:55And they only do that
14:55so we can blog about it.
14:56But in any case,
14:57when I saw the scene,
14:58I was like, oh my God.
14:59Like I was really,
15:01I got a little emotional
15:01about it to be honest.
15:03But I'm really glad
15:04that one of the things
15:05that I've tried to do
15:09and Noel has just organically
15:11wanted to do it as well
15:12is to keep our relationship
15:13with Peter regardless
15:14of where we are
15:15in our relationship.
15:18And I believe
15:19that that's going
15:21to be able to happen.
15:22It seems like both parties
15:23want that as well.
15:24So I think that I agree
15:25with you it's going
15:25to be able to happen.
15:27Yes.
15:27Well, she's at an age now
15:28where I don't have
15:28to be involved.
15:29Right.
15:29You know,
15:30if she wants to go to Charlotte,
15:30she can go to Charlotte.
15:31As a matter of fact,
15:32Noel was just in Charlotte
15:33maybe about a month ago
15:36and she went to see
15:37a friend of hers
15:37and she stayed with Peter.
15:39So I was like,
15:40okay.
15:40She said,
15:41I'm going to Charlotte
15:41and I'll re-talk to Peter
15:42and we're going to work with that.
15:43It's all good, Mom.
15:44Don't worry.
15:45All right.
15:46So now you're just
15:46taking Noel too.
15:48Right, right, right.
15:49Hers is Kenya.
15:49Booking Kenya,
15:50now you got Noel.
15:51No, I'm just kidding.
15:52No, it's good.
15:52It's a beautiful thing.
15:53I have a great relationship
15:55with Noel's dad
15:55and I kind of, you know,
15:57feel like my relationship
15:58with the men in my life,
16:00you know,
16:00we were friends first
16:01so we can be cordial.
16:02I find that fascinating.
16:03It's hard for me.
16:04But I love seeing you
16:06and Leon together.
16:07Is there a chance
16:07that y'all might get him?
16:08No.
16:08No?
16:09First of all,
16:09he's taken
16:10so I can't have him
16:11even if I want him.
16:13And the second thing is,
16:14you know,
16:14I'm an all-in,
16:16all-out kind of girl.
16:18Me and Leon,
16:18we did our thing.
16:19We had beautiful Noel
16:20as a result of it
16:21and we're good.
16:22We're having a great time
16:23co-parenting together.
16:24We're still friends.
16:26I see Leon enough.
16:27You know, we good.
16:29So I've been reading,
16:30of course,
16:30quite a bit
16:31because as I mentioned,
16:32I'm a fan of the show
16:32that you're saying
16:33you will never get married again.
16:35Why do you feel so adamant about that?
16:36All right,
16:36I'm glad you asked me this
16:37because I want to put this
16:38to rest as well.
16:40When I first started
16:41going through
16:42my divorce process
16:43because it is a process.
16:45It's good days,
16:45it's bad days
16:46and there were just
16:46definitely times
16:47when I felt like,
16:48hey, never get married again.
16:49When I get out of this,
16:51I'm done.
16:51I will never
16:52put myself through this.
16:54All the legal stuff
16:55that you have to go through,
16:56it just was like,
16:57that sucked more
16:58than the breakup did.
17:00Just going through the process.
17:01So with that said and done,
17:03I definitely was like,
17:04I'm going to get married again.
17:05But then everybody got mad at me.
17:08Including Steve Harvey
17:09who got me together.
17:11It's like,
17:11you can't say that.
17:12You can't say
17:12you're never going to get married.
17:13You got to get people hope.
17:15You're the kind of woman
17:16a man would want to marry.
17:18So I was like,
17:19okay,
17:19so now my choice now
17:22is now what I've decided
17:23is I'm always looking for love.
17:26I mean,
17:26just because it didn't work out
17:27with Peter and I
17:28doesn't mean
17:28that I'm not looking for love.
17:30And if that love
17:31ends up in a marriage,
17:34then if that is God's will,
17:35then I will get married again.
17:36So I'm open
17:38to whatever the future
17:39has for me.
17:41Is there a spinoff coming up?
17:42I hear that there's a spinoff
17:43around Bar One
17:44and Charlotte.
17:46Possibly.
17:46Would you be a part of that?
17:48Possibly.
17:49Absolutely.
17:50I think it would be
17:50a great spinoff for Peter
17:52to talk about the restaurants
17:54and the ins and outs.
17:56It's a fascinating industry
17:59for sure.
17:59And he is definitely
18:00a very fascinating person
18:02to work for
18:03in that situation.
18:04So I would watch it.
18:05You would watch it?
18:05Would you participate?
18:06Would you be part of the show?
18:07Well, I, again,
18:09you know,
18:10we're not together anymore,
18:11but I still love him
18:12and support him.
18:13So if I was asked,
18:14I mean,
18:14I wasn't even invited
18:15to the opening of his club.
18:18So I don't know
18:19if I would be asked
18:20to participate
18:21in his spinoff.
18:23But if he did,
18:24of course,
18:25I would be there to support him.
18:27There's a lot of the words
18:28fake being thrown around
18:29this season.
18:30Who's fake?
18:30Who's not?
18:31Who's real?
18:31Who's not?
18:32Who do you feel personally,
18:33excluding yourself,
18:35is the same on camera
18:37and off
18:37in terms of your castmates?
18:40Wow.
18:43I think Kandi's definitely
18:44the same on and off.
18:45She really is.
18:46I know, like,
18:47a lot of people are like,
18:47oh my God,
18:48what's going on with Kandi this season?
18:49You know,
18:50they're not used to seeing
18:51a light-em-up Kandi.
18:55Kandi ain't playing
18:57with y'all this season.
18:58I can just tell you that.
18:59No, she's not.
18:59So, anyway,
19:00but Kandi is pretty much
19:02the same person off camera
19:03that she is on camera.
19:05I think I'm pretty transparent
19:06on and off camera,
19:07to be honest.
19:09You know,
19:09some of the haters
19:10will say different,
19:10but, you know,
19:11haters gonna do what they can.
19:12There's always gonna be haters.
19:13I want to talk about
19:14some good, good stuff.
19:15Yes.
19:15Great stuff.
19:15You have good.
19:16So many entrepreneurial ventures,
19:18including your eyewear line,
19:20your bag line,
19:21the Bailey Agency.
19:22Tell us a little bit more
19:22about what you're working on
19:23and what we can see next
19:24from some of your businesses.
19:25All right.
19:26Well,
19:26the Bailey Agency
19:26is alive and well.
19:27We just celebrated
19:28our four-year anniversary.
19:29Congratulations.
19:31Thank you so much.
19:32I have a foundation,
19:34the Be Better Foundation,
19:35which is just all about
19:36me just giving back
19:37to whatever charity
19:39or organization I want to.
19:40Oh, okay.
19:40I want to commit to one
19:41because, I mean,
19:42I want to support everything
19:45that needs to be supported,
19:46to be honest.
19:47So it's just all about
19:48Be Better.
19:48You'll be hearing more
19:49about that.
19:50Okay.
19:51My eyewear line
19:52is doing phenomenal.
19:53CynthiaBaileyEyewear.com.
19:55We got a good old sale
19:56going on right now.
19:57Uh-oh.
19:57Check it out.
19:57New year.
19:58New eyes.
19:59Amp.
19:59Get yourself
19:59to Cynthia Bailey Eyewear.
20:01My Leather Goods line,
20:02Cargo by Cynthia Bailey,
20:03is also doing great.
20:04Check that out as well.
20:06My goal is to,
20:08you know,
20:08as a fashion and a beauty brand,
20:09I want to really thrive
20:12in the fashion accessories industry.
20:15Like, I love accessorizing.
20:17And, you know,
20:18just, I'm all about personal style,
20:20about how you put it together.
20:22You know, I love fabulous clothes
20:24and labels and all that stuff,
20:26but I like to kind of, like,
20:27pick and choose a little bit
20:28over here and then
20:29just figure out
20:29how to put it together.
20:30As you can see,
20:31my go-to is always black.
20:33Hello.
20:33You can't figure it out
20:34if your money ain't funny,
20:35just get you the black show.
20:37Because it always just looks
20:38classic and chic,
20:39and you can always pull it off.
20:40Black never looks cheap.
20:45Hey, hey,
20:45you're watching Essence Live,
20:46the best live show
20:47you're ever going to see online.
20:48I might be a little biased.
20:50I'm your host, Dana Blair.
20:51And with me in studio right now
20:52is the cast of the highly anticipated
20:54BET miniseries,
20:55The New Edition Story.
20:56Yeah!
20:59They're a little too excited.
21:00So, fellas,
21:00I'm gonna let you go ahead
21:01and introduce yourselves,
21:02starting with you, sir, please.
21:03Ooh, the pleasure is mine.
21:04Uh-oh.
21:05Elijah Kelly,
21:06and I'm playing Ricky Bell.
21:07What's that?
21:07Luke James,
21:08and I'm portraying Johnny Gale.
21:09Woody McClane,
21:10and I play Bobby Brown.
21:11It's Jazz the Greatest,
21:12and I'm playing Michael Bivens.
21:13It's Algie Smith,
21:15and I play the Ralph Tresman.
21:16Keith Powers,
21:17and I play Ronnie DeVoe.
21:18Thank you, guys.
21:19I'm sorry he had his accessory moment.
21:20We're gonna have to do that.
21:21We gotta do that.
21:22We're gonna push right on through.
21:23All right, guys,
21:24so since you just told us
21:25who you're playing,
21:26in the series,
21:26we want to put you to the test.
21:27I have my little trusty cards here.
21:29We want to see how well you know
21:30your characters that you're playing.
21:32So here's how it works.
21:33I'll put 20 seconds on the clock,
21:35and we'll quickly ask you
21:35some trivia questions
21:36about the character that you play.
21:38Whoever answers the most questions
21:39correctly about his character wins.
21:41And you just went bragging rights.
21:42That's it.
21:43Okay.
21:43That's it.
21:43Don't get anything out.
21:44We don't get no coins.
21:45At least not a date.
21:45Don't be paying attention to you, y'all.
21:46So time is gonna start
21:47after I read the first question.
21:48All right, all right.
21:49Elijah, you're gonna be
21:49first in the hot seat.
21:51You're gonna look into
21:51this camera right here.
21:52You ready?
21:53Yes.
21:53Okay.
21:54That wasn't one of the questions.
21:55Come on.
21:56Okay.
21:56Question number one.
21:57Here we go.
21:59Which new edition song
22:00inspired the name
22:01of another R&B group?
22:03Oh, come on.
22:04Wow.
22:04No helping him.
22:05No helping him.
22:07I hope I get a question
22:08that easy.
22:09Oh, you strike it out.
22:10You want to pass?
22:11I hope I get a question
22:12that easy.
22:13I'm gonna pass.
22:13What is Ricky's full first name?
22:15Ricardo.
22:16Okay, true or false?
22:16New edition recorded the song
22:18Come and Talk to Me.
22:19Uh, false.
22:20On Poison.
22:21Ricky.
22:22Oh, sorry.
22:23You only got two.
22:23You done finished the quote.
22:24Dang it.
22:25Because you sat there
22:26and you looked around
22:28for support.
22:28Y'all were supposed
22:29to say boys to men.
22:30No.
22:31It's true.
22:31And these other times
22:33are turning boys into men.
22:35I knew it.
22:36It's too late, brother.
22:37Luke, you ready?
22:38Yes.
22:38All right.
22:39Here we go.
22:40I hope you lose.
22:41Number one.
22:41What was the name
22:42of New Edition's
22:43first single?
22:44Uh, Candy Girl.
22:46Oh, yes.
22:47Where was Johnny born?
22:49Uh, Washington, D.C.
22:50Who did Johnny
22:50replace in New Edition?
22:52Um, no one.
22:54Whoa.
22:54Come on.
22:55Besides New Edition,
22:56name another group
22:56Johnny was part of.
22:58Uh, L.S.G.
22:59What was the name
22:59of New Edition's
23:001996 reunion album?
23:02Uh, Home Again.
23:03How did Luke get 90?
23:04How did Luke get 90,000 questions?
23:06Luke kind of slayed it.
23:07Luke slayed it.
23:08How did Luke get 90 questions?
23:09Because he couldn't get
23:10past the first one.
23:11Because he was quick with it.
23:11Keith, you gonna stop
23:12being buff in my ears?
23:13He was quick with it.
23:14All right, Woody.
23:14Woody, you ready?
23:16Are you in the game?
23:16Come on, you got me.
23:17Woody, are you focused?
23:18Yeah, yeah, yeah.
23:18Okay, because Luke came strong
23:19on that one.
23:20All right, so here we go.
23:21Number one, finish the line.
23:23Mr. Telephone Man.
23:25Wait, what was the...
23:26Finish the line.
23:27Mr. Telephone Man.
23:28Something wrong on my line.
23:29All right, what's Bobby's
23:30middle name?
23:32Bobby.
23:33Bobby left the group
23:34voluntarily.
23:35Robert Bobby Brown.
23:36What happened?
23:36Robert, excuse me.
23:37Bobby left the group
23:38voluntarily, true or false?
23:40False.
23:41What year did Bobby
23:42marry Whitney Houston?
23:43Ooh.
23:44Oh, you're done.
23:45You're out of time.
23:46That's 20 seconds.
23:46Go fast.
23:47What's the middle name?
23:47Robert?
23:47It was 1992.
23:49Me too.
23:49What's Bobby's...
23:50What's his middle name?
23:51His middle name is Beresford.
23:52It's Beresford.
23:53Beresford?
23:54Wow.
23:55That's not in a record.
23:56That's why he was so rogue.
23:57We never seen that.
23:58Yes, I am.
23:58You ready?
23:59All right.
24:00Okay, number one.
24:01Guys, let's give Keith some silence.
24:02Luke is still winning.
24:03Okay.
24:04What does BBD stand for?
24:06Bell Bib DeVoe.
24:07Which cast member
24:08from the Cosby show
24:09was in the video
24:09for New Edition's Heartbreak?
24:12I know this.
24:13I don't know this.
24:14Theo.
24:15Okay, we'll take that.
24:16No!
24:17To or false,
24:17Ronnie's uncle
24:18was New Edition's voice coach.
24:20Brooke Payne.
24:21True or false?
24:21Ronnie's...
24:22Oh, no, no, no.
24:23How did BBD describe their music?
24:26It's hip-hop
24:26and R&B smoothed out
24:28in the pop...
24:28Yes, bro!
24:32No, no, no, no, no.
24:35Okay.
24:36Okay, so that one was
24:38hip-hop smoothed out
24:39on the R&B tip
24:40with the pop of Theo.
24:42Okay.
24:43Al-G, you ready?
24:44And he said Theo.
24:45You ready, man?
24:45Theo, technically...
24:46I'm trying to...
24:48I'm trying to...
24:48I'm trying to...
24:49Theo, you can't come to Game Night.
24:51Theo!
24:52You can't come to Game Night.
24:53Okay, so you got it,
24:55but you can't come to Game Night,
24:56Al-G.
24:56All right, Al-G, you ready?
24:57Theo.
24:57Yeah, I'm ready.
24:58Number one,
24:58who sang Lee in New Edition?
25:00Ralph Tresden.
25:01What's the name of Ralph's
25:02number one solo hit song?
25:03Sensitivity.
25:04True or false?
25:05A member of Jodeci's sung background
25:06on Ralph's first solo album.
25:07Oh, true.
25:08Name the New Edition group member
25:10Ralph had a double wedding with.
25:11Oh, a double wedding?
25:12Uh...
25:13Ronnie.
25:14Mm-mm.
25:14Johnny.
25:15What was the name of New Edition's
25:17second album?
25:18Huh?
25:18What was the name of New Edition's
25:20sec...
25:20Oh, out of time.
25:21Oh, come on.
25:21Wait.
25:22It's gonna be good, bro.
25:23So, it was Ricky Bell
25:24for the double wedding,
25:26and the name of New Edition's
25:27second album was New Edition.
25:29I didn't get time,
25:30because they were talking
25:30over my question.
25:31So, is Luke still winning?
25:31Because he's still smirking,
25:32kind of, you know,
25:33Louisiana?
25:33I want to do that.
25:34All right.
25:35Prashia, you ready?
25:36Let me fix my mic.
25:37Do you need the glasses on or off?
25:38Let me fix my mic.
25:38Look at you when you get excited.
25:40Look at this.
25:40Okay.
25:40Are you ready?
25:41I'm gonna hold you, Mike.
25:42Yeah.
25:42Okay, come on.
25:43Get your life.
25:43Okay.
25:43Number one.
25:44I got it.
25:45What boy group was New Edition
25:46modeled after?
25:48Say that again.
25:49What boy group was New Edition
25:50modeled after?
25:51Jackson 5.
25:52What's Mike's middle name?
25:53Bivens.
25:54Nope.
25:55What's the name of the record label
25:56Mike founded?
25:59Sporty Rich.
26:00Nope.
26:00What was the collective name?
26:01With hats.
26:02With hats.
26:02Nope.
26:02What was the collective name
26:04Mike gave the artist
26:04on his record label?
26:06The collective name,
26:07ABC, Boys the Men.
26:09Come on, Mike.
26:09The East Coast family.
26:12His middle name is Lamont.
26:14Lamont.
26:14Lamont.
26:15And Biffin.
26:17Everybody gets to know
26:18those answers.
26:19So wait, wait, wait.
26:20So here's the winner.
26:22Luke, clap it up for Luke.
26:23Clap it up for Luke.
26:25We had time break.
26:27Luke did the same.
26:28Me and Luke, we did good.
26:30Luke, since you won the game,
26:34I'll start with you.
26:35What was your favorite moment
26:35from filming with all of these
26:37crazy guys on camera
26:39or off?
26:40Honestly, New Edition
26:42has been a complete blessing
26:44to us.
26:45I mean, I'm usually a loner.
26:47Now I got entourage.
26:48My boys.
26:49My brothers.
26:50Do you want to keep
26:50all the boys?
26:51I do.
26:51Some of them.
26:51I do.
26:52You know, you need this.
26:54You need somebody
26:56to ruffle your feathers.
26:57And, you know,
26:58this is the age of the cool
26:59and the black boy joy.
27:01Sexy.
27:01And it's amazing.
27:03Look, he's over here.
27:04He's fixing himself.
27:05Oh, my bad.
27:05I'm sorry.
27:06I didn't mean to cut you.
27:07Were y'all able to meet?
27:08Remember, it's a new edition
27:09before, middle,
27:10during the process?
27:11Yes, I mean,
27:11they were there the whole way.
27:12And it's a luxury
27:15having them on set
27:15because we get to learn
27:16straight from the source.
27:17And those guys, man,
27:19they really, like,
27:20supported us,
27:21which made us feel dope.
27:23It made us feel like
27:23little bros.
27:24And I think that matters
27:25when you're doing the
27:26biopicking.
27:26You want the authenticity.
27:28Authenticity.
27:29Authenticity.
27:30Authenticity.
27:30Authenticity.
27:30Come on, come on.
27:31But yeah, I mean,
27:33they were there
27:33the whole step of the way,
27:34even in boot camp,
27:35which really scared me
27:35because I had to dance
27:37and Ryan is the most
27:37effortless dancer.
27:38So who's the worst
27:40dancer out of the group?
27:40I am.
27:41I'm the worst dancer.
27:42I don't even know.
27:43I don't know.
27:43I don't know.
27:45You're probably not the worst.
27:46Well, out of new edition?
27:48No, out of this group.
27:49Out of this group.
27:50I think it's me.
27:51You know what?
27:51I can't dance.
27:52Let the man speak.
27:54I just think for me,
27:55like, coming out of
27:56just stepping outside of Empire,
27:57doing something totally different.
27:59You know, something
28:00that the world loves
28:01and doing something like this
28:03is so legendary, man.
28:04These guys have paved the way
28:06for people like artists
28:07like Luke,
28:08artists like Chris Brown,
28:10you know, people like that
28:11and new editions just,
28:12come on, y'all.
28:13Y'all know what they did.
28:14You know what they did.
28:15I mean, you know,
28:16it's everything.
28:17Yes, sir.
28:17Guys, unfortunately,
28:18we've run out of time,
28:19but you can come back.
28:20I don't know,
28:20some of y'all can come back
28:21any time you want.
28:22Thank you for taking the time
28:23to stop.
28:24Who can say it out loud?
28:25Who can come back?
28:26I see it on your face.
28:27I'll tell you later.
28:28Remember to watch
28:28the first part
28:29of the new edition story
28:30Tuesday, January 24th
28:31on BET.
28:32Coming up,
28:33we're going to check in
28:33on the results
28:34from our viewer poll,
28:34but first,
28:35we recently caught up
28:36with Jamie Foxx
28:36to find out what he thinks
28:37of this year's
28:38presidential election.
28:39Check it out.
28:40I think that our forefathers
28:41set this system up
28:43in a very, very terrific way
28:45so that even if things become,
28:48go off the rails,
28:50die,
28:50it still will be able
28:52to protect itself.
28:53And I think
28:54what we have to do now
28:55is now that we have
28:57the outcome,
28:58we got to see
28:58where we can all
28:59work together
29:00and where we can still be.
29:03And this is what I tell people
29:04all the time.
29:05Let's have dialogue.
29:06Let's not be mad
29:07at every decision.
29:08If you like the color blue
29:10and I like the color yellow,
29:12that doesn't mean
29:13that I have to kill you for it.
29:14I have to be upset for it.
29:16Let's go back
29:16to being courteous.
29:19Now that things
29:19the way they are,
29:20let's find a way
29:21to work with each other,
29:22make sure everybody
29:23is inclusive
29:24because that's what
29:25makes this country great.
29:26And I guarantee you
29:27when you travel
29:27outside this country
29:28and you see how
29:29other countries are run,
29:31you will run back here.
29:33You will run back here.
29:34You will seriously run back here.
29:36So I think
29:36that's what we have
29:37to understand
29:38is that, hey man,
29:39you know what?
29:40Let's think about our children
29:41and let's think about
29:42how great this country can be.
29:46You're watching Essence Live.
29:47I'm your host, Dana Blair.
29:48Before we tell you
29:49the results for our viewer poll,
29:50I got to check in
29:51with our girl Kayla
29:51who's manning our social media feeds.
29:53What's going on, Kayla?
29:55So we asked earlier
29:56if you would attend,
29:56if you would speak
29:57or perform at the inauguration.
29:59An overwhelming number of votes
30:00were no.
30:02Sakina Murray says,
30:03I'm boycotting everything.
30:04I'm sitting down with my popcorn
30:05and I'm watching all this unfold.
30:07Jenna Goss says,
30:08I would attend
30:09just to see his perspective
30:10on that day.
30:10So we did get one positive.
30:12Cheryl Berkeley says,
30:13Washington will not be
30:14a safe place on Friday.
30:16Shan Hoover says,
30:17I fully support them boycotting.
30:19It's in their rights
30:19as Americans.
30:20But I'm not sure
30:21if it'll be a safe place
30:22that day as well.
30:23Well, all right.
30:24So I will be in Brooklyn
30:25and it's time to reveal
30:26the winner of today's viewer poll.
30:28When we asked
30:28if you would perform
30:29or speak at Donald Trump's
30:30inauguration,
30:30you said,
30:31I don't think this is really
30:32going to be a shocker.
30:33No.
30:34Oh, it's a little bit closer
30:35than I thought.
30:35Okay, so 45-55, no.
30:37But thank you to all
30:38of our guests for coming through
30:38and of course,
30:39all of you for watching.
30:40If you missed any of today's show,
30:41you can catch the replay
30:42shortly on Essence.com
30:43and see all of our videos
30:44on our YouTube page.
30:45I'm Dana Blair.
30:46Bye.
30:46Thank you, Dana.
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