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This Week on ESSENCE Live, Cuba Gooding Jr. dishes on playing O.J. Simpson in ‘The People v. O.J. Simpson,’ the #OscarsSoWhite controversy and reminisces on Boyz N The Hood. Comedian Hannibal Burress gives commentary on ESSENCE’s Facebook comments, a
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00:00Today on Essence Live, we talk boys in the hood and O.J. Simpson with Cuba Gooding Jr.
00:08Journey Smollett-Bell helps us celebrate Black History Month, and we break down everything you need to know for Super Bowl,
00:14even if you're not really a football fan.
00:16But right now, it's the hot list, the biggest stories you're buzzing about today.
00:21For the first time ever, Essence's annual Hollywood issue features comedy vet and host of this year's Oscars, Chris Rock.
00:27While the interview with Rock was conducted before the hashtag Oscars so white controversy,
00:32the comedian does discuss the issue of Hollywood diversity and fatherhood after divorce.
00:36You can pick up your issue of the March Essence magazine on newsstands February 12th.
00:42Activist DeRay McKesson is officially running for mayor of Baltimore.
00:4530-year-old McKesson is a Baltimore native and worked as a public school administrator in Minnesota before joining the Black Lives Matter movement.
00:52He sent in his official announcement, and I quote,
00:54McKesson said he plans to release his policy plans in the next week.
01:08FX's The People vs. O.J. Simpson is here, and just like the trial it's inspired by,
01:13the show has everyone talking about did he or didn't he all again.
01:17On Facebook, Ali Marie said,
01:19O.J. did do it.
01:21He was adored by many, and no one wants to believe that the person they really look up to and adore and love and admire could do so much heinous crimes.
01:28But some of you are just here for the good old TV.
01:31At Mara Thompson TV tweeted,
01:33The People vs. O.J. Simpson on FX is so good.
01:36Holy moly.
01:38K-Lane said,
01:39So far, this story is well written and perfectly cast.
01:42Very thought provoking.
01:43And Malik Milam said of the series,
01:46Cuba got his black card back.
01:48Welcome back, my brother.
01:50Personally, I don't remember when it got revoked.
01:52But anyway, we caught up with Mr. Cuba Gooding Jr. himself on the show's premiere day to find out what he learned playing O.J.
01:58And which line from Boys in the Hood fans quote to him most.
02:02Our interview is next.
02:03It's Thursday, February 4th, and Essence Live starts now.
02:13Welcome to Essence Live.
02:16I'm your host, Dana Blair.
02:18We have an exciting show lined up for you.
02:20And of course, I want to hear from you.
02:22Hit us up on social media using the hashtag Essence Live to join the conversation.
02:25And if you'd like to call in live to ask questions of our celebrity guests, and I know you do, you can.
02:30Just email us at Essence Live at Essence.com for details.
02:34All right.
02:34So coming up, comedian Hannibal Buress, whose Netflix special airs February 5th, jumps into the Essence Facebook comment section.
02:41Yeah, that should be interesting.
02:43And Wendy Williams brings her Ask Wendy Advice to the Essence offices.
02:46But first, if you need another show to add to your DVR list, FX's The People vs. O.J. Simpson just might be it.
02:53I caught up with the star Cuba Gooding Jr. to talk about Hollywood diversity and his pivotal role in Boys in the Hood.
02:59But my first question was, Cuba, where were you when that infamous Bronco chase happened?
03:04Check it out.
03:05You know, I was at a friend's house watching the next game, the finals, and that image of that Bronco came in the corner of the screen.
03:13I think halfway through the game, we had the full screen of the Bronco, and the game was on the radio, you know, because we were just so intrigued.
03:20It's not any minute we see a muzzle flash of a gun.
03:23Right.
03:23Didn't know what to expect.
03:24It was like real reality TV, if you will.
03:27And so, O.J. Simpson has been very vocal about people not consulting him about the film.
03:32You're not consulting him on the role.
03:35What are your thoughts about that?
03:35Well, I didn't know he was very vocal at first.
03:37I had heard he had said some things earlier on about who he wanted to play in and all of that stuff.
03:42But, you know, if I played him after the incident in Vegas and he was in prison, then I would have met with him.
03:50But I played him at a time, 1994, and he was still that flamboyant, charismatic, marquee, NFL star.
03:59Running through the airport.
04:00Yeah.
04:00That guy.
04:01I didn't want that.
04:02I know what incarceration does to a man.
04:04Mm-hmm.
04:04It's his psyche, and I just didn't want that to influence my behavior.
04:09I tried to keep him mentally neutral.
04:11You can never judge your character too much.
04:13You know, if I saw him as a guilty murderer, then it would be that performance.
04:18Or if I saw him as a saint, it would be that thing.
04:20You have to allow the director to be able to direct you in any moment that he sees fit.
04:27And then when the director gets into the editing room, that's when he strings the scenes together and he forms it.
04:33That story.
04:34Yeah, that story.
04:35Did you learn anything new about O.J. or the trial?
04:37Something that maybe slipped our minds or something that was new?
04:41Every day.
04:42Every script.
04:42What was the most shocking to you?
04:44Everything was shocking to me.
04:45Mm-hmm.
04:46You know, aspects of his relationship and aspects in behavior with some of the police officers who handled the evidence.
04:54And, you know, and again, that's why I don't like to say if I think he did it or he didn't do it.
04:58Mm-hmm.
04:58It's more of putting the trial on trial.
05:01Mm-hmm.
05:01And the lawyers, you know, dissecting their behavior.
05:06Yeah.
05:07You're an Oscar winner.
05:08Not many people can say that.
05:09You know, there's, of course, the Oscar so white controversy that's happening right now.
05:12Um, Octavia Spencer made a comment that she didn't get better roles after she won for the help.
05:18So how do you feel that your career changed post-Oscene?
05:20I will always be known as Academy Award winner, Cuba, getting a junior.
05:23I can't take that away.
05:25But Academy Awards or any award show is the end of the chain.
05:28Mm-hmm.
05:28You're already celebrating the work.
05:30So I think if you're complaining about, um, nominations, that, that, that's, the ship has sailed.
05:36Mm-hmm.
05:36I think you have to start at the beginning in the executive decisions.
05:40And what movies, not just the ones that you're going to do in terms of the indies, but on these big scale budgets, you know, that's when you want to consider, you know, what stories to tell.
05:52If you look at television, if you look at the people versus O.J. Simpson, our cast is a rainbow coalition and it's a, it's a relevant story that appeals to, and it is relevant today to the social issues that we're dealing with today.
06:04And, uh, and I think that's why television is getting it right right now.
06:08Do you feel that this boycott or this call for a boycott of this year's Oscars is necessary?
06:12I think it was because it caused Isaacs and the other Academy members to, you know, I, I think all of this voicing everyone's opinion made them say we have to change their voting rules.
06:25And I think that is in itself progress.
06:29Um, but I, if I was invited to go to the Oscars, I would absolutely, I'm very proud of my, uh, membership as an Academy member.
06:36This is also the 25th anniversary of Boys in the Hood, a film that.
06:40What, that, what, that time?
06:42I don't know.
06:42I don't know where that time went.
06:43Um, a film that was very pivotal in our culture and there's so much talent in Boys in the Hood.
06:48You have Lawrence Fishburne, Regina King, Ria Long, Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube.
06:53What was it like on set with you guys at that time?
06:56It was a special time for all of us because not only was it my first film, it was John Singleton's directorial debut.
07:03I remember I tell this story when, you know, they call me Cube and that's my nickname.
07:07So the Cube isn't cute.
07:09Way to abbreviate.
07:09Well, it was just funny on the set, they would have said, hey, yo, Cube.
07:12And I turn and, well, not you, Ice Cube.
07:14And it's like, ugh.
07:16I'm not sure if you've seen, but Snoop Dogg recreated your scene with Mia Long.
07:20Um, kind of the spoof online.
07:22Where he, he comes into the house and he's swinging.
07:24He, he, he's, yes, he's swinging his fist.
07:26He's crying.
07:27He cries in her lap.
07:28Have you seen any of those parodies or, or things from this film?
07:31Oh, when, uh, Rossi, the MMA fighter, she lost, there was this picture of me holding Ricky in his arms with her face all beaten up.
07:42No, it's, it's, it's, it's interesting when you have a film that affects society in a way that 20, 25 years later, it's still relevant.
07:50Images of it are still relevant, it's a huge compliment.
07:53Are there any other scenes or lines that fans come up to you on the show and say?
07:56Oh, oh, oh, oh.
07:57Do they call you Trey?
07:58All of them.
07:59They'll go, they'll go, give me the gun, Trey.
08:01Oh, mercy.
08:02Give me the gun.
08:02Or they'll go, Ricky!
08:06And what's your response?
08:07I just, at least you didn't yell, show me the money.
08:10That's all I can.
08:11Oh, I like show me the money, though.
08:13Actually, the funniest thing happened yesterday at the bar.
08:16Mm-hmm.
08:16Guy literally goes, hey, OJ, show me the money.
08:19I was like, really, you stupid mother.
08:27Hey, what's up?
08:28I'm Hannibal Buress.
08:29I want to be looking at your comments on Essence's Facebook.
08:32Some of you say some really stupid stuff under your government name.
08:37So let's take a look.
08:45Kellyanne Dawson says, these are the outfits we wear to celebrate God?
08:48I'm not perfect, but chile, C-H-I-L-E, chile, I have a conscience.
08:56Well, if there is a guy, I don't think he cares about outfits that much.
09:00Why do people dress up for church?
09:03Who is that for?
09:05Is guy A?
09:06I would have let you in heaven, but you wore khakis that one Sunday and don't really like khakis.
09:13You should have worn a suit.
09:15Jessica says, this is not a great pick.
09:18I know you guys had better to choose from.
09:20What did it do to you that it wasn't a perfect pick?
09:28Did you make less money at your job?
09:31If you see the photo editor from Essence.com, are you going to square up with them in the streets and say, hey, what's up with your pick selection?
09:38It doesn't matter.
09:42Denise says, okay, I wish them well, but they have not been together long enough to be given advice.
09:48Really?
09:49Ask other celebrities like Denzel and Paula.
09:51Better still ask parents or other family.
09:54All caps.
09:55Essence is crazy.
09:56Hey, you know, but they talking about celibacy.
10:04So maybe those are the only celibate celebrities that they could get.
10:12Nobody else really talks about celibacy.
10:14So they kind of cornered that market.
10:16So you need to respect their business acumen.
10:20You know, and there's money to be made from not f***ing telling people about it.
10:27So how about you respect that?
10:30You heathen.
10:33Out there f***ing.
10:35All the time.
10:44I decided to just bring my Ask Wendy mic and my sign to set up Ask Wendy here at lunchtime at Essence.
10:50So how can I help?
10:51What is Wendy doing to juggle your personal and professional life?
10:54What's working for you and what should we start to do?
10:57You gotta learn how to prioritize.
10:59What could I do to, like, keep the relationship fresh?
11:01When do you know when it's time to walk away from a friendship?
11:03What should I get?
11:04Should we agree on something or should he just step aside?
11:08There are roles for a man and roles for a woman.
11:10Do you understand what I'm saying so far, Char?
11:13Absolutely.
11:14Next.
11:15Oh my gosh.
11:17Who are you?
11:18You.
11:19I just love you.
11:21Can I say that?
11:22Mickey.
11:22Did you all get that?
11:23Welcome back to Essence Live.
11:32Joining me right now is a young black woman in Hollywood who is killing the game, Miss Journey
11:36Smollett Bell.
11:37How are you?
11:37I'm well.
11:38How are you doing?
11:39I'm fabulous.
11:39Thank you so very much for joining us in our lovely new Essence Live studio.
11:42I love this.
11:43This is pretty epic.
11:45Pretty shnadze old.
11:46Yeah.
11:47I love it.
11:47I like it very much.
11:48I know you're here to talk about your new series, Underground.
11:52Yes.
11:53But before we do that, I would like to play a little game with you.
11:56Okay.
11:56And I promise it's going to be painless.
11:57Okay.
11:58It's in honor of Black History Month.
12:00We are going to show you four images on the screen behind me and they're in numerical order.
12:04Okay?
12:05And it's going to be either of a person, place, or event that relates to Black History Month.
12:09And so you have to look at the images and then maybe sound it out to see what that person,
12:15place, or event may be.
12:16It's going to be a lot of fun.
12:18Okay?
12:19Don't sound like a lot of fun.
12:20It's going to be a lot of fun.
12:21Okay.
12:21I'm with you, girl.
12:22I'm with you on this one.
12:23I'm with you on this one.
12:24You'll get the hang of it after the first one.
12:26Okay.
12:26So the first one, I'll give you a hint, it's a person or people.
12:32Wait, that's me.
12:33True.
12:34True.
12:34So you're almost there.
12:35So we're going to start in one, two, then three, four.
12:39Okay.
12:40That's a lamb.
12:42Okay.
12:43Yeah.
12:43That's a lamb.
12:44What's the lamb doing?
12:45The mouth is open.
12:46Ah.
12:47Okay.
12:47Okay.
12:48Okay.
12:49Oh.
12:51That's a rock?
12:52Mm-hmm.
12:53Mm-hmm.
12:53Okay.
12:54That's journey.
12:55That's so, you had it right when you said me.
12:56Oh, me?
12:57Mm-hmm.
12:57And that's a shell.
12:58Mm-hmm.
12:59Okay.
12:59Now we have to sound them all together.
13:02Lamb.
13:03No, you said, you made the sound first.
13:04You made ba.
13:05Ba.
13:07Ra.
13:09Me.
13:10Shell.
13:11Mm-hmm.
13:11Mm-hmm.
13:11Ah.
13:13Michelle.
13:13And Barack.
13:14Barack and Michelle.
13:16Oh.
13:16Oh, now I get the hang of it.
13:18Now you got the hang of it.
13:20Now you got the hang of it.
13:21And of course, they're our first family and African-American family to hold the White House.
13:26Absolutely.
13:26Okay.
13:27Number two.
13:28Now this is an event in a room that relates to black history.
13:32Okay.
13:33So you can sound it out starting with number one.
13:35Is this the bus boycott?
13:37Oh.
13:38Oh, my.
13:39Oh.
13:39You just go through it out there?
13:40I mean, I don't know.
13:40Okay.
13:41Well, it's the Montgomery bus boycott.
13:43But yes, you just threw it out there.
13:43Okay.
13:43Okay.
13:43Look at this.
13:44Yes.
13:44You just threw it out there.
13:45I saw a bus and I saw, you know, sound.
13:47Well, we have Alabama, Montgomery, here, and the bus, the young boy, and the cot.
13:51Yes.
13:51Okay.
13:52So a quick fun fact here.
13:53The Montgomery bus boycott was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks.
13:56It was a 13-month mass protest that ended with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that segregation
14:01on public buses is unconstitutional.
14:03I mean, just how amazing when you think about how resistance and disobedience really can make
14:09tangible change like that.
14:10And unity.
14:11Yes.
14:12Organized unity, nonviolent unity, but hitting them where it hurts.
14:16Mm-hmm.
14:16You know, their pockets.
14:18In the pockets.
14:19Yes, ma'am.
14:20All right.
14:20Here's our third, and this will be, I believe, our last one.
14:23Are you ready for it?
14:25George Jefferson.
14:27Mm-hmm.
14:28Soap, washing hands.
14:30Mm-hmm.
14:31One ton.
14:33Mm-hmm.
14:34And turkey.
14:35What are we doing with the turkey?
14:38Carving.
14:39Okay.
14:39So we have, we'll just say all the guys.
14:41We have George.
14:44Hands.
14:44What are the hands, what are they doing with the hands?
14:46Washing.
14:48Ton.
14:48Ton.
14:49And then?
14:50Carp.
14:51George Washington's carb.
14:52Okay, y'all being all clever.
14:54We're so far here.
14:55Oh, my God.
14:57My goodness.
14:58Okay, so here's our fun fact.
15:00He was a scientist and inventor who discovered over 300 uses for the peanut.
15:04So.
15:04Peanut butter.
15:05Peanut butter.
15:06Yay.
15:06My favorite snack.
15:07Oh.
15:08Oh, now they're saying one more.
15:09Okay, this one's my personal favorite.
15:12Because you're really good at this game.
15:13Man.
15:14So now we're trying to throw you off.
15:16Mm.
15:16A lake, a river.
15:17A person, I will give you that.
15:18An amazing athlete.
15:20A phenomenal athlete.
15:21That's your hint.
15:22Okay.
15:23That's a river or a lake?
15:25It's a body of water.
15:27Mm-hmm.
15:27How does it make you feel?
15:30Serene.
15:31Uh-huh.
15:32That's the word I was supposed to guess?
15:34Mm-hmm.
15:35Is this Serena Williams?
15:36Boom.
15:37Bam.
15:37Serene.
15:38He's saying, ah.
15:39Will Smith and then yams.
15:40Yeah.
15:41You know black folks love yams.
15:42Thank you so much for playing that game.
15:46Y'all are too much.
15:47It's going to come on your favorite.
15:47You can use that at holiday time, girl.
15:49You can use that.
15:50Okay, I might be stealing this game.
15:51You got it online?
15:52You got it online.
15:53We'll send you some stuff.
15:54Don't worry about it.
15:55Well, now the main reason that you're here is to talk about Underground.
15:59Yes.
15:59And, you know, some people may, the title, they may think Underground Railroad.
16:03They may even think something completely different.
16:04But why don't you tell us what the series is about?
16:07Underground is about a group of young men and women who, well, not all of them are young,
16:12but men and women who dare to escape a plantation and run over 600 miles to freedom.
16:18Wow.
16:18And really what happens to them along the way and who assists them, who can they trust,
16:22because they can't trust many.
16:24Sure.
16:24And really it's about, you know, the Underground Railroad, which was the first integrated civil
16:29rights movement in our history.
16:31And what did you learn about yourself while going on this journey?
16:34I mean, this is a heavy piece.
16:36You know, honestly, there's so much privilege in being a part of this project.
16:40Like, I love Rosalie and bringing her to life was, it was a real honor because all the Rosalies
16:46who never get their stories told, the Rosalies who have gone voiceless for hundreds of years,
16:53it's an honor to just step inside of her and bring her to life because these were real women.
16:58These were living, breathing people.
17:00And, you know, history doesn't do us justice.
17:03The history books don't really talk about us as if we're people, you know.
17:08And for me, going back to the slave narratives and reading the Bullwhip days and incidents
17:14in the life of a slave girl and, you know, really diving into the first person account
17:18of what it was like, it really humanized it for me.
17:23You know, it honestly, the Underground Railroad just made me so proud of my history.
17:28You know, it made me want to own it with so much pride.
17:31Because these were people who had the courage to do what no one had done.
17:35True.
17:36You know, and these were the revolutionaries.
17:39These were the bold, audacious, you know, rebels.
17:44The rebels, definitely.
17:45And John Legend is executive producer on this work.
17:47Yes.
17:47What was it like working with him?
17:49You know, John Legend, Mike Jackson, the whole Get Lifted production company,
17:53they're so passionate about this show.
17:55And it's amazing to have them aboard.
17:58I mean, John is curating the music and, you know, definitely has approached this project
18:04in a different manner just to, you know, he's approaching the music in an unconventional
18:09way.
18:10It's very urgent.
18:11It's very bold.
18:12It's kind of in your face.
18:13And it kind of, you know, in one way makes the pacing of the show completely different
18:18than what you would expect it to be.
18:20We've watched you grow up on television and, of course, your family and all of your siblings.
18:24And your brother, Jesse, is on Empire.
18:26Yes.
18:26Do you ever hang around set, try to get the scoop or see, you know, and see what's going
18:31on?
18:31I know some of the scoop.
18:33He's told me a little bit.
18:34So what do you think about his success?
18:35I mean, of course you know that he can sing and he has all of these talents.
18:38But now the world knows.
18:40What do you think about that?
18:40It's amazing.
18:42Oh, my goodness.
18:43To watch, you know, someone you love, you know, to see their dreams come true.
18:48And I've seen so many doors being shut on him, you know, growing up and just see him
18:53continue and not give up on his dreams.
18:56And when good things happen and good people, it's the best thing in the world because he's
18:59such a good person.
19:01He really is.
19:01Are there any similarities between Jesse and his character, Jamal?
19:05Like, would he hang someone over a balcony?
19:07Like, let's talk about it.
19:07Like, he took the last cookie.
19:10What?
19:10You got to go.
19:11Like, are there any similarities between that character?
19:14I mean, I don't think he would hang someone over a balcony.
19:17But Jesse's definitely fiercely protective of his family, you know, like, as we all are,
19:22you know.
19:24I love the scenes with his brothers because it reminds me of all of us, you know.
19:29We grew up being, you know, part of a family of six kids.
19:33So, and we didn't grow up rich, you know.
19:37We were very much so not.
19:40So, we held on to each other.
19:42And, you know, that's one of the best things about the show, that element to me.
19:47Thank you so much, Jenny, for joining us in studio.
19:49And I cannot wait to watch Underground on WGN.
19:52Please be sure to catch the premiere of Underground March 9th on WGN.
19:56Check your local listings.
19:57All right.
19:57So, later, our good friend Tony Anderson is in the building.
20:00And, ladies, he swears, as usual, he has everything you need to know for Super Bowl Sunday.
20:04But first, Scandal returns February 11th to ABC.
20:09And we wondered, what if the role of Pop-Up Hope was played by actor Courtney D. Vance?
20:13Check it out.
20:21You're a boy.
20:22I am.
20:23You've been coddled, cared for, and pampered, and hugged.
20:26For you, it's always summertime, and the living is easy.
20:28Daddy's rich, your mama's good-looking.
20:29You're a grant.
20:31You got money in your blood.
20:32You are a boy.
20:35I'm a man.
20:36I've worked for every single thing I have received.
20:39I have fought, scraped, and bled for every inch of ground I walk on.
20:42I was the first in my family to go to college.
20:44My daughter went to boarding school with children of kings.
20:47I made that happen.
20:49You cried yourself to sleep because Daddy hurt your feelings.
20:52Because Papa banged his secretary.
20:55Because it hurt to have so much money.
20:56You spoiled, untitled, ungrateful little brat.
21:01You have everything handed to you on a silver platter.
21:04And you squandered it.
21:08You've been given the world, and you can't appreciate it.
21:10And it's because you haven't had to work for anything.
21:13I did you wrong.
21:14I did you wrong, baby girl.
21:15I did you wrong.
21:18That's me.
21:19I put that little bit on the end.
21:20I'm going to raise my hand on that one.
21:22I'm going to raise my hand on that one.
21:24I'm Nicole Sanchez.
21:25It's Tanisha.
21:26I'm Nikita Banks.
21:27I'm Janelle.
21:28And you're watching Essence Live.
21:29Essence Live.
21:30Essence Live.
21:31Peace out.
21:34Welcome back to Essence Live.
21:35This Sunday is the Super Bowl.
21:37And I'm sure many of you will be attending Super Bowl parties wherever you are.
21:40Now, Super Bowl parties are fun and all, but how many of you ladies watch the game and just
21:44cheer and clap when everyone else does it, but you don't actually understand the game?
21:49I'm going to raise my hand on that one.
21:50Well, this year we're doing better, Essence Live fam.
21:52So joining me in studio to explain some of those complicated football terms and rules
21:56is our sometimes friend, most-time enemy, digital journalist and S.I. Wire correspondent, Tony Anderson.
22:03Hello.
22:03Hey, Dana.
22:04Hi, Tony.
22:04Thank you for having me.
22:06I'm so nervous having you here.
22:06You look stunning as usual.
22:08Here we go.
22:09Just a radiant beauty.
22:10He's buttering me up for something, y'all.
22:12Tony, let's jump right into it because I have so many questions for you.
22:15Let's go.
22:15So in general, I get the game.
22:17Like they're running, they're catching, they're in spandex.
22:19I get it.
22:19Got it.
22:19There are two teams, one winner, and the occasional dab.
22:22Right.
22:22But it's all the other stuff that's in between that tends to complicate me.
22:25Like the whole situation.
22:27So let's start off with the downs.
22:29All right.
22:30We constantly hear people say first and 10 or three and out or second and goal and 2-15.
22:34I don't know.
22:35But the technical definition of a down is a play and you get four chances or downs to advance 10 yards.
22:41Now, I just read this, but what the hell does it mean?
22:43Okay.
22:44So, Dana, as you said, you get four downs.
22:46Yes.
22:46To put that in layman's terms, say you meet a guy and you go on a date, right?
22:51You're going on a date and you give him four chances in, you know, impressing you, to impress you.
22:57Wait, four dates or four chances at dates?
22:59Four chances on each individual date.
23:02So it's four different dates.
23:04Now, if he does very well, then you get 10 yards, which is even more chances to now get to the ultimate goal, which is the touchdown.
23:13The touchdown can be dating more, it could be a relationship, or it could be knocking the boots.
23:19Whatever you into, it could be that.
23:21But most ladies are not going to give you four dates, but I understand what you're saying.
23:24Then you got, then that's a turnover.
23:25You punt the ball and it goes to somebody.
23:27And you keep it moving.
23:27You swipe left.
23:28Like me.
23:29Oh, Lord.
23:30Okay.
23:30So that makes sense.
23:32All right.
23:33Now the next one I don't get is sacks.
23:35The football gods say that sacks are tackles on the quarterback when he hasn't advanced at all.
23:39Tony, put this on the light turns.
23:41So a sack is, let's say, Dana, you're at the bar and you see a guy.
23:46It could be any guy, you know, a six-foot-one, light-skinned guy with green eyes from Philadelphia.
23:51Not my type, but whatever.
23:51I'm just saying, just randomly.
23:53So if you see a guy and you're just like, damn, he is foing.
23:55Not fine, but foing.
23:57That's like the extra.
23:58The foing.
23:59And then, you know, but your girlfriend next to you is like, I'm digging him too.
24:04Before she can even whisper over, if you already go to him and you get the digits, you just sacked your man.
24:10Well, technically, that's a sprint.
24:11So I have to sprint to the man.
24:13You got to sprint to get the sack.
24:14Okay.
24:15And so now do I tackle him or do I just get his number?
24:19Well, it generally doesn't work, but as, you know, as cute as you are to tackle him may work.
24:23Another thing, though, it can go wrong sometimes.
24:25An interception.
24:26Now, let's say, you know, go down in the DM.
24:29Let's say you send a lady a DM and then you get a message back saying this is her boyfriend.
24:34Quit DMing my lady.
24:35He just called an interception.
24:37I feel some emotion in that, Tony.
24:39Maybe that's you.
24:40So I'm going to go on to this next one.
24:42I need an explanation for a Hail Mary.
24:44The technical definition of a Hail Mary is passing play where the offense is usually more than 40 yards away from the end zone.
24:50Receivers will run into one area of the end zone and the quarterback will just throw the ball up and pray someone catches it.
24:55All right.
24:56Talk to me.
24:57So a Hail Mary is like a long shot, right?
24:59So let's say you're not dating and it's time to go to that family reunion.
25:02You know your mom and them are going to say, Dana, where your man at?
25:05You got a husband.
25:06Which they always do.
25:06You're going to say, where are my grandkids at?
25:07I want some grandkids.
25:09And you're like, I don't even have a suitor.
25:10So what you do is you text all your old boos.
25:13You know what I mean?
25:13You post your best selfie.
25:15Get that thirst game going and hope somebody, you know, comes up.
25:19And if not, then you just.
25:21I mean, I ain't that's a fritz only.
25:22I'm just saying.
25:23Oh, I know how you get that.
25:24I'm just saying.
25:25You know, okay.
25:26So I feel much more educated, but who do you think is going to win the game?
25:30I'm going to say the Carolina Panthers.
25:32Vegas picks Carolina.
25:34I love Cam Newton.
25:35And Black History Month, for people who don't know this, Doug Williams was the first black
25:40quarterback to start and win the Super Bowl.
25:43And Cam Newton is hoping to join Doug Williams, Steve McNair, Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick.
25:52And now we're going to have.
25:54More importantly, though, Doug Wilson coached at Granville State University in Louisiana.
25:58Boom.
25:58We always got to bring it back home.
26:00Now, why is Cam the one to watch?
26:03Cam is the one to watch.
26:04Well, first of all, it's fashion sense.
26:05You know, Cam is rocking the skin-tight Versace's.
26:08You know, shout out to Migos.
26:09That's his thing.
26:10You know what I mean?
26:11If he sneezed, though, he may have busted the pants and we didn't see something we didn't
26:15really want to see.
26:15Well, maybe you do.
26:17But Cam is, oh, Cam can actually be the first QB if he wins to win the Heisman Trophy, a
26:22college football national championship.
26:24Oh, wow.
26:24He'll probably be MVP, so MVP and a Super Bowl.
26:27So just a slate.
26:28Just four and one.
26:29So basically 2015-16, it's all about the dab.
26:33The dab.
26:33Now, Tony, would you wear those Versace pants?
26:36I don't think I would because I got a lot going on.
26:41Anyway, the lies you tell.
26:43The lies you tell.
26:43We actually caught you, Tony, wearing these pants in the street.
26:46Did you?
26:46Yes, we did.
26:47Okay.
26:47Did you see a print?
26:48Well, I mean, you know.
26:50What do we see?
26:51Oh, snap.
26:53But you see a little, you see a little bulge.
26:55Stop it.
26:55I'm just saying.
26:56You know what I mean?
26:57That's kind of fly, though.
26:58I ain't gonna lie.
26:58That's kind of fly.
26:59That's the face you make around the office all the time, you know?
27:01But look at my ankle.
27:02He's a copier.
27:03He's like.
27:03But why are my ankles so ashy, though?
27:05They always like that.
27:06I'm just saying.
27:07Lies-skim people don't get that ashy.
27:09It looked like the color of the shoes.
27:10Are my ankles swayed?
27:11Have you seen your ankles?
27:11What is that, velvet?
27:12What's going on?
27:13I'm just saying.
27:14That's a nice man purse.
27:15I'm gonna start taking pictures of what your ankles look like and these expressions that
27:18you do so the Essence Live audience doesn't think that we're crazy.
27:22But thank you so much.
27:22Thank you for having me.
27:24And thank you to all of our guests today and, of course, all of our wonderful viewers streaming
27:27us live.
27:27Next week, we're getting ready for Essence's annual Black Widow music event with an all-music
27:31edition of Essence Live with some big-name stars and performances.
27:35Make sure you tune in right here.
27:36Same time, same place, same fabulous host.
27:39I'm your host, Dana Blair, and I'll see you next week.