- 2 weeks ago
Join the cast and executive producer/showrunner of All American for an exclusive conversation about the show's lasting impact, compelling storytelling, and what's next for Beverly Hills High and South Crenshaw High! This engaging panel will offer a sneak peek of an exclusive clip, behind-the-scenes insights into the show's cultural relevance, character evolution, and themes that continue to resonate with fans. With a new Beverly Hills High coach, a new generation of teens, and beloved OG characters, All American season 7 continues to break boundaries and remind us why we can’t get enough of this series!
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00This is good, because it's still glossy and shiny.
00:02Aww, we're going to try it again.
00:04Aww, shoot!
00:05You got some time.
00:06It's not a little bit.
00:07Okay, y'all not ready.
00:09Okay, I'll tell you, I'll tell you.
00:15Aww, shoot!
00:18Yeah!
00:20Yeah!
00:22How was your lunch?
00:23You good?
00:24You had to eye this a little bit.
00:26You had to shake it off.
00:28You was like, yeah, we was good.
00:29It was really nice.
00:31Who had a good lunch?
00:34Okay, all right.
00:36We got to work on that.
00:38There's always next year.
00:39There's always next year.
00:39No, the lunch was fantastic.
00:41All right, all right, settle, settle.
00:43Settle, settle.
00:45Settle, settle.
00:46Like we at camp.
00:47Settle, settle.
00:48I go!
00:50Now, you got to go to that camp.
00:52I may.
00:53You know what I mean?
00:53Okay, what's that?
00:55Okay, so I'm very, very excited
00:58about what is about to happen
01:00on this stage.
01:01And I think that you are, too.
01:02Y'all look good.
01:04Okay.
01:05Here to talk about
01:06the lasting impact,
01:08compelling storytelling,
01:10and what's next
01:10for the award-winning drama series,
01:13All-American,
01:14please welcome showrunner
01:15Nkechi Okoro-Carol,
01:17along with cast members
01:19Greta Oniegu,
01:20Michael Evans-Belling,
01:23Breezy,
01:24and Alexis Chikaze.
01:30They're going to be moderated
01:31by my friend
01:33and the fantastic
01:34entertainment journalist
01:35Brandi Victoria!
01:41Brandi!
01:44I love you, Brandi!
01:47Hello.
01:50All right, let's keep clapping.
01:57All right, let's keep clapping.
02:06Hello, everybody.
02:08Hello, hello, hello.
02:08How are you?
02:10All right.
02:11Hello to you all out there.
02:12So good to see you.
02:13Thank you for being here
02:14for this panel.
02:15I want to thank Essence
02:16and Warner Brothers
02:17for having me.
02:18This is my show.
02:19So like,
02:20this is just like a treat
02:21for me to get to be here.
02:22I think these cue cards
02:23are to keep me on track
02:24so that I don't turn this
02:25into my personal Q&A.
02:27But so excited.
02:29I want to just set the stage.
02:30I know everyone here
02:31is big fans of this show,
02:32but to just understand
02:34what it means
02:34for this series
02:35to have made
02:36a hundred episodes
02:37in this TV landscape.
02:39Yes, with a black woman
02:42showrunner.
02:43Yes.
02:46And to now be on
02:47its seventh season.
02:50So, I want to start,
02:52you know, with you.
02:53Okay.
02:54This is your baby.
02:55Y'all put me by the exit.
02:57I'm a bolt any minute.
03:01You know, I want to ask,
03:02we are in this landscape,
03:04like we see so much heartbreak
03:05when shows get canceled
03:06after a season,
03:07even after two seasons.
03:09We're talking about seven,
03:10you know, for All-American.
03:11What do you think it is
03:12about this series
03:13that has stood out
03:14in this landscape
03:15and continues to resonate
03:16with viewers?
03:18Wow.
03:19I mean,
03:20I think that it is a mix
03:23of the incredible talent
03:26we have on the show
03:27that just the fans
03:28really connect with.
03:29I feel like sometimes
03:30I have to remind them
03:31that they're not
03:32Jordan and Layla
03:34and Coop
03:35and, you know,
03:36and so I think it's that
03:37and I think it's also
03:38that, you know,
03:40this show,
03:41everyone pours
03:42their heart and soul
03:42into it.
03:43The writers,
03:44the crew, everyone,
03:45and I think you feel
03:46that through the show.
03:47There's a real connection
03:47to authentic storylines
03:50we're telling
03:50that really resonate
03:51with people
03:52and then, you know,
03:53American football.
03:54I mean,
03:54we just had the Super Bowl,
03:56shout out Kendrick Lamar.
03:57And so, yes.
04:00I'm not going to start dancing.
04:02And so I think also
04:03this great American sport
04:05that's sort of
04:05this great unifier
04:06and I feel like
04:07all those things
04:08come together
04:09and, you know,
04:10people loved it.
04:12And while I have the mic,
04:13I just want to shout out
04:14Jeffrey Meyer
04:15from All-American Homecoming.
04:19Yes, Simone.
04:21Yes.
04:23And part of that,
04:24as you said,
04:24the authentic storytelling,
04:26you know,
04:26you've always said
04:27football is at the core
04:28of this show,
04:29but you touched on
04:30so many issues
04:31we've seen,
04:31mental health,
04:32you know,
04:32addiction,
04:33excuse me,
04:34even touching on things
04:35within the kind of
04:36football complex
04:37of like NCAA,
04:38NIL,
04:39you know,
04:39how do you kind of
04:40tackle those things
04:41so fearlessly
04:42and how do you feel
04:43like that piece
04:44of the storytelling
04:45has kind of evolved
04:46over the season?
04:47Well,
04:47the beautiful thing
04:48is we were telling
04:49the show
04:49as the NCAA
04:50was kind of
04:52reconfiguring things
04:54like NIL
04:54became a thing
04:55while we were
04:56doing the show
04:57and so it's been
04:58exciting to be able
04:59to be sort of
04:59on the cutting edge
05:00of as these things
05:01were happening
05:02in real life,
05:03we were just
05:03in the prime position
05:04to tell those stories
05:05on the show
05:06and I think
05:07that just speaks
05:07to why people
05:09resonate with the show
05:10and why it feels
05:11so timely
05:11and timeless
05:12at the same time
05:14and I'm incredibly
05:16lucky to have
05:17a student athlete
05:18in my household
05:19who is going
05:19through the same thing
05:20with basketball
05:21and so I always
05:22tell him and his friends
05:23if you're talking
05:23in my car,
05:24just trust it's
05:24going to land
05:24on the show
05:25so just be careful.
05:27But yeah,
05:28so I think
05:28all of that
05:29has contributed
05:29to that.
05:31Breezy,
05:32I want to come
05:32to you next.
05:33I loved episode
05:35one of season seven.
05:37I felt like
05:37as an OG viewer
05:38when Amina
05:39comes into the scene
05:40I was like,
05:41I know that's not
05:41who I think it is.
05:43How was she
05:43almost a grown woman
05:44and to see your character
05:46also like,
05:47I now have to be
05:47responsible for this person
05:49while trying to be
05:49my own adult.
05:50I just love seeing that.
05:52What's it been like
05:52for you now
05:54with this iteration
05:54of Coop?
05:56I mean,
05:56I love it.
05:57I'm happy.
05:58Thank you,
05:59NK.
05:59I'm happy.
06:01I've been happy
06:02to step into
06:03a different part
06:04of myself
06:04as Coop
06:06and the character
06:07is concerned.
06:08Alexis has been
06:09so fun
06:10and amazing
06:11and it's just
06:12funny
06:13because I am
06:13an aunt in real life
06:14but not with a kid
06:16this girl.
06:17So,
06:18you know,
06:18so it's just like,
06:19you know,
06:20how would you handle it?
06:21And I think we,
06:22you know,
06:22off camera,
06:23we joke all the time
06:23like,
06:24girl,
06:25who are you talking to?
06:26You know what I'm saying?
06:27But she has it,
06:28she's spicy
06:29and she's got questions
06:30and,
06:31you know,
06:31I'm just like,
06:32I don't know,
06:33I'm just having to deal with it.
06:34You know what I mean?
06:34But it's exciting.
06:35It's exciting to do
06:36something different.
06:37Allows me to,
06:39you know,
06:39grow up a bit,
06:40be more mature
06:41with the responsibility
06:41of someone else
06:42like Amina's character
06:44and I'm like,
06:45I'm having fun with it.
06:46I love working with her.
06:47Yes.
06:47I would have come to you,
06:49you know,
06:49the newbie here,
06:50but so amazing.
06:52Like I love backstage
06:53taking photos,
06:54they were all hyping her up.
06:55It was just adorable
06:56to see what's it been like
06:58for you coming
06:58into this well-established series,
07:01you know,
07:01as a new cast member.
07:04I just think
07:05it's been a really
07:06beautiful experience.
07:07First,
07:07thank you,
07:08NK,
07:08for this opportunity.
07:11I think what is so amazing
07:13is how warm
07:14and inviting
07:15all of these wonderful,
07:16like individuals are.
07:18They've been so kind
07:20and so open
07:21with their questions
07:22and the wisdom
07:24and their guidance
07:24on their journey,
07:26which I think
07:26has helped all of us
07:28coming in.
07:29My castmates
07:30who play KJ,
07:32Khalil,
07:33Nathaniel McIntyre,
07:36and as well as
07:37Antonio J. Bell,
07:38they've,
07:39and OC,
07:40Akilah,
07:40they've honestly
07:41ushered us in
07:42and they've been
07:43a guiding light,
07:44which has been
07:45really beautiful
07:45and I think
07:47it's just been
07:47a very fun journey.
07:48The cast,
07:49the crew,
07:49everyone is so nice
07:50and I always say
07:51it starts from the top,
07:53so thank you
07:54for building
07:54such a space
07:55where we can
07:56be ourselves
07:56and we can create
07:58such beautiful work.
07:59So it's an amazing
08:00opportunity
08:01and I'm grateful.
08:01and I want to ask
08:07about fan reaction
08:08too.
08:10Viewers of this show
08:11are tapped in.
08:12I posted that
08:13I was hosting
08:13this panel
08:14and a Jordan
08:16and Layla fan club
08:17started following me
08:18immediately
08:18and I was like,
08:19they don't play
08:20about this show.
08:21What has it been like
08:22seeing audience reaction
08:24to your character
08:24coming in
08:25in her storyline?
08:26Not the deep side.
08:30Of course,
08:32everyone's going to say
08:33well like,
08:33as you said prior,
08:35is this Amina?
08:36But I'm like,
08:38look,
08:38I know that
08:39the younger character
08:40played by the lovely
08:41Ella Simone Taboo,
08:42she came in
08:43and did work
08:43and I'm just happy
08:44to simply be
08:44an extension of that.
08:46So it's funny to me
08:49because you love,
08:51you want people
08:52to react.
08:53This is the work
08:53that you put in
08:54so that you hope
08:55it resonates
08:55to some extent.
08:56And sometimes
08:57they're like,
08:57oh my gosh,
08:57who is she talking to?
08:58Is she talking to Coop?
08:59And it's like,
09:00don't worry,
09:00just watch,
09:02just wait and watch.
09:03I can't,
09:03not spoon anything,
09:04but just wait and watch.
09:05And it's a space
09:07where it's teenagers
09:09being teenagers.
09:09It's messy.
09:10It's fun.
09:11It's all the things
09:12that life was.
09:13Everyone remembers
09:13what high school was
09:14and it was pretty messy.
09:15So it's like,
09:16you only expect
09:18such things and reactions,
09:19but it's fun nonetheless.
09:21Awesome.
09:22Well, Michael,
09:23we'll cover to you next.
09:25You know,
09:25Jordan,
09:26we see kind of
09:26at the beginning,
09:27trying to step
09:28into his own
09:29as a coach now
09:30and learning
09:31what it's like
09:31to be on that side
09:33of the authority figure.
09:35You know,
09:35what's it like for you
09:36kind of stepping
09:36into this version
09:37of Jordan now?
09:39It's been a great
09:40opportunity.
09:41Just to piggyback
09:43off what Breezy said,
09:43thanks NK
09:44for the opportunity
09:45to come back and play.
09:47But to see Jordan
09:48go from this boyish boy
09:51to now a man
09:52and stepping into the role
09:53of trying to fill
09:54Billy Baker's shoes,
09:55which he never will,
09:57I don't think,
09:57but I think that's
09:59one of his goals
10:00to be able to be
10:01a mentor for these kids
10:04and to be able
10:04to lead them
10:05in a different way.
10:05You know,
10:06going from the field
10:06to now on the sidelines
10:08is, I think,
10:09challenging for any athlete.
10:12But for him
10:13to be able to step up
10:14into that,
10:14and we've seen him
10:15struggle with that
10:15in the early season seven,
10:18but it's been a lot of fun.
10:20It's been a lot of fun.
10:21And I also would have asked
10:23Greta and Michael
10:24about playing newlyweds.
10:26Now, you know,
10:26we see you all working
10:27through your own
10:28kind of career things,
10:29but being newlyweds
10:31and thinking back
10:31to when the series started,
10:32did you ever think
10:33your characters
10:34would end up together?
10:35Never.
10:36That was quick.
10:37We didn't really speak
10:39until season four.
10:41So it was season two.
10:42Layla had a lot
10:43of other things going on.
10:45She had a couple people
10:46on her play already.
10:47No, I definitely never saw that coming,
10:53but I think that it feels
10:55like a natural progression
10:56for the characters,
10:57and I think it's been so nice
10:59to portray a really beautiful,
11:01healthy relationship,
11:03especially for Layla.
11:04I feel like she's had a few,
11:06and they haven't all ended great
11:08or really been great.
11:10So it's really nice
11:12to play the joy of that for her
11:13and sort of get to lean
11:14into the levity
11:16of what it's like
11:17to be young and in love
11:19and married
11:19and all those wonderful things.
11:21And also, you know,
11:23we see with Layla,
11:24she's kind of starting out like,
11:25have I peaked,
11:26you know, already at 25?
11:28Which is so funny.
11:28I saw a tweet the other day.
11:30Someone was like,
11:31is 27 too old to start over?
11:33And I was like, my God.
11:35You don't even know
11:36how many times.
11:36How many times?
11:38Start over.
11:39But I think, you know,
11:40that just speaks to
11:41how realistic the issues
11:42the characters kind of deal with.
11:44What's it been like for you
11:46seeing, you know,
11:46where your character started
11:47and where she is now?
11:49It's been really beautiful.
11:51It's so nice to get to grow
11:53with a character
11:54for this many years.
11:55I think now,
11:56just with the way
11:57that the industry is going,
11:58you don't even get
11:59this much time on a show.
12:00So the fact that,
12:01you know,
12:01we have over 100 episodes
12:03with these characters
12:04and have really seen them evolve
12:05and go through
12:06different iterations
12:07of each other
12:08or of themselves
12:09is just like such a blessing
12:11because, you know,
12:13I don't know
12:13if that will ever happen again
12:15just with the way
12:16that everything
12:16is becoming shorter
12:17and shorter.
12:18So, yeah,
12:20it's crazy to watch back
12:22from the beginning
12:23and sort of see
12:23how far everybody has come.
12:25Yeah.
12:26And I want to ask, you know,
12:27kind of the OG cast collectively
12:28because when I talked
12:29to Nkechi before,
12:31you know,
12:31she mentioned how you all
12:32have also become mentors
12:33to kind of the new cast
12:34coming in.
12:35You know,
12:35what kind of advice
12:36did you share with them
12:37about coming into this world
12:39of All-American?
12:43Oh, yeah.
12:44Oh, I will say
12:47it, I didn't know
12:49what it was going to be
12:50when they came,
12:51but they came in
12:52full of questions.
12:53They came in
12:54full of questions
12:55and they, you know,
12:56I think it just took
12:58an enormous amount
12:59of humility,
13:00you know,
13:00for them to come in
13:01and be like,
13:02you know,
13:02how is this
13:03and how is that?
13:04And I was just like,
13:05wow,
13:05I thought it was,
13:05there was something
13:06so pure about it.
13:08And I didn't have that
13:09when I, you know,
13:11it was at my entry level
13:12on a large show.
13:13So I appreciated it
13:15and I respected it.
13:16And I just was like,
13:19you know,
13:19you're here for a reason.
13:21And me and Alexis
13:21were having conversations.
13:23What season was that
13:24when you first came?
13:25Season six, actually.
13:27Season six.
13:27And I think she was just like
13:29peeking in a little bit
13:31and, you know,
13:31she really wanted the role
13:34like permanently
13:34and she really wanted the job
13:36and really wanted to be
13:36a part of the show.
13:37And I was like,
13:37girl, like it's gonna happen.
13:39So when I seen her season seven,
13:40I was like,
13:40you did it!
13:41Like it happened.
13:42And I was so excited for her.
13:45But I was just like,
13:46you know,
13:47whatever you were doing,
13:49season six,
13:50whatever you did to get here,
13:51like keep that,
13:52keep that,
13:52whatever that is,
13:53keep that.
13:54She comes,
13:54they're all prepared.
13:55They're so prepared.
13:56I'm like,
13:57it's just,
14:00but you know,
14:00they have a,
14:01they have a level
14:01of professionalism about them
14:03that is just,
14:04I admire,
14:05you know what I mean?
14:06You know,
14:06because we all have our days,
14:07but every day I see them,
14:09I'm like,
14:09they on top of their stuff.
14:10Like this is,
14:11this is nice.
14:12So I didn't see anything
14:14that I felt like needed
14:15to be corrected within them.
14:16I was like,
14:17you know,
14:17keep doing what you're doing.
14:18Don't get caught up,
14:19but keep doing what you're doing.
14:20Stay professional,
14:21stay prepared,
14:22show up and do the job.
14:23That's it.
14:24Yeah.
14:25I was just going to say,
14:26like,
14:26I mean,
14:26they're obviously all incredible
14:28and they're professionals
14:29and they know what they're doing.
14:30And I think for me,
14:31my biggest thing was just
14:32making sure that
14:33they had someone
14:35to ask those questions to
14:36if they wanted,
14:37like to have community.
14:39And that's something
14:39when I was coming in was so,
14:41like everyone,
14:42that was really gracious
14:43with their time
14:43and their answers was,
14:46it just makes you feel
14:46less scared,
14:47even the smallest thing,
14:49you know?
14:49So I just wanted them
14:51to feel like they have
14:52a safe space for that.
14:54And yeah,
14:54like Breezy said,
14:55you're here for a reason
14:56and they've been wonderful
14:58and we're so happy
14:59to have them.
15:01Do you have anything,
15:02Michael?
15:02Absolutely.
15:04Not only were they prepared,
15:05they were hungry.
15:06They came in hungry.
15:07They came in
15:08and they wanted to be,
15:10you know,
15:11add to the show
15:12and just be the best version
15:13of themselves
15:14and I really appreciated that.
15:17As far as mentorship goes,
15:19I just took anything
15:20and everything
15:20Taye Diggs told me
15:21and just gave it to them.
15:23Yeah.
15:23But I want to come back
15:28to you, N.K.,
15:29because I know
15:30you've talked about
15:31giving opportunities
15:32to people with this series
15:33and how, you know,
15:35they kind of tell you
15:36your dreams
15:36and you're like,
15:37then we can make it happen.
15:38I kind of have a two-part
15:39of why is that important
15:41for you,
15:42but also, you know,
15:43how should people approach that?
15:44I'm sure there's people here,
15:46you know,
15:46in roles wanting to get
15:47to that next step
15:48and is it okay
15:48to approach my boss
15:50to tell her,
15:51you know,
15:51what I'm looking to do,
15:52you know,
15:52what are kind of your thoughts?
15:54Yeah, it's important to me
15:56because we don't always
16:01get opportunities
16:02to get our foot in the door.
16:04It is so hard
16:05and so I feel a responsibility
16:08to make sure
16:10I am holding that door open,
16:12whether it's with an elbow
16:13or foot or hand,
16:14whatever,
16:15to bring the next generation
16:17through the door
16:18and not just in terms
16:19of other writers
16:20or actors
16:20but across our crew.
16:23and so, you know,
16:24Daniel Ezra and I
16:25were talking the other day
16:26and we were trying,
16:27he was like,
16:28what do you think
16:28is going to be
16:29the legacy
16:30that you're most proud of?
16:32And I realized,
16:33I'm like,
16:33the thing I'm most proud of
16:34is that we were able
16:35to stay on the air
16:36long enough
16:37for PAs
16:39to become directors,
16:40for gaffers
16:41to become DPs,
16:42for, you know,
16:46actors to become directors.
16:48And it's important to me
16:50because I'm a young girl
16:52from Nigeria
16:52who had a crazy dream
16:53that a gazillion people,
16:55oh, wait,
16:56Imoquenu!
16:57Hey, okay, okay.
17:01I just want to point out,
17:02like, you know,
17:03there's three Nigerians up here
17:04we represent,
17:05that's right.
17:05Hey.
17:07But I had a crazy dream
17:09that so many people
17:10told me was crazy.
17:11And thankfully,
17:13I also had a support system
17:15that was like,
17:15okay, so it's crazy,
17:16go after it anyway.
17:18And so,
17:19when I find out
17:20members of my crew
17:21or anyone else
17:22on the production
17:23has a dream
17:23of something else,
17:24then why wouldn't I
17:25try to make that happen?
17:27And in terms of
17:29how it happens,
17:30if you're doing the job
17:31you were hired to do,
17:32great,
17:32then yes,
17:33let's elevate.
17:34Why do I want you
17:34to stay in that same position?
17:36Like, you've been
17:36killing it as a DP
17:38and you really want to direct?
17:39Bet, let's set you up
17:40for success.
17:41And the whole,
17:42the whole crew
17:43supports that.
17:46And like Greta said,
17:47I don't know
17:48how many opportunities
17:49we're going to have
17:50to be on a long-running
17:51show like this.
17:52You know,
17:52at the end of season seven,
17:53we will have
17:54119 episodes
17:55and counting.
17:58And so,
17:59as long as we're here
18:01and we're able to do it,
18:02we're going to try
18:02and get all these people
18:03through the door
18:04and get their dreams realized.
18:12All right.
18:13Okay,
18:14so we're going to watch
18:14a quick clip here.
18:17Yes.
18:18Don't know where.
18:19Wait,
18:20what happened to him,
18:21the hopeful dreamer?
18:23Do what do you have?
18:30Thanks for the drink
18:31and the drunk years.
18:34I should get going.
18:36Ah,
18:37y'all ain't driving home,
18:38right?
18:38Sorry,
18:39it's the parent and me.
18:40Look at that.
18:41We're still young enough
18:42to get parented.
18:43But thank you.
18:44No,
18:44I have already arranged
18:45for our driver.
18:47She has arrived.
18:49Yeah,
18:49you know,
18:50when I said I was working
18:51on getting a job,
18:52I didn't mean as an Uber driver.
18:53Good luck with that.
18:56Yeah,
18:56thanks.
18:57Yeah.
18:57Okay,
18:58so how much have you guys
18:59had to drink?
19:00None.
19:01That was.
19:01Just to this.
19:03Just to this.
19:03Okay.
19:04Let's get you down from here.
19:06Baby,
19:07girl,
19:07you want to be grown.
19:08I've got two words for you.
19:10Designated driver.
19:12Designated driver.
19:14I want to piggyback off
19:31of what you just shared
19:32about Daniel Ezra's question
19:34of what do you want
19:35the legacy of this show to be?
19:36I would love for each of you
19:37to say what you hope
19:39the legacy of this show
19:39will be.
19:41No pressure.
19:44Over to you,
19:45Breezy.
19:45Over to me.
19:46Take us home.
19:49Oh, man.
19:50I just hope that,
19:51you know,
19:52this show,
19:53more importantly,
19:54has just put a strong,
19:56strong and bright spotlight
19:57on us as a culture,
19:59as young black people
20:01and biracial people
20:03in many different phases
20:04of their lives,
20:05which are all phases
20:06we've all experienced.
20:07And I hope that the messages
20:09that we told
20:10when we discussed sobriety,
20:12when we discussed
20:13coming out,
20:14when we discussed,
20:15you know,
20:16depression
20:17and, you know,
20:18just different things.
20:19I just hope that
20:20all of these things
20:21that we discussed stick.
20:22And even me,
20:24to my character specifically,
20:26to go from being,
20:28just, you know,
20:29being in the street,
20:30you know,
20:30not being able
20:31to find her way,
20:32gang banging,
20:33you know,
20:33getting shot,
20:34selling drugs,
20:35doing whatever,
20:35you know,
20:36to now studying law
20:37and truly wanting
20:38to elevate
20:38and push herself forward
20:40with the help
20:41of her community still.
20:43I hope that,
20:44you know,
20:44young black girls
20:45that look at me,
20:46that look like me,
20:46that's hair nappy like mine,
20:48that they can,
20:49they can do something.
20:50You can be something.
20:51And I think that
20:52the messages sent
20:53were that,
20:54like,
20:55you can.
20:56You can.
20:56And I think every,
20:57this show has shown
20:58that throughout
20:59every character's experience
21:00that they could,
21:01they could do something.
21:02And so I hope
21:02the legacy is that,
21:04you know,
21:04you remember
21:05as you watch
21:06or go back
21:07and watch
21:07that you can
21:08in any given moment.
21:11Whatever life situation is,
21:13is that you can,
21:14you know,
21:14and you can be on
21:16for seven seasons
21:17and you can keep going.
21:20You know what I'm saying?
21:20We're speaking eight.
21:21Eight, yeah.
21:22But, you know,
21:22you just,
21:23you can.
21:23We've done a lot of things
21:24that we don't see
21:26and we are a predominantly
21:27black show
21:27on primetime television,
21:29which we don't see
21:29that either.
21:30So you can do a lot.
21:32Yes.
21:32Can it be done?
21:33Yes.
21:34Yes.
21:36Alexis?
21:37I think just piggybacking
21:38off of what Breezy said.
21:39Y'all gonna get off my back.
21:40Uh-oh.
21:42Whoops.
21:45Anyways,
21:46to piggyback on
21:47what Breezy is saying,
21:48not only that,
21:50but the top is not exclusive.
21:54And I think
21:55a lot of times in life,
21:56we think there's
21:58not space for us,
22:00not space for us
22:01as a culture.
22:01In a lot of spaces,
22:02they don't build
22:03certain spaces for us,
22:04even in entertainment.
22:06So I think it's really beautiful
22:07that we get this opportunity
22:08to showcase life.
22:11And what I always say
22:12is life isn't linear.
22:13And I think that's
22:14the beautiful part
22:15of this show
22:15is that it talks about
22:16the universal truths
22:18of life.
22:18So not only does it resonate
22:20with our culture,
22:20but it can resonate
22:21with a people,
22:22like as a community,
22:24as the world spins.
22:25Like,
22:26it resonates with everybody.
22:27So I think
22:28it's beautiful to know
22:29the top isn't exclusive
22:30just to people
22:31that come from
22:33different demographics.
22:34It's available to us.
22:35And that shows that
22:36with Spencer getting
22:37to the NFL,
22:38with Jordan on his journey
22:39and being a coach
22:40and being what
22:41these young boys need
22:42as a coach,
22:43with Greta being
22:44at the top,
22:45being a producer,
22:45owning her own business,
22:47with Coop getting
22:47her law degree,
22:48it shows that
22:49the top is not exclusive
22:50and we are able
22:51to get there.
22:52You can.
22:53You can.
22:54In other words,
22:55you can.
22:57Okay, Alexis.
22:59I see why you said
23:00they didn't need
23:01any guidance.
23:02Not at all.
23:03Not me.
23:04I have questions, actually.
23:06To piggyback off
23:07of what Alexis said,
23:11I think genuinely
23:13to piggyback
23:13representation
23:14and not only
23:15of the culture
23:16but of different,
23:18I think,
23:19topics that,
23:20you didn't used
23:21to see on television
23:22or in film
23:23about us
23:24or if you did,
23:26they looked
23:26a very specific way
23:27and I think
23:28that it's been
23:29such an honor
23:31to play some
23:31of these storylines
23:32to show a young
23:34black girl
23:35with depression
23:35also to see her
23:38through that journey.
23:39It's not just
23:39like a one episode,
23:40one season thing.
23:41It's something
23:41she continues
23:42to deal with.
23:44So I think
23:45that that's been
23:45really beautiful
23:46and I think
23:48representation
23:48is so important
23:49and so just
23:51to be on a show
23:51that deals
23:52with those topics
23:53and deals
23:53with them
23:53in a really
23:54authentic way
23:55and just makes
23:57people feel less alone
23:58if you're going
23:58through something
23:59like that
23:59and you don't see
24:01anyone that looks
24:02like you
24:02or that has
24:04your same sort
24:05of life experience
24:05going through those
24:06things.
24:06It can feel
24:07really isolating
24:08so it's
24:09really nice
24:10to be a part
24:10of something
24:11that hopefully
24:11is giving people
24:12some comfort
24:13and a safe space.
24:14And also
24:16just to quickly
24:16add to that
24:17because I always
24:18tell them
24:18I used to
24:19watch the show
24:20like we all
24:21started on this
24:22show and we've
24:22been watching it
24:23up until this point
24:24so it's really
24:24beautiful to be
24:25around these people
24:26because the
24:26representation
24:26that you talk
24:27about that was
24:29a representation
24:29that I saw.
24:30I literally
24:31was telling them
24:31the other day
24:32like it's very
24:32crazy to be
24:33in this space
24:34because
24:34like genuinely
24:41like genuinely
24:42we all
24:43watch this show
24:44it's like
24:45beautiful to be
24:46a part of it
24:46because they
24:48showed us
24:48what it was
24:49like to be
24:50teens.
24:50I was in high
24:51school when I
24:51started watching
24:52it at a time
24:52that I needed
24:53that and you
24:55know you have
24:55the photos
24:56where you're
24:57like I was
24:57like oh my
24:58gosh all
24:58Americans
24:58shouldn't be
24:59making me
24:59cry like this
25:00and then to
25:01be here in
25:01this space
25:01like they
25:02don't know
25:03the impact
25:04I don't know
25:04I hope you
25:05guys know
25:05the impact
25:06that you've
25:06made on us
25:07as a younger
25:07generation
25:08so coming
25:08in and being
25:09able to
25:09now tell
25:11those stories
25:11it's like
25:12they gave
25:12us the
25:13blueprint
25:13so thank
25:14you.
25:20Michael you
25:20gonna have
25:21to come
25:21with something
25:21good.
25:22Yeah yeah
25:22find something
25:23in there.
25:24Alexis that
25:24was very
25:25beautiful.
25:26Thank you
25:26for sharing.
25:31I'm not
25:31gonna get on
25:32Breezy's back.
25:33or anybody's
25:35back.
25:36I think
25:37oh I'm
25:38gonna wake
25:38up.
25:40I think
25:41kind of
25:42something that
25:43this show
25:43already does
25:44as far as
25:45our legacy
25:46is it
25:48just showcases
25:48that our
25:49stories matter.
25:53Season
25:53one the
25:54show was
25:54about to
25:55go into
25:55the wood
25:55chipper
25:56you know
25:56but to
25:57be able
25:57to then
25:59go from
25:59season one
26:00to season
26:00seven
26:00potentially
26:01season
26:01eight
26:01it just
26:02it tells
26:03people
26:03and I
26:04think it
26:04continues
26:04to tell
26:05us
26:05as we
26:06work
26:06and I
26:06think
26:07and view
26:07it
26:08that our
26:08stories do
26:09matter
26:09and I
26:11think that's
26:11the biggest
26:12takeaway
26:12that I see.
26:14Agreed.
26:15Yes.
26:15Well I want to
26:16thank you all so
26:17much for being
26:17here with us.
26:18Thank you for
26:18sharing.
26:19Thank you for
26:19your guidance.
26:21Thank you so much.
26:28Thank you all for
26:29being here and keep
26:31watching.
26:31We are looking for
26:32season eight.
26:33Keep watching.
26:35Monday's 8pm.
26:37Looking for it
26:37earlier.
26:42Uh oh.
26:43Right.
26:44Not to get
26:45close to all of her.
26:47Yeah.
26:48Now we know
26:48what she said.
26:50Not her being
26:51nervous and not her
26:52giving the mess
26:53going by.
26:54Oh goodness y'all please.
26:55She said it one more
26:56thing.
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