Welcome to an unforgettable journey back to one of the most chaotic and hilarious episodes of Living Single—Season 1, Episode 12: “Crappy Birthday.” Join me, Kim Coles, and my co-host Erika Alexander, as we dive deep into the madness of kidnapping Khadijah for a birthday surprise road trip to Atlantic City. From frugal birthday girl antics to waterbeds and legendary guest stars, this episode has all the ingredients for a classic 90s sitcom adventure.
Setting the Scene: The Birthday Surprise Nobody Asked For
It all starts with Khadijah, our ever-practical and frugal friend, who is decidedly not feeling the birthday spirit. She’s perfectly content celebrating quietly at home, but her friends have other plans. Without her knowledge, Regine and Max pack her bags and blindfold her for a surprise trip—though Khadijah protests in every way possible, including a full-body, full-weight “No!”
Watching this, I couldn’t help but notice how physically expressive Queen Latifah is in this scene. The way she elegantly lifts herself up when forced into the car is a masterclass in physical comedy. It’s those small, effortless moments that bring so much life to the character.
Regine’s luggage haul is another highlight—she packs like she’s headed on a transatlantic cruise rather than a short hop from Brooklyn to Atlantic City. It’s a perfect poke at the over-preparedness some of us have when traveling, especially when it comes to surprise trips.
Road Trip Chaos: Bumpy Ride and Friendly Pranks
The ride to Atlantic City is anything but smooth. The girls blame the bumpy car ride on Regine’s heavy designer luggage, but the real joke lands on Khadijah, with a subtle fat joke thrown in there. It’s one of the few times the show touches on weight humor, and thankfully, Queen Latifah put a stop to any more of those jokes. It was a reminder of the pressures we faced back then about body image and the thin line between comedy and cruelty.
Meanwhile, back in Brooklyn, Kyle and Overton are house sitting for the girls, and chaos ensues. The classic trope “Men unsupervised equals chaos” plays out perfectly as they accidentally wreck the apartment. It’s a funny nod to the stereotype but also sparks a deeper conversation about traditional gender roles and how those have evolved—or not—in real life.
One of the funniest moments is when Synclaire gets left behind as a prank. Can you imagine being abandoned on the side of the road in Jersey in the middle of the night? It’s cruel but hilarious, especially when the girls realize their mistake and rush back to rescue her. This is friendship in all its messy glory.
Welcome to Atlantic City: Waterbeds, Weird Vibes & Budget Struggles
Once in Atlantic City, the scene shifts to a less-than-luxurious hotel room complete with a waterbed and a mirror on the ceiling—a 90s classic. Waterbeds were once all the rage, touted as great for your back, but anyone who’s ever been on one knows they’re a nightmare, especially after a couple of cocktails.
Speaking of cocktails, I shared a horror story about a waterbed experience that led to an unfortunate case of crabs—definitely not the kind of souvenir you want from a birthday trip! The hotel itself feels like it could be anywhere but Atlantic City, highlighting the budget-conscious nature of the trip and Khadijah’s frugal personality.
Legends on Set: Flip Wilson and Ed McMahon Cameos
This episode features some incredible guest stars, including the legendary Flip Wilson and Ed McMahon. Flip Wilson was a pioneer, the first Black person to have his own variety show, and his character Geraldine remains iconic. Although he declined to do his famous “Here come the judge” line, he generously gave us a taste of Geraldine’s sass and charm.
I was thrilled to meet Flip and share that admiration with our audience. The energy he brought to the set was infectious—he was playful, kind, and fully engaged. It was a true honor to have him join us.
Ed McMahon’s presence also brought a special connection for me personally, having been a contestant on Star Search—the show he famously hosted. He remembered me years later with warmth and generosity, a testament to his class and kindness.
The Reverb: Celebrating Birthdays, Aging, and Friendship
In our reflective segment, Erika and I talk about how we celebrate birthdays and our shared feelings about aging. I’m not one for surprises and prefer to plan my own celebrations, much like Khadijah. Erika, on the other hand, has had some memorable surprise parties, including a tearful 50th birthday surrounded by friends and loved ones.
We also discuss the importance of representation and embracing every stage of life with grace and personality. Having strong role models who age beautifully has helped shape how we view ourselves and our birthdays. For us, every day is special, and every birthday deserves to be celebrated, whether quietly or with a wild road trip.
Comedy, Culture, and the Changing Landscape
Our conversation naturally flows into the history and evolution of comedy, variety shows, and cultural representation. Flip Wilson’s variety show was groundbreaking, creating a space where Black entertainers could shine alongside legends like Aretha Franklin and Muhammad Ali. These shows were a cultural touchstone, bringing families together across America.
We dive into the topic of men in dresses, from classic Hollywood icons like Milton Berle and Jack Lemmon to modern discussions around Black performers and the complexities they face. Flip’s Geraldine was born out of respect and admiration, embodying strength and sass rather than mockery. Yet, today’s conversations around gender, representation, and performance carry more weight, sometimes fraught with misunderstanding and fear.
Comedy, by nature, is progressive. It challenges norms, holds up a mirror to society, and says what others are afraid to say. The new generation of comedians is fearless, building on the legacy of those who came before them to push boundaries and create space for all voices.
True Blue: What If Living Single Characters Had Twitter?
We wrap up with a fun fan question from Stacy B. in Detroit about how our Living Single characters would fare on Twitter. Sinclair would be a disaster, accidentally stirring up trouble without meaning to, while Max would use it as a weaponized platform—careful though, because she’s a lawyer and knows the risks of writing things you can’t defend.
Kyle and Max’s Twitter battles? Epic. DJ would probably just be promoting her magazine, and Khadijah would likely be sending rainbows and love, much like I do now—though I’m off Twitter these days.
We also reflect on how much social media could have amplified the show’s impact back in the 90s, connecting with fans in real time and building community in ways we only dreamed of then.
Wrapping It Up: The Ride Continues
“Crappy Birthday” is a whirlwind of friendship, humor, and honest moments that still resonate today. From the wild road trip antics to the deeper conversations about body image, representation, and aging, this episode captures the heart of Living Single and why it remains a beloved classic.
Thanks for riding along with us! If you love taking these nostalgic trips, be sure to subscribe, share, and join our watch parties. Tag us in your memes and share your stories—we want to hear how Living Single has touched your life.
Big love, friends. See you next week, same time, same flavor.
