From Aaliyah to Lynn Whitfield: 90s BAP Icons We’ll Always Love

[00:00:00] Get ready for a fabulous trip back to the 90s. In this bonus episode, we're counting down our favorite 90s VAPs and getting Stephanie's employee picks. Let's celebrate the icons who made the 90s unforgettable. Welcome to the No More Late Fees podcast. I'm Jackie.

[00:00:32] And I'm Danielle and we're just two best friends and ex-blockbuster employees rewatching some of the best and worst movies from the late 90s and early 2000s. And for this week's bonus episode, we're joined by returning guest and pal,

[00:00:45] Stephanie, welcome back. Thanks for having me. Hey, it's been a while since Selena. I don't even know what season that was. You remember Jackie? I don't remember. First or second or something. Yeah, it's gonna be probably the second season. Yeah. Yeah. So it was before you moved. So it's been a while. True. How's things? How are things Stephanie? How?

[00:01:15] How are things? How is the teachers game? Oh, wait, are you still teaching? You're still teaching, right? Yes, I'm teaching in Washington in a small town in North Washington, Ferndale. I didn't know you moved to Washington. Yeah, we did it. Let's get into our favorite 90s VAPs. Oh my goodness. Yes. I'm excited.

[00:01:38] Oh, I didn't say who was doing this one. So I'll just, I'll just say it really quick. So we're, we obviously covered VAPs, the movie. And so it got me thinking, there were so many wonderful 90s black actresses or singers, it's up to you guys. And I thought it would be fun to like name our favorites. Top three. I'm gonna do some unsung heroes.

[00:02:06] Did you watch that TikTok I sent you, Danielle? I did. They were talking about like black famous versus white famous. When he said he didn't know who Nia Long was, or Morris Chestnut by name. But it's so crazy to me that like, people live in totally different universes. Yes. I just don't understand.

[00:02:30] And, and he knew who Vivica Fox was, but I think Vivica Fox had way many, way more crossover movies, per se. Like, she was in Independence Day. She was in some of, and she for a while, she was like one of the top paid. Black actresses. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

[00:02:49] But like, even like a Regina Hall, you know, I will say that for, to the day I die. She's in, she's been in so many big movies. But like, if I say Regina Hall to some people, they don't know who I'm talking about. Yeah.

[00:03:02] But it happens with my black friends too. I'll say a white actor and they're like, who the fuck is that? Because, you know, like, I have a lot of friends who do not watch white shows, white movies. Like, they are living a very just black existence and they don't see any need to watch anything else.

[00:03:27] Yeah. Yeah. I just thought, because we talk about it on, on the podcast a lot, but to see another podcast duo talking about it too, I was like, oh, we've had this discussion, but I know who Nia Long and Morris Chestnut are, so doing better than them.

[00:03:51] Yeah. I feel like this podcast has definitely been giving you more of an education, expanding the, the amount of black actors that you were exposed to. Cause you're like, I've never seen, I've never heard of this movie. I was like, you're going to learn today. Who wants to start? I'll go ahead. I'm going to start with Winnie Houston. Yeah. She, she does it all.

[00:04:21] Yeah. And she does it well. Even on lots of drugs, she does it well. My poor queen. I miss, like, there aren't a lot of celebrities that have passed that I like actually, like, I feel actual, pain. Mm-hmm. Knowing she's gone. Yeah. Legitimately, well, just as if she's a family member.

[00:04:48] Like, if I'll see, if I see a video of her singing or something, I'll cry. Like, I miss her. Mm-hmm. Wendy, I miss you. Just thinking about it is making me want to cry right now. Well, instead of crying, tell us your top, your first pick. Robin Givens. Ooh. Love it. We deserve so much more than we gave her. And circumstance. Yep.

[00:05:17] Made her, I don't know what happened. I feel like someone blacklisted her. She, the trajectory she was on at some point, like, she should have been bigger. And she was gorgeous. First of all, if you just look at her fits from Boomerang, top tier. Okay. Okay. Who do you guys have? I'll have to share first. Okay. Yeah, Steph. Who do you have?

[00:05:45] My first, I mean, I'm music. My brain went to music. And I went to Aaliyah. And, like, who did I grow up listening to? Who was in my Walkman as I walked around the neighborhood and on repeat. And when Back and Forth came out, I couldn't, I couldn't put that song down. And I just wanted more from her. And, and then they just released her, her Barbie.

[00:06:14] And it sold out. I was, like, so excited. I texted my mom and was, like, this was all I wanted for my birthday. Damn. They did that launch real, like, low-key on the radar. Like, I didn't even know that was coming. But do you see on TikTok those t-shirts that they sell with her and Selena? And I had to, like, Google to see if they actually, if that picture was real. Because I was, like, that broke my brain. But it was, huh? I know.

[00:06:43] It looks, it looks real. And I've seen it. And now that we've talked about it, my phone's going to probably bring it up on Instagram. But I almost bought one. I think the link I tried, it was being weird. And I'm like, okay, I don't think this is a good one. Maybe I'll go to Etsy. But yeah, I want that shirt. 100% I want that one. What's your second one, Jackie? I'm going Queen Latifah. I just always. I'm thinking one, too. I adore her.

[00:07:13] I love that she's very body positive and didn't really give in to, like, that diet culture. And just kind of, she seemed to really honor who she was and not really change her persona to fit any role. Yeah. Yeah. I was also thanking her because I was like, oh, Living Single. We watch that all the time. And she's funny. She's so funny. Yes.

[00:07:42] I just really enjoy her. Danielle? My second is Lin Whitfield. I love that it's become such a meme or joke that she does not play poor. She is always a rich woman in pretty much every role that she's in. And I love that for her. She very much fits the Black American princess vibes for sure. Love it. Okay, Steph. With number two.

[00:08:12] Again, I stayed with music. But my last one will be an actor. SWV. I know it's a trio. But I'm smushing them into one. That was another one that I grew up on. I loved looking at the pictures in my cassette because that's what we did. And seeing their long nails. Coco's nails were on. I think she still rocks pretty long nails. Yeah.

[00:08:41] I just, I loved them. And that weak song, it's still one that all like, it's a great like carpool karaoke song. Yeah. And just road trip song. But I just, yeah, those girls consumed me too in my childhood. So I've always put them on a pedestal. I used, that was the first, like that was one of the first songs I ever like memorized.

[00:09:08] That one and shoot, those two were the one. And I was real proud that I knew the words to those songs. But. Thank you. Because I think I got my first cassette of SWV at, because we used to have the Black Expo. I don't even think they still do that here. But we used to go to the Black Expo and there'd be all these people selling tapes and stuff like that. And I saved my little money to get SWV tape and escape. And I thought. Oh my goodness.

[00:09:38] Couldn't tell me nothing. All right, Jackie, what's your third one? I'm going Nicole Ari Parker. Was she, was she in, in the 90s though? She was in, well, she was in 200 Cigarettes. Oh, okay. Yeah, that's true. I totally forgot she, I don't, I guess I just didn't like recognize her until much later.

[00:10:02] Yeah, I think it's, especially redoing these movies, realizing how many movies that I love that she was actually in. And then, of course, I'm getting that resurgence with the, and just like that rewatch. So, and I just think she's so beautiful to look at. She is. Like, I just can spawn all over her every time she comes on screen. So, that's my favorite. She was in Boogie Nights? That's interesting.

[00:10:31] My last one, I was having a hard time. It was, so I started thinking about like, who my favorite was when I was little, little. And I have to give it to Lisa Turtle, Lark Voorhees. Oh, yes. That's a good one. It was hard because, you know, I wanted to say Bianca Lawson as well. But I think Lark had a bigger impact on me. And she just played Lisa Turtle.

[00:10:59] Like, it was so refreshing to see not only was she a Black character. Yes, they kept trying to throw that little nerdy ass kid on her. But her fits were top tier. Her hair was always in place. And she wasn't like, whore. She was rich, rich. And I loved that for us. Definitely. Yes. All right, Steph, who you got?

[00:11:25] Well, I think when I saw Black American Princess actor, my brain immediately went to Brandy playing Cinderella. Yeah. And I remember the, like, commercials leading up to that. And, like, my family, like, okay, today's the day. We're getting, you know, the Whitney, Brandy, Cinderella. And, like, yeah, we were glued to the TV for that.

[00:11:52] And it's still awesome to watch. And, yeah, I love that version so much. Definitely that was a canon event that, when that movie came out. Absolutely. Mm-hmm. What, okay, so we have a question for everyone.

[00:12:14] What is a movie character that was played by an actor that you were surprised by their performance because it was such a departure from their typical roles? I asked the question, and I don't remember, I don't know what my answer is. Like, the only thing I can think of is, like, someone who's, like, a comedy actor, and they do, like, a drama. Like, that's where my brain immediately went.

[00:12:41] And I automatically think of, like, Jim Carrey playing serious roles, like The Truman Show, or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, or even, like, Robin Williams doing serious, like, Good Will Hunting. It's just, like, oh, dang, they got range, or they can totally, I know, like, still, when I watch Good Will Hunting, like, he makes me tear up.

[00:13:07] I mean, of course, I'm thinking, like, oh, he's not here anymore, but, like, they can really do more outside of, you know, where we typically see them in these, like, comedy roles. So, that's why, yeah, that's where my brain went to.

[00:13:22] I'm always, like, I always, I don't know, like, to me, when I see a, like, a pretty famous white actor in a black film, and I'm like, it's like that meme, Ariana, what are you doing here? It's, that's what it feels like, but I know it's not necessarily, like, the character they're playing is so beyond what they normally play, but it's always just surprising to me.

[00:13:49] And then it makes me just kind of think, okay, they're kind of cool, because they didn't have to be in this movie. So, that always makes me think of the entire casting of Beauty Shop, because Alicia Silverstone, what are you doing in here? What are you doing over here? And Kevin Bacon, what are you doing over here? It was so random. They did a great job.

[00:14:19] I just, that, that always surprises me. Oh, yeah. I think they were like, oh, I get to have fun. I bet Kevin Bacon was like, what? I get to do this. Yeah, he just, he's, Sign me up. Just seems like, you know, he's down. What about you, Jackie? I'm going Shaq and Kazam. I'm really not. Okay. Because.

[00:14:49] Or was that Sinbad? Right, like, I can't. I was thinking Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense. We're used to seeing him, like, real macho and, like, action movie. And then he just had this really subdued, but, like, sublime performance. And we know our feelings about The Sixth Sense. The movie itself is not, it's not at the top of my list. But I think his acting is superb in it. And he, he just nailed that role.

[00:15:20] Even Mark Wolbert, not Mark Wolbert, Donnie Wolbert in that movie was surprising. It also made me think of Chris Tucker in Fifth Element, because that was such a departure. Yes. A lot of, a lot of good picks. He stole the show. All right, Stephanie. As you know, when you come on the show, you are an honorary blockbuster employee. So you have to pick three movies that you would recommend for employee picks.

[00:15:50] Okay. Oh, I know it's always five. And then I'm like, I wrote a sixth one. I was actually, this time around, I wanted to think of more either indie type movies or movies that I really like the soundtrack. Or, like, I'll go back to the soundtrack. Um, so definitely up there is Tank Girl.

[00:16:16] That's actually a movie that I circle back to a lot. And I really like the soundtrack. And I'm actually, I need to get it on vinyl. Because I really, really like it. And I just love how they filmed it. And Lori Petty just. What happened to her? She was on Orange is the New Black. Orange is the New Black. That was the last thing I saw her in. Yeah. Was she in Free Willy? Yes. She was a trainer. Yeah.

[00:16:46] She got range. She can drive tanks. She can train whales. She can play baseball. Yeah. Yep. And she can go to prison. Yes. All right. What's your, you've got two more. Tank Girl. Okay. Then I'll probably go to Ghost World. That was one. I liked, I think in college, I was just always like, like, that looks different. Let me check that out. And I really liked that one.

[00:17:15] I don't know if that was the first time I was introduced to Scarlett Johansson. But I don't know. It was just different. And seeing like Steve Buscemi and his whole interaction with Thor Burge. I don't know. But yeah, I really liked that one and the music in that one. And so, Tank Girl, Ghost World. And then one more.

[00:17:41] I'll probably go with, I'm going to stay Now and Then because that was also, that's also a soundtrack. I'll go back and be like, this is really solid. They picked some really good songs from the 70s. And I still have the CD. I still have that. So, yeah, that was another one that I really enjoyed the soundtrack for that one. I love that you thought of a cohesive theme for your suggestions.

[00:18:12] It kind of helps narrow it down. And like, you know, I don't know. And that was just a fun way to kind of, because I think the first list, I was like, these were like my favorite movies, like with my brothers. And we quote all the time. And yeah, I like to go in this route. Love it. Well, if you want to find us on socials, hit us up at NoMoreLateFees, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Threads, Blue Sky, and engage with us.

[00:18:42] We love it. And check us out next week as we cover our last Scream movie with Scream 3. And as always, be kind and rewind.