This or That ‘90s Edition with ERIKA ALEXANDER & KIM COLES | IMO

What this episode is about

In this engaging game, hosts Erika Alexander and Kim Coles reminisce about iconic choices from the 1990s, debating between options like VHS tapes versus CDs and payphones versus AOL, highlighting the nostalgic value of their selections and the memories associated with them. The discussion also touches on how media from the '90s, such as the show "Living Single," made its way across the ocean, emphasizing the cultural impact of that era.

Key takeaways

• CDs won the battle, but VHS's nostalgia still tapes the heartstrings.
• AOL may have been slow, but it gave us the thrill of 'You've Got Mail!' over payphone woes.
• Polaroids: where every picture is a gamble, and instant gratification comes with a shake.
• Chokers versus scrunchies—a fashion throwdown that shows style choices aren't just skin-deep.
• A Different World and Fresh Prince: '90s sitcoms reminding us that friendship is the true MVP.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Erika Alexander (Guest) · 4 min speaking
• Michelle Obama (Host) · 5 min speaking
• Kim Coles (Guest) · 4 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: Marsha Ambrosius
2. 3:00 – 6:00: A Different World, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
3. 6:00 – 9:00: Love Jones, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Martin, The Wayans Brothers
4. 9:00 – 12:00: New Edition, Boys II Men

Notable quotes from "This or That ‘90s Edition with ERIKA ALEXANDER & KIM COLES | IMO"

• Marsha, Ambrosius, and another kid that I recently met who said they would take somebody here in the States would tape Living Single and send it over to England to watch. And…

  about Marsha Ambrosius · at 1:01

• A Different World or the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

  about A Different World · at 5:35

• Love Jones or How Stella Got Her Groove.

  about Love Jones · at 7:06

• All right, all right. Next one. The Bodyguard soundtrack or the Waiting to Exhale.

  about The Bodyguard soundtrack · at 7:52

• Okay. We have final one. Okay. I know you were waiting for this. This one is a little easier. New addition or Boys to Men.

  about New Edition · at 9:53

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Marsha Ambrosius — Person · Referenced celebrity (anecdote subject) · 1 mention · first at 1:01
  Used in a story about VHS tape culture and how British viewers received taped U.S. sitcoms; her comment about a tape label is cited to illustrate 90s media sharing.

Media & podcasts

• A Different World — Media · Referenced media · 1 mention · first at 5:35
  Mentioned as a cultural icon from the 90s in a comparison game
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — Media · Referenced media · 1 mention · first at 5:35
  Mentioned as a cultural icon from the 90s in a comparison game
  A Different World or the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
• Love Jones — Media · Referenced media · 2 mentions · first at 7:06
  Mentioned as a romantic film from the 90s in a comparison game
• How Stella Got Her Groove Back — Media · Referenced media · 1 mention · first at 7:06
  Mentioned as a romantic film from the 90s in a comparison game
  Love Jones or How Stella Got Her Groove.
• New Edition — Media · Referenced media · 2 mentions · first at 9:58
  Mentioned as a music group from the 90s in a comparison game
• Martin — Media · Referenced media · 1 mention · first at 6:33
  Mentioned as a sitcom from the 90s in a comparison game
  If you're recru. If you're recusing yourself on this one, you're going to have to recuse yourself on the next one. Martin or the Wayans Brothers?
• The Wayans Brothers — Media · Referenced media · 1 mention · first at 6:33
  Mentioned as a sitcom from the 90s in a comparison game
  If you're recru. If you're recusing yourself on this one, you're going to have to recuse yourself on the next one. Martin or the Wayans Brothers?
• Boys II Men — Media · Referenced media · 1 mention · first at 9:58
  Mentioned as a music group from the 90s in a comparison game
  Okay. We have final one. Okay. I know you were waiting for this. This one is a little easier. New addition or Boys to Men.
• The Bodyguard soundtrack — Media · Referenced media · 1 mention · first at 7:52
  Mentioned as a soundtrack from the 90s in a comparison game
• The Waiting to Exhale soundtrack — Media · Referenced media · 1 mention · first at 7:52
  Mentioned as a soundtrack from the 90s in a comparison game
  All right, all right. Next one. The Bodyguard soundtrack or the Waiting to Exhale.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 All right, so we have a game we'd like to play with Kim and Erica. That's right. And it's, uh, the. It's called this or that 90s edition. So I'll give you two iconic options that come from the 90s, and each of you will pick one or the other. Okay? Okay. Okay. Everybody understand me? We are so ready. Okay. VHS tapes or CDs? CDs. CDs. Girl please. I have to say CDs because they last longer, but I miss VHS tapes. Say your thing. VHS tapes. Oh man. Don't you miss VHS tapes? I don't. I don't. And they make up so many spaces.

0:51 Collectors. There's something about. There was so much space to write on what it was, in fact. So speaking of VHS space, there's been two British performers. Marsha, um, Ambrosius, and another kid that I recently met who said they would take somebody here in the States would tape Living Single and send it over to England to watch. And Marcia Ambrosia said the tape was called Black Women youn Should Know. And so somebody's auntie here would send it to the uk. So we didn't know what it was. And we found and fell in love with you. With you.

1:28 Because we just said women, you should. Black women you should know. So that's why I have a thing. Right. All right, next one. Payphone or aol? What for? Making calls. Aol? What is that? Well, why a payphone never a payphone? I don't pay phone. I don't even know why aol, but no, not to a payphone. So I guess that it's aol. But I would wipe my phone. Wipe the phone off. I miss payphones, though. You know, you can get it m. Being in Manhattan, walking down the street. When was the last time you had change, though? Oh, well. Well, now. I choose that now. But I miss being able to walk down the street, pick up a phone, step into a booth, and get away.

2:10 Pay phone. Because we used to use that to go find money to get gas. Car. Go like that. Right? Yeah. This is what y' all were doing in the motel. Stone cold truth, Carolyn, my sister, was so lucky at that. But, you know, it's always money. And I will say at the end of payphones, you were using a card number, so you didn't even need to have change. There it is. Oh, well, I think I was in the White House during the wooden call satellite. Of time. Excuse us. I'm tapping on things. Separate. She's over there.

2:50 Anything else? Yeah. Polaroid camera. Uh. Or a camcorder. Polaroid camera. Polaroid camera. I love the nature of, um, pictures. I love that people used to shake. Them and blow on it. Didn't blow anything. Right. Shake it. It wasn't doing anything. It wasn't developing any faster. But there's something about that instant. You just knew. Oh, you put it under your arm to warm it up. Oh, I never did that. Never did that. They did that. Warm it up to make it develop faster. So you'd have to sweat. I still have some Polaroids. Don't you?

3:19 I always thought you would sweat under your arm. That there would be a picture of you under your arm. Your chemicals. Chemicals that smell of that chemical. How did you choose? How'd you choose? I agree with you. Because for a different reason, whenever I used the camcorder, I was too shaky. You know, I wasn't disciplined to look at what I was looking at. I was just looking around like it was an eye. Yeah. I would never get the film produced. Me neither. Of course not. Or pick it up. Or pick it up. So that extra step for the camcorder, because you have to go get it developed.

3:54 Yeah. Okay. Two steps. I got you. It was expensive. All right, next one. Scrunchies or chokers? I'm an expert on both. Those seem very different. Like, for sure. The ones around your neck. Right. The other one's around your hair. We don't like that one. Boo. Next. That's true. She said boo Next. That should be the next name of your next book. Obama. Boo. Next. This is scrunchie and cakes are. I never wore a joke. No. I never do the scrunchie either. You didn't do a scrunchie. I just had Jeannie's scrunchie. I'm wearing a scrunchie. No, no, no.

4:28 Hair tie. But hair tie. I have to choose. I don't think I've ever worn a choker. I know. Um, Janet Jackson did. And that's the way love goes. Remember? That was a gorgeous. But I felt like after she did it, no one else should. No, no. I would have picked choker. Because the man's choker. You remember what those were? No. They were called. I don't ask. Dickies. Oh Dickies. Remember? That's not what a choker is. That's a turtleneck. It is a man's choker. That was the only time a man would ever wear a choker. What about a choker?

4:59 It's not a choker. It's a turtleneck. It's A mock turtleneck. It's not a choker. Yeah, I was just trying to add a little levity in the. But that's okay. I'm saying I think he's. Those little half yards. Just a little turtleneck. It comes right here. And it looked like you had a turtleneck on. And it is not a choker. It's not a man's choker. It's a turtleneck sweater. It's a semi turtleneck. A dicky. This is fun. Okay. Yeah. Do we win a prize? This or that? Yeah, this or that. Okay. The prize is your dignity. See if you can keep it.

5:32 It's all it. Okay. This one is great. Okay. A Different World or the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Oh, Lord. Friends on both of them. My God. Uh, man. I'm gonna go with A Different World. Sorry, what are the Fresh. Different World. Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I'm going with Different World. Um, I've got to. Guys. That's a hard one. I'd probably go with a different. There were. It. Just gotta read the. I know. My parents. Come on. I know, right? Yeah. Uh, I got to know all those girls on there. Well, then you could go. What era you, uh, know? I mean, was it pre Lisa. The Lisa Bonet era?

6:08 Or after. Or Whitney? And didn't you find that Whitley's accent just turned crazy? It just, um, went bad. She just turned. It just went all the way up. Yes, she did. I'm not going to choose. I can't choose. Fair enough. I recuse myself from. Fair enough. Question. I tried to do that with the scrunchie. Right. If you're recru. If you're recusing yourself on this one, you're going to have to recuse yourself on the next one. Martin or the Wayans Brothers? I'mma go with Martin. I would go with. Because of Tisha and Tichina, who came to our set often. And even though the Wayans brothers were on our.

6:45 Next door. Yeah, right next door. And I love Marlon Wayans. Okay. I would say the Wayans just to balance it out. Okay. Balance here. Yes. It's how we play. That's right. What about you, Greg? I would go the weigh ins. Okay. So even we both go the weigh ins. I would go the weigh ins. Okay. At this table. Okay. Okay. Okay. Good choice. Next one. Okay. Love Jones or How Stella Got Her Groove. How Stella Got Their Groove. How Stella Got her. She buzzed in early. But I loved Love Jones. I mean, that was like the love story of our time. And the M. Soundtrack And I loved how Stella got her groove back.

7:25 Me, too. But you're going to love Jones. Love Jones was vibey. Okay. It was so vibey. I mean, I still. I want us to make the next Love Jones then that, you know, That's a goal. Oh, you must. She's in touch with a romantic young guy. I am like, is that something for your production company? Yeah, you should. I would love this generation. You should zap so. Yes. But any writers out there, if you write the next one you bought. All right, all right. Next one. The Bodyguard soundtrack or the Waiting to Exhale. The Waiting to Exhale soundtrack.

8:02 I gotta go. Waiting to Exhale. Sorry, Whitney. I cannot choose. I cannot choose Bodyguard. What are you in Congress? I got stuff that you need. I gotta go back. Your votes. I'm bipartisan to the movies, bipartisan to both of those. It's not cool, man. I didn't know. Why is it not cool? Because I'm putting myself on the line here, man. We're making enemies here. I'm not making married enemies. I like everybody. We can all be friends. We're not fighting over the R. Yeah. Let me tell you, the empathy. Listen, listen. We need that now more than ever. Y' all can keep fighting if you want to. I think a little optimism in the room is what we need. Uh, what the world needs now is love, sweet love, and you're providing it all. That's the only thing we're fighting for, or whatever. The lyric is like, come on now.

8:53 That's too little. Doing the best I can. Too little love. Yeah. There's just too little love. What the world needs now. Okay. I will not be. I will fight for the. I will fight for the love in the room. Okay, okay. But, uh, both. I would say both don't make much sense. All right. Tupac or Biggie? You're not going to Tupac for me. Yeah. Just gotta let it go. Kim's just not playing. I'm not gonna play the game. She just quit. Yeah. Biggie. For the New York Biggie. Cause I'm from Brookly. Okay. There you go. No, I sounded like Star.

9:26 Just, uh, Darth Vader. Darth Vader. Yes, you did. Sorry. I'm gonna get another black man. Yeah. Blackest thing in space. That's right. Right. Biggie. Oh, for sure. Biggie. In my opinion, still, the blackest thing in space is Darth Vader. Even though he took off his helmet, it just happened to be Luke Skywalker's father. Black voice Darth Vader. That's right. Yes. I like that he told that thing in space. Black, darkest, blackest thing in space. Darth Vader. Okay. We have final one. Okay. I know you were waiting for this. This one is a little easier. New addition or Boys to Men.

10:08 Uhoh. Uh. Easier. See there. I knew she couldn't do that. Oh man. Um. Mhm. Oh no. I will not. This is I, I New edition. Ooh. Uh. Because I still get moist. Okay. Everywhere. Breaking news. If they can do what they did for me in school. You still remember that? I still remember that. You're not gonna forget that. I will never forget that. You know I love it. Although we've come to the end of the road. New edition. No Boys to men. I was trying to do a play on that. They went to school with my sister. Okay. They're from Philly.

10:47 So this is just. I can't joke. Generational. Okay. It is generational. I'm not going to choose. I will. Boys to men. Um, we're boys to men on the rapper. This is the coolest thing that's ever happened. You get razzed by you just Obama like water. Welcome to the club. You are now family water. You have been baptized. Get out of here. I'm like go and send no more. I mean literally. I can't choose. I can't. Because I love them all. Mhm. You love them all? I love everyone. I do. I do. I'm surprised that order to make you melt.

11:25 I shouldn't. Why should Game. It's a game. It's a game. But you are taking it very seriously. A little competitive. Cuz I feel like I'm putting myself out there. Yeah. And then you know, backing up. We going to run into these people. We going to run and we're friends with a lot of these people. Like how come you didn't say me? I'm not going. So you can tell them that Michelle made me do it. I know that's right. And it was a game that we said. What? We can't play the game? Let us just caveat is that we love you all.

11:59 We love you.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "This or That ‘90s Edition with ERIKA ALEXANDER & KIM COLES | IMO"?

Erika Alexander (Guest), Michelle Obama (Host), Kim Coles (Guest).

What is "This or That ‘90s Edition with ERIKA ALEXANDER & KIM COLES | IMO" about?

In this engaging game, hosts Erika Alexander and Kim Coles reminisce about iconic choices from the 1990s, debating between options like VHS tapes versus CDs and payphones versus AOL, highlighting the nostalgic value of their selections and the memories associated with them. The discussion also touches on how media from the '90s, such as the show "Living Single," made its way across the ocean,…

What is mentioned in this Michelle Obama episode?

11 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including A Different World, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Love Jones, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, New Edition, Martin. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "This or That ‘90s Edition with ERIKA ALEXANDER & KIM COLES | IMO"?

The episode runs 12 min; the transcript is about 2,092 words in 20 timestamped sections.

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