1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: So when we last left Jennifer, our girl was stuck 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: like me in an extra extra SMARTE T shirt. I 3 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: met more of a creative sense. But thank you for 4 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: that image, Joseph. After the album Rebirth came out, she 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: made other records and some movies, but she seemed lost. 6 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: That fuigo that Jlo had when she came out, well 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: it was totes missing. This is when many stars can 8 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: fade away. They break out, have a ton of success, 9 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: but when they lose their magic, they can't find it again. 10 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: Dare I say that's what separates the iconic. You're not wrong. 11 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: On today's episode, we continue with Jlo's music career, her reinvention, 12 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: and how she learned to dance again. I'm your host 13 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 1: Liliana Vasquez and I'm Joseph Carrillo and this is Becoming 14 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: an icon a weekly podcast where we give you the 15 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 1: rundown on how today's most famous Latin X stars have 16 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 1: shaped pop culture and given the world some extrassleble. Sit 17 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: back and get comfortable because we are going in the 18 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:15,479 Speaker 1: only way we know how, with ba and a lot 19 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: of opinions, as we relive their greatest achievements on our 20 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: journey to find out what makes them so iconic. After 21 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: the album Rebirth came out, she married Mark Anthony, went 22 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: on her first tour with her then husband, released a 23 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 1: few more albums, and embarked on her most important role yet, 24 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 1: Mama j Low. Now, if you think about it, she 25 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: had done so much at such a high level, and 26 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: the one thing she hadn't done was become a mother yet. 27 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: And it was something that she really wanted. And I 28 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 1: was so excited to see her do this with Mark Anthony. 29 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: And let me tell you why. I know that she 30 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: was head over heels in love with Ben and she 31 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: loved the dancers and whatnot, but there was just something 32 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: so special about her making little boutiqua babies with Mark Anthony. 33 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 1: I just loved this for her and I felt like, 34 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: at this time in her life, it's what she needed. 35 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: She needed these little twin babies. And they kept it 36 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: a secret until their final show in Miami where they 37 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: announced it to the world. Now, if you ask people 38 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: that were watching Dale at the time, it was the 39 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: worst kept secret ever, because when you're pregnant with twins, 40 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: people know pretty early. I just remember there was a 41 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: big thing with People magazine and money involved and it 42 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: was something really crazy. Yeah, so it was a huge, 43 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: big deal. You know, things are not like this anymore 44 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: because now we live in like Instagram and everything is instant. 45 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 1: But back then the way we saw celebrities baby pictures 46 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: were on the cover of People magazine and at the time, 47 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: People allegedly paid six million dollars for the first photos 48 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 1: of twins Emmy and Max. She had a boy and 49 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: a girl, and it was a big deal back then, 50 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:18,920 Speaker 1: and it was a very top secret. I remember she 51 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: was in Long Island with Mark Anthony and again she 52 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 1: was rumored to have basically like bought up this whole 53 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: giant delivery suite at this hospital. No one was allowed 54 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: to set foot in the space until she checked in, 55 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: And because obviously when you're having a baby, you never 56 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: know when you're going to have it, they had to 57 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: pay for weeks and weeks of holding this room for 58 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: her until she could get in there. And it was 59 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: top secret, tons of security. Can you imagine Jennifer Lopez 60 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: about to deliver babies. It was American Royalty. When Jayla 61 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: left the Spotlight to become a mother, it really allowed 62 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: her to reset and refocus, to figure out what she 63 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: wanted most out of her music, and with this new focus, 64 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: she made a lot of changes. In two eleven, she 65 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: reinvented herself once again and became a judge on American Idol. 66 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: It was a huge shift for her and a true 67 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: turning point in her career because I think Idol really 68 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: humanized her. I felt it really gave us a chance 69 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: to show that she was not just a singer and 70 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: a performer and an actress, but she was an actual 71 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 1: person with feelings. It definitely made her more accessible, if 72 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 1: that's the rec I do you know, when you ask 73 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 1: a lot of people about this moment in time, a 74 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: lot of people think that Idol really saved her career because, 75 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: like you said, people saw her as a mom, not 76 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: just this diva superstar blinged out on a yacht in 77 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: a bikini. She said that in the process of trying 78 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: to build this perfect life in a family life, she 79 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 1: felt kind of lost and she lost who she was 80 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: as an artist, but that Idol was the thing that 81 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: gave her purpose and it really helped launch the next 82 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: chapter of Jennifer's career. She had her first headlining concert 83 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: tour in the middle of all of this. In twenty twelve, 84 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: I know, and I also think that for her creatively, 85 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: being around all of those aspiring singers, well, it made 86 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 1: her want to get back out there, make her own 87 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: music again. Dance again. The album that gave us on 88 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: the floor. That's the Jalo I love. That's the Jalo 89 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: we need, the one we can shake our as too. 90 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: And this next musical step in her career was by design. 91 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: Jalo had taken a very smart and strategic step in 92 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: her music. Instead of making full albums, she just started 93 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: making singles with some of the world's hottest performers. She 94 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 1: released We Are One, the official song for the twenty 95 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: fourteen FIFA World Cup, along with pit Pole, So I 96 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: Know he is. You know, it's so funny because she 97 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: was sitting in front row watching Ricky Martin sing Cup 98 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: of Life at the Grammys and then here she was 99 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 1: now with her own FIFA song. I mean, something was 100 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: definitely going on. She was modeling her career and that 101 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,679 Speaker 1: was just the beginning. The bangers just kept coming and coming. 102 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: She had Ain't Your Mamma God. I love that song. Mama, 103 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 1: you can actually say that. I can say that Mama Elanio, 104 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: which Elanio was Juice the Nettle featuring Kalid and Cardi 105 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 1: B Juice and more Juice. Basically, Jayla was working with 106 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: the hottest names in music, turning out hit after a 107 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:46,160 Speaker 1: hit and looking better and happier than ever. Yeah, so 108 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: much so that she took her act to Vegas for 109 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 1: an incredible residency. It was called All I Have, And 110 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 1: let me tell you, she gave us all she had 111 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: on that stage. It was all good. Did she leave 112 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: it there all she had left it? Or I mean 113 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: I wish you would have left at least a sequin 114 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: or something on this stage and I could have taken it. 115 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: It was so good. It was a Planet Hollywood. She 116 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: just shine, you know what it was that theater. Planet 117 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: Hollywood is the perfect size venue. So Britney Spears did 118 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: her residency there as well. Yes, I saw her there 119 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: three times because I'm obsessed Brittany. So that theater is 120 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: the perfect scale for Brittany, for j Lo, because I 121 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: felt intimate but still big. And let me just tell you, 122 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: the costumes were law. Oh I bet she just gave 123 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: you look after look after look. I need to go 124 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: backstage and understand how the quick changes work, because there's 125 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: no way that she can shove all of those feathers 126 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: under some little coat and then pop out like an ostrich. 127 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: It was so good. But here's the thing, you guys. 128 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: That was only the beginning of all of the fabulous 129 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: things to come. So what is the crowning achievement of 130 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: the twenty year career filled with the super Bowl in Miami. 131 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: In February twenty twenty, Lopez co headlined the Super Bowl 132 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: halftime show in Miami alongside Shakira. The performance included an 133 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: appearance by her child's Emmy, Jay Baldman and residence So 134 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: Noo Icon Bad Bunny. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. This 135 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: would have been a long time coming for j Low. 136 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 1: For so long, she'd been fighting for her voice to 137 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: be heard, and it finally felt like it was happening. 138 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: Her team did feel it was a little shady to 139 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: have two Latino women do the jobs that is usually 140 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: given to just one performer, but they didn't let that 141 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: hold them back, no, not for one second, because this 142 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: was a chance to bring together the Latino community, or 143 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: should I say, the Latino game. They even made a 144 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: mission statement with a power point and everything all official 145 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 1: and shit true that their mission was to make a 146 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: statement to a divided declaring the importance of kindness, compassion, 147 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:07,079 Speaker 1: and above all, inclusivity. They wanted to be a reminder 148 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: that we are always stronger, always better when we do 149 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: things together. Super Bowl twenty twenty, take me back, this 150 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: was pre COVID days. I was ware were there. I 151 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: remember that. I remember I had to help you find 152 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: a makeup arket. You did you help me find a 153 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: makeup artist in Miami on Super Bowl weekend. You know 154 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: we're probably gonna touch on super Bowl twenty twenty a 155 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,559 Speaker 1: lot when we talk about Shakira in a future episode. 156 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: But let's focus on j Lo right now, because, in 157 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: her words, okay, the most important part of the show 158 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: wasn't all the crazy outfits and let the hustlers move 159 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: on the pole. For her, the most important part of 160 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: the show was let's get loud with all the little 161 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: girls in the light of cages. She wanted this moment 162 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:57,599 Speaker 1: to say something bigger. She wanted it to say that immigrants, 163 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: all people deserve to be in the US, and that 164 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: no cage can contain anyone. And then you have a 165 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: transition to board in the USA. So while we think 166 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: of Jlo as these songs that we can just shake 167 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: our ass to in the club. Here she was using 168 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: these songs and iconic Jalo hits with iconic Americana songs 169 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: by Bruce Springsteen to really send this massive message on 170 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: a global scale. I thought it was really powerful, and 171 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 1: I think it's not what people would have expected from her. 172 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: You're absolutely right, But I was just there for that 173 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: pole dancing. I know you got really deep, but I 174 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: got to go back to that scandal because it was 175 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 1: just that was fucking jalo, a fifty year old woman 176 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: on that pole, and I was here for that. I mean, 177 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: that is what I think we all love about Jennifer Lopez, 178 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: I think, and that's what the documentary Halftime really showed. 179 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: There's a duality to her, and there's a duality to 180 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: all people, right, everyone's everyone. It's sure, of course she 181 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: can have this sane bod that makes us envious and 182 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: it defies the laws of aging in physics. But she's 183 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: also a mom, and she's Puerto Rican and she grew 184 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: up in the Bronx and she cares about her community, 185 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: and for so long people didn't let that side of 186 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: her exist because they felt, well, you can't be in 187 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: like glittery unit chard shaking that ass, but also have 188 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: important things to say. She was feeding us the American 189 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: dream and telling us everybody should be able to have this. Yeah, 190 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: exactly so, to all the haters out there, j Loo 191 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: got the last word. This performance was not just widely praised, 192 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: but it is currently the most watched Super Bowl halftime 193 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: show to date. There's no denying that she's a musical icon, 194 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 1: no doubt, and when you hear her music most of 195 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: the time, it makes you want to twerk. Bounce on Todd, 196 00:11:57,920 --> 00:11:59,719 Speaker 1: drop it, drop it low girl, drop it, drop it 197 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: low girl. Joseph, it is finally time to shake your ass. Yeah, 198 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: we're going all the way back to the beginning to 199 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: tell you the origins of Jlo and how she danced 200 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:22,679 Speaker 1: her way into the spotlight. When you think about what 201 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 1: made Jlo famous, what's the very first thing that comes 202 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 1: to mind? Duh? Her killer body? Okay, fair? What's the 203 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: second thing, Joseph, Wait a minute, her dancing. Yes, So, 204 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,680 Speaker 1: we can't go through Jalo's career and not discuss the 205 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: foundation of her entire career. They were literally her first 206 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: steps to superstart them. Jlo's parents were your typical Latin parents, 207 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: strict but also supportive. Can you relate to that sentiment? Absolutely? 208 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: I would say that my parents were even strict and 209 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: very lightly supportive. It's just it was a hard balance 210 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:06,719 Speaker 1: both of my parents or my mom is an immigrant. 211 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: My dad was born in Puerto Rico, a spent his 212 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 1: whole life in Puerto Rico, very Latino, very new to 213 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: the US. When he moved here, it was a totally 214 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 1: new world for him, and I think how they grew 215 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: up really played a role in how they parented me. 216 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: They parented me the way that their parents parented them. 217 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:23,839 Speaker 1: But I guess the question is, what is it about 218 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: Latino parents and tough love? Why do those two things 219 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: go hand in hand all the time. My mom was 220 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: really really supportive, and my dad just didn't really say much. 221 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,599 Speaker 1: They were very strict in how they wanted me to 222 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: approach education and obviously how I was going to approach 223 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: going on to college. But they were supportive. They just 224 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: weren't supportive of creative thing, anything that was outside of education. 225 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: They were like, why do you need to do that, 226 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 1: Why do you need to play sports, Why do you 227 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: need to have friends? Just focus on your education, get 228 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: a full ride, go to college and become a lawyer. 229 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: That was really what they wanted for me, and they 230 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 1: both pushed that agenda because it wasn't something that they 231 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 1: had And I feel like that's what happens. Our parents 232 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,839 Speaker 1: try to use us as vehicles to what they find successful, 233 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: the success that maybe they couldn't get to in their 234 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 1: opportunities here in the US. I feel like that has 235 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 1: a lot to do with it. I think it's true. 236 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: I have four older brothers, and I think as the 237 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: youngest one out of all of them, the fifth I 238 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: got away with everything. Your mom was like, I'm done. 239 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 1: This one can raise himself. I think a lot of 240 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: times when you talk to first generation kids, it's the 241 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 1: idea of what is a quote unquote real job or 242 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: a real career for our parents is different than what 243 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: we think of it. And that's kind of what happened 244 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: with Jennifer. You know, her parents didn't consider being a 245 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: performer a real career, but she says, to their credit, 246 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: they did encourage their daughters to explore their more creative sides, 247 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 1: anything to keep them busy in off the streets. I 248 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: say so. As early as the age of five, Jennifer 249 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: started taking classes at Ballet Spanico. She was the unnatural, 250 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: but if she was going to be the dancer in 251 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: the family, then she had to be the best at 252 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: the ballet he Spanico. Jennifer began developing her talent. It 253 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: became a second home to her. Training as a dancer, 254 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: but also teaching younger dancers meant the world to her, 255 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: including teaching Kerrie Washington shut your butt. She taught Olivia 256 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: Pope how to dance. Yes, I know, small world, right, 257 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 1: But it turns out that Carrie Washington used to take 258 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: classes with her teacher, Larry Malunado, but according to Carrie, 259 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: he quote had an awesome substitute teacher named Jennifer who 260 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: would sometimes step in and teach Jenny and Carrie from 261 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: the block. Really, Joseph, have you seen Kerry Washington's moves? 262 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: I actually have not, so you have to tell me, Oh, okay, Well, 263 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: here's the thing. If you guys are on Instagram or 264 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: TikTok and y'all have not seen Carrie dance it out? 265 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: What are you even doing on these apps? Because girl 266 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 1: can move. I'm not saying j Loo is responsible for it, 267 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: but I have a feeling she was kind of born 268 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: a good dancer and then taking classes just enhance it. 269 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: She's got serious moves. I would love to see the 270 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: two of them dancing at It was about to say, 271 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: I think they need a dance off officially, can we 272 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: make that happen? So by now, I bet y'all are 273 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: wondering where this deep love for music and movement came from. 274 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: And yes, of course it came from her parents love 275 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: for musica, especially salsa, and all the classics that our 276 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: parents grew up on. But j Lo was also raised 277 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: with musical theater. Her mom, Lupe, loved musicals and they 278 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: watched them regularly as a family. Damn all we watched 279 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: growing up. My family was sat Saved by the Bell 280 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: And obviously, obviously did you grow up watching musicals? The 281 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 1: short answer is no, because musicals were like very green gold. 282 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:08,399 Speaker 1: But that was not a part of how I was 283 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:12,679 Speaker 1: raised like my family. Culturally, No, culturally same for you. 284 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: Like culture for us was the novedas And it really 285 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: wasn't until I got into high school that I started 286 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: to really fall in love with musical theater. And then 287 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 1: I saw Rent on Broadway and it completely changed Mile Good, 288 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: so good, Chicago changed my life. There's always one, and 289 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 1: you know who else's life. It changed j Loo. She 290 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: was fascinated by them being able to sing, dance, and 291 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: act all at the same time. That was the dream. 292 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: And there was one musical that changed her life forever. 293 00:17:54,240 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: Three words West Side Story. It's a modern day Romeo 294 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: and Juliet sat on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. 295 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: There's big dance numbers, vibrant costumes and glado Rita modeno 296 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,760 Speaker 1: I mean once not to love a singer, a dancer, 297 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:16,159 Speaker 1: an actress. And she was Puerto Rican. She was living, 298 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: breathing proof that Jlo could achieve her dreams. I mean, 299 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: look at Rita. That visualization of what a career on 300 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 1: stage could look like was life changing for her. It 301 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: was one of the first times she really saw herself 302 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: on a screen. It made her feel like she existed, 303 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 1: that she was important, and that she had a chance 304 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 1: at a career as a performer. From that point on, 305 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,919 Speaker 1: Jennifer wanted to be in every production at her school. 306 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: She was in all these high school plays, singing and 307 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:50,239 Speaker 1: acting and ship well not really, she was usually just 308 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: a dancer. But then in eleventh grade she was cast 309 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: as one of the leads in God's Ville and that 310 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: meant Jenny had to sing, of course, on her big 311 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 1: opening night in front of everyone, her family, her friends, 312 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: her cast mates. Just where she was about to sing 313 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:18,439 Speaker 1: day by Day Girl choked the pure stage fright. Oh god, 314 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 1: it was so bad. Her voice was clumsy, off key, 315 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 1: and like Randy Jackson would say, that was a little 316 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: pitchy man, little pitchy. Jay Loo recalls she was terrified 317 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 1: during that moment, and as an inexperienced vocalist, she didn't 318 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 1: know how to control the fear in her voice. You know, 319 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: I had a similar moment in my TLC cover Man debut. Okay, no, no, no, 320 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 1: I'm left eye. I've got my halter on baggy cargoes 321 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: and I'm just about to drop into by leaving yourself, 322 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 1: the rest is up to me. You or were you 323 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 1: about to do the don't go chase and water fuzz 324 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:04,919 Speaker 1: please stick to the vill And that wasn't crazy, sexy 325 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: or cool. Okay, let's go back to the Bronx please, 326 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: all right? So onstage, Jennifer gave it her all and 327 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:14,919 Speaker 1: she took the Ellen stride. She had discovered the power 328 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: of self confidence, or as some of us call it, 329 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,640 Speaker 1: just make it till you make it. That was beautiful, 330 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: little poetry Listen. She knew exactly what she wanted to 331 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: do with her life, but her parents, that was a 332 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,199 Speaker 1: different story. They still didn't think performing was a career. 333 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: They wanted her to go to college and become a professional, 334 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: but after one semester in college, Jennifer dropped out. I 335 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 1: feel this, I feel Jelo as a dancer because I 336 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 1: am a makeup artist and I didn't know that I 337 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: could really take this career to where it is now. 338 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: As a makeup artist, you just feel like you're at 339 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: a counter or something like that. So I can see 340 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:59,199 Speaker 1: how her parents were afraid. Oh my goodness, totally. I 341 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:02,679 Speaker 1: think this is such a first generation mindset. You know, 342 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: your parents feel there's only certain acceptable careers that they 343 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: want for their children. You can be a doctor, you 344 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: can be an accountant, you can be an engineer. In 345 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 1: my case, you could be a lawyer. Because our parents 346 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 1: had these kind of archaic visions of how somebody could 347 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:23,440 Speaker 1: make money, and the only rich people they knew were lawyers, doctors, 348 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 1: or accountants, and that's really what they wanted for us. 349 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 1: It comes from a good place, but what it does 350 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: is it stifles all of the creativity that we as 351 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: young Latinos have. I want to imagine a world where 352 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 1: Latinos don't have to choose between being a lawyer or 353 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,199 Speaker 1: being an artist. I feel like all of these creative 354 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:47,680 Speaker 1: avenues should have a place in our world as well. 355 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,880 Speaker 1: If you have young children, remember that you could be 356 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 1: parenting the next little j Low right now. So let 357 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 1: that little baby take all the dance classes. I'm investing 358 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 1: wherever you are to take all the ballet, all the 359 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: acting classes, all the art classes. Let's let our little 360 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: baby Latinos be as creative as they dream to be. 361 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: Anybody who saw Jennifer dance when she was young would 362 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:14,479 Speaker 1: describe her as a star. Dancing for her was like 363 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 1: second nature, very graceful and fluid. She made it look effortless. 364 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: Jlo dreamed of the Great White Way, Broadway and beyond, 365 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: but everyone else in the Bronx thought she was a 366 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: real funny girl for that one. Hold on, hold on, Joseph, 367 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 1: have you yet seen funny Girl? Do you know who 368 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: originated the role? Glado Cano? I don't even write this. 369 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:41,920 Speaker 1: I don't even know what funny girl is. I appreciate 370 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: your honesty. Let's go back to Broadway. Right. Here's the thing. 371 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: Anybody that has tried or attempted to perform on Broadway 372 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:53,639 Speaker 1: knows that getting a big break is not easy. There's 373 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:58,360 Speaker 1: just not that many gigs available to go around, especially 374 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 1: for young Latinos from the Bronx. Until in nineteen ninety, 375 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 1: MC hammers you Can't Touch This was everywhere. Hammer was everything. 376 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: He got everyone wearing parachute pants aka hammer pants aka 377 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 1: my favorite pair of yoga pants, and of course we 378 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,159 Speaker 1: all wrapped along into light whenever the song came on 379 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 1: the radio and it desperately tried to nail all those moves. 380 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 1: Thank god there was no social media then or video 381 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: evidence of me attempting to do this dance. And one 382 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: thing that we loved about mc hammer and this song 383 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 1: was that he presented this song with huge stage shows 384 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: with dozens of dancers, and now every artist in group 385 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: wanted the exact same thing. Who wouldn't want their own 386 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: backup dancers? Can you imagine the drama when you walk 387 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: into that room. And that's why hip hop dancers at 388 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:06,639 Speaker 1: that time were in such high demand, especially for pop 389 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: groups like go On to Say It Now, Kids on 390 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: the Black and KOTB y'all. I was in love with 391 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 1: the little one Joey. I mean I had it all obviously. 392 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,679 Speaker 1: I had the posters and the tapes, but I also 393 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: had the pillows. I had the lip gloss. No, no, no, 394 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: my boo, my book come back to me. Okay, fine, 395 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:34,120 Speaker 1: I'm good. I'm back down now. In twenty eleven, Jennifer 396 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 1: even told Jay Leno that her big break was actually 397 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:42,120 Speaker 1: performing with NKOTB at the nineteen ninety one AM as 398 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 1: she was moving and grooving, bitch, did you see that performance? 399 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 1: I had to go back and rewatch it. I don't 400 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,199 Speaker 1: know why I don't remember this performance. I mean, I 401 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,960 Speaker 1: think I was Jesus, I was a baby. I think 402 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: I was eleven, and I don't know that I watched 403 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 1: this perform It's live the first time. But I'll tell 404 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:05,400 Speaker 1: you this, I went back and watching it for this podcast, 405 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 1: and it was giving me like so much nineties glory. 406 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: I mean, the gold Duda mc hammer in Living Color, 407 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: like that was the time to be alive. So again, 408 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 1: I don't remember j Loo, but I do obviously remember 409 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,160 Speaker 1: all of the music. It's just crazy to me that 410 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 1: she was one of like thirty dancers in this It 411 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 1: wasn't like it was her dancing with Joey or with Jordan. 412 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 1: She was in the back. I couldn't even spot her 413 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,920 Speaker 1: in the actual footage. It was nineteen ninety one, and 414 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 1: to be honest, nobody knew who Jennifer was. The host 415 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:46,719 Speaker 1: of the AMAS that night was Keenan Ivory Wayans, and 416 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,880 Speaker 1: just four months later he would debut his brand new 417 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 1: comedy Scotch show on Fox in Living Color. I'd say 418 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:58,199 Speaker 1: it was an ESNL, but for a younger, more diverse crowding. 419 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:03,360 Speaker 1: It featured Jamie, Jim Carrey, David Alan Grier, Damon Wayans. 420 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 1: All of them got their start on in Living Color, 421 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 1: and for about two years it was a cultural sensation. 422 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 1: I lived for this show and for all of our 423 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: younger listeners that maybe never watch it, don't know what 424 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 1: we're talking about. It was awesome, you guys. It was 425 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: all of these sketches, iconic moments. Joseph, I know you 426 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 1: have a favorite sketch. What was your favorite one from 427 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: in Living Color? It was the two gay guys, obviously, 428 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:35,159 Speaker 1: and they would do a snap in a Z formation 429 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 1: and they would let's go, hey, did it do you 430 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 1: remember that? I do remember that. You know what I 431 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:47,399 Speaker 1: remember Jim Carrey, Fire Marshall Billy. He was scary, he 432 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: was supposed scared. My dad freaking loved a fire Marshall bill. 433 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: So it was all of these different sketches. It was 434 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 1: all these performances, but at the very top of the 435 00:26:57,400 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 1: show and in between all these sketches, and then right 436 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 1: before where they went to commercial break, they would have 437 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: these female dancers perform the fly Girls. Yes, and at 438 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 1: the time, everyone wanted to be on the show, so 439 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:18,160 Speaker 1: naturally Jlo auditioned, but she got rejected, not once but twice. 440 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,359 Speaker 1: But right before the debut of the show, one of 441 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: the dancers mysteriously vanished, vanished like dateline vanished, which I 442 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:29,280 Speaker 1: already told you. You You have to keep your phone on 443 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 1: you so they could track you. And don't trust your man, Joseph. No, 444 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: she didn't vanish like disappear. She basically just ghosted on production. 445 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:42,640 Speaker 1: She is fine, for the record, nothing serious happened to her. 446 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 1: But this did create a huge opportunity for j Lo. 447 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:51,640 Speaker 1: She came back a third time and our girl got 448 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 1: the job. But there's always a butt, isn't there. This 449 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: job would take her to La and being a New Yorker. 450 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: Jennifer just was not about that West Coast life. I 451 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: mean to be honest, neither am I excuse you so much, Shade, 452 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 1: But here's the thing. It wasn't this West coast East 453 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: coast battle like Biggie versus Tupac. Jennifer just wasn't really 454 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 1: into it because of the distance. She missed her family, 455 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 1: so the space and loneliness really got to her. And 456 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:30,160 Speaker 1: the other fly girls, Yo, they didn't like her. Spill 457 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: the tea, bitch, Okay, I'll come out to a regular 458 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:37,879 Speaker 1: volume down Okay. So allegedly they didn't like her. Maybe 459 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 1: they thought she was getting special treatment, and yet she 460 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,920 Speaker 1: got in the girl lay Okay. But here's the thing. 461 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: You want to know which flygirl was the toughest on her? 462 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 1: Oh tell me, bitch, tell me Rosie Harrez, say what. 463 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: The Brooklyn born Bodhigua was the show's choreographer, and she 464 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 1: would bush Lopez's buttons. She had her number, y'all. There 465 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 1: were lots of laudrimas. I feel like Rosie saw another 466 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,480 Speaker 1: Nuyorica and was like, you have to show these people 467 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: what were made of and show them that we're the best. Okay, fair, 468 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:19,800 Speaker 1: but Jennifer didn't really see it that way. The two 469 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: of them first met in nineteen ninety one during the 470 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 1: open cast and call for the show's Fly Girls. It 471 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 1: Is was the choreographer the Hbic and claims that she 472 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 1: was the one who convinced the host and creator Keenan 473 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: to pick Lopez, and in her memoir Handbook for an 474 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 1: Unpredictable Life, she even claimed that Wahn's thought j Lo 475 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 1: was I quote chubby and corny, and that none of 476 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:53,920 Speaker 1: the other girls liked her. First of all, chubby and corny. Literally, 477 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 1: who says that that's I'm gonna bring that back number one, 478 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 1: number two gag? That's insane. Yes, So Rosie alleges that 479 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 1: they would come into her office, claiming that Lopez was 480 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: manipulating wardrobe, makeup, even manipulating her as herself. Paris denied 481 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: it until one day Lopez went off on her and 482 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:22,360 Speaker 1: I quote like some ghetto beach, screaming and pounding her chest. 483 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 1: Those are Rosie's words, not mine, and j Loo had 484 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 1: had enough. One day, Lopez shouted this, you pick on me, 485 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: me and only me every fucking day. Every fucking day, 486 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 1: I work my ass off, deliver and you keep pushing 487 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 1: me aside, treating me like shit. I know I'm good. 488 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: I'm better than any of these girls, and you know it, 489 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 1: see what I mean? Hold on, I just have to 490 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:49,400 Speaker 1: say I really heard that in the j Loo Wedding 491 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 1: planner voice, and it was just so good. To be honest, 492 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 1: I didn't know any of this beef until I started 493 00:30:57,320 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 1: doing research for this episode. But y'all, if you did 494 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:03,560 Speaker 1: not stop at a living color, this ship went on 495 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 1: for years. Because Rosie claims that Jennifer continued to make 496 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:12,360 Speaker 1: disparaging comments about her in Hollywood. I mean, why were 497 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 1: they fighting? You know? I think that's a really good question, 498 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 1: and I wish somebody would sit them down, maybe like 499 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: Jada could sit them at the red table, invite them 500 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 1: both and find out why this feud started. I mean, 501 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 1: here's what I'm going to say. Rosie and Jennifer are 502 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: of a certain age. They are from a different generation 503 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:37,920 Speaker 1: of not just women, but Latina women. And if you 504 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:42,479 Speaker 1: think back to the nineties, these two women were coming 505 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:46,400 Speaker 1: from a scarcity. There were no roles for Latina's. There 506 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 1: was like maybe once a year, once every two year 507 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 1: or something would come up. So I feel like in 508 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 1: today's world, we look at this and be like, oh 509 00:31:55,160 --> 00:31:57,120 Speaker 1: my god, why wouldn't you want to help your girl. 510 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:00,080 Speaker 1: She's Puerto Rica and you're both from New York. I 511 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,200 Speaker 1: would not want to help each other. It was a 512 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:05,640 Speaker 1: different place back then. It was a different time, and 513 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:09,160 Speaker 1: when you're not coming from abundance, that is when you 514 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:11,680 Speaker 1: start to pick these stupid fights with people that could 515 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:15,800 Speaker 1: actually be your biggest advocates. So that is my explanation. 516 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:18,880 Speaker 1: You're welcome, but I really want to hear it from 517 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 1: Rosie and Jennifer on Red Table Talk. So let's also 518 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:23,920 Speaker 1: put that out into the universe and make it happen. 519 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:28,480 Speaker 1: Despite all of the onset drama in Living Color proved 520 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 1: that Jennifer was a star. I mean, she took five 521 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 1: minutes of airtime every week and turned it into a 522 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 1: launching pad for her career. During the day, she would 523 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:39,440 Speaker 1: rehearse for the show, and at night she would take 524 00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 1: acting lessons. She spent two seasons on the show, and 525 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 1: soon after she was everywhere, including Janet Jackson's video where 526 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:52,240 Speaker 1: That's the Way Love Goes? That song was sex e Hollee. 527 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 1: They do not make music like that anymore. I'm sorry, No, 528 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: that was like some sultry, sexy shit. Yeah, like listen, 529 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 1: Shakida and Alejandro's sons have like done some stuff. But 530 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:10,640 Speaker 1: oh my god, Janet everything, it was everything. Now did 531 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:13,760 Speaker 1: you know that Jennifer was actually supposed to go on 532 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 1: tour with Janet for the entire year, But when the 533 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 1: tour started, Jenny called and said, sorry, y'all, I'm out. 534 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:25,959 Speaker 1: I mean, bitch had other plants. She sure did. Jenny's 535 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:29,120 Speaker 1: dancing took her all over the world, from Castle Hill 536 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 1: and the Bronx too far away places throughout Europe, Latin America, 537 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: and Asia. In her twenty eleven book True Love, she writes, 538 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 1: I'm a dancer. That's who I am. I'm most happy 539 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 1: and free and alive when I'm dancing. She still choreographs 540 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: all her shows, her tours, the Vegas Residency, and just 541 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:52,120 Speaker 1: to bring it all full circle for y'all. In twenty 542 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 1: twenty one, it was announced that she's teaming up with 543 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:57,440 Speaker 1: Sky Dance to adapt the entire catalog of Rogers and 544 00:33:57,480 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 1: Hammer Sign. We're talking a TV version of Oklahoma that 545 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:04,720 Speaker 1: is already in the works. Oklahoma is pretty far from 546 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:08,640 Speaker 1: the Bronx. It is, but you have to remember how 547 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:12,399 Speaker 1: did we start this episode? She was always inspired by 548 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:15,960 Speaker 1: the Golden Age of musicals, and now with her stature 549 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:18,920 Speaker 1: and her power, she's able to make musicals for the 550 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:21,480 Speaker 1: next generation. I wonder if you'll turn any of those 551 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 1: musicals into film. Excuse me, look at you, Joseph. With 552 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:36,279 Speaker 1: that seamless transition, my babies are grown up. On the 553 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:40,760 Speaker 1: next Becoming an Icon, We've covered the singing, we've covered 554 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:51,319 Speaker 1: the dancing. Now it's time for the drama. Becoming an 555 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:54,840 Speaker 1: Icon is presented by so Noo and Ihearts Michael Guda 556 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:59,320 Speaker 1: podcast Network. Listen to Becoming an Icon on the iHeartRadio 557 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:03,040 Speaker 1: app podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.