Jenifer Lewis on Bette Midler, Whitney Houston & Mother of Black Hollywood

Hot Takes & Deep Dives

Jess Rothschild

Rhony, Tv & Film, Andycohen, Rhobh, Realhousewives, Bravotv, Vpr, Rhoc, Bravo, Popculture, Rhop, Pumprules, Bethennyfrankel, Lgbtculture, Rhod, Realhousewivesofnyc, Rhoa, Vanderpumprules

4.7 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jess is joined by the powerhouse Mother of Black Hollywood — JENIFER LEWIS! Topics: working with BETTE MIDLER as a Harlette, becoming "the entertainer" to Barbra Streisand and Madonna, her one-woman show "The Diva is Dismissed" and putting a con artist behind bars. Plus — appearing as the first Black person on "Friends", living with Shangela (Drag Race) for a decade, working with MOLLY SHANNON and MATT ROGERS on "I Love That For You" & more!

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — Cult of Body & Soul

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome back to Hot Takes and Deep Dives, and my next guest is one of the most irreverent and uniquely talented performers on stage
0:22.8	and screen. You might know her from Blackish, Sister Act, or the most recent episode of
0:28.1	and just like that. But I believe her best performances are in her two memoirs, the mother
0:33.8	of Black Hollywood, and the recent Walking in My Joy. Please welcome to the stage, Jennifer Motherfucking Lewis.
0:43.0	You're so cute. It's Jennifer. Motherfucking.
0:47.1	Hey! How many people you know change the middle name from Jeanette to motherfucker?
0:54.1	How are you?
0:55.3	I'm so good, you know.
0:57.3	I mean, you really wear your entire life, like your personal life on your sleeve.
1:03.9	And that is so rare in Hollywood.
1:06.4	Like something that actually struck me between both of your books was calling out the roles,
1:12.0	like the disappointments along the way.
1:13.8	Like you auditioned for Saturday Night Live, Queen Latifah's role in Chicago.
1:18.6	There were so many iconic roles that were like kind of near Mrs.
1:23.2	Like you were part of the workshop version of Dreamgirls.
1:26.9	Like you actually helped develop the role
1:28.9	of Effie. And of course, Jennifer Holiday wound up getting it. And yet so many stars would never share
1:37.1	those things. Here it is, baby. There ain't no shame in my game. I want to talk about your
1:43.9	relationship with Bett Midler.
1:46.2	You said, Bet Midler probably had a greater impact on me than anyone I've ever worked with.
1:51.1	She polished my game and upped it several notches.
1:54.6	Tell me about the first time meeting Bet Midler at a Harlet rehearsal.
	...

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