A Capitol Fourth 2024: Darren Criss, Alfonso Ribeiro, Sheila E, Sister Sledge & More!

Get ready for an unforgettable episode of Pop Culture Weekly! Kyle McMahon is live from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol for rehearsals for PBS annual A Capitol Fourth 2024.  He chats with the incredibly talented stars like Darren Criss, Fitz & Noelle of Fitz & The Tantrums and Loren Allred, known for her mesmerizing vocals in "The Greatest Showman." 

He's joined by a diverse array of stars who bring their unique flair to the celebrations. Pianist Chloe Flower talks about her love of high fashion and how it perfectly complements her captivating performances. Then, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East gives us a glimpse into her exhilarating experience of participating in the Fourth of July festivities, likening it to the thrill of competing at the Olympics again. We also catch up with Sister Sledge featuring Sledgendary, who share the joys and challenges of performing beloved American classics while navigating family dynamics on stage.

Our episode wouldn't be complete without insights from the charming host Alfonso Ribeiro shares his enthusiasm for traveling America in his RV, his passion for golf, and the unifying spirit of the Fourth of July. Meanwhile, Sheila E. reflects on her new salsa album and the lasting impact of iconic artists like Tito Puente and Celia Cruz on her musical journey. And of course, Kyle talks with Broadway star Darren Criss, who takes you behind the scenes of his performances for "A Capitol Fourth," celebrating the phenomenal work by Capital Concerts and providing crucial details on how to catch this must-see event. Tune in and join the celebration!

PBS A Capitol Fourth airs live on PBS July 4th, 2024 at 8pm EST as well as Facebook and YouTube. The special will remain on demand on YouTube, Facebook, and the PBS site.

Kyle McMahon's Death, Grief & Other Sh*t We Don't Discuss is now streaming: https://www.deathandgrief.show/Chapter-One-The-Diagnosis-AKA-WTF/

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
In this episode of Pop Culture Weekly, I am live from the West Lawn
of the United States Capitol in Washington, d C. For A Capitol Fourth,
twenty twenty four. I talked tohost Alfonso Robero and so many more
of the performers. Let's go Welcometo pop Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon from
iHeartRadio your pop culture news, views, reviews, and celebrity interviews on Fall,

(00:24):
the Movies, TV music, andPomp Culture U Crab Weekly. Here's
Kyle McMahon, No, No,No, Hello, and welcome the Pop
Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon. Iam live once again from the West Lawn
of the United States Capital in Washington, d C. For PBS's A Capital

(00:44):
Fourth, twenty twenty four. Itis always an amazing show and this year
is going to be no different.I'm here at rehearsals. I've been watching
everybody perform and rehearse for the bigshow, and it is just an awesome
celebration of America and independence and ourfreedoms. I speak with Alfonso Roberto,

(01:07):
who hosts this year once again,and Sheila E, the iconic Sheila E.
I talk with Darren Chris Broadway,Glee, and everything else, Chloe
Flower, the Wonder Kid pianist,Fits In a Well from Fits in the

(01:27):
Tantrums, Sister Sledge featuring Sledgendary,Lauren Alrid, Shan Johnson East, the
US Olympian, and more. Soyou know it's a great show. Oh.
Also some other people that are performingFantasia Hot off of the Color Purple
and the Icon Smokey Robinson. Solet's just hop right into our interviews.

(01:53):
We're going to start off with LaurenAlrid, who you may know I've talked
before. She's the voice of neverEnough from the Greatest Showman, one of
my favorite movies ever. Such agood movie. Let's talk with Lauren and
see what she's up to. Hey, I am here once again with the
amazing Lauren. Already you have donean amazing rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow,

(02:21):
which is hard to do, Iimagine. But what's that like for
you to do that song for thefourth of July at Washington d C.
Oh my gosh. I mean,you know, it's a song that I
grew up loving and everyone knows thissong and I was so lucky to perform
it on America's Got Talent and justbeing able to take it here, you

(02:43):
know, on the fourth of Julyis so special to me because it's a
song filled with hope and I think, you know, we could use it
right now. There's a lot goingon, so it's just a privilege to
be here and perform that song.And this is not your first time with
Capitol. You performed was it twoyears ago? Yeah? So so now
you're back. Obviously you had youenjoyed it the first time and everybody loved

(03:07):
you. So what's that like?Oh yeah, when when PBS called me
to do a Capital fourth the firsttime, I was just over the moon
because I grew up, you know, watching the show every Fourth of July
and to just be asked a secondtime is crazy. I mean, just
to be in front of the Capitoland especially perform with this orchestras is so
special. I'm really excited. Andyou have been busy the last two years

(03:31):
with appearances with David Foster and Bocelli. What is that that's had to be
in a whirlwind for you? Ohmy gosh. Yeah. As a singer,
you know, you just think ifif David Foster were to just hear
me sing, then I will havemade it and it's really true. He
has just taken me under my wingand that led to being able to sing
with Andrea but Shelley, which Imean when I look over at him,

(03:53):
I really can't believe it. It'slike I'm in a dream. And you
know, just coincidentally, I'm walkingoff this stage on the fourth of July
and getting on a plane to Londonto sing with him in Hyde Park.
So it's just back to back,you know, dreams, dreams are happening.
Yeah, and then finally, whatcan we look forward to next for
you? What's on your slate forcoming out? Yeah, I have a

(04:15):
whole project coming out. I justreleased a single with Scott Hoying from the
Pentatonics and there are more duets fromthat project coming with some of my favorite
voices in the industry. And I'mopening up for Pentatonics this fall on some
select dates, so you know,come out, I'll see you there.
Awesome. When can we expect youralbum? Is their release date yet?
We're shooting for the fall, right, Yeah, we're just wrapping up all

(04:35):
the mixes, but I'll let youknow a release date soon. But singles
monthly coming up? Sweet? Thankyou so much. Capital fourth. Lauren
alright, Lauren Alrid. She's great, and she's from Pittsburgh, so I
feel like she's a neighbor, eventhough she doesn't live there anymore. And
I don't live in Pittsburgh or Pennsylvania, but I'm right next door to Pennsylvania.

(04:58):
Anyway, Let's keep it going.Chloe Flower, she made a huge
splash playing on the Grammys with CardiB playing piano, and she's all over
every who's who in hip hop andpop and everything else, and she's a
fashion icon. So let's talk withChloe all right. First of all,

(05:23):
welcome, This is awesome. Isaw you rehearse, which you were amazing.
Of course, What is it likefor you to be performing that song
here at Washington DC for fourth ofJuly. I mean, it's such a
complete dream come true. Like Inever thought I'd be playing with the National
Civity Orchestra, but on fourth ofJuly Gershwin's hundreds anniversary. I mean,
it's like, come on, AndI heard that you grew up watching Capital

(05:44):
for It. I did you know? Actually I wanted my parents to come,
and they're like, no, wehave to watch it at home the
way we used to watch it.When we were little, when I was
little, So they're not coming,They're gonna watch it on TV like our
tradition. I love that. That'slike a cool Like they were like,
no, we're not gonna come anddo the VIP thing. We're gonna watch
it the way we always ask exactlyexactly I'm my sister's coming. But yeah,
my parents want to watch it onTV. So that's cool. Yeah,

(06:04):
you blew up, you know.I mean, obviously you've worked hard
for your entire life, but youreally blew up with your performance at Cordy
B just put you to a totallynew level. What has life been like
for you since then? You know, I think it's been really amazing.
I think one of the biggest accomplishmentsI feel like coming from that performance was
all the little kids who want tolearn an instrument, who want to learn

(06:26):
piano. Now, that was sorewarding for me. I had like hundreds,
maybe even like thousands of kids andparents who wrote to me saying that
their kids want to learn an instrument, even they want to learn an instrument,
So that was really amazing. Andwho for you? Was you for
them? Who was me for them? Oh? My god? You know,
actually, I really when I wasyounger, I loved Vanessa Ma.

(06:47):
Vanessa May was a violinist and Asianviolinist from the UK, and she it
was the first time I had seenlike a violinist or any classical musician kind
of do crazy things like, youknow, not the traditional typical look.
So that was that was really inspirationalfor me. Cool. And finally you
have this iconic fashion style which Imean obviously same same in my Walmart shirt.

(07:11):
Oh good, looks like praduct thebargain product. What uh? What
is inspiration for you fashion wise?Why do you choose what you do?
You know? Oh? Wow,okay, should I keep talking? You
can hear. Yeah. Liberachi waslike another person I really looked up to
more as an adult, and hehad this flare that he would wear feathers

(07:34):
and crystals and kind of defy theclassical look. So I think I love
fashion. My mom and I welike. My first book I ever read
was the magazine though, like butHarper's Bizarre orv Magazine. Yeah, so
you know, I've been looking atfashion and loving fashion since I was a
baby. And you just wear whatyou feel or I think, So I

(07:57):
think like you know, it dependson the song. If I'm playing something
like edgy with like a rapper likeCardi, sometimes we actually want to wear
a gown, you know, likeon stage because it's like cool for them.
But you know, when I'm athome, I'll wear like leather corset
and you know, whatever I thinkhelps them. Because my music doesn't have
lyrics, so the fashion sometimes helpsexpress the song and the moo. I

(08:18):
never thought about that. It's reallygood. Yeah, awesome, Thank you
so much. You rocked it.I can't wait for everybody to see you.
Thank you for the yes. Thankyou, same to you. Chloe
Flower such a great girl. She'sso cool and like just the fashion.
Yes. So all right. Nextup we have Sean Johnson East, the

(08:43):
US Olympian who you know. Shewas on that show what is it?
Oh, Dancing with the Stars ifyou've never heard of it. She's also
a huge vlogger, best best selling, yeah, best selling author, and
all around great persons. Let's talkwith Sean. So, first of all,
what does it feel like for youto be you know, here West

(09:05):
Lawn in the Capitol an Olympics yearfor fourth of July. It's a pinstream
moment. For sure. I stillkeep looking at my husband and being like,
oh my gosh, this is oneof the greatest honors. It feels
like I'm competing again and wearing thered, white and blue. It feels
so patriotic and it's just an honor. And what's cool is you are here
with a posse I don't know,like a posse of Olympians for this year.

(09:31):
What is that Like, That's gotto be a pretty cool moment for
you. It's so cool. It'sit's this weird full circle. Like I
remember getting ready to leave for Beijingfor my Olympics and seeing them. I'm
just in awe of them. Iwant to know everything. I want to
like interview them, be like areyou okay, you're feeling okay? Do
you need anything? But it's justexciting. It's the beginning of their dreams
coming true. And it's it's justspecial. It's so special you have you

(09:56):
have that like big sister vibe withthem. Yes, more like mom,
I feel like, I mean,my Olympics is a long time ago,
so I'm just like, are yougood eating? But I think it's having
three babies at home to you.I'm in the motherly world so yeah,
And what can we expect from younext? I mean you you were like
vlogging, You've got all kinds ofstuff going on. What what? What

(10:16):
can we what's next for you?We're headed to Paris right after this to
be big cheerleaders and help kind ofteam USA. So yeah, cool,
Thank you so much. Sean JohnsonE such a delightful bundle of joy.
She really is just so fun.All right? Next up Sister Sledge featuring

(10:39):
Slegendary. They're like the original JonasBrothers. It's all family, which is
ironic or not maybe ironic good fittingsince you know we are family. We
are family, all right? Anyway, here they are Sister Sledge featuring Legendary.

(11:00):
All right, First of all,you guys were incredible in rehearsals.
Of course. What is it likefor you to be performing some of these
classic American songs on the West Lawnof the Capitol for fourth of July?
It feels great, It feels likehome. Actually, they've heard it since
they were born, and I've beendoing it for before they were born.

(11:26):
And how about for you guys?Honestly, it feels surreal, like it
didn't really set it until yesterday.When we rocked up and the orchestra was
playing, it sound like a moviesoundtrack was going on. I was like,
oh, this is magical. Soin one word, I would say
magical absolutely, And for all ofyou, you are literally family. Is
there ever like I feel? Iknow with my family, probably probably not

(11:50):
work out as well as it hasfor you? Guys? How do you
handle family issues when you're also workingtogether? Everybody gets jokes like you,
nobody's safe, especially if you getmad. You're getting clown from the mad
jokes. Mad jokes. Please getmad. Yeah, I feel like we

(12:11):
don't really got any lot of issues. We just laugh a lot. We're
always together. It's always a goodtime with us. So it's just family,
you know. Yeah, and aswe'll deal with them, normal family
stuffy. She's very she came veryvery quiet at the end. That's kind
of scary, I said, letme see how they answer that. From

(12:37):
wedding. We we were just sayingthat you probably love this. Because there's
so many rehearsals and run throughs.We don't say the our word around her
because then we have to rehearse.If we say rehearsal, we're rehearsing that
day we're calling a rehearsal right now, and we're all like, you love
this, don't you. Finally,what can we expect next from you guys?

(12:58):
You know where where can we Whatcan we expect? So we're working
on music, Yes, we're lookingforward to Uh, we've been on a
very long tour, so we're workinglooking forward to a little bit of time
off to work on the music.And we've got some things in the works.
Yeah, nice boys, Yeah exactly. We got some new merch coming

(13:20):
out to look out for the SledgeBoys stuff. Yeah, it's gonna be
yeah, yeah, yeah. Andwhat else that with new music CDs,
DVDs. Yeah, I've heard.I've heard a little bit of their stuff
and I'm very very thrilled to seewhat they're doing because it's really I'm very
impressed, awesome. And now areyou're going to be putting that into the

(13:43):
live show as well? All ofthese music? Yeah, yeah, we're
all going to start putting out.We all have solo projects, We all
individually do solo projects, especially thisone. And like I just got through
uploading some stuff to my BMI today. I'm so excited about my new music
that's coming out. I'm like Hashtego, I'm just shameless plug in here now.

(14:03):
I have an album out called streetLights and Lullabies, and we're releasing
like a second leg of that albumpretty soon. I don't want to say
dig can I look? I'm likeI know. And we also released recently
a recording called free So and thatwas reaming everywhere, and now there's some

(14:24):
remixes being made of it, somedance remixes. It's really fun. Yeah,
thank you all so much. It'sa pleasure to watch you perform.
I can't wait for everybody to seeyou live on PBS from a Capitol for
Thank You, Thank You, SisterSledge featuring Sledgendary. I love that they

(14:46):
are able to tour and work togetherand yet they're all family. That seems
really hard to me, but maybethat's just me. In any event,
we're going to take a short breakto pay the bills sixty seconds. When
we come back, I'm going totalk with Fitzen Nowell from Fitz and the
Tantrums, Alfonso Robero, the host, Sheila E and Darren Chris. Be

(15:11):
back in sixty all right, thankyou for allowing me to pay the bills.
You hanging in there and supporting ouradvertisers supports me and us to do
this show to bring for you eachand every week. So I appreciate you,
and I appreciate our advertisers. Allright, Next up, we're going
to talk with Fits and Noel fromFits in the Tantrums. They were just

(15:35):
rehearsing and handclap is now permanently etchedin my head. I mean, I
love that song anyway, but nowit's just like not getting out of my
head. So let's talk with themFits in Nowell from Fits and the Tantrums.
All right, First of all,you guys are amazing. You just
came off stage. You did amashup of Sway and hand Clap. Why

(16:00):
to I'm curious. I mean,I love both of them, but I'm
curious, why how do you evenpick? That's hard? I think you
know, Sway is such a summersong and we're kicking off the summer here
at the Capitol fourth of July.And Hank clap. You got to give
the people what they want. Theywant to cut their hands, you know,
and for you, you know,you guys are here for fourth of

(16:21):
July at the Capitol, Washington,d C. What is that like for
you to perform, you know,such cool songs in this cool stage setting,
and it's an honor to be asked, you know. For one,
it's just and also everybody that's performing. I grew up with all of these
artists, so it's just an honorto even share the space with them,
and to do what we do anddo what we love in the country that

(16:44):
we love. I'm just blessed tobe here. And i mean, come
on, look at where we're performingin front of it. It's not bad.
It's not too often you get accessto like perform right in front of
the Capitol, right. We triedonce but we got shut down. Kidding,
we didn't drive it. And whatcan we expect next for you guys?
From you? We're on the roadall summer. We're actually coming back
to DC and Merriweather later this summer, but yeah, we're hitting the road

(17:07):
hard this summer for like seven weeksstraight. Awesome. And where are you
looking forward to most on your tour? That's hard because being on the road
and in front of your fans,it's really hard to choose. You know.
It's really who screams the loudest getsthe award at the end of the
tour, and I always say that'snot the big cities, the smaller cities
always lot. Those are honestly myfavorite. Thank you both so much.

(17:32):
I really appreciate it. You can'twait for everybody to see you guys.
Thank you Fits all from fitsing thetance frooms. Come make your iron clap.
That wasn't a handclap, that wasa tongue click. But you know
semantics, all right. Anyway,Next up the host of A Capital Fourth

(17:53):
on PBEs. This is his secondyear hosting and he's always enjoyed it.
Talk to so let's jump in toit. Alfonso Roberto. All right,
I am here live at the USLawn for the Lawn of Fateful Death.
Thank you, thank you very much. This is why you're hosting things.

(18:14):
You need to know where you at. We in DC. You need more
than that. So this is yoursecond time host thing. Yeah, my
second year hosting the show. It'san incredible show. I mean to be
able to be here, and youknow, all of our military veterans that
will be here. We've got greatOlympians that are going to be here,
that are going over to our Olympicsand in Paris and such incredible acts that

(18:40):
are going to be here. Itis. It's gonna be a great night.
It's gonna be a lot of fun. Yeah. And you I heard
that you prefer to travel by rV. Is that right? Well,
I wouldn't say prefer to travel.I do travel in my RV with the
family. Uh. We just liketo do trips around the country and go
see this beautiful country, right likeyou, you don't need to travel else
where. We've got great mountains andplains and you know, the canyons and

(19:03):
and the and the forest. Imean, you can go to any kind
of climate you want in America.And so we love going around and seeing
this country. But I'm really goodon a plane. You know when I
gotta when I gotta fly from LAto to d C. No, that's
a long trip into r V.You know, we're not preferring. You
know, there's no one Reatha Franklinup in here where I gotta I gotta
do that. No, no,no, I will. I will plane

(19:23):
it up. And what is uh, what is fourth of July mean to
you? Well, it's a celebrationof our country, right, It's a
celebration for me. It's all ofour birthday. Right, We all Americans,
and we all are part of thiscountry, and so this is our
birthday, and so it's you know, everybody loves a birthday, right,
come on. I mean, I'mwaiting for my cake. But but it's

(19:47):
but honestly, it's really just youknow, it's a time in our country
right now where there's a lot ofseparation, and I feel like this,
this time, this holiday is aboutcoming together, being together, setting aside
our differences and loving one another andsaying happy birthday to all of us.
I love that. Finally, whatwould you be doing if you weren't here

(20:07):
in d C for Capitol fourth?Oh? Man, I'd be playing golf.
That's what I always do. Let'syou know, if I'm not if
i'm not if i'm not working,I'm playing golf, baby, So you
know, I'd probably be at thehome course, getting in the getting into
eighteen, you know. And andbut no, I'm here much happier being
here, being able to do thiscelebration with all these amazing artists and great
people. You know that they've beendoing this now for forty four years.

(20:30):
It's it's just absolutely fantastic, awesome, Thank you, Alfonso you're the man.
I appreciate it. Alfonso Abero,he is just a you know,
he's made for being a host,unlike me. Who you know, I
woke up with a burrito in mypocket, So there you go. I'm

(20:51):
such a great guy. Anyway,Next up, we are going to talk
with the iconic Sheila E. Isaw her, you know, just a
little bit ago in rehearsals, andshe is just her rehearsal. Watching her
rehearsal made me tired. She isjust like an energizer bunny. So let's
talk to the iconic Sila E.Whoa. I am here at the West

(21:23):
lawn of the US Capital for PBSis a capital fourth with the iconic Shila.
How are you? I'm fantastic.How are you? I'm doing well?
Thank you? You killed it inrehearsals. I can't wait to see
everybody with the live show and you'redoing your things for you What is it

(21:45):
like to be here, you know, doing this on the fourth of July
giving a killer set like that.No, it's amazing. This is such
a blessing to be here, andthis is my first time ever doing it
on this particular day, so it'svery special to be here, and especially
with all the amazing their talent that'shere. They're all my friends, so
where it's like one big party,one family. That's what it is.
Yeah, as we just heard,you released a salsa album. I saw

(22:10):
that you did. I love GloriaStefan. I've interviewed her a number of
times and she's spoken so highly ofyou. You did an event with her
to kick that off. What wasthat like for you? It was insane.
It was my first time ever playingwith the band. Uh. Some
of the band members I had nevermet until two days before that actual show.
We rehearsed two days barely, andyeah, it was. It was

(22:32):
incredible. It was very emotional allthat went into production and putting it together
and getting there and it's it shouldbe a movie what we went through.
But it was well worth it.And Gloria, as always my sister,
killed it. Yeah, and whatdoes salsa mean to you? You know
you released an album Centator around it, so also means everything to me.
I mean I grew up as aLatin jazz artist like my dad, and

(22:56):
he used to play all the salsamusic in our home and then when we
met a lot of the salsa icons. You know, these musicians and artists
would come to our home. Ididn't know who they were because I was
young. I had no idea.But later on being able to Tito print
they be, and my godfather andhim taking me in under his wing,
and you know, and my dadand I to his events and letting us
sit in and play with you know, sell your cruise and Cacao and of

(23:18):
course Tito and Eddie Palmery. It'sjust been amazing so too. I wanted
to get homage back to for Sellyour Cruise and Tito. And there's a
song I did, Chelle Feliciano thatReuben Blade saying, and it just killed
it. It's just amazing so andSalsa's passionate. It's music that has a
lot of passion and soul. Andit's about community, you know, it's

(23:41):
about people and the culture. Ilove that. And finally, what can
we expect next from you? There'sso much going on. It's just got
unfold as it unfolds and yeah,yeah, awesome, Yeah, Chila E
the Icon, thank you so muchfor speaking with me. I appreciate it.
Thank you. She let love love, love love love her and I

(24:04):
can't wait for you to see herperformance on a Capitol fourth twenty twenty four.
She's just so amazing, and herband is amazing and she's just awesome.
Love her all right, Last,but not least, you may know
him from Glee or so many Broadwayshows or American Horror Story or what's the

(24:27):
other show he did with Ryan Murphy. Not Oj Simpson, I forget what
it's called. No, not OjSimpson. Oh, who's in Hollywood?
I forgot about that Versace American CrimeStory Versace where he played Andrew Kunanan who
I won't give that away, butwell, I mean it was, I
guess I'm not giving it anything away. It was like forty years ago that

(24:49):
it actually happened. But in anyevent, again, this is why Alfonso
is a host, and I'm relegatedto here with my I'm burrito still in
my buck. All right, Ilove you all. Anyway, let's speak
with the one and only Darren Chris. First of all, thank you so
much for speaking with me. Ireally appreciate it. You put on an

(25:15):
incredible show. You were here whattwo years ago? My memory is flexible.
I think it's about two years ago. Yeah, all right, so
you were here two years ago.Third though, because I did Yeah,
because we did it in twenty again, flexible memory here, But twenty twelve,
I want to say, or somethinglike that, that was the first
time. So yeah, they keepthey keep having me back. So I'm
very very pleased to oblige. Well, and what's cool is that, you

(25:38):
know the last time you were here, I mean you were running up and
down the aisles, you were everybodywas going wild, like the crowd.
You just have this you know,charisma with the crowd. It's a deeply
concerted effort to distract you from thequality of my voice. You really feel
that way. Uh, it's nota feeling, it's it's it's a fact.

(26:00):
Yeah, for sure, I meanyou your voice is to me,
it's absolutely incredible. But is thatthat's kind of no, tell them that.
Let's add so let's feed let's feedthat, let's feed that flame.
But you know, I'm I thinkI'm a showman. First. I don't
think I've ever said that in mylife. So I'm even even saying that
sounds weird and feels strange because I'mhesitant. But you know, I'm in

(26:22):
the performing arts and always have.But so I never thought I would ever
be like these in quotations here,but a singer per se, I'm like,
I'm an actor. I'm a performerand a storyteller, and so you
know, if the character of thesong is excitement and energy, which is
of course more than appropriate for anevent like this, then then I step

(26:44):
into that character. And not tosay that it's disingenuine or that I don't
have energy. It's it's it's there, But I look at it very much.
I'm trying to serve. I'm inthe service industry, right so I'm
servicing the song with people, andI'm just there as a as a vessel
to get people excited about something Ilove that's bigger than me and bigger than
them. I love that. That'sreally fascinating to me. And what what

(27:06):
can we look forward to next?From Darren Chris? You always have so
many things going on. What's what'snan? I'm heading back to the old
Broadway, back to the great Wayway of the boards doing a you know,
I've been very blessed with my Broadwayshows for those that are listening that
are Broadway nerds, but if you'renot in layman's terms, I've done a

(27:26):
lot of popular shows that had nothingto do with me being in them.
They're pop before then, like Wildhave been, whether or not I was
a part of them. When peopleask me about them, I can just
say a show and they go,oh, yeah, of course. And
this is the first time I'm doingsomething that is completely new and original,
and I have to do what ninetypercent of artists have to do, which
is explain what you're talking about.You know, I've been so spoiled with

(27:47):
not having to do that. Butit's a brand new show called Maybe Happy
Ending, directed by Tony Award winningpal of mine, Michael Arden. It's
a wild success in Southeast Asia.It's been running very discuss fully in South
Korea, in parts of Japan andChina, and this is its American Broadway
debut, And so it's It's Meand Some It's a forehander, a small,

(28:10):
small little show, but a big, big spectacle. It's a very
intimate, epic show. Epic intimacy, I think is the word. But
you know, it's a it's asci fi story about robots in the future
trying to discover what it is tobe human, which you might sound like
a fun sci fi concept, butwe you know, if I said AI

(28:32):
to most people nowadays, that isn'ta strange term. It's very in vogue,
and so there's a lot to bethought about and discovered by people I
think cross generationally. It's not justsome sci fi content in the future.
It's a very real thing. So, like I said, sci fi original
musical starring me and a young newstar and hell and Jashon. So people

(28:55):
come see the show to see abig spectacle, an original musical and a
star being born. It's not tocome to Broadway for I'm loving. I've
never been to a Broadway show,so maybe that'll be my first. What
I know, it's not crazy.It's not that crazy, really no,
because it's possible. It is.So it's feel like everybody in our you
know, I'm just interviewing talent allthe time, and it's just feel like

(29:17):
it's so like, oh man,what's art to that. I'm like,
yeah, it's uh. It willchoose wisely, my friends, I would,
I would recognize, I recognize,recommend maybe happy ending it's an appropriate
title. Maybe it'll be happy AreThank you so much, man, I
really glad to thank you. Thankyou, Darren Chris. I'm excited that

(29:41):
I might get, uh, youknow, maybe happy ending with Darren Chris
if you know what I mean,and what I mean by that is his
new show coming to Broadway. Inany event, PPS is a Capital for
them Exhausted. I've been out herefor like twelve hours in the heat,
and you know my brain, Sothank you for hanging out with me.

(30:03):
PBS is a Capital. Fourth airslive on Independence Day, fourth of July
today, or if you're listening tothis later. First premiered on fourth of
July eight pm, seven EASTERL EASTERLeight pm Eastern, seven percent Oh my
goodness, eight pm Eastern, sevenseven Central. Check your local listings.

(30:29):
Check your local PBS listings, butit's around eight or maybe seven depending on
where you are. And ninety minuteshow, wall to wall fun, celebration
of America and honoring our brave menand women who defend our freedoms every single
day, both here and around theworld. A great show as always,
Capital Concerts. The production company whoputs this on every year is so amazing

(30:55):
and I'm so honored to be hereand I love doing it and bringing you
all all the good interviews. Soalso it'll be streaming on YouTube and Facebook
Live and for two weeks following,so if you can't make the premiere Watching

(31:15):
a Capital Fourth, then you cancatch it in the following two weeks and
you really really really should. Itis so awesome. All right, I
will see you next week. Ilove you. We thank you for listening
to pop Culture Weekly. You're allthe latest at popcultureweekly dot com because that

(31:38):
can make your done. Click