Tag:

thriving

How Marques Houston Went From Sitcoms To Thriving On Tubi
Music

How Marques Houston Went From Sitcoms To Thriving On Tubi

by jummy84
written by jummy84

“I mean, if you ain’t doing it for Lil’ Saint, are you really doing it? You know what I’m saying?,” Marques Houston quips when reflecting on his stacked TV/film résumé. For VIBE’s Then And Now, the singer-actor looks back on the highlights from his storied past and details how he went from a quirky, next-door neighbor on a hit sitcom to dominating a streaming platform with his own production company.

The child star made his formal on-screen debut in 1993 as Eli Black on A Different World. The following year, he became a household name as Roger Evans on the hit sitcom, Sister Sister, starring alongside Tia Mowry, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Jackée Harry, and Tim Reid, for the show’s first five seasons.

“Go home, Roger,” he joked, mimicking his infamous catchphrase. Houston knows that the tagline “still travels with me for the rest of my life,” but he embraces that level of immortality. “It’s always going to be wherever I go, someone’s going to yell out, ‘Go home, Roger.’ And I don’t mind because it was such a big part of culture and a big part of history. That show was so huge and I don’t take away from doing it. I would do it all over again if I could. Loved being on the show. Loved the girls, Tim, and Jackée. It was the dopest experience for me, but I think I left at the right time,” he explained.

SISTER, SISTER, Tia Mowry, Tim Reid, Marques Houston, Jackee Harry, Tamera Mowry, 1994. ©Paramount Television/Courtesy Everett Collection.

Houston confessed, “Being Roger was so exciting in the beginning.” He was just 12 years old when he got the role on the heels of his group, Immature, gaining success with ‘Never Lie’— the lead single from their sophomore album, Playtyme is Over. The record went on to become their biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 5 in 1994.

“I was really excited about [the success]. It was real dope. It was like everything I’d always wanted,” Houston explaining, admitting that he wanted his own version of Steve Urkel. He described the Family Matters persona as “the scene stealer character that comes in and is the main character that everybody loves.”

However, as he got older, Houston felt he’d become typecasted if he continued. “I felt like I could only do that and I didn’t want that. So, I ended up leaving the show because career-wise I felt like it was the smartest thing for me […] I think it was the best career choice for me definitely. I think it allowed me to move on to other things. I think if I would’ve stayed being Roger, I would’ve probably just been that.”

Following his tenure, Houston starred in House Party 4: Down To The Last Minute, Fat Albert, and of course, You Got Served.

Ironically, Houston wasn’t even supposed to star in the dance film alongside B2K. The film was originally titled Dance and was supposed to star Ginuwine, Aaliyah, Wade Robson, and Dave Scott. “That’s why my name was Elgin because Ginuwine’s real name is Elgin,” Houston explained. When it was time for the film to be made, Sony Pictures got involved and then it came down the line from B2K to Chris Stokes to Houston.

YOU GOT SERVED, Omari Grandberry, Marques Houston, 2004, (c) Screen Gems/courtesy Everett Collection

The Naked crooner applauded the film’s legacy and impact on the cultural zeitgeist. “I think it’s beautiful, the fact that it’s been 20 plus years or however long, but just to be able to still be relevant and people still love ‘You Got Served ‘ and know to what [it] did for the culture, what it did for dance, the dance community, all the TV shows [and] movies that have come out after that, just everything. To be a part of something that’s so big like that that’s changed history, it’s always a blessing to be able to be a part of something like that,” he gushed.

Following that moment, Houston landed his own sitcom with Cuts— the spinoff to One On One, starring Kyla Pratt and Flex Alexander. Funny enough, the singer didn’t think he’d return to TV. “Growing up watching Will Smith, Jamie Foxx be able to do music and television and movies at the same time, once you get that hit movie, you kind of just stick with [movies]. So I remember telling my whole team, ‘I just want to stick to movies,’” he explained. After You Got Served, Houston said he was flooded with other movie offers and wanted to focus on those, but due to his relationship with Alexander, he took a meeting with the show’s executives and even though Ray J was also up for the role, Houston ended up as the lead.

Cuts lasted for two seasons.

CUTS, Omarion Grandberry, Rashaan Nall, Marques Houston, Grapevine (aka Edward Fordham Jr.), ‘Reverse The Curse’, (Season 2, aired November 3, 2005), 2005-, photo: Monty Brinton / © UPN / Courtesy: Everett Collection

For Houston, “‘Cuts’ was dope [and] hilarious. I loved ‘Cuts’ because it gave me an opportunity to be a comedian and be funny as an adult. A lot of people were used to me being funny and stuff on ‘Sister, Sister,’ but I was a kid. With ‘Cuts,’ it gave me the opportunity for people to see me as an adult being able to handle comedy and be funny. That was a great experience for me too.”

It got to a point, though, where Houston was experiencing two things: he felt seasoned enough to not have to audition for certain roles, but he, in turn, wasn’t fitting the roles being presented to him. This led to the creation of Footage Films with Chris Stokes.

“We were just like, ‘Let’s just do it ourselves.’ I’m like, ‘I have enough experience with writing. I have enough experience with acting; you have enough experience with directing and writing. Let’s just start our own production company and just kind of go from there,’” Houston recalled of the distribution/production company’s inception.

He credited Cathy Hughes (founder of Radio One, which owns Urban One and TV One) as the catalyst behind the first Footage Films production titled Will To Love. Stokes and Houston “called in [several] favors” and the film wound up a success. Timing was on their side with BET launching their film division, so Houston and Stokes began working on projects with the network and continued to evolve.

Since then, he and Stokes have continued to call in favors from Karrueche, Erica Mena, and more to star in their films. From Only For One Night, which became one of their top rated movies, to debuting their first TV series, Sacrifice, on BET+, the men quickly realized they were “onto something with thrillers.”

That success led to them helping to “break Tubi.” Despite not finding initial success in their debut, Howard High, the Stepmother franchise became their launchpad and as Houston puts it, “Just put Tubi on the map.”

Overall, Houston is “grateful” to be able to “be successful for something that you love and that you’re passionate about.” The latest Footage Film successes are Adopted 2 and Run. He stars in the latter. Both of which are Tubi Originals.

Check out the crooner’s full Then And Now breakdown above.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Stradivarius violin takes spotlight at Brussels concert
Lifestyle

Transplanting shrubs: Timing and technique for a thriving garden

by jummy84
written by jummy84

It’s the end of the gardening season, and those of us who’ve endured a less-than-perfect layout may be itching to move shrubs around. But proper timing is imperative.

Transplanting shrubs: Timing and technique for a thriving garden

I inadvertently planted a Clethra bush too close to a peach tree, and their intertwining branches have been taunting me all summer. But because the Clethra is a late-season bloomer, I’ll have to wait a bit longer before I can safely move it.

As a general rule, shrubs that bloom in late summer and fall should be transplanted in spring, just after they emerge from dormancy. This timing provides ample time for roots to establish before the plant’s energy is redirected toward blooming.

Spring and early summer bloomers should be relocated in the fall, when their blossoms and, sometimes, foliage, are long gone.

Before attempting to dig up shrubs, research how deep and wide their roots typically grow. Shallow-rooted shrubs, like rhododendron, for instance, are easier to dig up than, say, manzanita, which have very deep root systems. Take the plant’s age into account, too, as mature shrubs will have larger roots than younger ones.

Your findings will guide your digging: New holes should be as close to twice the width of roots as possible and exactly as deep.

Always dig a hole for the plant’s new home before removing it from the ground to minimize root exposure.

When possible, gently tie the plant’s branches together to get a better view of the area you’re digging. This step also helps prevent eye injuries from errant stems.

Take care to dig up as much of the roots as possible, plunging a sharp-edged shovel into the soil at what you estimate to be the roots’ farthest point and working your way around the perimeter of the plant. Then, retrace your steps, this time with more force to insert the tool deeply enough to lift roots out of the ground from underneath.

To avoid losing soil and damaging roots — as well as your back — place the entire shrub onto a tarp and drag the tarp to the new hole you’ve prepared.

Carefully slide the rootball into the hole and assess its depth. If necessary, remove the plant from the hole to add or remove soil as needed to ensure the point where its roots meet the trunk —the plant’s crown —sits at the same level it was previously.

Plant too deeply, and the crown and trunk will eventually rot; too shallow, and the roots will dry out, suffer sun and cold damage, and struggle to spread horizontally.

When you’re satisfied the shrub is sitting straight and at the correct depth, begin backfilling the hole with soil, stopping periodically to firmly tamp it down to eliminate air pockets. Water the soil halfway through, then resume backfilling and tamping. Water the soil again, then apply mulch over the entire root zone to retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature and repel weeds.

Water the plant regularly through frost during the entire first year in its new home, but don’t fertilize yet.

Apply a slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer in mid-to-late spring. Doing so earlier would force the plant to allocate its limited energy to growth rather than recovery and root development.

Allowing transplants time to settle in can mean the difference between a struggling shrub and one that thrives for years to come.

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.

For more gardening stories, go to /hub/gardening.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
'Love Island' Star Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu Reveals Her Tips for Thriving on Reality TV
Hollywood

‘Love Island’ Star Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu Reveals Her Tips for Thriving on Reality TV

by jummy84
written by jummy84

A little competition never hurt anyone! Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu first rose to fame after winning Love Island in 2022 and has since become a familiar face on reality television with stints on Dancing on Ice, The Wheel, The Traitors US, Celebrity Big Brother, and Love Island: All Stars.

Now, the British-Turkish actress is taking her talents to Netflix’s new high-stakes series, Inside: USA, and she’s sharing her advice for surviving (and thriving) on TV.

Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu/Instagram

“I’ve always had that fire in me. … I’d describe my competitive spirit as strategic and observant. I love to have fun, but I also want to win,” she tells ET. 

Offscreen, the 30-year-old is just as fierce, but her opponents are different. 

“I’m competitive with myself more than anything. I’m always pushing to be better, whether that’s in my career or personal life. I love to set big goals and challenge myself. I don’t like to settle until I’ve reached them,” she says.

Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu/Instagram

Since adopting that strong mindset, it’s been easy for Cülcüloğlu to ignore any haters. 

“Once you know your worth, the outside chatter doesn’t matter as much. When the comments come in, I try to focus on the positives and the love people send rather than the negativity,” the model notes. 

“I’ve learned that you can’t please everyone, and that’s okay. I remind myself that most negativity says more about the person writing it than about me,” she adds.

Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu/Instagram

Above all, the television star embraces her journey on and off camera.

“People have literally watched me fall in love, make mistakes, and reinvent myself. I’m not afraid to change and grow. I want to keep surprising people and show different sides of who I am.”

RELATED CONTENT:

 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Tired of toxic offices? Quiet thriving is the new trend that's transforming workplaces for the better | Health
Lifestyle

Tired of toxic offices? Quiet thriving is the new trend that’s transforming workplaces for the better | Health

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Toxic workplaces have been the talk of the town for a very long time. Time and again, at every gathering, there’s always that frustrating rant about office drama that has everyone sitting on the edge of their seat. Typically, the plot includes a wide array of antagonists, from a micromanaging manager, unreasonable clients calling at 11 PM, snarky snitches, short-notice deadlines eating up weekends and endless office politics. It’s time to flip the script and encourage a workplace that invigorates you rather than draining energy.

Employees become more motivated in a supportive workplace environment.(Shutterstock)

ALSO READ: Being active at work is no longer just an option: New health initiatives at workplaces to promote wellness

One such trend, called ‘quiet thriving’, is silently changing the narrative of workplaces.

What are the health benefits of a supportive workplace?

An empowering workplace makes an employee feel confident.(Shutterstock)
An empowering workplace makes an employee feel confident.(Shutterstock)

But before we dive into decoding this empowering workplace trend, let’s first take a look at the benefits of a nurturing workplace environment. Often, employees’ health impacts are discussed in the context of a toxic environment. Since this trend is all about flipping the script, let’s begin right from the roots.

Dr Deepak Patkar, director of medical services at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital in Mumbai, told us that supportive workplaces become a safe space for employees, both emotionally and physically. Organisations that respect trust and practice transparent communication, not just in words, but also in action, help employees feel valued and motivated to do their best.

He explained further how it positively influences employees, “Individuals working at these organisations develop a higher sense of self-worth and confidence as the leadership is often approachable and open to feedback. Employees also develop better mental peace and job satisfaction, contributing heavily to the turnover outcomes. Such environments also help people overcome their fears of public speaking or voicing out their opinions, becoming more professional and mindful communicators.”

What is quiet thriving?

Quiet thriving is a mindset where there's not a lot of expectation pinned on external validation and content on their own.(Shutterstock)
Quiet thriving is a mindset where there’s not a lot of expectation pinned on external validation and content on their own.(Shutterstock)

As Mahatma Gandhi rightfully said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Likewise, whether you believe it or not, you can fundamentally transform your work life. Quiet thriving is all about a mindset that is embedded in personal purpose, not external validation all the time.

Most of the time at work, even if you enjoy it, you always keep an eye out to see if your manager or colleague liked your work output and if not, it can leave you second-guessing yourself. Quiet thriving is all about what you can control, rather than wasting your energy on things beyond your influence.

Ajeet Kumar Singh, Managing Director and Co-Founder of SAVE Solutions Pvt. Ltd explained Quiet thriving, and elaborating, “Quiet Thriving is about intentionally showing up at work in a way that personally matters to you-even if your workplace does not so that the experience does not weigh you down but instead enriches your spirit: setting limits, building social bonds at work, tweaking the job to suit one’s own strengths, and finding quick bursts of joy here and there. It’s not a riot; it’s just a soft-spoken way toward change.”

He further listed specifically how it’s helping employees and how workplaces can create a supportive environment:

How is it helping employees?

  • Quiet Thriving is a mindset that is said to reduce instances of burnout, increase job satisfaction, and strengthen its practitioners’ mental functioning.
  • By focusing on the aspects within their control, Quiet Thrivers become reacquainted with considered meaning in settings that otherwise would drain them.

How can workplaces support quiet thriving?

  • Managers can support this by giving employees time and space to express their preferences -through flexible hours, regular feedback loops, or clear growth pathways.
  • Even small tweaks, such as carving time for creative expression or assembling a group of mentors, create much energy.

HR strategies to make workplace more fun

All is not dark and gloomy at work, as employees can have fun too at their workplaces. (Shutterstock)
All is not dark and gloomy at work, as employees can have fun too at their workplaces. (Shutterstock)

Now, it would be unfair to put the entire onus on employees by expecting them to shift their mindset alone. Change is also a shared responsibility, so the heavy lifting of changing the workplace environment shouldn’t fall solely on them. Sure, employees need to focus on their work and avoid stressing over things beyond their control, but the workplace, too, needs to develop a nurturing environment for employee wellbeing and growth.

Shruti Swaroop, founder of Embrace Consulting and co-founder of International Inclusion Alliance, weighed in on this and said, “When we talk of ‘fun at work,’ we’re not talking about superficial parties or weekly festivities. We’re talking about an arena where employees feel psychologically safe, emotionally engaged, and intrinsically motivated. Where laughter is not ambient noise, it’s a cue for trust. And play moments aren’t distractions; they’re ignition points for collaboration and creativity. ”

She listed out 3 practical ways HRs can make work more fun:

1. Incorporate gamification into everyday performance

  • By leveraging aspects of reward, monitoring progress, and competition through challenge to learning, performance, or onboarding, HR can turn the previously mundane processes into a fun experience.
  • For example, introducing an online badge scheme for developing skills or designing an innovation-focussed, cross-functional team challenge not only delivers results but also fosters team spirit.

2. Establish deliberate micro-cultures of happiness

  • It’s not the big events but the small, regular rituals that build culture. HR can craft ‘micro-moments’ of happiness built into the workweek, whether 10-minute gratitude circles, peer shout-outs on common boards, or team storytelling circles.
  • These create spaces of humanity at work and make people feel seen beyond their job title.

3. Organise employee-owned culture committees

  • HR needs to move from being planners to being enablers by establishing employee-owned involvement or ‘culture’ committees.
  • They are cross-sections of employees from the diversity of the organisation that can co-create experiences that resonate with them, from wellness weeks and interest clubs to celebration events and community volunteerism.

All hope is not gone, and the workplace is not all dark and gloomy. With quiet thriving, employees can feel joyful and confident. Quiet thriving is slowly revolutionising the way employees work and feel in workplaces.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail