Tall, Tan, and Teasing

[@markyoung7151]

Thelma came THROUGH on that Dinah tribute!! ❤❤ Impeccable!

[@kennywesley]

didnt she!!!!?

[@jimmaisch7851]

Recorded this many moons ago..wore it out..yes Miss Thelma did Dinah proud..wish this was on DVD Also Jennifer Holiday was fantastic !! Debbie Allen tore up that stage with those moves !

[@tueregomez2851]

Yes!! And her dress!! My twin wore a duplicate of it to prom...we didn't use the term "she ate" back then but that's EXACTLY what she did lol

[@starchyld1972]

I remember watching this and i was mesmerized. I wanted Vanessa's costume

[@aishastaggers9913]

I remember watching this when it aired.

[@aarongreen5257]

Oh the memories... I thought this was so spectacular watching as a kid. Now that I'm 40 years old, I still get goosebumps from this performance!!!!!!! BRAVO... BRAVO!!!!!!

[@paulneedham2762]

Enjoyed this video. Great talent. showcased. Debbie Allen was fantastic.

[@c.savage5570]

OMG I grew up watching this! My parents had recorded it on tv and we wore that tape out. I love this so much!

[@kharyzma4u]

Me too!!!!

[@charnellenewman]

Same here

[@knmlover]

Same here!

[@casey4602]

Me too

[@millyh4660]

Omg SAME HERE! I obsessed over that VHS tape!

[@harborviewoperations6291]

I watch this all the time. Motown 25 and Motown Returns To The Apollo. This was shortly after Vanessa Williams was de-crowned. Look where that took her.

[@dlw1221]

They went crazy when she stepped out on that stage and for good reason to

[@nicestar2198]

My mom always talked about the whole Vanessa Williams and how the black community really helped her and didn't let her go down because of the pageant show thing

[@kharyzma4u]

i remember watching this. Debbie Allen is my mentor 😊

[@deborahjohnson6834]

God ,was showing out when he created us!!!

[@paulneedham2762]

Thanks for posting this.

[@CosmicSoul333]

I remember every single one of these outfits 😆

[@bosshog8277]

Vanessa’s rendition of Josephine baker was wonderful and she song it in French. Thelma Houston killed it too, and she was so sexy and sultry. Very underrated. She should’ve had a chance to sing more than disco. She’s very talented

[@cupcakejonez7923]

I loved the way Debbie Allen would hit that stick on the floor as she walked back & forth across the floor on FAME !🤣

[@pedrobeltranoficial8105]

i love all but jennifer holliday is my favorite singer..i love Her so much,I'm her fan number one

[@casey4602]

Give me a pig foot and a bottle of beer!

[@isaacortiz4617]

The music industry did her so wrong.

[@feliciajenkins5041]

Debi Allen gives me chills honey💃🎤🎼

[@crystaldemery8680]

I wish they'll make more shows like this

[@kcjulez78]

I remember watching this. amazing performance.

[@dinky1ful]

Outstanding!! My God...bring it back!

[@butler372]

JENNIFER SEGMENT WAS TAPED LATER AND ADDED IN THE FINAL EDIT FOR TV

[@bryanedney2723]

This was her first professional gig after relinquishing her Miss America title, AND Vanessa Williams KILLED IT. At the time, I was living in a not-so-diverse So. California suburb (with my share of experiencing racial microaggressions and marginalization), and after seeing this...I said I'm Black, I'm Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean, and I'm ALRIGHT! I started loving ME b/c I stand on the shoulders of greatness. 🙂🙂🙂😁😁😁🥰🥰🥰

[@MrKgbronx12]

Wow!

[@deewright1]

I remember this show blowing me away!!!

[@VonnieSpencer629]

ABSOLUTELY 😍 AWESOME!

[@Askanison29]

as a kid this was one of the first musical productions I ever paid attention to..and Debbie Allen was my crush ever since. Jennie was my auntie😊

[@JohnSmith-zr1pi]

Vanessa had such stage presence. I see how she won miss America the year before.

[@sidneytircuit7661]

sing Jen sing Jennifer wish she could of sang longer

[@AntonioJLee]

IKR!!! She ateeeeee that song alive!!!! Her voice is like freight train when it comes to power and soul!

[@Angelface6724]

All the talent Jennifer Holliday has and they gave her that song. Pitafull!

[@rellenoz]

I don't like how Debbie swept the floor after Jennifer left the stage.

[@Angelface6724]

@@rellenoz I agree.

[@MrKgbronx12]

They gave her Bessie Smith because she was a big women like Jennifer and very powerful in her time. I believe it was the 30s.

[@Angelface6724]

@@MrKgbronx12 ok, thanks.

[@donnasharpe3451]

@@rellenoz The sweeping of the floor meant that when Jennifer sang that song like she did, she left it all on the floor. It was not an insult. She was saying "Girl, you did it."

[@terrantystancil581]

My first time seeing this. I thought Debbie Allen can sang too.

[@terrenceragin5555]

Amazing

[@Miketendo93]

All that was missing was someone doing Eartha Kitt and Nina Simone! Man I swear I was born in the wrong part of the century

[@MrKgbronx12]

Me too!! I would have loved to see more of Bessy!!

[@laron323]

Does anyone know if Tall, Tan and Teasing is an actual song?

[@Southgate210]

Aha! Debbie A., could do it all! The dancers would hardly keep up with her! Now that's great being she was more than likely older than most! Debby A., show class and not trash! She wa sexy but not looking like after the show! She'd be heading down to 42nd Street!

[@Angelface6724]

They didn't know what to do with Jennifer Holliday.

[@remyfacade]

I always felt if they had marketed her has a blues or even gospel singer instead of r&b she would have taken off.

[@thechristianteen9167]

@Kumtekmeon I guess so. I also do not like that part

[@millicentwashington2448]

@Kumtekmeon I think Debbie was wiping sweat off the floor from their previous routine

[@isaacortiz4617]

@@remyfacade Yes she had the perfect voice for Jazz and gospel.Her weight was the issue which is a shame.Jennifer Holiday was better than Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin.

[@calvinhill9581]

IF YOU NOTICE AT THE END JENNIFER HOLIDAY WAS CUT OUT, BUT YOU CAN HEAR HER ON THE HIGH NOTE OVER DEBBIE ALLEN, JUST LOOK AND LISTEN YOU SEE AND HEAR BOTH SINGERS, UNTIL JENNIFER OVER POWERS DEBBIE THEN YOU DON'T SEE JENNIER, BUT THAT IS HER ON THE HOTTEST GIRL IN TOWN, JENNIFER IS KILLING THIS NOTE, DEBBIE WANTED ALL OF THE ATTENTION.

[@kharyzma4u]

Yes, I always wondered why I didn't see Jennifer at the end. But yes, she was killing that note!

[@butler372]

JENNIFER WASN'T AT THE ORIGINAL TAPING. THEY ADDED HER SEGMENT FOR THE FINAL EDIT FOR TV.