UB ReVisit: Flex Alexander Talks The Bronx, Family and One on One

Flex Alexander was born in New York City. The son of Alethia Knox and Robert Whitehead, he had a troubled adolescence, and has recalled getting into fights, selling drugs and carrying a gun before connecting to his calling to perform.

Flex began dancing in New York clubs during his teen years. His energetic dancing style earned him the nickname “Flex” and attracted the attention of DJ Spinderella. When Spinderella began touring with the trio Salt-N-Pepa, Alexander joined the tour for a period of three years. Alexander also began choreographing dance routines for performers, including Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah.

In the late 1980s, Flex Alexander branched out into acting as well as dancing and choreographing. He began performing stand-up comedy and sought out film roles, appearing in the 1992 film “Juice.”

Flex began appearing on television programs in the 1990s. He was a regular cast member on the sketch comedy show “Uptown Comedy Club” and “Girlfriends,” and appeared on the short-lived sitcoms “Where I Live,” “Homeboys in Outer Space” and “Total Security.” He also guest starred on the popular shows “Sister, Sister” and “The Cosby Mysteries.”

Alexander left his recurring role on “Girlfriends” to star in the UPN sitcom “One on One,” on which he played single father Flexter “Flex” Washington. The show, which Flex also created and produced, garnered nominations for both NAACP Image Awards and several BET Comedy Awards in its first year. “One on One” remained on the air for several seasons as one of the most popular African American shows in history.

After leaving “One on One,” Alexander returned to acting in motion pictures. Since that time, he has appeared in the 2006 film “Snakes on a Plane,” the 2007 horror film “The Hills Have Eyes 2” and Clement Virgo’s “Poor Boy’s Game.” He has also continued to make TV appearances in a guest-star capacity on series such as, Showtime’s “Masters of Sex.”

Since then, Flex has appeared in “Flex and Shanice” on OWN for three seasons. Flex has also made several TV appearances over the years, including “mixed-ish” where he has a recurring role this upcoming season.

In the last ten years UB has had the opportunity to speak with Flex multiple times. In this ReVisit celebrating our 15 Year Anniversary. We ReVisit those interviews (2010, 2014 and 2015) and get Flex‘s take on growing up in the Bronx and when he discovered his talents.

Flex Alexander also gets candid about the recognition his wife Shanice deserves, and why he felt comfortable discussing their past finances on their OWN docu-series.

Flex also tells us his favorite episodes of One on One, which is now on Netflix!

If all that isn’t enough, he shares with us the two comedians he would love to work with on the big screen.

UrbanBridgez.com: How do you think growing up in the Bronx prepared you for a life in Hollywood?
Flex Alexander: I don’t know, I think it gives you a hustle. I hung out in Brooklyn, The Bronx and Harlem. I just think all together growing up in New York it gives you a nice hustling energy, kind of that never say die attitude you know. Even when you get knocked down, you just come back stronger!

UrbanBridgez.com: When did you discover you were a comedian?
Flex Alexander: My mom told me I was funny when I was little, but I don’t remember (laughs). What I do remember is my cousin and I, my cousin Grapevine who played Ace on ‘CUTS,’ the spin-off from ‘One on One.’ We use to actually do comedy shows to one another, like he would sit and watch me do stand-up and then I would sit and watch him. And we would talk about our aunts and cousins and stuff, but you know it’s like who knew! Then I saw Eddie Murphy’s ‘Delirious’ and I told my mom, that’s what I’m going to do right there.

UrbanBridgez.com: What are your long term goals at this point in your career moving forward?
Flex Alexander: My long term goals, I really want to continue writing, I’ve been writing & I have a script right now being written. I can’t really say who right now, but it’s a Christmas Movie and it’s really funny. So I’m writing that, I have a couple of shows that I’m producing that I’m really trying to attach other producers to. Two reality shows but different kinds. My wife will tell you, I’m not a big fan of reality shows (laughs). But with these two, it’s more quality and it’s actually an idea my wife had. She has great ideas and she watches reality TV, she loves those shows! So she came to me and said what do you think about this and I said babe that’s brilliant! So I just called my people and put the plan in motion. I also put together a screenplay of my life and my experiences. From growing up to seeing my mom on drugs and my brother on drugs. And friends and things selling drugs, so I wrote a screenplay on that & I plan to do a book and also a one man show. I also really want my wife and me to travel and minister to young adults to different Churches across the country. Our long time goal is for us to put forth a ministry to give back to people. I come out and do comedy and give my testimony and my wife comes out and sings. Just something we can do together.

UrbanBridgez.com: You’ve appeared in more movies & TV shows than we can mention, what was one of your favorite roles and why?
Flex Alexander: Well definitely on TV, playing on ‘One on One.’ Playing myself, but not really myself. A lot of people think my name is Flex Washington (laughs). But that was definitely one of my favorites. I did this movie with Danny Glover called ‘Poor Boy’s Dream’ that was wonderful for me because it was something dramatic. I got to box and get in shape and work with Danny Glover. It’s hard to pick out my favorites, but I look back and I’ve been fortunate to work alot. I came out here in California in 92 and I’ve worked none stop, so I’ve been blessed to work. I enjoyed everything, even ‘Homeboys In Outer Space,’ was terrible by title I actually had fun (laughs). I had a whole bunch of fun!

UrbanBridgez.com: I watched a few episodes (laughs).
Flex Alexander: (laughs) I was like, I’m young in the game they was like you want to do this show, we’ll pay you this. I was like, yes sir!

UrbanBridgez.com: Do you still keep in contact from the cast of One on One and what’s one of your best memories from shooting that series?
Flex Alexander: Well I see them around, we don’t really call each other and stuff like that. But I talk to Kyla via Twitter, I see Robert at the barbershop. Sicily I talk to often, she got married and has a daughter. So yeah we kind keep in touch pretty much. I check on them off and on. As for my favorite, I would have to say the Michael Jackson episode with Duane Martin. So that one and the New Edition episode. All in all just shooting the show and acting in it was great man. I had a great time!

UrbanBridgez.com: Shanice is dropping a new album this year, can you tell us about that and why you personally feel Shanice doesn’t get the credit she fully deserves within the industry?
Flex Alexander: Yeah she’s working on it now and we hope to have it out by the end of the summer. She doesn’t get the credit, because you know these cookie cutter artists who come out with one song and if you’re not 17 and half naked people don’t want to support you. And she’s not going to do what alot of those girls would do to get ahead. That’s just being real, I’m not singling out anyone particular. You know how this industry is, I just feel like she’s held a standard for so long. It’s just her time & I think God will reward her. I think doing it the way we’re doing it independently and distribution as well as an European deal as well, I think it’s great. Because the majors are going to be done soon, they’re going to be collapsed! You have all these great artist out here like my wife, Rahsaan Patterson, Lalah Hathaway these are great singers. Kelly Price, they should all be so much bigger and so much more love! But it’s like you get married, have some babies you’re not sexy. But having kids being a wife is sexy. I don’t think there is nothing more sexier than that at all. And I’m not hating any other artists because I feel everybody has their time and is blessed to do stuff. But this industry and it’s sad because our people we do it to ourselves. White folks support, if Barbra Streisand said I’m doing a concert tomorrow, it would be sold out! We went to see Bette Midler and it was sold out and she hadn’t performed in 15 years. I just think we have to support our artists more and the singers that we love we just have to support them!

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s one of your most personal favorites from your wife?
Flex Alexander: Before I met her I had bought her ‘Shanice’ CD and there is a song called “Fall For You,” that and “Just A Game.” Will Downing had redid it and I didn’t know it was her original song at first. I had bought his album and it was on there & I was like this song is great! And when I met her she was like that’s my song, I was like that was yours? So I think those two are my favorite two songs by my wife.

UrbanBridgez.com: So many people forget you use to dance and have appeared in music videos.
Flex Alexander: Oh my God (laughs)! A good friend of mine from back in the day, a choreographer name Donovan Henry just Facebooked me and sent a video of The Rude Boys, not sure if you remember them?

UrbanBridgez.com: Oh yeah I remember, Gerald LeVert’s group (laughs).
Flex Alexander: Oh My God (laughs), I just watched it today. I was on the floor! I could not believe it and I watched on YouTube a bunch of videos I did Crystal Waters, ‘Gypsy Woman’ (sings ‘La da dee la dee da’), Queen Latifah ‘Fly Girls,’ I mean gosh that was such a fun time. Business was different, it was a fun time man. I loved dancing, but you won’t see me dancing no time soon. Not at all! (both laugh)

UrbanBridgez.com: That leads into my next question actually, what made you two decide to do the reality show now? Like you mentioned Shanice you have been talking about it for awhile. What made this the right time and what made OWN the right network?
Flex Alexander: There is a story to tell and we thought now was the time. So to tell a story of what we’ve gone through, the ups and downs to let people know we’re human. And we endure the same things as they do as well and they can get through it. On OWN being the right network, they just do everything with class. Oprah is about class and upliftment and spirituality. Peace and love and all of those things are abundant up in the show.

UrbanBridgez.com: With it being the right time, were you two ever hesitant about being so honest about your life and finances?
Flex Alexander: I think once we decided to do it, it was no hesitancy. We were just like let’s tell our story. And again that was a period of time. We’re not where we completely want to be but we’re definitely not where we sue to be. So it’s better and again this is the right time and if we’re going to do it, no need to be hesitant. We just said let’s go ahead and tell it, so we can be in control of telling our story.

UrbanBridgez.com: Have you guys gotten used to being reality stars yet?
Flex Alexander: I don’t like the term reality star. We consider ourselves a docu-series, it’s just really our life. I don’t know, I just never dug the term reality star. It’s like how can you star on something that’s real? [all laugh] It’s just odd to me, but as for everything we’re enjoying it and thankful for it. So many people come up to us and say, that they’re so glad to see it and are inspired by it. That inspires us to keep pushing. So that’s really good and to just be able to tell our story.

UrbanBridgez.com: Flex what was the hardest part for you getting back on stage to do comedy with TV cameras following you?
Flex Alexander: For me getting back on stage it was definitely positive for me doing it on the show because when we started talking about my stand-up, it forced me to come out of that comfort zone that I was in. I was just sitting back and Shanice would always tell me that I should get on stage and I would be like ahhh. Then when we got a date and was told we’re going to be filming on that date, it was like okay I got to get it together now [laughs].

UrbanBridgez.com: Flex if you could actually do an action film that you helped write, and star in with two other comedians. Who would they be and why, like the ultimate comedy film?
Flex Alexander: It would be Kevin Hart and Eddie Murphy. Eddie Murphy because like so many others, he was the reason I started doing stand-up. When I saw “Delirious” I was like, that’s what I’m going to do. Kevin Hart, because he’s a friend and I’ve seen his struggle. And to where he’s propelled to now, he’s always been funny and a cool dude. I’m super happy for him and just that energy I think would be amazing.

[Stay Tuned to UB for More Flex, as He Takes Part in Our ‘Voting Special Feature with Ed Gordon’]