This week on **C’Mon Son! The Podcast**, Ed Lover is flying solo! Mrs. Fruit is off celebrating her longtime friend Dana’s 55th birthday on their annual girls’ trip, so Ed takes the mic and takes us all the way back to **1996** — a year packed with unforgettable music, television, culture and moments that still resonate 30 years later. Ed kicks things off by talking about the tight-knit cigar community in Atlanta and his longtime friendship with Cigar Mike, one of the first people Ed met after moving to the city. Ed also asks listeners to keep Mike in their prayers as he recovers from a recent car accident. Then it’s time to travel back to 1996. With conversations around the 30th anniversary of 2Pac Shakur’s passing heating up, Ed looks beyond 2Pac to examine what was happening across music, television and Black culture that year. From the final seasons of *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* and *Martin* to the premieres of *The Jamie Foxx Show*, *The Steve Harvey Show*, *The Wayans Brothers*, *Moesha*, *Sabrina the Teenage Witch* and *Everybody Loves Raymond*, Ed revisits a television landscape that was beginning to change. And, of course, Ed brings the music! Get ready for iconic songs, theme songs, sounds and memories from 1996 as Ed breaks down the stories and history behind the moments that made that year unforgettable. **Press play and take a ride back to 1996 with Ed Lover!**
C’MON SON! THE PODCAST — EPISODE SHOW NOTES
ED LOVER IS FLYING SOLO!
Mrs. Fruit is away this week celebrating her longtime friend Dana’s 55th birthday on their annual girls’ trip, so Ed is holding it down solo!
HAPPY 55TH BIRTHDAY, DANA! 🎉
Ed opens the episode by talking about the incredible community he’s found through Atlanta’s cigar culture. The cigar community is deeply connected, and Ed reflects on how many friendships and relationships extend far beyond simply getting together for a smoke.
Ed also talks about Cigar Mike, one of the first people he met after moving to Atlanta and someone who has become a longtime friend both inside and outside the cigar community.
Ed asks everyone to send prayers to Mike, who is recovering from a recent car accident. Mike is an important part of the cigar community in Atlanta and across the country, and Ed is sending prayers up for a speedy recovery.
Why 1996?
As conversations surrounding 2Pac Shakur continue to grow on social media, 2026 marks 30 years since his passing. But instead of focusing solely on 2Pac, Ed takes a bigger look at the entire year of 1996.
What was happening in music?
What were we watching on television?
What was changing in Black culture?
And what made 1996 such a memorable year?
Ed revisits some of the biggest television moments from 1996, including:
Ed also takes a closer look at the gradual shift happening in television as some of the era’s beloved Black sitcoms began to disappear from the landscape.
Then Ed gets into the music!
He plays prominent songs, theme songs and sounds from 1996 while sharing the history, stories and fun facts behind each one.
It’s a full-on trip down memory lane — the music, the TV, the culture and the moments that made 1996 unforgettable.
What do YOU remember about 1996?
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