In Living Color (TV series)
"In Living Color" is a groundbreaking sketch comedy television series that debuted on the Fox network in 1990, at a time when hip-hop culture was gaining prominence in American entertainment. Created by Keenen Ivory Wayans, the show featured a diverse cast, including Wayans's siblings and several actors who would go on to achieve fame, such as Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, and Chris Rock. It was notable for its focus on African American experiences and culture, combining humor with social commentary that often satirized mainstream American norms and icons.
The series included musical performances from renowned hip-hop and R&B artists, further embedding it within the cultural landscape of the time. One of its distinctive elements was the Fly Girls dance troupe, which featured Jennifer Lopez, showcasing talent in both comedy and dance. "In Living Color" was known for its edgy and sometimes controversial sketches, such as "Homey D. Clown" and "Fire Marshal Bill," which highlighted social issues through a comedic lens.
As the show progressed, many of its key actors left to pursue film careers, and Keenen Ivory Wayans departed due to conflicts with the network regarding censorship. Despite its relatively short run, "In Living Color" left a lasting impact on the landscape of comedy and paved the way for future shows like "Chappelle's Show."
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Subject Terms
In Living Color (TV series)
Producer Keenen Ivory Wayans (1958- )
Date Aired from April 15, 1990, to August 25, 1994
Later regarded as a springboard for its cast members’ careers, this variety show was the first in television history to feature a predominantly African American cast and to be conceived, directed, and produced by an African American family.
In Living Color began airing on the Fox television network in 1990, at a time when the urban entertainment climate was increasingly influenced by hip-hop culture and music. The show’s theme song was performed by Heavy D & the Boyz, and the series earned a reputation for showcasing popular hip-hop and R&B artists as its musical guests, including Public Enemy, En Vogue, Tupac Shakur. Sketch comedy segments focused on African American subject matter, and the show had a decidedly urban feel.
The comedy series was created and produced by Keenen Ivory Wayans, and the cast included Wayans’s siblings, Damon, Kim, Shawn, and Marlon. Several comedic actors received their start on the show, including Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, David Alan Grier, and Tommy Davidson. The show’s hip-hop dance troupe, the Fly Girls, included Jennifer Lopez, who became a popular singer and actress in the late 1990’s.
In Living Color set itself apart from other variety shows of previous decades by putting African American concerns at the forefront and by using African American communication styles to express those concerns, without sacrificing comedy. One of the strengths of the show, aside from its phenomenal cast, was its writing. The show took on white American icons and placed them in an African American context, thereby creating social satire. Often, the show would poke fun at America’s conformist culture of the 1950’s and 1960’s by taking a situation comedy or drama from the era and placing it in a 1990’s urban context. In one skit, Lassie is set in an inner-city housing project, and the title canine is a pit bull. With titles such as “The Wrath of Farrakhan,” “The Making of a Tracy Chapman Song,” “Ray Charles in Charge,” “Jesse Jackson Children’s Books,” and “Barbara Bush Visits the Illiterates,” the sketches were edgy, witty, and sometimes controversial.
The Wayans and others created memorable recurring characters and sketches, including Homey D. Clown (Damon Wayans), a frustrated ex-convict working as a children’s clown; Fire Marshal Bill (Jim Carrey), a deranged officer who teaches fire safety by demonstrating on himself; and the “Homeboy Shopping Network” (Damon and Keenen Ivory Wayans), a parody of the Home Shopping Network that features two black men who sell stolen goods usually from the back of their truck.
By the end of the fourth season, many of the show’s most memorable actors had left to pursue other interests, usually film roles. Keenen Ivory Wayans had left because of disputes with Fox over its censorship and syndication of the series.
Impact
Offering cutting-edge comedy skits and musical performances, In Living Color was a model for future comedy variety shows such as Chappelle’s Show, starring Dave Chappelle.
Bibliography
Samuels, Allison. “The Color of Funny.” Newsweek, August, 2000, 54-56.
Tucker, Ken. “In Living Color.” Entertainment Weekly, April 27, 1990.