In Living Color was a popular sketch comedy television series that originally aired on Fox from 1990 to 1994. The series helped launch the careers of several prominent comedians and actors, including Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, and the Wayans brothers. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of In Living Color, its impact on comedy and television, and answer the question – is there really a TV show called In Living Color?
Overview of In Living Color
In Living Color was created by Keenen Ivory Wayans and aired for 5 seasons from 1990 to 1994. It was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The show specialized in sketch comedy and parodies, often targeting pop culture and politics with an urban, hip hop vibe. Some of its most well-known sketches included:
– Homey D. Clown – Damon Wayans played an ex-con who worked as a clown.
– Fire Marshall Bill – Jim Carrey played an unstable fire marshal who gave dangerous fire safety advice.
– Men on Film – Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier played two effeminate film critics.
– The Wrath of Farrakhan – Also played by Damon Wayans, a parody of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
In Living Color had a predominantly African American cast and was lauded for bringing black sketch comedy to mainstream television. It won an Emmy Award in 1990 for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series.
Major Cast Members
Throughout its run, In Living Color featured a talented ensemble cast of comedians. Some of the major cast members included:
| Cast Member | Notable Roles |
|---|---|
| Keenen Ivory Wayans | Various characters, created the series |
| Damon Wayans | Homey D. Clown, Anton Jackson, Blaine Edwards |
| Jim Carrey | Fire Marshall Bill, female bodybuilder Vera de Milo, various impressions |
| David Alan Grier | Men on Film critic Antoine Merriweather, various impressions |
| Jamie Foxx | Ugly Wanda, Bunz |
| T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh | Various characters |
| Kim Wayans | Various characters |
| Shawn Wayans | Various characters |
| Marlon Wayans | Various characters |
| Kelly Cofield | Various characters |
| Tommy Davidson | Various characters |
This diverse cast gave rise to memorable characters and helped showcase black comedy talent.
Impact on Careers
For many of its cast members, In Living Color was a major breakout in their careers. Both Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx have credited the show with helping launch them to stardom.
Prior to In Living Color, Jim Carrey was relatively unknown. His outrageous characters like Fire Marshall Bill helped showcase his rubber-faced physical comedy and impersonation skills. Following his time on the show, Carrey would go on to major Hollywood success in films like Ace Ventura, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber.
Jamie Foxx was also unknown before joining the show in its third season. His female character Wanda gained popularity, which helped springboard Foxx to roles in films such as Any Given Sunday, Ray, and Django Unchained. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for portraying Ray Charles in the 2004 biopic Ray.
Other cast members like the Wayans brothers and David Alan Grier also benefited from the exposure and experience on the show. After In Living Color, they continued successful comedy and acting careers in both film and television.
Impact on Comedy
In Living Color had a significant impact on sketch comedy and helped change perceptions about black-led shows. Keenen Ivory Wayans intentionally sought to make a show that featured modern, urban comedy and portrayed African American culture in a positive light.
The show broke ground with its edgy political and pop culture parodies. Previously, variety shows like Saturday Night Live had relied heavily on mostly white casts. In Living Color demonstrated that a predominantly black ensemble could create comedy that appealed to wider mainstream audiences.
The series paved the way for future black sketch shows like Chappelle’s Show and Key & Peele. It helped open doors for more inclusion and representation of African American performers and writers in comedy.
Later Revivals
After its initial 5 season run on Fox, In Living Color was briefly revived on television two more times:
– In Living Color (2012) – A special two-episode reboot aired on Fox in 2012, featuring some of the original cast members.
– In Living Color (TBA) – The Wayans family reached an agreement in 2021 to develop another revival of the show for the FOX network. Production has not yet begun.
While neither revival attempt fully recaptured the magic or sustained success of the original, they demonstrated the ongoing appeal of the show’s format and humor. The future revival on Fox indicates there is still interest in the In Living Color brand and style of comedy.
Conclusion
In Living Color was a groundbreaking sketch comedy series that featured a multicultural cast and urban style of humor. During its original 5 season run, it helped launch the careers of comedians like Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, and the Wayans family. The show broke new ground for African American representation and influenced later sketch series.
Though difficult to revive, the enduring popularity and impact of In Living Color can’t be denied. Its catchphrases and characters remain cultural touchstones. So yes – In Living Color was a real, successful TV show that helped change the landscape of American comedy.
