User Reviews

"In Living Color" was a training ground and launching pad for many young people, and with good reason - it was a terrific show. Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier, Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Ann Inaba, Rosie Perez, Chris Rock, Molly Shannon, Alexandra Wentworth, Kelly Coffield, not to mention the Wayans family, all had early starts here. Most of the people who participated in this show are still working as actors, writers, directors, and/or producers.

"In Living Color" was a series of skits with no boundaries. How could there be, with a restaurant called Chez Whitey, a physically challenged superhero, Handiman, and two gay reviewers, Blane Edwards (Damon Wayans) and Anton Merriwether (David Alan Grier) who covered film, TV, and vacations where they kept returning to Greece. There was absolutely nothing sacred, including Martin Luther King Day and bonfires on black people's lawns in Arizona.

Hands down, my favorite characters were Homey the Clown ("Homey don't play dat") and Anton and Blane as reviewers (who were disappointed in "Die Hard" because the title suggested a love story). The episode where Blane is hit on the head and becomes straight was hilarious. Kelly Coffield did the old film heroines a la Bette Davis beautifully. And Jim Carrey showed the brilliance that would make a film star.

Not all of the skits were successful, but the ones that were more than made up for them.

Two snaps up for this one.

If you ask me, I think the show was underrated. "SNL" gets all the credit for being a great sketch comedy show, yet there are certain seasons (like the current one) where the writers seemed to have conjured up the sketches in their sleep. In the case of "In Living Color," the writing was always sharp. There are certain sketches that I don't find funny, like Jim Carrey as the female bodybuilder, but it's hard to make a show where "every" sketch is funny. I remember Tommy Davidson said the reason why the show turned out to be so great was because plain and simple, they worked so damn hard on it. Well, it absolutely shows. Throughout each season, the actors always seemed to give it their all, even if the sketches were weak. In a horribly PC society, it's refreshing to watch a show like this (luckily, I have Seasons 1-5 on DVD). A show like this couldn't be successful nowadays, because we live in a society where you can't say anything about anybody. Doesn't anybody know that political correctness is the enemy of comedy? What made the show so great was the writers' and actors' willingness to break boundaries and make fun of all these ethnic stereotypes, and do it in an intelligent and witty fashion. Though it wasn't one of the more popular sketches, one of my favorites was "The Dysfunctional Home Show" where Jim Carrey would play a drunken father. If you ask me, Carrey was the funniest when he was on this show. As far as his movies go, sometimes he's funny and sometimes he's just plain obnoxious (I can't, for the life of me, sit through either one of the "Ace Ventura" movies). In a sketch comedy show, his in-your-face comic style works. I also loved Damon Wayans as the homeless guy. I crack up so much every time I see that sketch. Of course, everyone on the show was great. I can't think of a weak link in the chain. I think one of the cool things about "ILC" was that despite its predominantly black cast, it was able to reach a universal audience. This isn't like some UPN sitcom. People of all races seem to enjoy it. I think that proves that there's no color when it comes to good comedy.

Thanks to Bruno Mars and Cardi B, I would have never even heard of this show! I swear Jamie Foxx and Jim Carrey made me roll on the floor with laughter the most. They surely did not disappoint and like, this seemed to be one of their earlier careers, where it was about to kick off into making them even bigger later on.

The theme song was even good, I was so stunned yet really happy that JLo was part of the dancers like wow she still looks pretty flawless today! The humour, the actors and just the music were so great to be entertained by!

Definately would recommend this great classic show to watch, you can even see the great clips on YouTube if you want to! Prepare to hurt your jaws with laughter folks!!!

This show was guaranteed to make you laugh from beginning to end. Though I feel I may have outgrew this type of humor, it was nonetheless the funniest thing ever to watch for me, as a 10-year old!

Who could forget Carrey as the Firemarshall, a female bodybuilder, or the dorky schoolkid named Parnell; Damon Wayans as Homie the Clown, Men on Film, 'Mo Money(the thieves w/their own TV show), and the homeless dude who carries a pickle jar as a toilet and uses big words to sound smart! What about the gossip queen, who always ends with something like..."so you 'aint heard nothing from me."

The 3 best: Firemarshall Bill, Men on Film, and Homie the Clown.

Not sure what happened to Keenan, but I thought Scary Movie sucked. The material has gotten more crude(to get shock value) than anything else.OK, I'm not saying I don't like crude humor (I loved Kingpin and Mary), but somehow either its timing was off or there was too much of it, almost like it was forced. Either way, it made a lot of money.

"In Living Color" has always been great to watch.

With all the talent that was honed on this little skit show, it's no wonder that it has spun-off many different smash hit careers. The 'skits' tackled some different issues, that were not made by some of the past predecessors, maybe harder than they were hit in the past as well. But the stars it created was many, for example, Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, Chris Rock, David Allan Grier, All the Wayan's Brothers and sister Kim, Jennifer Lopez, now J-Lo, and on and on.

The shows were fresh, sometimes frantic and always whacked-out humor that sizzled with wit wisdom and a sometimes serious comedic slap in the face! It built up speed, then by the fifth season... it shut down. The problem became, the disagreements with the exec.s at Fox, from what I remember hearing from Keenan Ivory Wayans in a frank interview.

Saturday night live had hit the skids, as far as I'm concerned, and I'm sure millions of other people, who had grown out of that show. This was up and coming, and I think by all rights should still be running as, SNL is still going. I can't figure why it is though, anyway, I love the wit and cynicism, that this show brought out as well as crossing various ethnic and moral and mental lines in it's path. For this was a superb comedy fix that burned the airwaves at night, but 'Cancelled' way too soon. Very sad.

Viva "In Living Color!!!"(****)

It gave the Wayans Brothers, Jim Carrey and Jennifer Lopez (credited as a "background dancer") a claim to fame...and fifteen years later it's still kickin'.

It seems like lately - since the release of the DVDs last year - "In Living Color" has taken off more and has grown in popularity with younger crowds...however I've been watching it for years, even when it was only on Comedy Central late nights and Jim Carrey was only starting to make a name for himself.

The show ran for four years (from 1990 - 1994) and featured some great characters over the years. Wayans had his clown character who they were supposedly going to make a movie spin-off about at one time, and Carrey had his ageing firefighter ("let me show 'ya something!") who didn't know squat about the job. Used to crack me up so much! My absolute favorite skit was when Carrey played Mr. Rogers and he's browsing through the porn section of a local suburban video store. Comic genius.

I've heard some white people say they have no interest in watching this because it's an ethnic show and was geared towards Latinos and blacks with its early '90s rap music and dancing...but that's really a myopic view of the show and I think anyone who passes it by based merely on the fact that it has a minority cast (for the most part) is missing out on one of the great shows of the 1990s - and probably of all time.

This show is my second favorite skit show of all time. I remember seeing this show when I was about 12 and 13 just when I was getting old enough to watch skit comedy. It was just great and was revolutionary for it's time as it was the first all black skit comedy show but also was a show that wasn't afraid to parody on some touchy and current subjects like racism, crime, and others which is now kinda common place in shows like "South Park", "Chapelle Show", etc. However other than that this show was just meant to be plan fun and funny.

I love the theme song which is one of my favorite themes of all time, as it sort of has a bit of a hip hop rhythm which I'm normally not a fan of but I make an exception to this. The ensemble was great each were talented and funny in their own way, three of my favorites are of course Dammon Waynes, David Alan Grier, and Jim Carrey, all three just had the most colorful characters and hilarity.

Though of course the most important thing was of course the skits and there are plenty of memorable ones but I'll list a few: Background Guy: This is one of my favorite Jim Carey skits as we are paying attention to Jim's character whom is constantly getting our attention on camera by just doing just a bunch of random things. This is something we all can emphasize with as we all like to be on TV someway somehow.

Safety Guy: This is my favorite from Jim, it's basically a parody on all of the PSA ads you would sometimes see on TV. Jim's character is an extreme representation of that as he is just constantly doing loads of unsafe demonstrations to prove his point.

Men on Film: It's both Damon and David together as gay film critics. It's just funny on how bias their opinions are as they don't like a film because it either is all women or not just enough men. But then again as an old saying goes to each his own. My favorite one is a two parter as Damon's character gets gonked on the head and becomes straight and of course David's character is trying to gonk him so he can become gay again. I know absurd concept but that's why it's all the more funny.

Hommie the Clown: Damon is just great at playing this disgruntled clown that is a dry smart ass, lots of attitude, crude, angry and is constantly rude to the obnochious kids (though of course their adults) and rightfully wacks them with a sock mallet. He just has some of the best lines, my favorite is his trademark line "I don't think so." yeah that what I say whenever some jerk wants me to do something I don't want to do.

In Living Color is bright with colorful humor.

Rating: 4 stars

"In Living Color" would have me crying laughing. I had never seen anything like it before. Since then I'd say that "The Chappelle Show" and "Key and Peele" have been the closest, but "In Living Color" paved the way.

I know there were variety shows before "In Living Color," but they didn't appeal to me. There were no Fire Marshal Bills, Homie the Clowns, and Men on Films before them. I laugh to this day just thinking of some of the sketches. A work of art that show was.

These episodes of humor, parody, and satire embodied an essence of originality, pure FUN for all to enjoy with these Master performers of their Comedy for the few years they enjoyed their own production guidelines! But as soon as the GREEDY Hollywood Executives took over the production to get rich on their show and by their rules, the entire show went downhill and has had killed the careers of many talented actors and actresses! Those big FAT ASS Hollywood executives and producers should know when to stay out of a good production before they screwed it up! The greedy Hollywood Moron executives will never learn because they don't know how much more is enough for them to keep their already fat pockets satisfied!

Keenan Wayan's "In Living Color" was one of the catalysts for shows like MADtv and Allthat. Stemming from the origins of SNL and other sketch comedy shows alike, In Living Color brought funny into the 90s with an edgy flare. The show introduced a full line up of cast members including standup comedians, DJs and let us not forget the fly girls; also ending every episode with a special music performance. I want to name some of the cast but that would take multiple posts so I will say that Keenan Wayans definitely put his entire family on. The show not only brought the funny, but it also tackled at that time current events from a comical perspective and at times pushed the envelope for TV. Decades later, some of these same cast members and fly girls have graced our TV and movie screens. The show is still popular today with singers like Bruno Mars doing an In Living Color themed music video. I ain't one to gossip but my favorite skit was definitely Miss Benita Butrell starring kim wayans

Hollywood doesn't like to see dominantly black, non-degrading shows succeed.

What do they do, either cancel and then recreate their own and add 1 token or create degrading shows like Empire.

It lasted long yes. But what else can the so called "black" community say for itself after it ended? "We got Empire and Black Panther"?

This show was a blessing.

I wanted to like this, and the best sketches in it are really funny and you can watch them over and over again.

But ... unfortunately the humour is mostly very very low-brow and downright toiletary. The best example is the joke they ended the first season on: It's about a "Butthead" family which has buttcheeks on top of their heads. Hilarity ensues... This embarrassingly unimaginative setup is followed by every single butt joke that you can think of yourself.

Poor Tommy Davidson is a funny guy, but his commentary on that last Season 1 episode on the DVD set is a bit on the rosy-coloured glasses side. He calls that Butthead joke setup "risqué" - well, "infantile" would be another word that comes to mind.

I'm not really impressed when you only "push the censors" by using foul language. Politically and socially this show was pretty tame.

Often there is no real joke but just an over-use of one-liners pushed down your throat like "Homey don't play that" etc.

Well, again, there is good stuff in there and there is a huge advantage compared to "Saturday Night Live": the sketches are shorter and to the point.

When this show first premiered it was a runaway success. Not only did it have great writing, but as with Laugh In and Saturday Night Live it proved to be the springboard for several comedians who would make their mark in film and television. Damon Wayans and Jim Carey may have been the most brightest star, but comic talents like Tommy Davidson, David Allen Grier as well as later additions Shawn and Marlin Wayans and Jamie Foxx all got their big breaks by appearing on this show. Unfortunately, like its forerunners when the best talent left, the show lost momentum and went downhill. However, this show will always be fondly remembered as the show that launched so many of the great talents of the 1990's as well as the next century.

An hilarious sketch-comedy show. Created by Keenan Ivory Wayans the show is irreverent and often quite biting in its parodies of social norms and racial situations. Some of the skits are incredibly over-the-top, making them even funnier.

In addition to starring Keenan Ivory Wayans and his siblings Shawn, Kim, Damon and Marlon, the show included many future stars. Jamie Foxx and Jim Carey were regulars on the show and Chris Rock featured in a few episodes too. Jennifer Lopez was one of the dancers!

A mix of one-off skits and recurring characters, the most memorable recurring character was Fire Marshall Bill, played by Jim Carey. Wonderfully, absurdly over-the-top, the skits are still fresh in my mind, 30 years later. No doubt this helped launch Carey's career, as his performances in Ace Ventura and The Mask seem very similar to his portrayal of Fire Marshall Bill.

Best Show on earth These are the prime of these guys lives in their careers what kick started their careers off to making more funny movies we all love and enjoy and can watch over and over again because they are lovable characters and so entertaining.

One of the funniest shows of ALL time! As timely today as it was in the early 90s. I find it ironic that the mega stars, that emerged from this predominantly Black comedy show were both white and Latina, Jim Carrey and Jennifer Lopez! I wish they had done at least one show that was ALL Blaine and Antoine, from the Men On section!

I still watch this show everyone is hilarious in this show...This show is the best comedy show and still is...I am still waiting for a continuance....I hope they are thinking of coming back

It went soooo much further than SNL could dream of and it's exactly what I personally wanted with my humor. And what an eye for talent did Keenan have! I mean Carrey, Foxx, and even Jlo! Carrey still kept the show together. I mean he's obviously a God of comedy. He did the most variety of characters and nailed every single skit to hilarity. It's kind of sad that Keenan especially, and Marlon didn't find a ton of major success later. I mean considering Keenan put together this masterpiece, it's extra puzzling that his other endeavors flopped so badly. And Marlon was every bit as funny as Carrey on the show, even probably having the funniest repeating skit with Homey Da Clown.

Without Jim Carrey this show would be pretty unwatchable.

So 5 stars for Jim alone.

Amongst the many sketch comedy shows of recent years, "In Living Color" stands out as one of the best. In it's first three seasons, it was unbeatable, featuring comics and actors who would go on to distinguish themselves in film and other TV (James Carrey, Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier, Keenan Ivory Wayans). However, after Damon's departure, the show took a pretty swift nose-dive (though Damon was by no means the only reason to tune in). Interestingly, Carrey stayed on the show through it's entire run, even in it's awful final season. There was nothing revolutionary about the show's format, it was just damn funny and extremely well-cast (Kelly Coffield being excellent, as well; the weakest member being Kim Wayans). Along with the recent seasons of "Saturday Night Live," "Mr. Show," "Exit 57," and "The Kids in the Hall," "In Living Color" will stand the test of time for all comedy lovers.

Jim Carey Jamie Foxx Jennifer Lopez Damon Waynes

The list goes on. The amount of excellent performers, characters, A-listers that came from this show in the short time it came in air in nothing but amazing.

This show is a 10/10 of consisting of pure comedic genius, theater, and creation. I'm in my mid 30's and grew up watching this, saturday night live and madtv. This show, for me, ran neck and neck if not edged out a 90's SNL cast of Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock.

If you have not watch this, it's an absolute must. Even in 2023 it's still a fantastic show, even with material that's still relevant, like Jim Carey dressed as the fitness chick or Jamie Foxx as wanda "Heyyyy" 😂

This show was truly a smorgasboard of talent. They pushed the limits and almost crossed the line with their raunchy,crude humor. That's what made this show so wonderful. They poke fun at EVERYBODY no matter what race. It's nice to see that some minorities can poke fun at their own stereotypes without getting so sensitive about the issue. Jim Carrey is a GENIUS. His roles as Fire Marshall Bill,Parnell the super nerdy dorky schoolboy , and the female beauty queen were hystical. And you cant forget Homie Clause and the 2 hoods who steal things then sell them on their own shopping network. I was sad to see this show get discontinued but I still constantly watch the reruns on FX.