Amazon.com: To label In Living Color "the black SNL" is to not give this groundbreaking sketch comedy its props. Like its late-night counterpart, In Living Color pushed the envelope with sketches that remain in questionable taste ("Fashion Tampons"). It also presented its share of TV show, movie, and commercial parodies. But its racially charged humor that tackled race relations and subverted cultural stereotypes was something 1990 TV viewers were not used to seeing, especially in prime time. Among the most potent sketches featured series creator Keenen Ivory Wayans and brother Damon as the Brothers Brothers, two oblivious Toms who, in one sketch, act as spokespersons for the Arizona Tourism Commission in the wake of that state's controversial decision not to recognize Martin Luther King's birthday. In another, they are allowed to join an exclusive, all-white country club after proclaiming themselves to be followers of "Jesse" (Helms, not Jackson, about whom they profess to have never heard). Flunking all standards of political correctness is Damon's Handi-Man, the world's first handicapped superhero. "James" Carrey's skeletal Fire Marshall Bill and Damon's the Head Detective join the show's stable of breakout characters (Homey D. Clown, Vera De Milo, the flamboyant Men on Film, and homeless man, Anton). Kim Wayans's Grace Jones and Kelly Coffield's Andrea Dice Clay also make welcome returns. Other memorable characters include David Alan Grier's tell-it-too-much-like-it-is blues singer Calhoun Tubbs, and Coffield's Velma Mulholland, a nifty bit of pre-Pleasantville special-effects wizardry in which Damon's blind date turns out to be a quintessential dame right out of a black-and-white 1940s movie.
Episode 26, a "best of" compilation, serves as a representative introduction to the series and season. A bonus "Appreciating In Living Color" segment on disc 4 puts the series in cultural context. Unlike another Fox network sketch-comedy series, Mad TV, In Living Color has been lamentably missing in action on the syndication circuit, so for those who have never been "Colored," and especially for fans of current critics' darling The Chappelle Show, these 26 bracing episodes will be a revelation. Plus, it's fun to watch force of nature Carrey come into his own, and even try out a few moves that would bring him fame and fortune in his own feature films (in episode 18, he mutters the immortal, "All righty then"). --Donald Liebenson
Funny Does paly that! This Season is very funny. It pushes the envelope of sterotypes. No one is safe. You gotta laugh out loud. Marlon Wayans does not appear on In Living Color until at least the Fourth Season. On this Season Two DVD a lot of new characters were created. The cast really bring these characters to life. This is a must have. Jim Carey, Damon Wayans, Tom Davidson, just to name a few.
don't purchase if you want the music spoofs! music video spoofs aren't included on any of the ILC seasons--i read because of a dispute over licensing/money/property rights.
Funny show, I thought this show was always funny. I used to watch this back in the early 90's. The actors were all very funny and quite entertaining. This was an extremely popular show back in the 90s. There was a reason for this because it was original and the comedians knew how to make people laugh.
Seasons worth watching again, but some are missing skits.... Now at least I know WHY the search for the Jim Carrey "Vanilla Ice" video was in vain! Here, I had bragged to several friends about ILC seasons---several of them who only recalled a few skittish, hilarious episodes at the time---that they HAD to see the Jim Carrey mock up of Vanilla Ice----only to discover the editors axed it from the Season II video series. What was up with that?! Talk about dirty and cheap! And the "Vanilla Ice" video was one of best reasons to view the Season 2 release!
In any event..... the entire series--which inevitably aired from 1990 to mid 1994--is worth the DVD video collection. My all time favorite is of course Vera DeMilo; Mistress of Destruction. For a long time, I thought Carrey wore a wig during the skits, but then heck realized, that's his REAL hair, up in pigtails---CLASSIC! His skeletal Fire Marshall Bill is always funny too---but it doesn't beat out Vera DeMilo by a longshot!
Kim Wayans, the least talented of any of the Wayans family actors, saves some of her own grace in stunning, strong comical performances of Oprah, Grace Jones, Cephus (pronounced Cee Phee), Laquita (I love Laquita --mock up of "I Love Lucy") and Big Mama (the Snack Shack skits). The rest of the other part character roles she attempts fall completely flat otherwise.
Much of late Season 3 and going in to Season 4 are not really worth the bother. This was time when Copyrights were violated through FOX network, and Keenan Wayans discovered reruns of Seasons 1 and 2 were being illegally pirated (aired) on cable TV. Wayans had now left the show he'd created and produced, to another production team, where as hence most of his family actors followed suit---and the network had to last-minute recast most of the original cast. The new writing and skits barely managed to pull off at least some of the comical liking of Wayan's original success. Of course this being also the time, much like Carrey (JIM), that the others endured successful movie careers----
Season 4 falls completely short, as the left successed, remaining talented cast, which still includes Tommy Davidson, Kim Wayans, and Jamie Foxx, struggling to keep things thumping along. But the comical impact is downgraded, to an obvious level here. Most of the skits are sorry overworked, with little pause for creativity and laughs.
Loved It!!!!! This dvd was art! Before viewing this, I thought I would never see In Livin COlor again! Altohugh this season lost Kim Coles, Jaime Fox did not join yet, and they omitted some skits like Vanilla Ice parody, it has so many heavy weights:
1. Men On Film ("Two snaps, a twist and a kiss! Stop, can't touch this" - lol) 2. All the Frenchie's ("I'm slick, I'm hip, and all the woman love my ____, gotcha!!") 3. All The Hey Mons ("ONE JOB!!!! GET UP YOU LAZY HEIFER, YOU FINE!") 4. All the Homey The Clowns especially Homey Meets Sally ("White Girl's Off Beat" - after the homey love song) 5. The Snack 'N Shack with the orthodontists("Don't make mama have to spank you!") 6. Lil' Miss Trouble and Parnell 7. Caulhoun Tubbs funeral home ("Fatback had no life insurance. You gonna loose the house and car. - aaahaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! thank you") 8. The skit with the gay choregrapher at the football field ("I'm gonna be your mother, father, sister and your brother") 9. Miss Black USA ("I'm a woman, all woman!") 10. The sexy fly girls, especially the fine Lisa. 11. Cephus & Reesie (one of the funniest Ashford and Simpson like skits. I really loved the Last Request skit of C&R) 12. Fire Marshall Bill (he got funnier on season 3) 13. That poor actress that taught that class ("OUTTA MY WAY, BITCH!!") 14. I Love Laquita with Billy Dee Williams (Williams tried so hard to dance in the closing credits, but the old guy just did push ups) 15. Handi Man sketches 16. Homeboy Shoppin' Network ("I'm bout to go crazy!! Don't do that homeboy!! I'm sorry folks bu that was only a display item!" - Ghetto Fabulous!) 17. All the Anton sketches
Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson, Kim Wayans, and T'kea Knight were the main highlights of the season as well as the series (before Jaimee came in). A must have show although they false advertised the buyers by not having the complete episodes. Thats why it gets 4 stars instead of 5! Overall, I love it!! Watch out for season 3 and 4 dvds because you will NOT get as much as a break as you did with this season and season 1.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
