Shawn Wayans
'In Living Color' Turns 20: Happy Anniversary!
Twenty years ago, on April 15, 1990, 'In Living Color,' the brash, outspoken sketch comedy show created by Keenan Ivory Wayans, premiered and subsequently changed the rules of sketch comedy. In its skewering of pop culture and satirizing of race-based issues, the mostly black cast combined trenchant lampooning (Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson) with original characters (Homey D. Clown, Fire Marshal Bill) to create a show that remains groundbreaking to this day.Just as notable, the show became a launching pad for everyone from Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx to then-choreographer Rosie Perez and Jennifer Lopez (the latter earning her first high-profile job as one of the show's "Fly Girls").
To commemorate the anniversary, we take a look back at some of the best musical parodies the show had to offer. And good luck not getting nostalgic -- or rueful -- of the '90s if you remember these.
The Wayans brothers take on The Munsters
You can't stop those Wayans brothers when it comes to doing anything for a laugh. Apparently, one of their long time dreams has been a big screen remake of a 1960's sitcom. They've been working on a script since 2004, but they are saying now that The Munsters movie is nearly ready to roll. I know, I know, how many times have we seen beloved TV series turned into horrible features? For every good one -- The Brady Bunch -- there's a lemon like Leave It to Beaver. The Wayans Brothers clearly believe that they have the goods to make The Munsters like the former rather than the latter.
However, I have to worry about how well they know the material when Shawn Wayans says, "Their characters are still who they were in the '50s. It's just in modern day." Umm, excuse me -- the '50s? The Munsters premiered in 1964 and ran till 1966; it was set in present day. Didn't the Wayanses notice that?
VH1 taps Wayans for scripted series
VH1 continues its foray into scripted fare, according to this Yahoo! piece, with Life and Times of Marcus 'Felony' Brown. The series, developed by In Living Color and The Wayans Bros.' Marlon and Shawn Wayans along with Rick Alvarez, tells the tale of an up-and-coming hardcore rapper (Darius McCrary) who moves to LA to record his second album, trailed by his manager, body guard and hype man. Think of it as Rap Entourage. It's being executive produced by the three creators along with Keenan Ivory Wayans.
While there's no official word of the Wayans appearing on the show, it seems inevitable that they eventually will. You know they can't keep their mugs out of their projects. Eventually we'll see Shawn, Marlon, Keenen Ivory, Damon, Kim, Craig, Elvira, Damien Dante, Michael, Cara Mia, Kyla, Vonnie, Nadia, Kim, Deidre, Dwayne and Damon, Jr. on the show. After that, they'll have to start thinking about the second episode.
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