In Living Color - TV-14

Razor-sharp '90s humor has too much bite for kids.

TV Rating: TV-14 Network: BET, Syndicated Cast: Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans Genre: Variety Show
Available on: DVD

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that the humor in this groundbreaking sketch series is edgy and smart and was in many ways ahead of its time when it debuted in the early 1990s -- but today's teens (and younger children, especially) probably won't appreciate it from that perspective. They're more likely to latch on to the outrageousness of the show's characters and memorable catch phrases like "I'm gon' rock yo world," "Homey don't play that!" and "Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money!" Another downside? Kids could inadvertently add words like "honky" and "breasteses" to their budding vocabularies.

Families can talk about the fine line between being funny and being offensive. When it comes to making a joke, why are some stereotypes fair game while others are considered taboo? Does making light of racism and ethnic stereotypes make it easier for people to discuss their differences or merely reinforce longstanding prejudices? Would an all-black audience view this show any differently than a more general audience would? Why or why not? And how does the show compare to similar series like Saturday Night Live and MADtv?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Kari Croop

The brainchild of actor-producer-writer-director Keenen Ivory Wayans, IN LIVING COLOR is a 30-minute sketch comedy show that ran for five seasons on the Fox network from 1990-1994 and now runs regularly in syndication (and is available on DVD).

Targeting primarily African-American audiences with a cutting-edge style that was ruder and cruder than its sole competitor at the time, Saturday Night Live, the series is perhaps best known for launching the careers of actor-comedians Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx and actress-singer Jennifer Lopez, who appeared as one of the show's "Fly Girl" dancers. In Living Color also showcased the talents of Wayans' many siblings, including Damon, Marlon, Shawn, and Kim.

Skits like "Homey D. Clown," "Fire Marshall Bill," "The Homeboy Shopping Network," and "Men on Film" are just a few of In Living Color's memorable contributions to pop culture. But the smartness of the show's humor is likely to be lost on most kids, and parents will be hard-pressed to find positive role models among the recurring characters.

Need a taste of the show's crude flavor? At the end of a sketch about Jackson Five family patriarch Joe Jackson, who's hawking goods like face-whitening cream and chimpanzee clothes at Neverland Ranch while Michael is away in Europe, an announcer declares, "Joe Jackson: He beats prices just like he beats his kids." It's definitely not the kind of punchline you'd want kids repeating.

Fans of In Living Color are bound to enjoy comparing it to Saturday Night Live and MADtv and will likely also enjoy Chappelle's Show. But for big-screen Wayans family laughs that truly tip the scales of outrageousness, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka is a must-see -- as long as you're an adult.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Pimps and prostitutes appear in certain sketches, and jokes are rife with sexual innuendo. Puns include the use of sexually suggestive terms like "lesbian," "transsexual," "whore," and "syphilis."
Violence Incidents are rare but tend toward the outrageous. One recurring character, for example, likes to hit others in the head with a sock full of rocks.
Language Mild curse words like "damn" and "hell" are left in, while "ho" and "ass" are bleeped out. Terms that deal directly with race include "honky" and "negro."
Message
	Social Behavior Jokes target just about every social group, including homosexuals, Caucasians, African Americans, and the disabled. "Role models" include a clown who's an ex-con, a senior citizen who does tricks with a dead dog, and a safety-obssessed fire marshall who always seems to blow things up.
	Commercialism Sketches occasionally parody recognizable products. Celebrities and materialism are routinely mocked.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Characters are sometimes shown drinking and smoking. Drugs like crack and marijuana are mentioned occasionally for comic effect.