In Living Color

Review

Common Sense Media says

Razor-sharp '90s humor has too much bite for kids.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

AGE
13
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

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.

  • Positive messages0
    There's at least a nod to fairness and inclusivity, in that jokes target just about every social group, including homosexuals, Caucasians, African Americans, and the disabled. But truly positive messages are pretty hard to find.
  • Positive role models0
    On the plus side, the cast features a diverse roster of comedians. On the downside, the show's "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.
  • Violence3
    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.
  • Sex3
    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."
  • Language3
    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."
  • Consumerism3
    Sketches occasionally parody recognizable products. Celebrities and materialism are routinely mocked.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Characters are sometimes shown drinking and smoking. Drugs like crack and marijuana are mentioned occasionally for comic effect.
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What's the story?

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 the series' memorable contributions to pop culture.

Is it any good?

 

It's all really funny for grown-ups -- 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. For example, 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.

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What families can talk about

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?

This review was written by Kari Croop
Teen, 16 years old
June 24, 2011
AGE
12
 
Homey don't play dat!
This is hilarious! My favourite skits on the show? "Homey the Clown" and "Fire Marshall Bill" (the latter played by Jim Carrey before he rose to fame). Of course, as goes for most comedies, this show isn't exactly family entertainment, but it's certainly funny and worth a watch!
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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
 
I love this show!
This show is hilarious. Yes there is some bad content like Homey The Clown being an ex-con and Men On Film's anti-gay humor. Also the Fly Girls have sexy outfits, and there are words like "honky" or "breasteses" that young kids shouldn't hear. However, this show has bite. I mean, it made Jim Carrey and Jennifer Lopez famous! And it's by the Wayans family, so it's funny!
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Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
 
Best Sketch Show Ever!
I Watch the MyNetworkTV Versions of These and They Are Really Funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Teen, 14 years old
February 23, 2011
AGE
14
 
Love it.
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This review was written by Kari Croop
TV rating:TV-14
Networks:BET, Syndicated
Cast:Damon Wayans, Jim Carrey, Keenen Ivory Wayans
Genre:Variety Show
This review was written by Kari Croop
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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