36 Years Ago, an Iconic ’90s Comedy Series Debuted (And Started the Careers of Multiple Fan-Favorites)

by

It might not seem like much, but a ‘90s Fox sketch comedy show played a surprisingly big role in launching the careers of stars like Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx. The Wayans Brothers are famous for the Scary Movie franchise, and with good reason: despite not winning over critics, the five Scary Movie films earned nearly $900 million over 13 years. This makes it one of the highest-grossing comedy franchises of all time, even more successful than the Wayans Brothers’ earlier spoof films like I’m Gonna Git You Sucka and Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.

Beyond the popular Scary Movie films, the Wayans family also created another incredibly influential piece of pop culture: the sketch comedy show In Living Color, which premiered in 1990. Featuring Keenan Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans, and Marlon Wayans, the show was boldly Black and helped launch the careers of future stars like Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier, and T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh. The show’s talented dance crew included a young Jennifer Lopez and was choreographed by Rosie Perez.

In Living Color Debuted On April 15, 1990

When shows like The Cosby Show and Family Matters defined Black representation in sitcoms, In Living Color arrived with a much bolder and more provocative style of comedy. It heavily influenced later successes such as The Boondocks and Chappelle’s Show, taking the sketch comedy format popularized by shows like Saturday Night Live and injecting it with a more diverse cast and a sharper, edgier wit. This fresh approach quickly proved successful.

Despite being a huge hit with viewers, the show In Living Color started to concern Fox executives with its bold and edgy humor. This led to a long disagreement between the Wayans family and the network over the show’s direction, which ultimately caused In Living Color to lose steam after its third season. Thankfully, the show had already launched the careers of future movie stars like Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Lopez, and David Alan Grier.

In Living Color Helped Start The Careers Of Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx

Jim Carrey started his career with memorable roles in films like Peggy Sue Got Married and Earth Girls Are Easy in the 1980s. However, his big break came after appearing in over 100 episodes of the sketch comedy show In Living Color. This led to starring roles in the blockbuster comedies Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber – all released in the same year In Living Color ended. Within ten years, Carrey had proven his range, appearing in critically acclaimed films like The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, alongside more huge comedic successes such as Liar Liar, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Bruce Almighty.

Jamie Foxx built on his popularity from In Living Color by landing leading roles in films like Booty Call and The Players Club. He then proved his dramatic range with performances in Any Given Sunday and Ali, solidifying his reputation as a serious actor. This ultimately led to his Best Actor win in 2004 for the Ray Charles biopic, Ray, and subsequent roles in major blockbusters such as Law Abiding Citizen, Django Unchained, and Horrible Bosses. Despite all his success, neither his comedy nor his acting career would have taken off without the often-overlooked 90s sketch show, In Living Color.

https://comicbook.com/movies/feature/26-years-ago-today-jim-carreys-best-movie-was-released-but-the-making-of-it-was-wild/embed/#

Read More

2026-04-15 18:15