And, now, thanks to 20th Century Fox, a new generation
weaned on David Chappelle and the like will get to see the sketch comedy series
(largely comprised of African-Americans) that helped push the boundaries of
primetime network television with its uniqueness and creativity, as well as
helped to establish a then-fledgling network and the comedians the series
starred. Moreover, the show is known for helping to establish Jim Carrey as
a superstar who has helped rake in more than $1 billion at the box office.
The slick packaging of the 3-DVD set is what first brought back
the memories of watching "In Living Color," which began its first
of four seasons in 1990. Sitting on the couch then, at the formative age of
13, was a revelation; watching it 13 years later was another experience entirely.
The Wayans were funny (what happened?). Jim Carrey was at his most aerobic,
unaware of what was to come. Not surprisingly, Jennifer Lopez, a Fly Girl
at the time (circa later in the first season), hasn't changed much, Out
of Sight notwithstanding.
Going into this review, my main concern was whether or not the
first 13 episodes shown here would still be relevant, whether it would still
be funny with the time that has elapsed. For the most part, it has. The odd
sketch - such as those poking fun at Hammer, Mike Tyson, Marion Barry, Vanilla
Ice and "Police Academy" star Michael Winslow - did not, of course,
but such is to be expected; others bombed, albeit less so than what is to
be found in today's "Saturday Night Live." All in all, the first
season exceeds expectations on not only being nostalgia fare. But, my God,
some of the fashions of the times still stand out (Keenan, what were you thinking?)
First and foremost, though, this is a comedian's showcase. The
first season's cast - which included creator Keenan Ivory Wayans, Carrey,
Coffield, Kim Coles, Tommy Davidson, David Alan Grier, T'Keyah 'Crystal' Keymáh,
Damon Wayans and Shawn Wayans - are given a great run of the land, with a
number of stand-out sketches and characters from the lead cast members, thanks
to a deep writing staff that included Colin Quinn and Robert Schimmel. But
this collection serves to show the maturation of Carrey, here billed as "James
Carrey." Just in this first season, he has done better than anything
in his film career. The seventh episode largely shows his talent, especially
the opening sketch, "Bad Karate Class."
Just looking specifically at just one episode, the ninth, we
have 5 amazing sketches, all of which hold up with the years that have past.
"Mo' Money with Whiz and Ice" is a simple sketch, showing the Homeboy
Shopping Network leads selling their sales method as the FBI bangs down the
door. Next, we have Carrey doing a spot-on impression of Bob Saget and lampooning
the once-popular series "America's Funniest Home Videos," with this
version featuring a robbery caught by a security camera. Then, Coffield does
a quick sketch as Andrea Dice Clay - which is the weakest of the bunch in
the episode, albeit still with some laughs - and "Hey Mon," moving
the recurring characters to an airline. But the best sketch of this episode
is the last, the introduction of Homey Da Clown. Need we say more?
Among the other sketches, the Homeboy Shopping Network sketches
still bring a wide grin to my face. In addition to the other stand-out characters
mentioned above, the "Men On" duo, Blaine Edwards and Antoine Merriweather,
played by Damon Wayans and Grier, a gay pair who review popular forms of media,
is still extremely funny.
The transfer to DVD is quite clean, but the extras are surprisingly
light. Davidson narrates two episodes and also included is a look back at
the first season, which includes interviews from two cast members and a number
of the crew. By not having more members of the cast, these are ultimately
skippable, there could have been a lot more there and more insightful as well.
"Back in Step with the Fly Girls" is ultimately a pass as well.
But, it's still great to see this series on DVD. Rated, as Blaine
and Antoine would say, two snaps up, in Z formation (or, alternately, an A
in reviewers' parlance).
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