In Living Color may return to FOX

[Sawyer]

From Deadline

Fox To Reboot ‘In Living Color’ With Keenen Ivory Wayans
By NELLIE ANDREEVA

EXCLUSIVE: Fox is bringing back its groundbreaking 1990s sketch comedy series In Living Color with the series’ creator and star, Keenen Ivory Wayans, on board as host and executive producer. Fox has ordered two In Living Color half-hour specials to air as part of the network’s 25th anniversary celebration in midseason with a series option behind them, meaning that in success, the reboot will join Fox’s schedule as a regular series next season. I hear it was Wayans’ idea to revive the popular sketch comedy series with a new cast. The new In Living Color will be produced by his production company Ivory Way Prods. in association with 20th Century Fox TV’s Fox 21.

Like the remake, the original In Living Color, which was produced by Ivory Way Prods. and 20th TV, also launched in midseason, premiering on April 15, 1990. It broke stereotypes by employing a cast of mostly black comedians and introducing hip-hop and dancing to mainstream television. The show helped launch the careers of a slew of comedy actors — its cast included Wayans, his siblings Damon, Shawn, Kim and later Marlon as well as Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx and David Alan Grier, and of course Jennifer Lopez as one of the fly girls. In Living Color gave its actors freedom to improvise and it skewered everyone, particularly Black America. In probably the most successful programming stunt opposite the Super Bowl ever, a special live edition of In Living Color drew some 25 million viewers during the halftime of the 1992 Super Bowl on CBS. But the show’s fearlessness when it comes to the targets of its jokes and the unapologetic political incorrectness of its skits often ran afoul with Fox’s censors. The frequent clashes contributed to Wayans’ departure from the show after the third season though he remained an executive producer. In Living Color ended its run in May 1994 after 5 seasons. Fox has long been looking to launch a successful new sketch comedy series. Last season, it tried with In The Flow With Affion Crockett, executive produced by In Living Color alum Foxx, which was originally slated for midseason but ultimately aired in the summer to low ratings. Kennen Ivory Wayans, repped by UTA, has been focused on features for the past 15 years, directing, writing and producing the successful Scary Movie franchise as well as White Chicks and Little Man, on which he worked with his brothers. At Fox 21, In Living Color joins series Homeland, Breakout Kings and Sons Of Anarchy.

So..... who's going to be the sole white guy?

 

[Ponyboy]

Would love to see Jim Carrey reunite with the original cast. That was a great, great show. A reboot might just end up being a shadow of the former. Interesting idea, though.

 

[Cuyan]

I don't see how this can succeed. The medium has changed, they closest to this would have been The Chappelle Show.

I hope it does well, because I loved the original. But The Wayans' haven't produced anything funny in decades, so I am skeptical.

 

[Ultra Lantern]

There's no replacing Fire Marshall Bill.Jim Carrey did it so well.

 

[blueblazer2]

http://www.deadline.com/tag/in-living-color/

 

[bored]

Wonder if that Carrey fellow will be back? I'm sure he could use the exposure.

 

[Secret Fawful]

I can't decide if no or yes...

 

[terry78]

If Damon Wayans brings Homey D. Clown back, I will watch.

 

[Dr. Evil]

What are the odds that the return of In Living Color makes fun of Tyler Perry? I'd say 100%.

 

[Sawyer]

What are the odds that the return of In Living Color makes fun of Tyler Perry? I'd say 100%.

The fun part will be waiting to see whether or not he throws a *****-fit about it, like he did with the Boondocks.

 

[Dr. Evil]

The fun part will be waiting to see whether or not he throws a *****-fit about it, like he did with the Boondocks.

has he even reacted to SNL making fun of him with Keenan Thompson as him?

 

[Sawyer]

I have no idea. But SNL pulls punches far more than Boondocks, so maybe he just wasn't that offended by it.

 

[GREEN =w= DAY]

great news! it'd be awesome if for that special they can bring back Jim Carrey. but as long as Homie D Clown makes an appearance, i will be happy.

 

[bullets]

I'm speechless.

 

[jaymes_e06]

I was just watching the old eps and thinking about how it was so ingrained into my childhood praticularly Jim C. being the best part of the show and Jamie Foxx's "I'mll rock your world!" lol classic.

This could be good or a horrible mistake it's a toss up.

 

[GREEN =w= DAY]

I was just watching the old eps and thinking about how it was so ingrained into my childhood praticularly Jim C. being the best part of the show and Jamie Foxx's "I'mll rock your world!" lol classic.

This could be good or a horrible mistake it's a toss up.

with all the crap Fox has been showing lately, In Living Color will be a breath of fresh air even if it's 1/4 as good as the original.

hopefully this time Fox lets the Wayans have total control over what they make a parody of. i'm guessing they will though because i doubt Keenan Ivory Wayans would come back if they didn't give him creative control.

 

[Marx]

Wow. What a blast from the past!

There's no replacing Fire Marshall Bill.Jim Carrey did it so well.

I'd love to see Carrey play Fire Mashall Bill again.

 

[Anubis]

How can you reboot a f**king sketch show?

 

[Sawyer]

I doubt they mean reboot in the Batman Begins sense of the word. They're just going to be bringing it back.

Resurrect might be a better word.

 

[Anubis]

That makes more sense.

 

[Spiderine]

Are we about to see a resurgence of tv shows and movie remakes from the 90's now?

 

[Sawyer]

Not remakes. Comebacks.

 

[Spiderine]

First Beavis and Bootyhead, now In Living Color. Martin Lawrence is about to bring Shenenah to the big screen.

 

[Anubis]

Actually, I would like to see that.

 

[Hypestyle]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/arts/television/in-living-color-to-return-on-fox.html

at least for a pair of springtime specials in 2012.. which will serve as backdoor pilots for a possible fall or mid-season pickup for the following TV season..

This is great news.. for whatever crazy reason, on occasion I would be thinking about this.. I just was watching some reruns a week or so ago.. it occurred to me, especially after Mad TV was canceled after having a long run on Fox, they haven't had a late night comedy show.. To me, this could be a way to bring back In Living Colour back as Fox's answer to Saturday Night Live, with Keenan Wayans in the Lorne Michaels role.. they could get some new talented comedians/actors and springboard them.. if the skits are popular enough they could produce movie spinoffs..

To me, they should go for a weekend (Friday, Saturday, or Sun.) late night time slot, and have an hour-long program instead of the old half-hour format; back in the prime-time days they seemed to run into various censor problems.. Keenen should get total creative control..

..it can be an outlet for up and coming film/TV writers and the other behind the scenes roles..

.. I remember reading interviews with him about some of the problems where he ended up leaving the show.. Fox was starting to show reruns during the week, before the show was officially sold into syndication, and that ended up being a major issue, among others..