It Changed My Brain! #2: In Living Color

As if my brother's adolescent proclivity for Jim Carrey mannerisms wasn't enough of a clue, let me state right now how much my family was into In Living Color. Never did an episode end without at least a few holler-size laughs echoing in our family room. Whether it was Homey the Clown not playing that, Fire Marshall Bill, Men on Film, Damon Wayan's Homeless Guy, or the physical comedy of Background Guy, my dad helped lead the troops in laughter. Far before I tuned into SNL, I was watching In Living Color and, by extension, as often happens with good sketch comedy, I was learning about the world. Pretty much everything I knew about the LA Riots I learned from In Living Color as well as most of what I knew about the early Clinton years.

Though we usually muted it during the musical performance--I don't think my any of us in the family were ready to sit through a 2 Live Crew concert or, even worse, Snow--I've come to realize just how large a role In Living Color played in shaping my idea of the America that didn't exist in my own backyard. It was, more or less, my first interaction with black culture and the cast and writers never pandered to their audience. It never tried to be SNL and, thankfully, it never tried to be "the black SNL" either. It was its own show, its finger also on the pulse of America's cultural heartbeat. If anything, it was getting a better read on the pulse...and probably picking up more than one heartbeat. Every public figure was unapologetically mocked but in a socially aware way that seemed to preface the rise of Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Stereotypes were broken down, reinforced, broken down, and played for laughs. It was brilliant and hilarious and, in a way, it makes crap like Little Man all the more disappointing. (Although even I will admit that White Chicks makes a lot of interesting and intentional statements about race, gender, and class. Yes, I said it.)

And so, I toast you In Living Color and embed a clip of our favorite character: Wanda. "I'm gonna rock your world" became an instant catchphrase; I remember my brother and I buying my dad a poster of Wanda with these words written across it. (I wonder if he actually hung it up anywhere.) It seems ridiculous to watch this clip now and know that 10 years later, Jamie Foxx would be an Oscar winner. But then again, his commitment to his characters really shines through.