If you were a fan of comedy in the early 90’s, there was no escaping In Living Color. The sketch series that effectively merged the worlds of comedy and hip-hop came along at just the right time and managed to become a worthy rival of Saturday Night Live. It also featured a noteworthy cast that included Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson, Marlon Wayans, Jamie Foxx, among many others. And while the show was canceled after its 6th season, the show has maintained its cult pop culture status over the course of the last 30+ years.
And now, the show’s legacy will carry on even further. Yesterday, it was announced that the landmark show’s archives – including scripts, creative materials, and artifacts – have been donated to the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York. The items have been donated by the show’s co-creator and producer Tamara Rawitt.
“I’m thrilled to donate this one-of-a-kind In Living Color collection to the National Comedy Center, where it will live to tell the story of the show’s creation,” stated Tamara Rawitt. “I’m elated to know that future generations will be able to see these materials and learn how we brought this series to life despite creative and censorship issues. Together with the incredibly talented cast and writers, we imagined a new voice in sketch comedy, found a broad audience who connected with our work, and charted a course for change in the TV industry’s approach to real representation, not to mention winning an Emmy in our first season!”
“In Living Color was a landmark television series that revolutionized comedy, broke creative boundaries, and has influenced comedic artists for over thirty years now,” stated National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson. “By showcasing these important creative materials, production notes, and artifacts, we continue to fulfill the Comedy Center’s mission of celebrating comedy as an art form and preserving its heritage for generations to come. It’s a true honor for the National Comedy Center to become the home of this extraordinary collection.”
“I am most grateful to the National Comedy Center for preserving this material in its archives so that it can be appreciated by those who love great, groundbreaking comedy and inspire the next generation of creators with distinct voices that want to be heard,” added Rawitt.
“I’m excited that visitors to the National Comedy Center will now be able to experience what made this show so groundbreaking and lasting,” stated comedian and actor Tommy Davidson, one of the original, seminal cast members of In Living Color. “There will never be another show like this one and I’m so honored to have been one of the key creatives in its success.”
