<P> The series won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series in 1990 . The series gained international prominence for its bold move and its all - time high ratings gained by airing a live, special episode as a counterprogram for the halftime show of U.S. leader CBS's live telecast of Super Bowl XXVI, prompting the National Football League to book A-list acts for future game entertainment, starting with Michael Jackson the following year . In 2018, a history of the show, Homey Don't Play That! by David Peisner, was released by 37 INK, an imprint of Simon & Schuster . </P> <P> Following Keenen Ivory Wayans' success with Hollywood Shuffle and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Fox Broadcasting Company approached Wayans to offer him his own show . Wayans wanted to produce a variety show similar to Saturday Night Live, but with a cast of people of color that took chances with its content . Fox gave Wayans a lot of freedom with the show, although Fox executives were a bit concerned about the show's content prior to its television debut . </P> <P> In announcing its debut, Fox described In Living Color as a, "contemporary comedy variety show". In its preview, the Christian Science Monitor warned that its, "raw tone may offend some, but it does allow a talented troupe to experiment with black themes in a Saturday Night Live - ish format ." Keenen Ivory Wayans said, "I wanted to do a show that reflects different points of view . We've added an Asian and a Hispanic minority to the show . We're trying in some way to represent all the voices...Minority talent is not in the system and you have to go outside . We found Crystal doing her act in the lobby of a theater in Chicago . We went beyond the Comedy Stores and Improvs, which are not showcase places for minorities ." </P> <P> The first episode aired on Sunday, April 15, 1990, following an episode of Married...with Children . The first episode was watched by 22.7 million people, making it the 29th top show for the week . </P>

It's a low down dirty shame cast