Damon Wayans Reflects On How His 90s Sketch Comedy Series ‘In Living Color’ Changed The Super Bowl Halftime Show: Before Us, It Was Marching Bands, It Was The Worst Entertainment

Damon Wayans

Damon Wayans Reflects On How His 90s Sketch Comedy Series ‘In Living Color’ Changed The Super Bowl Halftime Show: Before Us, It Was Marching Bands, It Was The Worst Entertainment

Damon Wayans took it back with a history lesson, reminding the world that “In Living Color” forever changed the way the Super Bowl Halftime Show is done.

During an interview with “Ebro In The Morning,” Damon Wayans shared that the real origin of what we know today as the Super Bowl Halftime Show stemmed from a special episode of “In Living Color.”

During the 3rd season of the sketch comedy show, created by Damon and his brother Keenen Ivory Wayans, FOX decided to air a live episode of “In Living Color” to compete with the Super Bowl halftime programming on CBS.

Damon Wayans said:

“Before us, it was marching bands, it was the worst entertainment. There wasn’t even entertainment. And then, we came and we did In Living Color, the Super Bowl halftime show, had a huge audience – and the next year they brought Michael Jackson.”

He then explained that FOX had a clock at the bottom left side of the screen during the special episode of the comedy show; giving viewers the option of when to go back to CBS to watch the second half of the game.

The special episode featured their typical sketch comedy, dance breaks from the Fly Girls (notably, future Super Bowl performer Jennifer Lopez performed as a fly girl for the first time during this season), and a performance from Color Me Badd.

In response, the National Football League (NFL) decided to elevate its halftime show and booked Michael Jackson to perform during at the 1993 Super Bowl.

As we previously reported, this year’s Super Bowl halftime featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar. Reportedly, over 29 million households watched the performance.

What do you think about In Living Color’s influence on the Super Bowl halftime show? Let us know in the comments below!