A multi-talented member of the group of young black filmmakers who came to the fore in the late 1980s, Wayans began in stand-up comedy in the late 70s and enjoyed modest success as an actor, mostly on TV, before hitting it big. He is best known for his work in TV as creator, executive producer, writer, and cast member for the first several seasons of "In Living Color" (Fox, 1990-92), the landmark black sketch comedy show. Wayans gave Jim Carrey his breakthrough exposure, and also made the program a showcase for his talented family, acting on the show with his sister Kim and his brothers Damon, Dwayne, Shawn and Marlon.
Prior to that triumph, Wayans co-wrote, co-produced and appeared in Robert Townsend's "Hollywood Shuffle" (1987), a telling satire of the compromises made by aspiring African-American actors fighting for precious few screen roles. He again collaborated with Townsend on the latter's HBO series, "Partners in Crime", and on the production and writing of Eddie Murphy's concert film, "Raw" (1987). The pair also wrote the screenplay for Townsend's fictional showbiz period piece, "The Five Heartbeats" (1991). On his own, Wayans wrote, directed and starred in "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" (1988), a winning satire of 1970s "blaxploitation" films.
Irreverence was the hallmark of Wayans' TV work on "In Living Color". Very few topical "cows" (cultural, political, sexual) were held sacred but the majority of barbs were hurled at showbiz personalities. The show's apparent mission was to critique black stereotypes by exaggerating and exploding them. Nonetheless Wayans and Co. were often charged with tastelessness, misogyny, homophobia, and irresponsibility; they would do ANYTHING for a laugh. Sample sketches include "King: The Early Years", a biopic of flamboyant boxing promoter Don King; outrageously effeminate gay film critics Blaine and Antoine; a "Do-It-Yourself Milli Vanilli Kit"; and "Michael Jackson Potato Head Kit" which featured a doll for which the different faces of MJ can be switched--as well as those of sisters LaToya and Janet and Diana Ross.
After his long TV interlude, Wayans returned to the scene of the crime (and features) as the writer-director and star of "A Low Down Dirty Shame" (1994), a parody of "Shaft" wherein he portrayed a smooth private eye. The film opened to mixed reviews and moderate commercial success. He then aimed his talent for spoofing at the spate of popular "'hood" films of the 90s by producing "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood" (1996), which received a similar response. Wayans left "In Living Color" over disputes with Fox about censoring the show's content and the network's move to rerun early episodes without his consultation. The show continued on for a while without him; Wayans, meanwhile, kept his options open by signing a deal to develop and produce TV programs for CBS. His eventual return to TV, however, was as the host and star of a late-night talk show, "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show", which debuted in August 1997. The show was short-lived but Wayans rebounded quickly, writing and starring in the action-thriller "Most Wanted" (1997) as a soldier on death row recruited for a top secret mission. Wayans then struck box office gold when directed the sharp and frequently hilarious horror movie satire "Scary Movie" (2000)--co-written by and starring his younger brothers Marlon and Shawn. The brothers reteamed for the equally successful sequel "Scary Movie 2" in 2001, and Wayans would again collaborate with his two younger siblings as the director of their star vehicle "White Chicks" (2004), in which they play FBI agents forced to go undercover as a pair of white, blonde heiresses.
Copyright © Baseline 2007.