The Good
This is a great sketch comedy show that really holds up.
The Bad
No special features. "Some content has been edited for this DVD release."
For some reason, I thought that In Living Color ran from longer than 1990 to 1994. Rewatching these shows on In Living Color: Season 3 reminded me of just how special a show this was. Filled with such startling comedic insights, I really feel that this show opened up TV to look at race issues in a very refreshing way. Sure, some of the this stuff crossed the line at times ("Ugly Woman at the Door" or "Hemorrhoid Guy") but there was so much good stuff on here, that it's easier to forgive the show's lesser moments.
I could list out what I think made this show so special but I don't think that is necessary. It's ability to laugh at everyone, especially the TV and media outlets that are supposedly representing us, is something that I feel is honestly unprecedented and I still don't think it's been tackled as forthright since.
Features
No extras came with this DVD.
Video
Full Frame - 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio. As this is a sketch comedy show in the Saturday Night Live mode, there really isn't anything about it's look that grabbed me. All of the episodes are evenly lit so that the actors can be free to move around without having to worry too much about hitting lighting marks. The picture didn't have any skips, hits or moments where it got pixilated either.
Audio
Dolby Digital - English - Stereo. Subtitled in English and Spanish. Close Captioned. Double Sided Single Layer DVDs. I had to turn up the audio on my TV about half way, but it was able to remain there as I reviewed the show. I appreciate that while the comedy is quick, it isn't so quick that I found myself lost or trying too hard to keep up with the joke after joke format.
Package
There is a lot of purple on this front cover. There are also shots of Chris Rock, Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx wearing various outfits. Even though they look bad, that is what makes them hilarious. The back features a section that is glued on to the vinyl, cardboard cover of this show. It has some pictures, a description of what In Living Color: Season 3 contains and some technical specs. Underneath that are some more pictures of the cast in various outfits. As this packaging is of the digipack variety there are three slim cases that house all the discs. They have different covers further showcasing the cast and on the back is a listing of the episodes and the skits contained therein. Nothing too amazing about this packaging but it gets the job done.
Final Word
For my money, In Living Color blows doors off of Saturday Night Live. It isn't that I think SNL is a bad show, I just think that the talent on In Living Color: Season 3 is so much better. I mean how can you beat Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, Chris Rock, David Alan Grier and Tommy Davidson? Sure, SNL has certainly had it's share of great comics (and early on it really tackled social issues well), I just find that a lot of today's SNL stars really don't have it when comes to consistency.
In a very solid way, In Living Color: Season 3 is probably one of the best comedy bets you can make.
In Living Color was released .