Television series
The Wayans Bros.
- Buddy comedy
- Light-hearted
A '90s sitcom where two brothers with opposite personalities navigate adulthood, jobs, and romance in Los Angeles. Marlon and Shawn Wayans riff off each other with sketch-comedy energy, mixing observational humor with physical comedy and absurdist bits. It's loose, improvisational, and unapologetically silly—made for people who like their comedy broad and their laughs frequent.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you like sitcoms built on a live-wire pairing, where two opposite personalities keep colliding and the jokes come fast from character rather than from setup-heavy plots.
Skip it if you want a show that slows down to sit with feelings or hold a long serialized arc; this one runs on quick, broad sketches and a sitcom rhythm that can feel repetitive across five seasons.
What it asks of you: Half an hour an episode, with a loose, high-energy shape: you settle into the banter and the family dynamic, and you can dip in and out without losing the thread.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
In Living Color1990
The spiritual ancestor of sketch comedy on Fox, with a rotating cast of future stars. Fast-paced, fearless, and willing to fail spectacularly in service of the occasional brilliant bit. Kenan Thompson, Jim Carrey, and the Wayans themselves all cut their teeth here.
But Sketch shows age unevenly. Some bits are dated, some land like lead, and there's no narrative to carry you through the duds.
Def Comedy Jam1992
Stand-up comedy filmed with cinematic flair and genuine edge. Each episode is a master class in timing and persona. Russell Simmons created a platform that launched countless comedians and celebrated Black comedy as an art form.
But Stand-up is personal and hits-dependent. What kills for one audience lands flat for another. Some material is very much of its era.
Living Single1993
A sharper, wittier ensemble sitcom set in Brooklyn with a largely Black cast. Queen Latifah, Rue McClanahan, and the rest play off each other with real chemistry. It's warm, smart, and consistently funny without trying too hard.
But It's a traditional sitcom with traditional structure. If you need the anarchic energy of sketch comedy, this is more grounded.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Wayans Bros.
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Chappelle's Show2003
Both are sketch-driven comedy from Black performers mining their own experience for laughs, but Chappelle weaponizes the form in ways the Wayans Bros. never did—sharper, angrier, more ambitious.
Dave Chappelle's sketch-comedy masterpiece takes the sketch format to brilliant extremes. The writing is sharp, the performances are fearless, and it creates moments that transcend comedy into cultural commentary. Watching it now means confronting what made it matter and what doesn't age well.
But Chappelle's later choices around race and identity have become controversial. Some sketches feel uncomfortably dated or crude. And it's incomplete—he walked away from a huge deal mid-production.
More like this (6)
Martin1992
Martin Lawrence as a one-man variety show—multiple characters, fearless physical comedy, and a willingness to be both dumb and clever in the same breath. Every episode is a master class in comedic versatility and commitment.
But Some of the humor is dated or uncomfortable by current standards. The supporting cast can feel like afterthoughts compared to Martin's overwhelming presence.
A Different World1987
A sitcom set at a Black college that actually trusted its audience to laugh at smart jokes. Sharp writing, genuine warmth, and characters who grow. Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, and the ensemble are excellent.
But It's earnest and sometimes preachy. If you want pure comedy without any heart or lesson, this isn't your show.
Ray Donovan2013
A forgotten gem about a group of teenagers in a high school with energy, charm, and genuine heart. The cast has real chemistry and the writing balances humor with character development. It feels like hanging out with funny friends.
But Low budget and limited distribution means it looks rough and was canceled quickly. The premise is thin and relies heavily on likability.
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper1992
A sitcom that pairs Mark Curry with Holly Robinson in a charming setup full of physical comedy and one-liners. It's lighter than it has any right to be, with genuine warmth and easy chemistry between leads.
But The plotting is thin and reliant on contrived situations. The humor is very sitcom-y and predictable. It's comfort food, not fine dining.
Strangers with Candy1999
Both are ensemble comedies from the '90s built on committed performances and character work, but Strangers mines darkness and absurdity where Wayans Bros. mines warmth and accessibility.
A cult sketch show where Amy Sedaris plays a career criminal who decides to go back to high school. The writing is genuinely twisted and clever, the performance is committed beyond belief, and every sketch feels like someone took a terrible idea and committed to it completely.
But It's deliberately ugly and weird and wrong. The humor is pitch-black and the aesthetic is aggressively low-budget. It's for people who like comedy that makes them uncomfortable.
Superstore2015
Both are sibling/ensemble comedies that treat their characters with genuine affection and find humor in how people navigate work, money, and relationships without ever making the audience feel superior to them.
A workplace sitcom set in a big-box retail store where the ensemble cast feels genuinely real and the writing balances comedy with genuine pathos. It's funny without being mean, warm without being sappy, and creates real character development over time.
But It's on NBC and network TV—the comedy is gentler and more grounded than sketch shows. Some episodes prioritize heart over laughs. It takes its premise and characters seriously in ways pure comedy might not.
People
Cast
Recommended by
In Living Color, Martin, The Bernie Mac Show, Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, The Jamie Foxx Show