This year three of the greatest sketch comedy shows ever produced celebrate milestone years. Saturday Night Live celebrated 50 years on air, In Living Color celebrated 35 years (where's our documentary or something?), and MadTV celebrated 30 years.
Well these shows are iconic and classics. It got me thinking about the numerous sketch comedy shows that are less revered. Or even forgotten about all together. Here are ten forgotten sketch comedy shows.
House of Buggin'
In 1995 in an effort to replace In Living Color, Fox took the same concept and handed the reins to John Leguizamo. Who at the time was still a semi-fledging comedian and actor, with a all Latino cast they set out to strike gold again. Beside's Leguizamo the only other known cast member at the time was Luis Guzman, one of those actors you never know the name but see his face and go oh him. Who has gained renewed fame playing Gomez Addams in Netflix's Wednesday series.
House of Buggin' ran from January to April that year lasting only 10 episodes. Ratings decline and creative differences between Leguizamo and the network led to it being cancelled. Funny enough, MADTV was it's replacement.
Apollo Comedy Hour
Many people don't remember nor know this, but the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York once hosted a sketch comedy series. That's right to go alongside the very popular Showtime At The Apollo syndicated series, producers decided to create a sketch comedy show. Filmed at the theater it was dubbed the Apollo Comedy Hour and aired in syndication from 1992-1995. So it had some success, but not a great deal since it's not well remembered.
Cedric The Entertainer Presents
In the fall of 2002, the WB network gave king of comedy Cedric The Entertainer his own sketch/variety show. A throwback to the days of variety shows in the 60's and 70's. Alongside his former castmate Wendy Raquel Robinson from The Steve Harvey Show, and additional cast members. Each week Cedric and company played a variety of characters such as his famous cafeteria lady sketch . Cedric would even sing and dance to complete the Entertainer part of his name.
The show only lasted 18 episodes before being cancelled.
Doggy Fizzle Televizzle
In the early 2000's Snoop Dogg decided he wanted to become more mainstream. At the same time a trend spearheaded by Snoop was saying words and flipping them to end in "izzle". Hey, the early 2000's were a great but weird time.
So MTV decided to give Snoop his own sketch show, Doggy Fizzle televizzle. Snoop Dogg put on his comedic chops and for eight episodes expanded his horizon. Some of the jokes landed, some didn't but it's perfect capsule of the 2000's style of comedy.
Hype
Another WB network sketch show that did not land. Hype just recently hit it's 25th anniversary since it's debut. Wasn't much fanfare behind it, because sadly no one really remembers it. Hype featured mostly unknown comedians to round out it's cast, and the target of it's topics was focused on pop culture. And how pop culture had a hold on society. Not sure where thing's went wrong but the show only lasted 17 episodes.
In The Flow with Affion Crockett
In 2011 Affion Crockett who was considered a rising comedy star at the time, was given his own show on Fox. Executive produced by Jamie Foxx, hopes were high for this sketch comedy series. Unfortunately those hopes were dashed and the series only lasted six episodes. Not sure if it was Affion's style of comedy, the time slot, lack of promotion or other factors. It died a quick death and pretty much has been erased from many folks memories.
The Jenny McCarthy show
In the mid 90's Jenny McCarthy was one of the "it" girls in Hollywood and pop culture. Her popularity and time hosting Singled Out on MTV. Led to her getting her own sketch comedy show on the network in 1997, effectively showing she had a "goofy" side and comedic timing. The show only made it 19 episodes before MTV pulled the plug, and Jenny and audiences moved on to something else.
The Lyricist Lounge Show
Once upon a time MTV actually still believed in music, and some of their shows were actually based around music. In 2000 the sketch comedy show The Lyricist Lounge Show debuted, which combined traditional sketch comedy. With rapping throughout the sketches sometimes improvised. The show had a few resident rappers on the cast, and many rappers made appearances on the show. It only lasted one season despite it's format being unique, and is known for introducing Tracee Ellis Ross to the scene.
Party Over Here
In 2016 Fox tried their hand again at striking sketch comedy gold. A new sketch series created and produced by Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island team. Featuring a small handful of cast members, the show tried to become a hit for a new generation. Airing in MadTV's old timeslot of 11:00 pm on Saturday night, it just didn't catch on and was cancelled after 10 episodes.
The Underground
In 2006 Showtime partnered with comedy legend Damon Wayans to bring a new sketch comedy show to the airwaves. In Wayan's word's it would be "In Living Color on Steroids" and The Underground was born. Wayans bought along his son Damon Wayans Jr. and a host of young comedians to make a new comedy favorite. It didn't catch on and was cancelled after 11 episodes.
The Newz
The Newz debuted in the fall of 1994 and stand's out from every other sketch show well loved and forgotten. Playing in syndication, it aired DAILY with a new episode Monday-Friday which is no small task. That format allowed it to hit 61 episodes before being cancelled in March of 1995. Unfortunately the syndicated method, which likely resulted in overnight airings in many markets led to it not finding an audience. And it has disappeared in the mind's of many.
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