Marlon Wayans Commemorates 'The Wayans Bros' Anniversary ·

03 Jun 2024, 00:00

On January 11, 1995, a television show from the minds of two Wayans brothers premiered during one of TV’s heydays for black sitcoms. The Wayans Bros., starring John Witherspoon, Anna Maria Horsford, Lela Rochon, Phill Lewis, Jermaine Hopkins, and Marlon and Shawn Wayans, packed in moments of knee-slapping outrageousness while centering the importance of family’s support as one chases a dream. The program ran for five seasons before its end in 1999.

To commemorate that moment in sitcom history, Marlon penned a lengthy reflection note on Instagram, thanking the fans for supporting a vision that started “as young boys watching Abbot and Costello and the Honeymooners every night in our bedroom.” As the Naked comedian reminisced on executive producing the program alongside his brother, he also addressed getting “skewered by critics, attacked by elders and often attacked by groups,” plus the WB’s lack of awareness of the show’s success.

“They never credited us with being the premiere show of The WB network. Never gave us credit for often beating NBC’s #1 hit Friends in many markets including Atlanta,” Wayans wrote. “Never got the respect to do a final episode after a five season run. But what we did get was the respect and love from our audience.”

Despite the reported mistreatment from the network, Marlon shared he and his brother were able to turn that experience into a cannon of hit Hollywood films. “We got to develop as young artists on a weekly basis in front of the world,” he said. “We learned the skill set to make us movie stars. And most of all we made a classic TV show that still runs and still makes people laugh until this day.”

Alongside The Wayans Bros., The WB was also home to The Jamie Foxx Show, Sister, Sister, The Parent ‘Hood, Smart Guy, and The Steve Harvey Show.

Read his full statement below.

View this post on Instagram

24 years ago today the wayans bros show premiered. We were 21 & 23 year old kids from the projects of Manhattan that created, exec produced, and starred in our very own sitcom. We were fearless, young, crazy, funny, physical, edgy and free. We got skewered by critics, attacked by elders and often attacked by groups. Shawn and i never caved. We kept it “real”. We did it for the audience. They never credited us with being the premiere show of the WB network. Never gave us credit for often beating NBC’s #1 hit Friends in many markets including Atlanta. Never got the respect to do a final episode after a five season run. But what we did get was the respect and love from our audience. We learned to write and produce a successful television show. We got to develop as young artist on a weekly basis in front of the world. We learned the skill set to make us movie stars. And most of all we made a classic tv show that still runs and still makes people laugh until this day. 25 years later we are still doing it. Still growing. Still evolving. And still making people laugh. Wayans Bros was a dream we had as young boys watching abbot and Costello and the Honeymooners every night in our bedroom. I loved every moment of doing that show. I thank all my friends and writers THAT WORKED ON THE SHOW. All the executives at WB. i thank my cast especially @johnnywitherspoon Pops who still and will always be pops to me. And most of all my hero, my big brother and my partner Shawn. We made a classic. Love ALL of the fans that supported and forgive all those that did not. It’s all love and a part of the process. I’m just glad 24 years later y’all still laughing. And we still need a final episode #wayansbros #wayans #history

A post shared by Marlon Wayans (@marlonwayans) on Jan 11, 2019 at 10:43am PST

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Marlon Wayans Commemorates 'The Wayans Bros' Anniversary

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