Wayans Likes His ‘Color’-ful Family

If the title “All in the Family” hadn’t already been used, it would be perfect for Fox’s satiric “In Living Color.” At last count, there were four performers with the last name of Wayans appearing on the hit comedy: Keenan, Damon, Kim and the youngest of the performing siblings, Shawn, who this season makes the transition from playing the show’s DJ, rapmaster SW-1, to that of a featured player. For the 20-year-old comedian, it’s a welcome change.

“Now I really feel like now I’m doing something,” says the native New Yorker. “I always knew I could do more than just being the DJ and now I’m getting the chance.”

To get that chance, he had to impress the show’s creator and executive producer--his older brother, Keenan.

The second-youngest of 10 children, Shawn Wayans says he got interested in performing from watching Keenan and his other brother, Damon, launch their careers. “They inspired me,” says Wayans, who appeared in Keenan’s film, “I’m Gonna Git You, Sucka.” “It’s a lot of fun growing up in a family where there are a lot of people who want to perform.”

Wayans appreciates the fact that he gets to work with his siblings. “Everybody is very supportive of one another,” he says. “We’re always trying to help each other out with different ideas and different characters. It’s like playing around at home but getting paid for it.”