‘In Living Color’

Re Les Firestein’s lament to “In Living Color’s” passing (“Two Gaps in the TV Tapestry,” Aug. 29): While it is painful that a quality show like “In Living Color” gets canceled for any reason, it was infinitely more painful to watch a show that once coveted the highest praise of being “too good for television” become simply unfunny.

A show that I looked forward to watching each week, a show that (as Firestein agrees) went too far and made people laugh while tackling a variety of controversial topics, ceased to do either consistently. (The show’s downward spiral seemed to coincide with Keenen Ivory Wayans’ losing battle with Fox executives.) Throughout the 1992-93 season, I wondered how long Jim Carrey could carry the show. The next season I found out--not very far.

DAVID LEE BRANT

West Los Angeles