How In Living Color changed the Super Bowl

In Living Color changed the Super Bowl forever with a bold move in 1992. At the time, the Super Bowl halftime show was mostly filled with traditional marching bands or themed performances that didn’t really appeal to younger audiences. FOX, which was still a rising network, saw an opportunity. In Living Color, their hit sketch comedy show created by Keenen Ivory Wayans, aired a live, special episode during the halftime of Super Bowl XXVI (between the Washington Redskins and the Buffalo Bills). It was the first time a network directly challenged the Super Bowl halftime show. Here’s how it made an impact: 1. Massive Ratings Shift While the Super Bowl was still dominant, around 22 million viewers flipped the channel to watch In Living Color during halftime. That drop in Super Bowl viewership sent a clear message to the NFL and its broadcasting partner: halftime needed to be more entertaining. 2. NFL’s Direct Response: Michael Jackson The very next year, the NFL pulled out all the stops. For Super Bowl XXVII (1993), they secured Michael Jackson as the halftime performer—ushering in the era of superstar halftime shows. His performance set a new standard, and ratings not only held steady but increased during halftime for the first time. 3. Cultural Shift in Entertainment In Living Color proved that halftime could be a competitive, entertainment-focused event with edgy humor and relevance. It pushed the NFL to modernize and appeal to broader demographics, especially younger viewers and communities of color. #inlivingcolor 4. A Legacy of Risk and Innovation That 1992 halftime special was a game-changer. It broke the mold, challenged a media giant, and ultimately redefined what halftime could be—not just a break in the game, but a full-on entertainment spectacle. #nfl #fox