Remember these guys?
Damon Wayans (left side), one Wayans brother behind the early 90’s hit sketch comedy series, In Living Color and many subsequent comedy projects, has apparently happened upon a novel idea: he’s betting web comedy will sell and has recently announced a shiny new web portal to feature “videos about an African American leprechaun pimp, a thieving airport security guard and an adulterous Burger King” among other funny-or-not-so-funny things with WayOutTV.com.
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Whoa. How’d he dream this bit of brilliance up? WayOutTV.com will feature videos from aspiring young comedians handpicked by Damon Wayans. Mr. Wayans may be a bit naive to the ways of the web: “People want our content because we’re dealing in funny,” and though I find his brand name to be bland and boring, the concept just might have stronger legs than other recent Hollywood comedy sites like FunnyOrDie and MyDamnChannel. Why?
The Wayans family itself is a well-known brand associated with a very specific type of comedy. Those who develop quality, highly branded content on the web will likely see a strong community emerge around the content, as we’ve seen with Next New Networks. Those who have attempted to develop undifferentiated catch-all comedy warehouses have already struggled.
Others have caught on, however. We’re beginning to see the emergence of narrow comedy brands like the recently announced Independent Comedy Network.
“I’m there, overseeing this, working with the talent, nurturing them,” Wayans has said. Let’s hope he’s building a distinct multi-dimensional user experience around the great comedy that’s made the Wayans name a brand.
