Sam Miller, Jan 4 , 2015
Snaps compilation from In Living Color
Comedy Skit - Men on Books
DigitalOverdose, Feb 15, 2006
A comedy skit about reviewing books
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases two YouTube videos of "Men On..." skits from the 1990s American television series In Living Color.
These videos are showcased in appreciation fot their comedy in and of themselves. In addition, these videos are showcased to highlight the finger snaps that were done in those skits to demonstrate strong approval for something. Those finger snaps -particularly the "z formation finger snaps- directly influenced the creation of and dispersal of the children's dissing chant "Don't make me snap my fingers in a z formation".
My comments about the "Don't make me snap my fingers..." chant is included in this pancocojams post along with information about the In Living Color television series is included in this pancocojams post along with information about that series' "Men on..." skits.
Selected comments from the discussion threads for both of these videos are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, and entertainment purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those associated with the In Living Color television, with special thanks to Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier for their portrayal of the critics in the "Men On..." skits. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/09/examples-of-childrens-dissin-chant-dont.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of The Children's Dissin Chant "Don't Make Me Snap My FIngers In A Z Formation".
Also, click the "Don't make me snap my fingers in a z formation" tag below for more pancocojams posts on this subject.
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE ABOUT "DON'T SNAP MY FINGERS IN A Z FORMATION" CHANT
"Don't make me snap my fingers in a Z formation" is a children's dissin[g] chant. A "diss" is an insult (putdown.) A dissin chant is meant to insult, taunt, and/or threaten an un-named person or persons.
"Don't make me snap my fingers..." chants are forcefully spoken with accompanying gestures as independent (stand alone) rhymes or in combination with other rhymes, particularly some examples of the contemporary children's taunting rhymes "Brick Wall Water Fall" and/or "Bang Bang Choo Choo Train".
However, the 1990s African American comedy series In Living Color is credited for popularizing "Don't make me snap my fingers in a z formation" chants. The reason for conferring this credit to In Living Color is that no examples of that chant are documented before 1990s and the phrase "z formation" was popularized on the Men On..." skits that were part of that series. In those skits, two gay African Americans were featured as cultural critics who demonstrated their high approval for something being reviewed by giving some type of finger snap. "The Z formation" was the name for two of those types of finger snaps.
In contrast to the use of finger snaps in those "Men On..." skits to show that those cultural critics really approved of the book, movie, television show, or art work that they are reviewing, in those dissin chants, the person is warning someone else (or more than one person) not to continue what they are doing or saying or else the chanter will male (perform) a snap in a z formation and that person (or people) being addressed will suffer the consequences.
"snap out
to act out violently in a fit of anger or frustration
When she learned what he had done, she snapped out and
destroyed all his posters."
by mandingoe May 18, 2004
-end of quote-
In other words, in those children's dissin chant, if a person "snaps" their fingers in a z formation, that indicates that they have "had it" (i.e. they have reached the end of their endurance and tolerance of what another person or persons have said or done.
Here's one version of "Don't make me snap my fingers in a Z formation":
itchythumbmaniac,2012, http://www.wittyprofiles.com/q/5806976Memories#2
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TELEVISION SERIES "IN LIVING COLOR"
"In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series that originally ran on Fox from April 15, 1990[1] to May 19, 1994. Keenen Ivory Wayans created, wrote and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Television and was taped at stage 7 at the Fox Television Center on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
The title of the series was inspired by the NBC announcement of broadcasts being presented "in living color" during the 1960s, prior to mainstream color television. It also refers to the fact that most of the show's cast was Black, unlike other sketch comedy shows such as Saturday Night Live, whose casts were mostly White at the time. It was controversial due to the Wayans' decision to portray Black humor from a raw and uncut perspective in a time when mainstream American tastes regarding Black comedy had been set by shows such as The Cosby Show, causing an eventual feud for control between Fox executives and the Wayans.
Other members of the Wayans family—Damon, Kim, Shawn, and Marlon—had regular roles, while brother Dwayne frequently appeared as an extra. The show also starred several previously unknown comedians and actors, including Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, Tommy Davidson, David Alan Grier, and T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh. The show introduced Jennifer Lopez and Carrie Ann Inaba as members of In Living Color's dance troupe The Fly Girls, with actress Rosie Perez serving as choreographer. The show was immensely popular in its first two seasons, capturing more than a 10-point Nielsen rating; in the third and fourth seasons, ratings faltered as the Wayans brothers fell out with the Fox network's leadership over creative control and rights.
The series won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series in 1990. The series gained international prominence for its bold move and its all-time high ratings gained by airing a live, special episode as a counterprogram for the halftime show of U.S. leader CBS's live telecast of Super Bowl XXVI, prompting the National Football League to book A-list acts for future game entertainment, starting with Michael Jackson the following year.[2] In 2018, a history of the show, Homey Don't Play That! by David Peisner, was released by 37 INK, an imprint of Simon & Schuster."...
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEN ON SKETCHES THAT WERE PART OF THE "IN LIVING COLOR" TELEVISION SERIES
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_on...
"Men on ..." (colloquially known as "Men on Film") is the umbrella title for a series of comedy sketches that appeared in episodes of the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color. The sketch featured two gay cultural critics, Blaine Edwards (Damon Wayans) and Antoine Merriweather (David Alan Grier), commenting on aspects of popular culture, including movies, art and television.
"Men on ..." first appeared on the premiere episode of In Living Color and continued throughout Wayans's tenure on the series. The sketch was revived on the late-night comedy series Saturday Night Live when Wayans hosted.
"Men on ..." engendered controversy for its portrayal of black gay men. Both Blaine and Antoine were portrayed as extremely effeminate. Some LGBT people and organizations felt this portrayal was insulting to gay men, although response within the community was split. African American cultural critics have identified "Men on ..." as having affected how African American men view homosexuality within their communities.
Format
The first installment of "Men on ...", "Men on Films", established the basic pattern for the sketch series. Over the strains of "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, an announcer introduces the public access program "Men on Films". Hosts Blaine Edwards and Antoine Merriweather introduce themselves and explain that they will be discussing films of the day "from a male point of view".[1]
They review Do the Right Thing, The Karate Kid Part III and Great Balls of Fire! and upcoming video releases for Black Widow, Miss Firecracker and Dangerous Liaisons. In each instance the film is reviewed with an extreme gay male interpretation regardless of any actual gay content or sensibility; in some cases, the review of the film is based solely on the film's name or the name of its stars. ...
Black Widow and Miss Firecracker, both of which feature women in the leading roles, are dismissed with a simple "Hated it!" Blaine initially praises Dangerous Liaisons for its courage in casting Glenn Close in a female role; Antoine informs Blaine that Close is actually a woman, prompting Blaine to exclaim "Clutch the pearls, what a sneaky thing to do!" The pair signify approval of a film by giving it "two snaps up!"[3]
Subsequent sketches would explore other aspects of popular culture, including art, books and television. With each installment the sexual puns would become cruder and more abundant, the costumes would become more flamboyant and the "snaps up" would become more and more elaborate."...
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREADS FOR THE VIDEOS THAT ARE EMBEDDED IN THIS POST
Showcase Video #1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4L2lnTBV5Y&ab_channel=SamMiller
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
This compilation quotes all of the comments in this discussion thread that mention the finger snaps that the critics made. [6 out of 21 comments at the date & time this pancocojams post was published.]
PrincessofPower84, 2018
1. "I love this compilation. I tip my hat to you, even though I can't make out what they say in Men on Fitness. There's also two snaps and a rewind, two snaps, a twist and a kiss (Stop! Can't touch this!), the patty cake snap and a T-T snap."
**
Reply
2. PrincessofPower84, 2018
"And the Flamenco snap."
**
Reply
3. Ben7seven7, 2021
"Didn’t they also do two snaps up in Z formation? I didn’t see that one here just the 3 snap Zoro"
-snip-
From
"Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorro_(1957_TV_series) for information about the about the 1957-1959 American television series and the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorro_(1990_TV_series) the 1990s American television series about the fictional television character Zorro.
**
4. jaymillymills, 2019
"My favorite was the z formation"
**
Reply
5. Ben7seven7, 2021
"Yeah tho there was another version of the Z formation not shown here."
**
6. ronniebillhicks, 2021
"Me and my daughter were struttin' around acting all diva-ish, and she busted out the "z" Formation,..... She's ten,..... It was awesome, I showed her this,....... Proud papa moment, straight up'!!!!!!"
****
Video #2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmL5s3k9o9U&ab_channel=DigitalOverdose
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
This compilation quotes all of the comments in this discussion thread that mention "finger snaps".
[ out of a total of 287 comments as of Sept. 25, 2021 at 9:40 PM ET]
1. MattLA, 2007
"Classic, Classic, Classic!!! These guys get two snaps up!
Hahahaha!"
**
2. Courtney Ryan, 2008
" "this book gets the yet unheard of zorro snap in Z
formation" LMAOOOO they were a trip on that show haha"
3. j. aleese, 2008
"
CLASSIC :)"
**
4. annebeth66, 2009
**
5. fixxwisdom, 2009
"Zorro snap FTW!"
**
6. nothin but the truth, 2009
"tickled pink & sweet as cotton candy! i absolutely love
it! LMAO! blow some bubbles for me & show me the pearlies! ZORO snap! priceless!!!"
**
7. jaxxcapone, 2009
"HAHA!!Zorro Snap"
**
8. Joash Narainsamy, 2010
"Zorro snaps!"
**
9. Richard werkNprog Hall, 2013
"Zorro snap, in Z formation. One of the most greatest lines
in comedy history."
**
10. David Metcalfe, 2013
"Love that Zoro snap. (3:11)"
**
11. Ardenwolfe, 2013
"The Zorro Snap is iconic."
**
12. t0nito, 2013
"Zorro snap LOL! All that was missing was the mmmmm hmmmm"
**
13. Jeff King, 2014
"The yet unheard of Zorro Snap . . . in "Z"
formation . . ."
**
14. Organized_Owl, 2014"
\"IN Z FORMATION!
-snip-
This comment was written in bold in that discussion thread.
**
15. Rene Flores, 2014
"Zorro snap in Z-formation!"
**
16. Kellie Hickman, 2014
"In the Z formation...Lord have mercy hahahaaaa!"
**
17. agentxyz, 2014
"Bob K.: zorro snap at
3:09"
**
18. Dr. Tselane, 2015
"Z formation LOL"
**
19. LaMejorMusicaconQuillo, 2015
"The zorro snap in z formation...LOL"
**
20. Eduardo Rivera, 2015
"In Z Formation snap snap snap nearly laughed my drink
out! LOL!!!"
**
21. corleesha taylor, 2015
"that snap killed me"
**
22. Emmanuel Jones, 2016
"The "Z Formation Snap" Ahhh I remember we couldn't
wait to get to school to do this snap! LoL I miss the 90's"
**
23. Corey Persons, 2016
"z formation yesssss"
**
24. marskeins, 2016
"I don't care if you were straight. Everybody did the snap in
z formation. Lol"
**
Reply
25. Johny Jacques, 2020
"that is so true"
**
Reply
26. Jerry Roach, 2020
"Not"
Reply
27. romulusnr, 2020
"
**
Reply
28. Matt Texas, 2021
"Still Z formationing in 2021. 🤣🤣"
**
29. Joker In The Bronx, 2017
"The timing these two had was amazing. I used to love this skit. It could work today. I know a few gay guys and they love parody
like this. I like when they lose it
sometimes. You could see Damon trying
not to laugh after the Zoro Snap."
**
30. Jean-Marc Desir, 2017
"The Zorro snap got me laughing my a** off. I
really miss In Living Color. Like Dynasty is being rebooted and Will and Grace
is coming back to NBC this Fall, In Living Color should come back to Television
again to make us all be happy. Snap, Snap, Snap in Z formation"
-snip-
This is the way this comment was written in that discussion thread.
**
31. Roy Parks, 2019
"About 25 years later, and that Zorro snap still gets me."
**
32. NativeNYker73, 2019
"The Zorro snap (in Z formation) still has me on the floor
laughing my ass off to this day!!!"
33. teresa smith, 2019
"
**
34. Judy Aguilar, 2019
35. TRANSIT DUDE, 2019
"
**
36. Sterling On Sinemas, 2019
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VSO-88E8qo&ab_channel=donvbking for the video of that "two snaps and a twist" clip.
**
37. Marc Morgan Jr, 2021
"3:13: The ZORRO Snap — in Z FORMATION — GAVE ME MY COMPLETE
LIFE... WITHOUT PAROLE TODAY!!!!!!!"
**
38. Pierre Black, 2021
"Love this. The ICONIC snap in Z FORMATION. Legendary"
**
39. Jason PH, 2021
"3:13 - in case you want to see the Zorro snap again."
****
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