Let’s see, fellows. Your sitcom on the WB network is right around the bottom of the Nielsen ratings.

Wait, exclaims Marlon Wayans. “The WB is only seen in 80 percent of the country. The other networks are in 100 percent of the country.”

Besides, chimes in brother Shawn, “in the 18-to-49 age group, we’ve come in second in the timeslot to Grace Under Fire.”That would be Wednesday nights, when the Wayans brothers star as The Wayans Bros.

The Wayans, centering on two brothers sharing an apartment after having been turned out of their home, debuted in January with the launching of the upstart Warner Bros. Network.

It is among WB’s strongest sitcoms and has shown growth in the ratings. But that’s not much: It tied for 96th of 104 programs in the rankings of shows between Nov. 27 and Dec. 3.

Sorting out the Wayans family is even worse than trying to keep track of the Baldwins. Marlon and Shawn are the youngest among 10 Wayans siblings, half of whom were part of the sparkling Fox series, In Living Color.

Like big brother Keenen Ivory Wayans, who wrote and produced In Living Color, these younger performers also have ambitions behind as well as in front of the camera.

In their coming Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, a parody of the ‘hood-themed films, they share executive-producer and writer credits, as well as star in the film.

Shawn, who is 24, also has his eye on the publishing career of country comic Jeff Foxworthy, whose book, You Might Be a Redneck If, has become a theme of his Saturday sitcom on ABC.

Look for Shawn’s collaboration with other comics on You Might Be Ghetto If. A sampler: “You might be ghetto if you take the batteries from your smoke detector and put them in your pager.

“You might be ghetto if you use your toothbrush to clean your sneakers.

“You might be ghetto if you think Kool-Aid really has vitamin C.”

Meanwhile, Marlon, at 22, looks at television as a springboard to movies, where he wants to be a producer and star, and he would like to own a record company eventually.

But that’s ahead. This week the Wayans sitcom has the brothers spending Christmas by themselves for the first time after their parents go away for the holidays. Meanwhile, a fellow playing Santa Claus in the lobby, upset by the lack of Christmas cheer, takes everyone in the building hostage and forces them to make merry.

The Wayans brothers trace their comic roots back through In Living Color, a series that walked the line between outrage and hysteria, to Richard Pryor.

His comedy, they note, is still a guidepost to many comics. “You hear guys brag, ‘I stole Richard Pryor’s line first!'” says Shawn. And they see a lot of Pryor in brother Damon’s style, but not in his material.

They speak warmly of the early-’90s heyday of In Living Color, when, with sister Kim Wayans also a part of the show, going to work was a family affair.

Now other family members are on separate show-business paths.

But it’s not like the breakup of the Jackson family; both Wayans brothers identify with and appreciate the clan.

“To work the way they did with that magic – they have to love each other,” says Marlon. “They are our idols. When I get my first award, I’m thanking the Jackson family. They really influenced our family.”

The Wayanses, Shawn says, grew up in New York knowing there was talent in the family.

“We had funny. Everyone in the family knew they had funny,” he says. “We were just poor kids growing up in the projects. I think Keenen was the pioneer. He showed everybody what to do with their funny. He ventured out and took chances, and everyone else followed.”

Teachers were forewarned as the Wayans children, class clowns all, went through school.

“‘Oh, yes. I had your brother Keenen,'” says Shawn, recalling a typical teacher’s refrain. “‘So I already know what you’re about.”‘

They were about funny.