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The History of Sketch Comedy
About This Audible Original
From the beginning of time, there have been many monumental questions that have perplexed the human race such as: Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? And... Who’s on first?
In The History of Sketch Comedy, Emmy- and Peabody-winning actor, writer, and producer Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele, The Prom, Jingle Jangle) embarks listeners on an epic, insightful, and utterly entertaining voyage through the annals of sketch comedy. Key takes us from the early flatulence jokes of ancient Greece and the acting troupes of Europe in the 1500s, to the rise of The Second City in Chicago and his own comedy origins on the ball fields near Detroit’s 8 Mile. Equal parts masterclass, personal odyssey, and virtuoso performance, Key’s The History of Sketch Comedy dissects the landmark characters, concepts, and performers that pushed the boundaries and forged new ground in the comedy pantheon, and along the way, reveals his own experiences of discovering and being influenced by them.
Over the course of ten half-hour chapters, one of the most beloved voices of our time treats listeners to a private, millennia-spanning interpretation of sketch comedy history from its humble past to its immodest present.
"The History of Sketch Comedy is far more eccentric, funny and personal than an Intro to Comedy class… A feat… Keegan-Michael Key pairs a fan’s gushing enthusiasm with the skilled craftsmanship of a seasoned pro who knows that laughter can be contagious… One comes away from this series not just entertained and informed, but also convinced." —The New York Times
"Elle and Keegan’s comedic collaboration is such a joy to listen to. It’s a rare occasion where the topic of comedy is being explored by someone who is genuinely funny. I recommend this gem to everyone who loves comedy or is just looking for a good laugh."—Mike Myers
From the beginning of time, there have been many monumental questions that have perplexed the human race such as: Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? And... Who’s on first?
In The History of Sketch Comedy, Emmy- and Peabody-winning actor, writer, and producer Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele, The Prom, Jingle Jangle) embarks listeners on an epic, insightful, and utterly entertaining voyage through the annals of sketch comedy. Key takes us from the early flatulence jokes of ancient Greece and the acting troupes of Europe in the 1500s, to the rise of The Second City in Chicago and his own comedy origins on the ball fields near Detroit’s 8 Mile. Equal parts masterclass, personal odyssey, and virtuoso performance, Key’s The History of Sketch Comedy dissects the landmark characters, concepts, and performers that pushed the boundaries and forged new ground in the comedy pantheon, and along the way, reveals his own experiences of discovering and being influenced by them.
Over the course of ten half-hour chapters, one of the most beloved voices of our time treats listeners to a private, millennia-spanning interpretation of sketch comedy history from its humble past to its immodest present.
"The History of Sketch Comedy is far more eccentric, funny and personal than an Intro to Comedy class… A feat… Keegan-Michael Key pairs a fan’s gushing enthusiasm with the skilled craftsmanship of a seasoned pro who knows that laughter can be contagious… One comes away from this series not just entertained and informed, but also convinced." —The New York Times
"Elle and Keegan’s comedic collaboration is such a joy to listen to. It’s a rare occasion where the topic of comedy is being explored by someone who is genuinely funny. I recommend this gem to everyone who loves comedy or is just looking for a good laugh."—Mike Myers
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First published January 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
September 1, 2021
Keegan-Michael Key is excellent, he's smart and educated and knows his stuff. He's also funny.
But the medium of podcasts may not be the best way to share this knowledge. I did learn a lot about theater and classic film etc. And yes, analyzing comedy does tend to take away from the funny so that's not always his fault...
Yet overall, I wish it was a visual documentary. And I also wish they had the rights to all the clips he does impressions for, even if it was only audio, would have been much more entertaining that way is all.
Still, was worth listening for anyone who enjoys sketch and comedy.
But the medium of podcasts may not be the best way to share this knowledge. I did learn a lot about theater and classic film etc. And yes, analyzing comedy does tend to take away from the funny so that's not always his fault...
Yet overall, I wish it was a visual documentary. And I also wish they had the rights to all the clips he does impressions for, even if it was only audio, would have been much more entertaining that way is all.
Still, was worth listening for anyone who enjoys sketch and comedy.
November 29, 2023
It was informative and funny. Late in the book, he recommends keeping a list of things to go back and watch. I recommend starting that list right at the beginning. I never kept a list and, now that I finished, I wish I had.
December 9, 2023
A bit of a disappointment. Just...kind of poorly done, really. It was kind of a history of sketch comedy, very little about the technical hows of sketch comedy, kind of a "here are some sketches that I personally like", and kind of a memoir. It felt sloppy the way it was put together, like there was no editorial guidance. Sometimes Key would give you background about a comedian or TV show, sometimes he wouldn't. It was weird what the authors assumed the readers would know and what they wouldn't.
Then there was the flow of the book which was choppy. Interspersed through each chapter were little sidebars from famous(?) comedians sort of kind of talking about the topic in the chapter, but it was weird because a) there was an assumption we should know who these people are b) it wasn't always obvious the connection between the quote and the chapter and c) it felt like probably this was content recycled from the Keys' podcast that came before the book, so the passages felt like they were floating without context.
Elle Key also contributed lovely little art sketches of some of the comedians mentioned, but, again, sometimes these were very identifiable people and sometimes not (depending on each reader's knowledge) and there were never captions under the images so several times I didn't have a clue who these people were.
There was definitely an attempt at creating a historical narrative about sketch comedy, but Key seemed to toss that out partway through to just talk about stuff he personally likes and contributed to his own career. I know the book was not meant to be an encyclopedia, but I often cringed at how Boomer-y and GenX-y his voice and references were. Also, as a narrator he was always so "on" and I felt his verbal mugging to be too much in the medium of the written word. I love him as an actor and a performer, so I think that the podcast that he and Elle already did should have stood on its own without this book.
In terms of talking about the art and craft of sketch, that was pretty thin too. Again, sometimes he seemed to over-explain parts of sketch comedy and other times doesn't define terms such as what a "button" is. He gives examples of genres of sketch, which was very interesting, but not so much about technique.
Like if the title of the book was called "I Super Relate to Boomer and Gen X Sketch Comedy and Want to Geek Out about It at You", that would have perhaps better prepared my expectations for what this book actually was.
Then there was the flow of the book which was choppy. Interspersed through each chapter were little sidebars from famous(?) comedians sort of kind of talking about the topic in the chapter, but it was weird because a) there was an assumption we should know who these people are b) it wasn't always obvious the connection between the quote and the chapter and c) it felt like probably this was content recycled from the Keys' podcast that came before the book, so the passages felt like they were floating without context.
Elle Key also contributed lovely little art sketches of some of the comedians mentioned, but, again, sometimes these were very identifiable people and sometimes not (depending on each reader's knowledge) and there were never captions under the images so several times I didn't have a clue who these people were.
There was definitely an attempt at creating a historical narrative about sketch comedy, but Key seemed to toss that out partway through to just talk about stuff he personally likes and contributed to his own career. I know the book was not meant to be an encyclopedia, but I often cringed at how Boomer-y and GenX-y his voice and references were. Also, as a narrator he was always so "on" and I felt his verbal mugging to be too much in the medium of the written word. I love him as an actor and a performer, so I think that the podcast that he and Elle already did should have stood on its own without this book.
In terms of talking about the art and craft of sketch, that was pretty thin too. Again, sometimes he seemed to over-explain parts of sketch comedy and other times doesn't define terms such as what a "button" is. He gives examples of genres of sketch, which was very interesting, but not so much about technique.
Like if the title of the book was called "I Super Relate to Boomer and Gen X Sketch Comedy and Want to Geek Out about It at You", that would have perhaps better prepared my expectations for what this book actually was.
November 19, 2023
A very pleasant and easy read throughout, so I did enjoy reading it. I wish it were better, that's all. While I enjoy the author's voice, there was a little too much of it. (Okay, a lot too much of it), and you didn't end up with nearly as much content as you might expect from a book this size.
There was a lot of stating some funny line from a sketch (or funny premise, or funny escalation), and then two paragraphs worth of "oh no they didn't! Oh yes they did!" from the author, reacting to it. As a result it's a history of sketch comedy which didn't mention, IIRC, SCTV, or The Kids in the Hall, or The League of Gentlemen, etc. etc. etc.
He'd also sometimes rave about a wonderful sketch comedy TV series, then give an example of one of his all-time favourite sketches from it ... and on more than one occasion, the example was from the pilot episode. It made me wonder if the editor was like "Keegan-Michael, you just gotta write about The Black Lady Sketch Show" but he hadn't watched it so he gave the first episode a shot, raved about one sketch from it, and pretended it was his favourite. And that might not be the case, but it sure felt like when William Goldman asked his son his favourite chapter from The Princess Bride novel, and his son answered "Chapter One, the Bride."
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
There was a lot of stating some funny line from a sketch (or funny premise, or funny escalation), and then two paragraphs worth of "oh no they didn't! Oh yes they did!" from the author, reacting to it. As a result it's a history of sketch comedy which didn't mention, IIRC, SCTV, or The Kids in the Hall, or The League of Gentlemen, etc. etc. etc.
He'd also sometimes rave about a wonderful sketch comedy TV series, then give an example of one of his all-time favourite sketches from it ... and on more than one occasion, the example was from the pilot episode. It made me wonder if the editor was like "Keegan-Michael, you just gotta write about The Black Lady Sketch Show" but he hadn't watched it so he gave the first episode a shot, raved about one sketch from it, and pretended it was his favourite. And that might not be the case, but it sure felt like when William Goldman asked his son his favourite chapter from The Princess Bride novel, and his son answered "Chapter One, the Bride."
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
Read
March 2, 2024I think there's something in here for everyone. Key takes history seriously and begins with mythology and commedia. The book really finds its groove in the middle, and the observations about the modern comedy and the future of comedy are insightful. Lots of recommendations and pieces of script breaking down why a particular sketch works.
November 4, 2023
Quite a fun read. It’s like having a conversation with Keegan-Michael Key, which makes sense since it started as a podcast, I understand. Both memoir and a Grand Tour of many of my favorite moments in comedy.
July 28, 2021
Best Audio Book EVER!
Must read for theater people.
I’m gonna listen Again.
Must read for theater people.
I’m gonna listen Again.
April 24, 2024
"The History of Sketch Comedy" is essential reading for anyone who's interested in sketch comedy or comedy writing in general. Actor and sketch comedian Keegan-Michael Key, and his wife Elle, chronicle sketch comedy performances and evolution throughout the centuries, from the very first joke about bodily functions, to the viral sketch comedy TikTok stars of today.
While the book contains lots of nonfiction history, as told through the voice of Keegan-Michael, he integrates modern-day examples of sketch writing and takes from comedy stars on sketch comedy throughout the book. Readers can find lots of examples of sketches and scripts from some of their favorite shows and movies, like "Airplane!" and Key's show "Key & Peele". Readers learn how jokes are crafted, how games heighten sketch premises and how, sometimes, not following sketch "rules" at all makes for the best results.
Readers learn about common characters in sketches (romantic couples trying to make it through, bumbling idiots who keep disrupting things, etc.) and also learn how wordplay and patterns can impact writing. Key shares his favorite sketch examples to illustrate what he's talking about. The result is a tome that sketch comedy writers and fans can refer back to for inspiration to enhance their own work.
While the book contains lots of nonfiction history, as told through the voice of Keegan-Michael, he integrates modern-day examples of sketch writing and takes from comedy stars on sketch comedy throughout the book. Readers can find lots of examples of sketches and scripts from some of their favorite shows and movies, like "Airplane!" and Key's show "Key & Peele". Readers learn how jokes are crafted, how games heighten sketch premises and how, sometimes, not following sketch "rules" at all makes for the best results.
Readers learn about common characters in sketches (romantic couples trying to make it through, bumbling idiots who keep disrupting things, etc.) and also learn how wordplay and patterns can impact writing. Key shares his favorite sketch examples to illustrate what he's talking about. The result is a tome that sketch comedy writers and fans can refer back to for inspiration to enhance their own work.
December 12, 2023
Both informative and entertaining, this book is predominantly about the history and definition of sketch comedy while also looking at the history of the comedy that influenced sketch. Key knows his stuff and also did the research and the book mirrors back much of his experience in comedy and his formative years honing his comedy techniques in school, with partners like Jordan Peele, and improv groups like Second City. This is a pretty comprehensive look at the trajectory of sketch comedy highlighting most of what you’d expect: Monty Python, SNL, Key & Peele, but also Mr. Show, Dave Chappelle, and tipping the hat to Milton Berle, Sid Caesar and Carol Burnett. I enjoyed the commentary highlighted by luminaries like Mel Brooks and other performers. Key narrates the history in his own droll voice, gives many many verbatim examples of sketches/exchanges, lauds his fellow performers and writers, and pays homage to those he learned from. This was celebratory, educational, full of marvelous silly puns, and has a comprehensive index. Any fan of SNL or sketch comedy will enjoy as well as fans of Amy Poehler's and Tina Fey's books, but also for those who like things like Jerry Seinfeld’s Is This Anything?, Judd Apatow’s Sick in the Head, and even Colin Jost’s A Very Punchable Face.
January 21, 2025
If, like me, you find yourself a lover of comedy, characters, and hilarity of any kind, then you will enjoy this book! Keegan-Michael Key is an absolute master of his comedic craft and takes a deep dive into the history, current landscape, and future of sketch comedy. With the help of his lovely wife Elle Key, they take the reader through an expansive timeline of not only how sketch came to be but who inspired it and who is passionately keeping it alive. Chock full of quotes from comedic geniuses from all walks of life, you are guaranteed to learn, laugh, and love comedy even more! If, however, you don’t enjoy knowing how “the sausage gets made” or why certain things are funny or what Aristotle has to do with modern sketch comedy, then don’t, I repeat, DON’T pick up this book. Read at your own discretion you freaky little comics 🫡
March 21, 2025
Enjoyed this thoroughly! I learned quite a bit, even with my own extensive background and knowledge of sketch comedy and improv. I love that Keegan's voice really comes through clearly in the writing. It was very enjoyable, and I love the way he dissected scenes and sketches. My only "negative" review is that the book itself is pretty hefty (which is great, it's gonna be on my coffee table) but I do like reading in the bathtub so that was a little literary obstacle. But all in all, 5 stars and a brand new appreciation for Key & Peele sketches.
March 5, 2024
These podcasts give a hilarious overview of sketch comedy, describing techniques, variants, and examples.
The author mentions the true giants of the genre, and its antecedents, from the ancient Greeks to modern online performers. I recognized a good many of the sketches he performs, although I much preferred the originals.
He laughs a lot, which may be a drawback.
The author mentions the true giants of the genre, and its antecedents, from the ancient Greeks to modern online performers. I recognized a good many of the sketches he performs, although I much preferred the originals.
He laughs a lot, which may be a drawback.
June 18, 2024
😆 Won in a giveaway 😂
This was a fun book! I really enjoyed reading about some history with comedy. There's a lot of fun facts. A lot of classic comedians are reminisced. Keegan-Michael Key is very funny and his book reads very funny. His reactions to some comedy sketches are straight from the heart. I love that he spoke so highly of other comedians and movies. A lot of pages are full of thoughts from other comedians which I liked reading. He really knows his history and he loves what he does. (A fond memory I have of my dad is hearing him cracking up in another room watching Key & Peele's substitute teacher comedy sketch.) This book was really interesting. I definitely recommend and also recommend Key & Peele's show to anyone who hasn't seen it. Thank you to the author Keegan-Michael Key & his wife, Elle Key, Chronicle Books LLC and Goodreads for my free copy. Happy reading!! 😃😄😁
This was a fun book! I really enjoyed reading about some history with comedy. There's a lot of fun facts. A lot of classic comedians are reminisced. Keegan-Michael Key is very funny and his book reads very funny. His reactions to some comedy sketches are straight from the heart. I love that he spoke so highly of other comedians and movies. A lot of pages are full of thoughts from other comedians which I liked reading. He really knows his history and he loves what he does. (A fond memory I have of my dad is hearing him cracking up in another room watching Key & Peele's substitute teacher comedy sketch.) This book was really interesting. I definitely recommend and also recommend Key & Peele's show to anyone who hasn't seen it. Thank you to the author Keegan-Michael Key & his wife, Elle Key, Chronicle Books LLC and Goodreads for my free copy. Happy reading!! 😃😄😁
April 2, 2025
This is a fantastic book about the history of sketch comedy. Of course Key can't cover absolutely EVERYTHING but he gets the vast majority and gives us a great comedic biography about himself to boot. If you are a comedy nerd like me who grew up wanting to be Johnny Carson and on SNL, you'll love this.
December 2, 2023
I more “Thumbed thru” than read it. I wish the formatting had been different- feel like it would have been great as an oral history. Or a documentary.
March 19, 2024
Funny and friendly, just like me!
April 15, 2025
Read it don’t audible it - the jokes will work better on paper. If you’re into comedy you’ll really enjoy it.
February 6, 2024
Well that was fun! Wes and I have definitely been looking sketches up after each section!
July 13, 2025
I liked the history and the descriptions of different sketches. I like Key's humor normally, but I didn't like his added jokes in the book. I also didn't like how he would go over the top to explain why a sketch was funny, like, I get the joke. I understand that it's outrageous.
March 25, 2024
Learned a lot in this one! Quick, well-researched, fun read that anyone anyone who wants to learn more about the history of sketch comedy will enjoy
December 9, 2023
If you have to explain a joke, it isn’t funny. Unfortunately, this book suffers from that. It also reads a bit choppy because comment pages from other comedians are randomly inserted in the narative. Despite these qualifiers, there are points where this book is laugh-out-loud funny and that makes it worth reading.
August 1, 2024
I wish I could say that I enjoyed "The History of Sketch Comedy" by Keegan-Michael Key and Elle Key, but I didn't. Key is a much stronger performer than a writer and I practically felt swindled after reading this book.
Key serves as the narrator of sorts and is an enthusiastic guide through the history of sketch comedy. But the book reads like a hastily organized outline with a copious amount of superfluous filler hanging from it.
More likely than not, their publisher gave them a minimum page number to hit because you can feel the desperation in the content padding this book throughout.
The Keys literally starts at the beginning of written comedy - a Sumarian fart joke from 1900 B.C. - before walking us through the role of Medieval court jesters and leapfrogging incredibly into the variety shows of the 1850s, vaudeville, radio, television, and movies.
Key-as-narrator is most compelling when he takes off the hat of a historian and explores things more as artist. He talks intermittently about growing up in Detroit, the influence of The Marx Bros. and Three Stooges as a kid, his professional theater training, and his experiences on MadTV and Key & Peele.
And while those excerpts are interesting, there still isn't enough story to justify a book. So, frequently, Key shares *entire scripts* of routines made famous by people Burns and Allen, Nichols, and May, Bob Newhart, The Carol Burnett Show, SNL, and even Airplane II.
The routines are written out like movie scripts, with the name of each character speaking on a line and the line they're delivering below it. Gotta fill those pages!
Most egregiously, Key adds commentary to these routines at the end where he expresses sentiment like "Can you believe that they said that? My man is over here not understanding that 'Who' is the name of the dude playing first base! I mean... that's out of control! That is 100% my jam!"
He does this for literally EVERY routine copy and pasted into the book. It's difficult enough to try to listen to someone perform a routine they heard somewhere else. It's worse to have read it.
It felt like Key was trying to act as a hype man for these routines. Why? I just read it. I don't need to be convinced that it's funny. I got the jokes. They don't need to be reiterated.
Doubling down on their page-padding efforts, the Keys take full advantage of wide margins, extraneous pull quotes that don't draw your attention to anything, illustrations, photos, and even turning over whole pages to famous comedians ranging from Ken Jeong to Mel Brooks generically opining about comedy in a way that aligns with whatever slapdash narrative they're trying to present.
From a design perspective, I there was never a clear break anywhere for me to entertain these interruptions. The end result was a very addled reading experience. It's a 300 page book with about 75 pages of actual content. It's like a book report cobbled together from a dozen other BETTER book reports.
Ultimately, "The History of Sketch Comedy" isn't a book you buy to learn anything. It's something that you leave on your coffee table for a couple of months to wordlessly communicate to guests that you like comedy, sparing them the discomfort of politely watching YOU recite your favorite sketches.
It was easily the most frustrating and annoying books I've read this year.
Key serves as the narrator of sorts and is an enthusiastic guide through the history of sketch comedy. But the book reads like a hastily organized outline with a copious amount of superfluous filler hanging from it.
More likely than not, their publisher gave them a minimum page number to hit because you can feel the desperation in the content padding this book throughout.
The Keys literally starts at the beginning of written comedy - a Sumarian fart joke from 1900 B.C. - before walking us through the role of Medieval court jesters and leapfrogging incredibly into the variety shows of the 1850s, vaudeville, radio, television, and movies.
Key-as-narrator is most compelling when he takes off the hat of a historian and explores things more as artist. He talks intermittently about growing up in Detroit, the influence of The Marx Bros. and Three Stooges as a kid, his professional theater training, and his experiences on MadTV and Key & Peele.
And while those excerpts are interesting, there still isn't enough story to justify a book. So, frequently, Key shares *entire scripts* of routines made famous by people Burns and Allen, Nichols, and May, Bob Newhart, The Carol Burnett Show, SNL, and even Airplane II.
The routines are written out like movie scripts, with the name of each character speaking on a line and the line they're delivering below it. Gotta fill those pages!
Most egregiously, Key adds commentary to these routines at the end where he expresses sentiment like "Can you believe that they said that? My man is over here not understanding that 'Who' is the name of the dude playing first base! I mean... that's out of control! That is 100% my jam!"
He does this for literally EVERY routine copy and pasted into the book. It's difficult enough to try to listen to someone perform a routine they heard somewhere else. It's worse to have read it.
It felt like Key was trying to act as a hype man for these routines. Why? I just read it. I don't need to be convinced that it's funny. I got the jokes. They don't need to be reiterated.
Doubling down on their page-padding efforts, the Keys take full advantage of wide margins, extraneous pull quotes that don't draw your attention to anything, illustrations, photos, and even turning over whole pages to famous comedians ranging from Ken Jeong to Mel Brooks generically opining about comedy in a way that aligns with whatever slapdash narrative they're trying to present.
From a design perspective, I there was never a clear break anywhere for me to entertain these interruptions. The end result was a very addled reading experience. It's a 300 page book with about 75 pages of actual content. It's like a book report cobbled together from a dozen other BETTER book reports.
Ultimately, "The History of Sketch Comedy" isn't a book you buy to learn anything. It's something that you leave on your coffee table for a couple of months to wordlessly communicate to guests that you like comedy, sparing them the discomfort of politely watching YOU recite your favorite sketches.
It was easily the most frustrating and annoying books I've read this year.
November 25, 2023
It was good for the history of humor. I loved the science of humor and comedy. I will watch comedies differently for now on.
May 16, 2025
I enjoyed the book. Gave me a better understanding of how comedy works, what comedians look for. Also made me realize that some of what Key finds funny, I haven't. But then I am looking at the sketch a different way and the parts that he finds mind blowingly funny, I don't. But the book did give me an understanding that comedy can be very personal as to what you find funny.
February 6, 2021
I really enjoyed this. I learned some stuff. Laughed out loud. Weird that a lot of things that he finds so funny from his heroes of old aren’t funny to me at all, but I find the stuff he writes hilarious. An enjoyable listen for sure.
February 10, 2021
I'm a big fan of Keegan-Michael Key and I really enjoyed his walk through sketch comedy. Informative and educational. There's some laugh out loud stuff here too. Well worth a listen if you're KMK fan or a fan of sketch comedy.
February 9, 2021
I love Keegan-Michael Key! He's hillarious! This short audio series is quite a laugh and very informative too!
May 10, 2021
Educational and made me laugh!
March 2, 2024
What a darn shame. This book should have been my jam. Written by Keegan-Michael who was ON one of the greatest sketch comedy shows ever, Key and Peele and is about sketch comedy - something I love.
Let's go! I am all on board. So what went wrong?
Well one thing is - most of these chapters feel as if they were written in 30 minutes before a 2nd year university paper was due. In other words - they are poorly researched, don't provide any insight, are superficial and I feel like I could have written them given 30 minutes and my knowledge of sketch comedy (which is good but only "fan" good). There are factual errors and in a book without many actual facts that is not good. One that hit me in the face was how he goes on and on about Airplane II being written by the same team that wrote Airplane one (Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker aka ZAZ). I am no "movie historian" but even I, a casual fan, know that they had NOTHING TO DO with Airplane II. So a) Keegan didn't do any real research for this book and b) This book had no editor.
Here's another example. Keegan goes on about A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019) and a sketch INVISIBLE SPY where this plus sized black woman is the perfect spy because no man notices her because she is unattractive. He loves it "I don't think this scene would ever have existed if it weren't created by this fearless and talented group of ladies." High praise indeed. Except...Amy Schumer had a sketch called PLAIN JANE (2015) (in her brilliant sketch comedy show Inside Amy Schumer) about a lady cop who was the perfect cop because she was able to sneak around unnoticed by anyone because she was unattractive. Look, I don't mind they copied Amy's premise almost exactly but I do mind that Keegan writing a book about the history of sketch comedy where he mentions he was a fan of Amy's show doesn't even remember the similar (i.e. exact same) sketch. Again - I am just a fan of these shows and I instantly went "wait a sec..." when he started describing the premise to Invisible Spy. He did no research - he had no editor.
As well the tone comes across as someone dictating into a tape. This would work as an Audible book or podcast (which I am sensing this was done for first - as a podcast then an audible book) but after the 50th time K-M writes something like "Can my man even do that? I can't even be in this room if he is going to say these things. I have to get up and come back in. How can he think about thinking like that?" after describing a sketch he likes, I wanted to punch the book in irritation. If you are changing mediums...make it worth our while. Don't just transcribe a podcast and think you have a book.
Let's do the rest of the problems in point form:
- Organization - it starts off with the Greeks and a look at history of sketch in the far past (the best chapter) but then by the last chapters we are jumping around like crazy in time from 2019 to 1930's.
- Comprehensive - it is NOT comprehensive - because Keegan didn't do any research we only get the people/shows/movies HE remembers not an actual researched look at actual shows. One example is he leaves the Jack Benny show out of the chapter on Radio sketch comedy. How can you do that? That's next level stupid.
- Space waster - a lot of this book is taken up by him rewriting sketches he likes. I am not saying they aren't great sketches but it takes up a lot of space and this could have been accomplished by giving us links to youtube so we could see the sketches.
- No quality control - besides numerous omissions and errors we get these testimonies from his friends inserted. Why does Laraine Newman get so many pages to share her thoughts? Thoughts like "I still watch all sketch shows." and "I mean I love the tone and the new voices they seem to have".
- No Insights - other than the first chapter which started looking at the history of sketches every thing is so darned superficial as if I was talking to my friends. He mentions a great Chris Farley sketch where Chris has famous people on his talk show and just gushes over them without asking any questions. This book felt like that. "Do you remember this show. It was so great. I loved it. Here's a sketch I loved on it." No true insight into the writing process. No interviews that dug deep into what it means to be a sketch comedy writer and performer. For that book please read Mike Sacks "Here's the Kicker" a man who is a brilliant writer amazing interviewer and a true historian of comedy. Keegan WROTE on a sketch comedy show (two, if you count MAD TV) and he can't give us anything more than "sketches need a who, what and where." Yikes. Thanks, Mr. Intro to Sketches 101 professor.
Again - I think my main frustration stems from the the fact it could have been a great book. But Keegan-Michael and his wife Elle but zero effort into writing it. At least it came across that way. And to quote Keegan "Hey, you can't do that."
Let's go! I am all on board. So what went wrong?
Well one thing is - most of these chapters feel as if they were written in 30 minutes before a 2nd year university paper was due. In other words - they are poorly researched, don't provide any insight, are superficial and I feel like I could have written them given 30 minutes and my knowledge of sketch comedy (which is good but only "fan" good). There are factual errors and in a book without many actual facts that is not good. One that hit me in the face was how he goes on and on about Airplane II being written by the same team that wrote Airplane one (Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker aka ZAZ). I am no "movie historian" but even I, a casual fan, know that they had NOTHING TO DO with Airplane II. So a) Keegan didn't do any real research for this book and b) This book had no editor.
Here's another example. Keegan goes on about A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019) and a sketch INVISIBLE SPY where this plus sized black woman is the perfect spy because no man notices her because she is unattractive. He loves it "I don't think this scene would ever have existed if it weren't created by this fearless and talented group of ladies." High praise indeed. Except...Amy Schumer had a sketch called PLAIN JANE (2015) (in her brilliant sketch comedy show Inside Amy Schumer) about a lady cop who was the perfect cop because she was able to sneak around unnoticed by anyone because she was unattractive. Look, I don't mind they copied Amy's premise almost exactly but I do mind that Keegan writing a book about the history of sketch comedy where he mentions he was a fan of Amy's show doesn't even remember the similar (i.e. exact same) sketch. Again - I am just a fan of these shows and I instantly went "wait a sec..." when he started describing the premise to Invisible Spy. He did no research - he had no editor.
As well the tone comes across as someone dictating into a tape. This would work as an Audible book or podcast (which I am sensing this was done for first - as a podcast then an audible book) but after the 50th time K-M writes something like "Can my man even do that? I can't even be in this room if he is going to say these things. I have to get up and come back in. How can he think about thinking like that?" after describing a sketch he likes, I wanted to punch the book in irritation. If you are changing mediums...make it worth our while. Don't just transcribe a podcast and think you have a book.
Let's do the rest of the problems in point form:
- Organization - it starts off with the Greeks and a look at history of sketch in the far past (the best chapter) but then by the last chapters we are jumping around like crazy in time from 2019 to 1930's.
- Comprehensive - it is NOT comprehensive - because Keegan didn't do any research we only get the people/shows/movies HE remembers not an actual researched look at actual shows. One example is he leaves the Jack Benny show out of the chapter on Radio sketch comedy. How can you do that? That's next level stupid.
- Space waster - a lot of this book is taken up by him rewriting sketches he likes. I am not saying they aren't great sketches but it takes up a lot of space and this could have been accomplished by giving us links to youtube so we could see the sketches.
- No quality control - besides numerous omissions and errors we get these testimonies from his friends inserted. Why does Laraine Newman get so many pages to share her thoughts? Thoughts like "I still watch all sketch shows." and "I mean I love the tone and the new voices they seem to have".
- No Insights - other than the first chapter which started looking at the history of sketches every thing is so darned superficial as if I was talking to my friends. He mentions a great Chris Farley sketch where Chris has famous people on his talk show and just gushes over them without asking any questions. This book felt like that. "Do you remember this show. It was so great. I loved it. Here's a sketch I loved on it." No true insight into the writing process. No interviews that dug deep into what it means to be a sketch comedy writer and performer. For that book please read Mike Sacks "Here's the Kicker" a man who is a brilliant writer amazing interviewer and a true historian of comedy. Keegan WROTE on a sketch comedy show (two, if you count MAD TV) and he can't give us anything more than "sketches need a who, what and where." Yikes. Thanks, Mr. Intro to Sketches 101 professor.
Again - I think my main frustration stems from the the fact it could have been a great book. But Keegan-Michael and his wife Elle but zero effort into writing it. At least it came across that way. And to quote Keegan "Hey, you can't do that."
March 11, 2024
Remembering a saturday night, watching sketch comedy show SNL, and seeing Eddie Murphy mimic Stevie Wonder with good humor and confidence, Keegan-Michael Key saw a bridge to an unexplored future. As he states in his intro “comedy is not just part of my profession, it’s part of my soul”. SNL continues to hold that privileged status as a coming of age rite. For me, it was Chris Farley, Norm Macdonald, Dana Carvey, Will Ferrell, and Molly Shannon. For others it’s John Belushi, Kristin Wig, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Bill Hader..and the list goes on, and we love it because it’s offers comedy’s great surprise. Connection, surprise, laughter, and community. And of course, SNL is just once branch from the laughing tree.
The brilliant charismatic Keegan-Michael Key and partner Elle Key walk us through the peak moments of comedy in their aptly titled “The History of Sketch Comedy”. We begin at the first recorded comedic artifact found, a fart joke carved in modern southern Iraq, at 1,900 BC. Oh how some things never change. Key transports us from Dinosysus “The Frogs”, to commedia characters of the middle ages, to the filmed comedic classes like “Monty Python” or “Airplane”. It's a whirlwind, but the quick tempo lands like a stand-up comedian hitting all net.
The format of this book makes for easy flipping and fishing. Interviews with Jordan Peele, Kevin Nealon, Ken Jeong and Carol Burnett are here. Some passages are quite insightful: Mel Brooks writing about the high-wire act of “Blazing Saddles”, Carol Burnett’s summary about building a relationship to the audience, or even Stephen Colbert’s wildly strange piece about a sketch with a horse. There are really smart, stylish decisions to incorporate dialogue from sketches. Gags from “Airplane” or Peter Cook and Dudley Moore’s “The Frog and Peach” read as funny on the page as off it. One of the joys is the breadth of comedy that Key explores. British music hall. Second City sketch theatre. The radio comedies of George Burns and Gracie Allen. Key greets it all with a cheerleader glee and heartfulness.
Also, I really appreciated the exploration of race in comedy. Not surprisingly, the theme of identity and stereotype reversal is found across netflix specials and leasing comics. Much of Key and Peele’s humor could be really weird takes on racially charged situations. Consider the hilarity of the legendary “The Substitute Teacher” sketch, or the nail biting “Slave Auction” sketch. Sharing his own experience of being biracial (similar to Jordan Peele), having adopted parents, and having a huge pool of cultural influences, Key constantly surprised me with his thoughtful, funny and provocative regarding race. He gives props to many black comedians, including the ridiculously talented “In Living Color” crew and the increasingly diverse influencer driven comedians. Also, he shares some takes about taboo humor that made him laugh, but also a hearty dose of cringe. In one scenario, he describes a white man using a racial slur to goad a group of young men. Memorable, brave, and completely offensive. It would be easier to admonish the creator or simply chalk it up to the sensibilities of a different time. Instead, Key shares with us his feelings, mixed or otherwise, and makes it a more thoughtful reading.
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself flipping back to Key and Peele sketches, fabled Monty Python sketches like “The Argument” or even going back to early talkie classics like ‘Duck Soup” by the Marx Brothers. Sure, comedy dates itself to ideas and generations. There is always a conversation about norms and appropriateness. But even in older comedies, we find pieces of ourselves, a mirror of our fragile ridiculousness, that fearlessly pokes around a bit. Why make comedy at all? To compensate for life’s absurdity or it’s tragic essence. Isn’t it good to know that as long as we search for meaning, there’s a banana peel for us to slip on somewhere.
The brilliant charismatic Keegan-Michael Key and partner Elle Key walk us through the peak moments of comedy in their aptly titled “The History of Sketch Comedy”. We begin at the first recorded comedic artifact found, a fart joke carved in modern southern Iraq, at 1,900 BC. Oh how some things never change. Key transports us from Dinosysus “The Frogs”, to commedia characters of the middle ages, to the filmed comedic classes like “Monty Python” or “Airplane”. It's a whirlwind, but the quick tempo lands like a stand-up comedian hitting all net.
The format of this book makes for easy flipping and fishing. Interviews with Jordan Peele, Kevin Nealon, Ken Jeong and Carol Burnett are here. Some passages are quite insightful: Mel Brooks writing about the high-wire act of “Blazing Saddles”, Carol Burnett’s summary about building a relationship to the audience, or even Stephen Colbert’s wildly strange piece about a sketch with a horse. There are really smart, stylish decisions to incorporate dialogue from sketches. Gags from “Airplane” or Peter Cook and Dudley Moore’s “The Frog and Peach” read as funny on the page as off it. One of the joys is the breadth of comedy that Key explores. British music hall. Second City sketch theatre. The radio comedies of George Burns and Gracie Allen. Key greets it all with a cheerleader glee and heartfulness.
Also, I really appreciated the exploration of race in comedy. Not surprisingly, the theme of identity and stereotype reversal is found across netflix specials and leasing comics. Much of Key and Peele’s humor could be really weird takes on racially charged situations. Consider the hilarity of the legendary “The Substitute Teacher” sketch, or the nail biting “Slave Auction” sketch. Sharing his own experience of being biracial (similar to Jordan Peele), having adopted parents, and having a huge pool of cultural influences, Key constantly surprised me with his thoughtful, funny and provocative regarding race. He gives props to many black comedians, including the ridiculously talented “In Living Color” crew and the increasingly diverse influencer driven comedians. Also, he shares some takes about taboo humor that made him laugh, but also a hearty dose of cringe. In one scenario, he describes a white man using a racial slur to goad a group of young men. Memorable, brave, and completely offensive. It would be easier to admonish the creator or simply chalk it up to the sensibilities of a different time. Instead, Key shares with us his feelings, mixed or otherwise, and makes it a more thoughtful reading.
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself flipping back to Key and Peele sketches, fabled Monty Python sketches like “The Argument” or even going back to early talkie classics like ‘Duck Soup” by the Marx Brothers. Sure, comedy dates itself to ideas and generations. There is always a conversation about norms and appropriateness. But even in older comedies, we find pieces of ourselves, a mirror of our fragile ridiculousness, that fearlessly pokes around a bit. Why make comedy at all? To compensate for life’s absurdity or it’s tragic essence. Isn’t it good to know that as long as we search for meaning, there’s a banana peel for us to slip on somewhere.
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