There was a void in Comedy Central after "Chappelle's Show" ended and, while I don't want to say that "Key and Peele" completely filled it, they sure helped me not notice the absence as much. "Key and Peele" were gut-busting hilarious and YouTube users have enjoyed them by the millions. It sucks they only gave us four years, but like they say: "Leave them wanting more."
53 Reviews
wooooow
angelorwez29 April 2022
It can get a little repetitive...but that's precisely why it doesn't have that many seasons
the dedication and the quality of the sketches...mind-blowing!!
And that is really not capturing the true brilliance of key and peele
i feel like i can't pick the right words
les mis!! Fantastic!!
The cinematography on each sketch is just mind-blowing...the only reason i don't give this a 10 is because it's a sketch show and some sketches are not too great some over-the-top even for a sketch comedy...only that...the rest is just masterclass...
the dedication and the quality of the sketches...mind-blowing!!
And that is really not capturing the true brilliance of key and peele
i feel like i can't pick the right words
les mis!! Fantastic!!
The cinematography on each sketch is just mind-blowing...the only reason i don't give this a 10 is because it's a sketch show and some sketches are not too great some over-the-top even for a sketch comedy...only that...the rest is just masterclass...
Clever and Ahead of it's time
junkion915 July 2012
I was a bit afraid when I saw the teasers but blown away by the production value! Comedy is not just something to make you laugh. Comedy has levels to it watching Key & Peele I saw tragedy, Irony and humanity. There have been very few thought provoking comedy shows that have made me copy and paste youtube links and mail them to my friends. Key & Peele have somewhat tedious dialogs about their humdrum lives (sorry guys) But their comedic insights are brilliantly creative and should be revisited as ongoing themed webseries. I swear Jordan Peele is so dedicated to his scenes that his focus alone makes me laugh. This show is incredible and I search for new episodes of it in my comedy central on demand. Keep up the good work guys
Key and Peele make SNL look like the worst episode on Sesame Street
Top_Dawg_Critic4 March 2017
Key and Peele make SNL look like the worst episode on Sesame Street.
If these two where put on earth to do this series and that's it, we've been blessed.
This is top shelf comedic brilliance in every aspect. The quality of the skits is outstanding. I'm shocked how they fit so much entertainment in 30 min. Yet it leaves me smiling all day. Even the extra actors in the skits have better acting skills than most of the hosts on SNL.
Good days or bad days, these guys make me laugh.
My only complaint is that I wish each episode was at least 60 min.
And very sad this legendary series is over.
If these two where put on earth to do this series and that's it, we've been blessed.
This is top shelf comedic brilliance in every aspect. The quality of the skits is outstanding. I'm shocked how they fit so much entertainment in 30 min. Yet it leaves me smiling all day. Even the extra actors in the skits have better acting skills than most of the hosts on SNL.
Good days or bad days, these guys make me laugh.
My only complaint is that I wish each episode was at least 60 min.
And very sad this legendary series is over.
An absolutely brilliant series!
texasboyy22 February 2020
This is and always will be one of the greatest sketch comedy shows ever. It's brilliant and practically perfect. The writing is smart, insightful and hilarious. But best of all, actors Key and Peele are chameleons who vanish into an infinite number of characters with a wide range of different personalities, and that's what makes this show work. Even the best writing can fall flat if the actors aren't up to the challenge. Those two are pitch perfect in every single sketch.
Best sketch comedy show I've seen since Chappelle's Show
SeriousJest10 December 2012
I saw their "I Said Bitch" skit a few months ago when one of my friends shared it on Facebook. It caught me off guard with how clever, perfectly-timed, well-acted, multi-dimensional, and downright funny it was. I told myself that I would definitely start watching this show
but my hectic schedule caught up with me, and it faded from my memory before I was able to set aside time to watch one episode.
But the videos kept going viral on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and after clicking on "McFerrin vs. Winslow," "Ultimate Fighting Match Preview," "Yo Mama Has Health Problems," and "Gay Marriage Legalized," I was hooked! Next thing I know, I was ripping through episodes on Hulu, and posting and emailing episodes to my friends I was even pulling co- workers into my office and telling them, "You HAVE to watch this sketch RIGHT NOW it's only 4 minutes long."
This is the closest production I've found to Chappelle's Show, although the comparison isn't exactly fair. Chappelle's Show was outrageous and far beyond the bounds of anything anyone had seen on TV before (not taking away from the fact that it was extremely creative, witty, and funny), leading to ROTFLMAOs. Key and Peele is a bit more subdued, and much of its humor lies in its subtext. You'll still get a few ROTFLMAOs, but a lot of the laughs may just be LOLs, or smirks. Not every skit is a hit, but the producers manage to cut the less-funny skits before they get annoying, unlike Saturday Night Live (again, an unfair comparison because that show is live, while Key and Peele is pre- taped and edited).
Key and Peele are both extremely witty, charismatic, and talented comedians and actors. I enjoy their two-man stand up (I think it's a successful formula, when you have the right team), and watching the entire episodes actually allows you to enjoy the episodes more than simply watching them on YouTube because the setups often give you additional insight. Dave Chappelle used to do the same thing successfully. Peele's imitation of President Obama is impressive, and the "Anger Translator" skits are hilarious. I can't wait until Season 3.
For more reviews and a kickass podcast, check out: www.livemancave.com
But the videos kept going viral on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and after clicking on "McFerrin vs. Winslow," "Ultimate Fighting Match Preview," "Yo Mama Has Health Problems," and "Gay Marriage Legalized," I was hooked! Next thing I know, I was ripping through episodes on Hulu, and posting and emailing episodes to my friends I was even pulling co- workers into my office and telling them, "You HAVE to watch this sketch RIGHT NOW it's only 4 minutes long."
This is the closest production I've found to Chappelle's Show, although the comparison isn't exactly fair. Chappelle's Show was outrageous and far beyond the bounds of anything anyone had seen on TV before (not taking away from the fact that it was extremely creative, witty, and funny), leading to ROTFLMAOs. Key and Peele is a bit more subdued, and much of its humor lies in its subtext. You'll still get a few ROTFLMAOs, but a lot of the laughs may just be LOLs, or smirks. Not every skit is a hit, but the producers manage to cut the less-funny skits before they get annoying, unlike Saturday Night Live (again, an unfair comparison because that show is live, while Key and Peele is pre- taped and edited).
Key and Peele are both extremely witty, charismatic, and talented comedians and actors. I enjoy their two-man stand up (I think it's a successful formula, when you have the right team), and watching the entire episodes actually allows you to enjoy the episodes more than simply watching them on YouTube because the setups often give you additional insight. Dave Chappelle used to do the same thing successfully. Peele's imitation of President Obama is impressive, and the "Anger Translator" skits are hilarious. I can't wait until Season 3.
For more reviews and a kickass podcast, check out: www.livemancave.com
Started out slow, keeps getting better
austin-demoss2 March 2012
Warning: Spoilers
When I first heard of Key and Peele, I was very skeptical, since I never found MadTV to be extraordinarily funny, and these two guys never stood out to me on that show even. When I watched the first episode I wasn't pleasantly surprised, as the stand up acts were dry and the sketches were very hit/miss. Luckily I don't have a remote, so I watch comedy central pretty much all of the time my television is on. This means I watched the episodes succeeding the first, and I must say, they only get better. I found my self laughing hysterically at the last episode I saw, particularly at a sketch involving a group of Republicans disagreeing with Obama regardless of what he is saying. The stand up is a bit better too, but their main purpose is still to give the following sketches some context. All in all, Key and Peele have a good base with their smart writing and creative sketches, and they could have a great show if they continue to build upon that base.
Genius
rzajac28 November 2014
I'm not saying it's perfect. Genius is not equal to Perfect. It's a little hit and miss... and yet I feel it deserves a '10'.
I think it deserves this because these guys (and their writers, natch!) have stumbled upon a wondrous land of infinite possibility. Not many people attain to this; which restriction is also an indicator of true artistry. From top to bottom, the produced sketches reek of talent and inspiration. From conception to writing to directing to acting... We are treated to comedy on blue-flame fire. It's head humor, it's body humor, it's slapstick, it's transcendent, it's bestial.
It'll be interesting to see how long ComCent lets it run.
And, btw, I PREFER the new format (using road trip bits as ligature).
Highlights: S04E03; Georgina and Esther (*gotta* watch it uncensored!). S04E10; The scat duel (brutally mocking and lovingly homaging the tradition at the very same time!).
I'm looking forward to K&P continuing on an upward trajectory... Forever and Ever, AMEN.
I think it deserves this because these guys (and their writers, natch!) have stumbled upon a wondrous land of infinite possibility. Not many people attain to this; which restriction is also an indicator of true artistry. From top to bottom, the produced sketches reek of talent and inspiration. From conception to writing to directing to acting... We are treated to comedy on blue-flame fire. It's head humor, it's body humor, it's slapstick, it's transcendent, it's bestial.
It'll be interesting to see how long ComCent lets it run.
And, btw, I PREFER the new format (using road trip bits as ligature).
Highlights: S04E03; Georgina and Esther (*gotta* watch it uncensored!). S04E10; The scat duel (brutally mocking and lovingly homaging the tradition at the very same time!).
I'm looking forward to K&P continuing on an upward trajectory... Forever and Ever, AMEN.
The Thief of Though.
rodsweis5 February 2012
In the current state of movies and TV shows, executives try their best to appeal to a demographic obsessed with authenticity and genuine absurdity with purpose. With that being a handicap for some, most writing leans more toward absurdity for the sake of being absurd for no reason. When that happens, the line between genuine originality and simple stupidity becomes blurred. However, this show is the perfect polar opposite. Key and Peele manage to merge genuine ridiculousness with unparalleled brilliance. This show is sheer genius cloaked behind sheer nonsense which makes it the quintessential candidate that will represent absurdity and brilliance alike, and without prejudice. The very thing Shakespeare once held true himself.
two new voices
SnoopyStyle7 May 2019
This is an American TV sketch comedy show created by MadTV alumni, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. As with most of this genre, each skit is a bit hit and miss. There are a few that is hilarious although I probably laughed more with MadTV. A couple has even reached cultural pinnacle of the moment. There is something insightful and imaginative with Obama's anger interpreter. It's a show of a moment in US history. It is a show which announces the arrival of two important voices. It's a show of cultural importance. It's a smart show that makes you think. It doesn't hurt that it's good and these guys seem like the best of friends.
Masterful comedy series!
UniqueParticle14 October 2022
I had already seen this several years ago or so for some reason I didn't review then. I absolutely love the humor throughout it's legendary entertainment that is well deserving of the award wins! Keegan Micheal Key and Jordan Peele are so wonderful throughout in this sketch comedy. I think it's great Jordan Peele became a masterful horror director a couple years after this ended. So many awesome comedic scenes that are loads of fun and memorable; some are stale yet sill effective. Maybe one of few things people would complain about is the racial issue enlightened in this but that's a great thing especially that Jordan is known for.
Funny but superficial
darnthatdream20 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
K&P are two talented, capable and self-absorbed actors and entertainers. The skits are full of funny and interesting ideas. Well produced and shot, borderline cinema quality, which is special for this kind of comedy and adds to the atmosphere. That is to say, it distracts from the shows two main flaws: 1. Dealing mostly with stereotypes and not pushing their boundaries and diversities far. 2. Most skits follow the same formula, which usually consist of two opposing sides somehow confronting each other.
When taking jokes too far goes wrong...
LawnBoy-45 July 2015
I really want to like this show more that I do. As pure comic talents, Key & Peele are great. They possess natural comedic talent and they are both very likable. The problem is that every skit devolves into yet another joke taken way too far. While the ideas and premises are mostly good, the skits are written such that the joke is revealed within the first 15 seconds and then exhaustingly repeated over and over and over until it has been milked to the point at which it is no longer funny, rather, it has become annoying and tiresome.
I remain convinced that these guys can do so much better and frustrated that they have yet to do so.
I remain convinced that these guys can do so much better and frustrated that they have yet to do so.
Comedy gold
granzadam24 June 2022
In the pantheon
getupday11 June 2015
Key and Peele are the most acerbic, gutsy, and funny duo on American television today. In fact, comedy duos seem to be a lost art form in the United States (gone are the days of Laurel and Hardy, Abbot and Costello, and Martin and Lewis). Perhaps, that's why Key and Peele seems fresh, while at the same time, hearkening back to pre-war era comedy. The writing is heavy on satire, but the performances are rife with pratfalls. In an era of snark and ironic distance, it's invigorating to watch a comedy in love with the execution of a sketch, not just the target of a joke. The cinematography also elevates the show above the usual crop, with its filmic look and splendid editing. Noting about this show is slapdash (Judd Apatow improv, this ain't). The show's writing and performing is deliberate and the dividends are many! Highly recommended.
Best if they made fun of famous news and clips
dochuskyblackmoon29 February 2012
Some stuff like "I got shot in the penis" was just wrong, but the "Racoon not Zombie bite" and "Unicorn Sighting" are very good! They take famous you tube clips, movies, and news and creates a spoof off of them. However I miss the "Bad Luck" skits and "Deal of no Deal" spoofs on Mad TV. The on stage jokes and skits that were done in front of an audience need a lot of work on, it can be funny from time to time however they tend to be stretched from what actually happened, for example, how key talks about how he cant sit in his seat while he laughs on a plane. Needs work but it seems like there is a lot of potential for this show.
My seasonal ratings
FeastMode12 August 2023
Key and Peele is a highly clever and hilarious sketch comedy series. It feels like a descendent of Chappelle's Show. Some of the skits are legitimately the funniest things I've ever seen in my laugh. Many of them having me crying from laughter. I love this show.
The show does dip in the later seasons. In the future I will only rewatch the first three seasons.
Season 1: 9 stars (about 4 viewings, 7/12/2023)
This show is amazing. There are multiple times per episode where I have to pause it because I'm laughing too hard. So creative. And they're both so awesome and naturally funny.
Season 2: 8 stars (about 4 viewings, 7/15/2023)
The misses are more common but the hits are just as strong. I love when they show crowd reactions when someone is dying from laughter.
Season 3: 8 stars (about 4 viewings, 7/24/2023)
Season 4: 6 stars (about 3 viewings, 7/31/2023)
This season has a few hilarious sketches, including my favorite KP sketch, Consequences! But more than half are either misses or just mildly amusing without laughter. And I miss the crowd. The car conversations rarely make me laugh.
Super Bowl Special: 6 stars (about 2 viewings, 8/1/2023)
Season 5: 4 stars (about 2 viewings, 8/11/2023)
More misses and very few hits. It's difficult to get through.
The show does dip in the later seasons. In the future I will only rewatch the first three seasons.
Season 1: 9 stars (about 4 viewings, 7/12/2023)
This show is amazing. There are multiple times per episode where I have to pause it because I'm laughing too hard. So creative. And they're both so awesome and naturally funny.
Season 2: 8 stars (about 4 viewings, 7/15/2023)
The misses are more common but the hits are just as strong. I love when they show crowd reactions when someone is dying from laughter.
Season 3: 8 stars (about 4 viewings, 7/24/2023)
Season 4: 6 stars (about 3 viewings, 7/31/2023)
This season has a few hilarious sketches, including my favorite KP sketch, Consequences! But more than half are either misses or just mildly amusing without laughter. And I miss the crowd. The car conversations rarely make me laugh.
Super Bowl Special: 6 stars (about 2 viewings, 8/1/2023)
Season 5: 4 stars (about 2 viewings, 8/11/2023)
More misses and very few hits. It's difficult to get through.
Not bad but needs a few changes...
Cpt_JackSparrow5 February 2012
At first when I heard of a Comedy sketch show starring 2 bi-racial (half black-half white) guys who's sketches coincide with them being bi-racial, it didn't sound too appealing.
However, I saw a small clip of "Key & Peele" on Conan and found the clip to be very funny. So, I decided to catch it on TV.
To my surprise, I was not disappointed. Not all of it is laugh out loud funny but it does make you smirk and at times you do indeed laugh out loud. The opening sequence was hilarious.
"Key and Peele" do grow on you. That being said, there is still a lot of work needed. For example, cutting out the whole stand-up bit they do in front of a live audience in between sketches.
The show should be purely a sketch show. Much like Portlandia. It is the same concept for Portlandia except for that it is the "black version".
The show is funny to all demographics especially black and white Americans which I believe was the main aim.
I will definitely be watching the next episode.
However, I saw a small clip of "Key & Peele" on Conan and found the clip to be very funny. So, I decided to catch it on TV.
To my surprise, I was not disappointed. Not all of it is laugh out loud funny but it does make you smirk and at times you do indeed laugh out loud. The opening sequence was hilarious.
"Key and Peele" do grow on you. That being said, there is still a lot of work needed. For example, cutting out the whole stand-up bit they do in front of a live audience in between sketches.
The show should be purely a sketch show. Much like Portlandia. It is the same concept for Portlandia except for that it is the "black version".
The show is funny to all demographics especially black and white Americans which I believe was the main aim.
I will definitely be watching the next episode.
Not hit and miss, but hit hit HIT miss hit....
HungryforCheese4 December 2020
I first thought these guys were soo stupid, but when you see a couple of their great skits, it makes you kinda GET their humor, so pretty much all of the skits are funny in their own way. If one skit doesn't hit, 3 others do, and they have plenty of great and/or iconic characters, Obama and Luther, Meegan and Andre, Cedric and Levi, Wendell, and who could forget the Continental breakfast guy? Whether they are tackling race issues, or just being stupid, these guys are great. My favorite skits are: Two old Church ladies vs Satan, the East/West bowl, Stan Lee, Luther and Obama going away, Levi's lightning in a bottle, Wendells superman bed, Andre breakups with Meegan, Teris on a plane, and the parole puppet.
A spiritual successor to Chappelle's show....minus the spirit
lukefallis18 April 2023
Key and Peele are both great at comedy. This show definitely shows how talented they both are at writing and acting. They are insightful and thought provoking at times. With this show they tap into the millennial generations psyche. So why do I feel a bit hollow watching this show?
Having spent the better part of a decade trying to figure out why, I think I figured out the issue. This has been done before - and better. The show (compared to Chappelle's Show) lacks bite or any form of social anger, despite the consistent theme of being a black person in the USA. The sketches are good for the most part but you will be left wondering 'could they have gone further with it?'.
On reflection, the Key and Peele show is a sketch show by two people who make commentary but are hesitant (at least at the time because Peele has gone on to make movies that hit the point home much more than this show does) to commit fully to their own comments. They would rather make the audience laugh the pull away in shock. That is why at times this good show can feel rather formulaic.
Having spent the better part of a decade trying to figure out why, I think I figured out the issue. This has been done before - and better. The show (compared to Chappelle's Show) lacks bite or any form of social anger, despite the consistent theme of being a black person in the USA. The sketches are good for the most part but you will be left wondering 'could they have gone further with it?'.
On reflection, the Key and Peele show is a sketch show by two people who make commentary but are hesitant (at least at the time because Peele has gone on to make movies that hit the point home much more than this show does) to commit fully to their own comments. They would rather make the audience laugh the pull away in shock. That is why at times this good show can feel rather formulaic.
The sketches are the best
sarahmckelv2 December 2016
The stand-up parts of the show aren't that great, but the sketches are always hilarious. I normally skip the stand-up show, but its the sketches that really make it worth watching. Key and Peele is definitely my favorite sketch show, despite the lackluster stand-up in between. Sketches come across really well over a screen, but for stand-up you really just need to be there in the room. It loses a lot if you're not. They make some of the funniest sketches I've ever seen though. They're always very funny and very high quality. A lot of work goes into the design, the sets, the costumes, the characters, even the acting; its all very well crafted. And the humor is very on point. Its a shame the shows no longer running, hopefully someday it comes back.
Its hard making a sketch show...
garwhite4415 February 2012
Remember a guy named Dave Chappelle? Take him and dilute his blackness between two guys and you have Key and Peele.
The show is designed exactly the same as a lot of other shows focused around one or two people; quick stand-up bits between skits. This being said, the show is pretty good. Its not all laughs all the time but when they nail a joke they really do NAIL it.
If you like racial humour mixed with truly creative writing (in the skits at least) then you should probably watch the first few episodes. The only bad thing about this show is the over-scripted and frankly very awkward stand up bits in front of the audience. Good show, good guys, bad stand-up. The skits are way to good to stop watching this show just cause of a little bad stand-up (which they might figure out SUCKS later on) i'll keep my digits crossed.
The show is designed exactly the same as a lot of other shows focused around one or two people; quick stand-up bits between skits. This being said, the show is pretty good. Its not all laughs all the time but when they nail a joke they really do NAIL it.
If you like racial humour mixed with truly creative writing (in the skits at least) then you should probably watch the first few episodes. The only bad thing about this show is the over-scripted and frankly very awkward stand up bits in front of the audience. Good show, good guys, bad stand-up. The skits are way to good to stop watching this show just cause of a little bad stand-up (which they might figure out SUCKS later on) i'll keep my digits crossed.
Seminal and hilarious
joshbentley12 February 2022
Key and Peele is incredibly funny! With any sketch show, you usually describe them as "hit-and-miss", however this breaks the mould and is 95% hit. Both Key and Peele are just very naturally funny people, and their chemistry is second-to-none. A lot of the best sketches centre around race, with no holds barred. They are unapologetic in their humour, tackling issues big or small with subtle satire which invariably develops into absurd, sophomoric, and slapstick humour.
It must be said that the best sketches do come early on in the show, as might be expected. Nonetheless, series 4 and 5 have some excellent, very quotable, sketches which stand the test of time.
If you haven't seen this show, but enjoy "silly" humour, then this is a must watch.
It must be said that the best sketches do come early on in the show, as might be expected. Nonetheless, series 4 and 5 have some excellent, very quotable, sketches which stand the test of time.
If you haven't seen this show, but enjoy "silly" humour, then this is a must watch.
Cult Classic
IntegrateDan29 May 2018
See also
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