Key & Peele, the Kings of Sketch Comedy

With the release of the new Jordan Peele produced horror/satire Him this week (which, unfortunately, is one of the year's very worst movies), I thought I would go back to the origin of Peele's unique and special sensibilities, his work on the groundbreaking sketch comedy show, Key & Peele. Let's remember the much happier times, before Peele started producing terrible horror movies.

I love sketch comedy. Always have, always will. And when you talk about the great sketch shows of all time (SNL, Kids in the Hall, Chappelle’s Show, Mr. Show, Monty Python) you absolutely have to include Key & Peele in that pantheon.

It ran from 2012 to 2015 on Comedy Central, five seasons, 53 episodes, and not a dud in the bunch. And when I say “not a dud,” I mean even the “lesser” sketches still had more creativity, sharpness, and originality than half the stuff other shows were doing at the time.

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele both came out of Mad TV. They had chemistry immediately, but when they finally got their own show? Lightning in a bottle.

Their style is this incredible mix: razor-sharp satire, goofy character work, brilliant physical comedy, and a willingness to push premises until they explode.

They’d start with a simple idea, like a substitute teacher mispronouncing names, or two valets arguing over Liam Neeson movies, and then escalate it until it reached this absurd, surreal, hilarious breaking point. That’s their genius.

The show tackled race, stereotypes, politics, pop culture, and everyday awkwardness with equal skill. Some of the best sketches about race in America, which were smart, biting, funny as hell, came out of Key & Peele.

And yet, the next sketch could be them playing two idiots in a car yelling “Biiiiitch!” for ten minutes, and that was just as funny. That balance of high and low, smart and silly, biting and dumb? That’s comedy nirvana.

And the show looked amazing. This wasn’t just two guys in wigs on a stage (though they did that too). The pre-taped sketches were shot like little movies, with real cinematic polish, whether it was parodying horror films, action movies, or period dramas.

Every sketch felt like its own world. And that production value, combined with their insane range as performers, made the show stand out.

Of course, Key and Peele have both gone on to huge success. Keegan-Michael Key has become a go-to comedic actor, popping up in everything from The Prom to Don't Think Twice, to The Super Mario Bros. Movie (yes, he was Toad) and he’s brilliant in dramatic stuff too.

Jordan Peele, of course, is now an Oscar-winning screenwriter and director (Get Out, Us, Nope) and has cemented himself as an influential voice in modern cinema. And you can see the seeds of that in Key & Peele.

The horror parodies, the attention to detail, the way a sketch could suddenly turn from funny to terrifying? Peele was already honing those muscles.

And then there are the iconic recurring characters: Mr. Garvey the substitute teacher (A-A-Ron!), Luther the anger translator (so good Obama himself invited him to perform at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner), Meegan and André, the two valets who worship Liam Neeson, the East/West Bowl football player intros, Wendell the sad nerd, Rafi the slap-ass baseball player, Brock Favors the world’s worst reporter.

The list goes on. These guys created characters that entered the comedy lexicon instantly.

When the show ended in 2015, I was sad, but also kind of relieved. Because they ended it at the top. They didn’t overstay their welcome.

They left behind a run of sketches that still hold up today, still rack up millions of views on YouTube, still get quoted constantly. And like the best sketch shows, they feel timeless but also very much of their moment.

So in honor of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, and in honor of one of the best sketch comedy shows of all time, I’ve put together a list of my 20 favorite Key & Peele sketches.

These are the ones that make me laugh every time, the ones I still quote, the ones I consider absolute classics.

Some are obvious (you know the ones), some are deep cuts, but all of them represent why Key & Peele is one of the funniest shows ever made.

Here they are:

THE 20 GREATEST KEY & PEELE SKETCHES (in no particular order):

1. SHADY LANDLORD

Key plays DeVon, the world’s creepiest, shadiest landlord who always suspects his tenants of hiding something.

If you’ve ever dealt with a shady landlord (and in Chicago, we've all had a few) this sketch will trigger you. Key’s eyes alone deserve an Emmy, and the sketch's payoff is outstanding.

2. AEROBICS MELTDOWN

A cheerful 1980s aerobics competition slowly unravels as Peele’s character has an emotional breakdown live on air.

This one is so dark and so funny at the same time. The commitment to the ’80s aerobics vibe is perfect. And then it gets sad. And then it gets hilarious again.

3. MCFERRIN VS. WINSLOW

Bobby McFerrin (Peele) and Michael Winslow (Key) face off in a ridiculous vocal sound effects battle.

I could watch this all day. It’s two grown men making stupid noises and somehow it’s comedy gold. Also, the fact that Jordan Peele can nail Bobby McFerrin’s voice is insane.

4. AUCTION BLOCK

Slaves at an auction get offended when nobody bids high enough for them.

This sketch shouldn’t work, it’s such a touchy subject. But it’s one of the funniest, sharpest commentaries on race I’ve ever seen. Only Key & Peele could pull this off.

5. INSULT COMIC

Peele plays an insult comic who absolutely cannot handle it when when dealing with a very uncomfortable situation.

The guys doing what they do best, straddling that fine line between uncomfortable and goofy. Although, this is pretty damned uncomfortable.

6. ANDRE AND MEEGAN'S FIRST DATE

Meegan and Andre’s toxic dynamic on full display during their very first date.

Meegan is maybe the most annoying character ever created, and I mean that as a compliment. Key’s long-suffering Andre deserves a medal for surviving five minutes with her.

7. LARON CAN'T LAUGH

LaRon (Peele) literally cannot laugh, even when everything around him is hilarious.

The sheer physical comedy of Peele’s face trying to produce a normal laugh is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. I’ve known people like this, you tell the funniest joke and they just stare at you, or have a very weird chortle. Crazy.

8. THE MARTY JEBSON SHOW GOES OFF THE RAILS

One of my very favorites. A professional late-night host loses control of his show as everything collapses into chaos.

This is Peele at his absolute best, deadpan and unraveling at the same time, while executing some of the funniest physical comedy you will ever see. It feels like every awkward talk show moment you’ve ever seen turned up to 11.

9. NEGROTOWN

A musical number about a utopian city where Black people are free from racism.

Genius. It’s catchy, it’s dark, it’s brutally honest, and it’s hilarious. A perfect example of how Key & Peele could blend comedy and commentary seamlessly.

10. PREPARED FOR TERRIES

Two overzealous and weird airline passengers take “being prepared for terrorists” to the most ridiculous level.

This is one of those sketches that escalates until you’re crying laughing. Key's hair: hilarious. "We gonna be eatin' like Diane Keaton."

11. EAST/WEST COLLEGE BOWL

Ridiculous football player introductions with even more ridiculous names. Here's the whole collection.

“Hingle McCringleberry.” That’s it. That’s the joke. And I laugh every single time. Another single sketch that deservedly turned into a series.

12. CONSEQUENCES

A school speaker warns kids about the “consequences” of bad decisions… which get progressively insane.

By the time he’s talking about being catapulted into a dragon’s mouth, I’m done. Perfect sketch escalation.

13. SLAP ASS

Rafi (Peele) has a disturbing obsession with slapping his teammates’ asses in the locker room.

Equal parts creepy and hysterical. It takes a dumb sports tradition and turns it into a full-blown psychological nightmare.

14. RAY PARKER JR.

Ray Parker Jr. sings leftover theme songs he wrote for movies that never asked for them.

The fake theme songs are so good I want them to be real. “Gremlins too? That’s what we’re gonna do!” stuck in my head for weeks. The moment where Peele, as Parker Jr., just sits there, contemplating his sad life, is genius.

15. GREMLINS 2 BRAINSTORM

A Hollywood sequel brainstorming session goes completely off the rails.

One the funniest parodies of Hollywood I’ve ever seen. The fact that Gremlins 2 actually is that crazy makes it even better. By the way, Joe Dante LOVES this sketch.

16. GAY WEDDING ADVICE

Two guys explain to their friends and family what happens at a gay wedding. Spoiler: it’s exactly the same as a straight wedding.

Brilliantly simple and so funny. It takes ignorance and turns it into comedy gold. Great performances and cameos in this one too.

17. CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

Peele’s character experiences a hotel’s free continental breakfast with operatic joy.

This sketch makes me cry laughing. We’ve all gotten way too excited over free hotel breakfast, but this takes it to Shakespearean levels.

18. WHITE ZOMBIES

Two Black guys find themselves in the middle of a zombie apocalypse… but the zombies aren’t interested in them.

This is both hilarious and smart as hell. A great send-up of horror tropes and race. Also, “They racist” might be the funniest line delivery ever.

19. VALET MOVIE FANS

These last two entries on this list are legendary, and absolute classics. The two valet guys rave about their favorite movie stars, especially “Liam Neesons."

These guys kill me every time. The way they mispronounce everything and still get way too hyped is comedy perfection. “Liam Neesons is my shiiiiiiiiit!” Here is the collection of every single Valets sketch. It truly does not get funnier than this.

20. SUBSTITUTE TEACHER

Perhaps the two most perfect pieces of sketch comedy ever executed. Mr. Garvey (Key), a substitute with 20 years of experience in “inner city” schools, butchers every student’s name. "I'm for real!!!"

This is the most famous sketch for a reason. Brilliantly written and performed to perfection by Key, and the entire supporting cast. “A-A-Ron?” “Jay-Quellin?” I don’t care how many times I’ve seen it, I laugh every single time. Genius. Also: "Insubordinate, and churlish."

Closing Thought

Key & Peele delivered some of the funniest, smartest, and most creative sketches of the past 20 years.

These 20 are my favorites, the ones I always go back to, the ones I quote, the ones that make me laugh until I cry. Whether it’s social satire, horror parody, or just two idiots screaming “Liam Neesons!”, Key and Peele were masters.

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