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The History of Sketch Comedy cover art

The History of Sketch Comedy

By: Elle Key, Keegan-Michael Key
Narrated by: Keegan-Michael Key
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  • Summary

  • 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.
    ©2020 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC
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Episodes
  • Episode 0: History of Sketch Audio Trailer

    Episode 0: History of Sketch Audio Trailer
    Jan 4 2021

    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 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.
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    1 min
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  • Episode One: The Earth Cooled, and Then the Dinosaurs Came

    Episode One: The Earth Cooled, and Then the Dinosaurs Came
    Jan 28 2021
    Keegan covers the pre-history of sketch comedy, and dives into some of the seeds of comedy, drama and theater; which were planted by Sumerians and the Ancient Greeks. He also takes us on a personal history and explores his own career in comedy; including growing up in Detroit, and watching Saturday Night Live with his father.
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    33 mins
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  • Episode Two: I’m Gonna Get Medieval On Ya

    Episode Two: I’m Gonna Get Medieval On Ya
    Jan 28 2021
    We jump forward to medieval times, and the royal jesters’ politically sensitive role in court politics. Keegan moves on to describe the traveling troupes of Commedia del’Arte and their performers who forged comedy character tropes we know and love in sketch today. Keegan also shares his experiences as a performer at a Renaissance faire in Michigan… and yes he still has the full wardrobe.
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    37 mins
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Performing Arts
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What listeners say about The History of Sketch Comedy

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Profile Image for Christopher

Nice to listen to someone who loves the subject

I have enjoyed this because it is well researched and Mr Key clearly enjoys his subject matter. If you are on the fence then the author/narrator's enthusiasm will carry it. It's always good to listen to something done with love of the subject matter. This shines through although I agree that its a bit American (with other reviewers). To my mind however this is a plus as with this hyper level of enthusiasm you could sell me piss as vinegar LOL.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Pauline

A history of American sketch comedy

Which is’nt a bad thing, but as a British listener it was hard to see British sketch comedy reduced to one episode, talking about comedy from over 40 years ago and more and missing out Not the Nine O’clock News, Big Train, The Fast Show, Smack the Pony and Green Wing to name a few feels like it’s selling things short on our side of the pond. Great presentation though.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for Noel Mullen

Wonderful

This is brilliant, listen to the first episode and you’ll be hooked. Thank you Keegan-Michael Key and Audible!

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User

Great

This was a good podcast, I enjoyed listening to it. Good Job and thank you Audible for this podcast

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for Paul Curran

brilliant

This is a brilliant series. It's not overly funny, but that's not the point. It is a brilliant story about sketch comedy and makes you want to learn more. Keggan's love of sketch comedy is infectious. if you want to learn about the history and the games behind the most iconic sketches, this is the series for you.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for BeDeBe

it begins with E

How do you write about entertainment without entertainment? Here's how. Read on from E then nter ... etc

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Profile Image for Rick

Superb!!

I listened to this over the course of week. Every episode was well written and thought out. I had previously seen Keegan-Michael Key in a few movies, but didn't know much about his comedy career. A quick glance around YouTube soon corrected that. Now a huge fan!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for DukeOfAwesomeness

Amazing

Hilarious from strat the finish with entertaining stories that are well read and role played by Keegan Michael-Key.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for Haggunenon

If you have to explain the joke...

It's not funny.
This entire thing is the epitome of that old adage.
The show is about explaining why it's funny... but never finds the funny.
The format is this:
Contemporary sketch as exemlar
Explain it's context in history
Exemplar sketch in history
Explain why it's funny
Repeat.
Which is all well and good, but the sketches all feel like a jock and a history nerd got together to write them after sharing a keg. So they all go like this:
My man [historical character] did [historic action] and farted. Oh no you didn't! It's funny because [history] and they farted.
So every sketch loses the history and the humour.

Which is a shame because beneath all the dad jokes, it's got some great content to understand the building blocks of comedy.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Michael Lush

Lacking in scholarship odd for a collage boy

So he is a Black American comedian who finds the sketches he is presenting (and frequently butchered) very very (very) funny... if he didn't think that, they wouldn't be in the show.
The history and dissection of the craft of improv and sketch was very interesting (though there was the overlong explanation of the Who's on First? routine he could (and did) use Four Candles for that).
He was even nice enough mention The Goon Show as great inspiration to Monty Python, but deemed that only member worth naming was ... Peter Sellers

What? No love for Spike? The subversive genius who began alternative comedy?

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