Spartan Daily

New comic duo "Key & Peele" offers fresh laughs

Comedy Central introduced a new sketch series called "Key & Peele," staring comedians Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele portraying themselves.

The new series airs at 10:30 on Tuesday nights taking issues and conflicts, from ordinary people to celebrities, and brings them to the television screen for humor toward a younger audience.

During a conference call with Key and Peele, the two talked openly with students from different universities about the show.

"We grew up watching television and we like to think that the show is only a little mirror of pop culture," Peele said.

Peele adds that the show goes to a lot of fresh places that haven't been touched yet.

"What we're doing is for everyone, but we're trying to write comedy for the 21st century world and your firmly ensconced in that world your shaping and forming that world," said Key.

Key further added that the comedy should be really exciting for students in particular. 

The series illustrates events people go through and features discussions with their friends or family members in the certain situations.  

"Quite a lot of the material in our show is biographical…" Key said.

Key said that the sketch itself may not be literally something from their lives but a way they personally see the world.

My first impression of the show was two-sided. 

I felt that the comedians were trying too hard to make their audience laugh when, in reality, they don't have to.

The duo does a great job with the scheme of the sketch but can blow certain things out of proportion, bringing the humor down a notch.

The first episode of the season starts out with a rather good sketch with the two men respectfully calling their wives "b****."

In one scene Key arrives with his wife to Peele's house and the two wives let the men talk as they go into the other room.

Key apologizes to Peele for arriving late because his wife took 30 minutes longer getting ready.

Key explains to Peele that his wife instructed him to be in the car at 6:45, yet had him waiting until 7:15, to realize that when he walked back into the house she was barely getting out the shower.

Before Key continues to finish the story, the two men pause for a second and look up stairs to make sure their wives cannot hear them.

Key tells Peele that he looked his woman in the eye and said "b****" you told me 6:45."

Peele asks Key if he said that and Key replies with, "yeah."

For example, in the sketch mentioned above the duo are seen having a drawn-out conversation.

 Right away the sketch had me agreeing with the skit, nodding my head up and down as I watched the show because I know what its like waiting on a girl.

What works well for the show is the facial expressions used by the comedians and I would go as far as to say that's what makes the show great.

Key and Peele take a shot at rapper Lil' Wayne with Peele portraying the musican in prison and his life behind bars.

Lil' Wayne is seen being a tough guy in prison but just finds a way to get himself stabbed all the time.

Another skit includes President Obama hiring an anger translator to interpret his anger.

Undoubtedly, the series has a fresh and original feel.