The use of satire in the Key and Peele sketch comedy reveals a truth about trends in American urban youth by doing just that: by being contrary to the expected, by being nonsensical to the point of absurdity, by making us laugh. Moreover, it reveals a truth about our own ideological assumptions.
Comedy Central describes the new hit American sketch-comedy show as an “original new sketch-comedy show that examines life in a provocative and irreverent way, through a combination of filmed sketches and live stage segments. Whether it’s satirizing the President, spoofing Nazis, or ordering up some soul food, Key & Peele showcases their chemistry, camaraderie and unique point of view, born from their shared background and experiences growing up biracial in a not quite post-racial world.”
The show itself has received numerous positive reviews, even by one of the targets of their criticism, President Obama. While on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Obama touches on how he had watched the skit on himself with ‘Luther, his Anger Translator’ saying, “It’s pretty good stuff ”.
As with any great satirical piece, Key and Peele not only makes us laugh, they makes us think