Comedy Central duo brings improv, exclusive clips to USC
Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are two comedians that know how to make an audience roar.
Carolina Productions brought the Comedy Central duo to the Russell House Tuesday for a night of sketches, improvisation and even rapping. The previous MADtv cast members now have their own sketch comedy show, naturally called “Key and Peele,” renewed by Comedy Central for a second season, which premiered in September.
The line to see the two comedians stretched beyond the open doors to the ballroom and through the second floor lobby, while anticipation from students gradually became more prevalent as showtime grew closer. Inside the ballroom, every seat was filled and students lined up against the walls.
The duo came out to a standing ovation and continued to control the audience’s volume for a few minutes by waving their arms up and down.
Peele called the Comedy Central show “sort of a racial show,” and the performance Tuesday night followed suit. It consisted of tons of audience interaction, a few anecdotes and USC references, like jokes about The Salty Nut and obligatory Clemson insults.
Students were given the privilege of seeing a few filmed sketches that haven’t been aired yet, such as a Michael Jackson Halloween sketch set to air on tonight’s episode. Students were also treated to the return of “Coach Hines,” a popular MADtv sketch starring Key.
The improv acts were certainly polished, as one began in a laboratory and ended in a circus. Another required the comedians to correctly guess six movies — one of them being the 1999 Disney Channel Original Movie “Johnny Tsunami,” a clear fan favorite — while maintaining a funny scene in which they portrayed scam artists. They guessed all six in ten minutes.
In an interview with The Daily Gamecock, the comedians revealed what made them get into comedy as a profession. Peele was enrolled in Sarah Lawrence College and had an interest in puppetry. However, after joining his college improv troupe, “Judith,” his goal of being on a sketch show was in clear view.
“I left a very expensive school to move to Chicago, and from there my journey took me to Amsterdam, and eventually to MADtv,” he said.
As for Key, his story is a little bit different.
“{Comedy} wasn’t something that you could major in. I wasn’t going to be able to make a living in it, so I just [said] ‘I’ll be a dramatic actor, work on the stage for the rest of my life and do Shakespeare,’” Key said.
He eventually found his way to Second City — a notorious improvisational troupe in Detroit and Chicago — and decided to pursue comedy.
Key and Peele began their act together shortly after they left MADtv, describing it as, “a moment of opportunity for both of us.” They said the fact that they wanted to work together was beneficial for them, calling it a “force multiplier.”
“You want a show with one of these guys? How about both?” Peele said.
When it comes to their favorite audience to perform for, neither comedian was too sure.
“Performing here was great ... We know you guys here have digested a good amount of [our videos]. That’s always good.” Peele said.
But Key said the duo aims to make their material accessible to all demographics.
“We try to make scenes for everybody so it feels like there’s not really a particular group,” he said.
“Key and Peele” airs every Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. on Comedy Central. You can also check up on them on by visiting comedycentral.com.