One thing I appreciate is that they don't rehash material too often. One of the problems with most sketch comedy shows is they find a character or situation that is funny and then repeat it until you hate it. The only sketch of theirs that is in danger of that is the Obama's Anger Translator, which is really funny at first, but not quite as funny the second time.
Each episode has stand-up comedy segments shot in a studio in front of an audience, and these often function as lead-ins to the sketches, which are shot elsewhere.
This two-disc set contains the complete first season (eight episodes), as well as several bonus features. Several of the episodes also have commentary tracks by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele.
"Bitch" - They immediately talk about being bi-racial, saying that because they're bi-racial they're adept at lying. "We sound whiter than Mitt Romney in a snowstorm." The title skit is about two married men who are bragging to each other about calling their wives "bitch" but are terrified that the wives might hear. So they remove themselves to more and more remote spots before repeating the word. This skit gets funnier as it goes on (while never mentioning that they're afraid of their wives). During one of their live segments, they rip on the premises for reality television programming, such as, "You have a mental illness - let us rearrange your furniture for you." That leads into a sketch making fun of those kitchen shows. One of my favorite bits is a fake commercial for Ancestry.com, in which all black people trace themselves back to Thomas Jefferson. Perfect. This episode has an audio commentary track, in which they talk about meeting Barack Obama.
"MMMMMM" - Again, they talk about being bi-racial. Both have white moms, and they joke about how they learned early on that white mothers can't hit black children in public. Some jokes go on a bit long, like the substitute traffic reporter being frightened in the helicopter. I really like the sketch about the two chicks in a bar taking pictures of themselves during an armed robbery.
"Das Negroes" - This episode has lots of comedy based on race, and almost all of it is truly funny. In one skit, they're part of a slave auction, where everyone is getting bought except them. This is a great take on the subject, and is seriously funny and clever. This is one of my favorite sketches from the entire season. Also funny is the World War II sketch with the two of them in white face trying to fool a Nazi. They also do an original take on black people talking back to the screen in a movie theatre. Rather than yelling inane and obnoxious comments, they critque the film on both its technical and aesthetic aspects. This episode has a commentary track.
"The Branding" - I dig the whole Pegasus bit, but the Mel Gibson bit is even better. I never get tired of jokes about him. The D&D sketch falls flat (though it does make me want to play the game again). This episode has more of Obama and his anger translator, and proves not as funny the second time around. Also, the rap song goes on too long. It's one joke, and that one joke isn't very funny.
"Dueling Magical Negroes" - This episode has certainly the best title of any episode, and the title skit is fairly amusing, with an obligatory Highlander reference. This episode isn't as strong as most of the others, but I dig the bit where Obama tricks the republicans into agreeing to his program.
"Flicker" - I love taking jokes too far, and this episode takes that annoying "You have something on your shirt" bit to a deliciously absurd extreme. But the episode's best moment is when the dog is tossed over a fence. This episode has a commentary track.
"Soul Food" - This is one of their best episodes. The restaurant scene is completely hilarious, and becomes funnier the longer it goes on. I love a sketch that keeps building like that. They do that also with the puppy sketch, which had me in tears. This is my favorite sketch from them, and is one of the funniest things I've seen in a while. It has them back in drag and saying lines like, "I'm going to buy that dog. I'm going to drive him to the vet and I'm going to have him put down immediately." And when it has reached the point of being absolutely ridiculous, they take it to another, even more deliciously absurd level. I love it. This episode has a commentary track, and they talk about an extra who got upgraded on set (always a nice gift for someone - hint, hint).
"Landlord" - This episode has a running gag about Obama teaching his daughter about life and running into trouble. It's funny, but the best skit from this episode is the black performers at Jewish festivities. It's a great skit.
Special Features
Besides the commentary tracks, there are some special features on the second disc. These include "Outtakes," seven minutes of bloopers and whatnot. Also there is feature titled, "Poolside Interview," which is sort of what you think it will be - the two of them seated by a pool, talking. But the first part, about Simon & Garfunkel, is definitely a bit, not an actual interview. Then they joke about ideas for the show's theme song. This segment is approximately 4 1/2 minutes.
The special features also include several segments of "Obama's Anger Translator," starting with the one from the first episode for some reason. All are amusing, but some are certainly funnier than others. I particularly like the "Makeup Job" bit, and the one titled "The Last Four Years." The last special feature is titled "Key & Peele Live at the South Beach Comedy Festival." It's actually stuff before and after their performance, not the performance itself.
Key & Peele: Season 1 was released on September 25, 2012. The show's second season is now airing on Comedy Central.
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