We’re rolling through every episode of Key and Peele on Pop Thruster, kicking off with “Bitch,” Season 1 Episode 1. Follow along on the journey!
Also: check out ALL 351 Key & Peele Sketches Ranked (In Painstakingly Funny Detail)!
Dueling Affects
“Oh my God, Christian, I almost totally just got mugged right now.” – Peele
The very first sketch of the first season of K&P is as short as it is brilliant. The premise is dead simple: Key is on a street corner, talking to his wife on the phone and engages in what seems like a super normal conversation. Peele then appears, also on his mobile phone, and immediately both men have conversations with affects that are far more street level/tough guy, I suppose you could say (in the intro to the live audience, the boys talk about how “you gotta dial it up a little bit” sometimes.) We learn immediately that this is a duo that enjoys toying with our expectations, with an under-the-hood theme of “don’t necessarily judge a book by its… voice.” Most importantly: it’s hilarious.
I Said Bitch
“I said bitch…” – Key & Peele
An early K&P classic. The boys are old friends who go to extreme lengths to convince each other that they really actually referred to their respective wives as a “bitch” when making a point, even though it’s entirely clear that neither have ever, ever referred to their wife as a “bitch.” At least on this planet.
Gideon’s Kitchen
“This is not fit for human consumption. No, this should be eaten by a higher life form.” – Chef Gideon
Chef Gideon (Key) is a Gordon Ramsey stand-in on a reality TV cooking competition who with each turn of phrase keeps messing with Peele’s understanding of whether he is an amazing or terrible chef. It turns out… he is amazing (we think?), though sadly he may not live to ever cook again.
Tha Carter in the Slammer
“Young money.” – Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne (Peele) proclaims that he’s the baddest m-f-er at Riker’s… right up until the moment that Key’s fellow prisoner stabs him for his bling. We later see this sequence repeated out in the yard. By the time he makes it to the prison shower, Lil Wayne is far more cautious… until the soap gets dropped. Sidenote: K&P could have easily been standouts on SNL for their impersonation skills alone.
Ancestry.com
“I was able to trace my family line all the way back to none other than the third president, Thomas Jefferson.” – Key
This commercial parody feels like it could be a real Ancestry.com ad until all of the African American characters proclaim that they can trace their lineage back to the same person: President Thomas Jefferson. It’s funny on the surface but also a potent reminder that the United States was founded by slave owners.
Medical Marijuana
“Does your face hurt, Mr. Washington?” – Dr. Johnson
Based on Matt Jones’ (Brandon “Badger” Mayhew from Breaking Bad and El Camino) recommendation, Mr. Washington (Peele) tells increasingly outlandish lies to Dr. Johnson (Key) in an attempt to get a prescription to buy legal weed. The joke here is kind of one note, and the skit is smartly short in recognizing that. The rapid pace of marijuana legalization also makes this one feel slightly dated.
Luther, Obama’s Anger Translator #1
“Because y’all motherf—-ers don’t listen!” – Luther
One of the best-known K&P bits of all time kicks off with a bang. President Obama (Peele doing an what’s arguably the very best impersonation of the 44th president of all time) announces that he’s hired Luther (Key) to be his “anger translator.” When Obama speaks, Luther gets to express what Obama’s “really” trying to convey. On top of the incredible impersonation, it’s a sensational comedic insight into the famously cool, reserved Obama and what it must be like to take on the massive pressures of being the president of the United States – and the first Black one at that! – while trying to keep one’s proverbial s— together. (I mean, just see how the guy who followed Obama handled things…). Bonus: There’s also an amazing call back to the “I Said Bitch” sketch.
Some stats and info about Key and Peele, “Bitch”
TV SHOW – Key & Peele
SEASON/EPISODE – Season 1, Episode 1
AIRED ON – January 31st, 2012
NETWORK/STREAMING SERVICE – Comedy Central/Hulu
GENRE – Comedy, Sketch Comedy
CREATED BY – Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele