We’re rolling through every episode of Key and Peele on Pop Thruster. Here we go with “Michael Jackson Halloween,” Season 2 Episode 6. Follow along on the journey!
Also: check out ALL 351 Key & Peele Sketches Ranked (In Painstakingly Funny Detail)!
The (Super NC-17) Exorcist
“Could you please clear the room?” – Key
A very short bit with one big laugh. Key is a priest in what’s clearly a parody of The Exorcist, and after going through the famous repetition of, “The power of Christ compels you!” a few times, the possessed child changes tack and uh… well, I’ll let you watch for yourself to check out the rest.
Thriller at the Halloween Party
“You’ve been touched by a smooth criminal.” – Key
Peele is hosting a Halloween Party. He’s dressed as a vampire and greets his guests with fun little vampire-y puns before welcoming them in. Cut to Key, dressed as a Thriller-era Michael Jackson, arriving. This party guest won’t stop riffing on all manner of vintage MJ dance moves and catch phrases, until finally Peele yells at him. The best part: Key doing a sad and slow moon walk away when he learns (three years too late) that the King of Pop has, in fact, gone to the great beyond.
(Racist) Zombie Apocalypse
“These are some racist motherf—ing zombies!” – Key
It’s the zombie apocalypse, and K&P are terrified while trying to get to the sheriff’s station… until, wait a minute, the zombies are scared of them. A huge comedic payoff comes when zombies in a parked car lock their doors when the boys stroll by. Meanwhile, the party’s on for the survivors. So it’s a zombie paradise in the end, and a sublimely satirical one at that.
Inner-City Wizard School
“Here’s a wand with a silencer on it.” – Lester, Head of Security
A title card tells us: “Recent cutbacks in education have hit America’s poorest public schools the hardest.” We then cut to kids in a school hallway blasting each other with magic wands, and learn that this is a documentary about Clortho Public School for Wizards, which has “the highest incidence of wizard-on-wizard violence in America.” In short, it’s a brilliant satire of urban school documentaries mashed together with (a very low budget) Hogwarts from Harry Potter lore.
That Totally Reminds Me
“Oh my God, Amy, I almost forgot to tell you…” – Peele
K&P are two ladies out for a stroll, which is an excuse for a riff fest involving that totally reminds me – stories about incredibly normal stuff that each character finds hellaciously crazy – …but then! An actual creeper dude invites the ladies into his van “to meet Channing Tatum” (because, reasons, you know) and of course they hop right in without so much as a blink.
Human Centipede
“I was in the middle, you were at the end…” – Peele
Key is having an upscale lunch with an attractive woman, who excuses herself to use the rest room. Peele then slides into the empty seat with a whole, “Remember me?” vibe. Key is clearly super uncomfortable and denial-y when Peele insists that they know each from a… human centipede (you’re on your own should you choose to look it up, my friends). Things escalate from there, you might say.
Luther, Obama’s Anger Translator #6
“This is it, Armageddon!” – Luther
In this sixth and relatively short edition of Peele as President Obama and Luther (Key) as his anger translator, there’s not much new that’s added to the mix. The most memorable bit might be Obama agreeing with Luther that parents should “just wash they ass,” referring to babies that get handed to him to hug while out on the presidential campaign trail.
Black Shining
“You never shined with another Black person before?” – Dick
Key is starting a new corporate job and is being shown around, when he’s introduced to Dick (Peele), who throws him a creepy smile and starts talking to him… with his mind. “What’s up dude? Glad to see there’s another brother in this stuffy place,” he says/thinks at him. Dick then quickly fills him on the fact that “all Black people have the shining.” And then it turns out that all Black people can hear each other’s thoughts in real time, including the likes of Lil Jon, Denzel Washington, Kobe Bryant, and President Obama himself. This one plays out more like a short horror film versus hilarious sketch comedy, but it’s kind of cute.
Some stats and info about Key & Peele, “Michael Jackson Halloween”
TV SHOW – Key and Peele
SEASON/EPISODE – Season 2, Episode 6
AIRED ON – October 31st, 2012
NETWORK/STREAMING SERVICE – Comedy Central/Hulu
GENRE – Comedy, Sketch Comedy
CREATED BY – Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele