We’re rolling through every episode of Key and Peele on Pop Thruster. Here we go with “Tackle & Grapple,” Season 3 Episode 9. Follow along on the journey!
Also: check out ALL 351 Key & Peele Sketches Ranked (In Painstakingly Funny Detail)!
Not Asleep Yet
“I forgot to tell you… I talk in my sleep.” – Peele
In this short and sweet episode opener (plus quick interstitial later in the episode), it’s a rare sketch where K&P refer to each other by their real names. It plays into the comedy too as the pair portray friends (or do they?) who have gone camping and are settling down to sleep in their tent. Peele announces that he’s been known to talk in his sleep and… I’ll just leave it there.
Check Your Girl, Bro
“No one checks me because I’m not luggage.” – Meegan
Wherein we explore the dynamic of a crazy, zero self-awareness girlfriend (Meegan, played by Peele) and her hapless boyfriend, Andre (Key), the latter of whom gets beaten up at every turn due to her pushing every interaction to a violently annoying extreme. Both K&P are adept at playing women (and every kind of character under the sun) but this one feels a little one-note and it’s a rare K&P sketch where you start thinking, “Okay, I get it” halfway through.
Doug Duggart’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
“Take on multiple enemies.” – Doug Duggart
Whenever a K&P sketch starts off with a grainy 1980s-era VHS vibe, I start chuckling immediately. Key is spectacular here as Doug Duggart, who may be a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but is certainly a white belt in the art of making a TV commercial. And that’s not even getting into the obscenely “wrong” demonstrations Duggart shows us, all involving him getting way too up close and personal with the young ladies he demonstrates his fighting moves with. Tackle and grapple!
Crossing the Street
“Couldn’t hurt to press it again.” – Peele
K&P are two corporate dudes waiting to cross the street at an intersection. When Peele moves to press the button to get the Walk sign to come on, Key lets him know that he’s pressed it already. And… well, that’s pretty much it. Almost.
Making It Rain
“That’s what you call a booty investment.” – Key
In terms of gentlemen’s club patronage, Peele is no match for Key’s lavish applications of cash on Galaxy, an exotic dancer. There are multiple hard laughs in this one, including when Peele slowly and excruciatingly opens his Velcro wallet in seek of additional (making it) rainy day funds.
Brothers, Brothers, Brothers
“As you were what, smart guy?” – Dude paying some young ‘uns to move his appliances
Peele is the cliched older gentleman who feels compelled to school the young ‘uns that they don’t need to go down the Bad Road as he did back in the day, except he’s having a rough time finding takers. The best part of this one Part I: a return cameo of Doug Duggart (Key), Brazilian Jiu Jitsu expert and… well, sexual predator of some sort (which obviously ain’t cool in a real world context but, you know, funny!).Part II: The Office alum Leslie David Baker shows up as an even older cliched gentleman.
It’s Happening
“Gota pocket full of funky with a peppermint twist. She’s a cool, shifty mama blastin’ off on the flip.” – The K&P Funk Implosion
The visuals on this one alone are absolutely glorious: K&P are part of a vintage late ‘70s funk band appearing on a Solid Gold-esque TV show called It’s Happening (which… amazing name). And as a massive fan of musical comedy acts, I could easily enjoy an entire show from these dudes on both hilarious and legit musical chops levels.
Some stats and info about Key & Peele, “Tackle & Grapple”
TV SHOW – Key and Peele
SEASON/EPISODE – Season 3, Episode 9
AIRED ON – November 13th, 2013
NETWORK/STREAMING SERVICE – Comedy Central/Hulu
GENRE – Comedy, Sketch Comedy
CREATED BY – Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele