The History Of Sketch Comedy: A Journey Through The Art And Craft Of Humor,New

A boisterous debut the authors are as funny as one would expect this is a hoot. Publishers WeeklyWill entice fans of Key & Peele a fun and funny primer on the art form. BooklistAuthors KeeganMichael Key and Elle Key build on the popularity of their 2022 Webby Awardwinning podcast and delve deeper into the world of sketch, helped along with new essays created expressly for the book by comedy greats.The History of Sketch Comedy will appeal to all kinds of comedy fans as well as fans of KeeganMichael Key, whether they know him from his Emmy and Peabodywinning work on Key & Peele; his roles in Fargo, The Prom, Schmigadoon!, The Bubble, and the upcoming Wonka; voiceover work in The Lion King; or as President Barack Obama's anger translator, Luther.With epic personal tangents and hilarious asides, the Keys take you on an illuminating journey through all facets of comedy from the stock characters of commedia del arte in the 16th century, to the rise of vaudeville and burlesque, the golden age of television comedy, the influence of the most wellknown comedy schools, and the ascension of comedy films and TV specialsall the way through to a look at the future of sketch on social media platforms. Along the way, we hear tales of Keegan's childhood, his comedy influences, and the vicissitudes of his career path. As the New York Times said in its review of their podcast, 'this comedy nerd history is filtered through memoir, with Key relating stories of his budding fandom, training and rise from improv comic to television sketch artist.'Part memoir, part masterclass, and hilariously embellished with priceless commentary, The History of Sketch Comedy highlights the essential building blocks of sketch comedy while interweaving Keegan's personal career journey and the influence of his comedy heroes. The text is complemented by original art by Elle Key and exclusive essays compiled from conversations with influential performers, sketch writers, and uber comedy fans including Mel Brooks, Julia LouisDreyfus, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, John Oliver, Tracy Morgan, Carol Burnett, Jim Carrey, Jordan Peele, and many more. This book is as entertaining as it is enlighteninga mustread for fans of comedy and all who aspire to comic greatness.EXPANDING THE HIT PODCAST: With content from the #1 trending, NAACPawardnominated and WebbyAwardwinning Audible podcast, and featuring newforthebook material as well as neverbeforeheard stories and essays, this book will be a hit for newcomers and avid listeners of the podcast alike.MASTER OF THE MEDIUM: KeeganMichael Key is a bona fide maestro of comedy, with the chops, experience, and love for the history of the medium that make him the perfect expert on all things sketch. As cowriter Elle Key likes to say, 'If KeeganMichael Key was a guest lecturer at NYU teaching a course called 'The History of Sketch Comedy,' it would be a very popular class.'EXCLUSIVE ESSAYS: Keegan and Elle interviewed over a dozen comedy legends exclusively for this book, and got their takes on topics ranging from the influence of Saturday Night Live, to women in comedy, to the mathematics of sketch. Hear, in their own words, from Mel Brooks, Mike Myers, Jordan Peele, JuliaLouis Dreyfus, John Oliver, Tracy Morgan, Stephen Colbert, Carol Burnett, Chris Rock, Bob Odenkirk, Mike Birbiglia, Matt Lucas, Ken Jeong, Christopher Guest, Gary Oldman, Kevin Nealon, Laraine Newman, and Jim Carrey.GIFTABLE VOLUME OF COMEDY GOLD: Original illustrations and personal photographs throughout make this unique comedy book as visually entertaining as it is enlightening. The perfect gift for comedy fans of all ages as well as anyone aspiring to write, perform, or produce comedic art.Perfect for: Comedy lovers of all kinds Fans of Key & Peele Fans of improv, sketch, standup, and shows like SNL, MadTV, Monty Python, and Mr. Show Gift giving or selfpurchase for established and aspiring comedians Readers of such bestse