{{short description|American sketch-comedy television series (2012–2015)}} {{redirect-distinguish|K&P|King & Prince}} {{Use American English|date=April 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox television | image = Key & Peele.jpg | genre = [[Sketch comedy]] | creator = {{ubl|[[Keegan-Michael Key]]|[[Jordan Peele]]}} | writer = {{ubl|[[Rebecca Drysdale]]|[[Alex Rubens]]|[[Charlie Sanders (actor)|Charlie Sanders]]|Phil Jackson|[[Rich Talarico]]|[[Colton Dunn]]|Jordan Peele|Keegan-Michael Key|[[Jay Martel]]|[[Ian Roberts (American actor)|Ian Roberts]]|Sean Conroy}} | director = [[Peter Atencio]] | starring = {{ubl|Keegan-Michael Key|Jordan Peele<ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite press release|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2011/062911_nick-kroll-and-keyandpeele-pickup.jhtml |title=COMEDY CENTRAL® GREENLIGHTS TWO NEW SERIES FOR THE 2012 SEASON|publisher=Comedycentral.com |date=June 28, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222180100/http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2011/062911_nick-kroll-and-keyandpeele-pickup.jhtml |archive-date=February 22, 2012 }}</ref>}} | theme_music_composer = [[Reggie Watts]] | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 5 | num_episodes = 55 | list_episodes = List of Key & Peele episodes | executive_producer = {{ubl|Keegan-Michael Key|Jordan Peele|Ian Roberts|Jay Martel|Peter Principato|Paul Young}} | producer = Keith Raskin | cinematography = Charles Papert | editor = {{ubl|Justin Donaldson|[[Richard LaBrie]]}} | camera = [[Single-camera]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/key-peele/show/48090|title=Key & Peele Television show – Key & Peele TV Show – Yahoo! TV|publisher=[[Yahoo! TV]]|access-date=February 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120031107/http://tv.yahoo.com/key-peele/show/48090|archive-date=January 20, 2012}}</ref>{{efn|[[Multi-camera]] for stage segments}} | runtime = 21–24 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hulu.com/key-and-peele|title=Watch Key & Peele Online Streaming at Hulu|work=Hulu|access-date=May 1, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511011240/http://www.hulu.com/key-and-peele|archive-date=May 11, 2016}}</ref> | company = {{Plainlist| * Cindylou * [[Monkeypaw Productions]] * [[Comedy Partners]] * Martel & Roberts Productions * Principato-Young Entertainment }} | network = [[Comedy Central]] | first_aired = {{Start date|2012|1|31}} | last_aired = {{End date|2015|9|9}} | related = ''[[Mad TV]]'' }}

'''''Key & Peele''''' (abbreviated to '''''K&P''''') is an American [[sketch comedy]] television series that ran from 2012 to 2015. It was created by [[Keegan-Michael Key]] and [[Jordan Peele]] for [[Comedy Central]]; both had previously worked on ''[[Mad TV]].''<ref>{{cite web |last=Owen |first=Rob |url=http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/arts-entertainment-living/tuned-in-journal/31544-press-tour-key-a-peele-is-sketch-comedy-done-right |title=PRESS TOUR: 'Key & Peele' is sketch comedy done right |publisher=Communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com |date=January 14, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124015628/http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/arts-entertainment-living/tuned-in-journal/31544-press-tour-key-a-peele-is-sketch-comedy-done-right |archive-date=January 24, 2012 }}</ref>

Each episode of the show consists mainly of several pre-taped skits starring the two actors, performing as a [[double act]]. The sketches cover a variety of societal topics, often with a focus on American popular culture, [[ethnic stereotype]]s, [[social awkwardness]], and [[race relations]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1fYaBwAAQBAJ&q=key+%26+peele&pg=PA246|author1=Maus, Derek C.|author2=Donahue, James J.|title=Post-Soul Satire: Black Identity After Civil Rights|year=2014|publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]]|isbn=978-1-61-703997-3|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071359/https://books.google.hr/books?id=1fYaBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA246&lpg=PA246#v=snippet&q=key%20%26%20peele|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> ''Key & Peele'' premiered on January 31, 2012<ref>{{cite web|author=Gorman, Bill|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/01/04/keegan-michael-key-and-jordan-peele-come-to-comedy-central-with-new-series-key-peele/115317/|title=Keegan-Michael Key And Jordan Peele Come To Comedy Central With New Series 'Key & Peele'|publisher=[[TV by the Numbers]]|date=January 4, 2012|access-date=February 24, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114171353/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/01/04/keegan-michael-key-and-jordan-peele-come-to-comedy-central-with-new-series-key-peele/115317/|archive-date=January 14, 2012}}</ref> and ended on September 9, 2015, with a total of 53 episodes, over the course of five seasons. A special titled "Key & Peele's Super Bowl Special" aired on January 30, 2015.

''Key & Peele'' won a [[Peabody Award]] and two [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] and has been nominated for various other awards, including [[Writers Guild of America Award|Writers Guild Award]], [[NAACP Image Award]] and 16 additional Primetime Emmy Awards in various categories. Comedy Central maintains a [[YouTube]] channel for the series, which has over 6.7 million subscribers and 2.8&nbsp;billion views {{asof|lc=y|2026|January}}.

==Format== In the first three seasons, an episode would consist of a [[cold open]], with a short [[sketch comedy|sketch]]. After the [[Introduction (music)|intro]] plays, the two hosts introduce themselves to a studio audience and explain a possible situation, with the following sketch having a tangentially similar situation. The show then follows this pattern, with a number of sketches, each varying in length. However, not all the segments are introduced by a studio segment nor are they necessarily on a similar or connected theme. Many of the show's sketches follow a similar comedic form, specifically taking a comedic premise, situation, or turn of phrase, and repeat it in a more extreme fashion, thereby 'upping the ante' of comedic absurdity as the sketch unfolds. As an example, in popular sketch "Consequences", a guest speaker is brought to a school assembly to warn students about the consequences of their youthful misadventures. The speaker starts by telling a story of pattern of youthful misbehaviors and minor substance-use, such as smoking cigarettes and "hanging out on the street late at night" leading to misdemeanors and petty crime, through to "real crimes" which resulted in "being shot out of a catapult into the mouth of a dragon", and later being "sucked into a wormhole, consequences!".<ref>{{cite AV media |date=November 6, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dWjKkF0Zi4 |title=Key & Peele – Consequences |publisher=[[Comedy Central]] |via=YouTube |access-date=August 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723204111/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dWjKkF0Zi4 |archive-date=July 23, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, Key and Peele's sketches often poke fun at aspects of [[Race relations in American society|race relations in the modern-day United States]], as well as [[Black American culture]] writ large.

In the last two seasons, the show eschewed a studio audience in favor of a pre-shot narrative, featuring the duo discussing a concept during a car ride through the [[Mojave Desert]], as the introduction to their sketches. In the last episode, it is revealed that the car ride is an extension of the "I Said Bitch" sketch from the first episode, their first primary sketch, as they finally stop the car in the middle of the road, look around, and utter "Bitch!" to one another.

==Production== The series was first announced in June 2011 by [[Comedy Central]].<ref name=autogenerated4 /> In anticipation of the show, Key and Peele launched a web series in support of the program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/key-peele-launch-obama-anger-translator |title=Key & Peele Launch Obama Anger Translator |publisher=MovieWeb.com |date=January 12, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118185544/http://www.movieweb.com/news/key-peele-launch-obama-anger-translator |archive-date=January 18, 2012 }}</ref> The series premiered in January 2012 on Comedy Central in the U.S. and on [[The Comedy Network]] in Canada.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/key-and-peele/index.jhtml|title=Key & Peele|publisher=[[Comedy Central]]|access-date=February 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226081102/http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/key-and-peele/index.jhtml|archive-date=February 26, 2012}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/Shows/KeyPeele|title=The Comedy Network Shows – Watch Full Episodes &#124; Daily Show, Colbert & Skeet.0|publisher=Thecomedynetwork.ca|access-date=February 24, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203121302/http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/Shows/KeyPeele|archive-date=February 3, 2012}}</ref> The first episode drew 2.1&nbsp;million viewers, making it the most-watched [[Comedy Central]] launch since 2009.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gorman, Bill |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/01/tosh-0-season-premiere-pulls-in-3-1-million-total-viewers-new-series-key-peele-debuts-to-2-1-million-total-viewers-for-the-biggest-comedy-central-launch-since-2/118446/ |title="Tosh.0" Season Premiere Pulls In 3.1 Million Total Viewers & New Series "Key & Peele" Debuts To 2.1 Million Total Viewers For The Biggest Comedy Central Launch Since 2009 – Ratings |publisher=TV by The Numbers |access-date=February 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821081356/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/01/tosh-0-season-premiere-pulls-in-3-1-million-total-viewers-new-series-key-peele-debuts-to-2-1-million-total-viewers-for-the-biggest-comedy-central-launch-since-2/118446/ |archive-date=August 21, 2013 }}</ref>{{clear left}} The series was renewed for four more seasons, beginning in September 2012,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/key-and-peele-renewed-comedy-central-290530 | work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | first=Philiana | last=Ng | title=Comedy Central Renews 'Key & Peele' for Season 2 | date=February 14, 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219034705/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/key-and-peele-renewed-comedy-central-290530 | archive-date=February 19, 2016 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> September 2013,<ref>{{cite news|work=Seat42f|title=Key & Peel Renewed For A Third Season|url=http://www.seat42f.com/comedy-central-renews-key-peele-for-a-third-season.html|access-date=November 27, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129224216/http://www.seat42f.com/comedy-central-renews-key-peele-for-a-third-season.html|archive-date=November 29, 2012}}</ref> September 2014,<ref>{{cite web|last=Bibel|first=Sara|title='Brickleberry,' 'Key & Peele' and 'Drunk History' Renewed by Comedy Central|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/10/30/brickleberry-key-peele-and-drunk-history-renewed-by-comedy-central/212608/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111190233/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/10/30/brickleberry-key-peele-and-drunk-history-renewed-by-comedy-central/212608/|archive-date=November 11, 2013|access-date=November 11, 2013}}</ref> and July 2015.<ref name="GarveyFilm">{{cite web|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title=Paramount To Turn Key & Peele's 'Substitute Teacher' Into Feature; Keegan-Michael Key And Jordan Peele To Star|url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/substitute-teacher-key-and-peele-paramount-pictures-comedy-central-feature-1201398062/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=March 24, 2015 |access-date=April 26, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429111803/http://deadline.com/2015/03/substitute-teacher-key-and-peele-paramount-pictures-comedy-central-feature-1201398062/|archive-date=April 29, 2015}}</ref> The last episode aired in September 2015.<ref name="Wrap">{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/key-peele-to-end-its-comedy-central-run-after-this-season-exclusive/ |title='Key & Peele' to End its Comedy Central Run After This Season (Exclusive) |date=July 25, 2015 |access-date=July 25, 2015 |publisher=The Wrap |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728092946/http://www.thewrap.com/key-peele-to-end-its-comedy-central-run-after-this-season-exclusive/ |archive-date=July 28, 2015 }}</ref>

==Episodes== {{main|List of Key & Peele episodes}} {{:List of Key & Peele episodes}}

==Recurring characters and sketches== === Barack Obama and Luther === [[File:Barack Obama and Keegan-Michael Key at White House Correspondents' Association Dinner 2015.jpg|thumb|Key performing as Luther, President Obama's "anger translator", alongside the real Obama at the 2015 White House Correspondents Dinner.]] The 44th President of the United States, impersonated by Peele, often has difficulty expressing his true feelings. President [[Barack Obama]]'s "anger translator" Luther, played by Key, works to interpret the President's low-key statements into raging, profanity-laced tirades. Oftentimes, Luther goes too far with these and has to be reeled in by Obama, while other times Luther's influence ends up rubbing on Obama, prompting him to swear. Other sketches reveal that Obama's [[Michelle Obama|wife]] and [[Malia Obama|two]] [[Sasha Obama|daughters]] each have their own anger translators as well, whom they request help from to speak with each other, as do other politicians such as [[Hillary Clinton]].

Key appeared briefly in-character as Luther at the Annual [[White House Correspondents' Association#White House Correspondents' dinner|White House Correspondents Dinner]] as an anger translator for the real Barack Obama in early 2015. On January 5, 2017, Key debuted an "Obama-Luther" sketch on ''[[The Daily Show]] with [[Trevor Noah]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-daily-show-key-peele-obama-anger-20170106-htmlstory.html|title=Key & Peele bring back Obama's anger translator, roast Trump on 'The Daily Show'|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=January 25, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124225906/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-daily-show-key-peele-obama-anger-20170106-htmlstory.html|archive-date=January 24, 2017}}</ref>

In 2024, a sketch from ''Key & Peele'' gained public attention when the real Barack Obama was filmed at [[USA Basketball]]’s 50th anniversary party in Las Vegas acting in a similar manner to Peele's Obama in one of the sketches.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/11/obama-team-usa-basketball|title=Obama's code-switching USA Basketball greetings evoke Key & Peele sketch|first=Martin|last=Pengelly|date=July 11, 2024|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> At the USA Basketball party, Obama was filmed shaking the hands of white athletes but giving hugs to black athletes.<ref name="auto"/> This was noted as similar to a 2014 ''Key & Peele'' sketch where Peele's Obama is shown at a political event where he greets white guests by shaking their hands but greets black guests by hugging them.<ref name="auto"/> === Mr. Garvey === {{Main|Substitute Teacher (Key & Peele)}} Mr. Garvey (played by Key) is an ill-tempered and distrustful substitute teacher with 20 years of experience in [[inner-city]] schools, which he applies to his now mostly-white suburban class. While taking attendance, Mr. Garvey proceeds to butcher the names of his students, rendering Jacqueline as "Jay-Quellin", Blake as "Balakay", Denise as "Dee-Nice", and Aaron as "A-A-Ron". The implication is that Mr. Garvey has trouble pronouncing "white" names, mirroring the experiences of minority students with similar-minded white teachers. However, when the students correct him, Mr. Garvey thinks they're deliberately messing with him, and refuses to accept their word. Instead, he vigorously defends his errors, causing him to become progressively more enraged and threatening with each correction. He proclaims that he has his eye on Jacqueline, asks Blake if he wants to go to war, and breaks a clipboard in front of Denise while demanding she say her name "right". Mr. Garvey eventually snaps at Aaron, sending him to Principal O'Shaughnessy's office - whose name he mispronounces as "O'Shag-Hennessy" - for insubordination. The only student Mr. Garvey seems to trust is an African-American boy at the back of the class named Timothy ("Tim-Oh-Thee"), who is played by Peele. Timothy does not correct Mr. Garvey when his name is called, and also replies with "pree-sent" instead of "present", suggesting he may come from a similar background to Mr. Garvey.

In Substitute Teacher Part 2, Mr. Garvey's class - including a new student named Jessica ("Ja-Seeca") - seem to have gotten used to their names being mangled. During roll call, Aaron informs Mr. Garvey that some students need to leave class early, so that they can meet up with their clubs for [[Yearbook|yearbook photos]]. Mr. Garvey misinterprets this as a fabricated excuse to ditch class and go [[Clubbing (subculture)|clubbing]], something his students are too young for. Jacqueline nonetheless confirms that Aaron was referring to the students' [[Extracurricular activity|school clubs]], but Mr. Garvey simply takes this as confirmation that, yet again, the students are messing with him. In this mindset, Mr. Garvey questions his students about their club activities, then finds a reason as to why they must be lying. Jacqueline's involvement in Future Leaders of America is dismissed due to her not being clairvoyant; Blake being in the Spanish club is ridiculed on the grounds that he isn't "Spanish" enough; and Denise saying she's in the [[chess]] club is misinterpreted as being in the "chest club", which Mr. Garvey hurtfully claims she isn't. When Mr. Garvey learns that Aaron is the president of the [[glee club]], he loses his temper; he refuses to believe that such a club exists, as, in his mind, no one would ever dedicate a club to a [[Glee (TV series)|TV show]] (never considering that it might be the other way around). Once again, Mr. Garvey sends Aaron to Principal O'Shaughnessy's office out of rage and spite. Immediately afterwards, O'Shaughnessy himself makes an intercom announcement to remind students to meet with their clubs, but Mr. Garvey dismisses it as fake (possibly because O'Shaughnessy said his name correctly rather than "O'Shag-Hennessy"). Despite all of this, Mr. Garvey is happy to excuse Timothy so he can pick up his daughter, as he deems this a "legitimate reason".

In November 2022, Key reprised the role in an advertisement for [[Paramount+]], in which he teaches a [[mountaineering]] class consisting of various children's show characters. These students include "Blah-Zay" (Blaze from ''[[Blaze and the Monster Machines]]''), "B-Louie" (Blue from ''[[Blue's Clues]]''), [[Peppa Pig]] (whose name is not called), "Big Naughty" (Nate from ''[[Big Nate (TV series)|Big Nate]]''), "K-Room" (Krumm from ''[[Aaahh!!! Real Monsters]]''), "Doh-Rah" ([[Dora the Explorer (character)|Dora the Explorer]]), and "Bum-blee-bay" ([[Bumblebee (Transformers)|Bumblebee]]). Unlike the original sketches, "A-A-Ron" ([[Aaron Donald]]) plays the Timothy role, and is not sent to the principal’s office.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Wang |first=Jessica |date=November 23, 2022 |title=Keegan-Michael Key returns as substitute teacher Mr. Garvey to school Peppa Pig, Dora the Explorer, and more |url=https://ew.com/tv/keegan-michael-key-returns-substitute-teacher-mr-garvey-paramount-plus/ |access-date=November 26, 2022 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>

=== The Valets === Played by Key and Peele, the two valets from the Berkshire Restaurant (who always use unnecessary plurals in names of people, places, or things) love discussing their favorite movie stars and characters. Despite this, the valets mangle their names and films – such as "[[Liam Neeson]]s" from ''[[Taken (film)|Tooken]]'', "[[Peter Dinklage|Peter Dinkels]]" (who plays "[[Tyrion Lannister|Taiwan Lannister]]"), "[[Bruce Willis|Bruce Willies]]," "[[Michelle Pfeiffer|Michelle Pa-feiffer]]s," "[[Timothy Olyphant|Timothy Elephants]]" and "[[Mel Gibson|Racist-Ass Melly Gibsons]]". They end the sketch by saying that something related to the star in question is "MY SHIT!", then disappearing, by ways such as flying into the air like a rocket or exploding.

In February 2014, a sponsored sketch with the valets titled "What About ''Non-Stop''?" – in which "Liam Neesons" himself shows up to collect his car – was used to promote the film ''[[Non-Stop (film)|Non-Stop]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Castillo|first1=Michelle|title=Key & Peele Look Back on What Made Their 'Liam Neesons' Spot a Promoted Clip Worth Watching|url=http://www.adweek.com/tv-video/key-peele-still-pumped-about-liam-neesons-ad-159161/|access-date=May 4, 2017|work=[[Adweek]]|date=July 28, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628232625/http://www.adweek.com/tv-video/key-peele-still-pumped-about-liam-neesons-ad-159161/|archive-date=June 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The 7 Most Essential Key & Peele Sketches|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/key-peele-best-sketches/|access-date=May 4, 2017|work=TV Guide|date=February 10, 2015|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316043337/http://www.tvguide.com/news/key-peele-best-sketches/|archive-date=March 16, 2017}}</ref>

Key and Peele also appeared in a parody of "The Valets" in one of the teaser trailers for ''[[Toy Story 4]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.avclub.com/key-and-peele-reprise-one-of-their-best-bits-in-this-ne-1830410355 | title = Key and Peele reprise one of their best bits in this new Toy Story 4 clip | first= Dan | last = Neilan | date = November 13, 2018 | access-date = November 13, 2018 | work = [[The A.V. Club]] }}</ref> === East/West Bowl football players === The East/West Bowl features [[college football]] stars whose names become increasingly ridiculous. The concept came from Peele discovering there was an actual player with the name of [[D’Brickashaw Ferguson]] while playing ''[[Madden NFL]]''. The sketch utilizes introductions such as those on ''[[NBC Sunday Night Football]]'' in which the player states their name and school.<ref name="richeisen-eastwest">{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6yQIOdUZHI |work=The [[Rich Eisen]] Show |access-date=July 5, 2025 |title= Keegan-Michael Key on the Origins of the Mr. Garvey Substitute Teacher Sketch - The Rich Eisen Show }}</ref> Most are played by either Key or Peele, including "Javaris Jamar Javarison-Lamar" of the [[Middle Tennessee State University|University of Middle Tennessee]], "Hingle McCringleberry" of [[Pennsylvania State University]], "Donkey Teeth" of [[Boise State University]], "Huka'lakanaka Hakanakaheekalucka'hukahakafaka" of the [[University of Hawaii]], "Squeeeeeeeps" of [[Santa Monica College]], and "[[Anonymity|Firstname Lastname]]" of "College University". In addition, some West Team players come from non-university organizations, such as "Torque (Construction Noise) Lewith" of "[[Nevada State Prison|Nevada State Penitentiary]]", "[[Morse code|Morse Code]]" of "[[Military surplus|Army/Navy Surplus Store]]", "[[Wingdings]]" of "Online Classes", and the home-schooled "[[God]]". The West Team’s introductions are always finalized by a white player with a conventional name played by neither Key or Peele - with the two being "[[Everyman|Dan Smith]]" of [[Brigham Young University]] and "A. A. Ron Balakay"{{Efn|''"'A. A. Ron Balakay'"'' possibly serves as the inspiration for the students' names in their previously mentioned sketch, ''Substitute Teacher''. This sketch came out on January 31, 2012, while the ''Substitute Teacher'' sketch was aired later that year on October 17, 2012.}} (a mispronunciation on Aaron Blake) of [[Morehouse College]].

In the third edition of this sketch, the fictional athletes were joined by actual players with unusual names, such as [[Ha Ha Clinton-Dix]], [[Ishmaa'ily Kitchen]], and Ferguson himself. The last West Team player was [[Aaron Rodgers|"A. A. Ron Rodgers"]], with his name modified, in reference to the Mr. Garvey sketches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/laces-out/super-bowl-2015-patriots-seahawks-key-and-peele-east-west-bowl-012815 |work=[[FOX Sports]] |date=January 28, 2015 |access-date=July 25, 2015 |title='Key and Peele' gives us 'East/West Bowl' sketch with NFL players |last=Saraf |first=Sid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525035652/http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/laces-out/super-bowl-2015-patriots-seahawks-key-and-peele-east-west-bowl-012815 |archive-date=May 25, 2015 }}</ref> According to Key, Rodgers improvised his own punchline.<ref name="richeisen-eastwest"/>

==Guest stars== {{Div col|colwidth=15em}} * [[Tatyana Ali]] * [[Utkarsh Ambudkar]] * [[K. D. Aubert]] * [[Leslie David Baker]] * [[Sarah Baker (actress)|Sarah Baker]] * [[Malcolm Barrett (actor)|Malcolm Barrett]] * [[Bonnie Bartlett]] * [[Tone Bell]] * [[Matt Besser]] * [[Jordan Black (actor)|Jordan Black]] * [[Wayne Brady]] * [[Paget Brewster]] * [[Bo Burnham]] * [[Ty Burrell]] * [[Kate Burton (actress)|Kate Burton]] * [[Michelle Buteau]] * [[Anna Camp]] * [[Heather Anne Campbell]] * [[Larry Joe Campbell]] * [[Eugene Cordero]] * [[Mekia Cox]] * [[Rob Delaney]] * [[Julia Duffy]] * [[EpicLLOYD]] * [[Neil Flynn]] * [[Daniele Gaither]] * [[David Giuntoli]] * [[Fiona Gubelmann]] * [[Regina Hall]] * [[Colin Hanks]] * [[Ryan Hansen]] * [[Tricia Helfer]] * [[Justin Hires]] * [[Meagan Holder]] * [[James Hong]] * [[Anna Maria Horsford]] * [[Clint Howard]] * [[Ernie Hudson]] * [[Rob Huebel]] * [[Gabriel Iglesias]] * [[Nicole Randall Johnson]] * [[Matt Jones (actor)|Matt Jones]] * [[Rashida Jones]] * [[King Bach]] * [[Art LaFleur]] * [[Lauren Lapkus]] * [[Natasha Leggero]] * [[Tommy Lister Jr.|Tiny Lister]] * [[Kristanna Loken]] * [[Melanie Lynskey]] * [[Hayes MacArthur]] * [[Romany Malco]] * [[Ken Marino]] * [[Alphonso McAuley]] * [[Jack McBrayer]] * [[Kate Micucci]] * [[Jerry Minor]] * [[Mark Moses]] * [[Arden Myrin]] * [[Danielle Nicolet]] * [[Dean Norris]] * [[Adam Pally]] * [[Keke Palmer]] * [[Metta Sandiford-Artest|Metta World Peace]] * [[Mekhi Phifer]] * [[Lance Reddick]] * [[Retta]] * [[Kim Rhodes]] * [[Rob Riggle]] * [[Jason Ritter]] * [[Charlie Robinson (actor)|Charlie Robinson]] * [[Rebecca Romijn]] * [[Andre Royo]] * [[Will Sasso]] * [[Richard Schiff]] * [[Jason Schwartzman]] * [[Brenda Song]] * [[Kevin Sorbo]] * [[Paul F. Tompkins]] * [[Janet Varney]] * [[Malcolm-Jamal Warner]] * [[Michaela Watkins]] * [[Vernee Watson-Johnson|Vernee Watson]] * [[Alie Ward]] * [[Stephnie Weir]] * [[Billy Dee Williams]] * [[Gary Anthony Williams]] * [[Tyler James Williams]] * [[Cedric Yarbrough]] * [[Carlson Young]] {{Div col end}}

==Reception==

===Critical reception=== [[Image:Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele 2014.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Key and Peele attending the 2014 Peabody Awards]] The first two seasons of ''Key & Peele'' received positive reviews, maintaining a score 74 of 100 by the review aggregator site [[Metacritic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/key-peele/season-1/critic-reviews |title=Critic Reviews for Key & Peele Season 1 at Metacritic |website=Metacritic |access-date=February 10, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211103940/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/key-peele/season-1/critic-reviews |archive-date=February 11, 2012 }}</ref> The third season of ''Key & Peele'' received critical acclaim, receiving a score of 82 on Metacritic.<ref>[https://www.metacritic.com/tv/key-peele/season-3 "Key & Peele : Season 3"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206132918/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/key-peele/season-3|date=December 6, 2013}}. [[Metacritic]]. January 31, 2012</ref> The series won a [[Peabody Award]] in 2013 "for its stars and their creative team's inspired satirical riffs on our racially divided and racially conjoined culture".<ref>[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/key-peele-comedy-central "Key & Peele (Comedy Central)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815202914/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/key-peele-comedy-central |date=August 15, 2017 }}. [[Peabody Awards]]. May 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2014.</ref> On April 24, 2012, during an interview on ''[[Late Night with Jimmy Fallon]]'', President [[Barack Obama]] told the story of how he had watched the ''Key & Peele'' sketch featuring himself with "Luther, his Anger Translator", saying that "It's pretty good stuff – it's good stuff."<ref>{{YouTube|_3nRA8om_ao|Obama on Fallon, April 24, 2012}}</ref> Additionally, on April 25, 2015, during the [[White House Correspondents' Association#White House Correspondents' dinner|White House Correspondents Dinner]], Key reprised the role of Luther, President Obama's anger translator during the event.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 25, 2015|title='Key and Peele' Star Acts as Obama's 'Anger Translator' at Correspondents Dinner (VIDEO)|url=https://variety.com/2015/biz/news/key-and-peele-star-acts-as-obamas-anger-translator-at-correspondents-dinner-video-1201480074/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428230953/http://variety.com/2015/biz/news/key-and-peele-star-acts-as-obamas-anger-translator-at-correspondents-dinner-video-1201480074/|archive-date=April 28, 2015|access-date=April 26, 2015|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> [[Dave Chappelle]] has accused the show of copying the format he established years prior for ''[[Chappelle's Show]]'', but states that he is still a fan of the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dave-chappelle-netflix-comedy-fame-leaving-chappelles-show/|title=Dave Chappelle on fame, leaving "Chappelle's Show" and Netflix special|publisher=CBS|date=March 21, 2017|access-date=April 1, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324174147/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dave-chappelle-netflix-comedy-fame-leaving-chappelles-show/|archive-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Association ! Category ! Nominee(s) ! Result |- | rowspan=2|2013 | [[Writers Guild of America Award]]s<ref>Mitchell, Gregg; Strell, Jay (December 6, 2012). [http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=5098 "2013 ''Writers Guild Awards'' Television, News, Radio, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees Announced"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232741/http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=5098 |date=March 3, 2016 }}. [[Writers Guild of America]]</ref> | Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) Series | [[Rebecca Drysdale]], [[Colton Dunn]], [[Keegan-Michael Key]], Jay Martel, [[Jordan Peele]], Ian Roberts, [[Alex Rubens]], [[Charlie Sanders (actor)|Charlie Sanders]], and [[Rich Talarico]] | {{nom}} |- | [[65th Primetime Emmy Awards]]<ref name=EmmyK&P>{{cite web|title=Key & Peele|access-date=September 12, 2016|work=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/key-peele|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918021338/http://www.emmys.com/shows/key-peele|archive-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref> | Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic) | Scott Wheeler, [[Suzanne Diaz]] | {{nom}} |- | rowspan=5|2014 | [[Peabody Award]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/key-peele-comedy-central|title=Key & Peele (Comedy Central)|work=Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication|access-date=September 11, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905230845/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/key-peele-comedy-central|archive-date=September 5, 2015}}</ref> |Entertainment honoree | ''Key & Peele '' | {{won}} |- | rowspan=4|[[66th Primetime Emmy Awards]]<ref name=EmmyK&P/> | [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics|Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics]] | Episode: "Substitute Teacher #3; Joshua Funk, Rebecca Drysdale for "Les Mis" | {{nom}} |- | [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series|Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series]] | Jay Martel, Ian Roberts, Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Alex Rubens, Rebecca Drysdale, Colton Dunn, Rich Talarico, Charlie Sanders | {{nom}} |- | Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic) | Episode: "East/West Bowl Rap | {{nom}} |- | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special | Episode: "Substitute Teacher #3" | {{nom}} |- |rowspan=9|2015 | [[People's Choice Awards]] | Favorite Sketch Comedy Series | Comedy Central | {{nom}} |- | rowspan=8|[[67th Primetime Emmy Awards]]<ref name=EmmyK&P/> | [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series|Outstanding Variety Sketch Series]] | Comedy Central | {{nom}} |- | [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series]] | Keegan-Michael Key | {{nom}} |- | [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series|Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series]] | Rebecca Drysdale, Colton Dunn, Keegan-Michael Key, Jay Martel, Jordan Peele, Ian Roberts, Alex Rubens, Charlie Sanders, and Rich Talarico | {{nom}} |- | Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special | Brendan Hunt, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, and Rich Talarico for ''Key & Peele's Super Bowl Special'' | {{nominated}} |- | Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming | Phil Davis, Christian Hoffman, and [[Richard LaBrie|Rich LaBrie]] (Segment: "Scariest Movie Ever") | {{nominated}} |- | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special | Episode: "Aerobics Meltdown" | {{nominated}} |- | Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic) | Episode: "Episode 406" | {{nominated}} |- | Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program | ''Key & Peele Presents Van and Mike: The Ascension'' | {{nom}} |- |rowspan=7|2016 |rowspan=7|[[68th Primetime Emmy Awards]]<ref name=EmmyK&P/> | [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series|Outstanding Variety Sketch Series]] | Comedy Central | {{won}} |- | [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series]] | Keegan-Michael Key | {{nom}} |- |Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series |Comedy Central | {{nom}} |- |Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special | Episode: "Y'all Ready for This?" | {{nom}} |- |Outstanding Make-up for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic) | Episode: "Y'all Ready for This?" | {{won}} |- |Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming | Rich LaBrie, Neil Mahoney, Nicholas Monsour, and Stephen Waichulis for Episode: "The End" | {{nom}} |- |Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Nonfiction, Reality, or Reality-Competition Series | Episodes: "Y'all Ready For This?"; "The End" | {{nom}} |}

==Related media==

===Vandaveon and Mike=== Key & Peele have also created a YouTube commentary of their episodes under their alter-egos Vandaveon Huggins and Mike Taylor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/24/key-peele-the-color-of-funny/|author=Siek, Stephanie|title='Key & Peele': The color of funny|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=February 24, 2012|access-date=November 9, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302123200/http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/24/key-peele-the-color-of-funny/|archive-date=March 2, 2012}}</ref> Vandaveon and Mike analyze an episode, and suggest that low brow humor would make it funnier. These videos were also added to On Demand offerings of ''Key & Peele'' episodes. On March 12, 2014, Comedy Central announced the network was developing an animated spinoff starring Vandaveon and Mike as 12-year-old hall monitors, in association with Key and Peele.<ref name="Expanded">{{cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/comedy-central-expands-key-peele-687906|access-date=March 20, 2014|title=Comedy Central Expands 'Key & Peele,' Develops Animated Spinoff|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 12, 2014 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317013941/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/comedy-central-expands-key-peele-687906|archive-date=March 17, 2014}}</ref>

===Other film and television=== Key and Peele have appeared as a comedic duo, usually in tribute to the show, in various film and television series. This includes the following: * In the final three episodes of [[Fargo (season 1)|the first season of ''Fargo'']] (2014), Key and Peele play wisecracking FBI agents Bill Budge and Webb Pepper, who seek vengeance against main antagonist [[Lorne Malvo]] ([[Billy Bob Thornton]]) after he takes advantage of their distraction from their conversation to commit a rampage. * Key and Peele dueled in two episodes of ''[[Epic Rap Battles of History]]''. The first involved [[Mahatma Gandhi]] (Key) vs. [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] (Peele), while the second involved [[Muhammad Ali]] (Peele) vs. [[Michael Jordan]] (Key). * In the film ''[[Keanu (film)|Keanu]]'', Key and Peele play cousins Clarence Goobril and Rell Williams, who infiltrate a gang to retrieve a stolen kitten, as well as Smoke and Oil Dresden, the dreaded Allentown Brothers. Both also served as producers, with Peele contributing to the script. * In the animated film ''[[Toy Story 4]]'', Key and Peele voice carnival toys [[List of Toy Story characters#Carnival toys|Ducky and Bunny]], who assist [[Buzz Lightyear]] throughout the film. * In the animated film ''[[Wendell & Wild]]'', Key and Peele play the titular demons. Peele also co-wrote and co-produced the film.

==Home media== On September 25, 2012, [[Comedy Central]] and [[Paramount Home Entertainment]] released "''Key and Peele – Season 1''" on DVD and [[Blu-ray Disc]]. Both formats feature [[blooper]]s, outtakes, a "Poolside Interview," audio commentary with Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, "Backstage," "Split Their Pants," Key & Peele live at the South Beach Comedy Festival, and an [[Easter egg (media)|easter egg]] of the show's theme song.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Key-Peele-Season-1/17138|title=Key and Peele – 'Season 1' Coming on Blu-ray and DVD from Comedy Central **UPDATE: Artwork**|last=Lambert|first=David|date=June 25, 2012|work=TVShowsOnDVD|access-date=June 28, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629074941/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Key-Peele-Season-1/17138|archive-date=June 29, 2012}}</ref>

==Broadcast== The show generally aired on international [[Comedy Central#International|localized versions of Comedy Central]]. It premiered in Australia on [[The Comedy Channel]] on August 9, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/07/airdate-key-and-peele.html |title=Airdate: Key and Peele |website=TV Tonight |date=July 19, 2012 |access-date=November 9, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109221124/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/07/airdate-key-and-peele.html |archive-date=November 9, 2013 }}</ref>

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website}} * {{cite web |url= https://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/Shows/KeyPeele |title= Official website |location= Canadian |url-status= live |archive-date= February 3, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120203121302/http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/Shows/KeyPeele }} * {{IMDb title|1981558}}

{{Jordan Peele}} {{Navboxes |title = Awards for ''Key & Peele'' |list = {{Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series}} {{Streamy Awards Winners CSS Discontinued}} }} {{Comedy Central programming}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Key, Peele}} [[Category:2010s American black television series]] [[Category:American comedy duos]] [[Category:English-language American television shows]] [[Category:2010s American late-night television series]] [[Category:2010s American satirical television series]] [[Category:2010s American sketch comedy television series]] [[Category:2012 American television series debuts]] [[Category:2015 American television series endings]] [[Category:Comedy Central late-night programming]] [[Category:Cultural depictions of Barack Obama]] [[Category:Peabody Award–winning television programs]] [[Category:Primetime Emmy Award–winning television series]] [[Category:Streamy Award-winning channels, series or shows]] [[Category:Television series created by Jordan Peele]] [[Category:Television series created by Keegan-Michael Key]] [[Category:African-American television]]