On January 31, 2012, Comedy Central premiered Key & Peele, a sketch show from MADtv alumni Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. It did not take long to find an audience.
The debut drew about 2.1 million viewers, which the network called its best series launch since 2009, and it ranked first in its time slot among young men. Two weeks later Comedy Central renewed it for a second season.
What made the show special was how its two biracial stars used their own experience of code-switching and identity as fuel for sketches that were sharp about race without ever feeling like homework. Characters like Luther, President Obama’s “anger translator,” the substitute teacher Mr. Garvey and the East/West Bowl players became internet staples. Over five seasons the show won a Peabody and an Emmy, and Peele went on to an Oscar-winning career as a filmmaker.
Sources: Broadcasting & Cable.
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