Following the tradition of many successful comedians of sketch comedy fame–namely in line with Saturday Night Live–MADtv alums Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele have signed on with Paramount to adapt their popular Comedy Central “Substitute Teacher” sketch into feature length film.
It will center on Mr.Garvey–an over the top inner city substitute teacher with a penchant for mispronunciation– and his rivalry between a class favorite teacher played by Peele.
As mentioned before, Saturday Night Live stars would know a thing or two about this delicate subject as many of their recurring sketches that were given the silver screen treatment have notoriously bombed.
However, for every Superstar and Conehead, there is a Wayne’s World. In honor of these spectacular films, we will look at the shows from which these movies were spawned, as well as some all time favorite sketch comedy shows. The shows are listed in no particular order–no playing favorites here.
Key and Peele: It only seems right to start with the duo who are about to get their moment in the sun. Where the elaborate (and sometimes disturbing) punchlines blow the set ups out the the water, getting more absurd as the sketch goes one.
They are most noted for their toeing of the mixed race line, alternating between a balance of both sides in a very fluid way to make their brand of comedy standout.
The two are currently working on a heist film with New Line Cinema called Keanu. It focuses on a group of friends posing as drug dealers in order to kidnap a cat. Do with that what you will. (2012-Present)
Chappelle’s Show:Wildly controversial and as insanely cool as it was clever, Dave Chapelle headed a show that was adept at inventively parodying pop culture while tackling issues of racism as well as social injustice, and politics.
Although Chappelle left the show–jettisoning off to Africa before a possible third season in 2005–his original characters will live forever in infamy. (2003-2006)
Saturday Night Live: (1975-Present)
The Amanda Show: Amanda, please! This beyond bizarre Nickelodeon sketch comedy show premiered at the turn of the century for 90’s babies, feeding into the weird and garish cartoon fever dream that only shows like Rocko’s Modern Life and Rugrats could birth.
You didn’t necessarily have to understand what was going on one hundred percent of the time–ergo dancing lobsters–your only obligation was to have fun.
The Amanda Show proved to be a launching pad for the careers of Drake Bell and Josh Peck who went on to have their own sitcom, and Taran Killam who is now enjoying a successful stint as a main cast member on SNL.
While the show’s host had a rewarding acting career in the early 2000s, the child star seemed to crash into adulthood. (1999-2002)
MADtv:It could be described as an alternative to Saturday Night Live as well as a messy hybrid between the latter and In Living Color, however that doesn’t seem very fitting. This was more or less junk food where the former two were a feast.
FOX’s cult hit was started by two In Living Color writers and populated by many lesser known comedians. However, by the shows ending more than a few of them were able to graduate to gigs that stuck.
Key and Peele have their own show and Ike Barinholtz is an actor and writer on FOX’s The Mindy Project. (1995-2009)
In Living Color: A bonafide sensation in its day, In Living Color was headlined by the then successful Wayans clan which seemed like more of a brand than a family. It is on the level of Saturday Night Live in terms of spawning and spotlighting long lasting talent.
Although it only lasted a short and sweet four years, it managed to thoroughly mock pop culture as well as impact it with a myriad of unforgettable characters. (1990-1994)
Zhana Johnson
Senior Features Editor
Photos Courtesy: aarp.org, tomsoter.com
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