The History of Sketch Comedy: A Journey Through the Art and Craft of Humor

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Product Details
Price
$29.95  $27.85
Publisher
Chronicle Books
Publish Date
Pages
300
Dimensions
7.2 X 9.3 X 1.2 inches | 2.68 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9781797216836

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About the Author
Keegan-Michael Key is an Emmy(R) and Peabody Award-winning actor, writer, and producer with an extraordinarily diverse skill set and wide-ranging talent in both comedy and drama. In the comedy world, Keegan-Michael is perhaps best known for starring alongside Jordan Peele in their multiple-award-winning show Key & Peele. His other credits include leading turns in Apple TV+'s Emmy-nominated Schmigadoon!, playing Meryl Streep's love interest in Netflix's The Prom, his Critic's Choice nominated role in Hulu's Reboot, and starring alongside Timothée Chalamet in the Warner Bros. Pictures' feature Wonka. His voicework in feature animations includes The Lion King, Toy Story 4, and The Super Mario Brothers Movie. He made his Off-Broadway debut in Hamlet with Oscar Isaac, and his Broadway debut in Steve Martin's Meteor Shower with Amy Schumer. Keegan-Michael redefineswhat it means to be a multi-hyphenate in the worlds of film, television, and theater, and his wildly varied and indelible performanceshave won him fans of all ages and backgrounds.

Elle Key is an award-winning film, television, and commercial director, writer, and producer. She was born in the Bronx and spent her early years working off-Broadway with theater companies such as Malaparte, Naked Angels, and the Atlantic. She went on to produce a number of independent feature films (including Nanette Burstein's Sundance award-winning documentary American Teen and August with Josh Hartnett, Adam Scott, Naomi Harris, and David Bowie, and was a second unit producer on Doug Liman's Fair Game with Sean Penn and Naomi Watts). She is the co-president and founder of Bigger Picture Media Group and has been writing and producing for almost a decade with her partner Keegan-Michael Key. She has helmed numerous national commercial campaigns as well as several projects for the NFL, the Pro Bowl, the Peabody Awards, and the Gotham Awards, and she was the first female head writer for The NFL Honors. She was an executive producer on Brain Games for Disney/Nat Geo, as well as an executive producer with James Corden for Game On! for CBS. She is a member of the Creative Coalition and Women in Film, and is on the Leadership Council of RFK Human Rights. In 2022, Elle won the People's Voice Webby Award for Best Writing for her original Audible series The History of Sketch Comedy.
Reviews
"Elle and Keegan unlock the secrets of comedy from the beginning of history all the way up to present day. Whether you are a working actor or just a student of the game . . . you will love this book!" --JACK BLACK
"The Keys share the evolution of sketch in a way that keeps you laughing with each turn of the page. They cover provocative insights about comedy that would have never occurred to me. Elle and Keegan's knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject is infectious . . . and of course now I'm hooked."--JENNIFER COOLIDGE
"Elle and Keegan's collaboration is such a joy to read. It's a rare occasion where the topic of comedy is being explored by people who are genuinely funny. I recommend this gem to everyone who loves comedy." --MIKE MYERS

"A boisterous debut... the authors are as funny as one would expect ...this is a hoot."

--Publishers Weekly


"A fun and funny primer on the art form."

--Booklist


Selection: "15 Books By Black Authors We Can't Wait For You To Read This Fall"

-- Essence Magazine


"hilarious and informative."

--Associated Press


"[An] entertaining journey...Readers will gain genuine insight into how sketch comedy has evolved and what's behind the creative process."

--Library Journal


"The History of Sketch Comedy is a highly informative and entertaining read that's sure to inspire instant binge- watching and a groundswell of sketch-centric enthusiasm."

- Bookpage


The Best Comedy Books of 2023 (So Far)

"The History of Sketch Comedy is exhaustive, well-researched, and highly detailed, but it's also lighthearted and joyful; a celebration written by exactly who it should be written by -- experts of the form but who also can't help but inject constant jokes."

--Vulture