Sketch Comedy

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Live from Peik Hall
Its TV genre Sketch Comedy
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Examples
Mr. Show!
Saturday Night Live
Dave Chappelle
Kids in the Hall
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Sketch Comedy

• Has roots in vaudeville and other variety type
  shows
• Consist of skits or sketches that are more
  directly related to improvisational comedy
• Made popular by Monty Python, Saturday Night Live
  and SCTV

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Roles

• Political/Topical someone or something that is
  newsworthy at the time
• Usually done as a
• satire

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Roles

• Reoccurring characters characters that have some
  specific (and strange) attributes and appear in
  reoccurring sketches
• These characters interact with regular people
  in regular situations

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Plot/Storylines

• In general, the sketches are somewhat rooted in
  reality
• Someone or something is out of context or
  extreme-something makes the viewer feel
  uncomfortable
• Sketches are also satirical and used to expose
  issues in a certain light that perhaps the issue
  is not being seen in

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Value Assumptions

• Sketch comedy assumes that the viewer has a
  certain amount of background information on the
  subjects of the sketch
• For example, without understanding (or just
  knowledge of) the Whitewater scandal that
  President Clinton was associated with, the viewer
  may not fully understand the sketch that
  satirizes the issue

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Problems

• Another assumption is that the viewer comprehends
  satire. Younger viewers may not be able to pick
  up on what is meant to be satirical, what is
  not, what is meant to be silly and what should be
  taken seriously

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Examples of Problems

• For example, I always hear students quoting Dave
  Chappelle but they dont always understand the
  complexity, historical background and sensitivity
  surrounding race in America (as well as other
  issues)

Im rich B!
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Problems Continued(this is my opinion)

• Carlos Mencia doesnt approach sensitive issues,
  such as race, gender or sexuality in a smart way
  but in an obvious, stereotypical way. Students
  cant tell the difference between him and Dave
  Chappelle
• The satire is lost on them and they think it is
  acceptable to make jokes from crude stereotypical
  caricatures