Key and Peele - Aerobics Meltdown
November 20, 2014 2:10 PM   Subscribe

 
aaarrrgggh that was dark. Funny and dark.
posted by zutalors! at 2:30 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


That second link is probably the most 80s thing I have ever seen and certainly the most joyful looking sporting competition I can remember.
posted by Winnemac at 2:45 PM on November 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


Key and Peele do dark very well. I am a fan of Dubstep
posted by sparklemotion at 2:46 PM on November 20, 2014 [8 favorites]


KEEP DANCING
posted by bicyclefish at 3:02 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


bounce bounce bounce bounce that second link bounce bounce they never stop bounce bounce bounce bouncing bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce
posted by newpotato at 3:05 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


What locks it all in is that's Tom Braidwood holding the cards!
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:17 PM on November 20, 2014


Wow! That second link is amazing. Those are some fit folks. Alan Thicke mentioning the philosopher Aerobicus reminds me of an undergrad class I took, Philosophy of Exercise, and they both take me back to the same time period.
posted by Snowishberlin at 3:23 PM on November 20, 2014


I'm pretty sure that was Clint Howard holding the cards.
posted by Jaymzifer at 3:24 PM on November 20, 2014 [18 favorites]


I never realized Clint Howard was Ron Howard's brother. Never thought I'd say this but Ron Howard got the looks in the family.
posted by Foam Pants at 3:28 PM on November 20, 2014


(yeah, def. Clint Howard with the cards)
posted by LooseFilter at 3:29 PM on November 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


Yep, the director of the bit said on his blog that it was Clint Howard.
posted by mathowie at 3:39 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


What I liked best is the fact that someone somewhere has taken the time to create a "degraded VHS tape" video filter. I kinda want to read more details about that.
posted by benito.strauss at 3:44 PM on November 20, 2014 [8 favorites]


This led into a dark key hole of watching the 1989 National Aerobic Championship.

The variation on the costumes! The same damned song playing in the intro!

I got into a conversation with a friend of mine over wanting to watch it rendered as an earnest period piece - the gender politics, the sexual politics, the inherent campiness yet also the somewhat high level of athleticism required.

I kinda want to look these people up.
posted by pmv at 3:50 PM on November 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


That was a hell of a comedy sketch. I love that it sort of relies on you knowing that ridiculous 88 aerobics thing, a much-passed-around video on the Internet. I mean the sketch works without having seen the video but seeing this goofy meme turned into a much darker thing. I felt almost like I was watching Jam for a moment.
posted by Nelson at 3:55 PM on November 20, 2014


Anyone else getting a "this video is private" message when they click the Key and Peele video?
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:03 PM on November 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


Joey, you can try watching it on facebook?
posted by rebent at 4:04 PM on November 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


That worked! Thank you!
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:09 PM on November 20, 2014


As is often the case with K&P sketches I have no idea what is supposed to be funny, what the setup, payoff, punchline are supposed to be... where is the laugh? (kids/lawn)
posted by Cosine at 4:19 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


Cosine, if you watch the 1987 (the K&P sketch was parodying the 1988 championships)National Aerobics Championships, you'll understand.
posted by cooker girl at 5:01 PM on November 20, 2014


What I liked best is the fact that someone somewhere has taken the time to create a "degraded VHS tape" video filter. I kinda want to read more details about that.

I was wondering the same. I guess the alternative is transferring the video to VHS, playing the crap out of it, and then transferring it back, which would definitely work and would probably take less time than writing a convincing filter from scratch.
posted by BungaDunga at 5:02 PM on November 20, 2014 [3 favorites]


(here's another mirror, on comedy central's youtube chanel.)
posted by rebent at 5:06 PM on November 20, 2014


also: wow, yes, this totally is a parody of the 1987 set - with the workout stuff in the background, etc.
posted by rebent at 5:13 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


Starcadian also did an awesome edit of this. Might have been the 87 version though...
posted by emptythought at 5:17 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


I saw the 1987, and the other, videos, I still don't understand what is supposed to be funny in the parody.
posted by Cosine at 5:18 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


I still don't understand what is supposed to be funny in the parody.

It's okay. I think MetaFilter policy is that you're allowed to not get the humor in up to two posts per month before you're banned.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 5:21 PM on November 20, 2014 [17 favorites]


I showed that to a new father and he left the room, not laughing.

I guess you had to be there.
posted by infinitewindow at 5:27 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


I already thought K&P were geniuses (with, you know, the mixed output of genius on deadline), but the inclusion of Clint Howard in this sketch makes me want to be BFFs with them.

I know, I'm weird.
posted by allthinky at 5:59 PM on November 20, 2014 [3 favorites]


OMG. The original is the source of one of my all-time favorite DEAL WITH IT gifs: https://i.imgur.com/it0P9h.jpg.
posted by kdar at 6:04 PM on November 20, 2014 [21 favorites]


As is often the case with K&P sketches I have no idea what is supposed to be funny, what the setup, payoff, punchline are supposed to be... where is the laugh? (kids/lawn)

Setup/punchline is more of a convention in jokes rather than sketches. Sketches are usually based around a funny premise or character. Sometimes the funny character is just the funny premise in the form of a character, or sometimes the premise of the sketch is just an excuse for the character to be featured (such as any SNL sketch involving a fictional talk show). Key & Peele's sketches tend to be very premise-heavy as opposed to relying on funny characters to carry the sketch, and even in sketches that involve recurring characters there is some sort of funny premise that is the main focus (such as the anger translator sketches). Also, their sketches tend to start with a more reality-based premise that morphs into more absurd situations as the sketch progresses (this is one of the hallmarks of the UCB improv comedy theory which Key and Peele trained in).

In this particular sketch, the initial premise is that Key and Peele are performers in the opening number of an aerobics competition. This is grounded in reality because it's an actual thing that happened and you can watch on YouTube. This part is funny for the same sorts of reasons that the original videos are funny: the outfits and set are bizarre, and there are a lot of unusual contrasts at play (traditionally masculine men performing choreographed dance moves, the odd intensity of all of the performers compared to how silly the situation is, etc.). This is the main focus for the first minute or so, and then the real premise of the sketch is introduced, something terrible has happened to one of the performer's family and he is told the details via cue cards while still performing. This is a funny premise because it's unexpected and awkward, and it helps drive the progress of the sketch because the audience wants to follow the story. The main focus of the humor for this part of the sketch is the performer's reaction to each piece of news and his increasingly futile attempts to hide his reaction and keep dancing. A very large number of comedy sketches come down to a premise of "This situation is weird and it's making everyone uncomfortable" and often the weirdness of a sketch won't work without the uncomfortable aspect coming through in other characters' reactions. The ending of a sketch is usually not the main point, and sometimes sketches just stop without a distinct ending (Monty Python sketches are famous for this). In this case, the sketch ends with the twist that the other performer was responsible for the bad news earlier in the sketch, and the performer has his final reaction where he attempts to continue dancing while also strangling the other performer. This both resolves the main "story" of the sketch and carries the funny concept (performer attempts to hide his feelings while dancing) to its logical conclusion.

Overall the sketch follows more of a comedy formula and has more moving parts than a lot of sketches, new or old. Compared to say, an old SNL sketch, it's less of a one-joke premise that characters play off of until it runs out of gas and more of a narrative story that moves through different comedic territory as the sketch evolves.
posted by burnmp3s at 6:40 PM on November 20, 2014 [42 favorites]


I have no idea what is supposed to be funny, what the setup, payoff, punchline are supposed to be... where is the laugh?

It's a juxtaposition of a very joyful, earnest activity with a very dark undertone.

Also, they like to play around with the theme of "this harmless thing is actually super fucked up", for instance in the Dubstep sketch and their Urkel sketch.
posted by Sara C. at 7:03 PM on November 20, 2014 [7 favorites]


Key and Peele's take on LMFAO is probably my favorite of their slow build from innocuous parody to super fucked up sketches.
posted by Grimgrin at 7:23 PM on November 20, 2014 [17 favorites]


Fun fact: The International Aerobic Championship is still going strong 25 years and running.

Their E-mail is nacusa@aol.com

There's no recent videos of the competition because the DVDs cost $50 a piece.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 7:41 PM on November 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


Key & Peele is like Twilight Zone as told through sketch comedy.
posted by cendawanita at 7:47 PM on November 20, 2014 [9 favorites]


I have most definitely had a number of completely unironic conversations that went almost exactly like K&P discussing the finer points of Liam Neesons. I'll do it again too. That's my shit.
posted by Errant at 7:55 PM on November 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


These guys are working on a whole different level from everyone else doing sketch comedy today. It just ain't even close.
posted by Etrigan at 8:38 PM on November 20, 2014 [13 favorites]


The aerobics videos make me think of Reagan, which makes me think of the American Enterprise Institute and Fox News and Sandy Hook and and BP and Jamie Dimon and Paul Ryan, which make me think "it's morning in America" may the finest-ever example of ironic foreshadowing. Bonus: the K&P video resonates with all that! Horrific forced smiles, everyone!
posted by Lyme Drop at 8:46 PM on November 20, 2014


True story: I clicked the legit, original, thinking it was the parody, and kept FFDing through, waiting for the punchlines. It was like a sneeze that wouldn't happen... wait... wait... wait... just a little bit longer before all of this blows over into a reveal... this can't be real... wait...
posted by IAmBroom at 9:08 PM on November 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


I saw the 1987, and the other, videos, I still don't understand what is supposed to be funny in the parody.

KEEP DANCING
posted by a lungful of dragon at 9:19 PM on November 20, 2014 [8 favorites]


I loved this video, but I'm not sure it's fair game to parody something that's already hilarious on its own. It seems like it's too easy!

My overall favorite of this season is Consequences.
posted by miyabo at 9:39 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


If you're interested, here's a tumblr post from Key & Peele director Peter Atencio (basically a comedy director genius). He names this as his favorite sketch of the season, if not the whole series. Up to this point he has directed every episode and sketch of Key & Peele, but according to his twitter feed this is his last season.
posted by dogwalker at 11:10 PM on November 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


Anyone got any details on that song? It's oddly compelling.
posted by grubi at 11:15 PM on November 20, 2014


Anyone got any details on that song? It's oddly compelling.

The Crystal Light National Aerobic Championship Theme Song composed by Ty Parr. Not sure who performs it.
posted by PenDevil at 12:52 AM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


damnit. there went my night. i only knew a little bit of their stuff before know. mainly the majesty of O-SHAG-HENNESY'S OFFICE!.

Like burnmp3a says (much more eloquently than i was going to), they're very situational and they just keep going, drawing it out until they hit you with the hand they convinced you to forget. They occasionally riff on the classics (the Black Knight!).

I appreciate that they're so damned smart plus they have such great reservoirs of '90s tropes and hubris-skewers. Also, the repetitions of the phrase "insubordinate and churlish."
posted by cult_url_bias at 2:09 AM on November 21, 2014 [3 favorites]


FYI that song is performed by the devil.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 2:10 AM on November 21, 2014 [3 favorites]


Someone really needs to make a Too Many Cooks parody [?] using the 1987/1988/1989 aerobic championship opens.

That song. Those smiles. The announcer. It's 90% done already.
posted by xqwzts at 3:14 AM on November 21, 2014


Aerobic workouts were so much easier back when Crystal Light was still made with methamphetamine.
posted by orme at 4:30 AM on November 21, 2014 [5 favorites]


i saw a too many cooks dance mashup on reddit yesterday
posted by rebent at 5:35 AM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


Tranya is a hell of a drug.
posted by sonascope at 5:44 AM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


burnmp3s, explain more jokes....please.
posted by Fizz at 6:17 AM on November 21, 2014 [4 favorites]


I have a major Clint Howard phobia.
posted by elsietheeel at 8:11 AM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


The above-linked LMFAO sketch is still my favorite dark K&P sketch. Soooo creeeeeepy.

Also, I love the Vadaveon & Mike Critic's Corner they do for a lot of the sketches. These dudes watch plenty of vlogs from HBC's.
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 12:15 PM on November 21, 2014


And because this thread has sent me back down a Key & Peele rabbit hole... Now that we've admired the production department's work recreating the mid 80s, let's take a few minutes to be wowed by the costume department's work on the 90s.
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 8:27 PM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


Oh god we've hit peak early 90s retro fashion when I actually can't tell if the sketch is supposed to take place in the early 90s or not.

That's either a really bad period costuming job, shit is getting way too 90s stylewise, or my "period or retro" meter is shot to hell.
posted by Sara C. at 10:59 PM on November 21, 2014


We are working on an hour-long #keyandpeele Super Bowl special.

Thank you so much for this post. The show is bringing me much happiness.
posted by Nelson at 8:16 AM on November 23, 2014 [2 favorites]


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