Keegan-Michael Key Says It’s a “Tragedy” He and Jordan Peele “Don’t See Each Other That Often Anymore”

Keegan-Michael Key Says It’s a “Tragedy” He and Jordan Peele “Don’t See Each Other That Often Anymore”

As a dedicated fan who has followed their journey since the early days of MAD TV and Key & Peele, it is indeed a bittersweet feeling to know that the dynamic duo doesn’t cross paths as often anymore. The memories of their thrilling comedic alchemy on screen still bring laughter and joy, but I can’t help but feel a tinge of regret, much like a forgotten leftover pizza in the fridge – it’s not quite as satisfying as it once was.


Although Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele used to be a famous pair, it’s sad to say that they don’t get together as much these days.

In a recent chat with People magazine, the actor portraying Wonka reminisced about their initial encounter with Peele, expressing it as an “exciting phase” of his life.

Following their training at Chicago’s Second City, the duo, referred to as Key & Peele, began working together on Fox’s MAD TV starting in 2004. Their shared comedic mindset was evident during this time. Owing to their successful comedic partnership, they went on to create their own sketch comedy series, titled Key & Peele, which aired from 2012-2015 and garnered two Emmy awards.

For several months, we cohabited and frequently discussed comedy, expressing our preferences, the reasons behind them, and how these influenced our comic construction. Looking back, we seemed to have a shared artistic dialect,” Key reminisced.

During our on-screen moments, it felt like magic,” the voice actor from ‘Transformers One’ commented about Peele. “I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘What makes this so effective?'” (or simply “It was as if we were performing alchemy when we were filmed, and I found myself asking, ‘Why is this working so well?’,” if you prefer a more formal tone)

Since Key & Peele concluded its run on Comedy Central nearly a decade ago, Key lamented, “We don’t get together as much these days, and I find that personally very sad.

Since their popular sketch comedy series, these two producer-actors have collaborated on several ventures such as “Keanu” (2016), FX’s “Fargo”, “Toy Story 4” (2019) and “Wendell & Wild” (2022). However, Key pointed out that over time, “one’s life tends to change and head in distinct paths.” Peele lives in Los Angeles with his wife Chelsea Peretti, while Key and his spouse Elle Key reside in New York City.

In Key’s view, our progression is intrinsically linked to the aspirations we hold. His ambition was to delve into the horror genre, while mine was to further my dramatic skills, which I had honed in school. Following our stint on Key & Peele, we both ventured onto another stage, but that initial platform was indispensable for us.

The Schmigadoon! performer also pointed out that viewers can catch a peek at their future roles by observing their transformations in Key & Peele. “At first, I was taking on the role of the jester and focusing more on physical humor,” Key said, “but as our partnership progressed, I began to take on straighter roles, setting Jordan up for his clown performances.

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2024-09-22 03:24