Sketch comedy is a comedic art form that has evolved drastically over the past century, reflecting changing cultural tastes, technological advancements, and societal shifts. While today’s audiences may associate it with viral internet videos or late-night television, its roots stretch back much further.

The Vaudeville Era: Birth of a Form

The origins of sketch comedy can be traced to the vaudeville era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Vaudeville shows featured a variety of acts, including music, dance, acrobatics, and short comedic skits. These skits, often performed by duos or small ensembles, were designed to be quick, punchy, and entertaining for a diverse audience. Vaudeville planted the seeds for many sketch comedy tropes we still see today, such as character archetypes, physical comedy, and topical humor.

Radio Days: Sounds of Laughter

The advent of radio in the 1920s and 1930s provided a new platform for sketch comedy to flourish. Popular radio shows like “The Jack Benny Program” incorporated comedic sketches into their formats, reaching a vast audience and solidifying the genre’s place in popular culture. Radio allowed sketch comedy to rely on clever dialogue, sound effects, and the listeners’ imagination to create humorous scenarios.

The Golden Age of Television: A Visual Revolution

With the rise of television in the 1950s and 1960s, sketch comedy experienced a visual revolution. Shows like “Your Show of Shows” with Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca and “The Carol Burnett Show” became household names, showcasing elaborate costumes, sets, and physical comedy. The visual element added a new layer of depth to the genre, allowing for more intricate storytelling and character development.

The Modern Era: From Cable to the Internet

The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw sketch comedy diversify across various platforms. Cable television gave rise to shows like “Saturday Night Live,” “In Living Color,” and “Kids in the Hall,” each with their unique style and sensibility. The internet and social media opened up new avenues for sketch comedy, allowing creators to reach a global audience and bypass traditional gatekeepers. Viral videos and web series like “Funny or Die” and “CollegeHumor” democratized the genre, empowering a new generation of comedians.

Sketch Comedy Today: A Multifaceted Landscape

Today, sketch comedy thrives in a multifaceted landscape. Late-night shows continue to feature comedic sketches, while streaming platforms offer a wealth of original sketch comedy content. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have become breeding grounds for short-form sketch comedy, often characterized by its absurdist humor and relatable situations. The genre continues to evolve, reflecting the changing tastes and preferences of audiences worldwide.

The Enduring Appeal of Sketch Comedy

The enduring appeal of sketch comedy lies in its versatility, its ability to tackle a wide range of topics, and its capacity to make us laugh. Whether it’s a classic vaudeville routine, a beloved television sketch, or a viral internet video, sketch comedy continues to entertain, challenge, and reflect our shared human experience.

Early Television (1940s-1960s)

• Your Show of Shows (1950-1954)
• The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950-1955)
• The Milton Berle Show (1948-1956)
• The Red Skelton Show (1951-1971)
• The Jackie Gleason Show (1952-1970)

1960s-1970s

• The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969)
• Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In (1968-1973)
• The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)
• The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (1971-1974)

1970s-1980s

• Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
• The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
• SCTV (1976-1984)
• Fridays (1980-1982)
• The Benny Hill Show (1955-1989)

1990s

• In Living Color (1990-1994)
• The Kids in the Hall (1988-1995)
• The State (1993-1995)
• MADtv (1995-2009)
• Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995-1998)

2000s

• Chappelle’s Show (2003-2006)
• The Whitest Kids U’ Know (2007-2011)
• Human Giant (2007-2008)
• Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time (2010-2012)
• The League of Gentlemen (1999-2002, 2017)

2010s-Present

• Key & Peele (2012-2015)
• Portlandia (2011-2018)
• Kroll Show (2013-2015)
• Inside Amy Schumer (2013-2016)
• A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019-Present)
• I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (2019-Present)