Sketch comedy is a genre of comedy that comprises a series of short, amusing scenes or vignettes, called "sketches", commonly between one and ten minutes long, performed by a group of comic actors or comedians. Sketches are a comedic exploration of a concept, character, or situation, and are written, rehearsed, and memorized in advance of the performance. Sketch comedy has its origins in vaudeville and music hall, where many brief humorous acts were strung together to form a larger program.
Sketch comedians differentiate sketches from skits, maintaining that a skit is a single dramatized joke or bit, while a sketch is a comedic exploration of a concept, character, or situation. Sketch comedy is different from improv comedy, which refers to unscripted or unplanned performances. Sketch comedy more closely resembles a comedic play than improv, though depending on the producers, some improvisation may take place during the run of the show.
Sketch comedy has been a popular genre on television, with shows like Monty Pythons Flying Circus, The Carol Burnett Show, SCTV (Second City Television), Saturday Night Live, The Kids in the Hall, In Living Color, Mr. Show with Bob and David, Upright Citizens Brigade, Mad TV, Chappelles Show, Inside Amy Schumer, Portlandia, and Key & Peele. Sketch comedy is also performed in theaters, studios, streets, and backyards all over the world.
