What is a Sketch?
A sketch is really just a short play, usually ten minutes or less. Sketch comedy has its roots in vaudeville and burlesque. A small group of comedians would perform the same sketch over and over again from town to town. A typical sketch would be set in a classroom or doctor's office. These sketches were usually written to show off a performer's talents, whether they were funny voices, musical ability, or physical comedy.
Contemporary sketch comedy has its origins in 1950s comedy shows such as Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, and from the Chicago's Second City comedy theater, which blended improvisation with sketch. It was popularized with NBC's Saturday Night Live in the 1970s and is enjoying newfound popularity on television and the Internet today.
What is the difference between a sketch and a skit?
A sketch and a skit are essentially the exact same thing, but there is a vast difference in the way the terms are used in comedy terminology. A skit is usually used like this: “Oh, last night the Cub Scouts put on the cutest little skit at their meeting!” or “Your grandmother did so well in her skit in the Senior Follies.” A skit is for amateurs; sketches are for professionals.
Television producers regularly scout sketch groups when looking for talent and comedy writers. Jim Carrey built a career from his versatility on In Living Color, and just think about the talent that came out of Saturday Night Live. There are even sketch television shows for kids on Nickelodeon that have spawned stars like Amanda Bynes. Writers that have come from sketch include Mel Brooks, Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Carl Reiner, and Norman Lear.
