From 'Mr. Show' to 'W/ Bob and David': How TV Sketch Comedy Has Evolved

Netflix is dipping its toe into original sketch comedy on Friday when “W/ Bob and David” drops an entire — albeit short — season. The debut comes just six days after Donald Trump led “Saturday Night Live” to its most-watched telecast since 2013. It’s been a big week for small-screen skits.

But those series are about as different as two shows within the same genre can be, at least from a delivery perspective. In its 41st season, NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” is a true American institution, whereas the streaming Netflix reunion series consists of four half-hour episodes, plus a special.

Pre-launch, the latter is already earning rave reviews, which is particularly impressive considering Bob Odenkirk and David Cross‘s last sketch TV series, “Mr. Show,” went off the air in 1998. That’s 17 years ago, but light years away from where we are in today’s media landscape. Trump’s weekend plans earned major eyeballs, but fewer applause.

With much sketch comedy migrating to — or existing solely on — the Internet, the health and future of the format on TV differs a bit depending on who you ask. Both Comedy Central Original Programming President Kent Alterman and IFC President Jen Caserta told TheWrap they believe it can be quite bright, though the two are preparing for somewhat different versions.

Also Read: 'W/ Bob and David' Review: Netflix's 'Mr. Show' Revival Picks Up Where Original Left Off

Caserta pointed to the Emmys adding a sketch category as proof of her opinion that we are in the genre’s “heyday” on television, despite what millennials might tell you. Alterman, whose “Inside Amy Schumer” took home that Emmy, is not as convinced that viewers won’t be heading more and more to smaller screens.

“It’s challenging for sketch on linear TV, because we live in an era now where viewers can easily and reasonably feel like, ‘Oh, well I don’t have to watch that show on TV. I can just see the best sketches on digital platforms,'” Alterman told us.

“When a given sketch breaks through in a big way, it is because of these multiplatform opportunities that allow explosive growth,” he added. “What started as tens of millions of hits would turn into hundreds of millions.”

While Caserta enjoys the “shareable … snackable” idea of sketches on the web, she prefers the classic half-hour TV option, which allows for additional context, running jokes and themes, and recurring characters. Few shows utilize those elements as well as her network’s “Portlandia.”

Also Read: Bob Odenkirk, David Cross' New Netflix Series Releases First Sketch (Video)

Obviously, both execs have skin in the game. Alterman’s Comedy Central has made stronger use of monetizing the web, so he doesn’t really care where you watch. That’s why the Viacom channel isn’t too publicly upset over diminishing traditional TV ratings, which we found out when discussing Trevor Noah’s “Daily Show” metrics with Alterman’s boss, Comedy Central President Michele Ganeless.

There’s one definite thing that Alterman and Caserta see eye-to-eye on: the importance of a singular, guiding talent these days. Sketch is all about finding a “really strong, smart point of view — and a unique voice,” Alterman explained, emphasizing that as a concept unchanged over time. But one way to do that points to the trend Caserta called “more emphasis on the multi-hyphenate,” a strategy that veers away from an ensemble, and assigns more responsibility to one or two leads.

Not only does that option keep the sense of humor consistent, it provides far more budgetary flexibility. That’s important to compete in 2015, when as Alterman put it, “you can create a sketch show with your iPhone now.”

Of course, “That’s not to say that a troupe isn’t going to come along and knock our socks off,” Caserta said, “I just think it’s getting harder for them.”

Also Read: How Trevor Noah's 'Daily Show' Is Beating Jon Stewart's

The “one vision” mentality (or two, in many cases like “W/ Bob & David,” “Key & Peele,” etc.) is not all about dollars and cents.

“Sketch gives creator-performers a lot of room that they wouldn’t get in another format to express themselves in different directions,” Alterman said. “One sketch could be 45 seconds and another sketch could be 6 minutes within the same show. There’s just a whole different set of constraints in say a scripted narrative show.”

It also allows shows like Alterman’s “Inside Amy Schumer” to bounce from straight sketch to stand-up to (wo)man-on-the-street interviews — and more, showing off multiple talents.

Sketch performers relish the opportunity. While she’s sticking with it because of its historical comedic importance, Caserta is landing major stars on her network by promising talent that their pet projects won’t be noted to death.

Also Read: 'Documentary Now!' Review: Seth Meyers, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen Make Movie-Nerd Magic

In many ways, the disruptive technology of the Internet has been either good or great for sketch comedy — Alterman estimated “Key & Peele” skits have topped 1.3 billion views overall — but it also clutters the space.

“We live in a world now where there’s nothing prohibiting anyone really — who has some kind of wherewithal — to go out and produce sketches and put them online,” Alterman said. After all, that’s where he discovered both “Workaholics” and “Broad City.”

Netflix, of course, is the biggest player in subscription digital video. Will it and sketch comedy be a match made in Heaven? We may never know, considering how tight a lid Netflix keeps on its viewership numbers, but whether future investments in the genre are forthcoming will eventually become a clear indicator.

“W/Bob & David” debuts Friday, Nov. 13 on Netflix.

'SNL's' 40 Most Iconic Characters: From the Blues Brothers to Stefon (Photos)

Spartan Cheerleaders: Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri got spirit, how 'bout you?
Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Alger (Dana Carvey): Party time, excellent.
MacGruber (Will Forte): Makin' life-saving inventions out of household materials!
The Blues Brothers, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd: Two soul men.
Stefon: Bill Hader never could keep a straight face as "Weekend Update's" New York City nightlife correspondent.
Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party: Cecily Strong's breakout character went away temporarily when she co-anchored "Weekend Update" for a season.
"Dick in a Box" guys: You better hope that Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake aren't your Secret Santas.
The Church Lady: Dana Carvey's character on making this list: "Well isn't that special?"
Matt Foley: Chris Farley's character may be iconic, but he still "LIVES IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!"
Sarah Palin (Tina Fey): Did this spot-on impression save "SNL" during a down period? "You betcha!"
Roseanne Roseannadanna (Gilda Radner): "Weekend Update's" consumer affairs reporter had as much distaste for New Jersey as Richard Feder has questions.
Debbie Downer: Rachel Dratch's best character would surely find SOMETHING miserable about being considered one of the show's 40 most iconic.
Mary Katherine Gallagher: We know, Molly Shannon -- you're a superstar. So stop being so nervous all the time.
Haray Caray (Will Ferrell): "Cubs win! Cubs win!" PS, Wrap readers: If you were a hot dog, would you eat yourself?
Land Shark: Chevy Chase's deadly predator was most definitely NOT a dolphin, ma'am.
Roxbury guys: Before their movie, Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan clubbed hard on "SNL." One of their best sketches included host Jim Carrey.
(It's) Pat: Never before has androgyny been so much fun. PS: Pat was played by a lady, Julia Sweeney, if you didn't know.
The Ambiguously Gay Duo: Ace and Gary oftentimes found themselves in ... precarious ... situations. Now what is everyone looking at?
Stuart Smalley: Al Franken's "Daily Affirmations" character made our list because he's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggone it, people like him.
Dooneese: Kristen Wiig's "Lawrence Welk Show" character isn't much to look at, but she also can't sing at all.
Killer Bees: The Killer Bees have the distinction of being the first recurring characters on "Saturday Night Live" -- and they came back A LOT, mostly to spite network brass.
"Celebrity Jeopardy!" gang: You can't pick one: Alex Trebek (Will Ferrell), Burt Reynolds (Norm Macdonald) and Sean Connery (Darrell Hammond) were magic when they got together.
Gumby: Eddie Murphy is Gumby, damnit! Sorry Pokey, you didn't make the cut.
The Ladies Man: Tim Meadows' character liked the fairer sex even more than he dug Courvoisier -- and we loved him for that.
The Gap Girls: Chris Farley, David Spade and Adam Sandler always had fun when they got together. Add cross-dressing and mall food court gossip and it gets even better.
The Festrunk Brothers: Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd's "Wild and Crazy Guys" birthed those Roxbury guys we talked about earlier. Know your history, kids!
Bill Swerski's Superfans: These Chicago sports fans love Da Bulls and Da Bears as much as they love bear and Polish sausage. Seen here with their cherished Michael Jordan.
The Continental: Christopher Walken's recurring character was really forward with the ladies. He may have lacked game, but was never short on ascots.
Hans and Franz: The Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon duo were here to pump people up way before Aaron Rodgers and State Farm Insurance ever entered the power-lifting fray.
Samurai Futaba: John Belushi's samurai skills didn't translate to many other professions, most-notably working as an accountant and in a delicatessen.
Coneheads: The Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman family were not of this Earth -- and you would have never noticed if not for their accents.
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer: Ladies and gentlemen, this classic Phil Hartman character was just a caveman -- things in our modern world frighten and confuse him.
Richard Layer: Rob Schneider's Richmeister was thrilled anytime someone in his office needed to use the Xerox machine. He had as many nicknames for his colleagues as they made copies.
Father Guido Sarducci: Don Novello was a writer for "SNL," where he famously brought the chain-smoking, tinted-glasses-wearing priest. Though the show popularized the character, it wasn't the origination point for Father Guido.
Jack Handey: Jack Handey was the real name of a real "Saturday Night Live" writer who had real funny "Deep Thoughts" during the 1990s.
George W. Bush (Will Ferrell): "SNL" was carried for several years by Ferrell, whose George W. Bush impersonation was so popular that he scored a successful and critically acclaimed one-man show on Broadway.
Mister Robinson: Eddie Murphy's play on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" was meant for adult audiences. Where Rogers' town was lovely in every way, Robinson's was terrifying, but incredibly funny.
Robert Goulet (Will Ferrell): Ferrell's Goulet was completely ridiculous -- complete with a catchphrase of just exclaiming "Goulet!" at random times to punctuate a sentence. It was also hilarious, handing Ferrell another well-deserved spot on this Top 40 list.
Irwin Mainway: Dan Aykroyd's sleazy salesman would do anything for a buck -- even it involved selling a Bag O'Glass to children at Christmastime. That kind of dedication qualifies Mainway as an icon in our eyes.
Mr. Bill: The clay character was constantly in danger over the course of his 20-plus show appearances. It's currently unclear if the figure lived long enough to come back for "SNL 40."