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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 7 February 2020
Key is still making people laugh but flexing his drama chops

By GARY GERARD HAMIL- into drama shape, culmi-
TON nating in a huge 2019: he
NEW YORK (AP) — Keegan- starred in the hit Netflix se-
Michael Key is transitioning ries "Friends from College,"
out of over-the-top com- provided extensive voice-
edies to focus more on dra- over work for huge ani-
matic films, and for him, it's mated and live action films
no laughing matter. such as "Toy Story 4" (play-
"We've been moving in a ing Ducky alongside his
little bit of a new direction, "Key & Peele" partner, Jor-
where it's a Keegan with dan Peele, as Bunny) and
a little more gravitas and "The Lion King" (as Kamari
a Keegan that still does the hyena). But his stand-
humor, but it's not as slap- out moment was for his role
sticky or goofy," said the as Jerry in 2019's acclaimed
former "Key & Peele" star. "Dolemite in my Name" star-
"Keegan that's trying to ring Eddie Murphy.
have a career that's a bit "Getting to work with Ed-
more nuanced or maybe die Murphy has been one
a little more dangerous or of the greatest one expe-
a little more scary. So I can riences of my career, be-
flex those old muscles." cause it's very surreal to
His acting physique was first have an opportunity to This image released by Netflix shows Keegan-Michael Key in a scene from "Dolemite Is My Name."
worked out at the Univer- work with a hero — to work Key is transitioning out of over-the-top comedies to focus more on dramatic films.
sity of Detroit Mercy, where with a person who got you Associated Press
he earned a bachelor's in into the business. And what
1993 followed by a master's you do is you find your- mation through challenges that we don't know we're In the meantime, as Key
at the University of Pennsyl- self on set going like, 'OK, and games in front of a live doing on a subconscious forges ahead to pursue
vania State in 1996. He de- is today the day that I'm audience. Celebrity guests level — fascinating to me, more dramatic roles, he's
scribes his comedic career going to tell Eddie that he such as Tiffany Haddish and and I can't get enough of refusing to limit himself.
as a detour from his original changed my life?'" he said married couple Kristen Bell it." "Let's do action. I want to be
path, but now he's back on with a smile. "What do you and Dax Shepard join him But he cautions viewers not the next Jason Bourne. I'll
the road again. tell a person other than you throughout the season, to worry — although they'll be a villain in a Bond movie
"I had a little bit of anxiety inspired me to do what I along with cameos from be learning, they'll definite- — I'd be more than happy
when I did a production of do? You could just as eas- stars such as his former TV ly be laughing as well. to. And as I'm getting to
Hamlet with Oscar Isaac ily say you inspired me to partner Peele and legend "It's another one of these explore other parts of my
off Broadway a couple of be here today with you. My Tom Hanks. things where it's like the life and do new things, I'm
years ago here (in New career took this path, and "I am a self-proclaimed eternal task of trying to ready for it. I'm ready for
York City). And there was now I'm here with you." blerd," as in black nerd, make science fun—we the challenge," said an
a little bit of trepidation to Although Key is focused says Key. "I am one of those did it. We did it on Brain excited Key. "I just finished
begin with. And then it was more on serious roles, he's guys who sits around and Games," he laughed. "En- making a musical — I sing
like riding a bike — it was still making folks laugh on reads books on neurobiol- tertained is one thing (but) I and dance in a musical.
like being back in drama NatGeo's rebooted "Brain ogy, something that I just also want to make sure that So why not this? Why not
school," said the Emmy win- Games," which airs Mon- find fascinating. I am legiti- people understand that an action movie or three
ner. "So it's full steam ahead days at 9 p.m. Eastern. It's mately fascinated by how they'll be fascinated. And action movies or 10 action
in this new direction." a fun show that explores the brain works and why I think that's an aspect of movies or a franchise? You
During the past few years, how the human brain pro- we do the things we do, entertainment and being know, got to dream big.
he's worked himself back cesses and interprets infor- and also things that we do entertained." Gotta dream big."q

King angry at CBS promo of

interview questions about Bryant

NEW YORK (AP) — In the assault charge that had wide-ranging.
wake of a social media been brought against Bry- "An excerpt was posted
backlash, CBS' Gayle King ant and dismissed. Bryant that did not reflect the na-
says she is embarrassed was killed in a helicopter ture and tone of the full in-
and angry with how the crash on Jan. 26. terview," the network said.
network promoted part of On Thursday, King posted a "We are addressing the in-
her interview with WNBA video in response on Twit- ternal process that led to
star Lisa Leslie that con- ter. this and changes have al-
cerned the late Kobe Bry- "I know that if I had only ready been made."
ant. seen the clip that you saw, In the interview, King asked This July 16, 2016 file photo shows "CBS This Morning" host Gayle
A video clip distributed on- I'd be extremely angry Leslie whether Bryant's King speaking at the 2016 Art For Life Benefit in Water Mill, N.Y.
line and on CBS News' so- with me, too," King said. "I legacy had been compli- Associated Press
cial media accounts, taken am mortified, I am embar- cated by the assault case.
from a wide-ranging "CBS rassed and I'm very angry." Leslie said it hasn't, and It was the clip that ap- posted on Twitter by rapper
This Morning" interview that CBS, in a statement Thurs- called on the media to be peared to launch the Snoop Dogg telling King to
aired Tuesday, focused on day, noted that King's in- more respectful of Bryant's backlash. The response in- back off, "before we come
Leslie addressing a sexual terview was thoughtful and memory. cluded a profane video get you."q