It takes a true act of faith to embark on your wildest dreams, and for actors like Keegan-Michael Key and Danny McBride, making the vision real over the years is sort of like the iconic Bon Jovi soundtrack, “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
“I certainly consider myself a spiritual person, and so I think sometimes you just sit down and reflect and think to yourself, like, ‘What are all of the things that happened in the history of humankind that brought you to this moment?’ One hundred percent. And a lot of that is based on prayer and how the universe is providing,” Key told Blavity while on the set of his latest Super Bowl commercial with State Farm.
“It’s something, I think, to be grateful for as opposed to, ‘Oh my God, what was that chance that I took?’ or ‘What if I’d gone?’” he continued. “That often is the answer to a prayer. I went in this direction, I didn’t think that was gonna happen, and then a new door or a new window opens.”
McBride added, “I feel like I’m living on a prayer. I feel so grateful to be here. To show up and get to work with somebody so cool, like you (looks at Key), who looks so cool.”
The pair has joined forces for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which includes serving as insurance agents in a commercial during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
For the love of comedy
Key has a deep reverence for the art form of comedy that he’s bringing to fans by way of a new book, The History of Sketch Comedy: A Journey Through the Art and Craft of Humor, written alongside his wife, Elle Key.
“I’m actually really, really happy about this book, very proud of this book,” he said. “The audiobook came out this year, and so we have a podcast and a written book, but the audiobook just came out and I do the voice of the audiobook. But I would say something that probably blew my mind is—it was her decision, Elle, my wife, put the book together—and decided, ‘I want to,’ in these 10 chapters of the book, ‘go through the entire history of comedy and where sketch was born.'”
“From way back, like in the Greek, Roman, and Medieval times—and that’s the stuff that really blew my mind,” Key continued. “Was learning about all the seeds and the roots that were planted for what we do now, especially in the space that Danny and I are in, in sketch comedy—that it came from ancient stuff, thousands of years ago. That stuff was amazing.”
Making their Super Bowl dreams come true
A full-circle moment for both McBride and Key, being part of a commercial during one of sports’ biggest nights is a dream come true.
“I think, just in general, the Super Bowl commercials—I mean, that’s like the Super Bowl of commercials,” said Key. “And the idea that State Farm is known for always having great commercials, and to be a part of that, it’s really exciting.”
McBride echoed the sentiment, adding, “Because this is not a thing that they save just for the Super Bowl. I enjoy their commercials all the time. I mean, year-round. It’s a very specific thing, and accurate. I like to be accurate.”
“We literally wrecked a house. That wasn’t even part of the question,” Key chimed in. “That wasn’t even part of the question. We just wrecked the house. What’s important for people to understand—what we’ve talked about, quite a lot—is…”
“Having insurance—it’s not the same thing as having State Farm,” the pair chimed together.
More than people may enjoy the commercial spot at home, Key and McBride found much gratitude for the fun they had on set.
“I think as soon as the commercial finishes airing, if people are humming—and I think they will be—I don’t doubt that people stop watching the Super Bowl and just figure, ‘That was it! That was the highlight of the evening. Did you guys see the State Farm commercial? Yeah? Do you know what the score is? No, I watched State Farm.’ My day wasn’t gonna get any better than that,” Key concluded.
Alongside Key and McBride, the Super Bowl commercial features appearances from Jake from State Farm, Katseye, Hailee Steinfeld and more.