Sketch Comedy is a type of comedy that is characterized by a series of sketches, or short scenes, of a comedic nature. This brand of comedy was once popular in vaudeville performances, and has now become a staple of late night television shows. SNL, Monty Python The Flying Circus, and Kids in the Hall are all examples of sketch comedy. Such shows string together a large number of such short scenes to form a complete program. Improvisational comedy, which is comedy that is imporvized on stage, also makes use of impormptu sketches and scenes of a comedic nature. Examples of this Include The Upright Citizen's Brigade (a New York Based Improv group which I like to go see sometimes at the UCB theater in NYC) and The Second City.

An Example of Sketch Comedy Follows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH7n_t48k3w