She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when shes not watching the latest show on Netflix, shes taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee. True, Kenan Thompson has been on 'SNL' for years now. In April 2022, Kenan Thompson and actor Christina Evangeline announced that they were getting divorced. "Do a bunch of comedy and then turn into the biggest movie star ever. The Atlanta public teachers' union goes on strike; unable to find anywhere else to put their children, the crew of, This page was last edited on 12 January 2023, at 02:51. Actor: Saturday Night Live. Kenan Thompson has been a working actor since he was a child. During his five-year tenure, the Kenan star debuted a number of characters, from the pea-obsessed lunch Lady Miss Piddlin to a teenage superhero whose sensitive nature led him to mess up, well, everything. He is also the longest-serving African-American cast member, surpassing Tim Meadows, who stayed on the show for ten seasons. The Saturday Night Live star told Distractify, "That's my lifelong brother." The network has also renewed fellow freshman comedy Young Rock for a second year. NBC renews Kenan. It is fabulous to have a funny cute show with real adults. [31] Thompson also holds the record for most celebrity impressions performed on the show, performing 139, beating Hammond's previous record of 107. 3 min read. [21], In December 2021, Thompson co-founded the production company and talent incubator Artists for Artists (AFA). Speaking withFatherlyin February 2021, Thompson admitted that being a dad means "everything"to him, although he said he felt added pressure to be a provider. 61,518, This story has been shared 29,247 times. According to legal documents reviewed by TMZ, the Saturday Night Live filed the paperwork back in May, about a month after the couple's separation was announced.Thompson and his estranged wife have reportedly agreed to joint custody of their two daughters, 3-year-old Gianna and 7-year-old Georgia. The controversy was cleared up in a much-needed phone call between the two, and according to Kenan, they've been solid ever since. In 2017,NPRreported that he madeSNLhistory as the cast member with the most seasons under his belt. At the panel, Thompson stated "It was a long process, starting with finding someone to settle on the idea with. Christina Evangeline is dating Chris Redd, TMZ reported Tuesday,. The amateur sketch comedy series introduced the world to stars like Amanda Bynes, Nick Cannon, Gabriel Iglesias, and the stars of Good Burger Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell. However, Patel dropped out of the project with Garca and the role was given to Kimrie Lewis. Thompson going on the ride over and over again is so funny to see because he just passes out and . He emceed the start of the show before John Legend performed and brought his drink on stage and kept saying how he was just chillin.. [45], On April 7, 2022, it was announced that the two had been separated for over a year, and are co-parenting their daughters. However, that changed in 2013 thanks to some ill-considered comments he made about the scarcity of Black women in the Saturday Night Live cast. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. ", While 20 seasons on the show would indeed be an impressive achievement, Thompson has hinted that he might stick around even longer than that. However, the character isn't a sketch comedy superstar, but rather the host of an Atlanta morning show. The series, retitled Kenan, premiered in 2021 on NBC, featuring Thompson as a newly-widowed father determined to be a "super dad". "He was like the safety net. As Thompson explained in an interview withDeadline, he wants to model his movie career after that of a fellow actor who became a star thanks to a series of wacky comedies, before clearing a path that led him to become one of the most acclaimed Oscar-winning actors of his generation. ", While Kenan Thompson has demonstrated an impressive degree of skill at sketch comedy and acting in general, he showcased a whole new side of his talents when he hosted the 2019 NHL Awards. He has been married to Christina Evangeline since 11 November 2011. "Chasin' around my babies and yeah, it just started melting off. While going through Cori's closet, which has sat untouched since her death, he and Gary find a restraining order filed by a man named Ron Sherman-Willis (. In 2013, he refused to play any more black women on the show and demanded SNL hire black women instead. ", "We had a moment where we kind of weren't speaking when we could have been and we both realized that," Kenan added. [3][4], On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 67% based on 12 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.62/10. ", In addition to hosting, Thompson also branched out into the world of TV reality competitions when he signed on to be one of the judges on Bring the Funny, in which he, model/Twitter superstar Chrissy Teigen, and comedian Jeff Foxworthy evaluated up-and-coming performers. A2. Dan Schneider the writer of iCarly and Victorious has been my friend for 15 years. Not only is Kenan Thompson the all-time longest-lasting member of the Saturday Night Live cast, the man who created the show back . But there was one sketch that truly put him on the map, thanks to the help of a fellow cast member: "Good Burger," starring his friend Kel Mitchell. Hollywood Life, Latest Hollywood Celebrity & Entertainment News. Distractify is a registered trademark. [10], In 2015, movie ticketing website Fandango announced that Thompson would play their brand character, Miles Mouvay. He first gained attention in 1994, when he was an original cast member of the Nickelodeon sketch show All That. Joe! I have not been upset about this." "I had to do stand-up, and I'd never done stand-up before," Thompson told Rachael Ray during a 2019 appearance on her daytime talk show. Even as far back as hisAll Thatdays on Nickelodeon, Kenan Thompson had always been on the heavier side. [33][34], Thompson has been nominated for five Primetime Emmys for his work on SNL, winning once. [38], He has performed in over 1,500 sketches, hitting the mark during the March 5, 2022 episode hosted by Oscar Isaac. As the two continued working on All That, Nickelodeon invested in a new TV show starring the two actors titled Kenan & Kel. It's possible that the topic may come up in a later episode if Kenan goes to therapy. Feb. 16, 2021. "He knows the best way to do just about everything.". In 2009, Thompson was a regular voice actor in the Fox cartoon series Sit Down, Shut Up, portraying Sue Sezno who, like her last name, always says no. Prime Video Announces the Premiere Date and Trailer Release for Canadian Amazon Original Series The Kids in the Hall", "Kenan Thompson to host NHL Awards on June 21", "Kenan Thompson to Host 2022 Emmy Awards on NBC & Peacock", "Kenan Thompson gets an NBC sitcom, but will stay on 'SNL,' too", "16 Times Women Changed the Game on 'Saturday Night Live', "Fred Armisen Is Leaving 'SNL' Too, Jason Sudeikis "Probably", "How Kenan Thompson Became The Ultimate 'SNL' Survivor", "Why Saturday Night Live Writers Lean on Kenan Thompson", "Why Kenan Thompson Is the Most Underrated, "Kenan Thompson hits 1,500 sketch milestone on Saturday Night Live", "Kenan Thompson To Be Honored With Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame", "See Kenan Thompson's Adorable First Baby Pictures", "Here's an SNL Weekend Update: Kenan Thompson Is a Dad! ", Looking back at those early years of his career,Thompson reflected on his time co-starring withAll Thatcastmate Kel Mitchell on their spinoff show,Kenan & Kel. "This is a hockey room. WhileAll Thatwas clearly his big break, an even bigger one came in 2003 when he was hired to join the cast ofSaturday Night Live. Rumors of a feud between Kenan and Kel surfaced in 2012 after TMZ reported Kel's claims that he and Kenan were no longer friends. He Shares Two Daughters With His Wife, 'The Kenan Show' Will Be Kenan Thompson's First Solo Effort, Kenan Thompson Plans to Juggle Three Shows at Once. "I didn't even feel it, but I just immediately started wearing black socks and shorts and just being really corny at stores and over-asking questions about items that are super obvious and in my face," he quipped. "That's the forever plan," Thompson said in his 2019 profile withThe Washington Post. [32] Although early on he planned to stay on the show until something else came along, by 2019 he noted that SNL was his "forever plan". He is an actor and producer, known for Saturday Night Live (1975), Snakes on a Plane (2006) and Good Burger (1997). Terms of Use Kenan is dismayed to learn that Mika is throwing a "marriage" segment to raise much-needed ad revenue for the show; he feels that the bride and groom are incompatible and that the planned advertisers are a bad image for his show. While speaking with TV Guide(viaEntertainment Weekly), Thompson addressed the fact that at the time of the interview there hadn't been a Black woman in the cast since Maya Rudolph left the show in 2007. Page Six confirmed in April that Thompson and the interior designer had split after nearly 11 years of marriage but were successfully co-parenting their two daughters, Georgia, 8, and Gianna, 4. "I was just a working kid actor." Their dynamic was so electric onscreen that executives at Nickelodeon realized they could do more with the duo's combined talents. He looked like he was having so much fun, one spy told us at the time. [27] Thompson said he had sent several audition tapes to SNL, which dismissed him as looking too young; he said "it was a couple years' worth of that". Gary confides in Rick that, at 35, he feels like an unaccomplished failure. All rights reserved. Kenan Thompson's estranged wife has moved on from the longtime "Saturday Night Live" star with one of his former co-stars. It is just what we need instead of all this negativity. ", "Kenan Thompson, Wife Welcome Baby Girl - It's the first child for the SNL comedian", "Kenan Thompson and Wife Christina Evangeline Split After 10 Years of Marriage: Report", "Kenan Thompson Files for Divorce from Estranged Wife Christina Evangeline", "PBS KIDS Debuts New Episodes & Online Content from ARTHUR and MARTHA SPEAKS BWWTVWorld", "Match Game (2016) (a Guest Stars & Air Dates Guide)", "Studio C + Kenan Thompson in Season 9 Premiere! These characters provide the support Kenan needs to raise his family and continue his career. "I grew up doing very serious theater in high school, it's just my on-camera persona has always been very jolly and comedy.". Bobbi Williams, Kenan and Gary's widowed mother, comes to Atlanta to see her family; Kenan is shocked to find that the formerly overweight Bobbi has become much slimmer and healthier and is more eager to have fun and go out rather than spend time with him like she used to. His most famous sketches include Whats Up With That?, Black Jeopardy! and Family Feud, in which he impersonates host Steve Harvey. Though 'SNL' has kept Kenan Thompson in the spotlight, '90s kids are ready for his sitcom debut. The character is trying to move on after his wife's death and raise his two daughters in the aftermath. "We weren't trying to put too much on it. What happened with Zac recently? I love this show. Coolios death shook social media, with fans and celebrities all taking to Twitter and Instagram to mourn him after the sad news. One of the modifications he outlined was his decision to ditch soda from his diet. "We would just ad-lib and they would throw stuff in the script." But I mean she was just giving me a hard time. You don't," he told the audience. While fans are aware Kenan joined the hit NBC series back in 2003, he's actually been in comedy a lot longer than that. When Kenan Thompson was cast in Nickelodeon's kid-themed sketch comedy show, Looking back at those early years of his career,Thompson reflected on his time co-starring with, who's also known as the nicest guy in Hollywood. He has also had supporting roles in the movies Heavyweights, D2: The Mighty Ducks, D3: The Mighty Ducks, Love Don't Cost a Thing, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, My Boss's Daughter, and Snakes on a Plane. In his monologue, reported The Undefeated, he joked that most people recognized him from Saturday Night Liveor Kenan & Kel. But I was like, 'Yeah it's not you, you know what I mean? Kenan Thompsons estranged wife has moved on from the longtime Saturday Night Live star with one of his former co-stars. While Kenan eventually became part of the comedy troupe, it was not the same case for Kel. Will Heath/NBC. What do you think? [46] On June 15, 2022, it was announced that Thompson was officially filing for divorce.[47]. He also stars in his own new sitcom, "Kenan." Christina Evangeline is dating Chris Redd, TMZ reported Tuesday, claiming there is no bad blood between Thompson and Redd over the budding relationship. [8] He began acting in his first movie, D2: The Mighty Ducks, while attending Tri-Cities High School, a visual and performing arts magnet school in East Point, Georgia. You've gotta admit, it's got a ring to it. Sadly, plans of the long-awaited Good Burger sequel never panned out. In May 2022, the series was canceled after its second season. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 25,429, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved When Kenan & Kel ended in 2000, Mitchell explains, "I was currently shooting films and guest starring on television. Aside from his real-life wife who is very much alive, he said the show "hit very close to home. Would love your thoughts, please comment. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Thompson said that, "It's every comedian's dream to get their own show on a major network, especially one of the original three. According to HuffPost, Thompson who's known forhis longtime Cosby impersonation on Saturday Night Live reportedly referred to the disgraced actor as a "monster" during a 2015 stand-up set. Ice Cube recalled watching Coolios grind to the top of the industry firsthand in his tribute, whileQuest Love wrote, Peaceful journey brother, along with a black and white photo of Coolio on Instagram. It's a different thing.'". While rumors swirled about their friendship going sour, Kenan and Kel seem to have kept in touch over the years. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time . Distractify is a registered trademark. NBC has renewed the Kenan sitcom for a second year. [7] Thompson was a featured player until 2005 (spanning the 29th and 30th seasons) and was promoted to repertory player at the beginning of season 31 (the 20052006 season). To sum it up, Kenan and Kel are still Kenan and Kel but without all the lights and cameras on them. "It's always been my goal to stay busy. See Mariska Hargitays Emotional Tribute on IG, Carrie Underwood Fan Helps Her Make Big Statement, See Katie Holmes' See-Through Embroidered Gown, Cindy Crawford Is Mega-Toned In New Photos. Shortly after, their self-titled series got canceled and they began drifting apart. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie.