Now thatSaturday Night Liveseason 50 has come to a close, there has been a lot of talk of cast changes, but the one personwho shouldn’t leave the show is Kenan Thompson. With all thechanges supposedly happening ahead of season 51, such as cast and behind-the-scenes shakeups, it has sparked speculation about the future of most cast members, including Kenan. Despite the uncertainty, it’s difficult to imagineSNLwithout Kenan, and it’s even harder to believe there’s a possibility he’s on the chopping block.
Kenan joinedSNLin 2003 and has been one of the repertory players in the cast since then. For an actor, being a cast member is a huge feat and different from the type of acting they usually do, but not Kenan. The 47-year-old originally starred in the popular Nickelodeon sketch comedy seriesAll Thatfrom 1994-1999.SNLwas a natural progression for him as he was used to working in this type of environment. The show really helped Kenan launch his career, so I can’t see him exiting the series anytime soon.
Kenan Has Been On SNL The Longest
For the 2024-2025 cast,Kenan is the longest-running cast member by over a decade. Besides Kenan, Colin Jost and Michael Che are tied for the second longest, as they both joined in 2014 as the Weekend Update co-anchors. Several other current cast members joined shortly after Colin and Michael, with a majority joining between 2020 and 2024. While beingon the show for 22 years might indicate Kenanis ready to leave, I think his long tenure means he’s dedicated to the series.
Kenan’s continued presence has provided the audience with a sense of comfortability through his years onSNL, becoming a vital part of the show’s identity. Whether he’s the star of a sketch or playing one of his many iconic characters, Kenan brings familiarity that elevates every episode he’s on.His comedic timing and ability to connect with viewers and cast members make him irreplaceableonSNL. As long as he continues to enjoy the work, I don’t think there’s any reason Kenan shouldn’t stay on the show.
Kenan Is One Of The Funniest Cast Members On The Show
While most cast members throughout the years have provided laughs for theSNLaudience,Kenan is hands-down one of the funniest cast members. From his iconic roles like Diondre Cole inWhat Up With That?and frequent impressions of Steve Harvey inFamily Feudsketches to playing the host ofBlack Jeopardyas Darnell Hayes. Kenan is constantly creating memorable personas that viewers love to watch. Even in the weaker sketches he’s been a part of, Kenan’s presence often makes them unforgettable.
Kenan is simply a likable character and a constant presence for fans ofSNL. If Kenan were to leave, there would be a huge gap in theSNLcast. While a lot of the cast members are quite funny, Kenan has brought me the most laughs since he’s been on the show.
Kenan Has Remained On The Show Despite Cast Turnovers
Throughout its 50 years on TV,SNLhas seen several cast changes. While fans may not have agreed with some of the changes (including myself), Kenan is one cast member who has remained on the show despite its many cast turnovers. Kenan recently spoke withPage Sixregarding the possible changes in the cast. He said wrapping up season 50 was “bittersweet,” and is prepared for any changes.
Especially this year where it feels like there’s maybe, possibly, a lot of change next year
As was mentioned earlier, Kenan has been a constant on the series for many years, and there’s comfortability in that. Kenan and theSNLproducers likely see this, and keeping him on allows the audience to have some stability going into each season.
Overall, Kenan is a star onSaturday Night Live, and it would be heartbreaking to see him leave the sketch comedy series. He’s become such a huge part of the show and its characters. Hopefully, Kenan isn’t on the chopping block and remains a cast member for at least one more season.
