Why is Kenan Thompson still on SNL?

Why do you think?

I genuinely am a fan. I think he’s funny.

He's the anchor on this sinking ship.

If he was so horrible, he wouldn’t be on there.

R2 really? Please explain what you find funny about him.

R3 I’d argue he’s the iceberg, ever since he joined the main cast it’s been mediocre. I don’t understand how he weasels his way into every sketch.

r6, SNL has been totally mediocre for a LONNGG time. Kenan could just retire. He's been on TV consistently for almost 30 years, since he was a kid.

I love Kenan. He’s a cutie and I like his droll delivery.

Fuck off R5

For r5.

“Hang in there, Beth.”

r2 I'm a fan too. But even if he was only known for "Sum'in' Claus" he'd be worth holding onto.

[quote]He has mad drip! ?

I think it has something to do with strong coffee.

I love when he gets with John Mulaney.

I think they want to keep that millennial demographic who grew up watching him on "All That" and "Kenan & Kel".

He would never be fired, because he is the most beloved SNL castmate of all time--even more than Gilda, whom everyone adored.

But he announced his upcoming retirement recently.

He's never the funniest in the cast except for one or two times, the most memorable being when he payed Florida Evans in the "Good Times" parody.

And by "most beloved," I mean by Lorne and the other castmates and staff members.

Everyone needs a straight man.

No offense.

I'm more confused with how he got on there to begin with. He's never been funny. Making a weird face while being fat isn't funny.

He was on the kid version of SNL "All That" and was the breakout star along with Kel Mitchell and Amanda Bynes. So he's a natural at live comedy. I wish Lori Beth Denburg got a gig in SNL she was funny as fuck and still is. I feel sorry for Amanda.

He stays because he knows his skills are limited. Where would he go?

And after "All That" he was popular on "Kenan and Kel."

[quote] He stays because he knows his skills are limited. Where would he go?

It used to be that SNL was a launching pad to being a movie star (John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell) or to being a sitcom star (Jane Curtin, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler). Now it's just a launching pad to nowhere. Who was the last SNL performer to make a big hit outside of the show?

R21 Which also put Dan Schneider on the map and he succeeded in ripping off his own shows afterwards. Drake and Josh was basically a white Kenan and Kel

millennials grew up with him.

like bob sagat was like literally worst than losing their own father

betty white vs their bitch grandmother

they're protecting their brother from another mother from meeting the same fate

while wishing everyone over older will die and everyone younger would get off their lawn

so, how dare you

I generally dislike him, as I feel he's been relegated to very bit-like scenes and parts, similar to what happened with Leslie Jones. Neither branched out in to more varied performed like McKinnon or Wiig, Farrell, and on and on. However, I will say that when he is funny, it's gut-bustlingly hilarious, and I appreciate him in those moments. I remember the What Up With That ski with Al Gore. I don't know what it was but he just did it right there, and it was excellent. And he does have a lot of those moments through his time on the show, But other than that, he's such a terrible bore. It's a shame, he seems nice.

It's matter of taste I guess, I love him, he just needs good material. My only problem is that He can only play silly, I guess that's why SNL format works for him.

This is one of my favorites.

I think he’s really talented. One of the best SNL players ever.

[quote] If he was so horrible, he wouldn’t be on there.

Bless your delusional heart.

[quote] I miss Beck and Pete

Who?!!

I love him and it will be a sad day when he retires from SNL.

R23 Bro chill...

Fuck that dry turkey of an unfunny sketch show. MadTv was the truth. SNL was always mostly terrible. The show's longevity is due to some smart business decisions that boil down to time slot, general format, and their ability to attract big name stars and music acts. They always leaned hard into the political chaos of the day which has always been their bread and butter sustaining the show through its desert periods. Without these key elements, no one would watch.

There's no denying a bunch of cast members have been able to launch themselves into lucrative A-list and B-list careers from the show. The late 90s to mid 00s was a high point for them creatively in terms of casting smart improv actresses that could keep things afloat. Molly Shannon, Tina Fey, Mya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Ana Gasteyer, Cheri Oteri. Then the show's digital shorts with Andy Samberg, et al. eclipsed the cringe-inducing live skits. Repeat appearances by Justin Timberlake & Lady Gaga helped with viewership. Then they did some more smart female casting with Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, & Cecily Strong. Bill Hader also hit the jackpot with Stefon. The pandemic has left the show at a creative standstill.

Thankfully, no one has won an Oscar. They're just not THAT talented. Sketch comedy actors don't have the same depth of training to deservedly win an Oscar. They're gimmicky hacks working for cheap laughs.

A cultural institution that appears too big to fail, hopefully it ends at 50 years.

Fuck you OP Keenan is funny.

Who still watches SNL?

Kel was always more likeable and humble and gifted, though sadly he's way into Jesus now. He had a lot of struggles with addiction that seem to have brought him down to Earth.

I actually really like him.

[quote] If he was so horrible, he wouldn’t be on there.

Is that so?

I see him as a foundational cast member. Not everyone is meant to be a star. He’s reliable and comfortable with what he does. When he has a funny line, his delivery is as good as any other cast member. It sometimes really is that he gets only one line in an entire sketch that’s truly funny, but that doesn’t seem to bother him. He’s joked about it, but the truth is, he’s still on the show because he wants the paycheck. He has a family to support. Anyway, I’ll miss him on the show.