Kenan Thompson on Leaving SNL: What He Said

NEW YORK,February 29,2024

Kenan Thompson Considers Life Beyond ‘SNL’ After Two Decades

The longest-running cast member in “Saturday Night Live” history reflects on the emotional weight of perhaps leaving the show.

• Kenan Thompson, who joined “SNL” in 2003, admits he frequently thinks about what his departure will feel like.
• he describes the prospect as “going to suck,” citing the deep relationships forged with cast and crew over the years.
• Thompson acknowledged the recent exit of bowen Yang and expressed dread at eventually experiencing that transition himself.
• He initially feared leaving the show as early as 2018, recognizing the need to create opportunities for new talent.

Kenan Thompson is grappling with the inevitable: the end of his historic run on “Saturday Night Live.” The comedian, who has been a mainstay on the sketch-comedy series since 2003, recently shared his thoughts on what it will be like to say goodbye to the show that has defined much of his career. Thompson has been a part of “Saturday Night Live” for 21 years, making him the longest-tenured cast member in the show’s history.

The Weight of Departure

“I definitely do.It’s, it’s gonna suck,” Thompson said, describing his feelings about potentially leaving “SNL.” He explained that the impact extends far beyond what viewers see on screen. “There’s just so many layers to it. It’s not just the on-screen that you see in that one, camera shot. It’s so many people behind the scenes and years and years and years with each one of those people.So it’s gonna be a lot.”

The comedian also opened up about the emotional toll of watching colleagues move on.Last month, Bowen Yang departed the show after joining as a writer in 2018. He was the most recent cast member to exit.

– “saturday Night Live” premiered in 1975. Over its nearly 50-year run, the show has launched the careers of numerous comedians and actors. The show is known for its political satire and celebrity guest appearances.

A Arduous Transition

“It’s tough for me because I have yet to have the moment,” Thompson admitted. “If I was on the other side of it,I’d be a little more like,’Yeah,you know,it’s all good,’ like,’Shake it off’ kind of thing. But, I’m dreading the moment. I might collapse in the moment as it’s been so many years and so many relationships.”

He continued, “That’s gonna be a drastic change at this point that I never thought, you know, ‘SNL’ would be such a large component in my life. I never thought I’d even get the job in the first place.”

– Before joining “SNL,” Thompson was a cast member on Nickelodeon’s “All That” and its spin-off, “The Amanda Show.” He has also appeared in several films,including “Good burger” and “Fat Albert.”

Early Fears and Future Outlook

Thompson revealed that he first began contemplating his future with the show in 2018. In an interview that year, he spoke about his fear of leaving, but also acknowledged the importance of making room for new voices. “I think about leaving and I fear it. This is such a special place, you want to do your part here, but you also want to make room for people that are coming behind you,” he said. “This was the first year I really started feeling like, ‘OK, I could push out of it now.'”

Despite the looming possibility of change, Thompson remains grateful for his time on “SNL” and the opportunities it has provided.