Latest news with #KenanThompson
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Molly Shannon Says This ‘Talented' 'SNL' Cast Member Replacing Lorne Michaels Would Be an ‘Excellent Idea' (Exclusive)
Molly Shannon, who was an SNL cast member from 1995 to 2001, exclusively told PEOPLE why Lorne Michaels is 'irreplaceable' as the sketch comedy show's showrunner Shannon also discussed longtime cast member Kenan Thompson as a potential successor to Michaels Michaels created SNL 50 years ago in 1975Molly Shannon thinks Lorne Michaels is a 'superstar.' The White Lotus actress, 60, revealed during a PEOPLE in 10 interview why 'Lorne is irreplaceable' as Saturday Night Live's showrunner. 'It's his show, his vision,' Shannon, an SNL cast member from 1995 to 2001, says of Michaels, 80, who created the show in 1975. 'There's no one who could replace him. It would not be the same show,' she continues. 'He's just a one-of-a-kind genius. Brilliant. Smart.' Asked what her thoughts were on longtime SNL cast member Kenan Thompson, 47, stepping in as a potential replacement as showrunner whenever Michaels departs, Shannon sang Thompson's praises. 'I love this idea. He's the greatest — I adore Kenan,' Shannon says of Thompson, a cast member on SNL since 2003. '[Kenan is] so talented. That's an excellent idea,' adds Molly, who famously portrayed SNL character Mary Katherine Gallagher, the awkward Catholic school student who liked to smell her armpits and call herself 'superstar.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In May, Thompson hinted at major shakeups for SNL before season 51. 'Especially this year where it feels like there's maybe, possibly, a lot of change next year,' the All That alum told Page Six. 'You want everyone to stay forever, knowing that people may be making decisions over the summer … it's always like you want your kids to stay young.' 'You just never know what the future holds,' Thompson, a cast member for 22 seasons, added. "I don't want to be in the way of someone else or I don't want to be the stale old man riding the same thing. That doesn't really happen that much at SNL, but there's no guarantees, I guess.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kenan Thompson, star of SNL and Good Burger, to appear at local fundraiser
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Kenan Thompson will be at Permian Basin Sneaker Ball Gala on August 23 at the Bush Convention Center and it's all for a good cause: to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of Midland. Attending the Sneaker Ball Gala helps keep West Texas dollars in our community and benefits our children, a club spokesperson said. 'Their dollar stays here whenever they sponsor, it allows our kids to come here for a dollar a day,' said, Andra Jones the Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club You can catch Thompson live in Midland at the year's biggest night in sneakers and support. Tables and sponsorships are still available; you can be a part of this wonderful night by using this link About the Boys and Girls Club Summer is in full swing and The Boys and Girls Club of Permian Basin are supplying the fun. The Boys and Girls Club has a variety of activities and field trips planned throughout the summer. 'Kicking off golf camp with first tee, there's programming at petroleum museum for STEM education, they will go to all of the pools and go swimming, they will go to the trampoline parks' really anywhere where kids can be kids, we take kids and make sure that they have the experience that they wouldn't have anywhere else' said, Jones. For more information on how you child can have ana amazing summer or to donate you can find out more here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Kenan Thompson teases 'a lot of change' may be coming to 'SNL'
Kenan Thompson teases 'a lot of change' may be coming to 'SNL' Show Caption Hide Caption SNL turns 50! How Lorne Michaels made comedy cool again. In the decades since its creation, SNL has become a cultural institution for American comedy. Will they stay or will they go? As "Saturday Night Live" fans speculate about which cast members may not return to Studio 8H, Kenan Thompson is teasing change on the horizon. Speaking with Page Six, the "SNL" star, 47, hinted that the show may look different when it resumes in the fall as he reflected that the end of its latest season was "bittersweet." "Especially this year where it feels like there's maybe, possibly, a lot of change next year," he said. "You want everyone to stay forever, knowing that people may be making decisions this summer ... it's always like you want your kids to stay young," Thompson added. It has not been announced which "SNL" cast members may leave the show between seasons. The Season 50 finale, which aired May 17, did not appear to give any of its stars an obvious sendoff, though it did poke fun at the speculation about who might be on their way out. In host Scarlett Johansson's opening monologue, the actress sang that "Sarah is leaving," referring to cast member Sarah Sherman, who then pretended to be distraught and confused as if hearing this for the first time. 'SNL' cold open mocks Trump's Middle East trip, Qatar jet 'pre-bribe' The Season 50 finale also joked about rumors that Colin Jost could leave his position as anchor on "Weekend Update," either to get a promotion or to exit the show entirely. During a joke swap segment, where Jost and co-anchor Michael Che made each other read jokes they wrote for one another, Jost was forced to read a message urging "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels to retire and let him run the show. Michael Che apologizes to Scarlett Johansson for crude 'SNL' joke swap Despite speculation that Michaels might retire from "SNL" after the landmark 50th season, the producer told The Hollywood Reporter last year he would stick around as long as he can. "There's no immediate plan," he said of retirement. Some fans also noticed that "SNL" star Bowen Yang appeared emotional during the finale's closing credits, sparking theories that it could have been his last episode. Yang later told Entertainment Weekly he "was just processing that being one of the last 'last nights' that I would have, and that is a huge thing." But when asked directly if he would return for Season 51, Yang would not say.
Perth Now
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Saturday Night Live could see a lot of change, says Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson thinks 'Saturday Night Live' could see "a lot of change" in 2026. The 47-year-old actor has starred on the hit comedy show since since 2003, and Kenan has hinted at what the future could hold for the cast, admitting that the end of season 50 felt "bittersweet". Speaking to the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column, Kenan continued: "Especially this year where it feels like there's maybe, possibly, a lot of change next year." Kenan would love to remain on 'Saturday Night Live'. But the situation remains unclear for the time being. The comedy star said: "You want everyone to stay forever, knowing that people may be making decisions this summer… it's always like you want your kids to stay young." Kenan is widely seen as a central part of the 'Saturday Night Live' cast - but he previously played down his own importance. He told NPR: "I'm tough with self-praise, I guess, but I am definitely an ensemble-minded individual. And if that echoes across, you know, in a way that people want to consider me as a glue, great, you know? "But I just try to go out there and do my job and, you know, give showcase to these brilliant writers and brilliant minds and all of our departments - makeup and hair and directors and this, that and the other. You know what I mean? "Just ... Trying to be a team player. But those things come along with being consistent, which is definitely, you know, much appreciated." Kenan previously admitted he didn't know how long he'll remain on 'Saturday Night Live'. He explained: "I'm supposed to be there through the 50th, but that's all I know as far as what they want from me kind of thing. And then what I want at this point? "Yeah, I mean, I could see myself, like, hanging it up. It's been a long run. You know what I mean? But at the same time, I could also see myself being the guy that never left kind of thing. I don't really know. It's kind of, like, still a blank canvas."
Business Insider
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
'SNL' star Kenan Thompson hints at 'a lot of change' to the show following 50th season finale
"SNL" has wrapped its milestone 50th season and is set to return to screens in the fall. Kenan Thompson, one of the show's longest-serving cast members, has teased major changes. Several fan favorites have been the subject of departure rumors in recent weeks. " Saturday Night Live" wrapped its milestone 50th season last week, with a scheduled return to screens in the fall. But while audiences may be eager to see their cast favorites once again spoof the latest happenings in Washington, it appears that there could be a bit of a shake-up coming. Kenan Thompson, the longest-tenured cast member in the NBC show's history, has hinted that some big changes could take place between now and next season. Speaking to Page Six on Wednesday, Thompson described the show's recent season finale as "bittersweet." "Especially this year where it feels like there's maybe, possibly, a lot of change next year," he said. Thompson did not expand on what those changes may be, but there has been speculation that several popular cast members may be about to leave the show. "You want everyone to stay forever, knowing that people may be making decisions this summer," he added. Colin Jost, whose wife Scarlett Johansson hosted the season 50 finale episode, cracked several jokes about replacing "Saturday Night Live" boss Lorne Michaels during his latest Weekend Update. Jost began his tenure on the show as part of the writing team in 2005 and became co-anchor of the "Weekend Update" segment in 2014. It was speculated that Michaels would be departing in the run-up to the show's 50th anniversary celebrations. The 80-year-old, however, who created the sketch comedy show in 1975 has previously addressed the rumors, telling The Hollywood Reporter in 2024 that he had no "immediate" plans to retire. "I just know that this is kind of what I do and as long as I can keep doing it, I'll keep doing it," he said. Elsewhere in the finale, Sarah Sherman, who joined the cast in 2021, was shown looking confused after other cast members sang a line about her leaving in a song performed during Johansson's monologue. Bowen Yang also has left fans worried he could be saying his farewells following a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. "I think you get to a point at SNL where you understand that you're on the downswing of things. I think I was just processing that being one of the last 'last nights' that I would have, and that is a huge thing," he said earlier this week. As for Thompson, who joined the cast in 2003, he said he has yet to sign a new contract for the coming season but expressed interest in returning. "You just never know what the future holds," he told Page Six. "I don't want to be in the way of someone else." "I don't want to be the stale old man riding the same old thing. That doesn't really happen that much at 'SNL' but there's no guarantees," he added.
