1 Sep 2026 · 1h 5m · Amy Poehler, Kenan Thompson, Maya Rudolph · 20 quoted facts
Amy Poehler argues that Kenan Thompson's lasting success on Saturday Night Live comes from being present and unflappable. He treats every opportunity as one he was meant to meet. His childhood acting, professionalism, humility and refusal to ride emotional highs and lows have let him stay for more than 23 years.
The conversation moves between warm tribute and funny stories. Maya Rudolph and Amy describe a performer who seems fully formed, while Kenan recalls childhood stage moments, Nickelodeon sets, hockey training and a brutal hungover shoot. The tension is that he is a quiet observer who also takes over a scene when it counts.
Kenan traces his drive to a kindergarten gingerbread man role and a church production of The Wiz. In The Wiz, standing up and running as the dog got a laugh and hooked him.
Kenan says his mom took a side job answering phones at the Alliance Theater School so he could take classes at a discount. That early support led to kids' news work, Mighty Ducks and Nickelodeon.
After his first day of hockey camp on his 15th birthday he wanted to quit everything. His mom made him go back, and eight weeks on the movies made him a strong skater.
Kenan says he became a friendly, useful tool, so writers wrote for him because he delivered. He says it took five years before one of his own ideas, Scared Straight, made air.
Kenan says he avoids being carried away by highs or pulled down by lows, partly because the world has always been in chaos. Amy compares this to the survivors on the show Alone.
He is a comedian and actor who has been on Saturday Night Live since 2003. Amy Poehler, who worked with him there, celebrates his timing, professionalism and ability to stay in the moment.
He played the gingerbread man in a kindergarten play and Toto in a church production of The Wiz in Atlanta. His mom then took a job at the Alliance Theater School so he could take classes cheaply.
He had to learn for the Mighty Ducks movies, which involved hockey. He says he nearly quit after the first day of camp but his mom made him go back, and eight weeks on both movies taught him to skate.
They stayed out late at a club called Bungalow Eight before an early call to play the Black Eyed Peas. Amy says the shoot stopped traffic on a New Jersey highway, and Kenan joked by taking phone calls from his past self telling him to go home.
He says he tries not to be carried away by good or bad news. He says the world has always been chaotic, so a career setback seems small, and he would rather pick up the pieces and keep going.
Stated by the speakers. Each quote matches the transcript, which shows what was said, not that it is true.
Amy Poehler describes TT and Mario, the married singing duo played by Kenan Thompson and Maya Rudolph, as starting romantic and turning raunchy within seconds.
“And then maybe ten or 15 s in, they start talking about each other's booty and how tight it is.”
Kenan Thompson played Toto in a church production of The Wiz on the south side of Atlanta.
“this is a church play on the south side of Atlanta”
Kenan Thompson says his mother took a job at the Alliance Theater School so he could take acting classes at a discount.
“She got a job at the Alliance Theater School so I could take classes”
Kenan Thompson says that about a year after reviewing the first Mighty Ducks movie as a kids' news reporter, he auditioned for and got into the sequel.
“almost a year to the day, I got to audition for the 2nd one and ended up like making it in”
Kenan Thompson says his father worked in real estate and helped make history in Atlanta by desegregating listings.
“amazing, like real estate person, like, you know, made history in Atlanta for kind of desegregating, uh, like listings and stuff like that”
Kenan Thompson says his mother is the oldest of seven children and comes from Forest, Virginia.
“Cause she's like the older, she's the oldest of seven, you know? And they come from, kind of. It's actually called Forest, Virginia”
Kenan Thompson says it took five years at SNL before a sketch of his own idea aired, and that Scared Straight was the first.
“it took five years before I wrote something that was like, my idea, on the show, you know? Hm, hm, scared straight was like the 1st thing that actually made it on the show”
Kenan Thompson says Chris Farley played a ketchup-loving chef opposite his chocolate-loving character in a Nickelodeon production.
“He was playing a ketchup chef that likes to put ketchup on everything, and of course, my character likes to put chocolate on everything.”
Kenan Thompson says Chris Farley destroyed an eight-layer chocolate cake during a Nickelodeon shoot, making a second take impossible.
“they had this eight layer chocolate cake because we were celebrating something or whatever”
Kenan Thompson says that as a young Nickelodeon performer he over-tapped the actor playing T.C. from Magnum, P.I., who told him to stop.
“TC like Magnum, PI, TC. I was so excited to be next to him, you know what I mean?”
Kenan Thompson says his first day of hockey camp for the Mighty Ducks films fell on his 15th birthday and made him want to quit acting.
“after that 1st day of hockey camp, which was on my birthday, my 15th birthday, I wanted to quit it all”
Amy Poehler says that in his SNL audition Kenan Thompson paused before starting and said 'Oh my god, SNL' to himself.
“Where you take a moment before you start and you go, Oh my god, SNL, you said it like to yourself”
Amy Poehler says she watched Kenan Thompson's SNL audition on a private plane with Tina Fey, Lorne Michaels and Lindsay Lohan while filming Mean Girls.
“Cause Tina was there and Lorne was there, and Lindsay Lohan was there”
Amy Poehler says traffic was stopped on a New Jersey highway for a shoot in which she and Kenan Thompson, hungover, played the Black Eyed Peas.
“literally they stopped traffic in the middle of a New Jersey highway”
Kenan Thompson says he shared an SNL office with Colin Jost for eight years.
“We shared an office for eight years. Yeah, because other offices would open up, but like, we enjoyed that office so much.”
Kenan Thompson says he first met Eddie Murphy the night before the SNL 40th anniversary show, at a toast to Lorne Michaels in the Rainbow Room.
“was the 1st time I met Eddie, you know what I mean? And he just came to that like toast to Lorne in the Rainbow Room.”
Kenan Thompson says Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell appeared in his Scared Straight sketch at the 50th anniversary show, and calls Ferrell perhaps the greatest cast member ever.
“Eddie and the goat, Will Ferrell, like bro, like Will Ferrell's the greatest cast member we've had ever, I think, in many people's opinion.”
Amy Poehler says she gave birth to her first son, Archie, the day after rehearsing and watched the show with him in her arms.
“I rushed from set to have my kid and my 1st son, Archie, and he was in my arms and I was watching the show”
Amy Poehler cites Kenan Thompson's Jean K. Jean, a French stand-up comedian who appears on Weekend Update, as a character she still quotes.
“Jean K. Jean, the French stand up comedian who says Zutelores when he does update”
Amy Poehler says Kenan Thompson played a character in the SNL sketch Deep House Dish, a Euro MTV-style show written by James Anderson.
“a character that he did on a sketch called Deep House Dish, which was kind of like a Euro Mtv show and written by the great James Anderson.”
Maya explains the instant connection she feels with Kenan and suggests questions about his formative influences and how he stays fresh.
“like he's always been there and we don't have to say anything”
Kenan arrives with a pizza-rat gift and explains why he wears sunglasses. It sets the playful tone of the hangout.
“I just feel cool when I wear them,”
Kenan describes finding performing through a church production of The Wiz. The story shows how early laughter shaped his path.
“I brought tenderness to the role when Dorothy needed it.”
He recounts a run of lucky breaks as a child, from kids' news to the Mighty Ducks movies and Nickelodeon.
“Like my 1st review was the 1st Mighty Ducks movie”
Kenan explains how hard hockey training was and how his mother's insistence kept him going.
“Thank God, my mom didn't let me quit.”
Amy and Kenan discuss his famous audition and how naming the moment calms his nerves.
“I have to call it out, because if I don't, it'll be like it didn't happen”
A funny story of Amy and Kenan partying late and then filming a sketch at dawn on a highway.
“You know, you know, you have to get up early.”
Kenan recalls meeting Eddie Murphy and getting him into his own Scared Straight sketch.
“Colin suggests we do a scared straight and put him in it”
Kenan explains his even-keeled outlook, and Amy ties it to the survival show Alone.
“something bad happens. Just like, all right, pick up the pieces”
Kenan says his path felt carved out, then celebrates his peers' work before Amy closes with a tribute to his characters.
“I always felt like it had already been carved in some sort of way.”
Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. I talked to the amazing, kind, hilarious Kenan Thompson today and we talk about some really fun stuff. We talk about Eddie Murphy and how important he was to both of us. We talk about learning how to ice skate and how it is hard, and Kenan is good at it. We talk about how we partied really hard and how, uh, we suffered, uh, because of it. And um, and we talk about, um, can I wear sunglasses on the red carpet?
Am I allowed? Is that cool? And the answer is no. So we're gonna talk to Kenan today. Cannot wait. And before we do, we always check in with somebody who knows our guest, who wants to speak well behind their back, who wants to give me a question to ask them. And that person is world superstar Maya Rudolph. Maya Rudolph joining me today from Zoom. Um, you know, just, I don't know, comedy legend, whatever, no big deal, friend of the pod.
Let's see what Maya's up to and check in on that cutie pie. Maya, Woo hoo, you know, those tiny back to school emergencies that somehow become your problem. That's where Uber Eats comes in. You can order school supplies, snacks and lunchbox essentials for five or less. So when your kid casually drops, I don't like peanut butter anymore, or I need five green highlighters for a project due tomorrow. Uber Eats has you covered. Get everything you need for back to school today from your favorite brands like Aldi and Staples on Uber Eats.
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get up, what do you say? And I never wanna do something like that. Oh, you look much nicer than I do.
I'm trying to dress a little bit like Kenan. Aw, Ooh, what mug are you drinking out of?
it's um, Late Night with correction, jackals from From Late Night with Seth.
Is your house just filled with mugs that you've gotten from various talk shows? Mine mine kind of is. I wonder if, like Johnny Carson and like Merv Griffin and Dinah Shore, if they ever had mugs,
you know what I would give for one of those mugs? Do you know what we were looking? This is gonna. This is really ADHD, and this is gonna take us on a completely different tangent.
It doesn't matter.
You know, you know what we were just looking up this morning. Bicentennial 31 Flavors/Baskin Robbins Bicentennial ice cream flavor. And do you know what some of them were? Wait, so just set There's
the this is ni, this is 1976 flavors. 1976 for Okay, the bicentennial right,
31 flavors AKA now known as Baskin Robbins. Or is it the other way around? It's I Baskin Robbins I think it's the right?
other way around now. It's
I? They don't. Ha, they have more than 31 now. Um, one of them was called Valley Fudge
it's Valley Forge, Valley Forge. What was another one? Maya
Oh God. N uh, now I gotta look it up again. One pie was, one was apple pie, a la mode. Eh, that's cute, cute, but like, give me Valley, give me the old words. Oh, thank you. Minute man mint.
that's stupid, you know? Gen X has lived, we live, we were alive. I was alive during the bicentennial, and here we are celebrating 250 years. And boy has America never been better.
that's exactly how I feel.
Yep, it's true.
I mean, when you think about how far we've come,
Well, how far we've come and how much we fixed, that should be the s the l, the the slogan we fixed a lot. We're talking to Kenan Thompson today and I'm so psyched that I'm talking to you. Because you and Kenan are linked in a lot of ways for me. Like, I think some of my f most fun and most tender and funniest moments are watching the two of you perform. Like, you guys really have a connection.
How would you explain it?
You know, when you meet your people and you can't really, you can't really find words for it. So you just feel like you've known the person your whole life. I always feel that when I see Kenan, I feel like he's always been there and we don't have to say anything. It's, and it's, there's a there's a relaxation that comes over me when I, when I see him, when I watch him. It's like watching an incredible musician.
You know that you're in good hands and you can't wait to see what they're going to bring you. Because you know it's gonna be masterful and amazing. But it's also gonna fill you with, like a, I said, joy, like it's relaxing. I used to feel that way about watching Prince on stage. I'd get relaxed cause I was like, he can do anything, he can do anything. Kenan. I'm instantly, instantly, like, warmed and already giggling a little bit.
There's a twinkle in his eye that says it all.
Yes, Maya, it's so true. There's a twinkle.
I have such strong memories of him, you know, inviting him into our dirty, dirty office to sit, you know, sit on the floor on his knees or something like. I mean, we, we lived like disgusting college students. Amy And you too, that was your perch, yeah, that that was the best,
was my perch.
bringing, bringing friends into that and giggling till four zero in the morning. I remember so clearly, um, writing stuff with him. If I bring it up now, I'll probably get canceled. What we were writing, but but it was so fun. And all we did was laugh, all we did was laugh, like listening to songs and finding the little, tiny minute things, and then and then going in and laughing. Um, Ugh. I mean, but that's a great what we did.
You're right,
example of that is one of my favorite characters and sketches in SNL ever, which is TT and Mario,
Tt and Mario.
so people that didn't ever watch TT and Mario, how would you explain who TT and Mario were?
That's a great. Thank you for asking me. TT and Mario is is a duo from your childhood past that is. So they sing the most beautiful love songs that are so raunchy and disgusting, they think they're very loving. Yes, they are They're married, they're a romantics. married couple with children, they're. They've been together for a very long time. And sometimes one might say that sometimes they need the music to to make things fun again.
And what I love about They're, they're them is they always start so beautiful and so romantic.
so beautiful.
And then maybe ten or 15 s in, they start talking about each other's booty and how tight it is.
there's a lot of booty play involved. And TT and Mario serenaded you in the hospital. that's right, I think when, when Archie was born,
that's right. I wanna talk to Kenan about it because it was so. It was like, if I could've picked two, I couldn't have picked two better people. When I was in a postpartum haze, to be singing at me from my for sure, TV, then you guys, it's funny. I'm I'm excited to interview Kenan, cause there's a lot I actually don't know about him. He's, he, he's, he's more of a Coyote more of a Coyote, more of a.
He's more of a a of an observer and a mirror than he is sometimes a sharer. Do you have any questions for me today that you would like to hear Kiki talk Well, about?
I I mean, we're different ages in terms of like our influences. But he was so like, well formed when we met him. Like, I wanna know what he was doing, I know he was performing as a young person. But like, how did that? how did that get in there? As like, Oh, I know when I'm, when I'm big, I'm gonna be this. Like, how did those influences create the Kenan that we know? Because I feel like he came out like this, I I can't imagine him any other way.
I also just wanna know, like, like, I know you're gonna ask him about, like, how how do you keep it fresh? Kenan?
totally. Be. I mean, I'm so curious about, like, what do you not go to or do anymore? I mean, after 22 years of the show, Oh my god, like, you know,
how have you? how have you, like, bypassed?
yeah, how does the system work for you? Yeah, I'm curious.
But I feel like he might. He might actually be experiencing like the like, the dream of SNL. Because if you've been there long enough to be like, Hey guys, I'm gonna have to go this way. It's probably a dream.
I know that's probably why. Would you ever leave? It's so fun.
Do you ever like he? he? He figured it out.
Yeah, that's. He cracked the code and I wanna know what he cracked.
I think there's there's gold behind those doors. So, like, little Kenan is always what I think about, and I'm als, and I didn't know little Kenan. And I'm curious. Like, I guess I equate it to when we were little, like we would do plays in our living room and things like that. Like, was he just the guy who made his friends laugh? was he the guy who was like? Cause he's always been so steady and so funny?
And it feels like, like, where does that charm come from
okay. So I'm gonna ask Kenan about little Kiki, which we all know. Little Kenan is probably the cutest kid we've ever seen. on earth? Like, uh, Um,
like, hands down. And because I like knowing if that, if that person knew that, that person was gonna be the o, the person we know today. And I feel like it's a yes. I feel like that guy always knew,
I feel that way about you too, Maya. Like, I feel like seeing little Maya on a home movie, like singing into a microphone, you, you knew that, too.
that's all I wanted. I just wanted a microphone and the laugh of my friends.
Yeah, aw, and look at you guys singing together about putting whipped cream on each other's business.
That's all I want for America is for them to put whipped cream on each other's business.
All we want is for Valley Fudge to make a comeback.
Honestly, yeah, don't you love this angle? I mean, I picked a great angle. My neck looks like,
You actually look great. What does it say in your shirt?
Oh, Rory's place, oop, yes,
What? it's my favorite restaurant Maya in all of high Maya just dropped the sh, the phone down her shirt by accident.
Wah wah oopsie. Oh no,
Oh no, it fell down my pants.
do you kids wanna see what happens when my phone falls? I feel like relaxed and smiling, cause we're talking about Kenan. You know what I mean, I love you
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woo hoo.
Listeners Kenan brought me some fish. Of course, Wow, um, this we all is becoming a have to do thing now where I'm a food thing getting fake food.
now. It's real. How are you doing?
Are you gonna wear your sunglasses I'm, all the time?
I'm not. I knew that would be a thing.
Well, no, because I was gonna say What I'll put some on too if it would would you make you.
like it?
I don't have any, but I could wear some. I I'm would like some I'm fine off, cause I wanna see taking them off, the beauties
of course, it's good to see you.
you too.
I just feel cool when I wear them,
I do too. that's why, that's why I feel
I wear them.
cool. Okay, what do you mean?
But look at this, come Wait, wait, wait. Okay, on,
let me explain, is Kenan
that is for you. okay? Kenan This is an.
brought me a pizza, a ch, a slice of cheese pizza.
I think it's an artistic expression of the pizza. Rat, Oh, it's pizza rat, I think, so
there's a rat riding a slice of pizza. This is the 1st time I've had a fake food that moves like see. in any way. This is great.
And it almost reflects us, cause I feel like we're such fun, kind of like life lovers of like a good time, kind I sent of thing. It just you reminds me of, like us as characters. So Kenan, wait. And then enjoy.
you have to kind of Yeah, it just help him, he had to go under. you just Are y'all ready pull it back a for those listening? little bit We're pulling it back.
and then it goes, we'll pull it back a little stronger. Come on and you can't break it. So long story short, I went shopping and I thought of you, I saw it and I thought of you. And I've been holding onto it before. I even know I was booked on here,
No way, Kenan.
just fingers crossed, hoping that one day I would get to come sit in the throne, Okay, well, I'm gonna the throne
put it on. Oh my room. god, you know, we gotta add, thank you, Jenna. Um, I'm gonna put this on my wall.
Don't fuck it up. Oh, look at the placement,
Run and set a placement that is, that's super bold that's super placement. bold, pla. That is You gotta pay a lot of money for that
Byron Allen placement. placement. Yo man, the best.
Kenan Thompson is here. Hi, how Hi bud,
are you doing?
I'm great.
You're doing this on both coasts,
Yeah, we get to do it in LA. and New York, which is the best. You that's just get to do it wherever fantastic, you are.
yeah, and convenient for, like, guesting people. I'm guessing, Yeah, really right? Yeah, convenient. Um, good job, and congrats on the Golden. Who gets a go for a podcast, who no one gets a the exactly? does, no That's why you're such one does. We a gangster. just got it Exactly, that's and amazing. Congrats to everyone. You guys, that's really cool.
congrats to podcasting.
Yeah, way to go podcast. You can put You that on Spotify.
listen, you have a podcast, right?
I did a podcast for a long time with a buddy of mine. Yeah, what was Yeah,
it? what was it about?
it was just two black guys existing in America, you know what I mean, with a love of, like, you know, Hollywood and stuff like that. So, you know, Do you listen he's kind
to podcasts?
of a director. Yeah, I listen to podcasts, I listen to yours. I just caught up with the Lonely Island cause
So funny?
I did a guest appearance because of the Reba episode. And then I was like, Wait a minute, let me look at how long they've been doing this. And I went back to the beginning. And it is a long ride. And God bless those guys for just showing up and they're so showing up, funny,
barely showing up.
barely showing up.
The. It's hard to get all But four of them on the line.
oh, it rarely happens and it's such a treat. But they're combing through, like, such good memories, I know you know? And
I know I felt the same way. It was like, really good to go back in time. And we have so much to talk about, Kenan, cause we were on the show together for, a what, like, oh, six years, six years, which now
maybe five.
is was the B. It was like the 1st six
When did?
miles of your marathon. Basically,
Yeah, when did you depart?
I left in 2008.
Yeah, that was a like, a five year, cause I started in 03. So
Well, I'm I. I mean, yeah, that was getting to work with you is some of the my most favorite times and I wanna talk to you about it today. Because you're so attached to so many important moments in my life.
we thank you. And likewise, like, I talk about my sisters all the time, like, I consider y'all, like, you know, such. The like, get out of my room, kind of like. But also like, straighten up and don't come like playing games. That's why I was like, I was ready to take my sunglasses off, this is not I was like, a game. Kenan, take, Yeah,
I'm like your bossy older let me just let sister.
me just analyze. Are you gonna keep those on I'm the whole time? like, Are Hm,
are you gonna wear your sunglasses to cause it's, mom's birthday? Yeah, you're so right it. We do have a very s. There is a very sisterly quality with you and a lot of the women that you performed with during my time. And then you've, like, you've gone. Your family, family dynamic at SNL has changed from like younger brother to like elder statesmen.
I'm like grandpa at this point. Yeah, yeah, I'm gramsy. Hey, gram grams, good morning. everyone's like, Shh, grandpa's Yes, I sleep, grandma's know, grandpa's feet, sleeping, grandpa's feet hurt.
don't tell.
Let's just let's just do less for grandpa. Yeah,
okay, I'm gonna take you back in a little time machine to Little Kenan, because the teeny tiniest little version of Kenan knew pretty early that he wanted to be a performer. You're one of three kids, you're the middle.
yeah. But my sister's my half sister, just for technical's sake, got it. So that's why we're you grew up with, 14 years apart. But yeah,
so were you? then? were? were you the baby? then?
I was the baby.
Okay, that makes more sense, that makes more sense. just reckless and Yeah, fearless, you know, and yeah.
just a strange, like, you know, kind of ignorant confidence, if you will, you know what But I mean.
do you remember the very beginning? I feel like a lot of performers have this feeling like they remembered that sparkle that they got when they got, like, attention or looked at. Do you remember that? Like early Yeah, I mean, time?
I talk about it all the time. It was the gingerbread man, you know, like in kindergarten, I'm like in the graduating play, but like, I was the gingerbread man, you know what I mean, like, I wasn't the stove. So it wasn't awakening because in rehearsal it was just like learning these lines and like, this, it's gotta do this thing or whatever. But once I saw people there and then I recognized my mom and my mom was smiling, and you know, she was so happy and like, excited, and it just made me like, perform more.
And then, like, you know, the audio of hearing laughter, like after something I said, I'm like, Oh, wow, what is this? And totally. I can yeah, I thoroughly remember that feeling too, enjoyed it. Yeah,
like the feeling of just like getting a L feeling a little bit taller when you were, when people were looking at you.
I mean, look at us now, we're still I know, just fishing for laughs, oh gosh, fuck constantly. It's it
yeah, I would.
feels so good.
It's so embarrassing, I know, Yeah, God bless, but it, it's so true. Because, uh, and I read that you were, you were Toto in, Um,
I, that's what I'm saying. I got really hooked on trying to do something that that gains laughter. I just wanted to put those away because the sunglasses, they were OCD ing me a little bit.
1st of all, these glasses are gorgeous. Who Thank makes them?
you, those are Gucci glasses. Of course, they are, Yeah,
and I get it now, I get it. What you mean about being able to talk behind the sunglasses? Do you think I could pull off? and we'll get to your life, but Eye contact do you think I could pull is intense, off? Eye contact is intense?
yeah, and you can pull off anything.
No, but you can pull off sunglasses on the red carpet, right? That's cool as shit. I have Can I
made it a thing to where, like, I'm just fine with if they're mad about it or not. Because I feel like Jack was the coolest and he never took his sunglasses
so true?
off. And I'm like, that means you don't have to, But wouldn't so like, it look like I like it
I just recently had eye surgery? If I
only in the beginning. right, then you And and make it a thing, once it's a thing, it's just like, Oh, that's her artistic expression or whatever kind of like excuse you can get away with.
you're so right. Okay, Wizard? I just wanna get back to Toto for a 2nd. You played Toto, I played Toto because what grade were you all the parts in?
were taken. And I was like, Well, nobody's gonna be the dog. And this is a church play on the south side of Atlanta. They're, I'm sure we didn't have many, like terriers to to choose from. So I was like, I'll do, I'll do the dog, like, why not?
What?
I just wanted to be And down.
there's a lot of people I've talked to that have been in the Wiz Wizard of Oz in different ways. What did you bring to the role?
well, this was the Wiz, so Oh, excuse me, it was fantastic.
it was even more fun.
Yes, the music and everything. And I brought tenderness to the role when Dorothy needed it. I remember, like cuddling up to her and like the whole church being in it. You know, this is a small like, maybe like 100 people, maybe something like that. And to feel all of them acknowledge my performance in that way was like, Yeah, it's addicting, you know? And then like, there's a moment where everybody, like, runs to the back of the church when the scene is over to set for the next scene.
And like, I've been crawling around on all fours, so they left me and I was just like, Oh, snap, like they're all gone and I can't go. So I stood up as a dog and ran and that got a laugh. Kenan, I was just like, fucking swinging on that one, I
I don't want.
love it.
I don't mean to be like, jump in, like comparing your story to mine, but I had a similar experience. I was Dorothy. We had a real dog. And there's a moment in the scene where Dorothy's supposed to have a tornado, like the tornado's supposed to come. And she's supposed to go, Toto, Toto, where are you? But I was holding the dog and I was like, This is, we didn't go over this part, so I put the dog down, walked a few feet away and I said, Toto, Toto, where are you?
Big laugh.
A huge laugh. Because everybody watched you process that and you stuck with it and committed to, like, continuing the work. Man. Improv is the greatest, coolest thing. I wish I would've gone to one of the schools.
I know you, you have you, you. You feel like a like from that ar, from that like style and family. And did you know any actors growing up? no, not at Yeah,
all. It was such a distant dream. The best I would have thought would be like a commercial, like a national, like a public's. You know, when I was starting to book, those in the beginning, you know, sonic, like, whatever kind of like, I thought that was kind of the, you know, the mountain I would be on, kind And was of thing.
it your mom that was taking you to those? mostly? Yeah? And she was just like,
my mom's so dedicated. down, She got a job at the Alliance Theater School so I could take classes, she got like a side gig there. Like, as a like, answering the phones, like some kind of like office assistant, you know what I mean, so I could take classes at a discount or whatever. It was like the acting thing. I just, I just loved it.
you loved it. I mean, the theme F I feel like of today's talk. And you, Kenan, is like, you feel like everywhere you arrive, like, is the like? Timing is so important in your life, career and in the way you perform, I think you have the best timing of anyone I've ever worked with. and thank you, Your timing is incredible.
thank you.
The way you know how to play moments and the know how, the way you know how to play life, cause life is its own game you're, you have to figure out how to play. And I'm just in awe of your timing.
oh man. Like, and so I guess I'm the 2nd one to start crying. okay, great, Shout out to Seth. great, great, great. Oh Here we go.
my God, Seth. So easy to No, the get that guy to cry,
best, the best.
um, but it so like, but but it. But because of that, I look at your life and your career, which is still we're in the middle of it. We're not, we're. But like, and and the way in which wherever you are was where you were supposed to be at the time.
And weirdly enough, it's always felt that way. You know what I mean, like, I've never been like overly press, like the SNL audition was extreme, but like, on the way to that, for some reason, everything felt done already. Like I already have this job, like I already have made my friends. You know, before I even, like, met the all that cast, I was just like, I feel like this is mine to do. Kind of thing, you know?
yes, it was. L That's exactly right, Kenan. It's like it feels like every opportunity for you felt like you were meeting the opportunity when it was meeting you. And when, when you were, I mean, you were, you were on TV when you were what? 1112 doing like, uh, movie reviews.
That was like a real job. Like when I 1st, like, was dipping my toe in the water. We would like kids going along with the news anchor to this new like exhibit at the zoo. Like it was like about dinosaurs, and they did like a little mini special about that. Like that was like the beginning. So I was like, this is just playtime. We get to be in the zoo after hours, kind of like, that's cool, but like real news for kids.
I was like, Oh, snap, I have like an ID badge, like I get to, like, tap
what a briefcase.
it, to have that so young. It just pointed me confidently in the in the direction of, like, this is kind of what I feel like I should be doing. And then all kind of kismet stuff started happening. Like my 1st review was the 1st Mighty Ducks movie. And
No way.
then, like, almost a year to the day, I got to audition for the 2nd one and ended up like making it in. And then the director knew the producers from the Nickelodeon shows and they like, connected me to that, so that audition. I was real cocky, you know, You were like, Hey cause I was like,
guys, hey, hey, old friends.
What do you need? you? you need a Jamaican? I got you,
It's interesting, cause you look young, you still look young.
thank you.
Um, isn't it nice to now And get a compliment? and likewise is what Oh my god, we're supposed to bless your heart.
be saying.
Well, I don't know about that. Maybe with the sunglasses on
Yeah, put the glasses on.
or the glass. It would. Would it be weird if I wore those glasses? A cane and like a and a boot and went Well, that's to a red carpet?
when people are starting to worry.
Yeah, and like a wrist, like one of those, um, um,
they're like, what did she fall down on the beach? Like,
and half my face is sunburned. Um, but you. But you had a you have and had a baby face, but you definitely had a poise of someone much older than you. Like, I'm curious if you've always felt your age. I mean, a lot of, uh, kids who are acting at a young age, especially like making money for their family and being around adults most of the time. But you had the kind of pleasure and privilege of working on a show with a bunch of other kids, so you were with people your own age.
Pretty much did you f. Do you feel older or younger than your age? Like, what is your I've always soul age?
felt like an old man. Like, I feel like I came right from something that happened in the 70s, and I stayed kind of like, connected to the 70s. And I don't wanna like, it's my favorite era. And like, Yeah, I feel like Taurus energy, just, you know, capitalizes on that. And I'm very relaxed and just chill and like, don't wanna be that. Not too loud, please, everybody, just everybody settle down, please. Like, I can't handle it.
Like Do you when people feel like you like, loud
were? Do?
talk to me in restaurants and it's just love. And but they when they shout my name, I'm like, please,
yeah, you don't like that. I I know that about you, and your influences were like that, too, like Richard for sure, and Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy.
just the the the black Zagat zeitgeist, basically of of that era. And then onward. And then, of course, as I got older, looking backwards and learning your history, kind of stuff. But I I love, like, you know, the blaxploitation era. And like diving back into those sounds and those words and like having fun with it. Basically, cause it's like, you know, playing in your dad's clothes, basically, yes. Did you guys yeah,
watch as a family like stuff together? were you a laughing family? like, were you a comedy family?
my dad is the joker, for sure,
Really?
like he's the joke teller, and he does really well. He's like a room pleaser when he does that. Like, remember, like at my grandmother's house, he would have my grandma, like, almost like peeing her pants, like, literally. And this is my mom's mom, you know what I mean? So we were really doing a dance kind of thing.
yeah. Is he a frustrated performer?
I don't. He's a G, Uh, he's a Gemini, so I think he does a lot of things well. So, you know, he was like, he drove like NASCAR kind of cars. He was in the military, he was a mechanic. You know, like a, you know, amazing, like real estate person, like, you know, made history in Atlanta for kind of desegregating, uh, like listings and stuff like that. really, Yeah, so like,
very cool.
he's a very cool dude and on top of that, yeah, loves to tell a joke. And then my mom has this like secretive kind of sense of humor, like a little prissy. Cause she's like the older, she's the oldest of seven, you know? And they come from, kind of. It's actually called Forest, Virginia, so you can imagine there's lots of trees there and not a whole lot of buildings. So she comes from literally the forest. And like, kinda had to be a little more like, suited and booted.
But yeah, she has this like sneaky little laugh, where it's just like, Oh, you like to laugh at the naughty, look at you being naughty kind of thing. So for me, I have a little bit of both, but I'm I'm not really like a room gatherer unless it's like a fixed performance. no, you're Yeah, not like yeah,
you're not looking to win the room. Hm, hm, no, I mean, but I, I would say that. My experience with you is that you are a little bit more of a three point shooter. Like you wait for your time and you like to observe, you like to see how people are playing.
yeah. I like to to Steph Curry it a little bit. And like, you do, when it's time to turn it on, just like, take over the game, and you shoot like, let's,
it in, that you shoot, you do, like a no look on your way out.
oh yeah, like, I know that's going in, yeah, yeah, yeah,
it's definitely your style.
that's it feels good.
And and it's rare to have a like a career before you reach SNL like, and and not always helpful. no, it hadn't gone Yeah,
well. I don't think for anyone. At that point, I was like, I just wanna do whatever because this writing thing freaks me out. So you guys tell me what you want? And it took five years before I wrote something that was like, my idea, on the show, you know? Hm, hm, scared straight was like the 1st thing that actually made it on the show. If well, you will,
well, uh, you know, uh, we talked. We brought up Eddie Murphy and I wanna talk about what it was like to do that sketch at the 50th. But what's your early memories of Eddie Murphy? Cause for me, uh, I'm older than you, but not by much. But enough that when I was watching SNL, when I started watching SNL, it was Eddie's year, he was 1819. When same. do you remember meet, when But that was seeing him?
kind of me watching from down the hall when I wasn't supposed to still be awake kind of stuff. You know what I mean, and like, I remember hearing Hot tub before I actually was able to watch it. You know, just like trying to just be, and I just remember being in PJs, you know what I mean, and like, watching my dad, just like, laugh. Yeah, I think he was still like my mom was asleep, he was just like the only person up.
House. It's dark and you just see that, like blue The glow of the flashing, yeah, the glow TV. and like, S, Yeah,
Isn't it funny? I remember You have memories as him laughing, a little kid of, like, when your parents would laugh really hard at something, it was like you hm, like, would look at them, like,
well, what happened?
what happened? what? what was What's funny? that? Yep, And it just imprints on your brain immediately, then, forever, what you think is funny.
It was always fun getting to a place where, like, we could share laughter together in the same sort of sense of humor. Like with my dad, you know what I mean, like, once we started, like, quoting, coming to America to the oh, coming each other, in
to America.
like certain moments. It was just such a dynamically fun time because it was like our little thing, you know, like we played pool, we quote, coming to America, you know what I mean? And it's like a dad and two brothers, basically, it's really cool.
It's kind of like, you're what you're s when you're saying like that. It's reminding me that, like, for some families, comedy is sports like. That's how you connect is, you talk about what you think is funny. And and like. And I know that you loved Eddie, I know that you love Richard Pryor, and you also love Chris Farley, who you got to work with. Can you tell us about that? And Jim Carrey, like And oh, and I Jim Carrey?
super duper fan of Jim Carrey, and I emulate him, I think, more probably than anybody. As as far as like micro performing goes, like, I feel like he performs every possible like syllable kind of thing in his physical body. It's it's wild to watch, but Farley is, um, just a full buffalo, you know what I mean? And like, he was just so dynamically funny, not just falling down funny, like he had some quips that were incredible.
And sometimes his performances were just like, he's the only one that can do that kind of thing. So he came to all that and did that. Like, it was the greatest day I've ever seen, cause I was like, that's a true pro, that's somebody that doesn't need. Cause. They would tell us and rehearse us a lot, cause we were kids kind of thing. He came in and didn't need any instruction at all. He was playing a ketchup chef that likes to put ketchup on everything, and of course, my character likes to put chocolate on everything.
So it was a battle and they had this eight layer chocolate cake because we were celebrating something or whatever. And you know, Nickelodeon likes to make a mess, but they like to shoot up until right before the mess and stop. And like, do that part a few times to make sure they got it, if you will. And they really politely asked him, like, please, and you know, take one after we got and we got to that point, destroyed that cake like it was nothing like, I think on purpose, because they tried to tell him to do something and he, like, beat the cake up.
To where there was like, there's no way we're doing a 2nd take of this. Jumped in the car, jumped in a limousine and was gone. Like they have showers, we like, we got showers ready Little to go. I'm fine,
bit of time.
towel off a little bit, still ketchup in his hair and was out of there. And I was like, Now that's a gangster, that's a that's a professional gangster Yeah, that's and so damn amazing, funny and so nice,
so nice.
so nice. Never fronted on me for being a kid or anything. He just came in and like, was like, let's get to it kind of thing.
you know, I think I, I'm sure every young person feels this way. They remember the people that, like, treated them like peers when they were feeling, when they were, um, and they remember the people that were, um, dismissive of them when they were young. Cause we really do, uh, act, especially with young people, like they don't know what the fuck they're talking about, or like, it, we're always doing that to them.
and like, I have a problem with, like people's boundaries. Like, I learned hard lessons with that because I'm just very like, outgoing and kind of like, we're, we're fine with this, right? You're fine. If I just keep tapping you on the shoulder, like, you know me kind of thing. And some people put you in your place and you're like, Hey, man, stop tapping me. And I was like, Oh, snap, like, I'm sorry, I crossed that line.
TC like Magnum, PI, TC. I was so excited to be next to him, you know what I mean? Like, that's what Nickelodeon did. It put us, you know, in proximity to a lot of very famous people kind of thing, and I was just overly excited. I'm like, isn't this great? My man, look at this, this is an awesome day. He's like, Hey, man, stop tapping me. And I was like, Oh, oh, my god, I over tapped TC.
but you're, but you're. What you're talking about is just like straight up, like etiquette. On set. That a a lot of people when they arrive at SNL, not only have not ever been like on TV, but often have never been on any kind of set. And there is an etiquette to, to your point, how you approach people, how you, uh, how, like, how to be a professional. And like, I, Kenan, you are such a professional in the way you approach your work and the way you deal with people.
You're really, really smart and you've you have a lot of experience and you could feel it immediately when you arrived at SNL. But when you think back on those early, like days of learning about what it was like to be on a set, what was like the things that you learned? What were some like takeaways that you still think about, like what you try to bring to other sets?
1st, thank you for all of that. 2nd, free stuff was the 1st thing I noticed. I was like, I'm in the right spot. I, I knew it, I knew it. If the price is right was doing it, I knew everybody was doing some version of that, whether it was snacks or drinks or whatever. Whatever I'd like, I needed to ask for, if you know, just little Wendy's little bacon cheeseburger meal. Can I get that? and they're like, absolutely, You can get that, absolutely no
you can get that, don't problem. even take your wallet out.
I was like, Hm, fantastic, I'll do whatever. We'll be here 19 h. Well, you know how many more? T you wanna jump in the lake? Am I supposed to jump in the lake? I, whatever. And that was definitely like, a check, check that box. But also the size of things. Like when I got on the Mighty Ducks and saw like a movie set and all these trailers. And like so many clothes for everyone, I'm like, what is what are all these clothes for?
They're like, all the different scenes in the movie, gotta wear different clothes, different clothes, that's crazy,
oh, it's a lot of pressure.
super pressure. I didn't know how to skate.
Okay, let's talk about Mighty Ducks because you are one of my you. You're one of my friends that skate the best, Thank you, you are. You're an incredible ice skater. A lot of people don't know this.
thank you. And I. I pride myself with that. Because it's not like a big, known thing amongst the Black community to just ice skate like that. You know, like, there's only certain people that do it, there's only certain couple few people in, you know, in the NHL or whatever kind of thing. You know, New Yorkers or people in cold climates kind of do it around Christmas time, kind of thing, just, you know, kind of like going bowling, if you will.
I remember But
I have a I have a to get good very clear memory
at it is wild.
to get good at it is hard, and I have a very clear memory. They used to let us at Christmas shows at SNL
it's the best.
the guests, they don't do they do that anymore.
They haven't done it in so Damn, you just gotta long.
do it. They used to let us. I mean, talk about free stuff, talk about perks is, uh, on the Christmas show, we'd be like, good night. And then they'd cut to, like, maybe a bumper, and we'd all get to run downstairs. What would we Gotta get go,
there. There would be like a golf cart all of a sudden inside the hallway, sometimes, like for people to just like, zip down there. Some people would be down there already. But if you're in that final thing kind of thing. And then we would wave goodnight And on the ice
me being the Rockefeller on the on the ice rink, underneath the Christmas tree, yeah, Rockefeller Center, unbelievable. and just us at 01:00 in the morning. And I go down there and I see Kenan, and Kenan is. You are skating forwards, skating backwards, skating sideways,
yeah, me and me and doing your thing, shooting somebody told the moon, me, like, What are you doing? doing 45 million This? Yeah, thank tricks. And you,
then I was like, Duh,
cause I was fresh off
mini ducks.
of learning it. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
So how hard was it to learn for you?
very cause. Like, I remember, like I was just talking about this the other day. Like roller skating and going to like roller skating rinks is what we had in Atlanta. Like I was busting my ass constantly. You know what I mean as a kid, but you don't feel anything as a kid. You just feel the knots later kind of thing. But I remember, like both feet up, falling all the time, you know, like all the time.
So sure, I put it on my resume under special skills that I could roller skate or something like, Yeah, roller skating, you know? But like, I never in a million years considered hockey. I wanted to learn, but after that 1st day of hockey camp, which was on my birthday, my 15th birthday, I wanted to quit it all. oh, I bet I was like, I don't wanna be an actor, poor I don't wanna do. This is Kenan.
what it's about, like, Am I? Thank God, my mom didn't let me quit.
She was like, No, go back tomorrow.
Yep, kept going back and back. And like, eight weeks on both movies, you learn how to skate.
yeah, do you skate? Do you find ways to skate? now? Do you look for it?
great skating with the family, you know what I mean at Christmas
do your girls know how to skate? time. Yeah, That's awesome.
yeah, they both are good little skaters.
They are. Yeah, it's Do you watch any
so fun.
ice skating during the Olympics Yeah, I when you mean, I've watched watch? Like the
the figure skating. Yeah, that you do, I watched the the girl with the three tiered, you know, kind of hairdo yeah, Alyssa Liu, is that her? Yes, I know she's from from Oakland area, oh, she's from the how dope Bay.
was that? Unbelievable?
Unbelievable, just because of how casual she is and like, she's just chilling. But like the thing she can do on the ice, bro, is I? I give her all the medals, like it was wild to watch
well, she.
that. In hockey, I guess I'll watch She reminds it all.
me of when you perform, because she was very relaxed and you get. And like, when we're watching her, we're like, she's good, she's good.
very good.
And the ner like nerves, nerves are like, if you can figure out how to channel your nerves. S. Um, Oh man, so what were your nerves like when you were auditioning for SNL? You're 23, which is still really, I mean, in the in the context of the show, I guess it's not so young, but just feels so young. When I watch your audition, uh, on SNL, there's a small moment that is. Sandberg did it too when he auditioned.
Where you take a moment before you start and you go, Oh my god, SNL, you said it like to yourself, and and I, I. Sandberg had a a similar moment where he was just like you could tell, he was like, whatever, but it's it in, it's very. It was very inviting. It was not like this person is like, cannot handle their nerves. It was it felt like what you do so well, which is you, like, zapped yourself to the present moment.
You're like, here I am, I'm here.
yeah. And it's like, I have to call it out, because if I don't, it'll be like it didn't happen kind of thing. So I have to, like, put it in the in the words that, like, I recognize that this is crazy.
it feels like, uh, also just a way to secretly kind of quiet your nerves, like, just to be it's like say it,
silently putting that seatbelt on, like, and like, remember in Fight Club, when he's just like, gosh, you know what? I'm just gonna get crazy with this and let this steering wheel go, I'm just gonna let it go. And I just like, let my mind just start rambling. It's so my audition is so rambly, it's crazy.
I mean, it's not. And and I, I. I think I've told you this story. But I watched your audition from, Uh, um, d. We were filming mean girls. Did I tell you this story? I've told you this story. And Lorne had all the auditions, he was watching them on the plane private private. PJ PJ
We know somebody that got money, our friend and got money.
and um, probably the 1st time I had ever, um, flown private. I, I don't even remember, I remember. And it was during Mean girls, and we must have been flying back from the set. Cause Tina was there and Lorne was there, and Lindsay Lohan was there incredible, and we watched your audition
that's crazy.
and we were all like, he's incredible. And Lindsay was like, I love him and and And I remember,
I love her.
I know, and I think at the time you probably already had the job, but it was I. The one thing I remember more than the content, which you realize very fast, nobody really cares about the content, like you think, the content, the jokes, everything is so important. You could have the best written material in the fucking world, you could have the best jokes in the world. If people don't feel like relaxed, happy to see you, drawn to you for whatever reason, it just it doesn't work.
It's like it's It's this crazy chemistry thing.
the craziest part of casting, like casting is such
yes, that's right.
a like. Shout out to, you know, casting people that, like, do it well, because it takes a whole lot of like, well, thanks for thanks for coming in. But you know, we'll get back to you. And like, being able to, they're like nurses, you know, God, just giving,
you're right. They're like, we're gonna give helping you through the you something,
awful news.
we're gonna give you a shot, it's gonna hurt.
yeah, or like, let's try that again and this and this time do everything different. oh, I mean, Yeah,
yeah. They were like, Um, maybe this time try to be like a normal person in the world, like, what a normal cool, cool, all person. Yeah, oh, that's a good note.
And then you do it and you still like, didn't like, check
Well, you did. those boxes. Okay, Did you have fun? I wanna say something about what? W uh, watching you ride the wave that is SNL, cause it is a series of waves. What do you think has been the like, the way that you've surfed the last 23 years?
I think in the beginning I became friendly to the process of it, like I became a a friendly, useful like tool, if you will. So, like all kinds of people would like write for me because I was able to deliver.
Nobody gave us this rule, but, and I'm sure you now tell people this. But if I could go back and tell people one thing, it would be try to do as well as you can in anything you're given. That simple thing get gets people to, just cause everyone's nervous give me and one word yeah,
or half a line. I love it.
yeah. What have you changed about how you interact with the job, that and how you've made the system work for you?
yeah, I don't let it just keep me out anymore. It used to keep us out, well, Kenan and I just from being
have, had Kenan and I inside. have had seen some.
It's one of my favorite stories ever of Oh God, us doing that bit. please tell us, okay, So
let's tell this story. I, I totally
this is a fantastic. I need a drink, okay, let's let's take, take drink. a drink, break.
okay, so I'll start it. Kenan and I, Okay. This was a different time before we had children,
This was a different time before we had children.
so we would go out a lot, Kenan and I, and all of us would party a lot
Yeah, we would hang out. and we would hang It's it's New York, out very excited about being in New York.
and so we. There was a night, many nights, but there was a particular night where I was out too late. Um, and just before I understood it,
the schedule, too, I was just like hanging out because, I knew the schedule like, we would get,
and I was still. yeah, still And
out there.
and we were at a place called Bungalow Eight. Fantastic Shout out to those shout out, kind of places, shout out to Rashida, shout out to Rashida. R Look, Rashida, Rashida Jones turned always my beautiful wife, turned me on to so many aspects of life. literally the greatest And she'd be like, Hey, I'm hosting this club uh thing, and and I'd be like, Oh my god, what time? One zero am. sounds great. I mean, what the we're there fuck?
and like. It doesn't close like the other places, like it can kind of just stay
and it's open.
open a little later.
And then when you walk in, it's like, Oh, you know,
Bring in Amazon rainforest and it's time to listen to music, s and drinks. And like, and like, T sh, lots
Ti is here. of people, yeah, Yeah,
lots of people in the building.
yeah, um, so um. We went to Bungalow eight and I was there. And all of a sudden, guess who comes in later than me is Kenan, Kenan comes strolling in strolling and we had. somewhere, We had a six zero am call, I probably had a six zero am. You may be a little bit later, cause ladies have,
it was 1st thing in the morning. But we had yeah,
to be up maybe two or 3 h later to play.
the black eyed peas. It And was fantastic.
I had to get in full, you know, I had a spray tan, as Fergie whole lotta luggage to Kenan
be where I am. had a crazy wig Heavy ass dreads.
and heavy dreads, and it was. The host was, Um, John Heater, who did not stay out late that night. He was ready.
yeah. He didn't have a an issue at all. But he's, he's like Mormon, isn't he? He's Mormon, so Yeah,
he just chilled.
yeah, he chilled. He was a Yeah, he responsible person. was responsible and Yeah,
he chilled, and he didn't even have caffeine. That's how
no. And back then, those shoots used to be ten 0 mi away.
I had not slept, you had not slept. Who else was in it? who was our I wanna say Forte, Forte?
I just remember Forte, like laying on a very hard floor, We were so hungover face down.
and could not move or talk. And literally they stopped traffic in the middle of a New Jersey highway.
Yeah, for us to pretend to be the black And it was like, eyed peas and rolling, it was like at like
like, six zero. 1090 am, like rush We were like, No, hour. And people no, no, are just like, no, no,
what is that? Yeah, you have to be don't fuck joking,
with my heart. And we had to dance. And Kenan was doing a bit that I will never forget, which is he was taking phone calls from his past self, ugh. pretending to tell him to go home.
Yes, like you are being unkind to yourself, sir,
He's like, Kenan, this is Kenan, like, oof, you gotta go home.
yeah, what are you doing, man? You know, you know, you have to get up early. This is not good. Put it down.
when you started, you, you mentioned this earlier, you were you and Jost were what? What are your memories of being of you and Jost sharing an office?
It was the best because we were so dynamically different, in my opinion. You know, like him coming from like Harvard and Staten Island, and like me coming from like the south side of Atlanta, kind of thing. And like, I didn't finish, I went to Santa Monica City College, you know, so I didn't even really get too far down the like college, college like sharpness road, you know? So, like, I feel I was still, like, high school educated.
In my opinion, I learned a lot from him. We shared an office for eight years. Yeah, because other offices would open up, but like, we enjoyed that office so much. And like, I think being together so much. And then Scared Straight was born from that, you know, kind of stuff, and like, right. Talk about I learned a full circle Kenan, lot. Hm, hm,
like you s you, you see, you're a fan of Eddie, you write, Scared Straight forget with Colin,
about it.
and then you do wit with him at the 50th. What Shout did that feel out to those guys, like?
like shout out to people that are like, like Colin and Che are both like that. And I shout at Che out so much because a lot of my favorite stuff that is like, very silly and black and really, really smart, you know, is coming from him sharply, like Black Jeopardy and stuff like that.
yeah, and uh, what? When you and Eddie did it for the 50th, what, what? what do you remember? But what was the little special, twinkly magic moment? Uh, when you did that, what did it feel like?
So at the 40th was the night before, was the 1st time I met Eddie, you know what I mean? And he just came to that like toast to Lorne in the Rainbow Room. So everything was like, very New York, magical, cause it was like in the sky. And he emerged from a separate elevator from everybody else. And I'm like, of course, he has his, you know, specific way. And like, I was like, that's really cool, I couldn't contain myself and he recognized, you know what I mean, he was like, Hey man, like,
of course.
like, like, I was like, Oh my god, this is amazing. So fast forward to the 50th. Colin suggests we do a scared straight and put him in it, you know, he and hosted, which was the greatest show ever when, you know, he hosted for Christmas time. And then back to Che. Put me in that monologue with him, Chris Rock, Tracy and Dave Chappelle, like, what an epic picture I'll keep it for forever. So at the 50th, they're talking about doing a scared straight.
I'm like, I wasn't even planning on. I didn't know what to do because everything was so last minute. You know what I mean? So I just heard that they wanted to do this and I'm like, they're down to do this. I couldn't believe it, like Eddie and the goat, Will Ferrell, like bro, like Will Ferrell's the greatest cast member we've had ever, I think, in many people's opinion. So for them to be in my little baby sketch was unreal,
well, that's so cool. Kenan. unreal. Yeah, I felt that, I felt like I felt like you were a peer and a fan at the same time with them, super, cause you are a peer to them.
thank you.
And you realizing that moment was special is is kind of like, what? Going back to our theme, which is you were really present in the moment. And the other thing I'm just gonna say about you, Kenan, I just and I,
eat too much humble pie to n to like, not feel like a little kid looking at his hero kind of thing.
Well, that's what I mean is, you know, okay, do you ever watch the show alone? I talk about it all the time on here, but it's, uh, um, okay, alone is a is a, um. It's kind of like an adventure reality show. And it's about people who are dropped off in the wilderness and they have to survive by themselves. And whoever stays the longest alone, and they all have to hunt and fish and gather and all this stuff.
But what you realize is the people that last the longest are not the ones that celebrate the hardest, and they're not the ones that take the losses. So personally, they stay somewhat relatively. Even you bag a moose week one, you're not gonna bag it every week you. Your shelter falls down. It doesn't mean because you're a jerk and bad things happen to you, like you don't internalize, and I get that from you, you ride those highs and lows.
Do you think that that's true about yourself, and have you always been that way?
yeah. And I think I kind of focus on that a little bit. You know what I mean, just to make sure that I don't allow things to just carry me away. You know what I mean? Like, there's so much to be emotional about outside of the business. Like the world is in, like, full chaos, and has been my whole life. I feel like, you know what I mean, there's always been some sort of representation of a a bad guy, if you will, or a bad, you know, situation kind of stuff.
And then the more you learn about the world, it's like, how dare I even be bothered or upset about? You know, such minuscule things as a miss accomplishment in my career kind of thing, you know? So I've always kind of just been like, cool, like, if something great happens, great, something bad happens. Just like, all right, pick up the pieces and like, let's keep it pushing kind of thing. Because you can dwell on it if you want.
And let it, like, suck you down a little whirlpool and stuff like that. But then where would we be and where would all the people that depend on me be? Kind of thing if I allow the darkness to creep in, It's you know,
true, but it. But it's a har. It's like a. It's like a life lesson of like, can you be satisf sat? like the life lesson of can you be satisfied is really, and you know, that yearning?
I can. I can easily be satisfied. Yeah, I, I, I know the things I like, and I'm happy when they're around.
When you speak about I li, you know what you like, I feel like you love working with Maya
she's the greatest.
and she loves working with you.
Maya is just such. I ne. I never met such a dynamic force of nature, you know what I mean, just in pedigree and talent, and you know, the kind of person she is, the kindness she is like, she's very maternal. You are as well. Like all four of my like original dratch and Tina, like my four horsemen, horse lady sisters, are giant forces of nature, you know? And it started with Maya. And like, I'm deeply indebted to her for kind of pulling me out of the fog of Tuesday night and getting something done in my 1st week.
And constantly kind of being that source of just funny convo or wonderful performer to perform things with. I mean, you So
guys are like instant family, like you were family in another life. You immediately met each other and you were like, Oh, you play the same way I play.
yeah. And also just I'm obsessed with songbirds, you know what I mean? It's an amazing talent to sit next to and just listen to her. Just take off on some sort of like musical number or something like while she's just sitting there. And it's like, Do y'all hear this? Like, I mean, I always she is
said that she would be better amazing, than most of the professional singers that came to our. And you they're too, Kenan,
they. I try, but like, man, what a what a cool thing to kind of like, be in close to, kinda thing. And like, I just, I love it. So the same with like, you know, even, you know, up to the current cast and like everyone in between. And I just love our family so much that I like being close to it. And like, it's just, I'm not afraid of how it will be when I leave, it's just I would much you can't leave, rather just stay, you just know, dude, like, why not?
I know.
Who's writing this rule book? You know what I mean? Like, I'm up to 23 years,
I know.
possibly starting 24 or whatever, Possibly you know, like,
it's happening. I mean, yeah, I know you're exactly right. What? What are the rules? And and so so we do this thing in the in the show where we talk to somebody, we Who get a question,
was it?
so we talked to Maya.
Oh my god, how wonderful. What did she say?
She loves you so much, Oh, God bless Kenan, her man. I love and
her too.
and we laugh so hard at how dumb and how fun the stupid shit you guys have done,
It's the best.
it's the best. And we talked about TT and Mario, which, you know, is my favorite. It was just the couple that put your hands is in roller skates, flip and you upside down and and
then wheel you into the kitchen. Put whipped cream on your business.
I want you to know I was singing that on the way here. Put whipped cream on your business. What a gorgeous lyric.
God bless censorship. If it wasn't for censorship, You're so right, we, the wordplay would be you're right. Sometimes so less fun.
the guardrails make it way funnier and you can't say anything dirty, so you have to say, put whipped cream on your business. But Maya was talking like, and and also I just wanna s like, say thank you again. I know I've thanked you many times in my life, but you and Maya did one of the most tender, wonderful, like, funny and beautiful things for me in my life. That when I rushed from set to have my kid and my 1st son, Archie, and he was in my arms and I was watching the show that the day before, I was rehearsing.
Which talk about like feeling like you're in a crazy alternate reality. You guys sang to me from Update, you and Maya, and with the TT and Mario flair, but not as filthy, cause there were children present. of course. Yeah, and I couldn't have chosen two better people to have that feeling from, and it was so it was such a wonderful, beautiful moment. I really treasure it. Kenan
I'm so glad because it felt that way in the moment and I was still so young. You know, I was just honored to be asked to be a part of a like, like, um, this is such a moment for you, like a brand new mom, and we watched you be pregnant the whole time and we thought you were gonna troop out the show. Like it was a Uh, that super surprise, was the plan, you know what I mean?
that was the plan.
So it was like showing up on Saturday and it was like hearing the news like, Amy won't be with us. There was like, all hands on deck kind of energy because you're such a pivotal part of the show, so you not being there was just like, there's such a gap. We have to acknowledge this in some sort of way. And yeah, to be asked to do it was like, this is cool, like this is what makes this place, you know, an epic kind of place.
And I felt very grateful to be involved in any sort of like moment like that, you know, it was very special. Man,
Maya's question to you was it was basically more of like a statement, which is you're fully formed. K Little Kenan felt like he kind of came out fully formed, and I think little Maya, too, the same thing. I think you guys saw that in each other. And, um, I think her question was really like, Do you think that's true? And I do think we kinda talked about, like, do you think you knew from the very earliest age what you wanted to do?
in some sort of, some sort of way, and definitely in that direction, you know what I mean? Of like, I don't know if sports is gonna be it, like, I'm like, I enjoyed playing sports, but I don't. I didn't think I was gonna be Bo Jackson, you know what I'm saying? Like,
you were Bo Jackson. Yeah, so like, God,
Yeah, I think I had an affinity towards my path, kind of, and I always felt like it had already been carved in some sort of way. You know what I mean, like, it was just, you know, big destiny believer. That could have something to do with, like, faith and growing up in church and stuff like that. But it just felt that way. And then I kept getting reminded of those things when those kids, middy kind of things would happen along the way.
And I was just like, I I think I should just give over to the universe and just stay positive and stay ready. Yeah,
well, um, well, it's where are you going?
I'm just going to my daughter's little like summer play, oh God, you're going, basically, but you're just going it's to your daughter's play, literally across the okay, but what street, s time is the play across the highway,
at?
where they're allowing the parents in at 01:35.
Oh my God, we have to get you out of here, okay, so we cannot. It's 01:30, so let's go.
that's the time.
But I gotta ask you one question, I'm gonna put your glasses on.
Yeah, please.
What are you listening to right now? what are you? What's making you laugh? yeah, what's I love that you're going making me to your daughter's play. laugh? Yeah, What is she
it's the best.
do, what is she doing? What I, I grade is she wanna say in?
it's just they're like 6th grade at the end of school
does she wanna be a performer?
and school year thing.
Does any of them?
Some, yeah, she's better at sports kinda thing, she's a little introverted, but I see it in her, you know? And she has her moments where she just hams it up, you ugh, know, kinda thing. all right, we gotta She's a lot of energy.
get you to that play, but what are you laughing at right now? What's making I'm you laugh?
laughing at a lot of. PA. I'm watching my friends work, you know, like whoever's putting out like new work kinda thing, you know, I just like. I wasn't really aware of Sarah's like stand up Oh my God, presence, and I watched that special. that's special. So we, She's a force.
we sh, we, we, we had her on. She is, that special is the craziest shit I've ever seen. it's the craziest. And Yeah,
I like, thank God, because who else can do it, you know, kind of? So I'm like, well, she's here for a reason. And like, buckle up everybody, because when she decides she was to, like,
so funny on here.
let the train loose, it's gone. Like it was great. Yeah, she's fantastic and like, that's one of the newer things that I caught on to recently. But like, you know, any and all of our friends that are doing stuff, you know, like Leslie Jones's special was fantastic, like Finesse is still Leslie, out there killing, Finesse is out there with Tisha Campbell, which is w that's we got Tisha Campbell doing stand up and it's really funny. So like, Yeah, I'm just, you know, celebrating all of our friends.
Kenan, you always Yeah,
do. You've always been like laughing with us along the R way and always like reminding us that, like, we, we won the lottery for getting to do what we get to do.
a lot of the time, it is really a nice reminder and a pleasure to, like, take a look around, you know, and be reminded of the reach. When we're like flicking through the channels, or like, something pops up in the zeitgeist, like, thank you for Broad City, you know, and like for Paige and Hannah, you know what I mean, like, just supporting like new people along the way, and like, constantly just keeping the vibe alive. You know what I mean of fishing for fun times, Thank you that's what we're doing.
for always shouting out all us women, too. You always do that and we love you for It's unbelievable it. Um,
and it's undeniable.
you can put your glasses back on
Can I? for this last Thank you, let's go.
thing and we're g, we're, I love we're. I mean, I love that you're going to your daughter's play.
Yeah, she's my sweetheart. Yeah, I'm. she's just, I'm so excited. And my other one had field day and her country to represent was Austria, so she had to learn about Austria. And listening to a seven year old talk about Austria is adorable. oh, and It is adorable.
I'm seeing the faces of these children and they are Sweet insanely sweet and cute.
God bless em.
And they're so lucky to have you as their dad, and now that Thank you're a grandpa, you, we're so lucky to have you as a grandpa.
yeah, and hopefully I'll be a great great before I'm out of here, like Morgan Freeman, you know?
Yeah, and I'm gonna meet you on the red carpet and have also have sunglasses on. And and weirdly, a s, uh, like a dog
I think I'm gonna start scene, I know bringing a backup pair for people that I like. And it was like, All right, I do really just just make sure,
like those glasses. Those are thank you, we'll get gucci.
you some.
Kenan, we're so lucky to have, I'm so lucky to know you, and it's so good to see you, same, same love you, thank you for same. I love you doing this so much. My pleasure, so much. Miss you
my pleasure. and I'm so happy Like, likewise,
to see you today.
yeah, same.
Thank you so much, Kenan Thompson, you are the best, you're the best, most wonderful person and so hilarious, and I'm so lucky to know you and thank you for doing this. And you know, w. In these polar plunges, we usually kind of dig deeper into something that we talked about. But I just wanna take a minute to just dig a little bit deeper into the fact that Kenan's characters on SNL 23 years in still kind of remain the characters that I quote on a weekly basis.
Whether it is TT and Mario saying, I'm gonna put whipped cream on your business, or it's, uh, Jean K. Jean, the French stand up comedian who says Zutelores when he does update, or D. J. Dynasty handbag. Um, a a character that he did on a sketch called Deep House Dish, which was kind of like a Euro Mtv show and written by the great James Anderson. And and Kenan's character used to say bouquet instead of okay, and I say bouquet, um, or bouquet, or bouquet, or whatever, however, he said it, I say it all the time.
I I guess my point is, Kenan is like, woven into the fabric of that show and my experience in that show in a way that's that's like, very, very, very special to me and is kind of stuck in my brain. So, um, my plunge today is to encourage you to keep watching his stuff, past, present and future, and to stay in the present like Kenan does, too. So thank you for listening to, uh, this podcast called Good Hang with Amy Poehler.
Okay, bye, you've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Berman and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paper Kite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaya McMullen, Aleya Zenieris, Bridget Geerlings, Paige Garbarini, Belle Roman and Drew Van Steenbergen. For Paper Kite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell and Jenna Weiss-Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.