Image via Complex Original
Monday was quite the emotional rollercoaster for SNICK fans who still enjoy seeing one half ofKenan & Kel on their TV screens. TMZ reported that Kenan Thompson, All That! underclassmen and Saturday Night Live veteran, was planning to leave the NBC sketch comedy institution behind after 11 years. For what, exactly? Who knows. Rumors of a new series in development as well as personal reasons regarding his wife and newborn baby abounded.
But for those of us who still masochistically tune into the consistently uneven SNL, the news was distressing to say the least. With a decade-plus under his belt and a few showy viral hits of "Dick in a Box" ilk, it's easy to forget about Kenan. But don't mistake his seemingly background role for anything less than being a crucial instrument in the SNL machine. Dare we say it, he's the glue that has held many sketches over this past decade together. Here's proof.
When he does take the lead, it's awesome.
Eight out of 10 sketches, Kenan is relegated to a supporting player, but when Lorne puts a skit on his back, he delivers. Recurring sketches like "What Up With That" prove dude has more to offer than just filling in the frame and stepping up when an African-American impression is called for.
He's often the glue holding most sketches together.
This could've devolved into yet another NBC-sponsored JT and J. Fall lovefest. Instead Kenan's on deck with his trusty, pitch-perfect Steve Harvey impression, the most polished yet. And while yes, half of this skit's charm is courtesy of Justin and Jimmy doing a very bad job of hiding their giggles, but Kenan-as-Steve's reactions to them and the rest of the cast's A1 impressions drives it home.
He makes a perfect Straight Man.
Your boy's got more tricks in his arsenal besides going big and silly on some All That shit. Never underestimate the value of a good straight man, the foil who reacts to his co-stars comedic behavior, for the uninitiated. A good example of Kenan's straight man skills is in Andy Samberg's recurring Blizzard Man sketch. While Blizzard wows a studio full of bigwigs with 1950s swing-style hooks on rap songs, Kenan the engineer is the only person who calls bullshit. Andy's the star, but Kenan's exasperated reactions help sell the absurdity.
He's Weekend Update's most reliable guest not named Bill Hader/Stefon.
Young Thompson's been in so many Weekend Update sketches he may as well be the de facto third member. No matter the episode host nor Update host, he's always among the top cast members to be selected for a drop-in, and not just because the role calls for a black guy.
Let's face it: one black male cast member isn't going to cut it.
Jay Pharaoh can't play every black guy and neither can Kenan. Younger/older, bigger/smaller, the diversity amongst the cast is needed in order for SNL to accurately reflect society. To be honest, even Kenan, Jay, and the occasional black guest star don't always succeed in matching up for an accurate impression.