Is 'Saturday Night Live' ending after Season 50? Kenan Thompson hints at leaving show
'Saturday Night Live' host Kenan Thompson has hinted that he might consider leaving the show if producer Lorne Michaels exits. Thompson, who has been associated with the show for 20 years, made the shocking statement in an interview with Charlamagne tha God’s 'Hell of a Week' podcast.
“The rumor is the show is ending at its 50th season because Mr. Lorne Michaels doesn’t want to do it after age 80. Is that true?” Charlamagne asked Thompson during the podcast, to which he replied, "Is that the rumor? All right, I need to start planning." Michaels has run the 'Saturday Night Live' show throughout its course except during a five-year period in the mid-1980s.
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Who is Christina Evangeline? Kenan Thompson and wife split after 11 years of marriage
“There could be a lot of validity to that rumor, because 50 is a good number to stop at,” Thompson said. “That’s an incredible package. He will be, probably, close to 80 years old at that point, and, you know, he’s the one who’s had his touch on the whole thing. “So, if somebody tries to come into his shoes, you know, it’s a good opportunity for NBC to save money as well, you know what I’m saying? [NBC] might slash the budget and then at that point, you can’t really do the same kind of show. So that’s unfair to watch it just really go down kind of in flames for real because of those restrictions … Capping it at 50 might not be a bad idea,” he said.
“[Michaels] is such a legend that he keeps off those corporate wolves, if you will,” Thompson added.“They spend a lot of money on that show every week. It’s an expensive show, but it’s a one-of-a-kind thing.”
In December 2021, Canada-born Thompson said, “You know, I think I’m committed to doing this show (SNL) until its 50th anniversary, which is in three years,” “I’d like to see that through, and I have a feeling that’d be a really good time to leave. But … I won’t want the show ever to be bad. I care too deeply about it. It’s been my life’s work. So I’m going to do everything I can to see it carry on.”
Thompson, who has 797k followers on Instagram, keeps posting memes and short skits from his shows on his feed. The 43-year-old has been a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy series since 2003, making him the longest-tenured cast member in the show's history. If he stays on the award-winning variety show until 2023, he will complete a total of 20 seasons. In March, he hit a milestone: he participated in his 1,500th sketch on 'Saturday Night Live'. His Steve Harvey impersonation from 'Family Feud' sketches has been hugely popular.
Thompson's initial career
Thompson began his acting career in the early 1990s and was part of the original cast member of Nickelodeon's sketch comedy series 'All That'. He often collaborated with his 'All That' costar Kel Mitchell and in 1996, they starred in their own sitcom 'Kenan & Kel'. In the past, he has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on 'SNL' including two for Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics.
In April 2022, Thompson and his 33-year-old wife Christina Evangeline chose to split after being together for 15 years and being married for 11 years.
According to TMZ, Thompson has been working on his program, Kenan, in Los Angeles, while Evangeline has remained in New York City. Their children Georgia,7, and Gianna, 3, remain their priority and both of them are committed to becoming good co-parents. Their breakup is said to have been peaceful, with the pair remaining friends. Over time, they just drifted apart. Although neither partner has filed for divorce yet, the source believes they will do so shortly.