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Kenan Thompson isn’t in any rush to leave the bright lights of Studio 8H. After 22 seasons on Saturday Night Live, the longest-running cast member in the show’s history says he’s still having too much fun to call it quits.
“It would be cool if I never left the show. That'd be crazy,”
he told Entertainment Weekly, capturing the vibe of someone who’s clearly not done making people laugh every Saturday night.
Joining Saturday Night Live in 2003, Thompson has become a fixture on the NBC sketch comedy show, balancing hilarity with heart in sketches ranging from “Black Jeopardy” to his iconic Steve Harvey impressions. At 46, he shows no signs of slowing down. And as far as he's concerned, the end isn’t anywhere in sight.
While many cast members do a few years and move on, Kenan has stayed through decades of pop culture shifts, political changes, and countless celebrity hosts. For him, it's about more than airtime.
“It's just out of love. What a blessing it is to have steady employment,”
he previously told PEOPLE. That love shows every time he steps in front of the camera — and now, with his sights set on even bigger milestones, he may just become the Saturday Night Live cast member who never leaves.
Why Kenan Thompson still loves Saturday Night Live
When Kenan Thompson joined the show back in 2003, social media hadn’t even taken off yet. Fast forward to today, and he's not only adapted — he's thrived. With 22 seasons under his belt, he’s now the longest-tenured cast member in the history of SNL. That’s a title no one else has claimed, and he’s worn it well.
“Twenty was just such a thing that nobody had ever done,”
Thompson told Entertainment Weekly.
“Once I started getting into 17, I was like, well, if I can, I would love to stick around till 20. And now here we are at 22.”
The number speaks volumes. In an environment known for its rotating cast, his consistency stands out.
He’s earned five Emmy nominations for his work on Saturday Night Live and won in 2018 for co-writing the sketch “Come Back, Barack.” But for Thompson, the real reward seems to be the thrill of live comedy and staying part of a team that keeps evolving.
He calls it the best job in television
While some might wonder why someone would stay so long on a weekly live show, Kenan has a simple answer.
“It’s hands down the best job in television,”
he told PEOPLE. Most cast members wrap up their Saturday Night Live journey after a handful of seasons — some eight, others 12. But Kenan sees something special in sticking around.
It’s not just about performing. It’s the people, the energy, the feeling of being part of something iconic. SNL is a place where live comedy lives on, week after week. And Kenan still enjoys the ride.
“It's the people in front and behind that embrace it, need it,”
he shared. That behind-the-scenes camaraderie seems to fuel him as much as the applause from the audience.
So, when the show calls, he shows up. Because for him, it’s not just a gig. It’s a creative home. And staying put isn’t about comfort — it’s about purpose.
Who will leave first: Kenan or Lorne Michaels?
The natural question now is: who’s more likely to step away first — Kenan Thompson or Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels? Thompson had a thoughtful, if light-hearted, answer. “That's a great question. I have no idea. I feel like we'll both just ride until the wheels fall off,” he said.
It’s a fitting visual: two Saturday Night Live pillars holding it down as everything else changes around them. Michaels, who’s helmed the show for most of its 50-year history, has often hinted that he may step back after the show’s 50th season in 2025. If that happens, it could change things behind the scenes — but whether it’ll change things for Kenan is still unclear.
For now, it seems they both plan to stick around. In many ways, their careers have become intertwined. As long as there are sketches to rehearse and laughs to chase, both men seem content to keep the Saturday Night Live engine running.
Why he still connects with the Saturday Night Live audience
It’s easy to see why Saturday Night Live still clicks for Kenan Thompson. After all these years, he’s not phoning it in. He’s still fully present, delivering the kind of performances that get audiences talking. His ability to transform into any character — from a game show host to a soul singer — adds versatility to the cast.
But it’s not just about playing characters. It’s about keeping the humor fresh without losing what makes it Saturday Night Live. Kenan helps bridge generations of viewers. Whether you’ve been watching since the early 2000s or just caught your first cold open this season, chances are you’ve seen him and laughed.
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As Saturday Night Live continues to grow and evolve, Kenan remains its beating heart. Whether he sticks around for another year or another decade, his legacy is already cemented. But if he has his way, he might just become the first cast member never to say goodbye.
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