Transcript: Kenan Thompson on Good Hang with Amy Poehler

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 going to 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,

woohoo.

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[music]

All I ever wanted. [music]

>> Oh, you look much nicer than I do.

>> I'm trying to dress a little bit like

Kenan.

>> A

>> Oh, what mug are you drinking out of?

>> It's um late night with correction

jackles from [laughter]

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 MV Griffin and Dinosaur if they

ever had mugs.

>> Do you know what I would give for one of

those mugs,

>> right?

>> Do you know what we were looking This is

going to this is really ADHD and this is

going to take us on a completely

different tangent. It doesn't matter.

>> You know, you know what we were just

looking up this morning? Bicesentennial

31 flavors/baskinrobins

bsentennial ice cream flavors

and do you know what some of them were?

>> Wait, so just set this is this is 1976

flavors.

>> 1976 for the bsentennial

31 flavors aka now known as

BaskinRobins. Or is it the other way

around? It's Baskin Robins.

>> I think it's the other way around now.

It's

>> they don't they have more than 31 now,

>> right? Yeah. Um,

one of them was called Valley Fudge

[laughter]

>> instead of Valley Forge.

Valley F. [laughter]

>> Mhm.

>> What was another one? May uh

>> Oh god, now I got to look it up again.

[laughter] Well, one pie was one was

apple pie alam mode.

>> Yeah, [clears throat] sure.

>> That's cute.

>> Cute.

>> But like give me value. Give me a word.

>> Oh, thank you. Minute Amendment.

So stupid.

>> You know, Gen X

has lived, we live, we were alive. I was

>> alive during the bsentennial and here we

are celebrating 250 years. And boy, has

America never been better.

>> That's exactly how I feel.

>> Yeah, 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 the the the

slogan. We've fixed a lot. We're talking

to Keenan Thompson today and I'm so

psyched that I'm talking to you because

you and Keenan are linked in a lot of

ways for me. Like I think some of my

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. Mhm.

>> It's And it's there's a there's a

relaxation that comes

>> Mhm.

>> over me when I when I see him, when I

watch him.

>> Yes.

>> 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 going to be masterful and

amazing, but it's also going to fill you

with like a with a joy like it's

relaxing. I used to feel that way about

watching Prince on stage. I'd get

relaxed cuz 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, [laughter] sit, you

know, sit on the floor on his knees or

something like I mean, we we lived like

disgusting college students, Amy.

>> Yeah.

>> And you too, that was your perch.

>> That was a bad perch.

>> Bringing bringing friends into that and

giggling till 4 in the morning. I

remember so clearly

um writing stuff with him. If I bring it

up now, I'll probably get cancelled what

we were writing. But [laughter]

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,

>> I mean, a great example of that is one

of my favorite characters and sketches

in at SNL ever, which is Titi and Mario.

>> TT and Mario.

>> So, for people that didn't ever watch TT

and Mario, how would you explain who

Titi and Mario were?

>> It's a great Thank you for asking me. KT

and Mario is is a duo from your

childhood past that is so they sing the

most beautiful love songs [snorts] that

are so runchy and disgusting. They think

they're very loving.

>> Yes, they're romantic.

>> Married couple with children. [laughter]

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

them is they always start so beautiful

and so romantic and then maybe 10 or 15

seconds in they start talking about each

other's booty and how tight it is.

>> Yeah. There's a lot of booty play

involved and Titi and Mario serenated

you in the hospital.

>> That's right. When when Archie was born.

>> That's right. I want to talk to Kenan

about it because it was so it was like

if I could have picked two I couldn't

have picked two better people when I was

in a postpartum haze to be singing at me

from my TV

>> than you guys. It's funny I'm I'm

excited to interview Keen because

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 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 about?

>> I I mean we're different ages in terms

of like our influences, but he was so

like

wellformed when we met him like I want

to 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

going to 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 want to know like

like I know you're going to ask him

about like how how do you keep it fresh,

Kanan? [laughter]

>> Totally. I mean, I'm so curious about

like what do you not go to or do

anymore? I mean, after 22 years at 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.

>> 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 going

to have to go this way."

>> Yeah. It's probably the dream.

>> I know. It's probably Why would you ever

leave? It's so fun.

>> Did you ever like He he figured it out.

>> Yeah, that's He cracked the code and I

want to know what he cracked.

>> I think there's there's gold behind

those doors. [laughter]

>> But like little Kenan is always what I

think about and I'm also and I didn't

know Little Keenan 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 cuz he's always been so steady

and so funny.

>> Yeah.

>> And it feels like

>> like where does that charm come from?

>> Okay. So, I'm going to ask Kenan about

little Kiki, which we all know little

Keenan is probably the cutest kid we've

ever seen

>> on earth. Like like hands down. And

because I like knowing if that if that

person knew that that person was going

to be the 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 to laugh with my friends.

>> Yeah.

And look at you guys singing together

about putting whipped cream on each

other's business.

>> That's all I want for America [laughter]

is for them to put whipped cream on each

other's business.

>> All we want is for Valley Fudge to make

a comeback. [laughter]

>> 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.

[laughter]

It's my favorite restaurant in Ohio.

Maya just dropped the the phone down her

shirt by accident.

>> Oopsie.

>> Yeah.

>> Oh no, it fell down my pants.

>> Do you kids want to see what happens

when my phone falls? [laughter]

I feel like relaxed and smiley cuz we're

talking about Kenan. You know what I

mean?

>> Totally.

>> I love you.

>> Love you. Bye, mama. Thanks.

>> Bye.

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>> Listeners, Kenan brought me some fish.

>> Of course.

>> Wow. Um, this is becoming a thing now

where I'm getting fake food.

>> It's real. How are you doing?

>> Are you going to wear your sunglasses

the whole time?

>> I'm not. I knew that would be a thing.

>> Well, no, because I was going to say

I'll put some on, too, if it would make

you like it.

>> I don't have any, but I could wear some.

I would like them off cuz I want to see

your beauties.

>> Of course. It's good [laughter] to see

you too.

>> I just feel cool when I wear them.

>> I do, too.

>> I feel cool. Okay. What do

[clears throat] you mean?

>> Look at this.

[laughter]

>> Wait, come on.

>> Okay, let me explain this. Kenan,

>> that is for you. Okay.

>> Kina brought me a pizza a a slice of

cheese pizza.

>> I think it's an artistic expression of

the pizza rat.

>> Oh, it's pizza rat. There's a rat riding

a slice of pizza. This is the first time

I've had a fake food that moves like in

any way. This is great.

>> And it almost reflects us cuz I feel

like we're such fun kind of like life

lovers of like a good time kind of

thing. It just reminds me of like us as

characters. So

>> Kenan, wait. And then you have to kind

of You got to get it going. Here we go.

Ready?

>> Pull it back for those listening. We're

pulling it back

>> and then it goes. We'll pull it back a

little strong. Go. [laughter] Come on.

[crying]

>> And you can't break it. So long story

short, I went shopping and I thought of

you. [laughter] I saw it and I thought

of you and I've been holding on to it

before I even know I was booked on here.

>> No way, Ken. Just fingers crossed hoping

that [laughter]

one day I would get to come sit in the

throne room.

>> Okay. Well, I'm going to put it.

>> Oh my god. You know, we got to add Thank

you, Jenna. Um I'm going to put this on

my wall.

>> Oh, look at the placement.

>> Front and center placement. That is

That's Super Bowl placement.

>> That's Super Bowl. That is

>> You got to pay a lot of money for that.

>> Byron Allen placement. [laughter]

>> Oh, man. The best.

>> Ken Thompson is here.

>> Hi. Hi. How 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 just get to

do it wherever you are.

>> Yeah. And convenient for like guesting

people, I'm guessing.

>> Yeah. Really convenient.

>> Yeah. [snorts]

>> Congrats on the golden. Who gets a gold

for a podcast? Who gets No one does.

Exactly. That's why you're such a guest.

Exactly.

>> That's amazing. Congrats to everyone,

you guys. That's really cool.

>> Congrats to podcasting.

>> Yeah. Way to go. Podcast. [laughter]

>> You have a podcast, right? I did a

podcast for a long time with a buddy of

mine. Yeah.

>> Yeah. What was it? What was it about?

>> It was just two black guys existing in

America, [laughter] you know what I

mean? With a love of like, you know,

Hollywood and stuff like that. So, you

know, director. Yeah. I listen to

podcasts. I listen to yours.

>> I just caught up with the Lonely Island

cuz

>> so funny.

>> I did a guest appearance because of the

REA 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. Barely showing up.

>> Barely showing up.

>> It's hard to get all four of them on the

line.

>> Oh, it rarely happens. And [laughter]

it's such a treat.

>> Totally.

>> But they're combing through like such

good memories, you know.

>> I know. 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, Ken,

because we were on the show together for

>> a while. Like six years. six years which

now

>> was the big it was like the first

>> six miles of your marathon basically.

>> When did you depart?

>> I left in 2008.

>> Yeah, that was like a five year cuz I

started in 03. So

>> Well, I'm I I mean getting to work with

you is some of my most favorite times

and I want to 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

[laughter] straighten up and don't come

like playing games. That's why I was

like I was ready to take my sunglasses

off. So this is not

>> like take I'm like your bossy older

sister.

>> Let me just analyze. Are you going to

keep those on the whole time?

>> Are are you going to wear your

sunglasses to mom's birthday?

>> Yeah. Yeah. You're so right. It we do

have a very 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 dynamic at SNL has changed from

like younger brother

>> to like elder statesman.

>> I'm like grandpa at this point. Yeah.

Yeah. I'm Gramsy. Hey Graham Grams.

[laughter]

>> Good morning.

>> Everyone's like sh grandpa's feet is

sleeping.

>> Grandpa's feet [laughter] grandpa's feet

hurt.

>> Don't tell him. Let's just do less for

grandpa. Yeah.

>> Um, okay. I'm going to take you back in

a little time machine to little Keenan

>> 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 halfsister.

>> Okay.

>> Just for technicality sake 14 years

apart.

>> Okay. So were you then were you were you

the baby then?

>> I was the baby.

>> Okay, that makes more sense. That makes

more sense.

>> Just reckless and fearless, you know,

and just a strange like, you know, kind

of ignorant confidence, if you will, you

know?

>> 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 time?

>> I mean, 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 a

gingerbread man, you know what I mean?

Like I wasn't the stove.

>> Yeah.

>> So, it wasn't awakening because in

rehearsal it was just like learn these

lines and like this got to 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 remember that feeling,

too. Like the feeling of just like

getting a feeling a little bit taller

when you were when people were looking

at you.

>> I mean, look at us now. We're still just

fishing for laughs constantly. It feels

so good.

>> So embarrassing. I know. God bless.

>> It's so true because and I read that you

were you were Toto and um

>> 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 sunglasses,

>> they were OCDing me a little bit.

>> First of all, these glasses are

gorgeous. Who makes them?

>> Thank you. Those are Gucci glasses.

>> Of course they are.

>> And I get it now. I get it what you mean

about being able to talk behind the

sunglasses.

>> Yeah.

>> Do you think I could pull off And we'll

get to your life,

>> but do you think I could pull off Eye

contact is intense

>> and you can pull off anything. No, but

you can pull off sunglasses on the red

carpet, right? That's cool as [ __ ]

>> I have 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

off. And I'm like, that means you don't

have to.

>> But wouldn't it look like I just

recently had eye surgery if I [laughter]

>> only in the beginning?

>> Right. Then you 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

want to get back to Toto

>> for a second. You played Toto.

>> I played Toto because all the parts were

taken and I was like, well, nobody's

going to be the dog and this is a church

play on the south side of Atlanta there.

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? I just wanted to be down.

>> There's a lot of people I've talked to

that have been in the W W W W W W W W W

W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W

W W W W W W W W W W W Wizard of Oz in

different ways. What did you bring to

the role?

>> Well, this was the Whiz, so it was

fantastic.

>> 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, just a

small like maybe like hundred 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.

>> I was just like [ __ ] swinging on that

one. [laughter]

I don't want I don't mean to be like

jumping like comparing your story to

mine, but I had a similar experience.

>> I was Dorothy.

>> We had a real dog.

>> Yeah.

>> And there's a moment in this scene where

Dorothy is supposed to have a tornado.

Like the tornado is supposed to come and

she's supposed to go to Toto to where

are you? But I was holding the dog.

[laughter]

>> 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,

to where are you? Big laugh. a huge

laugh because [laughter] everybody

watched you process that and you stuck

with it and committed to like continuing

to work. Man, improv is the greatest

coolest thing. I wish I would have gone

to one of the schools for

>> I know you you have you you you feel

like a like from that era from that like

style and family.

>> And did you know any actors growing up?

>> No, not at all. It was such a distant

dream. the best I would have thought

would be like a commercial, like a

national, like a public, 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

of.

>> And was it your mom that was taking you

those mostly?

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah. And she was just like,

>> my mom's so dedicated. 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 phone or 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 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.

>> Your timing is incredible. the way you

know how to play moments and the know

the way you know how to play life

because 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.

>> And so

>> I guess I'm the second one to start

crying. [laughter]

>> Shout out to Seth.

>> Cry cry. Oh my god, Seth. So easy to get

that cry. The best.

>> But it's so like but [snorts] but it but

because of that I look at your life and

your career which is still we're in the

middle of it. or not, 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 pressed.

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. Yes. It was like 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 11 12 doing like movie

reviews.

>> That was like a real job. Yeah.

>> Like when I first 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,

>> right?

>> But like real news for kids, I was like

oh snap. I have like an ID badge.

[laughter] like I get to like tap it

briefcase

>> to have that so young.

>> It just pointed me confidently in in the

direction of like this is kind of what I

feel like I should be doing. And then

all kind of kids stuff started

happening. Like my first review was the

first Mighty Ducks movie.

>> No, no way.

>> Like almost a year to the day I got to

audition for the second 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.

>> They were like, "Hey guys. Hey, hey, old

friends.

>> What do you need? You You need a

Jamaican. I got you." [laughter]

>> It's interesting cuz you look young. You

still look young.

>> Thank you.

>> Um isn't it nice to now is what we're

supposed to be saying.

>> Well, I don't know about that. Maybe

with the sunglasses on.

>> Yeah. Put the glasses on.

>> Put the glasses. [laughter]

It would would it be weird if I wore

those glasses, a cane, and like a and a

boot and went to

>> That's when people are starting to

worry.

>> Yeah. And like a wrist like one of

those. Um

>> like what did she fall down on the

beach?

>> 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 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.

>> Yes.

>> So, you were with people your own age

pretty much?

>> Yes.

>> Did you do you feel older or younger

than your age? Like, what is your story?

>> I've always 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 want to

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 want to be that not too loud

please everybody just everybody

[laughter] settle down

>> please like I can't handle it like when

people like loud talk me in restaurants

and it's just love But they when they

shot 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 Prior, Eddie

Murphy.

>> Just the the the black zag zeitgeist

basically 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 black exploitation era and

like diving back into those sounds and

those words and like having fun with it

basically cuz it's like you know playing

in your dad's clothes basically.

>> Yes. Did you guys 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. Like he's

the joke teller and he does really well.

He's like a room pleaser when he does

that. Like I 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 he

really doing a dance kind of thing.

[laughter]

>> Is he a frustrated performer?

>> I don't He's a 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.

mechanic, you know, like,

>> you know, amazing like real estate

person like

>> made history in Atlanta for kind of

desegregating uh like listings and stuff

like that.

>> Really?

>> Yeah. So, like 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, cuz 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 kind of 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. [laughter]

>> 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 not like you're not looking

to win the room.

>> Yeah. No,

>> no. I mean, 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 when it's time to

turn it on just like take over the game

>> and you shoot it and you shoot you do

like a no look on your way out.

>> Oh yeah. Like I know that's going in.

>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

>> It's definitely your style and and it's

rare to have a like a career before you

reach SNL.

>> Yes.

>> Like and and not always helpful.

>> No. It hadn't gone well I don't think

for anyone at that point. I was like

>> I just want to do whatever because this

writing thing freaks me out. So you guys

tell me what you want. And it took 5

years before I wrote something that was

like my idea

>> on the show.

>> Mhm. Scared Straight was like the first

thing that actually made it on the show

if you will.

>> Well Well, you know, we talked, we

brought up Eddie Murphy, and I want to

talk about what it was like to do that

sketch at the 50th. But what's your

early memories of Eddie Murphy? Because

for me, 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 18, 19. When do you

remember me?

>> That was 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,

>> right?

>> 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. I think

he was still like my mom was asleep. He

was just like the only person up. house

dark and you just see that like blue

flashing, the glow and like

>> Yeah.

>> Isn't it funny? You have memories as a

little kid of like when your parents

would laugh really hard at something. It

was like you would look at them like

>> what happened?

>> What happened? What's funny? 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 each other and like

>> certain moments it was just such a

dynamically fun time because it was like

our little thing you know like we played

pool [snorts]

>> 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

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 you love Richard

Prior and you also love Chris Farley who

you got to work with. Tell us about

that. and Jim Carrey like

>> Oh, and 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 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.

>> Yeah.

>> 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

>> Yeah.

>> It was the greatest day I've ever seen

cuz I was like that's a true pro. That's

somebody that doesn't need cuz they

would tell us and rehearse us a lot cuz

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.

>> Right. 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.

>> Mhm.

>> And he like beat the cake up to where

there was like there's no way we're

doing a second take of this.

>> Jumped in the car, jumped in the

limousine and was gone. [laughter]

>> Like they have showers. You like we got

showers for you. I'm fine. towed 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." And so damn funny. And so

nice.

>> So nice.

>> So nice. Never fronted on me for being a

kid or anything. He just came in and

like we was like, "Let's get to it."

kind of thing.

>> You know, I think I'm sure every young

person feels this way. They remember the

people that like treated them like peers

when they were feeling Yeah. when they

were um and they remember the people

that were um dismissive of them when

they were young because we really do act

especially with young people like they

don't know what the [ __ ] 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 learn 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 [laughter]

>> like Magnum PIT 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 thing."

He's like, "Hey, man. Stop tapping me."

>> And I was like, "Oh, oh my god. I

overtap TC." [laughter]

But you're but you're what you're

talking about is just like straight up

like etiquette on set

>> that 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 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 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?

>> The first Thank you for all of that.

Second,

free stuff was the first thing I

noticed. [laughter]

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 little Wendy's, little bacon

cheeseburger meal. Can I get that?

>> And absolutely get that. Absolutely no

problem.

>> That don't even take your wallet out.

[laughter]

>> Fantastic. I'll do whatever. We'll be

here in 19 hours. You know how many of

them are? You want to jump in the lake?

Am I supposed to jump in the lake?

Whatever.

>> Yeah.

>> 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,

>> all these trailers and like so many

clothes for everyone. I'm like

[laughter] what what are all these

clothes for? Like all the different

scenes in the movie. They got to wear

different clothes. I'm like 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 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 that

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 I have a very good 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.

>> Best. They don't do they do that

anymore.

>> They haven't done it in so long.

>> You got to do it. They used to let us I

mean, talk about free stuff. Talk about

perks. Is 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 do?

>> We got to get 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 goods on the ice

>> be in the Rockefell on the on the ice

ring

>> underneath the Christmas tree.

>> Yeah. At Rockefeller Center and just us

at one o'clock in the morning.

>> Yeah. And I go down there and I see

Kenan and Kenan is you are skating

forward, skating backwards, skating

sideways, doing a thing. What are you

doing?

>> Doing 45 million tricks.

>> Thank you.

>> And then I was like,

>> I was fresh off of learning it. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

>> So, how hard was it to learn for you?

>> Very cuz 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.

>> Yeah.

>> Like I was busting my ass constantly.

You know what I mean? As a kid, but you

don't feel anything as a kid. I 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.

>> Yeah.

>> So sure, I put it on my resume under

special skills that I could roller skate

or something like roller skating, you

know, but like I never in a million

years

>> considered hockey. I wanted to learn,

but after that first 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 want to

be an actor. I don't want to if this is

what it's about. Like, and my thank god

my mom didn't let me quit.

>> She was like, no, go back tomorrow.

>> Kept going back and back in like

>> 8 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?

>> That's great. Skating with the family.

You know what I mean? Christmas time.

>> Both know how to skate.

>> Yeah.

>> That's awesome.

>> Yeah. They both are good little skaters.

>> They are.

>> Do you watch any ice skating during

Olympics?

>> Yeah. I mean, I watched the figure

skating. Yeah, that I watched the the

girl with the

>> three tiered, you know, kind of hairo.

>> Yeah. Alyssa Leu.

>> Is that Yes.

>> I know she's from from Oakland area.

She's from the Bay.

>> Was that

>> unbelievable?

>> Just because of how casual she is.

>> Yes.

>> And like she's just chilling, but like

the thing she can do on the ice,

>> bro. It's that I give her all the

medals. Like it was wild to watch.

>> Well, she

>> that and hockey. I guess I watch

>> she reminds 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 and the ner

like nerves

>> nerves are like if you can figure out

how to channel your nerves. [laughter]

>> Oh man.

>> So what were your nerves like when you

were auditioning for 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

on SNL, there's a small moment that is

Samberg 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 Samberg had a similar moment

where he was just like you could tell he

was like [laughter] but it's it 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, [laughter]

it'll be like it didn't happen kind of

thing. So, I have to like put it in in

the words that like I recognize that

this is crazy.

>> It feels like also just a way to

secretly kind of quiet your nerves like

just to say it. silently putting that

seat belt on

like in like remember in Fight Club when

he's just like,

>> "You know what? I'm just going to get

crazy with this and let this steering

wheel go.

>> I'm just going to let it go."

>> And I just like let my mind just start

rambling. It's so my audition is so

rambly. It's crazy.

>> Oh, I mean it's not and and I I I think

I've told you the story, but I watched

your audition from a um we were filming

Mean Girls.

>> Did I tell you the story? I've told you

this story. And

>> Lauren had the auditions. He was

watching them on the plane.

>> Private.

>> Private. Pink Jang.

>> PJ.

>> We know somebody that got money.

[laughter]

Our friend got money.

>> And um probably the first time I'd ever

um flown private. I I don't even I

remember. And it was during Me and

Girls. And we must have been flying back

from the set cuz Tina was there

>> and Lauren was there and Lindsay Lingo

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 [laughter]

I remember 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 cares about the

content. Like you think the content, the

jokes, everything is so important. You

could have the best written material in

the [ __ ] world. You can 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 this crazy

chemistry thing. the craziest part of

casting. Like casting is such 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, you're right. They're like through

the awful news.

>> We're going to give you a shot. It's

going to hurt.

>> Yeah. or [laughter] like let's try that

again

>> and this and this time

>> do everything different.

>> Oh, I mean yeah they're like um maybe

this time try to be like a normal person

in the world

>> like what a normal person would Yeah.

Oh, that's a good note.

>> And then you do it and you still like

didn't like check those back.

>> Did you have fun?

>> Yeah.

I want to say something about what

watching you ride the wave that is SNL

because 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.

>> Y

>> that simple thing get gets people to

just cuz everyone's nervous.

>> Give me one word.

>> Yeah.

>> Or half a line. I love it.

>> Yeah. What have you changed about how

you interact with the job that 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, Keen and I just from being and I

have seen

>> It's one of my favorite stories ever of

us doing that bit.

>> Please tell us. Okay, let's tell this

story. I I totally

>> fantastic. I need a drink. Let's take a

drink break.

>> Okay, so I'll start it. Kenan and I

Okay [laughter]

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 New York very

excited about being in New York.

>> And so, we there was a night of many

nights, but there was a particular night

where

>> I was out too late. Yes. Um

>> before I understood the schedule, too. I

was just like hanging out

>> because when I was still

>> still out there

>> and we were at a place called Bungalow

8.

>> Fantastic.

>> Shout out to those kind of

>> shout out to Rashidita.

>> Shout out to Rashidita. Look, Rashidita.

Rashidita 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 thing." And I'd be like, "Oh

my god, what time? 1:00 a.m. Sounds

great." I mean, what the [ __ ]

>> We're there. [laughter]

>> And like it doesn't close like the other

places. Like it can kind of just stay

open.

>> When you walk in, it's like, oh, you

know,

>> we're in an Amazon rainforest [laughter]

and it's time to listen to music and

drinks and like

>> Yeah. And like ti lots of people. Yeah.

Lots of people in the building.

>> Um so, um we went to Bungalow 8 and I

was there and all of a sudden, guess who

comes in later than me is Kenan.

>> Yeah.

>> Kenan comes strolling in. strolling

>> and we had

>> we had a 6 a.m. call. I probably had a

6:00 a.m. You may be a little bit later

cuz ladies have like

>> it was first thing in the morning, but

>> we had to be up maybe 2 or 3 hours later

to play

>> the black ey peas. [laughter]

>> Fantastic.

>> I had to get in full,

>> you know, spray tan as a whole lot of

wiggage to be where I am. Heavy ass

dreads.

>> Heavy dreads. And it [laughter] was the

host was um John Heer.

>> Okay. Yeah.

>> Who did not stay out late that night.

>> No.

>> He was ready.

>> Yeah. He didn't have an issue at all.

But he's like Mormon, isn't he?

>> He's Mormon. So he just chilled.

>> Yeah. He chilled. He was a responsible.

>> He responsible and he chilled. And he

didn't even have caffeine. That's how

>> No. And back then those shoots used to

be 10,000 miles away.

>> I had not slept. You had not slept. Who

else was [clears throat] in it? Who was

that?

>> I want to say Forte.

>> Forte.

I just remember Forte like laying on a

very hard floor.

>> We were so hung over

>> 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

eyed pe like and rolling

>> at like 10 9 a.m. like rush hour and

people were just like what is happen

[laughter]

you had to be

>> [ __ ] 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

>> pretending to tell him to go home.

>> Yes. [laughter] Like you are being

unkind to yourself sir.

>> Kenan. This is Kenan. You got to 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 Jo were what

what are your memories of being of you

and Jo 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, [laughter]

you know? So like I was still like high

school educated in my opinion. I learned

a lot from him. We shared an office for

eight years.

>> Yeah.

>> 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

>> talk about full circle Kenan like

You you you see you're a fan of Eddie,

you write Scared Straight forget about

it Colin and then you do it with him at

the 50th. What did

>> Shout out to those guys like shout out

to people that are like that. Colin and

Chay are both like that and I shouted

Chay 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. 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? And when

you did that, what did it feel like?

>> So at the 40th was the night before was

the first time I met Eddie, you know

what I mean? And he just came to that

like toast to Lauren in the rainbow

room. So everything was like very New

York magical cuz he's like in the sky

and he emerged from a separate elevator

from everybody [laughter] 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 [clears throat]

I was like, oh my god, this is amazing.

>> So fast forward to the 50th. Colin

suggest we do a scared straight and put

him in it. You know, he had hosted which

was the greatest show ever when you

know, he hosted for Christmas time and

then back to Chay 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 were talking about doing a

scarce. 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 Frell like bro like

Will Frell is the greatest cast member

we've had

>> ever I think in many people's opinion.

>> Yeah. So for them to be in my little

baby sketch was unreal. [clears throat]

>> That's so cool.

>> Unreal.

>> Yeah.

>> I felt that. I felt like I felt like you

were a peer and a fan at the same time

with them cuz you are a peer to them.

And thank you.

>> 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 going to say about you, Ken.

>> I just eat too much humble pie to 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 here, but

it's a um Okay, Alone is a is a um it's

kind of like an adventure reality show.

It's about people who are dropped off in

the wilderness. 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.

>> Yeah.

>> You bag a moose week one,

>> you're not going to bag it every week,

>> right?

>> 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, 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 miscomplishment 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, it's 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 the 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, you know?

>> But but it's a it's like a it's like a

life lesson of like can you be satisfi

sat like the life lesson of can you be

satisfied?

>> Yeah. is really, you know, that

yearning.

>> I can easily be sadly. Yeah.

>> I I I know the things I like

>> and I'm happy when they're around.

>> When you speak about I like, you know,

what you like. I feel like you love

working with Maya. Oh,

>> she's the greatest.

>> And she loves working with you.

>> Maya is just such I 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 DR 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 first week

>> and constantly kind of being that source

of just funny combo or wonderful

performer to perform things with. I

mean, you guys are like instant family.

Like, you were a 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

Songbergs, 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 said that she would be

better than most of the professional

singers that came% and you too Kenan I

try but like

>> man what a what a cool thing to kind of

like be in close to kind of 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. is just I would much

rather just stay, you know,

>> why why not? Who's writing this brew

book?

>> Yeah, exactly right.

>> 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 are what are the rules? And

and so so we do this thing in the in the

show where we talk to somebody, we get a

question. So we talk to Maya.

>> Oh my god, how wonderful. What does she

say?

>> She loves you so much. God bless her,

man. I love her, too.

>> And we laugh so hard at how dumb and how

fun the stupid [ __ ] 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 is

>> put your hands in roller skates

>> and

>> flip you upside down and then wheel you

into the kitchen.

>> Put whipped cream on your business.

[laughter]

>> 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. Word play

would be so funny.

>> The guardrails make it way funnier. And

you can't say anything dirty, so you

have to say put whipped cream on your

business. [laughter]

>> But Maya was talking like and and also I

just want to like say thank you again.

And 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

>> Yeah.

>> and my first 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 Titi and Mario flare,

but not as filthy cuz there were

children present,

>> of course.

>> Yeah.

>> 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. I

really treasure it, Keenan.

>> 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 a this is such a

moment for you. You're like a brand new

mom and we watched you be pregnant the

whole time [laughter]

>> and we thought you were going to troop

out the show. Like it was a super

surprise.

>> The plan,

>> you know what I mean?

>> 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's very special man

>> Maya's question to you was

it was basically more of like a

statement which is you're a fully formed

little Keenan 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. [snorts]

>> And um

>> I think her question was really like, do

you think that's true? And I do think we

kind of 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 going to be

it. Like I'm like I enjoyed playing

sports, but I don't I didn't think I was

going to be Bo Jackson. You know what

I'm saying?

>> You were Bo Jackson.

>> So like 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 mitty kind of things would

happen along the way and I was just

like, "All right, I think I should just

give over to the universe and just stay

positive and stay ready."

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah.

>> Well, um, what's where are you going?

>> I'm just going to my daughter's little

like summer play.

>> Oh god. You're going You're just going

to your daughter?

>> Literally across the street.

>> Okay. But what time is the plan?

>> Well, they're allowing the parents in at

1:35.

>> Oh my god. We have to get you out of

here. Okay. So, we cannot It's 1:30.

>> Yeah.

>> So, let's go. I got to ask you one

question. I'm going to put your glasses

on. Yeah.

>> What are you listening to right now?

What are you What's making you laugh?

>> Yeah. I love that you're going to your

daughter's play. What is she ask the

best?

>> What is she doing? What's

>> I want to say. It's just their like

sixth grade, I think, end of school.

>> Does she want to be a performer thing?

>> Does any of them

>> some Yeah, she's better at sports kind

of 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 know, kind of thing.

>> But what are you laughing at right now?

What's making you laugh?

>> I'm laughing at a lot of pock I'm

watching my friends work, you know, like

whoever is putting out like new work

kind of thing, you know? I just

>> like I wasn't really aware of Sarah's

like standup presence and I watched that

special

>> that special. So we

>> she's a force.

>> We we we had her on. She is. That

special is the craziest [ __ ] I've ever

seen.

>> It's the craziest. And I'm 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 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 out there killing.

Finess is out there with Tisha Campbell

which is why he got Tisha Campbell doing

stand up and it's really funny.

>> Yes.

>> So like yeah I'm just you know

celebrating all of our friends.

>> Kenan, you always do. You've always been

like laughing with us along the 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 for always shouting out

all us women, too. You always do that

and we love you for it.

>> It's unbelievable and it's undeniable.

>> You can put your glasses back on for

this last thing. And we're we're I mean

I love that you're going to your

daughter's play.

>> Yeah. It's my sweetheart.

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah.

>> I'm 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 I'm seeing the faces

of these children and they are

>> insanely sweet and cute.

>> God bless them.

>> And they are so lucky to have you as

their dad. And now that you're a

grandpa, 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 going to meet you on the

red carpet and have also have sunglasses

on and and weirdly a se like a dog. I

>> want to start bringing a backup pair for

people that I like. And it was like,

"All right, just make sure."

>> We'll get you some,

>> Kenan. We're so lucky to have you. I'm

so lucky to know you and it's so good to

see you.

>> Same.

>> Love you. Thank you for doing this.

>> Thank you so much. My pleasure. Miss you

and so happy 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, in these

polar plunges, we usually kind of dig

deeper into something that we talked

about, but I just want to 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 going to put whipped cream

on your business." Or it's uh Jean Kjan,

the French stand-up comedian who says

Zutures when he does Update. or DJ

Dynasty Handbag. Um, a a a character

that he did on a sketch called Deep

House Dish, which was kind of like a

Euro MTV show. And [laughter]

written by the great James Anderson and

and Kenan's character used to say

bouquet instead of okay. [laughter]

And I say bouquet um or bouquet or

bouquet or whatever, however he said it.

I say it all the time. 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.

Thank you for listening to uh this

podcast called Good Hang with Amy Polar.

Okay bye.

You've been listening to Good Hang. The

executive producers for this show are

Bill Simmons, Jenna [music] Weiss

Berman, and me, Amy Polar. The show is

produced by The Ringer and Paperkite.

For The Ringer, production by Jack

Wilson, Cat Spalain, Kaia [music]

McMullen, Alia Xeneres, Bridget

Gearlings, Paige Garberini, Belle Roman,

and Drew Vanstein Bergen. [music] for

Paperkite production by Sam Green, Joel

Levelvel, and Jenna Weiss Berman.

Original music by Amy Miles.

>> Was a really [music] good Hey