Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell look back as their show celebrates its 20th anniversary
Lucy and Desi.
Oh, were the same dude.
Included in the initial cast were two unknown 15-year-olds, Thompson from Atlanta and Mitchell from Chicago.
Kenan Thompson, Coolio, and Kel Mitchell.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Even 20 years later, both actors vividly remember the moment when their soon-to-be dynamic comedic relationship first began.
A sketch that would become one of their most popular started it all.
We hit the goal, I guess we can retire now.
Kenan Thompson, Coolio, and Kel Mitchell.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
The show’s creative direction started where every great show doesa Sinbad birthday party.
“And when she heard my name, the woman actually said to me, ‘You’re Kim Bass?
We’ve been looking for you, I thought you were an older white lady.'”
Why have you been looking for me?"
“They were the same,” he recalls.
“During our first lunch they were just hilarious.
You were having a conversation with two people, who were in a comedic rhythm.
I remember how engaging, how entertaining, and how funny they were just having a normal conversation.
It was almost as if it was rehearsed even though you knew it was organic.
It was just a rhythm thing between them.”
“It was unbelievable,” says Thompson.
“We didn’t feel that we could do any better.
We hit the goal, I guess we can retire now.”
Oh yeah, Coolios my best friend.
“Shout out to Coolio,” laughs Thompson.
“It was the best.
He had been onAll Thatbefore at that point, so we felt like we knew him.
Mitchell enjoyed the song so much that he has since integrated it into his stand-up career.
“That hook, the song still holds up today,” he says.
OnFriendsit was, “How you doin’?”
Over onFamily Matters, Urkel was always wondering, “Did I do that?”
Perhaps no catchphrase is more synonymous withKenan & Kelthan, “Who loves orange soda?”
And they’re like, ‘Oh, what are you going to drink?
And they just crack up, but I enjoy it.
I’m happy that people enjoy the show and are still drinking orange soda.”
Look how cute this little kid is, dont you want to put him on your show?
“I mean leaving Nickelodeon was definitely an adjustment,” shares Thompson.
“[It] kind of freaked people out.
They’d ask him, ‘Where’s Kel?’
and they’d ask me ‘Where’s Kenan?'”
And in a time where audiences are obsessed with nostalgia and reunions, could we see moreKenan & Kel?
“I mean, we might as well; it couldn’t hurt,” teases Thompson.
“If people want it then they should have it.”
I miss and love those guys, it was awesome times.
“What I really think about is just how much fun this show was,” Mitchell reflects.
“I miss and love those guys, it was awesome times,” he says.
I feel like it would be an awesome moment for everybody."
