Kenan Thompson Of ‘SNL’ To Play Widowed Dad In New NBC Sitcom Pilot

Kenan Thompson

Kenan Thompson is the longest-serving cast member ever on Saturday Night Live, having joined the show in the more innocent time of 2003, although it seems his tenure there might becoming to an end, with reports that his new sitcom has been picked up for a pilot order.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, NBC has picked up Saving Kenan, a Lorne Michaels-produced, single-camera family comedy. Formerly titled Saving Larry, the show got a new name when Thompson came on board, and the comedian will co-produce as well as starring.

Per the official plot description, he will play a “newly widowed dad determined to be everything for his kids while begrudgingly letting his persistent father-in-law become more involved in their lives.” Sounds like your classic sitcom setup right there.

The show went into its development stages late last year, as Kenan Thompson was starting his 16th season of Saturday Night Live. He was also fresh off his first Emmy win for the musical number Come Back Barack, which featured him, fellow cast member Chris Redd and Chance the Rapper.

While we wish him all the best, it will truly be the end of an era if and when he leaves SNL, and it will be hard to imagine the show without him as the low-key MVP in basically every sketch. If you need me I’ll be watching YouTube videos of him for the rest of the afternoon.

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