SATURDAY Night Live's Kenan Thompson has responded to ongoing rumors that the NBC show is ending as fans are begging the funnyman to take over for creator/producer Lorne Michaels.
Kenan, 44, recently appeared as a guest on Charlamagne Tha God's Hell of a Week podcast.
Charlamagne, also 44, asked about the rumored final episode of SNL after its upcoming 50th anniversary – which will take place in three seasons.
The Good Burger actor replied: "There is a lot of validity to that rumor. It's an incredible package."
He mentioned how Lorne has "a touch on the whole thing."
Kenan warned if someone else came into Lorne's shoes, it would be "an opportunity for NBC to save money. They might slash the budget.
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"You can't do the same kind of show."
Charlamagne asked if the sketch comedy show could go on without Lorne in charge.
Kenan responded: "He's such a legend that he keeps off those corporate wolves. It's a business.
"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. It's the only one."
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Fans jumped to the comments section of an online thread to discuss the show's possible ending and pleaded with Kenan to keep running the series as the new showrunner.
One said: "Kenan, you have been the longest-running member of the cast. With your tenure and knowledge of the show, and what Lorne wants to produce, why don't you ask to step into his seat when he retires?"
Another person agreed and said: "Getting a new showrunner might inject the show with some new energy.
"I still enjoy it and the current cast is great. NBC just needs to find the right person to take over."
One viewer chimed in: "Kenan Thompson talking about how SNL should end at 50 because if they tried to replace Lorne the show would lose quality.
"You better be joking/should've saved that joke for the season so we could all laugh. The last decade of SNL was the least of the eras. It better not end yet."
HARD AT WORK
Kenan has been working on other projects, but not because he is planning for the end of the famous program.
The longest-tenure cast member has been on SNL since 2003.
In March, Kenan hit his 1,500th sketch on the show.
When the 47th season finale aired in May, Kate McKinnon, 38, and Pete Davidson, 28, made their final appearance on the show and bidfarewell.
HIS PERSONAL LIFE
As for his personal life, Kenan married Christina Evangeline in 2011- they share two children, both girls.
In 2014, the comedian first welcomed Georgia, seven, and later became the father of Gianna, three, in August 2018.
In April, however, Christina and Kenan announced they were parting ways.
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