The Staggering Number Of SNL Sketches Kenan Thompson Has Actually Led
"Saturday Night Live" has reigned as television's go-to sketch comedy show since the 1970s. It's a right of passage for many celebrities and musicians to host or perform on the show, an appearance that can help solidify their fame or talent. Of course, the high-profile nature of the show has occasionally done the opposite for a performer's career, leading them to massive public criticism after their appearance.
However, what can often be a bigger milestone for a performer is being a cast member. Rather than host a single episode, they perform week after week for the show's massive audience. Some of the biggest names in comedy right now and in recent decades are former cast members and writers. Under the supervision of legendary producer Lorne Michaels, entire careers have been built in the halls of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
One of the more recent faces that audiences have fallen in love with is Kenan Thompson. He's been a staple of the show since 2003 when he joined the cast of Season 29. In the years since he's garnered more and more leading roles in sketches, but the actual number of skits he's appeared in might shock you.
Kenan Thompson has led 1500 Saturday Night Live sketches
In his nearly 20-year tenure on "Saturday Night Live," Kenan Thompson has appeared in 1500 sketches. That's a record for anyone ever appearing on the show. This major milestone came after completing a home improvement-themed skit in the episode hosted by Oscar Isaac and featuring Charli XCX as the musical guest on March 5, 2022 (via BET). The official "Saturday Night Live" Twitter account shared a heartwarming video of some of the crew greeting Thompson after he stepped off stage, including costar Heidi Gardner. Thompson is visibly overwhelmed and excuses himself, saying he might cry. The video has been shared more than 20 thousand times.
During his run on the show — which in an interview with Variety he says he doesn't plan to end just yet — Thompson has also been nominated for five Emmy Awards, including twice for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. He won an Emmy in 2018 for outstanding original music and lyrics for the song "Come Back, Barack," which he shared with three other artists from the show (via IMDb). Outside of his "Saturday Night Live" work, Thompson also recently began starring in his own NBC sitcom "Kenan," in which he plays a fictionalized version of himself as a widowed father raising two daughters. He was also nominated for an Emmy for his leading role on that show (via IMDb).