new shows

NBC Orders New Comedy Series Starring Kenan Thompson

Kenan Thompson. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America, East

Beloved and longtime Saturday Night Live cast member Kenan Thompson is officially getting his very own show at NBC. The network announced today that it’s given a series order to The Kenan Show, which was ordered to pilot back in January. Written by Jackie Clarke (Superstore), the show will center on Thompson’s character, who “strives to be a super dad to his two adorable girls while simultaneously balancing his job and a father-in-law who ‘helps’ in the most inappropriate ways.” Punam Patel, Dani Lockett, Dannah Lockett, and Andy Garcia round out the main cast.

In addition to starring, Thompson will executive produce alongside Lorne Michaels, Andrew Singer, and Chris Rock, who is also credited as a director. It’s unclear what Thompson’s new show will mean for his future at SNL, but he recently told Ellen DeGeneres, “It’s the best job in the world … I can’t see myself just walking away from it like that, even with how busy I’ve been.” Hopefully he plans to pull an Aidy Bryant and juggle SNL and another starring TV role at the same time.

NBC Orders New Comedy Series Starring Kenan Thompson