Kenan Thompson Breaks Down Laugh Styles of Lorne Michaels, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and More

Kenan Thompson talks about needing his daughter to help him with technology, discusses being on Saturday Night Live for 21 years and breaks down iconic SNL-alum laugh styles.
Late Night with Seth Meyers. Stream now on Peacock: bit.ly/3erP2gX
Subscribe to Late Night: bit.ly/LateNigh...
Watch Late Night with Seth Meyers Weeknights 12:35ET/11:35c on NBC.
Get more Late Night with Seth Meyers: www.nbc.com/lat...
LATE NIGHT ON SOCIAL
Follow Late Night on Twitter: / latenightseth
Like Late Night on Facebook: / latenightseth
Follow Late Night Instagram: / latenightseth
Late Night on Tumblr: / latenightseth
Late Night with Seth Meyers on KZbin features A-list celebrity guests, memorable comedy, and topical monologue jokes.
GET MORE NBC
Like NBC: / nbc
Follow NBC: / nbc
NBC Tumblr: / nbctv
KZbin: / nbc
NBC Instagram: / nbc
Kenan Thompson Breaks Down Laugh Styles of Lorne Michaels, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and More - Late Night with Seth Meyers
• Kenan Thompson Breaks ...
Late Night with Seth Meyers
/ latenightseth

[@polterkat]

As a 90s kid watching Kenan go from just another guy on Nickelodeon to the foundational cast member for the next several generations of SNL has been pretty wild. I wouldn't have expected him to be huge as a kid but now when I think of SNL I think of it as Kenan's house. Guest hosts come and go on a weekly basis but really every show is hosted by Kenan. Just in the way it feels. He went from just another child actor to somehow feeling like one of the godfathers of a show that had already existed for decades before he joined it. And we watched him become that. One season of SNL at a time 👏🤯

[@distractionb]

Go back to watching nickelodeon.

[@kingayy9267]

Kenan is awesome! He hasn't aged at all.

[@charlotteillustration5778]

I have never seen another person more capable of showing such glee in his expression - naughty enjoyment!

[@kingayy9267]

Little rascals

[@ruthbennett7563]

Of course, he’s « Sumthin’ Claus »!😂😂😂

[@JillKnapp]

I love Kenan with my whole heart!

[@crystalkarma2015]

Me too.

[@ttacking_you]

TWENTY ONE YEARS!! I remember when i thought Tim Meadows had been on SNL FOREVER! that was probably 8 years!

[@cleverusername9369]

The funniest thing about Lorne Michaels is that he almost never appears on television and hearing him speak is extremely rare, but everyone knows what he sounds like because A) every SNL cast member does an impression of him and B) apparently Mike Meyers based Dr Evil's voice on Lorne for the Austin Powers movies

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

But he has. Lorne Michaels, the unicorn of American TV. But There Was A Time Before... For Lorne Michaels. I remember Hart Pomerantz!

[@christineherrmann205]

Him playing the straight man in the George Washington sketch made me _guffaw._

[@cleverusername9369]

Kenan rarely fails to make me guffaw.

[@Jenny_Oblivion]

That was an instant classic!

[@christineherrmann205]

Kenan: "And Sir, in this new country, what plans are there for men of color such as I?" NB: "Distance will be measured in inches, feet, yard, and miles." Kenan: mouth hung open, looking right and left hands up on dismay. To be fair, all of the cast were amazing keeping a straight face. So did Nate, but I expected him to lock it down.

[@christineherrmann205]

"You asked about the temperature." "I did not." 😂😊😊

[@christineherrmann205]

WHERE ALL MEN ARE FREE, RIGHT?!

[@marvinmartin4692]

Loved his what’s up with that skit!!!!!!!

[@worldcitizen9202]

in top 10 skits ever .... imnsho

[@Sharonmxg]

I have been watching SNL live since I think season 2. I recall clearly the look on Chevy Chase's face when he would pop up from his stumble and announce "Live from NY, it's Saturday Night". Over the subsequent 48 years I have observed that nearly every individual assigned that privilege has (whether intentionally or not) has made an effort to mimic that Chevy Chase expression. It is ICONIC and no other show opening inspires the sense of giddy anticipation to see what is in story for the episode. Admittedly, not every ensemble has been stellar and some seasons have kind of flopped, but for 49 seasons that show has remained beloved. I hope it never ends. And Kenan has been there for so long I cannot imagine the show without his presence!

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

Chevy Chase is eighty now. I remember that too. The sad thing is how many SNL cast and guests have passed on. No, not a movie role. RIP Charles Rocket.

[@xothenaaparraga]

seeing Keenan will forever bring me back to sitting in front of a box tv watching good burger back when times were so different.. it’ll always be nostalgic.. i’ll always smile when i see keenan bc HE MADE IT.. he is the man, the myth, and the god damn legend. he’s fucking awesome.. and so genuinely HIMSELF. i just love it so much. he’s also probably an incredible father ♥️

[@distractionb]

Keenan doesn't act. he does a goofy smile and waits for idiots to laugh.

[@Research0digo]

watch your filthy mouth!

[@frankhoward6645]

Kenan is one of the best talents snl has had In it's history he's incredible

[@brianmcsorley3229]

Twenty one years is quite a record .

[@dafttool]

Kenan is one of the most talented SNL has ever produced, which is saying quite a lot. He just is understated, blending in seamlessly as other, more flashy performers came & went. He’s solid.

[@mh11213]

Kenyan? Who is that?

[@dafttool]

@@mh11213 Lol my autocorrect did that!! 😂 I’m going to go fix it. Thanks 🙏🏼

[@davidgoosen1633]

Keenan the backbone of SNL😊

[@NewMessage]

Anyone who occasionally references obscure classic cartoons is ok in my book.

[@jloewy]

A literal legend 🙌🏻

[@louiebee6745]

2:56 The Muttley Laugh is AWESOME!!😂

[@silentjay01]

Kenan has so much experience in the field of television sketch comedy, I wonder if he will be the eventual replacement for lead producer of SNL when Lorne eventually retires.

[@lashendawest7509]

We love your show seth meyers

[@AndrewSmith-pc8eq]

Kenan still looks 16! He'll probably look the same forever! It's all the Good Burgers!

[@mlg7728]

Our childhood dog was Muttley. Great character! Love you guys.

[@NellieKAdaba]

Love him too.

[@shawnuel]

Dastardly and Muttley! One of my favorites as a kid. However, that laugh/voice did another dog cartoon called Precious Pup prior to Dastardly and Muttley.

[@largedoglover99]

❤❤ Call me by my first name in the crowd, instead of MOM there are too many moms, but only a few named Tracy

[@christinac9086]

Kenan is such a delight.

[@joshfactor1]

dude, seriously, last man was so underrated

[@terlinguabay]

I know the Mutley laugh.

[@nannerz1994]

I just love that I've been watching him since I was like four.

[@snowwhite2524]

Me too.

[@ellievampmtf]

why was his intro music so hard? idk if it was referencing something Kenan was in but damn 🔥

[@bold810]

Elevator Operator For David S. Pumpkins, maing. 🎉

[@Sharp2012UpTempo]

Keenan could be the next Johnny Carson. Just give him a show already

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

Oh, I hope not! Johnny Carson was a..."complicated" man. He drank and had issues.

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

But, Jimmy Fallon already has Johnny Carson's old job. Also, I'm pretty sure Kenan likes being a cast member on SNL and does other things, too.

[@itsdonaldo]

I think it'd be great if SNL said, "Live From New York, it's MEET THE PRESS!!!"

[@josephdegreeff9470]

Does anyone remember Amazon Women from The Moon? It was so funny

[@PaulNaas]

Weird that Keenan knew Muttley and Seth did not. Seth’s older, so you’d think he’s be more familiar with vintage cartoons.

[@P51mus]

Cartoon network ran a lot of old cartoons, including wacky races. That's where I saw it anyway.

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

I knew what Muttley was by the way Kenan described the character, but I didn't know his name.

[@snowwhite2524]

Kenan is hilarious

[@badad0166]

This is so much more enjoyable than "Orange Man Bad". Keenan can hold the gate open and smile and Darrell can announce your arrival. For ever.

[@austinjones8822]

If it's Sunday..... I'm kickin Seth's ass

[@trackzero0]

Bruh, K train is tops!

[@kinsmed]

Trying to imagine Kenan ever excited.

[@pontificusvascillious5287]

Meet the Press is the LONGEST running TV show in history ... (no kidding)

[@Proudfeet]

I laugh like Mutley too

[@alfredarvidsson]

Thanks for the heads-up Seth! 🙂 (And thank you for all and everything 'from here and beyond'! 🙂) I ordered the book here in Sweden after pausing your vid after nine seconds. 🙂 Now I'll continue watching the vid. ;-)

[@alfredarvidsson]

I'm so looking forward to reading your book, Kenan! And all of that "Live from/in New York!" (Being from Sweden🙂)

[@alfredarvidsson]

i believe that your cultural "expression" needs to relate to your "World". If it's bad. you need to relate to it. And of course relate to it 🙂 Like feeling your heart

[@alfredarvidsson]

So if "Love Hurts", you can't/shouldn't write/Listen to a song called "Happy", right?

[@alfredarvidsson]

Am I losing you now

[@bubblesezblonde]

excellent interview

[@Valerie-mz4et]

Fletch!!

[@mickd22]

What’s the walk on music?

[@samanthamaynard4447]

I didn't recognize Deondre Cole without his burgundy suit.

[@NoxiousLynx]

keenan 21 years on snl...whaaaaat? the kid from nickelodeon all that, no way

[@DNTXPCTMCH]

Why does no one mention his voice work on Nature Cat?

[@Derfboy]

Dude, can the people in charge of uploading videos just, ya know, upload them in order?! I hate clicking on the first video and hearing, "And we're back with..." and I have to pause the video, go back to the channel on KZbin, click 'Videos', and either guess which is the first one or wait until it's uploaded. Very frustrating to have to start two or three videos (god help me if there's more than three because then I have to really guess the order and, frankly, sometimes it makes it funnier). (I know, parenthetical statements should never be used (because you should always incorporate the information in either a citation (an acceptable practice) or the explanatory statements should be moved to a more specific location before the information being discussed in order for the current information to be relevant and understood). Thanks.

[@JoellePretty]

MUTTLEY!

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

Hmm... Maybe Chuck Todd or Kristen Welcher should host Saturday Night Live! Every comic who has worked with Lorne Michaels should do an impression of him. And I think Kenan is the Eddie Murphy of his generation. But I never got Larry The Lobster!

[@firstmatemcbitey5553]

Did we just get confirmation that Seth laughs like a jackal

[@cynthiaconey7317]

Seth's outloud laugh when he throws his head back and has the "spaces in between " type laugh reminds me of my Dads laugh. I guess I'll just have to take your word for it Keenan , that Seth has a Muttly laugh. Also sorry but when you said Lorne has a guttural laugh , you then proceeded to do a throaty laugh so Im not holding much credibility twards the others but I buy Tina and Maya's impersonations though.

[@Smknnfshn]

Ive heard black don't crack but this is absolutely ridiculous

[@kimpossible6654]

Love❤❤❤Kennan! Why is Seth Meyers over talking& repeating so much give Lena. A chance to talk smh

[@FLiPJGARiLLA]

He ain't All That

[@larryyz_hideaway]

Everyone knows Seth laughs like Tom Hulce in Amadeus kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnWViY1-o6l-rNEfeature=shared

[@distractionb]

Keenan is not old enough to be "one of the all time greats"

[@kanashiiryuu]

Idk, man, he's been performing since he was a kid. Kinda feels like you have to spot him a decade or two to reflect that.

[@TheLordOfNothing]

@@kanashiiryuu Usually it's boomers who will only let someone be an SNL great if they were around in the 70's and 80's. Cecily, Tina, Colin, Kenan, Michael Che, all could qualify, but no.

[@grendlsma]

21 seasons....does that come with a pension....?

[@johnking5174]

This is NBC so ... no

[@OJTPhD]

Kenan’s leaving snl soon :(

[@altonreeves1854]

the volume is very low..............

[@whatcoconut7871]

How does he look like a 18 year old at 40?

[@NellieKAdaba]

He's more than 40 years old. I was born in 1981 and he's a little older than me, and was born in the late 70s.

[@echolot]

does this dude even age?

[@sunsetpalms1923]

So sad to see the religious cross around Kenan's neck, I thought he was smarter than that.

[@Notturnoir]

Get a life!

[@claddagh1826]

kenan thompson is not funny in any way shape or form, and the way jimmy and seth fall over themselves when he is on is so obnoxious (though i know jimmy does that with everyone). the fact that the guy after him was so funny made him look like a fool, to be honest.

[@delila1830]

If he was great he'd have a career outside of snl.

[@darthevil9999]

He kind of does

[@MCARTER1]

He been had one with hating ass

[@chaindead]

He works at the Good Burger

[@stoverboo]

Why? SNL is an institution.

[@sunsetpalms1923]

He's worth like 25 million dollars

[@distractionb]

Keenan is not old enough to be "one of the all time greats"