The Kids Tonight Show - Kenan Thompson (S1E15)
"Saturday Night Live" legend and "Kenan" star Kenan Thompson joins the show to talk about his favourite impressions and a possible "Good Burger" sequel; a crazy game of What's Behind Me and a whole bunch of plopping.
| Air Date | 2021-12-09 |
|---|---|
| TV Rating | TV-G |
| Network(s) | Peacock |
Storyline
In this episode of "The Kids Tonight Show," young hosts welcome comedy icon Kenan Thompson, known for his long-running tenure on "Saturday Night Live" and his starring role in the sitcom "Kenan." The conversation centers on Thompson's career in sketch comedy, with particular focus on his favorite celebrity impressions and characters he has brought to life over the years. Thompson also discusses the possibility of a sequel to the beloved 1997 film "Good Burger," in which he starred alongside Kel Mitchell, offering insights into what fans might expect from a return to the fast-food comedy.
The episode features a game segment called "What's Behind Me," where participants must guess objects or images positioned behind them, leading to surprises and comedic reactions. The show also includes a recurring bit involving "plopping," a playful physical comedy element that appears throughout the episode. The format maintains the show's signature blend of celebrity interview and interactive games designed to engage both the young hosts and the viewing audience.
What kids learn
Children watching this episode can learn about the value of dedication and longevity in a creative career. Kenan Thompson's journey from child actor to one of the longest-serving cast members on "Saturday Night Live" demonstrates how passion and hard work can lead to sustained success in entertainment. Young viewers see that building a career takes time, persistence, and a willingness to continue learning and growing in your craft.
The episode also teaches kids about the art of impression and character work. As Thompson discusses his favorite impressions, children gain insight into how performers study real people, notice distinctive traits, and recreate them for comedic effect. This can inspire kids to pay closer attention to the world around them and develop their own observational skills.
Additionally, the interactive game segments model good sportsmanship and the ability to laugh at yourself. The playful nature of "What's Behind Me" and the physical comedy of "plopping" show that entertainment can come from being willing to take risks, embrace silly moments, and not take yourself too seriously—valuable lessons for building confidence and resilience.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Kenan Thompson's comedy appropriate for children? | Kenan Thompson has extensive experience performing for family audiences, from his Nickelodeon days on "All That" and "Kenan & Good Burger" through his work on "SNL." In this episode, he tailors his discussion to a young audience, focusing on his impressions and family-friendly film projects. The show's format is designed for kids, so the conversation stays age-appropriate throughout. |
| Will my child understand the references to Saturday Night Live and Good Burger? | Children unfamiliar with "Saturday Night Live" or the original "Good Burger" film can still enjoy Thompson's charisma and the game segments. However, kids who have seen "Good Burger" or clips of Thompson's "SNL" work will have additional context that enhances their appreciation. The hosts help bridge any knowledge gaps by asking questions that explain Thompson's background and accomplishments. |
| What is the 'plopping' mentioned in the episode description? | Plopping appears to be a recurring physical comedy bit on "The Kids Tonight Show" that involves playful, silly movements or actions. While the exact nature varies, these segments are designed to be lighthearted and entertaining for children, adding an element of slapstick humor to the show. Parents can expect harmless, age-appropriate physical comedy that encourages laughter and playfulness. |
| Does this episode have educational value beyond entertainment? | Beyond laughs, the episode offers children a window into professional entertainment careers and the creative process behind comedy. Thompson's discussion of developing impressions and characters provides insight into performance skills, while his career trajectory demonstrates the rewards of dedication. The interview format also models respectful conversation and active listening, as young hosts engage with an accomplished guest. |
| How long is the episode and will it keep my child engaged? | While the exact runtime isn't specified, "The Kids Tonight Show" episodes typically run in a format designed to match children's attention spans. The mix of interview segments, interactive games like "What's Behind Me," and comedy bits like plopping creates variety that helps maintain engagement. Thompson's energetic personality and the show's fast-paced structure work together to keep young viewers interested throughout. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | In the inaugural episode, Jimmy Fallon gives the four kid hosts -- Mykal-Michelle, Recker, Olivia and Dylan -- tips on anchoring a talk show, including how to shoot lasers out of their eyes. |
| 1 | 2 | Dancer, singer and actress JoJo Siwa joins the show, shares why she's proud of being her authentic self this year and plays hilarious and intense house games as part of the JoJo-lympics. |
| 1 | 3 | Questlove and Black Thought - members of "The Tonight Show" house band - join to reminisce about how they met in high school and the key to the perfect birthday party before a surprise performance by Dylan and Recker. |
| 1 | 4 | Popular online creators and well-known pranksters Brent and Lexi Rivera, Jeremy Hutchins and Pierson Wodzynski of AMP World join the show for an epic, legendary games episode. |
| 1 | 5 | "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt joins the show and shares a funny story about how he couldn't stop giggling during a broadcast, plays a hilarious game of Real or Phony News and partakes in an awesome "Mayhem" party. |
| 1 | 6 | Popular online creators Charli and Dixie D'Amelio join the show and reveal the best and worst parts of working together while being sisters; the hosts compete to see who can make the best ice cream sundae without using their hands. |
| 1 | 7 | Magician Dan White stops by the show and performs some crazy and unforgettable magic tricks; one of the hosts gets cut in half and another gets pied in the face. |
| 1 | 8 | "Frozen" actress Kristen Bell joins to talk about the inspiration behind her new book and to show off her weirdest talent; the hosts play a silly game of "Bell or Not Bell"; Egg-braham Lincoln stops by with some jokes. |
| 1 | 9 | Activist, model and star of "Grownish" Yara Shahidi joins the show to talk about her cool karate skills; pointless PSAs, mayhem times a million and a hilarious game of history trivia. |
| 1 | 10 | Real-life astronaut Mike Massimino joins the show to talk about being in space and plays a fun game of Globe Grab. |
| 1 | 11 | Singer-songwriter and "Clash of the Cover Bands" host Meghan Trainor plays a hilarious game of All About that Bass and shares her favorite vacation memories. |
| 1 | 12 | Yo-yo world champion Gentry Stein shows off some of his most awesome tricks, plays a crazy game of Velcro Madness against host Recker and joins the most yo-yo-tastic mayhem party yet. |
| 1 | 13 | "Annie Live" stars Celina Smith and Tituss Burgess talk about their upcoming musical and play the craziest game of Box of Lies; a visit from a caveman, unboxing galore and Recker gets very confused. |
| 1 | 14 | Olympic skateboarding champion Bryce Wettstein kickflips into the show and answers a jaw-dropping question from a surprise guest; a crazy game of All Ball and the silliest, skateboard-iest mayhem party yet. |
| 1 | 15 | "Saturday Night Live" legend and "Kenan" star Kenan Thompson joins the show to talk about his favourite impressions and a possible "Good Burger" sequel; a crazy game of What's Behind Me and a whole bunch of plopping. |
| 1 | 16 | YouTube star Nastya and online looping genius Marc Rebillet join the Pajama Party episode. |
| 1 | 17 | Miranda Cosgrove of "iCarly" joins the show for some random dancing; actor Matt Damon answers the silliest questions from the What?! Bucket; Twitch superstar Ninja stops by. |
| 1 | 18 | "Glee" star and author Chris Colfer joins the show for a lightning round of questions with Young Dylan; National Spelling Bee champion and Guinness World Record holder Zaila Avant-garde gets a surprise from a special guest. |
| 1 | 19 | Actors Matthew McConaughey and Nick Kroll join to talk about the inspiration behind their "Sing 2" characters; adults spell things, two of the hosts have a Corn-Off and the show examines the origin of yogurt. |
| 1 | 20 | Dancer and actor Pressley Hosbach joins the show to talk about her time on "Dance Moms" and "Stage Fright"; Pressley takes a spin on the Random Dance Generator and unleashes a whole lot of mayhem. |
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