It’s a tale as old as time: two boys grew up together onscreen and in our homes. We lovingly followed their careers over the years as they both prospered and continued to satisfy our need for senseless, ridiculous over-the-top humor. As we got older—and they did too—one continued to do well and began to make a name for himself as a legitimate comedic performer. And the other, well, dimly faded into irrelevance only to crop up spontaneously amidst mystifying death rumors before appearing in random roles that pay no justice to the great talent he once had. Since Kenan is gracing us with his presence on campus today, we decided to take a look back at the careers of the (once-great) duo, Kenan & Kel.
Kenan Thompson
Born May 10, 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia
1994 – Fresh out the box. Stop, look and watch. Ready yet? Get set…it’s Allllllllllll That! Kenan lands a role on Nickelodeon’s sketch comedy show at 15 years old; characters like Pierre Escargot challenge racialized stereotypes concerning Europeans through satire.
1994 – It’s knucklepuck time! Kenan plays Russ Tyler in easily the best and most patriotic Mighty Ducks movie. Gotta love that Gordon Bombay.
1995 – Kenan plays the adorably rolly polly Roy in Heavy Weights, the touching story of morbidly obese children and their enabler counselors. What he learned: “Don’t put Twinkies on your pizza!”
1996 – Kenan & Kel hits the airwaves. The story of the strained friendship between Thompson’s manipulative and emotionally abusive Kenan and Mitchell’s mentally deficient Kel captures the hearts of young viewers across the country.
1997 – A seminal moment in the history of film, Good Burger debuts. Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger. Can I take your order?
2003 – Kenan joins the cast of Saturday Night Live; Nick Cannon lets out guttural cry from stage of Wild ‘N Out: “WHY HIM? WHY HIM?”
2012 - Hello A&O
Kel Mitchell
Born August 25, 1978 in Chicago, Illinois
1994 – Same line (Fresh out the box…), then: Kel breaks boundaries for stutterers in the business, portraying a handyman with a speech impediment who announces himself in every scene: “I’m … Repair Man man man man man man…”
1996 – Stock prices for orange soda skyrocket as Mitchell’s Kel Kimble character popularizes the sugary beverage. Who loves orange soda? He does, he does, he du-hus!
1997 – I’m a dude, he’s a dude, she’s a dude, and we’re all dudes, HEY! Kenan and Kel continue to collaborate with the motion picture production of Good Burger.
1999 – Kel plays invisible well in Mystery Men, that movie your 10-year-old self was desperate to see (unfortunately, your mom wasn’t down with the PG-13 rating). Also unfortunate: the movie flopped…sadface.
2006 – Bewildering rumors circulate claiming the young comedian is dead. Double sadface!
2011 – Alive, well, and recently spotted on rival channel Disney’s sitcom “Good Luck Charlie,” the actor also played Lt. Tyler Laughlin in Battle of Los Angeles. Keep on trucking, Kel! We believe in you! Don’t let Kenan drag you on misadventures with a passive “Aww, here it goes.” Build your own destiny!
Graphic by Cristina Doi & Amy Wecker
