Actor and co-star Chris Redd will be flying from the set of ‘Kenan’ to New York on weekends, when ‘Saturday Night Live’ is in production.
Kenan Thompson has a prime time series premiering in February, but he doesn’t plan to take a leave of absence from his old home in Saturday Night Live.
Thompson and companion SNL cast member Chris Redd stars on NBC Kenan, which opens on February 16. The films of the half-hour series in Los Angeles, which means in weeks SNL is in production, they will be flying from coast to coast the day before the live show.
“We’ve only done this once so far, so we’ll see how tiring it gets when it becomes a repeat type,” Thompson said on Tuesday during a news conference to Kenan. “We did it for the Christmas show, where Chris and I went there on Friday and showed up for the rehearsal. So we had three weeks off before we had to be on another job, so we’ll see what the turnaround will be when there is just one day in between. “
Kenan account SNL creator Lorne Michaels among his executive producers, which probably helps smooth things over for Thompson and Redd. Nor is it entirely new ground for the sketch show; regulars Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong took time off earlier this season to film other series.
Both actors also said they plan to keep SNL.
“I didn’t decide to leave,” said Redd. “I’m just having fun being able to create with one of my best friends and also being able to sketch.”
Said Thompson: “There used to be a time when people left the show and went on to their careers. But I think you can do both as long as you can and then, you know, if the match comes in a natural way, then so be it. “