Podcast Summary: We’re Your Girls — KENAN THOMPSON

Host: Good Mess Media
Air Date: September 26, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively and heartfelt episode of "We're Your Girls," hosts Taryn Delaney Smith and Tiffany Singleton are joined by comedy legend and SNL veteran Kenan Thompson. The trio dives deep into Kenan's three-decade career, the realities of being a Black entertainer, the triumphs and uncertainties of creative life, and the nuances of being both a child star and a parent today. Throughout, the vibe remains playful, genuine, and rooted in the warmth of real connection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Making the Leap: From Child Star to Comedy Icon

• Kenan’s Early Passion

  • Kenan traces his comedic roots to early performances, fueled by a fascination with television.
  • “I really wanted to be on TV specifically…Me and the TV were close…We were locked in.” (29:04)

• Longevity and Range

  • The group reflects on Kenan's cross-generational presence, from “All That” to “SNL”—making him a touchstone for audiences young and old.
  • “It’s like Mighty Ducks over here...It’s Good Burger, Fat Albert, Barbershop. And now you're doing voice acting.” (13:01)

• Gratitude and Perspective

  • Kenan expresses gratitude for not being typecast, noting friends like Jaleel White (Urkel) who struggled with it.
  • “I’m just very lucky. I’ve been able to do a bunch of different things and kinds of things that have different audiences.” (11:29)

2. Navigating Fame & Parenting in the Public Eye

• Daughters in the Spotlight

  • Kenan details how he's handled being a public figure while parenting.
  • “I feel like New York teaches you to just keep it moving…You might as well just keep it pushing and put your best foot forward or your best representation of what's really the truth.” (09:04)

• School Drop-Offs and Being Recognized

  • Stories of his kids’ classmates reacting to “Good Burger” and other roles; Kenan finds humor and humility in the attention.
  • "My big girl's in middle school now…they start to chant my name or Good Burger stuff…It's gonna take them a while to get over the fact that I'm there every day." (09:53)

• On Supporting His Kids’ Dreams

  • Kenan shares his parenting approach: encouragement rooted in passion and family closeness, not pressure.
  • “I encourage…especially for girls. But for anybody…floating, you can be pounced upon. You just don't want that kind of, like, scent on the child…You want them to seem like they have people behind them.” (26:54)
  • His eldest is into sports rather than acting; his younger daughter, a natural performer with “the sparkle.”
  • “At the same time, it needs to be a passion...if I start to see that she doesn’t like performing in front of crowds, then I wouldn’t necessarily push her.” (28:18)

3. The Creative Process, Resilience, and Growth

• Taking Risks & Owning Flops

  • On creative risk-taking:
    • “Having a bunch of different things going lets you kind of relax on any one specific outcome.” (14:26)
    • Lessons learned from rejection and missed opportunities.
    • “Use it as a reminder not to be inactive on the next one…Push it as far as you can.” (18:07)

• On Writing, Ensemble, and Humility

  • Admires true joke tellers (like Bernie Mac) but knows his strengths are more ensemble and performance-based.
  • “I never enjoyed solo moments…I always enjoyed when the ensemble’s going.” (74:18)

• Breaking the Myth of the Comedy Lone Wolf

  • Discusses the importance of mentorship, citing his SNL “big sisters” like Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler.
  • “They all kept our game really...don't come here with no bullshit. They would come in swinging week after week after week.” (71:29)

• Self-Reflection and Evolution

  • Admits to previously not watching his performances, especially on SNL, due to disassociation/fear of critique.
  • “I came to the realization that I was missing out on the party...People would come up and throw references at me and sketches I was fully in, and I’d have no memory.” (45:14)
  • Now he reviews his work to grow as a performer.
  • “I was holding myself back by not doing my homework...look at the work...the work calls for concentration, education, and articulation.” (47:42)

4. Comedy, Representation, and Industry Realities

• Being Black on TV

  • Kenan reflects on coming up in an era with significant Black representation on television (Cosbys, Martin, Moesha, etc.).
  • “It didn’t seem like an impossible obstacle...it was trajecting upwards…We were happy to be on the train that was going.” (31:23)

• On Gender and Comedy Gatekeeping

  • Firmly rebukes the notion that "women aren't funny."
  • “Anyone who says women aren't funny are brain dead…Comedy is the most subjective thing on the planet...To say that women aren’t funny is crazy.” (75:35, 76:15)
  • Attributes much of his own success to women mentors in comedy.

5. Behind the Scenes: The SNL Experience

• Process and Pressure

  • Shares the nerves and anticipation before his first SNL episode.
  • “It hasn’t changed much…It’s always just counting backwards…11 hours until the show…Now there’s 10…” (68:24)
  • His first sketch was Bill Cosby – his own idea, and a formative success.

• The Joy (and Challenge) of Breaking On Air

  • Laughing during sketches ("breaking") is sometimes inevitable, especially when witnessing something fresh live.
  • “The live show is when everything comes together…That’s our first day of seeing the real vision…It was breaking everybody.” (63:59)
  • On striking a balance between professionalism and enjoying the moment.

6. Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Zoom-era interviews:
  "Zooming needs to go away…It was never quality, you know what I mean? The quality is in the energy." (02:34 – Kenan)

• On career setbacks:
  "I did audition and failed…Things go how they go. But, like, I've seen a lot of things that I've auditioned for or had the idea for and be like, see, man." (17:02 – Kenan)

• On the unknowability of breakout moments:
  "Nothing is necessarily guaranteed, but it's not impossible either." (26:01 – Kenan)

• On the privilege of ensemble:
  "The joy of the ensemble." (67:36 – Tiffany)

• On female mentors:
  “Maya, man. My sisters at the show...I started in a great era…They all kept our game, like, really fucking, like, don't come in here with no bullshit.” (71:16 – Kenan)

7. Fun and Lighthearted Moments

• On failing at a handshake and panicking:
  “And I took his hand and I panicked…I squeezed his hand and his hand went limp in mine...” (07:34 – Tiffany)

• On standout roles:

  • Host Tiffany played "rock #3" in Narnia: “I was rock number three…I was on stage the whole time." (21:22)

• On iconic Black sitcoms and representation:
  “The Parkers. Lord Parkers. Like, it was on fire, so it just felt like...we were happy to be on the train…” (31:47)

• Jumbotron rituals and crowd energy:
  "(Do you practice your Jumbotron reaction?) It depends...if they hype, I’ll get hype...it’s kind of a trade off." (05:47, 06:03 – Kenan)

• Kenan on teaching advice:
  “Try to write things down. There’s a whole lot of power in writing for some reason, as the Bible says.” (18:52)

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• [03:03] – Hosts reflect on growing up watching Kenan’s comedy
• [09:04] – On parenting in the public eye
• [13:01] – The significance of a multi-generational career
• [14:26] – Balancing multiple projects and handling failure
• [17:02] – Managing regret and rejection
• [26:54] – Encouraging his daughters in their interests
• [31:23] – Black representation on TV and its influence
• [45:14] – Admitting to disassociation and learning to review his own work
• [63:58] – Breaking on SNL and the unpredictability of live comedy
• [71:16] – SNL mentors and the importance of a strong ensemble

Noteworthy Quotes

On Subjective Nature of Comedy:

"Comedy is the most subjective thing on the planet...To say that women aren't funny is crazy."
— Kenan Thompson, [76:15]

On Creative Risks:

“Having a bunch of different things going lets you kind of relax on any one specific outcome.”
— Kenan Thompson, [14:26]

On Representation:

“It didn’t seem like an impossible obstacle...it was trajecting upwards.”
— Kenan Thompson, [31:23]

On Ensemble and Mentorship:

"I never enjoyed solo moments…I always enjoyed when the ensemble’s going."
— Kenan Thompson, [74:18]

Tone & Language

• The episode is hilarious, warm, and unfiltered, punctuated with the hosts’ authentic camaraderie.
• Kenan is humble, thoughtful, and generous with insights, seamlessly moving from funny anecdotes to meaningful reflections.
• The mood is consistently collaborative and uplifting, mirroring the ethos of sisterhood and community central to the podcast.

For New Listeners

This episode is a masterclass in comedic longevity, resilience, and collaboration—led by Kenan’s rare mix of vulnerability and humor. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to his work, you’ll find takeaways on creativity, staying grounded, and why laughter remains the best glue across generations.

[Listen to the full episode on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!]

(Timestamps above reference podcast audio.)