The series follows a widowed dad living in Atlanta named Kenan who is trying to balance his life at home with his two young daughters and his flourishing career at a top network morning news show, according to the series’ synopsis. Still coping with the death of his wife, Kenan gets some help from his brother and his rolling-stone of a father-in-law, both of whom often share their opinions on how he should be moving forward in his life, more than Kenan probably wants to hear. Also they all often clash over the appropriate parenting style for the little girls Kenan has to raise without their mother.
While Thompson’s appeared on TV as a member of SNL’s cast for the past 17 years, Kenan marks the actor’s move back into the world of family-friendly TV. Before he became the longest-tenured cast member in SNL history—he joined back in 2003—Thompson was cast as Russ in Disney’s D2: The Mighty Ducks in 1994 and 1996’s subsequent D3: The Mighty Ducks.
After catching Nickelodeon’s attention, Thompson was cast in a lead role opposite Kel Mitchell in the sitcom Kenan & Kel, which aired on the network from 1996 to 2000. That led to even bigger opportunities for Thompson including the big-screen feature Good Burger—in which Thompson and Mitchell stared as fast-food employees desperate to save their beloved burger joint—and a spot on the cast of All That, Nickelodeon’s variety series, which essentially paved his way to SNL.
As for Thompson’s newest show, he isn’t the only one with an impressive TV résumé on the cast. See who all was tapped to star in NBC’s new sitcom Kenan below.
Rick
Don Johnson is set to star as Rick, Kenan’s father-in-law who comes to help the single dad following his wife’s death. Having worked as a musician for most of his life, Rick wasn’t exactly receiving any dad-of-the-year awards from his daughter. However, he attempts to make up for the time he lost with his own child by being there for his grandchildren.
Johnson played lead roles in prime-time hits like Miami Vice and Nash Bridges. More recently, he appeared in HBO’s award-winning series Watchman and the box office comedy smash, Knives Out.
Gary
Thompson’s fellow SNL cast member Chris Redd joins him in Kenan as the news anchor’s brother, who is also Kenan’s assistant, manager and permanent house guest.
Redd joined SNL as a featured player back in 2017 and has served as a regular cast member for the past three seasons. He’s appeared in dozens of sketches and skits on SNL alongside Kenan, and the duo even picked up a 2018 Emmy for their work on the SNL song, “Come Back, Barack.” Redd’s also made appearances in several films, including Joker, Vampires vs. the Bronx and most recently the horror flick Scare Me.
Aubrey and Birdie
Dani and Dannah Lane, who are sisters in real life, will star as sisters in Kenan as well. Dani and Dannah Lane will play Thompson’s daughters, the smart and rambunctious Aubrey and predictable Birdie, respectively.
Dani Lane appeared in a guest role on Brooklyn Nine-Nine in 2020 while this upcoming spot marks the first TV series appearance for Dannah Lane.
Mika
Kimrie Lewis will play the role of Mika, the ambitious executive producer behind Kenan’s morning news show and the widowed father’s potential new love interest.
Before Kenan, Lewis made appearances in sitcoms including Superstore and Single Parents.
Kenan premieres on NBC on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
