Kenan Thompson: Last News

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Minutes before “Saturday Night Live” was set to kick off Season 49 inside Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the show’s production team — led, of course, by executive producer Lorne Michaels — received word that two special guests were on their way. According to a source, that was when they learned that Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who were in New York City, wanted to drop by the show.

Travis Kelce made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live in a Fox NFL Sunday parody over the excessive coverage of Taylor Swift attending the Kansas City Chief games.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “Saturday Night Live” returned with host Pete Davidson on Saturday, and the first sketch of the night took on Taylor Swift/NFL mania, via a parody of Fox’s NFL Sunday team. As the anchors tried to outdo each other with their Swift fandom, the sketch ended with a cameo by Travis Kelce himself — the Kansas City Chiefs tight end at the center of the brouhaha.

Michaela Zee DreamWorks Animation is undergoing layoffs, cutting approximately 70 staffers from its workforce, Variety has learned. “DreamWorks Animation reduced its workforce by approximately 70 positions. Roles affected were across corporate functions, feature, television and technology departments as part of an overall cost-reduction,” a spokesperson for DreamWorks told Variety.

EXCLUSIVE: DreamWorks Animation is making cuts and slashing four percent of its staff. We understand that the cuts are due to the downward cyclical turn in the business, rising production costs and the strikes.

Jaden Thompson NBC has announced that Chloe Troast is joining the cast of “Saturday Night Live,” the only new comedian rounding out the show’s talent lineup for the coming year. Troast will make her “SNL” debut on Oct. 14, when the show’s 49th season premieres.

While Season 48 of Saturday Night Live was cut short by the writers strike in May, it’s looking like the iconic late-night show will be set for a full Season 49 this winter, and it could get underway soon.

McKinley Franklin editor Fresh off a headline-making reunion, NSYNC is back with its first release in nearly 20 years, “Better Place.” The single was released on Friday as part of the “Trolls Band Together” soundtrack. With 19 years passing since Justin Timberlake left the group and 10 since their last group performance, rumors about NSYNC reuniting at the VMAs came with reports of the group recording their now-revealed “Better Place” track part of the third “Trolls” installment. The film will follow Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Timberlake), who are officially a couple.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large As late night prepares to return to the airwaves post-WGA strike, that includes NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” Like “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” the sketch show also falls under the SAG-AFTRA Network Code contract, which is not a part of the guild’s current strike. That means the show, cast and crew are all in the clear to return to work once the WGA deal is finalized — or, at least, the WGA gives the all-clear for the writers to return to work. “Saturday Night Live” has been dark since April, as the WGA strike began at the start of May.

Saturday Night Live should get pretty much a full season after the writers and the studios reached an agreement to end the strike.

Paramount+ has set a Thanksgiving week release for Good Burger 2, the comedy sequel starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell. Good Burger 2 will premiere Wednesday, November 22, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S and Canada, on Thursday, November 23, 2023 on Paramount+ in the UK and Australia. The film will also be available in additional Paramount+ international markets shortly after.

Michaela Zee It’s all we’ve ever wanted! NSYNC has reunited for a new song in DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls Band Together,” a new trailer reveals. The new single “Better Place,” written by Justin Timberlake, is NSYNC’s first song in 20 years. Reports have been circulating for weeks about a potential NSYNC reunion between Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and Timberlake, who voices Branch in the animated feature.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor What does it take for the Emmy-nominated crew behind “Saturday Night Live” to build sets from start to finish? Thirty-six hours, plus “dedication and expertise,” according to production designer Andrea Purcigliotti. By the time Purcigliotti and fellow production designers Leo Yoshimura and Keith Raywood receive their script, it’s often late on a Wednesday night after the cast has gone through a table read. Then it’s off to the races.

Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell are back in action and heading to Paramount+!

Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell are once again riding the burger mobile in the first Good Burger 2 teaser. The duo is back at it again in the Paramount+ sequel 25 years after the original film was released.

Hunter Ingram The Emmys may be having an identity crisis over what constitutes a comedy these days, but one thing remains crystal clear about the Television Academy — voters still find the men of ”Saturday Night Live” irresistibly funny. For the second year in a row, the actor in a comedy series category is dominated by “SNL” alums. Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”), Bill Hader (“Barry”) and Martin Short (“Only Murders in the Building”) all made the cut for the 75th ceremony.

Robert Lieberman, who directed the sci-fi cult classic Fire in the Sky and won the inaugural DGA Award for Commercials, has died in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer. He was 75.

San Diego’s Comic Con is going to look a little different.Due to the actors and writer’s ongoing strikes — the first time the two unions have struck at the same time since 1960 — many big names won’t be headlining panels this year.Still, Comic Con marches on at the San Diego Convention Center from July 19-23.And while the stars aren’t going be out in full force per usual, many exciting screenings for shows like “Adventure Time,” “Riverdale,” “Archer,” “The Walking Dead” and “What We Do In The Shadows” are still scheduled to take place.Plus, there will be a conversation with the filmmakers behind “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.”Let’s not forget Dan Harmon’s new show “Krapopolis” either.Or an appearance from legendary “Sin City” and “Daredevil” artist Frank Miller.What we’re most excited about though is the news set to come out from the Con about “Good Burger 2” starring Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell and Lil Rel Howery.Clearly, there is a lot to going on — even without the talent on hand to promote it.Best of all though, fans can grab last-minute tickets before it’s too late.At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on four-day passes was $483 before fees on Vivid Seats.Single-day passes start at $313 before fees on Vivid Seats.Still need a bit more information before committing?Keep reading.Here’s everything you need to know and more about the 2023 San Diego Comic Con.All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.A complete breakdown of all single and multi-day San Diego Comic Con ticket prices can be found below.(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time.

Pete Davidson‘s mom, Amy Davidson, is devoted to her son — so devoted that she once made a burner account to clap back at trolls complaining about his Saturday Night Live performances.

Good Burger 2 is coming!

J. Kim Murphy A series of newly announced cast members are being welcomed to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger. Paramount+ and Nickelodeon Studios revealed Thursday morning that Josh Server, Lori Beth Denberg and Carmen Electra will reprise their roles from the 1997 nostalgic favorite for its upcoming sequel “Good Burger 2.” Joining the trio of returning actors alongside leads Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell are an expansive slate of newcomers. Lil Rel Howery will play Cecil McNevin, a lawyer from the suspiciously titled MegaCorp, while Jillian Bell will play Katt Boswell, the corporation’s CEO. Alex R. Hibbert will play Ed2, the doppelganger son to Mitchell’s Ed. Kamaia Fairburn, Fabrizio Guido, Anabel Graetz and twins Elizabeth and Emily Hinkler round out the cast playing the crew of Good Burger employees. Paramount+ and Nickelodeon Studios tease that additional celebrity cameo announcements are still on the horizon.