WATN: Kenan & Kel

Who loves orange soda? K-K-K-Kel loves orange soda! Is it true? Mmm Hmm! I do I do I do I do-ooo! – Genius.

We know you all lie awake at night pondering the mysteries of the universe, the sodding “current economic climate” and why McG was allowed anywhere near a Terminator film, but here at Comedy Central we can’t help but agonise over the real matters.

Whatever happened to those two cheeky rascals from 90’s show, Kenan & Kel?  Did Kel ever have too much orange soda?  Was Goodburger the last burger Kenan ever endorsed?  And more importantly, did Kel really die in a car crash?  Well my friend, read on to find out… Awww here it goes!

"Whyyyyyyyy?!"

Kenan Thompson’s first solo foray into this business we call ‘show’ was in 1994 in ice-hockey movie franchise D2: The Mighty Ducks as Russ Tyler, but it was on Nickelodeons’ sketch/variety show All That where Kenan met Kel and they first shot to fame.

The two got on like the proverbial house on fire and their on-screen chemistry, reminiscent of the classic comedic double-acts such as Laurel and Hardy, was soon recognised and earned them their own spin-off show Kenan & Kel in 1996.

The premise of the show, to quote Coolio’s theme tune to the show: “Kenan be scheming, with a plan or a plot, to make it to the top, but they’re kinda in the middle cause they’re always getting caught.”

Simple enough, just throw in a dim-witted, orange soda loving, friend and you’ve got a sure fire hit!

Four seasons, 61 episodes and a movie later, Kenan & Kel were synonymous with Nickelodeon and all things chaotic, but the show ceased to be in 2000 and the duo parted ways, after one last hoorah voicing characters in 2000’s The Adventures of Rock and Bullwinkle.

Since leaving the show Kenan has stayed somewhat in the limelight over the pond in the U.S, landing various voice-over work and securing a role in 2006’s airborne slither-fest Snakes on a Plane.

For most Americans though, he is probably more recognised today as a cast member of long-running late-night comedy show, Saturday Night Live.
Thompson can proudly boast being the first cast member to be born after the show’s premiere in 1975 and is also the only black member.

He is lined up to voice the character of ‘Sue Sezno’ in Fox’s upcoming cartoon series Sit Down, Shut Up.

And the news you’re all dying to hear…KEL IS ALIVE!

According to his myspace, Kel today is an Actor-Screen Writer-Songwriter-Dancer-Executive Producer-Model-Business Man & Motivational Speaker…phew!

When their ‘comedy’ show ended, Kel Mitchell also found himself voicing cartoon characters, making an appearance in a Kanye West video and appearing in various not-so-successful TV shows and movies, most notably Mystery Men and…ahem…Like Mike 2: Streetball.

It seems though, as of late, that Kel has made a move more off-screen than his comedic counterpart, writing, producing and also starring in Chicago Pulaski Jones- a comedy about “a young championship dancer seeking fortune and fame, forced to avenge the death of his uncle” – sounds a bit like Save the Last Dance meets Get Carter to us.

So there you have it, the little rascals seem to be doing quite well for themselves but if things take a turn for the worst at least they can make a few bucks selling orange soda…