Kenan & Kel: The Youngest Comic Nick Stars in the 90s
Before Nick stars Drake Bell and Josh Peck show Drake & Josh during the 2000s.
There was a duo that came long before their time and had a hit sitcom on Nickelodeon called Kenan & Kel but before that they were the kids that were on All That, a sketch comedy series for younger audiences. After their show ended, the two went off their venturous ways to do their individual projects and later reunited working together on new projects.
The Story of Kenan and Kel
Early Years
Kenan Thompson was born on May 10, 1978 in Columbus, Ohio to his parents are Fletcher and Elizabeth Ann Thompson. He has two siblings: an older brother and a younger sister. His family moved to Atlanta, Georgia when he was 9 months old. Thompson’s mother enrolled him in acting classes at age five and landed the role as Toto in The Wiz at his church production.
Kel Johari Rice Mitchell was born on August 25, 1978 in Chicago, Illinois to his parents: James and Marieth Mitchell. He participated in Chicago Vocational High School and took drama classes at the ETA Creative Arts Foundation.
The Kids of All That
It started off when Dan Schneider friend Brain Robbins made a television pitch on creating a comedy sketch series for Nickelodeon with the help of Schneider as the head writer and Mike Tollin helping develop the show. Kind of like Saturday Night Live for a younger audience. Before Kenan and Kel were booked on the show, Thompson was on a Disney comedy film Heavyweights playing as a chubby kid at a weight loss camp. Thompson’s performance in the film garnered the attention of Robbins and Tollin. As for Mitchell, he never had any acting experience for film and television. Mitchell was in his sophomore year in high school and heard about the auditions for All That. Although he didn’t do the monologue for the show, the casting directors made him impersonation. They were so impressed with Mitchell’s impersonation and just like that Angelique Bates, Lori Beth Denberg, Katrina Johnson, Kel Mitchell, Alisa Reyes, Josh Server, and Kenan Thompson were cast in All That.
All That premiered on April 16, 1994. The show was hit receiving mixed reviews but became popular for the younger audiences.
“There was no doubt from the first time we met him that he’d be an asset to our cast. And pairing him with Kel Mitchell was magic.”
Michael Tollin (co-creator of All That) tells The Hollywood Reporter.
It’s Time for Kenan & Kel
After spending seasons on All That, Film writer and television producer Kim Bass thought of creating a buddy sitcom this time starring All That cast mates Kenan and Kel. So if you are thinking it is Dan Schneider created the show, it’s not. He only produced the show. The show set in the Southside of Chicago of two best friends: Thompson portrays as grocery store working Kenan Rockmore while Mitchell portrays as Kenan’s orange soda loving dim witted best friend Kel Kimble. Put it together: it’s Kenan & Kel. The show premiered on July 15, 1996.
