SNL Reunion: Samberg Gets Thompson to Nearly Crack Up

Andy Samberg returned to Saturday Night Live (SNL) for its 50th season, marking a reunion with his former co-star Kenan Thompson. In a recent episode, a sketch set in Late Renaissance Italy showcased Samberg and fellow alum Maya Rudolph as parents trying to impress a prince (played by Andrew Dismukes) through their son Antonio’s (hosted by Ariana Grande) extraordinary singing. While the sketch was an opportunity to highlight Grande's vocal prowess, the standout moment occurred when Thompson, acting as a lute player, raised his hand to ask a question. Samberg's response in an Italian accent—"Ah, yes-a, Kenan"—elicited huge laughter from the live audience and nearly broke Thompson’s character.

This reaction led Thompson to struggle to maintain his composure, which is rare for the seasoned performer. Samberg was part of the SNL cast from 2005 to 2012, while Thompson has held the record for the longest tenure, joining the show in 2003 and racking up 22 seasons. Rudolph, who joined in 2000, overlapped with Thompson for five seasons, and the trio worked together from October 2005 until Rudolph left in November 2007.

Samberg, who has previously discussed his mental and physical health struggles during his later years on SNL, made his return after a cameo in 2018. In the season 50 premiere, he played second gentleman Doug Emhoff in a political cold open alongside Rudolph, who reprised her role as Kamala Harris. They were joined by fellow SNL veterans Dana Carvey and Jim Gaffigan, who have participated in every episode of the new season, including a "Family Feud" cold open in the episode featuring Grande.

In a conversation on Hart to Heart with Kevin Hart, Samberg expressed his deep admiration for Thompson, noting how he consistently impresses audiences. "I still watch the show and can predict his moves, but it always makes me laugh," Samberg remarked. He challenged anyone to point out a moment when Thompson didn’t get a laugh, highlighting his remarkable ability to deliver every time.

For more anecdotes from his SNL days, Samberg appears on The Lonely Island & Seth Meyers Podcast with his long-time collaborators Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, along with former "Weekend Update" anchor Seth Meyers.