‘Look At How Bright Those Are!’ Kenan Thompson Talks Being On The SNL Stage With Eddie Murphy (And Will Ferrell’s Booty Shorts)

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Even though many cast members have left Saturday Night Live, Kenan Thompson remains with the show. Having joined in 2003, he’s starting his 23rd season – an impressive run for the show’s 51st season on television in 2026. He has no plans to leave anytime soon, but even after so many years on SNL, he still gets excited when working with legendary former cast members like Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell (and remembers Ferrell’s famous booty shorts!).

SNL’s three-hour 50th anniversary celebration special last year brought out the big guns, with dozens of past cast members, hosts, and musical guests, bringing back plenty of old fan-favorite sketches. One of those sketches was “Scared Straight,” which made its debut in 2008 and hadn’t been seen since 2012. It was one of two sketches that Thompson did with Murphy, along with Black Jeopardy. While on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Thompson praised Murphy, calling him legendary and recalling how he never thought he’d be close to him, let alone acting with him. And when it came to “Scared Straight,” he was still singing his praises:

I really enjoy Eddie Murphy, and this is the second sketch he’s doing tonight! He could have just relaxed and watched, but he wanted to participate and perform.

Eddie Murphy is definitely one of the most well-known comedians to come from Saturday Night Live. He created many iconic characters, like Gumby and Mr. Robinson, so it was a huge moment for Kenan Thompson to appear in two sketches with him during the show’s anniversary celebration. While Murphy hosted SNL in 2019, giving them some prior experience together, Thompson still finds working with him incredibly exciting, and it’s easy to understand why.

Kenan Thompson also shared the stage with comedy icon Will Ferrell during the “Scared Straight” sketch. Thompson remembers Ferrell arriving for the sketch wearing a surprisingly hilarious costume – specifically, booty shorts – and the memory still makes him laugh.

Then Will Ferrell walks in wearing very short shorts. Notice how pale and highlighted his legs are – really bright legs!

Will Ferrell is famous for his memorable costumes during his time on Saturday Night Live. He famously altered his outfit for the well-known “Cowbell” sketch between rehearsals and the live show. But for the “Scared Straight” sketch, he chose to wear booty shorts, which was a definite highlight of the night and likely helped everyone relax a bit.

It’s a dream come true for Thompson to work with comedy legends like Murphy and Ferrell, and he clearly appreciates the opportunity. He’s optimistic about continuing with the show for many years to come, and fans are hoping this won’t be the last time we see all three of them share a scene together – hopefully not for another decade!

You can watch Thompson perform with the current cast on new episodes of Saturday Night Live every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. on NBC, or by subscribing to Peacock.

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2026-01-16 22:38