Since I can remember, my family had been a fan of Saturday Night Live. By default, I would ultimately become a fan as well. Over the years, there have been some classic ensemble casts that make you want to run out to your nearest electronics store and purchase that season if it’s available. Luckily, network executives have gotten smart and now forego whole seasons on DVD. Instead, they highlight the one shining star, compile all his or her seasons’ work on one DVD, and sell it to the masses. Because of this, I have never been more happy to watch Eddie Murphy as Buckwheat sing “Una Panoona Bunka” and as Tyrone Green singing “Kill De White People“ over and over again. Likewise with Will Ferrell and just about anything he does (”Strategery“!).

Somewhere in the midst of my college years, SNL stopped being funny. Oh, there were a few sparkling moments in between (“D*ck in a Box“ being the most recent). But nothing that made you want to stomach sitting through an entire episode. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey were the saving grace to Weekend Update, but then Tina left for some strange reason, and things went back to crappy business as usual.

Admittedly, Lorne Michaels and crew have thanked the comedy gods for Sarah Palin who may have single-handedly brought viewers - and Tina Fey - back to the show. I know that’s been my reason, and I have not been disappointed.

After Eddie Murphy, though, SNL has had a tough time with Black comics. They either don’t have the ability to be funny on SNL, can only be funny if they are given the freedom to say what they want outside of SNL, or just plain old aren’t funny to begin with. One of the comics that has come to survive the past few years, surprisingly, is Kenan Thompson. Who knew the pudgy kid from Nickelodeon’s Kenan and Kel was able to handle adult humor?! He is a riot if given the proper material. In the list of traits I love about comedians, silent humor has to be a big one. Making people laugh without opening your mouth is a hard thing to do. And deadpans and facial contortions are the most underestimated, underused talent in the industry. This is why I loved Kenan on Nickelodeon. While Kel was the physical humor, Kenan was the straight man. The deadpan, glazed over, bug-eyed looking straight man. Kids loved it and they got it, which is rare. I was afraid it wouldn’t translate into a large medium such as SNL, but he’s proving otherwise.

Here is a brief snippet (4:30) of his latest from last Thursday’s Weekend Update special: