“Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson is going back to his “All That” roots for his next project, “SKOOGLE,” the first major original series from new kids media brand pocket.watch — and he’s getting some of the old gang back together.
Thompson has rejoined forces with Albie Hecht, pocket.watch’s Chief Content Officer and the former president of Nickelodeon Entertainment, for a live-action kid-oriented sketch comedy show that celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of a generation that creates mobile apps before they get their driver’s licenses — and pokes some good, clean fun at the tech industry. Thompson, who created and executive produced the show, stars as the voice of SKOOGLE, a digital assistant that Hecht describes as “[Amazon’s] Alexa for kids,” which helps kids with some of their everyday problems.
Hecht was the development exec behind ’90s sketch show “All That,” which became a seminal part of Nickelodeon’s Saturday night lineup and launched the careers of Thompson, Kel Mitchell and Amanda Bynes, among others. Thompson and Mitchell’s “Good Burger” sketch led to a spinoff, “Kenan and Kel,” and a “Good Burger” movie. Fellow “All That” alum Josh Server is a co-producer along with “SlamBall’s” Mason Gordon.
Hecht told TheWrap that pocket.watch, which launched this March, is aiming to be the kind of entertainment brand for today’s age 2-11 demographic that has largely moved away from traditional linear television in favor of outlets like YouTube.
“There’s BuzzFeed and there’s Vice for the millennial space,” Hecht said. “Right now, there’s no real brand for this swipe-and-click generation that’s emerged in the same way.”
He added that sketch comedy was a natural fit for the kind of content pocket.watch wanted to introduce itself with.
“I’m looking out there and seeing a format that’s not represented at all,” Hecht said. “It’s a hit format that kids love and there’s nothing out there in the arena.”
And with Thompson in the fold, there was almost no one better to build a sketch show around. He is tied with Darrell Hammond for the longest-tenured cast member in the history of “SNL,” and especially shines during spontaneous reaction moments during the show’s skits.
“He’s really the platinum standard for sketch comedy,” Hecht said.
“SKOOGLE” is currently in production and pocket.watch is in talks with distributors, but nothing is set yet. Thompson is represented by UTA, Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano, and Michael Goldman.
Hecht said pocket.watch is nearly six months ahead of schedule in programming its slate, and the company is looking at both live action and animated shows to fill out its offerings. But he’s more than thrilled to reunite with an old friend to make “SKOOGLE” its first show.
“The exciting thing is to be able to create a set of characters that are resonant with kids for another generation,” Hecht said. “And celebrate kids’ entrepreneurial spirit.”
'SNL' 5-Timers Club: Most Frequent Hosts, From Alec Baldwin to Will Ferrell (Photos)
In the world of sketch comedy, there is no fraternity more prestigious than the "Saturday Night Live Five-Timers Club." Those who have proven their worthiness by hosting "SNL" five times are invited into an elite circle, where they don luxurious satin robes, smoke expensive cigars and, for their entertainment, watch current cast members fight to the death.
Not counting his many guest appearances to play guys like Donald Trump, Baldwin has hosted 16 times, passing Steve Martin's record in 2011. Martin was there that night to demand a surprise drug test.
The esteemed president of the Five-Timers Club was also the fastest to get to that milestone, hosting his fifth less than two years after hosting his first. In total, Martin has hosted fifteen times, most recently in 2009.
Hanks' fifth go-around as host in 1990 was what spawned the Five-Timers Club sketch. But now his most famous contribution to the series is definitely David S. Pumpkins. In April 2020, he also hosted remotely during the first "at home" edition during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.
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Buck Henry - 10
From 1976 to 1980, it was tradition for the "Heaven Can Wait" director to host the "SNL" season finale. In total, Henry hosted 10 episodes, including a Mardi Gras special.
The original anchor of "Weekend Update" hosted "SNL" eight times after being the first original cast member to leave in the middle of the show's second season.
Though we haven't seen her in a Five-Timers' robe, her portrait is in the club's luxurious quarters. She holds the record for youngest host ever, having appeared on the show at age 7 following the release of "E.T." in 1982.
Gould hosted the show five times in the '70s, but his sixth appearance was his last after being blindsided by the sudden departure of Lorne Michaels from the show in 1980.
Arguably the most famous "SNL" cast member among millennials, Tina Fey joined the Club in 2015 after a hosting career that included (and still includes) her famous Sarah Palin impression.
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Scarlett Johansson - 6
The actress made her fifth appearance in 2016, and kicked off her monologue by putting on a Five-Timers jacket handed to her by Kenan Thompson. (She hosted again with then-fiancé Colin Jost in December 2019.)
The pop star's fifth appearance in 2013 saw "SNL" bring back the "Five-Timers" sketch, as Timberlake's induction was celebrated with a brawl between cast members Bobby Moynihan and Taran Killam.
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Melissa McCarthy - 5
After a season of guest appearances as Donald Trump's White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, McCarthy grabbed her Five-Timers jacket in Season 42.
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The Rock - 5
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson hosted the finale of the 42nd season of "SNL"
Jonah Hill - 5
Hill's five appearances as host spanned a decade, with the first coming in 2008 and the fifth on Nov. 3, 2018.
Will Ferrell - 5
One of the most successful "SNL" alums of the '90s, Ferrell joined the club on Nov. 23, 2019. Among his most famous "SNL" bits were his George W. Bush impression and his recurring role as Alex Trebek on "Celebrity Jeopardy."
Paul Simon - 4
Technically, Simon only hosted four times, but he's been included in "Five-Timers Club" sketches since he was the musical guest on a fifth show. He also owns arguably the most emotional moment in the history of "SNL": his performance of "The Boxer" in the cold open of the first post-9/11 episode.
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TheWrap looks back at those who’ve joined the most elite club in sketch comedy
In the world of sketch comedy, there is no fraternity more prestigious than the "Saturday Night Live Five-Timers Club." Those who have proven their worthiness by hosting "SNL" five times are invited into an elite circle, where they don luxurious satin robes, smoke expensive cigars and, for their entertainment, watch current cast members fight to the death.