Key Highlights:
- Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell have reunited after years of limited communication following their rise through Nickelodeon and Good Burger.
- The comedy duo has launched Orange Pop!, a free-to-play puzzle mobile game inspired by the Kenan & Kel universe.
- Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell are developing a feature project, Kenan & Kel Meet Frankenstein, and the comic book series Kenan & Kel Meet Zombies.
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell explain their long separation
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell became major Nickelodeon stars in the 1990s through their sitcom Kenan & Kel, which ran until 2001, and the 1997 cult comedy Good Burger. Although the pair became one of entertainment’s best-known comedy partnerships, they later spent an extended period apart amid reported tension and reduced communication.
Speaking about the relationship on The Today Show, Kenan Thompson compared their estrangement to a romantic separation, which he said can involve ‘not a lot of communication’. Thompson explained that both performers initially needed space to establish themselves independently as adults after being closely identified as a duo.
“Originally, it was just us, you know, kind of looking for our own individualism, basically, as adults, and kind of just taking a breather from, you know, being a duo, because we both came into the game as individuals, and you know, we were placed together because we worked so well together,”
Thompson said the distance continued as their adult lives progressed, eventually becoming unnecessarily prolonged. After he called Mitchell to apologize, the two briefly missed each other’s calls before reconnecting.
“And, yeah, it was just the journeys of being adults. And then, you know, time passes and more time passes, it just became ridiculous. And then I called to apologise and we played phone tag for like, a day or something. It was five minutes into the phone call and we were back. “
Reflecting on the conversation, Thompson questioned why they had waited so long to address the issue and described the time apart as lost time. He said he was pleased to be working with Mitchell again and looking ahead to future projects.
“What were we waiting on all this time? But like, you just never really know until you actually have that talk,”
“It’s time wasted, which is one of the biggest crimes I think you can do. So it feels so good to be back with my brother and the movies. We’re looking forward to the next chapters.”
What Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell did after Nickelodeon
During the years when Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell pursued separate careers, Thompson joined and later left Saturday Night Live. He also appeared in films including Snakes On a Plane, Hubie Halloween with Adam Sandler, The Smurfs and Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Mitchell developed credits in projects such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Dancing with the Stars, Henry Danger and The Thundermans. In 2019, he turned toward religious work and became a youth pastor at Spirit Food Christian Center in Los Angeles.
Orange Pop! expands the Kenan & Kel universe
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell reunited in 2023 for a sequel to Good Burger. This summer, they continued their collaboration with the launch of Orange Pop!, a free-to-play puzzle mobile game designed around the duo’s energetic comedic style.
Mitchell previewed the game in an interview with PEOPLE in June, promising hidden content and surprises for players.
“We’re excited to have our own game out. When fans play, it’s a lot of surprises that are inside of it too that you’re going to love. You’re gonna unlock stuff in there. A lot of fun secrets.”
Kenan Thompson also described the game as distinctive and designed to be enjoyable for fans, while acknowledging that players could become highly engaged with it.
“As it goes on, you might get addicted. But we want everyone to play and have fun. It’s a good time. It looks different than anything that I’ve seen out there.”
Mitchell said Orange Pop! represents another step in broadening the partnership beyond its original television and film work.
“I’m really excited because it’s helping to open up the Kenan & Kel universe, as we come into our adult performer united things. It’s just another step down that road to mogulness.”
Why This Matters
The renewed partnership between Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell shows how the Kenan & Kel brand is being extended across film, mobile gaming and comics after the duo’s 2023 reunion. Their work on Orange Pop! gives fans a new way to engage with the characters and comedic identity associated with the pair, while their planned projects indicate that the collaboration is continuing beyond a single reunion appearance.
The next projects in development are Kenan & Kel Meet Frankenstein, a feature project, and Kenan & Kel Meet Zombies, a comic book series. The source does not provide release dates for either project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell stop working together?
Thompson said they were seeking individual identities as adults and taking a break from being a duo. He also said that time passed and their limited communication continued longer than necessary.
What is Orange Pop!?
Orange Pop! is a free-to-play puzzle mobile game created around Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell’s comedic style, with unlockable content and secrets for players.
What are Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell working on next?
They are developing the feature project Kenan & Kel Meet Frankenstein and the comic book series Kenan & Kel Meet Zombies.