In his new book, Kenan Thompson shares stories from his life and career, like his early days at SNL, his estrangement from his longtime co-star Kel Mitchell, and how he was conned by an accountant, lost all of his Nickelodeon money and had to file for bankruptcy. "It's humbling when people in the McDonald's drive-thru line recognize you, and then they also recognize that you're paying for a meal with change," he tells Tonya Mosley. His new book is When I Was Your Age. Also, John Powers reviews the documentary Anselm. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
On the Ted Radio hour, linguist Ann Curzan says she gets a lot of complaints about people using the pronoun they to refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is the history behind words causing a lot of debate.
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This is FRESH AIR.
I'm Tanya Moseley.
Comedian and actor Kenan Thompson is often referred to as the glue that holds Saturday Night Live together.
He's been on SNL for 21 seasons, making him the longest running cast member in the show's history with his popular bank of characters like Darnell Hayes, the fictitious host of Black Jeopardy, or DeAndre Cole, the game show host who sings what's up with that?
What's up with that?
What's up with that?
What's up with that?
What's up with that?
What's up with that?
Kenan has, Keenan has entertained us for most of his life, first acting in commercials starting at just five years old and later on Nickelodeon with shows like all that and Kenan and Kell, of course, that's the story most of us know.
In his new book, Keenan takes us behind the curtain, revealing for the first time stories that he's never shared before, like a dark financial period in the early two thousands that almost ruined him, the time he thought about giving up acting altogether and what really happened between him and his longtime co star Kel Mitchell.
Keenan Thompson's new book is called when I was your life lessons, funny stories and questionable parenting advice from a professional clown.
He currently stars in the animated musical comedy film Trolls band together as the voice of Tiny diamond and as the co star of Good Burger Two with Kel Mitchell.
Saturday Night Live is also back for its 49th season.
Keenan Thompson, welcome back to FReSh Air.
Thank you very much.