Yahoo News Allergic Michael Jackson and 'Toy Story' DMX: Kel Mitchell performs characters he did during failed 'SNL' audition
Kel Mitchell, now entering his third season as rapper extraordinaire Double G on Nickelodeon’s kids show Game Shakers, is perhaps best known for his work as a teen star in the ’90s. Beginning on All That, Mitchell’s high energy and natural timing made him a standout, which eventually led him to graduate from ensemble member to co-star of his own show, Kenan & Kel.
It’s well known that Mitchell’s Kenan & Kel co-star, Kenan Thompson, would eventually go from children’s television to Saturday Night Live (and would become its longest-tenured cast member in the process). What is less talked about is that Mitchell had the opportunity to join him. In 2003, Mitchell was one among several actors and comedians the variety show auditioned on their New York stage.
“I thought it was funny, it was crazy, though,” Mitchell told Yahoo Entertainment on Facebook Live this week. He shared with us a few of the characters he trotted out during the audition. One was rapper DMX if he was stuck in the world of Toy Story, and another was Michael Jackson if he was allergic to trees.
“At the time, I had these videos that I was doing, called Kel Videos Live,” Mitchell explained. “It was me playing different music artists, similar to Weird Al Yankovic, but hip-hop and R&B. I had a music video about Michael Jackson because remember when he did this interview and he was the trees? But I was like, what if he was allergic to trees. So it was a whole song about Michael Jackson being allergic to trees. I did that onstage too.”
Watch Kel Mitchell discuss his favorite Kenan Thompson sketch on SNL:
“It was crazy, I knocked over a table,” Mitchell continued with a laugh. “It was bananas — a lot of physicality. It was very funny. I can laugh about it now.”
The Game Shakers star said the reaction in the room was mixed, and that he’s not bitter about not making it on SNL. “There was some laughter, there was some ‘What the heck is going on?’” he said with a smile. “I think they were looking for a certain thing. I’m in a class with a lot of other guys. Jim Carrey auditioned too, and he’s awesome. I have no remorse about it.”
It turns out Mitchell was auditioning at the same time as Thompson, something Mitchell wasn’t aware was going to happen. “It’s funny,” he said. “I didn’t even know he was going to be there. It was me, DeRay Davis, J.B. Smoove, a lot of people. It was cool.”
Kel Mitchell’s Nickelodeon show Game Shakers returns for its third season on Saturday, Feb. 10.
Watch Kenan Thompson’s “What Up With That “sketch from SNL on Yahoo View:
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