NEED TO KNOW Kenan Thompson is hinting that "a lot of change" may be on the horizon for Saturday Night Live's 51st season The show recently wrapped its milestone 50th season earlier this month Thompson is the sketch comedy series' longest-tenured cast member, having been on SNL for 22 seasons Saturday Night Live fans may have to brace themselves for major change ahead. Kenan Thompson, the longest-tenured cast member in the iconic sketch comedy series' history, hinted at possible changes to come as he called the end of the milestone 50th season earlier this month "bittersweet." "Especially this year where it feels like there's maybe, possibly, a lot of change next year," the Nickelodeon alum, 47, said in an interview with Page Six, addressing speculation of which stars will return for season 51 or depart beforehand.
"You want everyone to stay forever, knowing that people may be making decisions over the summer … it's always like you want your kids to stay young," he added. Kenan Thompson on 'Saturday Night Live'. Will Heath/NBC "You just never know what the future holds," Thompson continued.
"I don't want to be in the way of someone else or I don't want to be the stale old man riding the same thing. That doesn't really happen that much at SNL but there's no guarantees, I guess." Thompson, who joined the show in 2003 and has been a cast member for 22 seasons, previously opened up about his future on the show.
"It would be cool if I never left the show. That'd be crazy," he told Entertainment Weekly. "I guess the only other milestone would be just to be the forever cast member.
Just never leave the show." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Also, in an interview with PEOPLE earlier this year, Thompson revealed what keeps him coming back to SNL season after season, calling it "hands down" the best job in television.
Kenan Thompson at 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special'. NBC/Noam Galai/NBC via Getty "It's crazy because most people do eight [seasons] max, you know what I mean? Or 12.
But it's a one-of-a-kind place," he said. "It's the people in front and behind that embrace it, need it. So when they call me, what, am I not supposed to oblige the greatest job in the world?
So it's out of love." Thompson added, "What a blessing it is to have steady employment." Saturday Night Live is expected to return for season 51 this fall on NBC.
In the meantime, the series can be streamed on Peacock.
