It’s been awhile since Kenan Thompson entertained kids and families for a living, but I’m guessing he’ll have no trouble finding his rhythm again when he hosts “Hub Network’s First Annual Halloween Bash.”
The Saturday Night Live funnyman, known for recurring characters like the would-be Scared Straight criminal who steals all of his hard-luck stories from movie plots, and “Weekend Update” fixture Jean K. Jean, got his big break clowning around on Nickelodeon’s kid-friendly ’90s sketch show All That. He then found success partnering up with fellow cast member Kel Mitchell for Kenan & Kel and the feature film Good Burger before moving on to more grown-up fare.
And even though the Fat Albert star has worked hard to distance himself from kiddie shows — aside from popping up occasionally as the voice of a Smurf — it’s easy to see how he just couldn’t resist hanging with The Hub. He’ll get to preside over a nationwide Halloween costume contest, for which Martha Stewart will be among the judges. Not only that, but there will be other celebrity presenters and musical acts to ring in the spooky holiday the way only a gaggle of enthusiastic kiddos can.
Not only that, but given that the bash airs on a Saturday, Thompson could end up owning both cable and broadcast that night, since Saturday Night Live will be back in season by then. This go-round will be Thompson’s 11th with the late-night NBC staple.
Now about that contest. Those who think they’ve got what it takes to be one of the 50 finalists — one from each state will be selected — head to hubworld.com/halloween to get a tutorial on how to enter the costume contest, which is accepting entries through Sept. 29. The winner will take home $25,000 and have the chance to earn a walk-on role in an episode of R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour.
Hub Network’s First Annual Halloween Bash airs 8-10pm Saturday, Oct. 26, on The Hub Network.
Photo: Courtesy of The Hub Network
