Kenan Thompson reflects on his rift with Good Burger co-star Kel Mitchell and their reunion for sequel film: ‘It’s great to be back with my brother’

Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell and back together for the Good Burger sequel, 26 years after last starring together in the original comedy film.

During an appearance on Today, the Saturday Night Live star confirmed that the duo did in fact have a ‘falling out’ over the years, and that it took a simple phone call and five minutes for them to move on and become friends once again.

‘It was more of a separation that kind of grew into the traditional terms of what a falling out is, which is like not a lot of communication,’ Thompson, 45, told Hoda Kotb. 

When explaining how they became estranged, the comedian and actor said it all started with the each of them waiting their own identity after starring together on two shows and then the first Good Burger (1997) film.

‘Originally, it was just us kind of looking for our own individualism, basically, as adults, taking a breather from being a duo because we both came into the game as individuals,’ Thompson continued.

Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchel, both 45, reunited after 26 years and a ‘falling out’ to star in Good Burger 2, which dropped on Paramount+ on November 22

Thompson said he and Mitchell played phone tag for one day before they finally connected with each other. 

‘We were placed together because we worked so well together and all that. It was just a journey of being adults,’ the Toledo, Ohio native added. ‘Time passes and more time passes and it just became ridiculous.’

After so much time had already passed, neither of the duo ‘couldn’t even remember’ why they were angry in the first place.

‘When you have a real friendship, it was five minutes into the phone call, we were back,’ the former Kenan star recalled. ‘It was like, “What were we waiting on all this time?” You just never really know until you actually have that talk. It’s also time wasted, which is one of the biggest crimes I think you can do in life, is just waste time.’

Thompson made a point of sharing about how good things have gone with Mitchell as they both look towards the future. 

‘It feels so good to be back with my brother and the movie is doing well. We’re so appreciative, looking forward to the next chapters,’ he said on Today, before adding, ‘It was just so natural, just fun, to work with my brother and just laugh all day.’

Thompson and Mitchell were first put together when they were both 15 to star in the Nickelodeon comedy sketch series All That (1994-1999).

One year after All That, the two friends were put together to work side by side again on the Nickelodeon sitcom Kenan And Kel (1996-2000), which aired for four seasons.

Mitchell and Thompson starred in Good Burger (1997), which actually grew out of sketch from All That, was a financial hit, grossing $23.7 million against a budget of $8 million

Set 26 years after the original, and Mitchell and Thompson are back as Ed and Dexter in the long-awaited sequel Good Burger 2

During the making of the sitcom the comedians starred in the teen comedy film Good Burger (1997), which actually grew out of one of Mitchell’s sketches from All That.

While initially receiving mixed reviews, the comedy film went on to become a financial success, grossing $23.7 million against a budget of $8 million.

Over the years since its release in 1997, the original film slowly but surely became a hit with fans enough that its began to garner a cult following.

After putting their differences aside and embracing each other as friends again, Mitchell reprises his role as Ed and Thompson as Dexter.

Set 26 years after the events of the first time, which appears to the real time, Dexter (Thompson) has quit Good Burger in the hopes of becoming a successful entrepreneur, according to Wikipedia.

‘It was more of a separation that kind of grew into the traditional terms of what a falling out is, which is like not a lot of communication,’ Thompson, 45, told Hoda Kotb on Today of his falling out with Mitchell; the actor and comedian is pictured in a scene from Good Burger 2

Thompson and Mitchell let it be knwon they were back as Dexter and Ed when they appeared at the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 23, 2023 in New York City

But in the end, his idea ends up going up in flames, both literally and figuratively, after his latest invention, a spray that can make any material flame-retardant, backfires and burns down his own home.

Left without a home and business, Dexter heads back to Good Burger where he finds Ed, who happily allows him to stay at his home for the meantime.

Good Burger 2 was released on November 22, 2023, and is now streaming on the Paramount+ service.

Thompson also shares about his falling out and reunion with Mitchell in his new memoir When I Was Your Age: Life Lessons, Funny Stories & Questionable Parenting From A Professional Clown.