Kenan Thompson Talks Nickelodeon's "Kenan & Kel" And "iParty"

From MSN TV On MSN UK:

Kenan Thompson talks Kenan & Kel and Nickelodeon's iParty

What's Nickelodean favourite Kenan Thompson been up to since the end of his smash hit 1990s sitcom, Kenan & Kel? The answer is - a great deal.

Since 2003, he's been a cast member of America's iconic comedy sketch series, Saturday Night Live. In addition, Kenan has taken on numerous film and TV roles.

He returns to Nickelodeon, the place where it all started, for iParty (as shown in the picture).

In the 90-minute special, the casts of popular teen shows iCarly and Victorious combine for the first time ever. Believe me, for fans of either (or both) - this is a huge TV event. It will be broadcast on Nickelodeon on 7 October.

No time like the present to find out what Kenan Thompson has to say about Kenan & Kel, Saturday Night Live and iParty.

Are you surprised at the love still shown around the world for Kenan & Kel?
I was really surprised when they decided to put Kenan & Kel back on the Nickelodeon networks. I’d seen all the fans’ requests for it to be back on air, which is always nice. I feel really flattered. Now the show is back on air I get recognised everyday.

I get recognised about six times on the way to work and I have started to drive with the windows up so people can’t see in!

Are you still in touch with any of the Kenan & Kel cast?
Yes, my family on the show, the girl who played my sister, my mum and dad on the show all came to my wedding recently.

Do you have a favourite Kenan & Kel memory?
I don’t have one favourite memory in particular, I actually have several favourite moments. One I do remember clearly is in a Tower episode where we had to hang out on some scaffolding about five feet off the ground, but we had to pretend it was much higher up. It was still kind of scary though as we had to mess around on it, but it was still fun to me.

How does it feel to be part of Saturday Night Live, a show that has launched so many comedy legends?
It feels great to be part of Saturday Night Live and it is definitely a blessing for me to be there! I love doing all the impressions, and all my favourite sketches are designed to be high energy, plus I’m involved in playing many different characters.

How does it feel to be returning to Nickelodeon screens for iParty?
It feels really great and I felt very nostalgic to be back on a Nickelodeon set. I was very excited to be with both the iCarly and Victorious casts, as they are such great shows. It was an interesting experience, but I did feel old being surrounded by young Nickelodeon stars!

What was it like working with the cast from both Victorious & iCarly?
It was great working with both the casts from Victorious & iCarly. They were so professional, especially considering they are so young. They are ten times more professional than I was at their age.

Can you tell us about your role in iParty?
In iParty I play the role of the celebrity version of myself. I loan out my “mansion” for them all to have a party. And I crash the party that I allowed them to have at my own house. Then I run around like crazy with them.

What was your favourite children’s TV show growing up?
I’m an '80s kid so I love a lot of the '80s kids shows. For example, Diff'rent Strokes (a family sitcom about a rich white Manhattan family that adopt the children of their late African American maid), I also really enjoyed Facts of Life, which was set in a girls’ boarding school.

Any future project plans you can tell us about?
Yes, I worked with Morgan Freeman over the summer for a couple of days which was really cool. It was for a new film called Summer at Dog Dave’s, in which I play his nephew. It is about an author who has really bad writers block and he goes to stay at a place called Dog Dave’s house. He befriends a single mother and all her kids whilst he is there.

Watch Kenan Thompson in the TV crossover, iParty, on Friday 7 October at 6pm only on Nickelodeon! Nick.co.uk

Leave It All To Shine, featuring Miranda Cosgrove and Victoria Justice, available to download now.

Nickelodeon UK To Premiere New "Victorious" Episode "Ice Cream for Ke$ha" On 17th October 2011

Below is a high quality high-definition (HD) streaming video of Nickelodeon UK's latest "New Episodes Of Victorious" episodic trailers to advertise the premiere of the third brand new episode of "Victorious" called "Ice Cream for Ke$ha" on Monday 17th October 2011 at 6pm on Nickelodeon UK, Nickelodeon Ireland, and Nickelodeon HD UK and 7pm on Nick Replay as part of "Victorious Takes Over Nickelodeon Month" on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland, Nickelodeon UK HD and Nick Replay.

Victorious- Ice Cream for Ke$ha, Allan Blatch from Allan Blatch on Vimeo.

Brand New Victorious 'Ice Cream for Kesha' 30" promo edited, produced and written by Allan Blatch for Nickelodeon UK. Graphics by Pixel DNA; Voiced by Jenny Gannon, Audio by Jungle Group.

You can find more information about "Victorious Month On Nickelodeon UK and Ireland" here.

Nickelodeon UK To Show "Victorious Nicksclusive" On 14th October 2011

According to the official Nickelodeon UK website, Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon UK HD will premiere a brand new episode of "Nicksclusive!" which will go behind-the-scenes of the Nickelodeon live action show "Victorious" on Friday 14th October 2011 at 7.44pm, straight after Nick UK and Ireland and Nick UK HD premieres the movie "Fred: The Movie" at 6pm (5.59pm):

7:44pm Nicksclusive It's on Nick, and it's exclusive, which science tells us must mean it's a Nicksclusive! Today, behind the scenes at Victorious.

Nickelodeon UK To Premiere Seasons Three And Four Of "Winx Club" In Early 2012

According to this news article on brand licensing news website Licensing.biz, Nickelodeon UK and Ireland is planning to premiere seasons three and four of the animated series "Winx Club" in early 2012.

Nickelodeon UK is currently airing a compacted version of the first two series in four 90-minute specials. It will premiere series three and four in early 2012. A new CGI animation is in development and due to air in autumn/winter 2012, when the consumer products range is due to launch.

Nickelodeon Consumer Product's "Winx Club" Drive Bolstered By Strong Viewing

From Licensing.biz:

NCP's Winx Club drive bolstered by strong viewing figures

September on air debut is a success, with 212,200 viewers tuning in since launch.

Nickelodeon Consumer Products' new girls property, Winx Club, has got off to a strong start on-air, in turn giving the licensing programme a boost.

The show launched in September on Nickelodeon and was the number two rated show on the channel for its launch weekend, plus the number one show for girls aged seven to 15, boosting ratings by 58 per cent.

Since launch 212,200 viewers have tuned in.

Having bought the rights to the property last year, Nickelodeon revoiced the existing content with in-house talent - including Kiki Palmer from True Jackson and Ariana Grande from Victorious - adding new themes and songs.

Nickelodeon UK is currently airing a compacted version of the first two series in four 90-minute specials. It will premiere series three and four in early 2012. A new CGI animation is in development and due to air in autumn/winter 2012, when the consumer products range is due to launch.

Jakks is the toy partner for markets including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, among other international territories. NCP is planning to expand the programme significantly over the coming months.

"It's great to see Winx Club being so well received by target audiences," said Mark Kingston, VP UK & Australia and pan-European retail development, NCP. "This bodes well for the show's licensing programme and confirms its rightful place in Nickelodeon's property portfolio, sitting between Dora the Explorer for pre-schoolers and tween and teen properties such as Victorious and Big Time Rush.

"We're looking forward to working with licensees and retailers on this exciting project and ensuring the Winx Club magic is spread across the UK."