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Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell first met as castmates on All That in 1994
Thompson, 48, and Mitchell, 47, share their memories of the early days with PEOPLE
The pair also take time to shout out castmate Amanda Bynes, who joined the show’s cast in 1996
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell will always feel connected to their roots.
The two comedians first met as each was hired to the cast of Nickelodeon’s All That in 1994. Not only did the young funnymen show that they had what it takes to entertain, but they developed a comedic chemistry that led to some of the shows and films that made up millennial childhoods.
Thompson, 48, and Mitchell, 47, recently caught up with PEOPLE while launching the newest piece of the “Kenan & Kel universe,” the pair’s new mobile game, OrangePop! There, they recalled their first impressions of each other, early on.
“I was the nerdy one and just quiet because I was one of the last two hired. They had cast the first five, and I think y’all had a meet and greet before I even got there. I’m just naturally kind of introverted, I guess,” Thompson shared.
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Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell on season 2 of “Kenan & Kel”
Credit: Tom Hurst/Nickelodeon
“I was just doing my work like I thought a good boy’s supposed to do. But they were all hanging out in the school hours in the beginning, and then once we started having rehearsals, that’s when I emerged from my shell. At that point, the misunderstandings of me being weird or nerdy or stuck up or whatever kind of just went away. I was just quiet.”
Mitchell points out that the cast did know him from D2: The Mighty Ducks, which came out that year, which Thompson admits he was careful not to bring up.
“He came in with the whole Mighty Ducks get-up, because he’d just finished the film, so he had the bag and the roller skates,” Mitchell recalled.
Kenan Thompson in “D3: The Mighty Ducks”
Credit: Walt Disney Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection
“Because I was celebrating that… I didn’t want to throw it over in y’all face. I was just used to wearing it because it was new free s–t,” Thompson said.
Sharing his memories of Mitchell, Thompson said, “Kel was the coolest because Kel had gradient lenses at 14 and only players do s–t like that.”
“If you have a prescription and you need it still, would you pick gradient lenses? Only motherf–kers that got flavor. I was like , ‘Okay, that’s interesting.’ The guy’s got style.’ I noticed that.”
When it comes to keeping in touch with members of the All That cast, the pair chose to call costar Josh Server in a prank call as part of PEOPLE’s Truth or Dare. The two convinced Server that Mitchell was stuck in an elevator after a night of partying in New York City, with Thompson not particularly concerned about rescuing him, in a hilarious exchange.
The two also touched on their love for Amanda Bynes, who joined the All That cast in 1996.
“I haven’t talked to Amanda in years, sadly, but we always send positive vibes and thoughts and prayers and whatever we can,” Thompson said.
“All That” cast in 1996
Credit: Tollin/Robbins Prod./Courtesy Everett
“Yeah. I haven’t been in contact lately, but she’s doing good. I’ve seen her posts. She’s doing her fashion, dropping music, so we’re always rooting for her,” Mitchell said, adding, “Love you, Amanda!”
“Love you, girl,” Thompson added.
Check out Kenan & Kel’s new mobile game, OrangePop!, now available on the App Store and Google Play.
Read the original article on People
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