Kenan Thompson 'Over The Moon' To See Pete Davidson Return For 'SNL' Season 47

KEY POINTS

Kenan Thompson said he considers Pete Davidson his "baby brother" after watching him grow up on "SNL"
He also praised Davidson for staying true to himself amid his rise to stardom
Thompson said he is not yet ready to leave the comedy show, which he has been part of since 2003

Kenan Thompson is "beyond happy" that friend Pete Davidson returned for "Saturday Night Live" Season 47.

While promoting his partnership with AutoTrader Thursday, Thompson, 47, spoke about the 27-year-old actor's return to the NBC sketch comedy show during an interview with Us Weekly.

"[I am] beyond happy. I love Pete, he’s my baby brother. I watched him grow in the business, but as well as an individual and a person," he told the outlet. "I just think he does have the talent at the end of the day to take him wherever he wants."

Thompson, who has been part of "SNL" since 2003, also said he was "over the moon" about getting the chance to spend more time with the "King of Staten Island" star as it's hard to catch up with former "SNL" co-stars, who usually "get very busy" once they leave.

"They could be here there, and it would just be that much harder for me to give them a hug or something when I see him. So I was happy to see him," Thompson said.

The "All That" alum went on to praise Davidson for staying true to himself amid his rise to stardom.

"If you can keep your personal character intact, that's highly important," Thompson said, adding that Davidson is "close with his family, he's close with his mom. I think that's invaluable.”

For his part, the "Home Sweet Home Alone" star said he is not ready to leave "SNL" at the moment. "I guess there's an eventuality, but I'm still trying to get to that 20. Here at 19. So might as well just knock it out," he joked.

Davidson sparked speculation that he could be leaving "SNL" after giving an emotional monologue about "growing up" on the show in the Season 46 finale in May.

Davidson later revealed during an interview with Gold Derby that he was in the seventh year of his seven-year contract with the show. At the time, he said that his return for Season 47 was "still up in the air" and that he had a meeting lined up with "SNL" creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels.

"It's a big cast; there's a lot of new guys in there, and there's a lot of great new talent that it's their time to shine. I have no idea what's going on right now," he said in June about his future on "SNL."

"Saturday Night Live" airs Saturdays on NBC at 11:30 p.m. EDT/8:30 p.m. PT. Episodes are also live-streamed on Peacock.