Kenan Thompson, 44, has been a staple on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live since 2003. But per the NY Post, when the comedian and actor recently appeared on Charlamagne tha God’s "Hell of a Week" series, Thompson said that he thinks it might be a good time for the iconic NBC series to end after it wraps its 50th season.

On Charlamagne tha God’s "Hell of a Week," the radio personality asked Thompson about the possibility of Lorne Michaels, 77, the SNL showrunner and producer for most of its multi-decade run (he stopped producing the show from 1980 to 1985) retiring after the 2024-2025 season. "The rumor is the show is ending at its 50th season because Mr. Lorne Michaels doesn’t want to do it after age 80. Is that true?" Charlamagne asked.

"Is that the rumor?" Thompson responded. "All right, I need to start planning."

The Nickelodeon alum then added that he believed that the 50th anniversary would be a nice conclusion for the sketch comedy series, saying:

There could be a lot of validity to that rumor, because 50 is a good number to stop at. That’s an incredible package. He will be, probably, close to 80 years old at that point, and, you know, he’s the one who’s had his touch on the whole thing. So, if somebody tries to come into his shoes, you know, it’s a good opportunity for NBC to save money as well, you know what I’m saying? [NBC] might slash the budget and then at that point, you can’t really do the same kind of show. So that’s unfair to watch it just really go down kind of in flames for real because of those restrictions … Capping it at 50 might not be a bad idea.

Thompson explained that "[Michaels] is such a legend that he keeps off those corporate wolves, if you will. They spend a lot of money on that show every week. It’s an expensive show, but it’s a one-of-a-kind thing."

Lorne Michaels Sees Himself Retiring at SNL's 50th Anniversary

In an interview with CBS Mornings' Gayle King in December 2021, Lorne Michaels said that the SNL could end in 2025. He said, "You know, I think I’m committed to doing this show until its 50th anniversary, which is in three years. I’d like to see that through, and I have a feeling that’d be a really good time to leave. But … I won’t want the show ever to be bad. I care too deeply about it. It’s been my life’s work. So I’m going to do everything I can to see it carry on."