Kenan Thompson Nearly Cried Playing Panthro in Chadwick Boseman's Monologue
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- Kenan Thompson mengaku nyaris menitikkan air mata ketika pertama kali melihat kostum Panthro yang ia kenakan untuk membajak monolog Chadwick Boseman di SNL 2018.
- Momen tersebut dinilainya sebagai perayaan budaya pop dan warisan Black Panther yang tengah mencapai puncak kejayaannya.
- Kolaborasi singkat itu meninggalkan kesan mendalam bagi Thompson, yang mengenang Boseman sebagai pribadi fokus, murah hati, dan kreatif.
Comedian and actor Kenan Thompson recounted the emotional experience of appearing as the ThunderCats character Panthro during Chadwick Boseman's monologue on the April 2018 edition of Saturday Night Live (SNL). Speaking at New York Comic Con, Thompson admitted he nearly cried when he saw the costume he had long dreamed of finally realized. The moment was a surprise not only for the audience but also for himself, having grown up with the iconic 1980s animated series.
Thompson, who has been part of SNL since 2003, said the idea of bringing Panthro to life was his most coveted personal request. "I didn't want to look in the mirror until it was all done. And when I saw it, I almost cried because it was my childhood coming back to life," he said, as quoted by Atlanta Magazine. The costume was custom-made, and he deliberately held back from seeing the process until it was completely finished.
Panthro's appearance on the SNL stage was a surprise in itself. Thompson hijacked Boseman's monologue by claiming to be the original Black Panther, referring to the Marvel superhero character who was on the rise thanks to the film Black Panther (2018). In the same episode, Boseman also reprised his role as King T'Challa in the Black Jeopardy sketch. For Thompson, the bit was not just a joke but a cultural celebration he called "for the culture".
In a separate interview with Atlanta Magazine in 2021, Thompson remembered Boseman as a highly focused individual who wanted everything to be perfect. He called that week's rehearsal process one of the most memorable. "We tried to find ways to keep the audience's laughter building. In the end, everything clicked at the finish," he recalled. Thompson also praised Boseman's demeanor, describing him as a good, loving, and creative person.
"Chadwick couldn't have been better. He was so kind, generous, loving, and creative," Thompson said, remembering his late colleague.
For the entertainment industry, the Panthro moment is an example of how pop culture can bridge generations. ThunderCats, popular in the 1980s, was brought back to life on a modern comedy stage thanks to Thompson's willingness to propose an idea that seemed trivial. This shows that nostalgic references have broad appeal, especially when tied to cultural phenomena such as Black Panther, which represents African-American identity.
In Indonesia, a similar phenomenon often occurs. Television programs and digital content in the country have begun to look at nostalgic elements, for example by bringing back local animated characters or reviving 1990s trends. However, the challenge is maintaining relevance so it does not become mere gimmickry. Cross-generational collaboration in Indonesia's creative industry can learn from SNL's success in packaging nostalgia with contemporary issues.
Going forward, Chadwick Boseman's legacy and moments like this will continue to be remembered, not only by fans but also by industry players. The question is, will more creators dare to take the risk of presenting authentic personal ideas, as Thompson did, to create entertainment that is both memorable and meaningful?
