# Kenan (TV series)
**Kenan** is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from February 16, 2021, to January 31, 2022, starring [Kenan Thompson](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenan-thompson) as Kenan Williams, a widowed father of two who hosts a popular Atlanta morning show while his father-in-law and brother complicate his efforts to raise his daughters.[1](https://www.epguides.com/Kenan/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/kenan) Created by Jackie Clarke and David Caspe, the series ran for two seasons and 20 episodes before NBC canceled it in May 2022.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/42159/kenan) • [4](https://www.tvinsider.com/1044351/kenan-mr-mayor-the-endgame-canceled-nbc/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Network and run | NBC (US), February 16, 2021 to January 31, 2022; 30-minute episodes, 20 total across two seasons[1](https://www.epguides.com/Kenan/) |
| Creators | Jackie Clarke and David Caspe[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/42159/kenan) |
| Premise | A recently widowed morning TV host raises his two daughters with unhelpful help from his persistent father-in-law[1](https://www.epguides.com/Kenan/) |
| Lead cast | Kenan Thompson (Kenan Williams), Don Johnson (Rick), Chris Redd (Gary Williams), Kimrie Lewis (Mika), Dani Lane (Aubrey), Dannah Lane (Birdie)[1](https://www.epguides.com/Kenan/) |
| Ratings | Season 2 averaged 2.1 million viewers and a 0.35 demo rating (Live+7), down from 2.9 million and 0.6 in season 1[5](https://www.tvline.com/news/mr-mayor-kenan-cancelled-nbc-season-3-1234825901/) |
| Recognition | Kenan Thompson nominated for the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series[6](https://www.thetvdb.com/series/kenan) |
| Status | Canceled by NBC on May 12, 2022, after two seasons[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/1044351/kenan-mr-mayor-the-endgame-canceled-nbc/) |
## Premise and characters
The series centers on Kenan Williams, host of the fictional Atlanta morning program *Wake Up With Kenan* on station WDTA, who is raising his two school-age daughters, Aubrey and Birdie, after his wife Cori's death.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/kenan) • [7](https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/990ef136-079a-4b7d-983a-5ac72b64aab0/content) His workplace and family lives overlap: his friend Mika (Kimrie Lewis) is his tenacious producer, his brother Gary ([Chris Redd](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-redd)) is his clueless manager, and his father-in-law Rick ([Don Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/don-johnson)) is his toughest critic, so the people trying to help him tend to make his life harder.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/kenan)
Grief is a central theme. The pilot has Kenan believing he has adjusted to single parenthood until his family confronts him about denying his grief.[8](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/kenan/umc.cmc.6odpo98dwerti6yv7q1mugrp8) The late wife appears in flashbacks to the fictional sitcom where the couple met, in which Cori, only three years older than Kenan, played his character's mother.[9](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/kenan/season-1/)
## Production and development
NBC ordered the project to series in May 2019 under the title *The Kenan Show*, with Thompson expected to continue on *Saturday Night Live* while producing during the show's hiatus.[10](https://www.tvguide.com/news/nbc-the-kenan-show-kenan-thompson/) The series was produced by [Universal Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/universal-television) in association with Broadway Video; its executive producers included [Lorne Michaels](https://www.edgepedia.org/lorne-michaels), Kenan Thompson, Andrew Singer, David Caspe, Kenny Smith Jr., Lisa Muse Bryant, and Bryan Tucker.[8](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/kenan/umc.cmc.6odpo98dwerti6yv7q1mugrp8) Thompson also served as an executive producer and, for both seasons, starred as the title character.[11](https://www.televisionacademy.com/files/assets/press/emmy-host-220809-v1.pdf)
## Broadcast and ratings
The series premiered on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at 8:30/7:30c, and debuted to 7.4 million viewers.[12](https://www.tvinsider.com/985519/) • [13](https://www.thewrap.com/kenan-endgame-canceled-nbc/) NBC renewed it for a second season on April 27, 2021, alongside the freshman comedy *Young Rock*.[14](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/kenan/)
Season 2 ran as a 10-episode block aired in January 2022, two episodes at a time, ahead of NBC's Winter Olympics coverage.[5](https://www.tvline.com/news/mr-mayor-kenan-cancelled-nbc-season-3-1234825901/) Counting Live+7 viewing, the second season drew an average of 2.1 million weekly viewers and scored a 0.35 in the demo, a steep drop from the 2.9 million and 0.6 of season one, and it placed last in the demo among the five comedies NBC broadcast that year.[5](https://www.tvline.com/news/mr-mayor-kenan-cancelled-nbc-season-3-1234825901/) The finale, "Destroying Miami," aired January 31, 2022, sending Kenan, Gary, Mika, Tami, and Phil to Miami.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/42159/kenan)
## Cancellation
On May 12, 2022, NBC canceled *Kenan* and *Mr. Mayor* after two seasons each, along with the freshman drama *The Endgame*.[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/1044351/kenan-mr-mayor-the-endgame-canceled-nbc/) Both seasons later streamed on Peacock, and the series could be purchased on Amazon Video, the Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home.[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/1044351/kenan-mr-mayor-the-endgame-canceled-nbc/) • [15](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-kenan-show)
## Reception
Critics gave the premiere mixed-to-positive notices. Variety scored it 80, calling it a smart embrace of Thompson's strengths with a bittersweet streak; the Los Angeles Times and Decider each scored it 70, with Decider calling Thompson a strong center of a warm family sitcom despite pacing issues.[9](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/kenan/season-1/) More negative reviews included the [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review](https://www.edgepedia.org/pittsburgh-tribune-review) at 55, which found the present-day material unfunny, and Reason.com at 35.[9](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/kenan/season-1/) Thompson's performance drew an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2021.[6](https://www.thetvdb.com/series/kenan)
The series is rated TV-PG and is aimed at family viewing; Common Sense Media suggests it for ages 10 and up, noting mild language and oblique jokes about sex and drinking, and highlighting its themes of family love, communication, and humility.[16](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/kenan)
## References
1. [Kenan: A Titles & Air Dates Guide, epguides.com](https://www.epguides.com/Kenan/)
2. [Kenan, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/kenan)
3. [Kenan, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/42159/kenan)
4. ['Kenan,' 'Mr. Mayor' & 'The Endgame' Canceled by NBC, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/1044351/kenan-mr-mayor-the-endgame-canceled-nbc/)
5. ['Mr. Mayor' And 'Kenan' Cancelled At NBC, TVLine](https://www.tvline.com/news/mr-mayor-kenan-cancelled-nbc-season-3-1234825901/)
6. [Kenan, TheTVDB.com](https://www.thetvdb.com/series/kenan)
7. ["For Your Information Tonight": The Dramatization of the Television News Industry on U.S. Television, University of Oregon](https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/990ef136-079a-4b7d-983a-5ac72b64aab0/content)
8. [Kenan, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/kenan/umc.cmc.6odpo98dwerti6yv7q1mugrp8)
9. [Kenan season 1 Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/kenan/season-1/)
10. [The Kenan Show NBC Comedy with Kenan Thompson Picked Up to Series, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/news/nbc-the-kenan-show-kenan-thompson/)
11. [Emmy host press release, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/files/assets/press/emmy-host-220809-v1.pdf)
12. [It Takes 3 Men to Raise 2 Kids on New NBC Comedy 'Kenan', TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/985519/)
13. ['Kenan' and 'The Endgame' Canceled at NBC, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/kenan-endgame-canceled-nbc/)
14. [Kenan, TV Insider show page](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/kenan/)
15. [Kenan: watch streaming online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-kenan-show)
16. [Kenan: Parents' Guide & TV Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/kenan)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Sitcom and comedy series › Family and household sitcoms › Contemporary family sitcoms*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license