WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE

A memoir from the enduring former teen star and current Saturday Night Live stalwart.

Thompson has made a successful career with his avuncular charm and comforting brand of “clean comedy,” and his warmhearted memoir proves to be just as likable. Though the author has generally been reticent about discussing his personal life publicly over the years, he’s straightforward about many topics here, including his proud role as a girl dad to his “two little angels,” Georgia and Gianna, and his approach to making people laugh without putting others down. “I’ve always tried to not do the Black versions of white things,” he writes, “because that’s what most stand-ups do….It was important to me to be different. I wanted the jokes to be stuff we could all laugh at comfortably.” Thompson offers parenting and relationship advice as generously as he does career suggestions. Though he doesn’t tell all when it comes to the thornier elements of his life story—bankruptcy, divorce, estrangement from his friend and early Kenan & Kel and Good Burger co-star, Kel Mitchell—he does offer enough of an explanation before changing the subject with lines such as, “I’m not the guy who talks about this kinda stuff publicly, sorry not sorry.” Thompson is more forthcoming about his future on SNL after 20 seasons, outlining his future goals, which include playing more guitar, mentoring young actors, and focusing on his family. “Friends, it could be the end of an era,” he writes, but a few pages later, he wonders, “Why would I ever leave if I’m not in anybody’s way?” Thompson is self-aware enough to know he is happy and may already be on the right path.

Decades after joyously bounding onto TV as a teen comedy star, Thompson shows he’s still All That and so much more.