Despite Constant Jibes, Charles Barkley Praises 45-Year-Old SNL Star for Mocking His TNT Person

Next time you see Kenan Thompson unleash his inner Charles Barkley on SNL, remember that Chuck himself might be watching with a smile. After all, in the world of sports entertainment, getting a laugh can be just as valuable as getting a highlight reel.

The record-holder for the most ideas on Saturday Night Live, Kenan Thompson, is a comic chameleon who has mastered the role of Barkley. Thompson’s imitation perfectly catches the spirit of Sir Charles’ on-air presence, right down to the distinctive Barkleyisms (“Turrible!”), booming voice, and contagious chuckle.

Chuck is loving it

During his interview with CNN, Chuck found amusement in the impersonations and handled everything with ease. He even acknowledged his admiration for Kenan Thompson’s work in interviews. He sees the impersonations as an acknowledgement of his distinct personality and status in basketball culture, almost as a type of compliment.

This makes sense in some ways. Bad press is still press, after all. SNL effectively maintains Barkley’s public awareness by making fun of his quirkiness and catchphrases. Not to mention that comedy frequently stems from praise. If Thompson’s evaluation of Barkley weren’t based on a sincere admiration for his charm and enthusiastic nature, it wouldn’t be as humorous.

This isn’t to say Barkley never gets flustered. There have been moments on Inside the NBA, TNT’s Emmy Award-winning show, where Barkley seems to take playful jabs from his co-hosts Shaq and Kenny Smith a little too personally. But even in these instances, the tension is quickly diffused by laughter. There’s a sense of camaraderie amongst the crew, and Barkley himself seems to revel in the back-and-forth banter.

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Who else has performed Charles Barkley’s Impression

Barkley’s character is relatable to a wider audience than simply Thompson’s. Even NBA players have joined in on the act. Paul George, an established star for the Clippers, shocked fans in a 2022 broadcast by perfectly imitating Barkley’s unique tone while talking about both himself and Kawhi Leonard’s future. The fun admiration youngsters have for Barkley’s history was evident in this amusing occasion.

Even Shaquille O’Neal, who is typically reserved, can’t help but poke jokes at his co-host. Although O’Neal’s impersonations may not be as flawless as Thompson’s, “Inside the NBA’s” humorous atmosphere is consistently maintained by his loud exclamations of “Erneh!”. This is also Barkley’s nickname for Kenny Smith. He exaggerated Charles Barkley’s accents.

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