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Adding to the list of Saturday Night Live cast members present at this year's South by Southwest, Kenan Thompson joined Chance the Rapper for a quick session on working together at SNL and life during a pandemic.
In a very quick and low-key conversation, Chance the Rapper, whose full name is Chancelor Bennett, spoke about his respect for Thompson. In their conversation, Bennett shared a story about the time he first met Thompson, and how it helped him grow.
Tune into a conversation with @kenanthompson and @chancetherapper at 5pm on Channel 3! #SXSWhttps://t.co/5f6Ye5JQPspic.twitter.com/pNfnmJyIlh
— SXSW (@sxsw) March 17, 2021
Bennett, a longtime fan of SNL, tried to get into the studio when he was 19. As security was trying to escort him out, Thompson and SNL cast member Leslie Jones stopped them and brought Bennett to their office, where he said they "smoked him out."
"(You) told me that I could do whatever I want and if I wanted to write sketches for the show, the next time I come, bring some sketches, so I did," Bennett said.
Thompson has had a long-standing career on the live show—17 seasons worth—and said when Bennett brought his sketches back, he blew them away. Chance the Rapper has been responsible for a number of skits, including one where he played a reporter who was out of his depth.
Sports Announcer - SNLyoutu.be
The pandemic actually served as a sort of blessing to Thompson, who said that it helped him slow down, stop straining himself and put family first.
"It's given me that time back with family because before it happened, I was probably overbooking myself just to have that work and that security blanket," Thompson said. "I probably would have missed a large chunk of this whole year out of my kid's life, so I'm looking at it, trying to take the blessing from it wherever you can find it."
Even having to do comedy from home, Thompson said SNL is evergreen because it is constantly evolving. Though he has a new show, "Kenan," coming out on NBC, SNL is in another category for him.
"I'm like never in a rush to leave it because I've never seen anything like it," Thompson said. "There's not a lot of live shows even left, so it never gets old because it's sketch comedy and it changes every single week."
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Popular
Austin FC kept rival FC Dallas to a draw Saturday night as it pulled off a 2-2 comeback. (Austin FC/Twitter)
Despite a 2-0 deficit, there was a pot of gold for Austin FC after all as it celebrated its annual Pride Night with rainbows and a 2-2 comeback draw to FC Dallas Saturday night.
After three FC Dallas losses last season, the Dallas derby draw marks the first time Austin FC has tied against its Copa Texas rival. Austin continues to edge over FC Dallas as it sits at 3rd in the MLS West.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the match:
A somber start
¡Ya Basta! Enough! End Gun Violence. #uvaldestrong
— Los Verdes (@LosVerdesATX) June 26, 2022
📷 @arubiophotospic.twitter.com/3PiVdTPtik
Decked out in colorful hues for LBGTQ+ Pride, Verde fans started the match on a somber note as they held up banners to take a stand against gun violence before the match.
As the national anthem began, fans held up banners with the names of each child that was killed in the Uvalde school shooting and a plea to "end gun violence."
The supporters' section was also dotted with Pride flags and a "Bans off Our Bodies" banner in protest of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
FC Dallas earns a 2-0 lead
Paul Arriola is there to put it away and put @FCDallas ahead! pic.twitter.com/Z4AMmM6lp3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
That sober tone continued onto the pitch. With midfielder Daniel Pereira's absence due to a red card, the Verde and Black lost two goals to FC Dallas by the 70th minute of play.
FC Dallas played it sneaky for the first half of the match, giving Austin FC plenty of room to hold possession as it waited to strike on a Verde error. That mentality proved dangerous for Austin as Dallas' Paul Arriola took advantage of Brad Stuver's deflection to score the first goal of the night in the 57th minute of play.
Dallas struck once more as Brandon Servant pushed past the Verde line to score the second goal of the match.
#DTID double their lead!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
The substitute Brandon Servania with a fine finish within five minutes of coming on. 💥 pic.twitter.com/IZm0YsPxG5
Austin FC strikes back
Sebastián Driussi pulls one back!#AustinFC are still in this one. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Yoi0x768jb
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
But energy quickly returned to Austin's favor thanks to Designated Player Sebastian Driussi, who scooted past several FC Dallas defenders alongside Moussa Djitte to snag an unlikely first goal for Austin.
A full Verde comeback
Late drama in this Texas Derby!@AustinFC ties it up, Danny Hoesen with the diving header. 😱 pic.twitter.com/Jk2f4fIEXG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
Austin's subs proved deadly as momentum returned to the home team toward the end of the match. A well-placed cross from Nick Lima—and a diving header from a fresh-legged Danny Hoesen—helped the team secure the draw with a second Verde goal in the 84th minute of play.
Hoesen, who was Austin's first starting striker last season, has now scored two goals with the team after a yearlong injury stuck him on the bench.
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(Bob Daemmrich)
Hours following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion, on Friday, about 1,000 people gathered in Republic Square with signs calling for change.
The rally, organized by the group Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights Texas, started at the federal courthouse on Republic Square on Friday at 5 p.m. before the crowd marched to the Texas Capitol. More protests are expected to ensue over the weekend.
People showed up with all types of signs like Mindy Moffa holding up, "Keep your filthy laws off my silky drawers."
Austin joined cities across the country that saw protests for a women's right to an abortion after the ruling.
According to a recent UT poll, 78% of Texas voters support abortion access in most cases.
Sabrina Talghade and Sofia Pellegrini held up signs directed at Texas laws. A Texas trigger law will ban all abortions from the moment of fertilization, starting 30 days after the ruling. When state legislators passed the trigger law last summer, it also passed laws for more protection of firearms, including the right to open carry without a permit.
Lili Enthal of Austin yells as around 1,000 Texans marched to the Texas Capitol.
From the Texas Capitol, Zoe Webb lets her voice be heard against the Supreme Court ruling.
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