Michael Morain

mmorain@dmreg.com

One of Kenan Thompson’s many memorable characters on “Saturday Night Live” is a randy old man named Grady Wilson, who once stripped down to his boxers and black socks to record a how-to DVD called “Grady Wilson’s Put the Fire Back in Your Marriage Techniques.”

“Every love-making technique here is a super-charged wallop of passion to your woman,” he promised, before demonstrating — with gusto — “The Whipped Butter,” “The Flight of the Bumblebee” and “The Stormin’ Normandy.”

So when I called Thompson on Thursday morning, I asked him if ol’ Grady might have any advice for Valentine’s Day.

“Make sure you stretch good,” the actor said.

Thompson, 37, is heading Wednesday to Stephens Auditorium in Ames to crack a few jokes and tell stories about his rise to fame, from his Atlanta childhood to his early days on the Nickelodeon sketch-comedy series “All That” (anyone remember “Everyday French with Pierre Escargot”?) to his 2003 arrival at “SNL,” where he is now the cast’s senior member.

When I called him in New York, he was getting ready to smack a goodbye kiss on his 19-month-old daughter, Georgia (who chattered in the background), and head off to work at 30 Rockefeller Center. Here is the gist of our conversation:

We’re looking forward to your visit. Have you been to Iowa before?

I did the Hawkeyes a couple years ago. I told them I’d come back for a football game but I never did. I feel bad about that.

It’s too bad the presidential candidates have already cleared out. Do you like spoofing them on “SNL”?

Yeah, the writers have a reputation for being the go-tos for satire in the political atmosphere at the moment, kind of speaking for the viewers but in joke form. They’re pretty good at that. They’re the rebels that make fun of the stiffs, you know what I mean? But we’ll make fun of whoever. Everybody’s fair game, whether they’re on the right or the left.

I like smart comedy like that, but I definitely have to pay more attention to the news sometimes to get the jokes. ... And the impressions are great. When Kate (McKinnon) does Hillary (Clinton) at the table read, she’s amazing, even without the wig and makeup.

I’ve heard you broke the show’s record for most celebrity impersonations when you topped Darrell Hammond's previous record of 107. Is that true? Did you get some sort of trophy?

I don’t think anybody really said anything about it. There’s just so much other stuff to deal with, putting on an hour-and-a-half live show. You’re not too big on celebrating your successes until you start looking back. In 10 years, maybe they’ll give me a cake or something.

Is it strange to meet the people you’ve impersonated?

With Al Sharpton, I’ve known him for years, just because he’s been working at NBC and I bump into him in the elevator. It was awkward after the first time (impersonation), but he told me I’d done him really well and he was cool about it. He takes it in stride. He’s a cool cat.

With Steve Harvey, he said, “Hey, that was funny,” the first time. But after the ninth, he’s like, “Well, all right now ...”

You got tangled in the 2013 controversy about “SNL” ’s failure, for awhile, to add a black woman to the cast. At one point, you also vowed to stop playing female characters. Would you have said or done anything differently?

I wish I wasn’t so misunderstood. I thought I was speaking my true honest opinion, but the way people take things is a whole ‘nother story. I woke up the next morning (after TV Guide published his comments that producers often audition black women but “just never find ones that are ready”) to text messages from people I hadn’t heard from in years. And I was like, “What’s going on?” People were irate. They were saying that I said there are no talented black women in comedy, like I would dis my people like that. That’s so stupid.

But I’m super happy with how everything worked out. I love Mike (Che) and Leslie (Jones) and Sasheer (Zamata). And Jay (Pharoah), who was already there beforehand (before the dust-up). It’s kind of a historic time period now, but nobody’s giving that as much attention as all the misunderstandings.

What’s it like being the senior cast member? Do the new guys have to kiss your ring?

I tattooed my initials on their backs — big giant Greek letters. It’s just kind of my thing, you know: “Welcome to the SNL family.”

No, I’m kidding. We’re all in the trenches together. The only difference is that some of us have been around longer than others.

So what’s next? Do you want to do movies?

It’s nice to predict your schedule, especially with a child. It’s nice to have work and be in a stable place, which isn’t always easy for actors. So at the moment, I’m all right with where I am and I love the show, and it’s not like Hollywood won’t be there once I graduate. But this is a one-of-a-kind show and I'll never get another chance like this and blah, blah, blah. They’ll have to drag me outta there.

Is it tough to juggle your schedule with a kid at home?

It’s nothing compared to the women who go through full-on pregnancy and have babies while they’re on the show. That’s just crazy. Tina (Fey) did it. Amy (Poehler) did it. Maya (Rudolph) did it. It was pretty awesome to witness. They’re amazing. I don’t know if I could do that.

Who are your favorite stand-up comedians right now?

Louis C.K., Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, of course. Nate Bargatze. I support the homies, like Mike Jay and Hannibal Buress. And I listen to Comedy Central Radio in the car.

Is there anything people should know about your show in Ames?

It’s BYOB. Nah, just kidding. Just come on out and, you know, receive some hugs in the form of laughs.

If you go

When: 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Where: Stephens Auditorium, Iowa State University, Ames.

Tickets: $30.

Info: center.iastate.edu