Kel Mitchell Tried to Keep His TV Fame a Secret in High School

Kel Mitchell, best known for his role on Nickelodeon’s sketch comedy series All That, revealed in a recent interview that his attempt to keep his television career a secret during high school was ultimately foiled by his own teacher. Speaking on the Wave Original series Big Bro with Kid Cudi, Mitchell recounted how he and his co-star Kenan Thompson balanced filming the popular show with attending classes, striving to maintain a normal student life despite rising fame.

Mitchell explained that during the first two seasons of All That, he and Thompson were able to conceal their involvement because the show initially targeted a younger audience and they were still enrolled in high school. They would leave school to film and return afterward, hoping to avoid drawing attention to their dual lives.

However, as the show gained popularity, keeping their identities private became increasingly difficult. Mitchell noted that once the series started gaining traction, even freshmen began recognizing them, making it harder to stay under the radar. He emphasized that he had no desire for his peers to know about his television work, preferring to blend in as a regular student.

The turning point came when the pilot episode aired. Mitchell said he was in class when he heard his own voice coming from a television, prompting confusion among his classmates. Shortly after, his teacher recognized him from the broadcast and played the episode for the entire class, effectively exposing his secret to the whole school.

Reflecting on the incident, Mitchell laughed as he recalled teachers approaching him with comments like, “Hey, I saw that Boyz II Men was on your show,” referencing musical guests who appeared on All That. Despite the exposure, he said he continued to strive to be “part of the crowd” for the remainder of the school year, focusing on fitting in rather than embracing his celebrity status.

Mitchell also described the production schedule, noting that filming typically occurred in five-month blocks followed by hiatuses for editing. During these breaks, he would return to school full-time, and because the show had not yet aired, most of his peers remained unaware of his involvement until the premiere.