If you watched Nickelodeon in the 90s and early 2000s you probably remember who loves orange soda. It’s Kel, Kel loves orange soda and he is on a mission to prove that’s true. Actor Kel Mitchell is teasing launching his own line of cola based on the running gag from the sitcom, “Kenan & Kel.”
During an appearance at 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut Mitchell led the crowd in a chant of “Who loves orange soda? Kel loves orange soda.” When asked about his love of the fizzy beverage:
“One of the writers, this is what he told me. He said, ‘It was a rainy day.’ I said, ‘What does that have to do with orange soda?’ ” Mitchell recalls. “He said, ‘It was a rainy day, Kel, and I was like, Who loves orange soda? And I was thinking about rain.’ And we did an episode where there was orange rain coming down, which was big for me, because I’m a dancer. I started out in theater, so I got to do Fred Astaire type of dancing, which was super cool for me.”
This exchange created one of the most iconic bits in “Kenan & Kel.” One that, for better or worse, Mitchell cannot escape. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a five-star restaurant, they’re going to go, ‘Can you say, “Who loves orange soda?” Please, Kel?’ And I’ll do it.”
Mitchell’s Orange Soda
Once establishing the origins of the joke, he moved on to announce some product placement fans have been dying for. “But it’s coming, okay? My own orange soda,” he proclaims. “I was on the phone with my attorney because … it has to be healthy. I can’t have kids out here just drinking fructose and sugar, you know what I mean? So, we’ve been working on it.”
A good call considering large amounts of sugar probably contributed to most of his character’s hijinks.
But that wasn’t all of the good news he had for fans.
More “Good Burger”?
Once Mitchell and co-star Kenan Thompson forged their friendship on Nickelodeon’s “All That.” The duo spun-off into their own sitcom, “Kenan & Kel.” Followed by the 1997 film “Good Burger,” which has gone on to become a cult classic. In 2023, they made “Good Burger 2” and according to Mitchell the pair aren’t done with the franchise.
“Me and Kenan actually sat down and talked about the script for part three, all right, so it’s going to go down. We’ve got to make sure it’s right, just like how Good Burger 2 was,” he explains. However, “We’re not gonna make you guys wait over 15 years.”
And we appreciate that.
We’ll keep you posted on updates about Mitchell’s orange soda and “Good Burger 3” as the various projects develop. “Kenan & Kel” is currently streaming on Paramount+, BET, and Hoopla. “Good Burger” is streaming on Paramount+, Roku, and Hoopla, its sequel is available on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime.
