Thompson spent years being the kid who stole every scene he was in.
Now the "Role Models" and "30 Rock" alum is trying to steal a different kind of spotlight, and the internet is genuinely split on how to feel about it.
The 29-year-old actor and comedian has been steadily pushing a comedy and music comeback, and clips keep escaping whatever platform he posts them on.
A recent performance snippet, reportedly recorded at a small venue, shows him trading his old child-star energy for a grown-and-unbothered stage presence.
Fans who remember him as Tracy Jr. on "30 Rock" did a collective double take.
Thompson was one of the most quotable young actors of the late 2000s, and his "Role Models" lines still live rent-free in millennial group chats.
Watching him own a stage two decades later hits a very specific generational sweet spot.
Some commenters argue the clips feel like a nostalgia grab, and a few industry observers have questioned whether the material lands as hard as his old punchlines.
That debate is exactly why the videos keep circulating.
Every reshare drags in a new wave of "wait, that's him?" replies.
Thompson himself hasn't seemed bothered by the mixed reception.
In past interviews he's been blunt about child stardom, saying he had to grow up faster than most kids and learned early that Hollywood moves on.
That honesty is part of his current appeal.
He's not pretending the last decade didn't happen.
There's also a practical reason this moment is landing now.
Comedy clips travel fast, and a recognizable face from a beloved era is catnip for the algorithm.
Thompson has leaned into that, pairing throwback references with newer material instead of running from his filmography.
It's a playbook that's worked for several former child actors trying to reintroduce themselves as adults.
Whether it turns into a real second act is still an open question.
A few viral clips don't guarantee a tour, a special, or a steady audience, and the comedy world is brutally crowded right now.
But Thompson has something a lot of newcomers don't: people already care enough to argue about him.
For fans, the bigger takeaway might be simpler.
The kid from "Role Models" grew up, kept working, and is asking for a second look on his own terms.
In an era obsessed with reboots and reunions, that's a rare thing to see play out in real time.
Our take: Thompson deserves credit for refusing to coast on old credits, even if the new material isn't fully cooked yet.
Nostalgia buys attention, but it doesn't buy longevity.
Final Thoughts
If he keeps grinding in small rooms and sharpening the act, the comeback conversation will eventually stop being about the kid he used to be.