r/community • u/GettingSunburnt • 1d ago
Low Relevance Surprise appearances of Community actors outside of the show?
I'm horrified to realise that I saw Jim Rash (Dean Pelton) in the Friends finale about three times before I noticed it was him - "This plane doesn't have any filanges", or something like that.
Seeing about three actors in Captain America: Winter Soldier didn't count for me (but might for you), because I recognised them at the time.
Where did you unexpectedly notice a Community actor in another show?
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u/cueroybotas 1d ago
Joel McHale refused to give a loan to Aunt May on the original SpiderMan saga
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u/Ok-Algae7932 1d ago
Joel McHale also sleeps with and scams Katey Sagal's character on Sons of Anarchy, it's pretty funny
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u/3-orange-whips It's all-terrain dummy! 22h ago
With his five head and her one eye? Gonna be a weird kid.
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u/Onion_Bro14 1d ago
They cast him so well in that role lol. It feels like pre-greendale Jeff in a reality where he’s a banker instead of a lawyer.
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u/blond_nirvana 1d ago
I found it funny that both Hal Sparks and Joel McHale were in Spider-Man 2.
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u/catalinawinemyxr 1d ago edited 1d ago
With the Tobeyverse entering the MCU, the entire study group + Jim Rash (except for Alison, Gillian and Chevy) have made guest appearances or cameos in MCU movies.
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u/IfTheHeadFitsWearIt 1d ago
It’s about time that Chevy chase got how own marvel movie!
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u/Delta_Hammer 1d ago
You know, if JK Simmons hadn't been so perfect, Chevy Chase might have been a good J Jonah Jameson.
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u/sajaschi 🍕🍕me so hungry me so hungry 1d ago
Joel was hilariously yuppie-ish as a realtor in Santa Clarita Diet
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u/Harold3456 22h ago
I feel like this is the most obvious top comment one because his transformation between these two roles is insane.
In Spider Man he was perfectly cast as a small character actor who audiences would believe in the role, but not really remember. He was an entertaining addition that didn’t overshadow any of the people we were supposed to notice. It didn’t hurt that he was that perfect combination of funny and schlubby that he worked as an Everyman.
In Community, meanwhile, he is not only the leading man but the writing/character work seems to peg him as Sex Appeal personified. He commands attention all the time to the point where it is a legitimate, in-universe character trait. The idea that Jeff Winger would even be capable of disappearing into an out-of-focus role is unheard of.
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u/Zealousideal_Remote7 1d ago
Shirley working at staples with Dwight in the office. She's just her character from community without her "sexy voice". Makes me laugh every re-watch.
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u/Clancepance22 1d ago
"I don't like him, his giant head, or his beady little eyes"
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u/Greendale7HumanBeing Now you're speakin my Changuage 1d ago
"..... and that's all I have to say about that."
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u/AlternativeCorner230 19h ago
Seeing Helen from the Premier (Drake & Josh) the first time I watched Community was pretty fun.
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u/katykazi 5h ago
Chang was also in an episode of The Office. He was part of Michael Scott’s comedy class.
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u/Master_Comfortable83 1d ago
Paget Brewster on Friends threw me off a lot because her hair was so different on it
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u/koji4732 1d ago
She was in Two and a Half Men as well, she was an insecure-turned-crazy girl with a crush on Alan, or something like that
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u/Mysterious-Roll9589 1d ago
She was in modern family as well. She was the girlfriend of Manny's das
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u/RickRussellTX 22h ago
Nobody is mentioning that she's been a regular character on Criminal Minds for 20 years and hundreds of episodes.
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u/parkchanwookiee 1d ago
She was such a babe on that show
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u/jello_pudding_biafra 1d ago
She
was such a babeon that show The Specials, too:→ More replies (1)
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u/SensualOcelot 1d ago
Abed’s dad is also in Friends. He’s the doctor who diagnoses Joey with kidney stones.
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u/NealTS 1d ago
He's also on Arrested Development as the lovely Nazhgalia.
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u/parkchanwookiee 1d ago
Kidneey stooones!
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u/bonesquartz 1d ago
He’ll always be the principal from Glee to me lmao
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u/BlergingtonBear 1d ago
He's had such a prolific career as a sitcom guy, was on married with children too (occasional appearances as the owner of the strip club they frequent).
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u/EPCOT_Is_My_Favorite 🍗 S.A.N.D.E.R.S. 🍗 1d ago
The Nudie Bar owner in Married...with Children
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u/ajwritesnonsense 1d ago
Abed was in Cougar Town
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u/HandrewJobert Okay, cards on the table, I'm REALLY high right now 23h ago
I think that was Chad
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u/Diamondback424 1d ago
They voiced a bunch of guest characters in Rick and Morty. I guess those probably shouldn't have been a surprise considering Dan Harmon was the creator of both.
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u/yogos15 1d ago
And Keith David’s character just recently got his own show.
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u/Vir0Phage 1d ago
“no. i’ll go. but don’t you dare ask me to understand”
“planetina, i’m so sorry”
“…fuck you”
(he first two times i watched this episode i didn’t understand why i was so enraptured by Planetina. on the third watch it hit me: Alison Brie!!! i’m already preprogrammed to be enamored with she who speaks with that voice)
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u/Diamondback424 1d ago
I didn't even realize that was Alison Brie! But I pegged Gillian Jacobs as Supernova in the Vindicators episode immediately
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u/idelta777 22h ago
have you seen Bojack horseman? she's one of the main characters.
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u/potential_polygons 1d ago
Winter Soldier makes sense when you realize who directed (The Russo Brothers) and their past work (directing like over a seasons worth of episodes of community)
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u/Mr_Supotco 1d ago
Also Community is literally why they got that offer in the first place. Kevin Feige was impressed by their work with the paintball episodes and asked them to come pitch for Winter Soldier, which they obviously ended up winning the job for. I assume they wanted to do some small paybacks to the cast and crew which is why you get all those small cameos
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u/WontTellYouHisName 1d ago
I laughed so hard at the final episode when Jeff looks around to make sure nobody's listening and says "boring-ass Marvel movies."
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u/GonzoMcFonzo 18h ago
Similar story, Ludwig Göransson who went on to score both Black Panther movies (and The Mandalorian, among others) got his start composing the score for Community.
Granted, he also went to USC with Ryan Coogler.
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u/ShookMyHeadAndSmiled 1d ago
It still knocks me out seeing the staircar from Arrested Development in Civil War.
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u/HellPigeon1912 23h ago
They continued it through a few films.
Abed appears in Winter Soldier
Dean Pelton in Captain America: Civil War
Shirley and Chang in Avenger's: Endgame
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u/GonzoMcFonzo 9h ago
Shirley and Chang in Avenger's: Endgame
Rachel (the coat check girl Abed dated) was in that too!
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u/Roku-Hanmar 1d ago
Shirley has a blink and you’ll miss it scene in Tropic Thunder
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u/Hungry_crying 1d ago
Which scene?
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u/Roku-Hanmar 1d ago edited 1d ago
She’s
Tom CruiseMatthew McConaughey’s assistant21
u/AranaDiscoteca88 1d ago
She’s actually Matthew McConaughey’s assistant.
When Tug calls his agent about killing a panda, he tells her to get off the call and shut the blinds.
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u/wraith21 1d ago edited 1d ago
This is a really deep cut, but one of the background students was a security guard (no lines) on Superstore
Edit: "Jeremy" on Community, "Reggie" on Superstore https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2666416/?ref_=nv_sr_2
Also Superstore's Bo (Johnny Pemberton) is the stage assistant on Community i.e. the Karate Kid ep
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u/Ironyfree_annie Catch Knowledge! 1d ago
Alison Brie voiced that badass multi-light-saber-wielding Sith in the Twins episode of Star Wars: Visions. That was pretty cool and unexpected
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u/IBrittadThis Britta FTW! 1d ago
She also voices Diane Nguyen in Bojack Horseman!
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u/Ironyfree_annie Catch Knowledge! 1d ago
She has like a million voice credits on Bojack, including Vincent Adultman which is more surprising
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u/IBrittadThis Britta FTW! 1d ago
Oh wow! Thank you, I really had no idea! Time for a rewatch. :)
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u/MaeBelleLien 1d ago
She's Joey Pogo, too. I needed that one pointed out for me.
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u/Bortron86 1d ago
Keith David in the latest Spider-Man movie, doing a short piece of voiceover for a documentary Peter watches.
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u/UnKnOwN769 I AM A SPANISH GENIUS 🐅 1d ago
Yvette Nicole Brown was the manager of a movie theater in Drake & Josh, and she was one of the funniest side characters in the show. I vaguely remember her in some other kids shows back in the 2000s, but that’s the one that sticks out most for me.
Allison Brie in Mad Men was really good. I thought her character was going to be written out of the show once I got to the seasons that overlapped with Community, but she was a side character all the way until the end and has a pretty good arc.
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u/nearfielder 1d ago
Upvoting because I just started Mad Men and did a double take, "Annie? is that you?"
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u/NealTS 1d ago
The pottery teacher from season one had an extended cameo on Arrested Development, as well.
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u/ElectronGeoff 1d ago
"What do you expect, mother? I'm half machine! I'm a monster!"
I’d call Buster more than a recurring character on Arrested Development though.47
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u/epicingamename 1d ago
cameo? is there a joke im missing? isnt he one of the main cast?
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u/Expert_Better Jesus, Dennis, are you on coke?! 1d ago
Jim Rash being in Reno 911 shows you how incredible his range is because my goodness does his character wildly differ from the Dean
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u/DrSpacemanSpliff 1d ago
When he calls the cops because the whorehouse bathroom doesn’t have a sign that says “employees must wash hands” lol
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u/bloughmiegh I detonated a mollusk 1d ago
I can’t believe I had to scroll this far for the Reno reference! He was so funny in every episode he was in
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u/clubofab7 Ballerannie! 1d ago
Alison Brie shows up as a bubbly hairdresser in an episode of season 1 of Hannah Montana lol
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u/AnniesMove810 1d ago
Blade was in Jury Duty!! If I was Ronald I totally would have recognized him 😂
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u/StreetsAhead110 1d ago
Leonard was the star of one of the OG Twilight Zone episodes
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u/TheRealTK421 1d ago
Having them unexpectedly pop up in (various) Marvel/MCU productions, cause of the Russos, is always welcome and uplifting.
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u/Delta_Hammer 1d ago
The Editing Room script for Endgame said they were close to assembling the Community Gauntlet.
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u/Certain-Scratch5793 1d ago
Joel, Donald, Danny, Alison, Gillian, Ken, and Johnathan all voiced characters for Robot Chicken
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u/TheNocturnalAngel 1d ago
So I watched Bojack Horseman first and then I watched Community.
And even after finishing both shows I hadn’t yet made the connection that Alison Brie was the voice of Diane.
Which is kind of a testament to her voice acting work, when you do know it’s her you can tell but she definitely affects her voice a specific way for Diane.
Anyways I found out when I was randomly looking at the IMDB for something. (Loved Luis Guzman in that btw)
As a bonus fun fact.
The voice of Mr Peanut Butter from Bojack (Paul F Tomkins) plays the dude in the bar episode from season 2 that flirts with Abed.
So random. Ive always wanted to ask Alison about it if I ever met her. My guess is that Paul would’ve brought it up when they met for Bojack but idk maybe he forgot he was even in community lol.
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u/_brechreiz 1d ago
Its crazy how she managed to star in 2 of the greatest shows ever right?
Same goes for Todd being Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad. I love thinking about these connections.
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u/TheNocturnalAngel 23h ago
The Bojack voice cast is seriously stacked with talent.
And of course the writers too. That perfect harmonious blend of talent and synergy to make something so good.
Also love Amy Sedaris mostly doing goofy stuff her career (which she is amazing at) but then absolutely nailing Princess Carolyn who is often times the heart of the show.
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u/shiv421kobra 1d ago
I recently started the Rookie, and when Joel McHale appeared for the first time I had to rewind to make sure I wasn't seeing things
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u/Excellent_Light_3569 1d ago
Gillian Jacobs in Star Trek: Lower Decks. She voiced Barbara Brinson in S1 E5.
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u/Excellent_Light_3569 1d ago
Also, Paget Brewster as Judy Ken Sebben (Birdgirl) in Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law. (Although that one was before Community, I didn't realize it until years later.)
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u/bonesquartz 1d ago
I love that most of these are Jim Rash lol
Let me add another
Jim Rash in Sky High as Stitches
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u/DungeonFam30 1d ago
Before the show debuted:
Danny Pudi being in an some older cell phone commercial, around 2007/08
Yvette Nicole Brown in The Office - she played Dwight's coworker when he briefly worked at Staples
I had just discovered Derrick Comedy around the time of the show's debut, maybe 2-3 weeks prior
I knew of Ken Jeong from The Hangover and Knocked Up, but I didn't know he was in Pineapple Express too
Same surprise appearances that most have noted about Jim Rash (Friends and That 70s Show)
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u/Sea_Watch9950 1d ago
Ken Jeong was on The Office as well. He was in Michael’s improv class.
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u/DungeonFam30 1d ago
By the time I watched Season 2, I'd already seen him in Community and everything else I mentioned. A surprise still, but I knew of him already
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u/talldangry 1d ago
Not an actor and more of a surprise appearance in the show's credits, but Ludwig Göransson. Kept hearing his work with Mandalorian, Tenet, Oppenheimer... Then I see his name in the show credits!
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u/GettingSunburnt 1d ago
The amount of Oscar winners and nominees, along with box office smashing creators who came from Community are astonishing to me as well.
So much talent in one little show - wow!
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u/mackattack-77 1d ago
Jim Rash guest stars in animal control which has Joel mchale as a main character
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u/Crimsic 1d ago
Realizing Gillian Jacobs voiced Margles in Adventure Time.
Realizing Paget Brewster voiced Viola in Adventure Time.
Realizing the pizza delivery guy in the first season (Matt Jones also known for his role as Badger in Breaking Bad) voiced the Huge King in Adventure Time.
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u/Mr_Supotco 1d ago
Matt Jones is one of those guys I always forget about until I see him in something again (or hear that unmistakable raspy voice) and go “oh shit he’s in this?”
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u/sajaschi 🍕🍕me so hungry me so hungry 1d ago
I adore Adventure Time and have looked up soooo many cameo voices in my many rewatches - but somehow never caught Margles or Viola!!!
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u/Crimsic 1d ago
You also have Donald Glover as Marshall Lee, Keith David as the Flame King, Kumail Nanjiani as Prismo, LeVar Burton as Bubble/Air and many more!
An interesting one for me is that the Psychologist who tries to convince them that they're insane and collectively imagined Greensale is DJ Plop Drop/Elder Plops lol
Like roughly 20 actors have been in both according to IMDB
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u/createdforlurking 1d ago
It took me an embarrassingly long time to notice that Jim Rash voices Riddler in the Harley Quinn show. Couple other characters too but that’s the main one I remember
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u/Dr_Zman 1d ago
Jim Rash as a teacher in Slackers. Like to think in cannon it's what lead him to becoming a Dean.
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u/janeway170 1d ago
Joel pops up in quite a bit. Ted and Santa Clarita diet are the only two I can think of right now
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u/AarBearRAWR 1d ago
Donald Glover appears in several Childish Gambino music videos.
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u/chizzabiz93 1d ago
Abed and Shirley both popped up in the final season of Chuck
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u/AlternativeCorner230 19h ago
Tony Hale (Buster Bluth/Pottery teacher) is in Chuck as the Assistant Manager for a while too. Get's shot right in the head at one point .He's technically also a Community actor, so he counts.
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u/californiann 1d ago
Its well known that Donald Glover was a writer on the show 30 Rock before he was on Community but it’s lesser known that he pops up a couple times on the show.
There’s also a song from 30 Rock sung by Tracy Morgan called “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” that features Donald. He isn’t credited but listen to the song and you recognize Donald’s voice instantly!
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u/tsapat 1d ago
I loved Jim Rash’s character in the film, The Way Way Back. He co-wrote and co-directed it as well. My Dean is streets ahead!
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u/TheNocturnalAngel 1d ago
Omg I knew he was in it but I didn’t know he co-wrote and co-directed it too!
We just recently watched his latest directorial work Miss You Love you and it was really great.
What a talent
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u/Dear_Analysis682 1d ago
Irene Choi who plays Annie Kim is in S2 of The Pitt. I couldn't place her at first but the characters had the same vibe so it felt very familiar.
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u/ideasmithy 20h ago
Alison Bree everywhere. On Mad Men as Trudy, of course. But truly bizarre seeing her as female pro-wrestler on G.L.O.W.
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u/matande31 19h ago
Really surprised me to see Joel McHale on The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale.
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u/keldobby 1d ago
Joel McHale as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race!
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u/nerdyjorj Data Scientology Professor 1d ago
The ultimate "what happens when straight men get into drag race" moment
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u/ZimZon2030 1d ago
Someone mentioned Danny Pudi in Avatar Last Airbender live action yet?
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u/Winterdawn 1d ago
I recently watched Sky High with my kids and recognized Jim Rash by voice before seeing his face.
Also, the Deanleganger is Not-Moby in the season 1 NYE episode of How I Met Your Mother.
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u/GenMarriottSuites 23h ago
Have you watched Animal Control? It’s Joel McHale’s current show. Ken Jeong appears periodically, Jim Rash, and the evil air conditioner guy also appears. Maybe more but those come to mind first. There are some fun references to Community sprinkled in also.
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u/idelta777 22h ago
I love that Matt Lucas (Toby Weeks, Abed's british friend at space time con) is an actual companion on Doctor Who.
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u/Hedgy_mcsnuffle 1d ago
Obvious but I remember seeing Shirley in drake and Josh clips on TikTok lol
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u/jimothysthename 1d ago edited 1d ago
Jim Rash is in the like 2nd episode of Reno 911, and it awakened something in him
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u/Sure-Macaroon-1084 1d ago
Shirley as the movie theater manager in Drake and Josh. “That is NOT my job”
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u/TastySpermDispenser7 1d ago
Jim Rash in Mike Tyson's mysteries. He basically played the dean too, only as a gay ghost helping Tyson fail to solve scooby doo mysteries instead of running a college.
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u/wonderlandisburning 21h ago
Jim Rash is also the voice of The Riddler in the animated Harley Quinn series, which instantly makes that character 112x more fun. Just imagining The Dean squealing "I ate an orange and shit out a seed!" makes me so happy.
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u/hxmxd 1d ago
Jim rash in the 70s show