Will Arnett has done a lot of other projects since Arrested Development, but of course he’ll always be Gob Bluth to so many of us above all else since it’s considered one of the best sitcoms of all time. The actor, who’s been receiving a lot of praise for his role in Is This Thing On?, recently reflected on being on the set of Arrested Development in the early days, and how he had no idea it would become so beloved.

Arrested Development is the sort of show that has just kept coming back for Arnett, and his costars. The original run of the series (on Fox) was actually cancelled after three seasons, before it was revived by Netflix in 2013, and again in 2018. Arnett also regularly hangs out another member of the Bluths (one of the most famous sitcom families), Jason Bateman, on their successful podcast Smartless, which they started back in 2020. Here’s what Arnett recently told Rolling Stone about the early days of the series:

One can understand this. Sure, Arrested Development is undoubtedly funny, but it might not have been clear on set if the humor would come across. At the time, Arnett was new to the industry and said he was “desperate to get a sitcom.” He told the magazine that he wanted to do sketch comedy, improv or stand-up, but “didn’t have the luxury” to do so. So nabbing Arrested Development was the big break he was looking for. As he also shared:

Arrested Development may have been hilarious from the get-go, but it’s one of the many funny TV shows that got even more popular on streaming – leading to its revival later on. The series made Arnett famous for playing a TV character we love to hate in Gob Bluth, and as a result of being known for the role, the actor said that fans do everything from the chicken dance to telling him he’s made a “huge mistake,” like the character’s famous quote.

Right now, you check out Will Arnett in his new movie Is This Thing On? in theaters, which was directed by Bradley Cooper. The dramedy is about a man dealing with divorce who takes up standup comedy. And, of course you can stream Arrested Development with a Netflix subscription.

Ever since Grand Theft Auto made the jump to 3D back in 2001, the outrageously popular video game franchise has given gamers some of the most cinematic gaming experiences of all time. While the stories, graphics, and sandbox open worlds have certainly helped in this regard, a lot of that “cinema” quality comes from the games’ A-list casts.

Here are 32 celebrities who appeared in Grand Theft Auto games, be it as a protagonist (or antagonist most of the time) or as DJs for the franchise’s iconic radio stations. There is a lot to go over, so let’s get to it…

Samuel L. Jackson (Frank Tenpenny)

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas took the franchise to new heights back in 2004, and a lot of that was due to the show-stealing performance by Samuel L. Jackson as crooked Los Santos police officer and primary antagonist Frank Tenpenny. The corrupt cop, who made life miserable for protagonist Carl “CJ” Johnson, was a villain you loved to hate.

Ray Liotta (Tommy Vercetti)

Before the late Ray Liotta voiced Tommy Vercetti in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in 2002, none of the protagonists had a voice, or personality for that matter. That all changed when gamers took control of the revenge-driven mobster and walked the neon-lit streets and crowded beaches of this landmark game.

Burt Reynolds (Avery Carrington)

The supporting casts in each of the Grand Theft Auto games have been just as legendary as the primary heroes and villains, and the late Burt Reynolds helped make Grand Theft Auto: Vice City one of the best in this regard. His portrayal of cowboy land developer Avery Carrington was lights out. It’s just a shame we didn’t get more.

William Fichtner (Ken Rosenberg)

In addition to showing up in most of Michael Bay’s best movies, William Fichtner has appeared in a pair of the best Grand Theft Auto games. First introduced as anxiety-ridden and paranoid attorney Ken Rosenberg in Vice City, Fichtner would reprise the role in San Andreas, where Ken was just as insane.

Joe Pantoliano (Luigi Goterelli)

Joe Pantoliano, aka Joey Pants, was just one of many actors known for playing mobsters to show up in Grand Theft Auto III with his portrayal of Luigi Goterelli. The club owner, who is the first to give silent protagonist Claude some work in Liberty City, was made all the better by Pantoliano’s explosive dialogue.

Michael Madsen (Toni Cipriani)

The late Michael Madsen, best known for his work in some of Quentin Tarantino’s best movies, had a supporting role in Grand Theft Auto III. Madsen’s Toni Cipriani, a high-ranking member of the Leone Family crime syndicate, was a major player in the early goings of the game.

Cara Delevingne (DJ Cara)

Though Cara Delevingne’s character is never seen in Grand Theft Auto V, DJ Cara is one of the most engaging and hilarious DJs on the game’s vast collection of radio channels. Her transitions and commentary between tracks for Non Stop Pop FM are worth checking out, even if you don’t want to play the game.

Kyle MacLachlan (Donald Love)

Donald Love, the morally ambiguous owner of Love Media and Liberty City developer who gives the player some wild missions along the way, was voiced by Kyle MacLachlan in Grand Theft Auto III. Willing to do anything and everything to obtain power and money, Love was one of the strangest and most mysterious characters of the franchise.

Dennis Hopper (Steve Scott)

It’s hard to imagine anyone but Dennis Hopper providing the voice of Steve Scott in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The shark-obsessed and ambitious adult film director was one of the main allies Tommy Vercetti made along the way, even if his missions got out of hand!

Philip Michael Thomas (Lance Vance)

Lance Vance started as one of Tommy Vercetti’s most trusted allies, only to become his biggest rival in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City when he wanted a larger slice of the pie. Having the character voiced by Miami Vice star Philip Michael Thomas was just one of the many callbacks to the iconic ‘80s show.

Chris Penn (Eddie Pulaski)

Chris Penn played secondary antagonist Eddie Pulaski, one of the crooked C.R.A.S.H. officers, in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Officer Tenpenny’s right-hand man, this diabolical cop went to great lengths to get under CJ’s skin.

Debbie Harry (Doris)

Legendary punk and fashion icon Debbie Harry showed up in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City when she provided the voice of Doris. The Blondie singer did a great job of giving the Kaufman Cab dispatcher a whole lot of attitude, which led to some great interactions with Tommy Vercetti.

Danny Trejo (Umberto Robina)

Danny Trejo was already on his way to becoming one of the most well-known character actors in Hollywood when he portrayed Cuban gang leader Umberto Robina in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The crime boss gave Tommy Vercetti a number of missions throughout the midsection of the 2002 game.

Katt Williams (Himself)

Grand Theft Auto IV didn’t see as many celebrities voicing characters as previous iterations, but there were still a fair number of big stars in the game. In the case of Katt Williams, the comedian played himself in one of the in-game stand-up routines that protagonist Niko Bellic could watch throughout the game.

Jason Sudeikis (Richard Bastion)

Long before he played Ted Lasso (both in those wild NBC commercials and the popular Apple TV+ series), Jason Sudeikis played a very different type of American character in Grand Theft Auto IV. Sudeikis, who was still on SNL at the time, voiced Richard Bastion, the host of a right-wing call-in show on WKTT talk radio.

Wil Wheaton (Various Characters)

Stand By Me and Star Trek: The Next Generation star Wil Wheaton voiced various characters in the Grand Theft Auto universe. In 2004’s San Andreas, Wheaton was the voice of Richard Burns, a reporter for WCTR, a role he reprised in Liberty City Stories the following year. He would also voice an alien in Grand Theft Auto V.

Ricky Gervais (Himself)

Ricky Gervais brought his brand of comedy to the digital world in Grand Theft Auto IV when he performed an extended stand-up routine in one of Liberty City’s comedy clubs. The 10-minute in-game activity has the comedian’s signature wit and knack for telling uncomfortable jokes in a hilarious way.

Michael Rapaport (Joey Leone)

Michael Rapaport was one of the big-name actors who made the Grand Theft Auto III cast one of the best of all time when he played Joey Leone. The son of Salvatore Leone was one of the player’s earliest contacts, and his missions remain some of the best in the game’s early stages.

Robert Loggia (Ray Machowski)

Though he didn’t reprise his iconic Scarface role (or at least something similar to Frank Lopez) in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Robert Loggia did have a great part in Grand Theft Auto III one year earlier. There are some wild characters in the 2001 game, but corrupt police officer Ray Machowski was in a league of his own. Kudos to those who still have his bulletproof Patriot in the garages after all these years.

Will Forte (Martin Serious)

Saturday Night Live alum (and WWE Raw host) Will Forte showed up in Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and the Damned, the first of two DLC expansions for the 2008 game. In the game, Forte provides the voice of Martin Serious, a shock jock in the vein of Howard Stern on WKTT talk radio.

Robert Davi (Juan Cortez)

Robert Davi, who appeared in movies like The Goonies and Raw Deal in the ‘80s, showed up in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City as Juan Cortez, a retired Central American colonel and drug kingpin. The mysterious character, who admired Tommy Vercetti a great deal, provided for some wild (and difficult) missions.

Danny McBride (Duane Earl)

Danny McBride gave players one of the funniest radio DJs in the state of San Andreas when he voiced Duane Earl in Grand Theft Auto V. Host of the Beyond Insemination program on Blaine County Radio (this only became available after leaving Los Santos), Earl was right up there with McBride’s most well-known character, Kenny Powers.

Axl Rose (Tommy ‘The Nightmare’ Smith)

In addition to featuring Guns N’ Roses’ legendary “Welcome to the Jungle” track (it was also in the game’s trailer), Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas also had the band’s lead singer, Axl Rose, portray a radio DJ. Tommy “The Nightmare” Smith could be heard on K-DST radio, aka, The Dust.

Lee Majors (Mitch Baker)

Lee Majors gave his voice to one of the coolest characters in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City with his portrayal of “Big” Mitch Baker, the leader of a biker gang and owner of the Greasy Chopper bar. A major player late in the game, Baker worked with Tommy Vercetti for multiple jobs, including the Love Fist concert.

Tom Sizemore (Sonny Forelli)

On top of playing some of the craziest characters in Hollywood history, the late Tom Sizemore also voiced an unforgettable villain in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Sonny Forelli, the primary antagonist and leader of the Forelli Crime Family, was willing to do anything and everything to make life messy for Tommy Vercetti, which ultimately cost him in the end.

Phil Collins (Himself)

Phil Collins, yes, the Phil Collins, played himself in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. The PSP game, which later came to PS2, featured the “In the Air Tonight” singer in a daring mission where the player had to thwart an assassination attempt. If the player beats the mission and pays $6,000 for a ticket, they can watch a full performance of Collins’ most popular song.

Ice-T (Madd Dogg)

Los Santos rapper Madd Dogg has one of the craziest and most unforgettable arcs in all of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. From having his lyric book and career stolen from him to thinking about ending things before going to rehab to becoming the biggest rapper on the planet, he goes through it. The story is made even better with rapper-turned-actor Ice-T bringing the character to life.

Faizon Love (Sweet)

Though Sweet may be the most annoying character in the entire Grand Theft Auto franchise (well, outside of Roman Bellic), Faizon Love’s performance in San Andreas is great. The Friday and The Parent ‘Hood actor went all-in with his portrayal of Sean “Sweet” Johnson, the older brother to the game’s protagonist. Sweet could be a lot at times, but Love added so much to the character.

James Woods (Mike Toreno)

Every Grand Theft Auto game has a character that’s so out there, they live in a world beyond good and evil. In the case of San Andreas, that responsibility falls into the lap of Mike Toreno, an undercover agent working for an unnamed and shadowy government agency voiced by James Woods. It’s hard to think of another actor who could play Toreno better than the Casino and Once Upon a Time in America actor.

Charlie Murphy (Jizzy B.)

Though we didn’t get to see too much of Jizzy B. before CJ took him out in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, this performance by the late Charlie Murphy made the owner of the Pleasure Domes nightclub a character many of us still think about 20-plus years later. The Loco Syndicate member was mean, vicious, and a little pathetic, but he was so much fun to watch.

Peter Fonda (The Truth)

The late, great Peter Fonda portrayed one of the wildest and most bizarre characters in Grand Theft Auto history when he took on the role of The Truth in San Andreas. A spiritual character who wasn’t shy of violence (or at least having CJ do his dirty work), the free-thinking and otherworldly ally was there for some of the game’s signature moments.

David Cross (Zero)

There’s a large portion of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas players who have never beaten all of Zero’s missions, so don’t even try to lie about it. Though most of us didn’t see his story to completion, the electronics expert and owner of Zero RC voiced by comedian David Cross is still beloved to this day. Just don’t ask us to beat the infamous “Supply Lines” level.

While Saturday Night Live may be the most recognizable and, easily, the longest-lasting sketch comedy series in American history, there have been others, in case you didn’t know. In fact, there are quite a few legendary comedic actors who got their start in sketch comedy and have even been prominently featured in some great SNL sketches as hosts, but have never called Studio 8H home… as regular cast members, at least. The following are some of our favorite well-known masters of mirth who did sketch comedy, but weren't SNL cast members. 

Jordan Peele

Before becoming known as the mastermind behind some of the best horror movies in recent memory, Jordan Peele made a name for himself as a MADtv cast member, and later, as one-half of Key & Peele’s eponymous duo on Comedy Central. The Academy Award winner was actually offered to be on SNL, but was unable to break from his contract with MADtv, which is why he left the Fox series on bad terms after five years.

Carol Burnett 

Carol Burnett has been one of the most essential names in comedy for decades, but you can find much of her most iconic performances — such as a timeless Gone with the Wind parody — on her own long-running variety show, The Carol Burnett Show. Following her dramatic turn on Better Call Saul, a viral campaign was launched for her to host SNL, which, very shockingly, would be the first time.

John Candy

The late John Candy is one of the most beloved comedic talents of all time, known for great movies like Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains & Automobiles. For years, the actor’s claim to fame was Canada’s SCTV, on which he debuted characters like Johnny LaRue, whom he based off of rude people he knew and “wanted to get back at.”

Dave Chappelle

Any time that Dave Chappelle has hosted SNL, it always seems to spark controversy for one reason or another, which should come as no shock to anyone who watched the Emmy-nominated Chappelle’s Show. Running from 2003 to 2006 on Comedy Central, the series reflected the comic’s risqué, but thought-provoking, humor and featured now iconic bits including recreations of true stories about Rick James and Prince and an epic Wayne Brady cameo.

Jamie Foxx

Multi-talented Academy Award winner and Grammy winner Jamie Foxx has proved to be an absolute natural when he shows up at Studio 8H. After all, the Spider-Man movie villain actor — who also had his own sitcom featuring SNL alum Garrett Morris called The Jamie Foxx Show — did get his start on In Living Color from 1991 to 1994.

Eric Idle

There are some really weird SNL sketches that toe the line between terrible and amazing, but none have reached quite the level of distinct surrealism that Monty Python’s Flying Circus is defined by. One of the most famous members of the eponymous British comedy troupe is Eric Idle (i.e. “Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, say no more”), who would headline at Studio 8H four times in the ‘70s.

Catherine O'Hara

In addition to her epic film career — including the Home Alone movies, Beetlejuice, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, to name a few — Catherine O’Hara’s small screen career has earned her two Emmy awards. Her more recent win was for playing Moira Rose in the Schitt’s Creek cast, but there first was as a writer for SCTV, on which she also inspired laughs as a cast member.

Bob Odenkirk 

Future Breaking Bad cast member Bob Odenkirk actually wrote some beloved SNL sketches, such as Chris Farley’s first appearance as Matt Foley. His skills as a sketch comedy performer, however, could be seen in the 1990s on the short-lived The Ben Stiller Show, the more successful HBO series, Mr. Show with Bob & David, and its Netflix original revival, W/ Bob & David, in 2015.

Michael Richards

Years before starring in the Seinfeld cast as one of the funniest sitcom characters ever, Cosmo Kramer, Michael Richards portrayed various characters on Fridays. The short-lived sketch comedy — essentially ABC’s answer to Saturday Night Live — is also where the three-time Emmy winner met Seinfeld creator Larry David.

Jim Carrey

There are few living comedic legends as widely celebrated as Jim Carrey, who has hosted SNL a number of times and even signed on as the show’s resident Joe Biden for a brief period. What first led the Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber actor on the path to stardom was his four-year stint on In Living Color, on which he debuted characters like Fire Marshall Bill, which came out of a failed sketch idea, apparently.

Aziz Ansari

Along with The League star Paul Scheer and Children’s Hospital actor Rob Huebel, Aziz Ansari formed a comedy troupe called Human Giant, who led their own titular sketch series that lasted for 20 episodes on MTV. The comic — who has also hosted SNL before — saw his star power rise when he joined the Parks and Recreation cast and went on to play one of best South Asian TV characters in recent memory on Netflix’s Master of None, which he also co-created. 

Rowan Atkinson

While most people associate him best with Mr. Bean these days, there are many great Rowan Atkinson movies and TV shows that pre-date his debut as the famous man-child. For instance, one of the the British comedian’s earliest claims to fame was a sketch comedy series called Not the Nine O'Clock News, which ran from 1979 to 1982 on the BBC.

Eric Wareheim

A series that best defines the surreal humor that Adult Swim is known for is Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, in which Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim portray various characters in strange situations in sketches the drip of a low-budget. Wareheim has done many notable things on his own — such as his starring role on Master of None and recurring character on Bob’s Burger — but the duo still works together on shows like Tim & Eric’s Bedtime Stories or the sitcom parody Beef House from 2020.

Goldie Hawn

A show that largely inspired SNL was Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In — which, also like SNL, served as a jumping off point for many stellar careers, such as Lily Tomlin and Richard Dawson. Perhaps its most icon and successful alum, however, is one-time Hollywood It Girl Goldie Hawn, who won an Oscar for Cactus Flower very shortly after leaving the show and before going on to lead classics like Private Benjamin and Overboard.

Eugene Levy

Before starring in the American Pie cast, before Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, and before many other great Eugene Levy movies and TV shows, the Canadian actor gained notoriety as party of Second City. His stint on the eponymous, Emmy-winning sketch series, SCTV, also saw the beginning of professional and personal relationship with the likes of John Candy, his Schitt’s Creek co-star Catherine O’Hara, and plenty more.

Flip Wilson

In the early 1970s, before SNL’s premiere, Flip Wilson hosted his own variety show, which was one of the most popular series on television during its four-year run on NBC. The most famous character the comedian portrayed on The Flip Wilson Show was a boisterous woman named Geraldine, whom he resurrected when he hosted SNL in 1983.

John Cleese

John Cleese — also known for writing and starring in the classic con artist movie, A Fish Called Wanda, and voicing the King in the Shrek movies — has never hosted SNL, but did appear on an episode with fellow Monty Python member, Michael Palin, in 1997. In addition to a cold open poking fun at the recently instituted TV ratings system, Cleese and Palin performed a special recreation of one of the most famous Monty Python’s Flying Circus sketches, “Dead Parrot.”

Bobby Lee

Known for characters like counter-productive translator Bae Sung, wannabe tough guy Tank, or Bruce Lee’s cousin, Bobby Lee is one of MADtv’s most notable success stories. The Korean-American became a staple of the Harold and Kumar movies, landed recurring roles on show like Magnum P.I. and Reservation Dogs, has moonlighted as the host of podcasts TigerBelly and Bad Friends, and plenty more to boast.

David Cross

From playing Tobias Funke — a character who could totally ruin Thanksgiving — on Arrested Development to appearing in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies, David Cross has a pretty stacked and reputable resume. What set the path for the comedian’s success was co-headlining (along with Bob Odenkirk) HBO’s Mr. Show, on which he debuted a character who got his own movie in 2002 called Run Ronnie Run.

David Alan Grier

Arguably David Alan Grier’s most famous character from his In Living Color tenure was Antoine Meriwether — one half of a duo also consisting of Damon Wayans’ Blaine Edwards. The They Cloned Tyrone cast member — who hosted SNL a couple of times in the ‘90s — reprised the flamboyant film critic on an SNL episode hosted by Wayans.

Rick Moranis

The beloved Rick Moranis has starred in many funny movies, such as Ghostbusters from 1984 and 1983’s Strange Brew. The latter was the film debut of Bob McKenzie — a stereotypical hoser he originated on SCTV alongside Dave Thomas as his brother, Doug.

Tracey Ullman

Tracey Ullman was cast on a few different sketch comedy shows — such as BBC’s A Kick Up the Eighties — before becoming the star of her own in 1987, which also saw the debut appearances of the Simpsons. Fox’s The Tracey Ullman Show was actually just one of many sketch series that the British comedian would headline, such as HBO’s Tracey Takes On… and Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union.

Keegan-Michael Key

In 2021, Keegan-Michael Key became the first MADtv alum to host SNL, which saw him reunite with this fellow Schmigadoon cast member, Cecily Strong. The episode — in which Key broke into laughter during a sketch featuring the Muppets —  was certainly a Season 46 highlight, but could have been even better if he brought back characters from some of the best Key & Peele sketches, like Luther.

Jennifer Saunders

Arguably, the most iconic duo Jennifer Saunders is a part of comes from Absolutely Fabulous, in which she plays Edina opposite Joanna Lumley’s Patsy. However, a sketch comedy that both predates and surpasses that long-running Britcom is French and Saunders, in which Saunders and her fellow Death on the Nile cast member, Dawn French, cleverly send-up everyday life in the U.K. and American cinema.

Larry David

In a story shared to Vanity Fair that mirrors one of the best Seinfeld episodes, the sitcom’s co-creator, Larry David, once quit his SNL writing gig in a rage, only to return on Monday acting like it never happened. Years later, he would make semi-regular appearances on the show as Bernie Sanders but, prior to all of this, the Curb Your Enthusiasm star was a performer on Fridays from 1980 to 1982.

Tim Heidecker

Tim Heidecker is best known as one half of the eponymous duo from Adult Swim’s hit sketch comedy series, Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! On his own, the Us actor has made waves in the comedy world with the 2012 dramedy, The Comedy, or for an ongoing, multi-media big following his fictionalized self’s murder trial.

Carrie Brownstein

Carrie Brownstein has been on SNL a few times — including once as herself for an edition of “What Up With That?” that did not go as planned, thanks to Samuel L. Jackson’s F-bomb. The musician and actor has also shared the screen with several Studio 8H all-stars on Portlandia, including her co-star and co-creator of the Portland, Oregon-based sketch show: Fred Armisen.

Stephen Fry

Before earning a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in Wilde in 1999, later appearing in Amazon’s adaptation of Red, White and Royal Blue, and other versatile achievements, Stephen Fry was partners in comedy with House’s Hugh Laurie on BBC’s A Bit of Fry & Laurie form 1989 to 1995. Earlier than that, the pair were on another British sketch comedy show with future Harry Potter movies stars Emma Thompson and Robbie Coltrane called Alfresco. 

Michael Ian Black

Michael Ian Black is, perhaps, best known from Wet Hot American Summer and its Netflix original series spin-offs, but many of his collaborators on that cult comedy favorite — including director David Wain and his co-writer Michael Showalter — were on MTV’s The State together. Black later worked with Wain and Showalter on a sketch series called Stella and then headlined a sketch comedy/sitcom hybrid with Showalter for Comedy Central called Michael & Michael Have Issues in 2009.

Amy Schumer

One of the biggest names in stand-up is Amy Schumer, whose notoriety expanded after her Golden Globe-nominated performance opposite SNL’s Bill Hader in 2015’s Trainwreck, which she also wrote. Before then, however, the comedian’s stardom certainly rose after she scored her own Comedy Central show called Inside Amy Schumer, which won three Emmys — including Outstanding Variety Sketch Series.

Tim Conway

It may have been Carol’s show, but one could argue that the funniest cast member from The Carol Burnett Show was Tim Conway, who passed away in 2019. Some of his most memorable moments do not even involve the eponymous host, such as a sketch where he plays a clumsy doctor that had co-star, Harvey Korman, in stitches.

Amanda Bynes

Kenan Thompson — one of the longest-running SNL actors ever — is easily one of the biggest stars to start out on All That (essentially SNL, but with kids), but his co-star, Amanda Bynes, was the first to get her own sketch comedy series: The Amanda Show. Her post-Nickelodeon career includes leading the sitcom What I Like About You and movies like the Shakespeare-inspired rom-com, She’s the Man.

We still have nothing but love for our favorite iconic SNL actors, but also recognize that they do not make up all of our most cherished heroes in sketch comedy.

Typically, actors will work their hardest to promote a film to the best of their ability... at first, that is. Sometimes, years (or months) after said movie releases, the stars will not hold back on their true feelings. See for yourself by taking a look at some of the, so-called, worst movies starring famous actors who would admit that even they agree with the most brutal critiques.

Ben Affleck (Daredevil)

Most would agree that he is one of the best live-action Batman actors, but Ben Affleck’s first stab at playing a superhero in 2003 was not very well received. The actor himself wasn't pleased either, as he told EW (via E!) that he agrees Daredevil “didn’t work, at all.” However, he later explained that what he appreciates about DD is that his commitment to accurately portraying Matt Murdock’s blindness paid off, at least.

Christian Bale (Newsies)

Newsies — a musical retelling of the 1899 New York newsboy strike — was a flop for Disney in 1992 but gained a cult following that star Christian Bale is not a part of. He told EW that the “wounds” he feels he suffered from starring in it healed over time. We suppose leading some great live-action Batman movies and winning an Oscar for The Fighter helped him as well. 

Halle Berry (Catwoman) 

When Halle Berry accepted her Razzie for Worst Actress of 2004 for Catwoman in person, she was one of the few actors to do so and thanked Warner Bros. for putting her in such a “god-awful movie.” At least the actor — who also has an Oscar for Monster’s Ball and a few well-received comic book movies under her belt (the X-Men movies) — has a sense of humor about starring in a DC movie that even John Rogers, one of its writers, thinks is bad.

Josh Brolin (Jonah Hex)

Future MCU and Deadpool 2 star Josh Brolin made his comic book movie debut in 2010 as the titular character in the DC Comics-inspired Western, Jonah Hex. The actor (and star of one of the best Neo-Westerns and, simply, best movies of the 2000s, No Country for Old Men) later told CBR (via CinemaBlend) that he would remake it if he had the chance, as he was not happy with how it turned out.

Sandra Bullock (Speed 2: Cruise Control)

Speed is considered one of the best action movies of all time, but Speed 2: Cruise Control is not remembered so fondly by most, including star Sandra Bullock. The Oscar winner brought up the 1997 sequel — which is set on a cruise ship — when asked by TooFab about movies she was initially embarrassed by before coming around later. However she never actually changed her tune on this one.

George Clooney (Batman & Robin)

While there are some people who actually do enjoy Batman & Robin, George Clooney — who played Bruce Wayne in the 1997 flop — is not one of them. On The Graham Norton Show, the Oscar winner talked about his propensity to constantly apologize for, as he believed at the time, ruining the Dark Knight’s big screen legacy forever, before Christopher Nolan saved it.

Sean Connery (The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen)

It's a shame to learn that an actor is not proud of their final live-action acting credit and such is the case with the late Sean Connery and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The former James Bond actor recalled in a 2007 interview unearthed by Heat Vision (via THR) how he tried to salvage the 2003 Alan Moore adaptation in the editing room and described director Stephen Norrington as insane.

David Cross (Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked)

According to The Washington Post, David Cross once felt the need to defend his participation in 2007’s Alvin and the Chipmunks, but he wasn't so kind about its 2011 threequel. During an appearance on Conan, the comedian recalled his “miserable” experience making Chipwrecked and recommended that the audience that was present not see the family film.

Viola Davis (The Help)

Even though her performance as 1960s Mississippi maid Abilene expanded her notoriety and earned her an Oscar nomination, Viola Davis regrets starring in 2011’s The Help. As she told Vanity Fair, “there’s a part of me that feels like I betrayed myself, and my people, because I was in a movie that wasn’t ready to [tell the whole truth]” and was “created in the filter and the cesspool of systemic racism.” 

Colin Farrell (Miami Vice)

When Michael Mann brought Miami Vice to the big screen in 2006, the action flick did not get the best reviews, based on its Rotten Tomatoes score of 47%. Lead actor Colin Farrell wasn’t too hot on it either, revealing to Total Film (via Far Out) that he “didn’t like it so much,” adding he felt it was “style over substance." Additionally, he even accepts some of the responsibility for that.

Crispin Glover (Back To The Future)

How could anyone dislike one of the best time travel movies ever made, 1985's Back to the Future? Well, George McFly actor Crispin Glover told AV Club that he felt the ending — which saw Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly return to an alternate present in which his family is rich — sent a misguided message, which is why he opted not to appear in the sequels.

Alec Guinness (Star Wars)

The Force was not strong with the Star Wars movies’ original Obi-Wan Kenobi actor, Alec Guinness, apparently. In 1975, the Oscar winner wrote a letter to his friend, Anne Kaufman — which was quoted in his biography and republished by Business Insider in 2013 — describing George Lucas’ script as “fairy-tale rubbish.”

Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up)

In 2008, Knocked Up cast member Katherine Heigl told Vanity Fair that it was “hard for [her] to love the movie,” as she believed it portrayed women in an unfavorable light. While the 2007 comedy is still remembered as one of the best Judd Apatow movies, the former Grey’s Anatomy cast member’s honest comments about sexism would have a negative impact on her career, unfortunately.

Bob Hoskins (Super Mario Bros.)

In 2011, the late Bob Hoskins was asked by The Guardian about his worst job, biggest disappointment, and element he would edit out from his past? His answer to each question was the infamous video game movie adaptation, Super Mario Bros., from 1993.

Jennifer Lawrence (Passengers)

Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence revealed to The New York Times that Adele actually recommended she should say “no” to 2016’s Passengers — in which she and Chris Pratt's characters wake up from a commercial interplanetary journey way too early. Lawrence then said she wished she hadn't ignored the advice from the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter.

Lindsay Lohan (I Know Who Killed Me)

According to a 2013 report by The Daily Mail, Lindsay Lohan was once tweeted at by a fan who told her she had watched I Know Who Killed Me twice the night before. The Parent Trap star replied by saying this fan had watched the 2007 psychological thriller “two times too many.”

Bill Murray (Garfield)

When Bill Murray said he regretted making Garfield during his iconic Zombieland cameo, that was not just a joke. In fact, it was during an interview with GQ that Murray said the only reason he agreed to voice the 2004 live-action movie’s titular cat was because he thought one of the Coen Brothers was writing it, only to learn too late that the scribe was Joel Cohen.

Paul Newman (The Silver Chalice)

According to the Irish Film Institute, Paul Newman’s choice for the “worst motion picture produced during the 1950s” was his screen acting debut: The Silver Chalice. Despite his feelings about it, the late, legendary actor actually received a “Most Promising Newcomer” Golden Globe nomination for playing the Holy Grail’s sculptor in the 1954 drama.

Robert Pattinson (Twilight)

There's no denying that playing Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies made Robert Pattinson the star he is now, but that doesn't change the fact that he's not big on the films. His 2011 interview with Vanity Fair, in which he says “representing something you don’t particularly like” is “weird” in reference to the teen vampire romance stories, is just one of many times the Batman actor has admitted to this.

Christopher Plummer (The Sound Of Music)

When asked about his most challenging role during a roundtable interview with THR, Christopher Plummer’s answer was Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music. His reasoning was nothing akin to Julie Andrews’ rough time shooting the iconic hill sequence, but was that he found the beloved 1965 musical itself to be “so awful and sentimental and gooey.”

Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern)

Has an actor ever been more shamelessly and frequently vocal about their disdain for their own work than Ryan Reynolds with Green Lantern? Most recently, Reynolds shared his horrified reaction to the 2009 DC flick at London’s Just for Laughs festival in 2023 (according to The Independent). But his most public and unapologetic expression of disappointment can be seen in both Deadpool movies.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Red Sonja)

While recognized as a cult favorite today, Red Sonja — which is being rebooted — is certainly not a film Arnold Schwarzenegger would call one of his best movies. In fact, the former California governor is quoted in Far Out as saying that he used to punish his children by forcing them to watch the 1985 comic book adaptation, which stars Brigette Nielsen as the titular warrior.

Sylvester Stallone (Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot) 

Apparently, Sylvester Stallone has Arnold Schwarzenegger to blame for his decision to star in Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, which the Rocky star later told Ain’t It Cool News was “one of the worst movies in the entire solar system.” According to SlashFilm, the Terminator star revealed he tricked his then-rival, Stallone, into signing on for the panned 1992 comedy by feigning interest in the script.

Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra)

Radio host Howard Stern once named G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra as guest Channing Tatum’s star-making moment. In turn, Tatum bluntly admitted he hates the 2009 cinematic adaptation of the action figure line, claiming he was “pushed into” making it by Paramount. That explains why he requested to be killed off in the 2013 sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

Charlize Theron (Reindeer Games)

Academy Award winner Charlize Theron did not hold back when telling Esquire that she believes 2000’s Reindeer Games is a “bad, bad, bad movie.” However, she does not regret starring in the Ben Affleck-led Christmas action flick, as it a gave her the chance to work with director John Frankenheimer.

Mark Wahlberg (The Happening)

On a ranked list of M. Night Shyamalan movies, most people might put The Happening at a pretty low spot, including one of its stars. During a press conference for The Fighter, Mark Wahlberg admitted that he does not like The Happening either in an expletive-filled tirade. This came after he revealed that Amy Adams was up for Zooey Deschanel’s part in the unintentionally hilarious 2009 disaster thriller.

Sam Worthington (Clash Of The Titans)

Despite the fact that 2010's Clash of the Titans remake is one of his bigger hits outside of the Avatar movies, Sam Worthington is not a fan. He revealed to IndieWire that he put the blame on his “bland performance” as Perseus and promised to make up for it with the 2012 sequel, Wrath of the Titans.

Gwyneth Paltrow (Shallow Hal)

When Gwyneth Paltrow tested her friend and assistant Kevin Keating’s knowledge of her for a video on Netflix’s X account, he (almost) correctly names her least favorite performance of hers as Rosemary in Shallow Hal. The Academy Award winner and MCU star then describes the Farrelly Brothers’ 2001 fantasy rom-com, which also stars Jack Black, as a “disaster.”

Nicole Kidman (Australia)

Nicole Kidman revealed in an interview with a Sydney radio station (via Daily Mail) that she rarely watches her own movies but did attend the premiere of Australia, which reunited her with Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann. However, she found herself squirming in her seat over her performance in the 2009 romantic period drama, which paired her with Hugh Jackman.

Alec Baldwin (Rock Of Ages)

His fondness for director Adam Shankman and admiration for the all-star cast, including Tom Cruise and Catherine Zeta-Jones, convinced Alec Baldwin to star in Rock of Ages. However, as he revealed in a 2013 interview with American Magazine Media Conference in New York (via The Wrap), the 2012 movie based on a Broadway hit featuring ’80s rock tunes was a “complete disaster” in his eyes.

Brad Pitt (The Devil’s Own)

An action movie starring Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt sounds like a surefire success by those details alone but, as Pitt would share with Newsweek, The Devil’s Own is not all it's cracked up to be. Apparently, the 1997 thriller was a disaster from behind the scenes with the cast and crew being forced to make up the story as they went along after the previous “great script” was “tossed for various reasons.” In addition, Pitt and Ford couldn't get on the same page.

James Franco (Your Highness)

When James Franco jokes about not wanting to do a homemade sequel to 2011’s Your Highness in This is the End, he wasn't exactly kidding. The actor told GQ in 2013 that he thinks the medieval stoner comedy from director David Gordon Green “sucks."

Whether or not you agree with these celebrities’ opinion of their own films, you cannot deny that it takes guts for an actor to admit when one of their own films missed the mark in their eyes.

Impractical Jokers obviously looked a little different when it returned to truTV for the remainder of Season 9, with longtime star Joe Gatto having exited the series at the tail end of 2021. Thankfully, the trio of Brian Quinn, James Murray and Sal Vulcano chose to soldier on with new episodes featuring a bevy of hilarious and beloved entertainers, from AEW superstar Chris Jericho to our current topic of conversation, Arrested Development and Genius vet David Cross. The recent Station Eleven recurrer is the latest guest star to join the Impractical Jokers extended family, and talked to CinemaBlend about how much fun he had hanging out with the guys, despite otherwise not having much of a taste for prank-related shows.

 When I asked David Cross how the Impractical Jokers spot came to him, he noted that he wasn’t a viewer ahead of being offered the opp, but that he rather quickly understood and enjoyed the show’s central hook. In his words:

I can absolutely understand where David Cross was coming from, as I also have a fairly limited palate when it comes to shows that go heavy on pranksters making normal people look like complete fools. (Although that said, I could admittedly watch Scare Tactics on repeat for days on end.) But while things might get a little raunchy and adult-oriented, as seen in the clip below, Impractical Jokers fans know the fun is more in watching these lightly sadistic friends enjoying the wide variety of ways they can make each other look and feel like total jackasses, sometimes while putting gross things in their mouths. Now enjoy the bleepery!

That seems like it would have been a good time had by anyone who stopped by, except for maybe a bunch of people's grandmothers. But then other grandmas love the [bleep] [bleep] and to [bleep] them.

In any case, David Cross considered his Impractical Jokers appearance was a joyful oasis of sorts, saying:

Considering David Cross makes up half of the upper-echelon Mr. Show creative duo alongside current Emmy nominee Bob Odenkirk, I asked if he was familiar with Joe Gatto's exit and what his thoughts were on filling in as the fourth member of the troupe in another's stead. According to Cross:

I feel like the world would be a better place if everyone had more opportunities to just get silly with other people without worrying about other stuff. Which isn't to say that the Impractical Jokers stars need to go without worrying, considering what James Murray has to put in his mouth during David Cross' excellent main segment. Be sure to watch the episode to see Murr looking as uncomfortable as he ever has. 

Impractical Jokers air Thursday nights on truTV at 10:00 p.m. ET, followed by all new episodes of 101 Places to Party Before You Die, as hosted by past Impractical Jokers guests Adam Pally and Jon Gabrus. The first eight and a half seasons of IJ can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription, and it’s likely that the guest-starring episodes will be available at some point after the season is complete. Head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows are popping up soon. 

While the central stars of Impractical Jokers are used to making life slightly more hectic and confusing for unsuspecting outsiders, they were bamboozled themselves at the end of 2020 as co-founder Joe Gatto exited the group over personal reasons. Thankfully, the remaining three didn’t do much sitting around wondering what to do next, and instead got right into filming new episodes for fans to look forward to in 2022. Instead of finding a permanent placeholder for the absent star, Brian "I Just Guest-Starred on Star Trek: Picard" Quinn, Sal Vulcano and James Murray brought in a slew of celebrity guest stars from the comedy world to keep things interesting. As evidenced in the video above, viewers can look forward to seeing rap legend Method Man, SNL star Colin Jost, the previously revealed pro wrestler Chris Jericho and more!

Following Impractical Jokers’ post-basketball sneak peek with Eric Andre debuting on Saturday, April 2, the show will officially return with new weekly episodes on Thursday, June 16. Interestingly enough, these won't be part of a new season as expected, but will be slotted in as a third cycle of Season 9 episodes. It's unclear if that implies an intent to find a full-time fourth member for Season 10, or if they wanted to feel out how the show would work as a trio with a limited set, but CinemaBlend confirmed that those tenth season episodes haven't started filming yet.

Whatever the case is, the poing here is that the boys are back, and they're apparently throwing up all over themselves with excitement. Maybe excitement is the wrong word. "Hilarious coercing" might be a better fit there. The trailer is filled with moments that appear as if they'll provide some physical discomfort for the cast, from gym pranks — just seeing Murr throw all that protein powder into his mouth made me want to start gagging — to mouth-based mini-golf to electric zapping and more. And yes, I suppose "Jillian Bell kicking Sal in the nuts" counts as physical discomfort. 

For those who weren't able to take in the entire trailer video above, here's a full list of the guest stars announced for Impractical Jokers' Season 9 return. 

• Method Man
• Colin Jost
• Chris Jericho
• Brooke Shields
• Jillian Bell
• Adam Pally
• Jon Gabrus
• David Cross
• Rob Riggle

No sign of Joey Fatone in this lineup, though the singer essentially confirmed he’d be back with the group in some capacity in the future, even outside of filming episodes of After Party. But there will no doubt be a surprise or two in store as the season goes along — the announcement does mention "others" — so maybe the pop star and game show host will rear his bearded head at some point down the line. If not, it's not like there aren't more than enough stellar celebs to enjoy in the meantime.

Impractical Jokers will return to truTV for the remainder of Season 9 on Thursday, June 16, at 10:00 p.m. ET. But don’t forget about the April 2 special airing on truTV, TBS and TNT immediately following the final minutes of the NCAA Final Four game that evening. And be sure to check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are on the way.

As one of AMC’s best original series to date, Better Call Saul is ramping up for its sixth and final season, and fans are ready for it to be a deadly one. As one of many big TV shows ending in 2022, Saul will close the second chapter of the Breaking Bad universe, giving its highly talented cast ample opportunity to take the charge with new projects. For Bob Odenkirk, the post-Albuquerque era will take him back to his comedic roots for a high-profile reteaming with Mr. Show co-creator David Cross, and it won’t be on either Netflix or HBO. 

Bob Odenkirk and David Cross are bringing their brilliant minds together again for a new faux docuseries for Paramount+ titled Guru Nation, and it sounds like subject matter very much in their wheelhouse. The comedians will serve as co-creators for the project, as announced at the streaming service’s TCA press tour day (via TheWrap), with Borat 2 director Jason Woliner helming episodes for the new series. 

While details aren’t exactly overflowing at the moment, the basic premise for Guru Nation will see Odenkirk and Cross facing off as rival gurus who have both been successful with “manipulating the minds” of their brainwashed tribes. Through Mr. Show and many of their other projects, Odenkirk and Cross have mastered the art of portraying cult-of-personality figures and situations, and the more buffoonish those figures are meant to be, the better.

While Mr. Show definitely isn’t the only time this pair has worked together over the years — their writing work on The Ben Stiller Show even predates the “cult” HBO sketch series — this new streaming series only marks the third time they’ve co-created a small screen project together. The second would be the similarly absurd sketch comedy W/ Bob and David, one of Netflix’s many cancelled-too-soon shows. That said, they did co-write and co-star in the 2002 spinoff feature Run Ronnie Run, even if it’s not necessarily remembered as a genre classic. (“Y’all brutalizin’ me,” is a quote for the ages, regardless.)

Jason Woliner is certainly a proper choice to handle directing duties for the new series, too. The biggest clue there is that he was behind all four episodes of W/ Bob and David, so he's used to Bob Odenkirk and David Cross' styles. But he's also worked on other top-notch series such as What We Do in the Shadows, The Last Man on Earth, Human Giant, and Eagleheart, to name but a few. So the Borat of it all is the icing on the cake, and it'll be interesting to see if Guru Nation films in a similar fashion.

The streaming service also announced Dear White People’s Justin Simien as the writer and director for the episodic Flashdance remake, as well as the greenlight confirmation for the TV remake of Urban Cowboy, which has been in the works since 2015. As well, Mayor of Kingstown, SEAL Team and The Game all scored season renewals, so no more worries about any of those shows for at least another year. 

No kinds of schedules or dates were part of the Guru Nation reveal, and it’s assumed that Bob Odenkirk will need to be finished with all things Better Call Saul before filming can begin. (Though that doesn’t mean he can’t dig into the writing process in the meantime, though we hope things don’t get too stressful and cause more health problems.) While waiting to hear more news, check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule to stay updated on everything hitting the small screen soon. 

As the face of one of the best shows on TV right now, Bob Odenkirk has become even more of a TV staple after over three decades worth of writing, acting, and production credits on television projects. His is a face many, both fans and those who call themselves friends to the star, would have missed if the heart attack that befell Odenkirk three months ago on the set of Better Call Saul’s sixth season had resulted in a worse fate. Now that the actor is making a strong recovery and has even returned back to work, he’s receiving some major love on his first birthday after the health scare. 

The actor and comedian has touched many lives and made many friends over his impressive career, and they all seem to be thrilled that he's still around to bring us all some laughs. Rhea Seehorn, who has played opposite the actor since Better Call Saul debuted back in 2015, is one of the friends sending out some birthday love to the actor. You can check out her Twitter post below, along with the very “professional” pic she shared of the two of them:

Joining the group of well wishers is Michael McKean, another alum of the acclaimed AMC show. McKean's time on the show ended back in 2018, but it hasn’t stopped the actor from sending his and wife Annette O'Toole's love to his former co-star on his 59th birthday. Mentioning the fear that the heart attack caused all his friends and family, here’s McKean’s exact Twitter message to “our” Odenkirk:

As a producer and occasional director on both Better Call Saul and its parent series, Breaking Bad, Peter Gould has worked closely with Bob Odenkirk for over a decade. So it's only fitting that he would shout out the star on his birthday, and this year’s seems extra special when taking into account such a major health scare like a heart attack. You can check out Gould’s loving post dedicated below:

Of course, the Vince Gilligan-created dramas certainly weren't the actor's first foray into show business. He goes way back in the comedy world, and his friend, David Cross, is right next to him near the beginning in Mr. Show. The two comedic actors have stayed pretty tight over the years, and of course Cross has sent his colleague some love in a very on-brand Twitter post of his own:

Okay, so he may have gotten his friend’s age wrong. But at the very least, the gift is a solid one, right? 

It’s clear a heart attack can’t keep a man (or his friends) down, because Bob Odenkirk is already back to work. Better Call Saul Season 6 is a go, but it’s not clear exactly when fans will be able to finally watch it. If you’re desperate for some Odenkirk, though, the recently released Halloween Kills has a little bit of love for the actor, too.

While the world of television is still quite erratic from effects of the pandemic, one of the biggest comforts that TV viewer had was knowing Bob Odenkirk's Better Call Saul was guaranteed to deliver its sixth and final season in early 2022 to make life more bearable, at least for everyone other than Saul. Unfortunately, Odenkirk collapsed on the set on Tuesday night, and was soon after taken to the hospital, without very many details going public regarding the status of his health, nor the cause of the collapse.

Understandably, Bob Odenkirk's friends and fans are coming out in droves with shocked reactions and overwhelming support for the actor and comedian during this difficult time. His former Better Call Saul co-star and fictional brother Michael McKean posted the following on Twitter.

While the majority of posts were definitely hopeful and full of well-wishes for Bob Odenkirk, perhaps the most insightful one came from the actor's longtime friend, comedy partner and Mr. Show co-creator David Cross, who shared the following tweet:

Preacher vet Julie Ann Emery, who starred in Better Call Saul Season 1 as Betsy Kettleman, is also quite hopeful that Bob Odenkirk pulls through, sharing this message:

It definitely isn't just Bob Odenkirk's Better Call Saul cohorts that were sending out love on social media. Here's a thoughtful post from comedian and author John Hodgman on Twitter:

And finally, we have this simple but completely relatable message from Lord of the Rings vet Elijah Wood:

Considering Bob Odenkirk was reportedly on set during the production of Better Call Saul Season 6, it's unclear how AMC will decide to move forward in the immediate aftermath of his collapse. One can only hope that his situation is optimistic enough for the network to not feel the need to put filming on pause, though obviously Season 6's resolution is far less important than Odenkirk's well-being.

Bob Odenkirk's Saul Goodman is one of the best characters on TV right now, which will remain true regardless of what happens to Odenkirk in real life. But if it meant Saul would have to go away forever in order to ensure Odenkirk would immediately recover and be perfectly healthy again, it would be worth the loss. We at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and support to the actor and his family and friends during his road to recovery.

Arrested Development has had a run unlike any other show on TV. During its first three seasons on Fox, it seemed like it was threatened with cancellation after every episode, much less at the end of every season. The show’s diehard fans would petition and fight to keep the show going before it was finally canceled permanently.

After it was cancelled, the rumors began almost immediately about Arrested Development being brought back, again. Fans clamored for it, and eventually, to everyone’s delight, the entire cast retuned, this time to Netflix to bring the show back for (at least) two more seasons. Through it all, the Arrested Development cast stayed together, despite many of the members' incredible success outside of the show. Let's take a look at their growth between the series' first and latest seasons.

George-Michael Bluth (Michael Cera)

Probably no character in the Arrested Development cast has changed more than the youngest, George-Michael, played by Michael Cera. In Season 1, he is a wimpy, shy kid that is overwhelmed by his father’s attention and in love with his cousin Maeby. In Season 5, he’s still in love with Maeby and she is still trying to find reasons to make out with him, but he’s more confident and more willing to stand up to his father.

Like the character he plays, Michael Cera has changed a lot too. He was an unknown teen actor when the show began and today, he is a bonafide Hollywood star, starring in huge movies like Superbad, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and The Lego Batman Movie.

Maeby Funke (Alia Shawkat)

Maeby is the product of a completely dysfunctional (and hilarious) marriage between Lindsay and Tobias. Right from the beginning, she uses this to her advantage to pretty much do whatever she wants. She is smarter than both her parents, which helps a lot. Always a lot more confident than her cousin Michael, eventually she lands herself in jail and then on the run after accidentally getting into a relationship with a high school student.

Alia Shawkat, like most of the Arrested Development cast, has gone to have a great career in between extended Arrested Development hiatuses. She has been in a whole slew of projects in theaters and on TV, in including a guest spot on Transparent with her fellow Arrested Development co-star Jeffrey Tambor. She also took a hilarious turn as Alexander Hamilton on one of the best episodes of Drunk History.

Buster Bluth (Tony Hale)

The youngest of George and Lucille Bluth’s four children, Buster is the runt of the litter in every way. He is the worst kind of mama’s boy with an insanely weird (and funny) relationship with his domineering mother, Lucille. From the beginning of Season 1 right up until his prison breakout in Season 5, Buster is always the victim. He also had a right hand when Arrested Development began, but he lost that long ago.

Tony Hale jumped from one popular and award-winning sitcom, Arrested Development, to another, Veep on HBO. Hale himself has won a couple of Emmys for his portrayal of Gary Walsh, an aide to Julia-Louis-Dreyfus’ character Selina. Lucky for Hale, Gary Walsh still has both hands.

Lindsay Bluth (Portia de Rossi)

In a family full of ridiculous and terrible people, Lindsay Bluth Funke might be the worst, really. She inherited all the narcissism of her mother Lucille and channels it is all the wrong ways. From the beginning, she has thought of herself as righteous do-gooder, but in reality, everything she does, she does for herself. Even in Season 5, as she runs for Congress, she doesn’t at all understand the meaning service and sacrifice, despite claiming to perform both in one way or another.

Australian Portia de Rossi’s resume over the last 16 years has been impressive. She has appeared as a full cast member or a recurring cast member on a number of shows, including Nip/Tuck and Scandal, as well as a handful of movies. In May of 2018, she announced on her wife Ellen DeGenerous’ show that she would be retiring from acting, but added that she would continue to be a part of the Arrested Development cast. Ellen may not be far behind either. It's a testament to how much the show means to fans and the cast alike.

Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman)

The heart of the family and the heart of the ensemble cast, Michael Bluth, played by Jason Bateman, is deep down a family man, and as such he has spent basically the entirety of the show trying to run from his crazy family and have a more normal life. All the way through Season 5, he is trying to run from and save his family in the search for Lucille Austero, or “Lucille 2” as she is often referred, played, of course, by the legendary Liza Minnelli.

Jason Bateman has had one heck of a career. As a child star, he appeared on such classic '80s TV shows as Little House On The Prairie and starred in The Hogan Family. Bateman’s star fell a little in the '90s and he seemed destined to end up in the washed-up child star dustbin, but he has completely resurrected his career in the 21st century, due in large part to his performance in the Arrested Development cast, for which he has won numerous awards. He is current starring in another big Netflix show, Ozark.

Tobias Funke (David Cross)

For a doctor, Tobias Funke, played by David Cross, sure is stupid. He married into the insane Bluth family though Lindsay and is Maeby’s father, but neither Lindsay nor Maeby are very happy with either of those things. He starts the show in Season 1 as a psychiatrist who wants to be an actor. By the end of Season 5, he is pretty much the same. Tobias is the kind of character who drives you mad with his consistently poor decisions in his professional and private life.

David Cross spends most of his time when not in the Arrested Development cast as a standup comedian and provocateur. He launched his career with legendary Mr. Show on HBO. He sometimes seem to go out of his way to be controversial and subversive, but his career keeps humming along with roles on numerous TV shows, like Modern Family, The Increasingly Poor Decision Of Todd Margaret and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schimdt, which is also on Netflix.

Gob Bluth (Will Arnett)

The oldest of Bluth children and in the running for the most spoiled, which is really saying something, Gob, played by Will Arnett, is a jerk. He’s mean to everyone, especially those people that he sees as beneath him, and why wouldn’t he be? Like the guy in the $5000 suit is going to worry about the guy that doesn’t make that much in 3 months, COME ON! Gob spends 5 seasons on the show being absolutely, positively terrible, and even in the end of Season 5, he is still only looking about for himself.

Arrested Development cast member Will Arnett seems to pop up every where. From voicing The Lego Batman Movie's Caped Crusader to seemingly guest starring on every sitcom under the sun, Arnett brings the funny where ever he shows up. His starring role as the voice of BoJack on BoJack Horseman continues his streak of great shows on Netflix.

Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter)

Lucille Bluth is the most unredeemed character in a show full of terrible people that never come around. She, like her daughter, is an unrepentant narcissist. From the beginning, she has no problem selling out her children for her own good. Even at the end of Season 5, she is still willing to give up on Lindsay’s congressional run when it won’t help her plans to build the wall.

Jessica Walter’s performance on Arrested Development is pitch perfect. Her timing is impeccable and she consistently stands out among the powerhouse cast. Her huge success came a long time in the making. Walter’s career started in film and television way back in 1964 when she appeared on Flipper! While she had steady TV work through five decades, it wasn’t until Arrested Development that she really hit the big time, and it’s been well-deserved.

George Bluth (Jeffery Tambor)

The patriarch of the dysfunctional Bluths, George Bluth, played by comedic legend Jeffery Tambor, is the most cunning of the family, and the most reckless. Like his TV wife, Lucille, he is an unrepentant sociopath who has no problem selling out his family to make a few bucks. He starts Season 1 in jail and never really redeems himself. He ends Season 5 by sabotaging his daughter’s political career.

Like George, actor Jeffery Tambor seems to be in the middle of controversy a lot. Despite winning an Emmy for his performance on Transparent, he left the show after a slew of sexual misconduct charges were leveled against him. He has since been accused of verbally abusing his Arrested Development co-star Jessica Walters. For all his comedic genius, Jeffrey Tambor is also a very controversial figure.

It’s incredible to think that Arrested Development has lasted this long and is as legendary as it is. From being a struggling show constantly threatened with cancelation to becoming a cult-classic with diehard fans everywhere, this incredible years-long run has seen its ups and downs, but deserves to rank among the pantheon of groundbreaking sitcoms. Who knows what the future holds, but don’t bet against it coming back for more in the future.

Despite over half of its run being considered upper-echelon TV comedy, Arrested Development hasn't had the most successful go at it since returning for Netflix audiences in 2013. In fact, Arrested Development almost appeared destined to not return for Season 5, what with scheduling difficulties and multiple off-set controversies. Now, star David Cross claims the remaining episodes will very likely be the show's final installments. In his words:

Stand-up comedian David Cross obviously can't speak for the entirety of Netflix and/or the rest of his Arrested Development cast members. If he's not optimistic about Season 6's chances, though, then diehard fans should probably take that to be as close to gospel as possible. Cross was one of the stars who talked the most about getting everyone back for Season 5.

Considering the size and popularity of Arrested Development's main cast, it's a wonder the show managed to ever come back. (And Season 4's standalone nature had many professing it shouldn't have.) It was the stars' love of the material played a large part in bringing everyone together to make it happen at Netflix, and not just once, but twice.

Of course, that was all prior to the two incidents that nearly torpedoed Season 5. For one, Jeffrey Tambor was mired in sexual harassment accusations on his Amazon comedy Transparent, which he got fired from, though no criminal charges were ever brought against him. Then there was that wildly revealing New York Times interview, in which Tambor's domineering behavior on the comedy's set came to light. (Particularly his treatment of co-star Jessica Walter.)

It's always possible that Arrested Development's fandom could prove to all involved that Season 6 would be a necessarily welcomed addition to Netflix's lineup, but I wouldn't put the Bluth family's checkbook on it happening. For what it's worth, Season 5 was viewed as far more accessible and genuinely funny than Season 4. As well, the remixed and extended iteration of the fourth season did wonders to turn skeptical fans around. So the interest is there.

It may come down to what the responses are like after the back half of Season 5 gets released. Netflix hasn't put an official premiere date on it, but David Cross told the Late Night with Seth Meyers podcast that the next eight episodes could arrive when 2019 rolls around.

David Cross also worked with Netflix for the excellent limited series W/ Bob & David, which brought together the old Mr. Show cast and crew for more sketch comedy fun. He also released his 2016 stand-up comedy special David Cross: Making America Great Again! on the streaming platform. So even if Arrested Development truly does go away soon, Cross probably won't be done with Netflix forever.

Remember to mark those calendars (in blue, of course) for Early-ish 2019, when Arrested Development will return to Netflix for the second half of Season 5. While waiting to hear more about this being the final season or not, keep current with everything else hitting Netflix in 2018, as well as all the great shows yet to premiere elsewhere this fall.

As you may have noticed in the trailers, David Cross has a strange part to play in writer/director Boots Riley's new movie, Sorry To Bother You. Rather than playing a character of his own, his role in the film is providing the "white voice" that is put on by Lakeith Stanfield's Cassius Green during telemarketing calls. It's an odd gig for the actor, but, what makes it even funnier is that he only signed on to the project because of random chance. Riley recently told me,

Hollywood history is filled with funny stories about how actors practically magically fell into roles, and this is a fantastic example. I had the pleasure of hopping on the phone with Boots Riley in late June to talk about his work on Sorry To Bother You, and it was at the end of our interview that he told me this story. I asked how it was that he got the various "white voice" actors involved with the project early on, and he revealed that he essentially got very lucky when it came to signing David Cross, who didn't have authentic plans to read his script before it was recommended.

David Cross and Patton Oswalt -- who does the "white voice" for Omari Hardwick's Mr. _ (pronounced "Blank") -- wound up being the first two actors who signed on for the film, but the uniqueness of the whole situation didn't end there. Both Cross and Oswalt became involved without knowing which of the two key characters they would be playing -- and it wasn't until after Boots Riley started recording that he figured it out:

At the end of the day, it's hard to argue with Boots Riley's choices, given that both David Cross and Patton Oswalt are great in the movie, and truly sound super white.

Sorry To Bother You, which stars Tessa Thompson, Steven Yeun, Danny Glover, Armie Hammer, Terry Crews and Jermaine Fowler in addition to Lakeith Stanfield and Omari Hardick, is hitting theaters in limited release this week, and will be going wide on July 13th. Be sure to be on the lookout for it (it's fantastic), and stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interview with Boots Riley.

Steven Spielberg is already deep in production on his next film, The Papers, and while we knew that two huge stars had joined the cast, it's now been revealed that even more famous faces are going to be a part of the movie. The movie, which will center on the Washington Post's publication of the classified Pentagon Papers in 1971, is going to boast quite the packed cast. Read on to see who's involved in the The Papers.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is on board to play Washington Post publisher Kay Graham in The Papers. Along with the Post's editor Ben Bradlee, she challenged the federal government over their right to publish the Pentagon Papers. Streep, who's often hailed as the greatest actress of her generation, is coming off her 20th Oscar nomination for her performance in Florence Foster Jenkins last year. She will also be seen soon in the Mamma Mia sequel and Mary Poppins Returns.

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks is set to portray Post editor Ben Bradlee in Spielberg's drama. While this will mark the first time that Hanks and Streep have shared the screen together, this will be the actor's fifth time working with Spielberg. The two-time Oscar winner was recently seen in Sully, Inferno and The Circle, and is also currently working on his voice part as Woody for Toy Story 4.

Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson has become a TV mainstay over the past few years, mostly due to her work with Ryan Murphy on American Horror Story, Feud and American Crime Story, for which she won a Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe for her portrayal of lawyer Marcia Clark. She'll also be seen on the big screen in next year's Ocean's Eight with another all star cast.

Bob Odenkirk

Bob Odenkirk is best known to TV audiences as Saul Goodman on the hit Breaking Bad, and in that show's prequel series Better Call Saul. Odenkirk is also known for his work in comedy, and has written for shows like Saturday Night Live, Late Night With Conan O'Brien and W/ Bob and David, which he also starred in with David Cross.

Matthew Rhys

Actor Matthew Rhys is currently known as America's favorite undercover Soviet spy after spending five seasons on the FX hit The Americans. He's also appeared in ABC's Brothers & Sisters and the mini-series Death Comes to Pemberley, and can next be seen on the big screen in Jungle Book.

Jesse Plemons

Jesse Plemons had his breakout role on Friday Night Lights from 2006-2011, and since then the actor has gone on to a number of notable TV and film projects. Among other things, he can be seen in The Master, Breaking Bad, Bridge of Spies and Fargo, which saw him receive an Emmy nomination in 2016. Other upcoming projects include American Made, Game Night and The Bell Jar.

David Cross

Audiences usually associate David Cross with comedy, and that's for good reason. He spent four seasons as never-nude Tobias on Arrested Development, and also created and starred in Mr. Show with Bob and David with Bob Odenkirk, and reunited with him for W/ Bob and David. Most recently, he was seen on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Carrie Coon

Actress Carrie Coon has been making waves since her work in Gone Girl in 2014. Since then, she's had critically acclaimed turns in The Leftovers and Fargo, and she'll soon be seen in the horror film The Keeping Hours.

Bradley Whitford

Many people can't think about Bradley Whitford without being reminded of his wonderful turn as Josh on The West Wing for seven seasons, but the actor has done much more than that. He's brought his talents to over 100 film and television projects, including The Cabin in the Woods, Transparent and the recent horror hit Get Out.

Alison Brie

After first coming to the attention of most people on NBC's meta comedy Community, Alison Brie has made quite a career for herself. Along with appearing on screen in Mad Men, How to be Single and the upcoming Netflix series GLOW, she's lent her voice to BoJack Horseman and The Lego Movie.

Bruce Greenwood

After 40 years on the big and small screens, it would be highly unusual if you hadn't seen something that Bruce Greenwood has starred in. St. Elsewhere, Knots Landing, I, Robot, the rebooted Star Trek films, Mad Men and American Crime Story have all seen his talents. He most recently appeared in the Dirty Dancing remake.

Tracy Letts

Tracy Letts is a writer and actor who's appeared in Judging Amy, Prison Break, Homeland, Elvis & Nixon and Divorce. He's also adapted several of the stage plays he's written for the big screen or TV, including Superior Donuts and August: Osage County.

Michael Stuhlbarg

Michael Stuhlbarg has made a name for himself in films and television shows like A Serious Man, Blue Jasmine, Men in Black 3, Boardwalk Empire and Doctor Strange. He can currently be seen in Fargo.

Zach Woods

Zach Woods has filled his resume with work in a lot of notable projects, including The Office, The Other Guys, Kroll Show, Veep and The Good Wife. He's been a major player on HBO's Silicon Valley since it started in 2014.

According to Variety, the film is currently on the fast track and the filmmakers are looking to have it ready for this year's awards season, with The Papers seeing a limited release on December 22 and then going wide on January 12, 2018.

One lucky newborn is going to grow up with the funniest parents ever! Amber Tamblyn announced this week that she has given birth to her daughter with husband David Cross, although the parents still aren't giving out their baby's name... or at least, I don't think they are.

On Tuesday, Amber Tamblyn posted a short video on her Instagram account, showing a little baby leg poking out of a pink blanket. In the caption, Tamblyn confirmed that she and David Cross have welcomed their newborn daughter into the world, and then shared a hilarious, clearly fake name: Dauphinoise Petunia Brittany Scheherazade Von Funkinstein Mustard Witch RBG Cross Tamblyn-Bey Jr. Well I mean, I assume it's fake, but with jokesters like Tamblyn and Cross you really never know. The fake name gives a couple shoutouts to some of Tamblyn's feminist heroes, including Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Beyoncé, and Tamblyn ends the message with the women empowerment hashtag #TheFutureIsFemale.

Amber Tamblyn has made it very clear that she will be raising her daughter to be a strong feminist just like she is. Back in October, Tamblyn announced her pregnancy and the gender of the baby in an essay for Glamour, in which she wrote that she hopes she can break the chain of traumatic experiences each generation of women have to face in a patriarchal society in how she brings up her daughter.

At least there's no question that the little girl is going to have a lot of great movies and TV shows to watch when she gets a bit older --- both of her parents have starred in beloved projects. She's going to have the unique experience of getting some enjoyable morality lessons from her mom by watching Joan of Arcadia, or getting together with her girlfriends to bond over Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. And let's not forget learning how to land the perfect joke from her dad by bingeing Arrested Development.

The newborn girl is Amber Tamblyn and David Cross's first child. The couple first sparked dating rumors back in 2008, and raised a few eyebrows due to their 19-year age difference, but they've proven to be the perfect match. They got engaged in 2011, and married the next year.

And there's even more good news for the newest member of the Tamblyn-Cross family: she's already got a famous bestie lined up! Amber Tamblyn's Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costar and gal pal Blake Lively just gave birth to her daughter Ines Reynolds a few months ago. Looks like a new sisterhood is forming!

After waiting what seems like an eternity, Kung Fu Panda 3 is finally heading our way next month! Some of you have probably been waiting for this moment for a while, while others may not have known that such a wondrous occurrence was heading your way. No matter which camp you’re in, we here at Cinema Blend are here to help – as we’ve got a guide chock full of the information that tells you everything you need to know about Po’s latest journey.

While it’s only a little over a month from its January 26th release date, Kung Fu Panda 3 almost looked like it would never happen. First scheduled to hit in a March 2016 release window, the film moved to December of 2015... only to move back to its March date, so as to avoid any competition with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. From that point, it moved to its final date of January 26th, so as to avoid any sort of trouncing Batman v. Superman: Dawn Of Justice would have delivered.

As if shifting release dates weren't bad enough, the film lost two cast members – Mads Mikkelsen and Rebel Wilson – due to the production schedule for the film preventing them from being present. Both roles were recast, with Wilson's being the more urgent replacement, as she dropped out of the film as recently as September. Yet through all of this, Kung Fu Panda 3 has never derailed. Check out a preview of the film with the trailer below:

Now, without further ado, let's get to breaking down the upcoming animated blockbuster!

The Directors

Directing Kung Fu Panda 3 are Dreamworks Animation stalwarts Alessandro Carloni & Jennifer Yuh. Carloni previously worked as a director on Me And My Shadow, with supervising positions throughout the Kung Fu Panda films, as well as the holiday special. Outside of Po’s world, Carloni has also worked on the How To Train Your Dragon films, Over The Hedge, and The Croods. Yuh co-directed Kung Fu Panda 2& was the head of story for Kung Fu Panda; as well as a story artist on Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron and Madagascar.Both Carloni and Yuh are experienced in the ways of Dreamworks Animation, as well as the Kung Fu Panda series – making them clear picks for the honors of ushering in a third installment.

The Story

After two films worth of personal growth and kung-fu mastery, Kung Fu Panda 3 finds Po’s story picking up where the last film left off. With Po’s father, Li Shan, sensing he’s still alive after the end of the second film’s events, a reunion is in order. Not only is Li Shan trying to bring his son home to a village of pandas who are in need of training in the ways of kung fu, he’s also trying to set him up with his arranged wife, Mei Mei. As if things couldn’t possibly get more complicated, Kai – an ancient spirit of evil intent – is robbing kung fu masters of their powers. Po’s life is about to get a little more difficult, but with a bowl of noodles and a heart as warm as broth, he just might pull it off.

Po

The protagonist of the Kung Fu Panda series, Po was orphaned by the evil Lord Shen, during his campaign to exterminate the panda race. Shen was motivated to do so by a prophecy that called for a special panda that would one day defeat him, which eventually came true thanks to Po being rescued and raised by Mr. Ping – a noodle merchant who found him in a radish crate as a baby. Throughout both previous installments, Po has grown as a kung fu master under the tutelage of Master Shifu and his Furious Five, which has lead to him being instrumental in defeating the evil Lord Shen, as well as Shifu’s previous student, Tai Lung. Po is voiced by Jack Black, who originated the character in the 2008 origin story.

Tigress

The closest thing to a love interest that Po has ever had in the Kung Fu Panda series, is that of Tigress. While the two were originally adversaries, considering she wanted the vaunted position of Dragon Warrior that was given to Po by Grand Master Oogway, their quarrel was dispelled after the defeat of Tai Lung. While the two haven't exactly shared that many "tender" moments, her concern for Po is warm, and could be tested once he leaves the Furious Five to become a kung fu mentor to the survivors of his village. Reprising the role of Tigress is Angelina Jolie, who most recently was seen starring in, writing, and directing By The Sea; though she's no stranger to voice acting as she previously voiced a character in Dreamworks’ Shark Tale.

Shifu

Trained by Grand Master Oogway, and the master of many a kung fu master in his corner of the world, Master Shifu is as fierce as he is wise. His greatest claim to fame is the mentorship of the "Furious Five," the most elite group of kung fu fighters ever known. Unfortunately, his great wisdom also created his own greatest foe, as a former pupil of his turned to a life of evil when denied the position of Dragon Warrior. Eventually, that honor went to his most challenging pupil – Po the panda. When we catch up with Master Shifu in Kung Fu Panda 3, we find that he's encouraging Po to take his training to the next step, by becoming a teacher himself. Dustin Hoffman is, and always will be, the voice of Master Shifu in the Kung Fu Panda films; with a strong resume of voice acting roles in The Tale Of Despereaux, Racing Stripes, and even an episode of The Simpsons to compliment this esteemed role.

Monkey

A carefree, but wise, warrior in the ranks of the Furious Five, Monkey is probably the only member of the Furious Five that's voiced by someone who can actually do the kung fu moves you see on the screen. Voiced by legendary martial artist, and experienced actor, Jackie Chan, Monkey is a fighter who uses a staff, as well as his body. While this is Chan's only voice work to date, he has been the focal point of the animated series Jackie Chan Adventures, in which he'd appear in short sequences as himself. Of course, his most prolific work has to be the Rush Hour franchise, as his profile in the film industry skyrocketed with the first film in 1998.

Mantis

Master Mantis is, literally, a much stronger character than you’d think. With a strength that suggests a creature of a greater size, Mantis is also a whiz in the art of acupuncture… provided he knows the ins and outs of the anatomy he’s working with. Also unfamiliar with the presence of his father, Mantis eventually grew to be an ally to Po and revealed himself to be quite a bit of a softy, waiting for a woman who’ll bite his head off, like his dear old Dad before him. A Dreamworks veteran in his own right, Seth Rogen returns to the role of Mantis in the same year that he finds himself voicing a character in the much more mature Sausage Party, which are the latest credits to a voice-over resume that includes roles in Shrek The Third, Monsters Vs. Aliens, and Horton Hears A Who.

Viper

Despite her lack of an effective set of fangs, Master Viper has abilities that makes up for her inability to use her venomous powers. Using speed and agility to confuse her opponents, Viper’s childhood hobby of ribbon dancing helped her become a weapon of precision targeting and enemy distraction. The most empathetic member of the group, Viper does not have much of a stomach for the injustices her enemies visit upon their victims, which also helped her become friends with the clumsy Po. While Lucy Liu’s best known for her roles in films like Kill Bill and shows like Elementary, Liu has had two steady voice-over roles since 2008’s Kung Fu Panda: Master Viper, and the fairy known as Silvermist in Disney’s Tinker Bell series.

Crane

While Po had to work to get the rest of the Furious Five to even interact with him in Kung Fu Panda, Master Crane was the first one to actually talk to Po in his time of isolation. Over time, once Po had endeared himself to the Furious Five, Crane and Po became a sort of team when it came to combat. In addition to being able to carry every member of his team on his back, Crane mostly uses his flying abilities to save Po when he’s fallen from extreme heights. Last, but not least, Master Crane can act as the "eye in the sky" for the team, surveilling the battlefield like no one else can. Voiced by David Cross, Crane is one of two Dreamworks roles Cross has banked in his career, the other one being Minion in Megamind.

Li Shan

During Lord Shen’s gigantic panda cleanse of his village, Li Shan was separated from his wife and child. For the years between Po’s childhood and the events of Kung Fu Panda 3, his father would be the leader of the pandas that survived, as they had taken refuge in a secluded corner of the kingdom. However, with the arrival of Kai, the film’s villain, Li Shan goes on a journey to reconnect with his newly empowered son, whose presence he felt after his triumphant victory in Kung Fu Panda 2. Strangely enough, father and son are right under each other’s noses in their first appearance together in one of the trailers for Kung Fu Panda 3, which has us wondering just how Li Shan will ultimately recognize his son. Li Shan is voiced by Bryan Cranston, but was originated by veteran voice actor Fred Tatasciore when he first appeared at the end of Kung Fu Panda 2.

Mei Mei

One of the pandas that survived the invasion and destruction inflicted upon the panda village was none other than Mei Mei – the woman that Po has been arranged to marry. Besides her fixation on her husband to be, Mei Mei has one true passion in her life: she loves ribbon dancing. Though that may make her sound helpless, she does also seem to have some skills with nunchucks, so perhaps Mei Mei has more fight to her than one could imagine. Mei Mei is voiced by Kate Hudson, in her career’s first voice acting role. Previously, Rebel Wilson was cast in this role, but due to the "extended production schedule" on Kung Fu Panda 3, she had to drop out.

Kai

Every Kung Fu Panda movie has had a villain that, one way or another, was connected to the past of one of our protagonists. Which makes Kai, the new baddie on deck for Kung Fu Panda 3, the first supernatural force that the team is fighting against. A bull who dual wields two jade blades, bound together by a sturdy metal chain, Kai is also known as the "the master of pain," "the beast of vengeance," and "the maker of widows." He also, in some capacity, worked with Grand Master Oogway – Master Shifu's teacher, who ascended to the heavens in Kung Fu Panda. Cast as Kai is Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons, who is taking over the role from its previous occupant, Hannibal’s Mads Mikkelsen

The aca-awesome tones of the Barden Bellas ruled the box office over the weekend as Pitch Perfect 2 took on all comers and emerged victorious. The sequel to the surprise 2012 hit about an underdog collegiate a cappella group made more than $70 million in its debut, dusting Mad Max: Fury Road’s $44 million opening take, and knocking Marvel’s superhero extravaganza Avengers: Age of Ultron out of the top slot for the first time since its release.

While it may not be as strong a movie as the first film—there’s not as much story or character development, and it relies heavily on the bond established with these people last time—Pitch Perfect 2 is still a damn blast. The musical numbers are as good as you hope, and the jokes land more often than they don’t. One fun element is a number of cameos, some surprising, some less so, and to celebrate the success of Pitch Perfect 2, we thought we’d run through them real quick.

It should go without saying, but there are some SERIOUS SPOILERS for Pitch Perfect 2 beyond this point. You’ve been aca-warned.

One quick note: Part of the plot revolves around the Bellas, now the rock stars of collegiate a cappella, being disgraced in very public fashion. It involves Rebel Wilson’s Fat Amy dangling from the ceiling and a lack of undergarments. This becomes big news, and in an early montage there are faux clips of various news shows, like The View, Today, and even Jimmy Kimmel, covering the incident. We decided to leave these out because they’re essentially just these people pretending to do their day jobs, and there are enough cameos that are way more fun to talk about.

Pentatonix

You can’t have a movie about a cappella without an appearance from arguably the most famous a cappella group in the world, Pentatonix. During the climactic scene at the world championship of a cappella, which is a thing that really happens, where the Bellas face off with the German aca-super group Das Sound Machine, the winners of NBC’s The Sing Off—Avi Kaplan, Kirstie Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, and Kevin Olusola—play the Canadian champions. They start off a montage to Journey’s "Any Way You Want It" that goes down in a multiple languages and features a number of other real life a cappella groups.

Robin Roberts

When Good Morning America host Robin Roberts shows up on screen for a moment, it got way more of a reaction from the audience than you might expect. Not only is she a famous TV journalist, we now know that she is a Barden Bella herself. As the Bella’s take the stage to sing an original song, "Flashlight," written by new addition Emily (Hailee Steinfeld), generations of former members take the stage along with the current crew. It’s a big emotional peak that cements their ultimate victory and hints at the larger history of the group (is Pitch Perfect going to get a Marvel-esque expanded universe now?), and Roberts is one of the trailblazers, donning the group's signature blue and yellow handkerchief for one last aca-hurrah.

Snoop Dog

This is, hands down, my favorite cameo out of an awesomely eclectic group of such appearances. Not only does Snoop Dogg show up—I’ll watch and listen to him do just about anything—but he’s in the studio recording a mash up of classic Christmas songs. A big plot point is Beca (Anna Kendrick) finally trying to break into the music business by interning at a recording studio run by Keegan-Michael Key’s neurotic producer. Relegated to getting coffee and performing menial tasks, when she sees an opportunity to make her mark, she takes it. And if you never knew that you wanted to see Anna Kendrick do a mash up of holiday songs with Snoop Dog, you really need to add that to your bucket list. It’s delightful, and this is the only Christmas album I can imagine willingly listening to.

David Cross

This isn’t a huge surprise since he shows up in a number of trailers and clips, but David Cross, playing the world’s biggest a cappella enthusiast, is the impetus behind what may be the best scene in Pitch Perfect 2. The wealthy aca-nut stages an epic vocal throwdown in his home that takes the game from the Riff Off in the first movie and kicks it up a notch with categories like "90s Hip Hop Jams," "Songs About Butts," and "I Dated John Mayer." (The last category has a fun reveal of its own.) The reason for this scene existing in the movie is a little specious, but it’s so damn good that you don’t care that it’s a bit overlong and doesn’t accomplish much in a narrative sense. And Cross lords over the whole thing like a maniacal wizard in an awesome bathrobe.

The Voice Coaches

Bumper Allen (Adam Devine) is still trying to break into the music biz on his own, and, after taking a slight detour for love, during the credits he winds up on NBC’s singing competition The Voice in a scene reportedly shot during the current season. Belting out "All Of Me," he catches Blake Shelton’s attention in short order, though the country star regrets that decision almost immediately. The rest of the crew, Pharell, Christina Aguilera, and Adam Levine all join the party by turning their chairs around, though after an awkward exchange—would you expect anything less from Bumper?—Aguilera has some definite second thoughts about the choice she made.

Barack And Michelle Obama

This isn’t your standard cameo, as it’s comprised of what appears to be news footage taken elsewhere and inserted into the movie, but it’s hilarious and kind of perfect. Fat Amy having a massive wardrobe malfunction and flashing her privates at the most powerful man in the world, Barack Obama, and the First Lady Michelle Obama, even if it’s just archival footage, is the inciting incident of the whole movie. And if you’re going to go for it, you might as well go big. You’re just not going to get the same reaction and public outrage if you flash Joe Biden or some random senator. Maybe if this had happened during half time at the Super Bowl, but that’s already been done, and the Bellas are all about breaking new ground.

Joe Lo Truglio/Reggie Watts/Jason Jones/John Hodgman

The Tonehangers have a memorable scene in Pitch Perfect, especially Joe Lo Truglio begging Fat Amy to use a trophy in inappropriate ways, and they’re back for another in Pitch Perfect 2, though with a mostly new lineup. Lo Truglio and Jason Jones are still getting off performing their oral magic, but they’ve enlisted a couple of replacements for Har Mar Superstar and Donald Faison in Comedy Bang! Bang! star Reggie Watts and The Daily Show regular John Hodgman. With Bumper Allen joining the team—shocking, I know—they’re as solid as ever, chasing that dream, with some sweet dance moves to up the ante at the Riff Off.

The Green Bay Packers

Again, this one isn’t a surprise, as numerous trailers and clips gave it away early on, but when the Green Bay Packers show up to compete in the Riff Off, it’s even better than you ever hoped for. Clay Matthews has shown that he’s down for some ridiculousness, appearing in things like The Mindy Project, but this time he’s enlisted teammates Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, Don Barclay, and David Bakhtiari—who reportedly lobbied hard for this appearance—and it doesn’t disappoint. You haven’t really lived until you’ve watched a bunch of beefy professional athletes in matching blazers harmonize to a Destiny’s Child cut. And no, Clay Matthews, we are not ready for this jelly.

Kether Donohue

As stated, in the climactic scene in Pitch Perfect 2 Barden Bellas from across generations show up to get in on the fun. In particular, eagle-eyed viewers will recognize Kether Donohue from the first film. She’s only in the movie for one scene, playing Alice, the Queen Bee of the Bellas who laments that she has to hand the pitch pipe over to Aubrey (Anna Camp) and Chloe (Brittany Snow)—you can only imagine how she felt after the vomit-palooza that followed. But apparently bygones are bygones, as she joins her sisters one more time for their triumphant moment on the world stage.

Lana/CJ Perry

Another of the Legacy Bellas you may recognize from Pitch Perfect is C.J. Perry, perhaps better known as professional wrestler Lana. As so many from that line of work are wont to do, she has been making inroads into acting in recent years, including as one of the Barden Bellas from the opening scene of the first film (she also played one of the Footnotes later on), a role she reprised for the finale this time around. She, too, couldn’t resist the pull of one last turn on stage, though if you blink, you might miss her.

Comedy fans have been waiting patiently – some of us in Mom & Pop Porn Shops – for Bob Odenkirk and David Cross to be allowed to create a new television together. And now, sweet baby Ronnie Dobbs, that day has come, as Netflix has put in a series order for a new sketch comedy from the Mr. Show pair, although it won’t be under the Mr. Show brand, and is simply called With Bob and David.

Fans can expect to see four brand new half-hour episodes from With Bob and David, accompanied by a one-hour “making of” special that’ll take fans behind the scenes. This is sadly not as many episodes as I would have liked, but you don’t look a gift Batman: The Horse in the mouth. And to be fair, the first season of Mr. Show was only four episodes, so we’re going to be greedily optimistic that everyone will be back for more episodes later. Especially since Netflix loves renewing its original programming, Arrested Development being the estranged exception.

Here’s how Netflix is describing the show, which starts off in a rather odd way.

It’s unclear how the show will be formatted, though Odenkirk recently confirmed that they won’t use the Mr. Show stage show set-up as a sketch headquarters. I guess we can assume it won’t take place on a Navy base. Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim are executive producing, so it could very well take place inside of a Totino’s Pizza Roll.

News of Odenkirk and Cross rekindling their sketch comedy-ship came some months back when comedian and Mr. Show performer Paul F. Tompkins tweeted a picture of the old squad back in a writers room working on a new project. Cross himself made it seem like it would be a Mr. Show reunion with a few select Kickstarter rewards in a campaign for his movie Hits. But we’re not exactly angry that ended up not being the case, as With Bob and David will be amazing.

Relive David Cross showing off his fabulous auditioning skills in the sketch below.

It isn’t clear when the streaming service will bring With Bob and David to audiences, but we’re down for whenever, so long as it doesn’t interfere with production on Better Call Saul.

Last week, the comedy world brought the rest of the planet to its Titannica-loving knees with Paul F. Tompkins teasing a possible Mr. Show reunion or revival. It turns out we didn’t have to wait that long to get confirmation, as co-creator David Cross himself has made it official, both aloud in an interview and…via Kickstarter rewards. Because that’s how modern news happens, dammit!

In promoting his directorial debut Hits, which recently released its first trailer, Cross decided to use Kickstarter as an avenue of self-distribution, and in doing so alluded to the upcoming Mr. Show project through a couple of the donor rewards. Wall Street Journal caught up with him and got him to clarify things on the record. Here’s how he put it.

That’s seriously some squeal-worthy news, as the core squad of Mr. Show writers – including Odenkirk, Scott Aukerman and Brian Posehn – have all moved on to really solid careers in many different comedic sub-genres. It’ll be monumental to see what these guys have come up with after more than 15 years of the show being off the air.

But it’s strange that Cross should say they aren’t sure how they’re going to do things, considering the Kickstarter rewards refer to specific times when filming will happen. So at the very least, we know it won’t be a stage show…probably, unless these are the pre-recorded parts he’s talking about. Here are the two Mr. Show-related prizes, which are already taken, for anyone hoping to land them. Sorry, detached-beard lovers.

Whether it’s a limited TV show, a Netflix special, an audio play or a flip book, I’m on board with anything that falls under the Mr. Show banner. And knowing that it’s all coming together in the next few months is better than blowing up the moon.

In his directorial debut, Arrested Development star, David Cross brings together a hilarious cast to explore what it means to famous in our modern, YouTube trending world in his new film, Hits. And among his hysterical cast (who must’ve been so much fun to direct) is the comedic genius, Matt Walsh. Watch as Walsh reaches his ultimate stardom, YouTube fame, in the trailer below:

Matt Walsh plays Dave, an average guy in a small town who just wants to see the potholes on his street fixed. But when his rants at City Hall get recorded and go viral on YouTube, he becomes a symbol of fame in the isolated town. The film explores this unrealistic expectation of fame, and how people’s obsession with it can completely disrupt their lives around them. The town goes insane along with Dave’s ‘fame’ and they all want a piece of the action. The poor daughter, who so desperately wants to be seen, is then forced into the shadows of her father, who doesn’t seem to be enjoying the sudden stardom by the looks of this trailer.

The film, produced by Honora, was first screened at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and then again at the 2014 Sundance London Film Festival. The film is jam-packed with favorite actors and comedians including James Adomian, Meredith Hagner, Jake Cherry, Derek Waters, Jason Ritter, Wyatt Cenac and even the adorable Michael Cera. And each of their characters are portrayals of different types of, how shall I put it, fame-whores. There’s the American Idol/The Voice obsessed daughter, a wannabe teenage rapper, and the Brooklyn hipsters who so need to stick up to "the man".

The quote at the end of the trailer says it all:

While the film didn’t get the best reviews at its previous screenings, it’s understandable that the dark humor may not be for everyone. It’s totally a jab at what it means to exist and take part of our insanely obsessive 21st century world. And if you are even a little bit of a comedy fan, it’ll be great to see some of these faces together on screen, even if just for a couple laughs. Though be wary, because many critics found the film to miss the mark and be a bit too hateful towards the celebrity culture. But, I personally love the idea of pointing out how silly it is to be YouTube famous, or to be obsessed with getting on a reality show, or whatever it may be. And that's the job of comedy, to make fun of the ridiculous. And what's more ridiculous than our current celebrity and viral-video obsessions.

We'll have to keep a look out for the official release date, no word quite yet. But there may be a release on BitTorrent.

The billion-dollar franchise is back in action and moving forward on a new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. We’ll admit, the first film wasn’t too shabby, but between The Squeakquel and Chip-Wrecked the quality hasn’t quite been five stars. So why another film? Well, believe it or not, the franchise has already banked over $1 billion, and a new film is pretty much a guarantee for more money flow.

While plot details have not been divulged, the title, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip sounds like the band is going on tour. The Hollywood Reporter announced the director that has signed on for the project. Walt Becker known for Van Wilder: Party Liaison, Wild Hogs, and the Disney film with John Travolta and Robin Williams, Old Dogs, has signed on to direct the fourth film. He’ll pair with screenwriters Adam Sztykiel (Due Date) and Randi Mayem Singer (Mrs. Doubtfire) for the live-action/GG hybrid film. It is still unclear whether or not the previous Chipmunks including Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney will return to voice their characters, but if this film is to fit in the series, we can guess that they will probably be back singing their favorite chipmunk cover songs.

It’s pretty wild though, that each movie has grossed such an insane amount of money despite critical and negative reviews. The first film released in 2009 Alvin and the Chipmunks earned $361 million worldwide. The second earned even more, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel banked $443 million. And while the last movie didn’t do quite as well during its 2011 release it still earned $342 million worldwide.

So really, it’s no surprise that 20th Century Fox hopped on the train to get a new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie rolling, it’s a guarantee money-maker. Even back when David Cross attempted to defend his decision to appear in the movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked, it all came down to the money. The actor took home $150 million after only three weeks. He used the money to put a down-payment on his house. And while fans of his thought it was a sell-out move that totally killed his cred, Cross finally admitted his own disgust at the project and the awful experience he had with it. But what it really came down to, was Cross telling his fans, ‘hey guys, stupid kid movies pay the bills’. And sometimes, actor’s have to cash in, but at what cost?

We’ll see who caves in to the money-making machine that is Alvin and the Chipmunks for this next film. And if there are any big names, it’s probably because they need some extra dough. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip is scheduled to release December 16, 2016.

David Cross is guesting on Community next season? Try not to blue yourself over this news, but it’s happening, and I think I speak for all of us when I say, huzzah! The Arrested Development star is Greendale Community-bound, and joins the continuously growing list of guest stars set to appear in the NBC comedy at some point in its upcoming fifth season.

Late last month, we learned that Arrested Development creator Mitchell Hurwitz had lined up a guest spot on Community for Season 5. Today, Vulture reports that Cross will also be guest starring in Season 5, appearing in the follow-up to the classic “Advanced Dungeons and Dragons” episode. His character’s name is Hank Hickey, and he’s the “bitterly estranged son” of Professor Hickey, the character Breaking Bad’s Jonathan Banks will be playing throughout the season.

David Cross is playing Jonathan Banks’ son. It’s one of those situations that I feel certain I’ve always wanted to happen, though my brain never visualized the actual scenario. That happens kind of a lot with Community though, so I shouldn’t be surprised.

In his episode, Cross’ character joins the study group for “the second most important game of Dungeons & Dragons ever.” For reference, the original D&D episode of the series was back in Season 2, when the group comes together for a game of Dungeons and Dragons in an effort to cheer up another student at Greendale Community.

In addition to playing Tobias Funke in Arrested Development — a role he reprised for the recent Netflix revival of the series — Cross’ credits include the title role in The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, as well as appearances (in voice or person) in Archer, Modern Family and Comedy Bang Bang. Given that I’m thinking there’s a lot of crossover between Arrested Development and Community — or maybe I just assume that since they’re both brilliant TV comedies with low ratings — I see him as the perfect fit for a Community guest spot.

Cross joins an amazing list of guest stars lined up for the underrated Community, including Banks and Hurwitz, along with Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, Firefly’s Nathan Fillion, Walton Goggins, Brie Larson, LeVar Burton, Ben Folds and Rob Corddry, among others.

NBC has Community set to return to Thursday nights, beginning January 2, which is less than two months away, but still feels like an eternity. While we wait, enjoy this compilation of great Tobias scenes from Arrested Development to refresh your appreciation for Cross’ comedic antics in the beloved comedy:

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Arrested Development’s return is getting closer by the day, and it seems there’s more good news all the time for the show’s fans. Resurrected by Netflix after years off the air, the comedy that Fox dropped is coming back in 2013, and today it sounds like there will be even more to look forward to than previously reported, according to star David Cross.

Originally reported to be a 10-episode season that will become available all at once on Netflix, David Cross told Rolling Stone that he doesn’t think 10 episodes will cut it, and anticipates that we may see a 13-episode season instead. “There’s too much story,” he said. The original cast is all back together on the set and the new season sounds like it’s as much fun for them as it will be for fans to watch. Of maybe not quite as much fun. It sounds like we’ll get the show back just the way we left it; Cross says Netflix gave them a free hand in bringing it back to life. “They don’t meddle at all,” he said.

Cross has high hopes for the show’s return, and the anticipation level has him quipping that he thinks “the grid is going to go down” due to the amount of power being drained by Arrested Development marathons across the nation. And now those marathons look to be 3 episodes longer than originally expected as well.

The show is definitely Fox’s loss and Netflix’s gain; since the announcement that the streaming service would be bringing it back fans have been waiting with bated breath for every bit of news. Now that it’s really happening, the countdown is on.

David Cross has always been a guy willing to try just about anything. From writing credits to video game voices to music videos, he’s dabbled in a whole lot of places. Sometimes these experiences like Arrested Development have turned into career defining moments. Sometimes these experiences like Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked have turned into horrible life decisions, and sometimes these experiences like doing cocaine at the White House Correspondents Dinner have left him neither prideful nor regretful.

That latest incident went down in 2009, and it occurred less out of a desire to get high and more out of a desire to say he did it. The comedian’s biggest fans likely are already well aware of the tale since he’s been joking about it for years, but until now, he’s never spoke of the details in a formal setting. In a new interview with Playboy, Cross finally gets specific and lays out the story, admitting the only thing that really bothers him is that his actions got his wife Amber Tambyln in trouble since he was merely her plus one. Here’s a quote from the interview courtesy of The New York Daily News…

That’s definitely not something a whole lot of people can say. I wouldn't imagine a whole lot of people do coke around President Obama these days. Then again, it’s probably something not a whole lot of people strive to do. As a one-off nonsensical act, I’m not going to blast Cross for this. I’m not going to give a thumbs up, but later in the interview, he admits he wouldn't either. It's just something that happened, and it (probably) won't ever happen again.

I'm definitely guilty of embellishing stories on occasion, to add humor or because time has worn down my memory's accuracy; but it's rarely about things that truly matter. (Big feet/penis correlation? Malarkey.) Todd Margaret (David Cross) does not allow himself such distanced self-assessment. Offered an impressive-sounding job in England, Todd immediately lies about a childhood in Leeds, inspired by The Who’s Live at Leeds album, to incidentally link himself to the country in the eyes of his boss. Considering this boss is Brent Wilts, Will Arnett’s umpteenth hilarious man/child character, it really doesn’t matter. But Todd later expounds upon this to his lone employee, Dave (Blake Harrison), finding it necessary and plausible to claim he watched The Who play Leeds every weekend, something that needs minimal effort to disprove. Todd cannot limit himself to lies that are actually worth the trouble. That was just one of Todd’s poor decisions, and David Cross sells every single uncomfortable moment. Much better than Todd sells Thunder Muscle.

The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret is a pretty fantastic British-American sitcom, written by David Cross and Shaun Pye for IFC, taking many cues from its overseas influences. It was originally conceived as two six-part seasons telling one streamlined story. No “Very Special Episodes” to worry about. Granted, each episode follows a similar path to storytelling that likens it to sitcoms of yore, albeit with more references to vaginas. These plotlines happen as such: Todd is presented with an opportunity that eventually becomes an interwoven string of ludicrous fables and raucous misinterpretations, usually ending with someone being completely alienated. It’s like Curb Your Enthusiasm, if Larry David was a naïve imbecile instead of stubbornly opinionated.

Todd moves to England to run the overseas division of the circularly named Global National, selling Thunder Muscle, a sketchy energy drink made from Korean vitamins. (It gives you the strength of twenty ponies!) His workplace doesn’t amount to much more than Dave’s desk and a multitude of drink pallets. His apartment is a dilapidated shithole often frequented by the glorious vileness that is Pam (Sara Pascoe), his chain-smoking pregnant neighbor. His romantic longing for diner-owning molecular gastronomist Alice (Sharon Horgan) is destined for failure, as she’s currently dating Canadian Hudson (British Colin Salmon). The only person he thinks is waiting for him in America is a girl who regrettably gave him pity sex. His cat, left with thirty cans of tuna upon Todd’s departure, meets an increasingly awful demise. From almost every angle, Todd’s life is shit. Yet he remains optimistic.

Viewers know this optimism will lead nowhere, as this first season’s conceit is that Todd has been charged with a laundry list of offensive crimes, and we’re witnessing the two weeks leading up to his court date. The opening’s courtroom charges usually pertain to what is to follow in the episode, and scripts are written with set-ups in early episodes don't pay off until later. It’s a show meant for fans of television as an art form rather than frivolous entertainment. Of course, I’m speaking purely of Form in that regard, as many will find artlessness in Todd’s acted-out assumption that deaf people are also mentally deficient. As for me, hearty laughs were stifled by a cringed-tight mouth. He is truly a detestable character, but Cross somehow draws out a misguided sympathy for Todd. I think it’s the voice.

Admittedly, many of the subtler details went right over my head on first viewing, and a second go-through, accompanied by each episode’s commentary track, was highly rewarding. It’s always enjoyable hearing Cross explain the process of creating a project, especially when it isn’t drowned in negativity. The flip side here is that everything is told with an air of self-importance. Whatever, the show is worth it. Cross is joined on different tracks by Arnett, Pye, producer Michael Livingstone, and director Alex Hardcastle. One episode has two commentaries! The pilot has an extended version! You might as well just put the thing on repeat and cancel the rest of your life.

There are more extras to fill your scheduled life-void. “An Act of Todd” is a half-hour featurette that takes viewers from Idea to Screen. Quite a bit of this, and other features, share stories contained in the commentaries, but it all holds interest. Meet the stars and crew. Tour the locations, some of which are quite impressive. Find out what it was like working with kids, and how they got David Cross’ face pasty.

The Cast and Crew Q&A is taken from moments on the set and in interviews. A question is offered, such as, “What character would you like to play?” (popular answer: Brent) or “What’s your favorite scene?” Differences between American and British comedy are discussed. Cross is good about suggesting British comedy shows that Americans might not be familiar with. “In Remembrance of David Cross” is filled with everyone talking about how great Cross is and how much fun it is to work with him. “DVD Extra Extras” are random silly bits that don’t fit anywhere else. And of course there is a Bloopers extra, which is just okay, and ten minutes of deleted scenes, most of which are just extended riffs on current scenes. Particularly a bit where Todd erroneously guesses who appears on the English pound. “The person who wrote Winnie the Pooh? Winnie the Pooh?”

All in all, a highly gratifying set for a gratifying show. I didn’t get into the extremes of Brent Wilts’ abrasive megalomania, tipped off by the pilot’s opening lines, when he tells an employee, “Hey guy, if I wanted to see you wear jeans, I’d go to your shitty house.” Arnett always delivers. I also glossed over soft-spoken director/genius Spike Jonze, who plays Doug “You’ve just been Whitney’d” Whitney, Brent’s fired assistant-turned-sleuth who shakes up the already flimsy foundation of Global National. Because yeah, this show even tackles corporate shenanigans. But it’s all better experienced than explained out. I imagine a two-season collection will come out after the show finishes airing, but for now, owning this set is definitely a non-increasing, non-poor decision.

Length: 255 min.

Distributor: MPI Home Video

Release Date: 12/27/11

Starring: David Cross, Sharon Horgan, Will Arnett, John Fortune

Directed by: Alex Hardcastle

Produced by: David Cross, Michael Livingstone, Christine Lubrano

Written by: David Cross, Shaun Pye

Those who go to bed before the late night talk shows air often miss out on some of the funniest, most interesting and even telling industry anecdotes because, well, not everyone always stays on script. On rare occasion, a movie star or starlet might let a nugget of truth slip from their mouth during said interviews, even admitting that they hate the film they're supposed to be plugging. Or, if you're David Cross, you can spend most of the interview purposefully bashing your latest project. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked might not be the "Mona Lisa," but is it worth this level of vitriol from Cross?

After telling the audience that shooting the film was his worst professional experience not to mention that they shouldn't see it, David Cross explains the circumstances that could easily have allowed a stand-in to perform the busy actor's scenes on the week long cruise shoot.

I can even understand his reasoning and where some of the animosity is coming from but is this venom being spewed just for laughs? Or is he actually being spiteful just because he was 'forced' on the week-long cruise by the one of the producers? Although he manages a few of the former, I'd say the rant was definitely fueled by the latter. In fact, the shtick does quite well, even making Conan laugh, until he starts bringing up Jewish stereotypes when talking about the offending producer.

Conan clearly becomes uncomfortable and switches gears to Cross' other project, the hilarious IFC sitcom The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret. It's not that what David Cross says is really so terrible. He is actually very careful in the selection of his words ("What people think about when they think negatively about Jews"), but there are so many other ways to describe someone being an unreasonable bitch (see). I didn't find the clip offensive by any means, most of what he says is funny and refreshingly honest. However, there is a part of me playing the world's smallest violin for the comic being 'forced at legal point' -- paid -- to be on a week long cruise. Also, I've heard his comedy so it's not like a little controversy is surprising. Cross was born into a Jewish home but now identifies as an atheist (sounds familiar).

Conan airs Monday-Thursday 11 p.m. ET on TBS. The second season of The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret kicked off last week on IFC and the second episode airs Friday, January 13 at 10:30p.m. on IFC. Oh, and here's our review of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.

And you thought you were anxious for the Arrested Development movie to get off the ground. While David Cross waits for the opportunity to play Tobias Funke again, he stays busy with projects both impressive (Human Giant) and embarrassing (Year One). Cross has admitted in the past that his involvement in the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise have been for the paycheck. Now, with this third installment about to hit theaters, Cross comes out and says this most recent one was hell on earth.

"This last film was literally, without question, the most unpleasant experience I’ve ever had in my professional life," Cross tells The Playlist, choosing not to mince words about Chip-Wrecked. "It’s safe to say I won’t be working with some of those people ever again."

Cross, who only was contractually obligated to do three, doesn’t have to come back to the franchise, but he was quick to back-pedal… kind of. "Not the actors. And the director [Mike Mitchell] was great. We got along. There were a couple of people, though…it was just a really awful, unpleasant experience."

Now, I’ve seen Chip-Wrecked. (Don’t dare judge me. I have two young sons.) And Cross, for the most part, had to humiliate himself by wearing a bird suit for the duration of the film. He’s a mascot of a cruise line, and he claims not to have clothes on under the suit, so he stays in it as he and Jason Lee explore an island. But the actor did get to spend a lot of time on a cruise ship and on a tropical island for the benefit of the shoot, so it wasn’t like he was making a Saw movie in some dirty basement somewhere. Still, it sounds like you can count Cross out of any Chipmunks sequels, which might be best for everyone.

Following the release of the first theatrical trailer for Megamind, I was actually fairly high on the film. It appeared to have some genuinely funny moments while playing with the Superman-Lex Luthor dynamic from the point of Luthor. Sadly, the film's second extended trailer replaces that with stupid sight gags and an over-seen plot.

Apple has released the newest promo for the film and while it starts out great (I like the idea of a prison being for the "criminally gifted"), but quickly heads downhill when we see a bearded, retired MetroMan talking about his new found love for music. I get it! He's playing a ukulele instead of a guitar because he's so big and it looks funny! The trailer is almost saved when the "forget-me stick" comes into play, but then they have to cut back to MetroMan playing a song about x-ray vision. A shame, really.

Check out the trailer below or in HD over at Apple.

Dreamworks’ Megamind has managed to put two things I don’t particularly enjoy, Will Ferrell and 3D, into something I’m actually pretty intrigued by. The film takes a shot at the superhero movie from the opposite side, putting the “villain”, so to speak, at the forefront of the film and the “hero”, who is obnoxiously smug here, into the second fiddle chair.

UK film site HeyUGuys has their hands in Dreamworks’ pocket this week as they’ll be getting new character posters each day, starting with this morning’s images for Ferrell’s character, the titular Megamind, and David Cross’s Minion, comprised of a fish controlling a mechanical gorilla body. Awesome.

They also had this detailed description of the story, which also stars Brad Pitt and the incomparable Tina Fey:

Here are the first couple of character posters, but expect to see several more as the week progresses. Check them out below, and see the movie November 5th.