Movie fans have known for decades that that Liam Neeson is an immensely talented actor, but it has nonetheless been surprising this past week to witness his gift for performing comedy. The Irish star best known for playing Oskar Schindler and the revenge-seeking Bryan Mills is hilarious and brilliant as he deadpans his way through the extreme goofiness of The Naked Gun – and it makes one wonder what could be next. Might he fully follow in Leslie Nielsen's footsteps and turn spoof into a specialty? Perhaps he could star in a sendup of his action movies like Taken?

The former is still an open question, but we can probably close the door on the latter. CinemaBlend's Jeff McCobb asked Liam Neeson about the idea last month during the press day for the critically acclaimed new comedy, and his answer had an interesting evolution – as you can see watching the video above. He goes from being modestly interested in a good take, to joking about it, to deciding that it probably wouldn't be the best idea. Said Neeson,

If, however, that movie did get made, who would be the proper star for it? That's a debate that social media could have for a full day, but Liam Neeson was quick to produce a name:

Whether on purpose or not, it's a funny namedrop when one considers the development history of the new Naked Gun movie. This is a project that has been in the works for over a decade, and has taken multiple different forms. Back in 2013, the property was put in the hands of screenwriters Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant, and you can probably guess who was lined up to play the new Frank Drebin: Ed Helms.

Did Liam Neeson know this before providing his answer to the question during the junket? I can't say for certain, but there's a part of me that hopes he did. I want it to be a situation akin to a friend getting a job that you were both going after and them putting in a recommendation for you to get another position at the same company.

As for whether or not the release of The Naked Gun will inspire a new wave of big screen spoof movies, time will tell. The new 2025 release has been on a mission of sorts to save comedy, and while it landed in third place at the box office during its opening weekend, it ended up earning on the higher end of projected ticket sales and it has plenty of buzz. It has some substantial competition arriving in theaters tomorrow in the form of Weapons and Freakier Friday, but word of mouth will hopefully keep it afloat and keep cinemas filled with the sound of hysterical laughter.

The Office’s millions-strong fandom has much to celebrate this year, with Greg Daniels’ upcoming newspaper-set spinoff hitting the 2025 TV schedule in September. (An event momentous enough for Chili’s to resurrect its Scranton location.) Given the setting changes, viewers likely won’t get major updates on familiar characters, but former star Ellie Kemper herself shared her current thoughts about Dunder-Mifflin’s on-again, off-again coupling of Erin and Andy, and I’m firmly inclined to side with her on this one.

Kemper shared some candid thoughts in the past about not being a huge fan of Erin and Andy as a couple, and when asked to hypothesize about their current status in an interview with People, the actress initially voiced an olive branch for Ed Helms’ kooky character before largely backtracking in favor of Erin’s happiness. Here’s how she put it:

For the briefest of seconds, any and all Erin/Andy shippers were in grasping distance of a victory that remained elusive as The Office closed out with its ninth season. And I suppose if anyone’s electricity cut out in the middle of reading that quote, that person could very well go forward in life with the idea that Kemper thinks Erin and Andy would find a way to permanently patch things up.

But such is not the case, and I’m not exactly mad about it. Despite Erin and Andy easily being two of the best characters from The Office, judged as separate entities, I wasn’t ever really a huge fan of their romantic entanglements, largely due to Andy’s relationship behavior somehow being more cartoonish than Jim’s and Dwight’s put together. Sure, he often had others’ best interests in mind, but he kind of sucked at showcasing them.

Meanwhile, Erin often represented youthful innocence, and I like to imagine that she ended up with her most ideal significant other after the show wrapped, perhaps someone who watched the in-universe documentary and fell head over heels for her.

As far as Erin’s current whereabouts, Ellie Kemper surmised that Erin probably put Dunder-Mifflin in her rear-view mirror, and is hopefully enjoying the life of an employee who has moved up in the ranks. As she put it:

How awesome would it be, though, if the new Office spinoff The Paper does actually feature a cameo or two from the U.S. mothership? (Not that I’d balk at seeing Ricky Gervais’ David Brent or someone else from the OG UK comedy popping up.) I don’t know that updating fans on Erin and Andy’s status would be the main concern, but it definitely would be if Ed Helms is the one making the cameo.

Fans can revisit any relationship foible they want throughout The Office’s nine seasons with a Peacock subscription while awaiting an exact premiere date for The Paper on NBC.

At this point, The Office is basically guaranteed to go down in history as not only one of the best sitcoms of all time, but also as one of the comedies that people love to rewatch and as a series that made a number of actors famous because of their roles on the nine-season hit.

Speaking of which, many of the actors we know and love from the ever-popular mockumentary about the (frequently wacky) employees at the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin paper company have starred (or popped up memorably) in a number of other movies and shows both before, during and after their time on the NBC classic. So let’s take a look at what else you can watch the cast of The Office in!

Foxcatcher

Even though Steve Carell was known as a comedic actor before he led The Office cast as the sometimes good at his job Michael Scott, it was definitely his role on the comedy that propelled him to new heights and led to opportunities for him to branch out. One such case of that was his creepy starring turn in the drama Foxcatcher, an acclaimed biographical sports thriller that saw him nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 2015.

Inside Out

It seems that 2015 was a good year for The Office cast, as this was when the Pixar mega-hit Inside Out was released, starring the voice of Phyllis Smith as Sadness. The animated film, of course, followed the personified emotions of a young girl going through a tough time, and was popular enough to get a sequel in 2024.

Away We Go

Of all The Office characters, it’s possible that John Krasinski’s Jim Halpert is the most beloved, and the actor rode that wave into 2009’s romantic road trip film Away We Go. The comedy-drama is about a couple in their early 30s trying to decide where to settle before the birth of their first child, and really should be sought out if you haven’t seen it yet.

Blades Of Glory

I know what you’re thinking, What about Pam? Well, Jenna Fischer’s Pam Beesly Halpert was, many think, the heart of the sitcom, and the actress became the heart of the ice-skating comedy Blades of Glory in 2007.

The Mindy Project

While Kelly Kapoor is one of the most memorably ridiculous staffers at Dunder Mifflin, the same can’t (totally) be said for Mindy Kaling’s OB/GYN, Mindy Lahiri, in The Mindy Project. The doctor may be analytical, friendly and good at her job, but she’s also blunt and shallow, making her fun to watch.

Bridesmaids

Because of the number of hilarious performances from the ensemble cast of the one-liner-filled comedy, Bridesmaids, you might have forgotten that Ellie Kemper (that’s receptionist Erin Hannon to you) starred in the somewhat raunchy 2011 hit as Becca, a newlywed member of the bridal party who loses some of her naivete because of the antics of the assembled group.

Parks And Recreation

Did you forget about Karen Filippelli? You know, Jim’s girlfriend who quickly realized that he was in love with Pam once they were all working together? Well, Rashida Jones was a much bigger part of Parks and Recreation, where her nurse, Anne Perkins, was a (mostly) reasonable member of the wacky ensemble.

Super

There probably aren’t a lot of us who watched the NBC workplace sitcom and envisioned any of the characters as superheroes, which is part of the point to Dwight Schrute actor Rainn Wilson taking on his reading role in Super. The dark comedy follows a short order cook who becomes a masked vigilante, and should be experienced at least once.

The Hangover

A hit comedy you’ve almost definitely seen at least once is 2009’s The Hangover, starring Ed Helms, a.k.a. Andy Bernard. Actually, no one would be surprised if you’ve seen this movie plus its two sequels multiple times.

This Is The End

Apocalyptic horror comedies don’t come around all that often, and when they do they’re rarely as insane as This Is The End. The 2013 film stars a number of notable famous folks playing versions of themselves who try to survive the Biblical event, including Darryl Philbin’s portrayer, Craig Robinson.

Leatherheads

John Krasinski also lent his talents to the George Clooney-directed, 1925-set football comedy, Leatherheads. It might not have been a big hit, but it definitely let fans see more of Krasinski’s big-screen potential early on.

Fresh Off The Boat

It hasn’t been uncommon for some of the cast to pop up on other popular shows, and that’s what we saw with Angela Kinsey (yup, she played Dwight’s eventual boo Angela) when it came to the ABC family comedy Fresh Off the Boat. Kinsey guest starred in a handful of episodes across Seasons 4 and 5 as Amy Chestnut, a nemesis for Jessica Huang.

The Lost City

It’s a bit of a wonder that Oscar managed to continue working at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, considering how professional and free of foolishness he was. But, his portrayer, Oscar Nuñez, did play an important oddball in 2022’s The Lost City, and to hilarious effect.

The Morning Show

Steve Carell continued to take on more dramatic roles after leaving The Office behind, and he kept his streak going by playing the disgraced former co-host for the first two seasons of the titular show that’s the focus of this Apple TV+ series.

The Giant Mechanical Man

While none of our beloved Office cast members have led what will come to be known as one of the best romantic comedies of all time just yet, Jenna Fischer did star in a lovely little rom-com called The Giant Mechanical Man, where she plays a struggling zoo worker who falls for a financially strapped street performer.

Family Switch

Sometimes you just need a good, fun family movie, and Ed Helms helped give us one with Family Switch. The movie, which you can watch with your Netflix subscription, gets its Freaky Friday on by having two parents (and the family dog) swap bodies with their two teens (and the baby of the family).

Galaxy Quest

Unfortunately, sci-fi and comedy simply don’t overlap that much, because when they do we end up with wondrous movies like Galaxy Quest. This now classic features Rainn Wilson as one of the decent, octopus-like Thermians, who juuuuust manage to pose as human.

Gone Baby Gone

Though she’d been a working actor for many years, most people really got to know about Amy Ryan because of her Oscar-nominated role in 2007’s Gone Baby Gone as the mother of a missing girl; a role that was quite different from her sweet Holly Flax.

The Bold Type

It’s a bad idea to get involved with your boss; that is, if your boss is like the domineering Jan Levinson, as played by Melora Hardin. However, if your boss is tough but fair and an all-around good human like The Bold Type’s Jacqueline Carlyle, then maybe things won’t go as badly for you as they did for Michael.

Silicon Valley

While Zach Woods brought even more weirdness to The Office as Gabe Woods for Seasons 6-9, he was more of a secure and stabilizing presence for the tech team on HBO’s comedy, Silicon Valley.

Ocean’s Eight

The Mindy Project hasn’t been the only way to watch Mindy Kaling outside of Scranton. In 2018 she branched out by starring as jeweler Amita in the crime comedy Ocean’s Eight, as one of the so-named group with a plan for a big jewelry heist.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Naive, nice and endlessly hopeful seems to be a specialty of Ellie Kemper. She added another such character to the one from Bridesmaids and The Office when she took on the role of former underground (literally) doomsday cult member Kimmy Schmidt as she attempted to make a life for herself in New York City after being rescued. You can watch her in all four seasons and one interactive movie on one of the best streaming services, Netflix.

The Blacklist

Anyone who enjoyed James Spader as the intimidating and mysterious Robert California, odd though he was, would probably have no problem seeing the actor as, well…mysterious, intimidating and charming criminal mastermind/FBI informant/probable sociopath, Raymond “Red” Reddington for 10 seasons of the NBC drama, The Blacklist, which wrapped its long run in 2023.

The Wire

The Wire is an amazing drama that is one of the TV shows that actually ended well, and it also made Idris Elba a household name because of his long-running role as smooth criminal Stringer Bell. Were it not for this series, we might not have gotten him as Michael’s strict (and eventually antagonistic) boss who had quite an effect on the ladies, Charles Miner. FYI, you can also see Amy Ryan in this show, beginning in Season 2.

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Few fans of our favorite mockumentary could have guessed that there would be a time when superhero fans around the world would call for John Krasinski (he of the flippy Jim haircut and consistent bemused looks to the camera) to portray Marvel icon Mister Fantastic, a.k.a. Reed Richards. Well, Disney finally gave them their wish in a wildly short-lived fashion when he appeared as a version of the Fantastic Four leader in 2022’s multiverse-hopping Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.

Six Feet Under

Yet another 2000s HBO drama has delivered another way to see someone from The Office. One of the rare family shows that’s about death in a real way, Six Feet Under helped Rainn Wilson show the world a happier, though still incredibly peculiar, character in mortuary intern Arthur Martin during Season 3.

Hot Tub Time Machine

One of the stranger time travel movies in recent memory can easily be said to be Hot Tub Time Machine, where our time travelers do, indeed, trip through time via an energy drink-powered hot tub. In both this classic comedy and its sequel, you can watch Craig Robinson experience the many benefits and dangers of time travel.

The Daily Show

A number of correspondents have passed by the news desk on Comedy Central’s politically aware pop culture program, The Daily Show. From 2002-2006, Ed Helms lent his talents to segments like Digital Watch, We Love Showbiz and This Week in God. The added bonus for you? This series launched Steve Carell’s early career, as he was also a correspondent from 1999 through 2005, and has returned several times since then as a guest.

Inglourious Basterds

We’ve already come upon some surprising portrayals from our wild and wacky Office workers, and fans were treated to another one with the release of Quentin Tarantino’s Academy Award-nominated Inglourious Basterds in 2009. While B.J. Novak’s Smithson "Little Man" Utivich was simply a loyal soldier and accomplished smart-alek, the environment he thrived in was much more stressful than anything Ryan could have survived.

Upload

Remember that dutiful movie and TV viewers can easily spot one of the Scranton denizens as they pop up in any number of other well-known projects. However, when Creed Bratton (yes, that Creed) appeared in a Season 1 episode of Amazon Prime’s Upload, he probably delivered the briefest, most hilariously gruesome guest star spot of them all.

Doctor Who

If there’s any one show in the history of TV shows that continues to provide us with a near-endless stream of cameos and guest starring roles from up-and-comers, it would be Doctor Who and its 60-year, 40-season history. And, we can actually watch a whole season (the fourth modern one) plus six specials of Catherine Tate (Nellie Bertram, Seasons 7-9) as The Doctor’s companion, Donna Noble.

The White Lotus

Last but not least, we take you to The White Lotus. This Emmy-winning HBO (Should we all just stick with HBO if we want to see our Office mates?) satire has already given us innumerable memorable characters and performances, and Season 1 saw Jake Lacy (who played Pete “New Jim” Miller in Season 9) take on the role of the easily unlikable, arrogant rich guy Shane Patton.

As you can see, The Office cast has thrived outside of the comedy that made so many of them famous!

Zach Galifianakis' Alan Garner in The Hanger is easily one of the funniest characters of the 21st Century, and probably in all of cinema history. In a movie that is full of hilarious moments, no one comes close to matching the number of amazing lines that Alan has. So far, there have been three movies in the Hangover franchise, but the first one is far and away the funniest, so here are all of our favorite lines from Alan in the original Hangover.

You probably get this a lot. This isn't the real Caesar's Palace, is it?

Probably the most oft-repeated line from the movie is this classic when the crew are checking into Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas at the beginning of the movie. Just remember, no matter how many times you've heard it in your life, have some sympathy for the people who work at the actual casino. 

You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack. But when my sister brought Doug home, I knew he was one of my own. And my wolf pack, it grew by one. So there were two of us in the wolf pack. And six months ago, when Doug introduced me to you guys, I thought, "Wait a second, could it be?" And now I know for sure, I just added two more guys to my wolf pack.

Alan is a lovable weirdo, and his explanation/toast of how he lives his life, as a member of a wolf pack, pretty much says it all. Cutting his hand to be "blood brothers" was going too far though. 

Gambling? Who said anything about gambling? It's not gambling when you know you're gonna win. Counting cards is a foolproof system.

Alan saves the day at the end when they need to raise $80K dollars to pay Chow and get Doug back. Alan, it turns out, is a pretty good card counter. Which is foolproof, as he proves. "Fool" is the operative word there. 

What about the tiger? What if he got out?

Since audiences don't see what actually happens in the night, other than the photos at the end, we're left wondering why there is a chicken, a tiger, and a baby in the room when they wake up. That's a dangerous combination. 

I'm on your side! I hate Godzilla! I hate him too! I hate him! He destroys cities! Please! This isn't your fault. I'll get you some pants.

Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) jumping out of the trunk of the car is the funniest moment in the movie, and Alan immediately tries to gain his trust in a very Alan way. 

I'm not supposed to be within two hundred feet of a school... or a Chuck E. Cheese.

Ok, Alan is a weirdo, but he's a creep too? This is a line, about schools and kids' pizza places we'd rather not read too deeply into, as we want to like the character. Yikes. 

I didn't know they gave out rings at the Holocaust.

The most dramatic moment of the unseen bender must have been when Stu (Ed Helms) married Jade (Heather Graham). She's not the kind of girl you'd take home to Mom, especially after you've given her your grandmother's ring that she managed to keep hidden through the Holocaust. At least Jade is a sweetheart. 

“Do you know if the hotel is pager friendly?”

Of course, Alan still uses a pager, right? What else would he do? Would anyone trust him with an actual cell phone? The thought is terrifying. 

Don't touch it. Don't even look at it. Go on, get out. You heard me. Don't look at me, either... I'll hit an old man in public.

The only thing for certain with Alan is that nothing is for certain and you never know how he is going to react to anything or anyone. Take, for example, the poor guy at the gas station who just wants to admire the Mercedes. Alan isn't having it and lets him know in no uncertain terms. 

Pants at a time like this? I don't have any...

Alan is the first to discover the tiger in the bathroom and as he tries to explain what's going on, he just doesn't have the time or the inclination to put any pants on. Not at a time like that. 

Is there a payphone bank? Buncha payphones? Business.

After revealing he only uses a pager, it makes sense that he would need to be aware of where the nearest pay phones are. Of course, it's the 21st Century and those aren't really a thing anymore, even in hotels. Luckily, there are phones in the room, which Alan is okay with. 

The Doug we're looking for is a white.

Alan does not mean to be offensive, it's all an innocent mistake when he tries to explain that Mr. Chow is turning over the wrong Doug after they pay him back. Black Doug (Mike Epps) seems like a good dude, just let it go, Alan. 

But you don't know for sure? I have this cousin Marcus who saw one he said it blew his mind I want to make sure I never ever miss out on a Halley's comet.

Halley's Comet comes around once every 75 years and the most recent visit was in 1986. It's going to be a while, Alan, but you've got plenty of time to plan for it. 

It's where I keep all my things. Get a lot of compliments on this. Plus it's not a purse, it's called a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one.

Man purses are a convenient way to carry stuff around, and Alan isn't afraid of the reputation they might convey. He's proud of his handy satchel and one of the greatest action stars of all time in one of the best '80s movies, uses one, so why shouldn't Alan?

I want you to know, Doug, I'm a steel trap. Whatever happens tonight, I will never, ever, ever speak a word of it. Seriously, I don't care what happens. I don't care if we kill someone. You heard me. It's Sin City. I won't tell a soul.

Alan understands the basics and nothing is more basic than "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Don't tell a soul – and that's before everything happens! 

How's my hair?

Everyone has a little vanity and while wearing a wolf t-shirt with white jeans doesn't phase Alan, he is concerned with how his hair looks. We all are. Even if it's Galifianakis' beard that steals the show. 

I think the cop car part's pretty cool.

One thing that stands out about Alan's weirdness is that it's complimented by his enthusiasm even if it is also misplaced. Like when they discover that somehow they ended up valet parking a police car. It seems like a bad situation, but Alan likes it. 

And we're the three best friends that anyone could have!

Okay, okay, hanging out with Alan for more than about two hours would be maddening. He proves that nicely in the car to pick up Doug. Stu and Phil (Bradley Cooper) are rapping about finding Doug and going home and Alan wants to be a part of it. His choice of songs, an original written by him, is pretty awful. 

Hey, you guys ready to let the dogs out?

Even in 2009, it wasn't cool to reference the Baha Men's "Who Let The Dogs Out." Actually, it wasn't even cool in 2000 when the song came out. Still, Alan is ready to rock, letting all the dogs out. Woof Woof Woof. 

Tigers love pepper. They hate cinnamon.

On one hand, it's nice of Alan to properly season the steak that they are trying to feed to the tiger with the sleeping pills, so they return the cat to Mike Tyson. On the other hand, it's disturbing that Alan is so confident in knowing that tigers like pepper, but no cinnamon. 

Hey, there's skittles in there!

When Mr. Chow gets mad at the boys for not returning his money, he shows his displeasure by smashing the bag he thought the money was in. There wasn't money, but there were Skittles and wow does that set Alan off. Don't mess with the man's candy! 

Oh you know what, next week's no good for me, the Jonas brothers are in town.

Alan wants to run with his new wolf pack, he wants to be best friends forever. Unless it interferes with his Jonas Brothers concert plans. Nothing gets between Alan and the Jonas'.

Okay, well, maybe we should tell that to Rain Man, because he practically bankrupt a casino.

Alan is pretty stupid in many ways, but when it comes to counting cards, he's second only to Dustin Hoffman's famous character in Rain Man. 

I've found a baby before.

Well, this explains why Alan was so comfortable with the baby in the Bjorn across his chest. He's done this all before! Who among us hasn't found a baby before?

Drunk driving. Classic. 

First, isn't it kind of weird that with Doug missing, Phil, Stu, and Alan are all enjoying a nice breakfast by the pool? Setting that aside, Alan's laughing about drunk driving is one of the more uncomfortable laughs of the movie. The three of them can't remember anything but they did valet a car so... yikes. 

Yeah, I checked all the rooms… no one’s there. Check its collar or something.

As if the chicken and the tiger weren't enough, there was also that mystery baby left in the closet of the hotel villa. Who's baby is it? Hard to know when you can't remember anything. If only babies had collars like dogs, Alan's idea would've worked. 

Yeah, maybe after 9/11, where everybody got so sensitive. Thanks a lot, bin Laden.

In the real world, The Hangover was released about eight years after 9/11 and it was kind of just around the time that people started dabbling in jokes about that tragic day in U.S. history. Alan wouldn't have cared either way, he was angry about how security on airplanes changed. 

No, he was skiing in Vermont, it was just during World War II.

Alan has feelings too. In fact, he feels deeply and he is genuinely worried about his future brother-in-law, Doug. He doesn't want Doug to die like his Grandfather during World War Two. Which would've been a few decades before Alan was born, but who's counting?

Uh, if we're sharing beds, I'm bunking with Phil. You cool with that?

By the end of the movie, Doug, Stu, Phil, and Alan might have a real bromance going on, but it doesn't start that way. Alan wants to bunk up with Phil, who is not having it, and who can blame him?

Easy. You just pour kerosene over a ferret, light it on both ends, put it in.

Okay, this is where things get pretty dark when you think about it. How exactly does Alan know so much about lighting cars on fire and why does he think it's best to use living animals? Again, it's best we don't ask too many questions and just let Alan go, he's probably (hopefully) lying about his experience. 

I don't think you should curse around the baby.

Of all the guys to be entrusted with the mysterious baby, Alan would be most people's last choice, but he proves pretty early on that maybe he wouldn't be the worst parent. Of course, moments later he smacks the baby with a car door. Oh well. 

It says here we should work in teams. Who'll be my spotter?

Alan decides early on he's going to learn how to count cards. It's not long into his book before he realizes it's best to work as a Blackjack team. He asks who's with him and no one takes him seriously. Luckily, Alan kept studying. 

When Stu is finally at his wit's end, he tells Alan, "You are literally too stupid to insult."Alan, being Alan, sees that as a compliment, and thanks him for it. And that pretty much sums up everything about the lovable weirdo that he is. 

Following the release of the chaotic holiday movie Best. Christmas. Ever. Netflix is back with another festive family flick: Family Switch. If you ever wondered what would happen if every family member in Disney's Freaky Friday traded places with each other, this is the right movie for you! While I definitely had fun watching the awkward shenanigans unfold, I wish the movie had taken bigger risks. 

Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms lead the cast of Family Switch, playing Jess and Bill Walker. Excited for the holiday season, the parents find themselves struggling to connect with their teenage children CC (Emma Myers) and Wyatt (Brady Noon). When a fight breaks out during a trip to the planetarium to see a once-in-a-lifetime planetary alignment, a telescope breaks and something major happens with the family. The following morning they wake up in each other’s bodies — including the youngest Walker who has switched with the family dog, Pickles. Now, the family must figure out how to carry out their important duties while being in each other's bodies. Adding even more pressure is the fact that they have to figure out how to switch back before the planetary alignment ends. 

There’s no denying that Family Switch delivers on its premise. It’s packed full of awkward situations brought on by the body swapping and tons of hilarious mischief. Plus, the Netflix comedy was compared to 13 Going On 30 by many critics, so fans of the beloved Garner-led rom-com are in for a treat. There are even a few nods to Christmas along the way that make it a holiday-adjacent film. However, despite having a stellar cast and fun premise, it failed to break out of the cliches we’ve come to expect in body-swapping movies, leaving me quite disappointed. 

The Story Felt Too Formulaic From The Beginning 

One of my biggest problems with Family Switch is that it set things up too nicely, and was very formulaic. Anyone who has ever seen a body swap movie knows that there has to be a certain level of stakes to make it worth it. The characters have to be on separate pages and there have to be major life events going on that will have them racing against time to switch back. This Netflix flick is no exception. 

From the very opening scenes, it’s clear that CC and Wyatt do not find their parents entertaining in the slightest. They’re on completely different wavelengths and can’t seem to agree on much. In addition, the movie sets up four separate major events the characters are looking forward to. Jess is gearing up for a career-changing pitch session. Bill is slated to take the stage with his new band and hopefully make his rockstar dreams come true. CC has a very important soccer scout coming to see her play. And Wyatt has an interview with the Yale admissions officers that he can’t mess up. With so much riding on these moments and the family members not valuing them equally, it’s easy to see disaster coming. And boy, does it come! 

After that, the movie follows a similar plot structure as the Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsey Lohan-led Freaky Friday. There’s a magical incident that leaves the family flustered (the breaking of the telescope), followed by a chaotic morning scene where everyone grapples with their new bodies. We then get the standard montage of the family trying their best to embody their new identities but ultimately making things worse. It all gets tied together with a nice neat bow as they realize that they’ve been underestimating each other the entire time. 

There’s even a conspiring secondary character in Family Swith played by the talented Rita Moreno that feels inspired by the restaurant owner's mother-daughter duo in the Disney movie. And of course, their first attempt at switching back doesn’t work, forcing them to dig deeper into what is broken. 

It Would Have Been More Entertaining Had It Taken Bigger Risks 

Given that Netflix typically isn't afraid of releasing risky movies and shows, I’m disappointed that they chose to go such a cliche route. Family Switch truly has a fun premise that falls flat because it fails to break out from the genre. 

I, for one, think it would have been entertaining had the body switching been different. We’ve already seen what happens when a mother-daughter duo switches bodies, but what would happen if it was a father-daughter? Or even sister-brother? Sure, it might leave people a little uneasy when they question how the logistics of being in someone else’s body works, but the writers didn’t seem too worried about making the audience uncomfortable when they forced the siblings to kiss each other in their parents’ bodies. 

The biggest risk that came from the body switching happened between the baby and the dog. Unfortunately, it was treated as comedic relief instead of an actual plot point. It’s a shame too since the odd body swap could have created conflict for the family and the neighbor they trusted to watch the toddler and dog. 

I also was hoping for a bigger and better plot twist. It was clear to me the minute Moreno’s Angelica appeared that she was the magical being responsible for the switch. Though it’s never outwardly stated in the movie, I think everyone can agree that’s what happened. To me, it would have been more interesting if it was some kind of weird planetary fate thing. Honestly, going that route might have made it more believable too, given the popularity of astrology. 

Family Switch also had the opportunity to incorporate Christmas more and instead, it shied away from the holiday almost entirely. Instead of making the holiday a key reason for needing to switch back, professional goals were the stakes. I’m not sure what setting the movie during Christmas did, other than allow the cast to break out into a rock and roll rendition of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” during the third act. 

Maybe I am being too harsh because I’m such a big fan of Freaky Friday, but I had high hopes that Family Switch would become one of Netflix’s best Christmas movies. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Still, the body-swapping flick is worth checking out, especially if you need to escape your own family this holiday season. Head on over to Netflix with an active subscription to stream the movie. 

The holidays might be quickly approaching, but Christmas movies are just getting started. Keep an eye on our 2023 Christmas movie schedule so you don’t miss any of the holiday cheer that has yet to be released. 

While the prospect of The Hangover 4 seems to be hovering between slim and none, with Ed Helms previously pegging the chances as "between 0 and 0," Bradley Cooper recently shared his eagerness to reprise his role as well as rejoining the Hangover cast, whom he expressed great affection for. There may be a glimmer of hope for fans yearning for a reunion with the Wolf Pack. Helms, who initially downplayed the likelihood, shared his thoughts on Cooper's newfound enthusiasm, signaling a potential shift in the tides.

The comedian, who was walking the red carpet for the premiere of his holiday flick Family Switch (which is new on Netflix), caught up with ET Online. When asked about Bradley Cooper's recent comments on the potential for another Hangover installment, he responded with an infectious enthusiasm that mirrored his co-star's sentiments. The star said: 

It seems the camaraderie and chemistry among the Wolf Pack and crew members is still alive and well, making the prospects of a reunion even more appealing. There is a caveat to point out here, though But Helms reiterated reiterated something that his co-star said while sharing his thoughts on a fourth film. And this is a major factor to consider:

In recent years, Todd Phillips has seemingly shifted his focus towards more prestigious, art-house projects. With Phillips busy helming the upcoming DC movie Joker: Folie à Deux, a sequel to his Academy Award-winning film Joker, the logistics of a potential Hangover 4 are challenging, even if Phillips would be interested. While not entirely impossible, navigating these complexities in Hollywood, where unexpected developments are not uncommon, adds an intriguing layer to the speculation surrounding the possibility of a fourth installment.

A sequel to the comedic trilogy might have to wait but, as for Todd Phillip’s highly anticipated Joker 2, details about the specific plot are tightly guarded. However, what we can expect from the sequel is that it promises to distinguish itself from its predecessor in two significant ways. Firstly, Lady Gaga takes on the role of Harleen Quinzel, the Arkham psychiatrist entangled in a tumultuous romance with the eponymous villain, ultimately transforming into Harley Quinn, his criminal partner. The movie is set to break new ground as a musical, contributing to the sequel’s notably larger budget than the original. Alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the Folie à Deux cast includes Zazie Beetz, reprising her role as Sophie Dumond, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey.  So Phillips definitely has his hands full.

Aside from that, if another cinematic outing for the “three best friends that anyone could have” isn’t in the cards, perhaps the filmmaker could find a place for Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis in his next project. Suppose it happens to be another upcoming superhero movie. In that case, I think the triad of actors could make for a very entertaining addition to the DC cinematic pantheon as the obscure supervillain group Terrible Trio. I'd buy that for a dollar! But still, let's hope another Hangover installment proves to be the case.

For now, catch up with Ed Helms alongside Jennifer Garner in his Christmas comedy Family Switch, now streaming with a Netflix subscription. Meanwhile, Hulu subscribers can stream the three Hangover films.

There is no genre more near and dear to my heart than comedy. The skills necessary to make others laugh -- whether live and in-person or through a screen -- are a unique and beautiful combination that should be protected at all costs. Some artists are able to do so without leaning in to touchy subjects or cursing, while others go all the way to really earn that R rating. The tactics may differ, but the end goal is the same, to bring others joy through jokes. 

Many comedians see movies as the apex of a potential career, but most don't start out their careers in Hollywood. Many grow first through either stand-up comedy or sketch comedy. This list honors them. Here's a look back at famous actors who started in either the stand-up or sketch comedy world and went on to bigger screens.

Rainn Wilson

Known as arguably one of the best characters on the hit show The Office, Rainn Wilson got his start in the arts in New York City where he studied acting at NYU. He went on to do theater both off and on Broadway as well as sketch comedy. He even did a post-modern clown show before getting his big break on the show Six Feet Under in 2001. 

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg got her start by studying drama in New York, where she landed a few stage performances before trying her hand at stand-up comedy. Like many others on this list, her comedy routine -- "The Spook Show" -- caught the attention of Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols, who helped get the young comedian to Broadway. She eventually landed her first film in Steven Spielberg's film The Color Purple, for which she earned an Oscar nomination in 1986. 

Steve Buscemi

The veteran character actor made his acting debut in 1985, but also tried his hand at stand-up comedy. Eventually, Busemi decided he "wasn't funny enough," and switched to acting instead. Buscemi has since starred in popular movies including Fargo, Resevoir Dogs, and the hit HBO Max show Boardwalk Empire.

Emma Thompson

If you're looking for a stand-up with some serious credentials, look no further than Emma Thompson. Winner of two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, a British Academy Television Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, the talented actor got her start in stand-up while in Cambridge. 

John Candy

Arguably one of the greatest comedy legends to ever live, John Candy led a fascinating life, getting his big break after joining the ensemble of SCTV — which is, essentially, the Canadian equivalent to SNL. In 1989, the star even added radio personality to his resume. The LA Times did a whole write-up of his syndicated, two-hour program, Radio Kandy, which sounds wild and apparently included rock music and comedy sketches featuring some of his former SCTV co-stars.

Mo'Nique

Mo'Nique started her comedy career with stand-up, heading to It's Showtime at the Apollo and Def Comedy Jam before eventually landing a leading role on TV's The Parkers. The comedian took her acting to the next level in 2009's Precious, for which she won an Academy Award.

Steve Carell

A versatile actor with numerous groundbreaking performances in both television and film, Steve Carrell was once a legend at Second City in Chicago who went on to land his dream job working on the ill-fated Dana Carvey Show, which you can learn about in Too Funny To Fail, one of the best comedy documentaries to date. Known best for his role as Michael Scott in the U.S. adaptation of The Office, Carell eventually went on to become a leading man in both comedies and dramas. 

Michael Keaton

To put himself through college where he studied acting, Michael Keaton worked as a cab and ice cream truck driver, and it wasn't until 1975 that he officially debuted on television. He did some stand-up comedy in his early 20s, which he recounted in an interview with Ellen, but he eventually found the right calling with movies.

Tina Fey

Known for her work on the smash hit show 30 Rock, Tina Fey got her start in acting at Second City which quickly led to a job at Saturday Night Live as notably one of the only female writers at the time. She got her break co-hosting Weekend Update and later went on to be a huge star in Hollywood. 

Jamie Foxx

It all started with a dare from a girlfriend to try his hand at an open mic. Flash forward some years and that performance led Jamie Foxx to multiple awards, including two Academy Awards, double digit Grammys, and three Golden Globe Awards, all while showing a versatile ability to crush performances across multiple genres and artistic art forms.

John Cleese

Coming from the United Kingdom, John Cleese is a British comic actor best known for his television work on Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Fawlty Towers. Cleese began writing and performing in comedy revues at Clifton College in Bristol, England, and was a member of the renowned Footlights Club while a law student at the University of Cambridge. He is best known for his work with Monty Pythion, namely Monty Python And The Holy Grail. 

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais went to school at Ashmead Comprehensive School before going on to study at University College, London, where he gained a degree in Philosophy. After university, Gervais attempted to pursue a pop career with Seona Dancing, a synth-pop duo he formed with a fellow student. After forming a writing partnership with Stephen Merchant, he would go on to land his breakout role on The Office, premiering in 2001. In between all his acting gigs, he's performed plenty of stand-up and has multiple Netflix specials. 

Eddie Murphy

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, SNL star Eddie Murphy began performing his own comedy routines at 15. In 1980, the work of the soon-to-be comedy legend caught the attention of Saturday Night Live producers. In 1982, Murphy landed his first leading role in the film, 48 Hrs, which led to multiple leads in classics such as Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America. He went on to earn an Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls and truly set the bar by playing six characters in the 1996 smash hit, The Nutty Professor. His '80s comedy specials are still discussed today. 

Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer is certainly better known these days for her work in numerous films including the fantastic Trainwreck, but most of those career opportunity doors opened through her stand-up comedy. She built a name for herself through her work on the live mic before mostly switching to movies.

Chris Rock

An SNL vet, Chris Rock's comedy career began in 1984 at 19 when he took the stage in the New York City club Catch a Rising Star. His performance ended up catching the eye of future comedy legend Eddie Murphy, who had been watching his act. Murphy would become a huge presence in Rock's life and served as a mentor, giving him his first break with a role in Beverly Hills Cop II.

Ron Perlman

Known for very courageous roles such as Clay Morrow on the FX show Sons Of Anarchy, Ron Perlman said his ventures as a stand-up comedian ended after a heckling exchange in the Bronx escalated and he retreated out of the venue through the back door, which seems like a strange move for such an intimidating man. 

Robin Williams

Arguably one of the best comedians of all-time, Robin Williams studied acting at the Juilliard School, which he later dropped out of to devote himself entirely to stand-up comedy before making the leap to television and movies. Known for his high energy and skillful impressions, he himself has inspired other actors to reenact some of his most dramatic real-life moments in honor of the late comedian. 

Patton Oswalt

The Prince of Queens, Patton Oswalt went from struggling in the comedy world to writing for the sketch comedy show MADtv and earning his own comedy special on HBO. He continued to impress critics and fans alike, with roles such as the voice of the lead character Remy the Rat in the Pixar film, Ratatouille. 

Richard Pryor

Unfortunately, tragedy and comedy often go hand-in-hand. Such is the case with arguably one of the genre's biggest icons, the late, great, Richard Pryor. The legend had a tough life growing up and eventually joined the military before playing nightclubs as both a musician and comedian at age 23. His comedy career was populated with milestones and achievements, as well as struggles and substance abuse before passing away in 2005 due to complications from M.S..  

Bette Midler

Bette Midler landed her first Broadway role in Fiddler on the Roof by 1966, four years before trying her hand at stand-up comedy. In 1972, she released the album The Divine Miss M, which earned her a Grammy Award, and she started making frequent appearances on late-night television shows and eventually a huge acting career. Along the way, she performed live comedy and even released an album.

Norm Macdonald

Norm Macdonald's first job was writing for The Dennis Miller Show and then Roseanne. While writing on the show, he was noticed by Lorne Michaels, who liked Norm's stand up so much that he offered the young comedian a job on Saturday Night Live in 1993.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey, who is easily considered one of the greats, was himself taken under the wing of another comedy legend, Rodney Dangerfield, who spotted the young comic in a Toronto nightclub. Carrey eventually made it to The Tonight Show which led to his role on In Living Color and parts in many comedy classics that we know and love today, such as Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, and Ace Ventura. 

Tim Allen

Tim Allen started his career as a comedian in 1975 in a pretty peculiar way. On a dare from one of his friends, he participated in a comedy night at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, outside of Detroit. Following his release from prison in 1981 for a drug-related crime, he returned to comedy and went on to lead the hit show Home Improvement on ABC. 

Steve Martin

From community theater, to Disneyland, to the big screen, Steve Martin began his showbiz career as a teenager. After writing his own comedy routines, plays, and music, he went on to study philosophy and poetry before winning his first Emmy Award for comedy writing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour at the young age of 23.

Lily Tomlin

Initially studying biology at Wayne State University, Lily Tomlin decided to audition for a play which led to her changing her major to theatre and diving into stand-up comedy. Her stand-up was so impressive that it attracted the attention of the producers of Laugh-In, the notorious 1960s sketch comedy show. Tomlin went on to snag an Oscar nomination for her acting work.

Dana Carvey

One of SNL's most talented and beloved alumni, Dana Carvey absolutely dominated during his six seasons on Saturday Night Live, creating some of the show's most memorable characters. He never drifted far from stand-up though and has continued to take the stage and release specials.

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks took the weirdest route to stand-up of anyone on this list. He was already in Hollywood and establishing a nice career when he decided to audition for a movie about stand-up comedy called Punchline. As part of that process, he developed his own stand-up routine and performed in clubs. There's even footage of it that trends every now and again.

Bob Odenkirk

Starting out as a D.J. in Illinois, Bob Odenkirk got his start in local improv workshops in Chicago, where he also did open-mic stand-up comedy for several years. In Chicago, he became friends with Robert Smigel, who would later help him become a writer for Saturday Night Live.

Larry David

Starting out in stand-up comedy, Larry David befriended Jerry Seinfeld and later went on to co-create Seinfeld. He also wrote for Friday's and Saturday Night Live and famously went on to create the all-time ridiculous show Curb Your Enthusiasm. 

Ed Helms

Ed Helms was studying improv with the Upright Citizens Brigade when he got his big break as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He later moved on to the hit NBC show The Office where he played Andy Bernard. From there, Helms went on to star in The Hangover trilogy. More importantly, he also acted in Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.

Mel Brooks

There aren't many names in the world of comedy that stand larger than Mel Brooks. The legend started his career in stand-up before working as a writer for Sid Caesar's variety show Your Show of Shows from 1950 to 1954. After that, he, of course, took over Hollywood, winning an EGOT and directing classics like Blazing Saddles, The Producers and Robin Hood: Men In Tights.

Simon Pegg

A comedic force to be reckoned with in the U.K. before dropping smash hits like Sean of the Dead in the U.S., Pegg once told The Hollywood Reporter “I went into stand-up because comedy was something I enjoyed but also because it offered me a certain autonomy that I wouldn’t have if I was sitting and waiting for the phone to ring as an actor.”

Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd started performing comedy at 17 and later joined the main casts of Second City in Toronto and Chicago. Later, it was his work in the sketch comedy powerhouse Saturday Night Live that turned him into a huge name and opened the door for him to start in classics like The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters.

And those are some of the actors who also took the stage to perform stand-up or sketch comedy at some point during their careers!

For decades, body swap movies have shown what might happen if two people got to experience each other’s lives, often by mystical means. The subgenre has, typically, focused on only two characters encountering this strange scenario, but the new 2023 Netflix movie, Family Switch, is changing things up.

Now available to stream with a Netflix subscription, this fantasy comedy from director McG follows a family who wake up in each other’s bodies. Specifically, the mom and teenager daughter switch, the father becomes his teenage son and vice versa, and they all notice that their infant boy and dog take on each other’s characteristics as well. A star-studded ensemble is bringing this fun, fresh take on the body swap genre to life, so let’s take a look at who plays who in the Family Switch cast and what else you may know them from.

Jennifer Garner (Jess Walker)

Jess Walker — who finds herself trapped in the body of her own daughter — is, technically, not Jennifer Garner’s first body-swap victim. She previously played a woman inhabited by her younger self in the 2004 friends-to-lovers rom-com, 13 Going on 30. Family Switch is also only her latest Netflix original movie, having starred in a more grounded comedy called Yes Day in 2021 and reunited with Mark Ruffalo in the time travel adventure, The Adam Project, the following year.

Garner rose to prominence in her Emmy-nominated role as double agent Sydney Bristow on ABC’s Alias. This earned her more ass-kicking roles such as Elektra (whom she is rumored to be reprising in Deadpool 3) in 2003’s Daredevil and her self-titled 2005 spin-off, Janet Mayes in 2007’s The Kingdom, and a vengeful wife and mother in 2018’s Peppermint. She has also had a few Oscar winners under her belt (2007’s Juno and 2013’s Dallas Buyers Club), even more family-centered films (including the coming-of-age LGBTQ+ romance movie Love, Simon), and, also in 2023, she led Apple TV+’s limited mystery thriller series, The Last Thing He Told Me.

Ed Helms (Bill Walker)

Jess’ husband, Bill — who switches bodies with his teenage son — technically counts as Ed Helms’ first body-swap role. However, he also helped pilot a spaceship resembling a human body in Meet Dave, voiced a man hypnotically inhabited by a superhero alter-ego in 2017’s Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, and would take on some characteristics of Michael Scott (fellow The Office cast member, Steve Carell) when Andy Bernard became Dunder-Mifflin’s Scranton branch manager. Also, we imagine his role in the Hangover cast, Stu, wishes he could be anybody else whenever the iconically bromantic trio, the Wolfpack, get into trouble.

Helms has also appeared in (and sometimes produced) various Netflix originals — including Coffee & Kareem, A Futile and Stupid Gesture, and the surreal sketch comedy series Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun, to name a few. He has also done a few family comedies that are not very family-friendly — 2013’s We’re the Millers and the Vacation requel in 2015 —  but does have some other animated family movies under his belt — namely The Lorax and Ron’s Gone Wrong. His other notable comedies include Cedar Rapids or Father Figures, but he has also branched out into drama with Jeff Who Lives at Home and Chappaquiddick.

Emma Myers (CC Walker)

Jess and Bill’s daughter CC is played by Emma Myers, whose character in Netflix’s Wednesday cast, Enid Sinclair, did experience a major bodily change in the Season 1 finale of the Addams Family reboot in 2022. That hit series was not her first spooky role — having previously appeared in a Snapchat original series called Dead of Night and the 2021 Lifetime original true crime thriller, Girl in the Basement, which is unsettling enough to count as horror.

Myers’ credited feature-length debut was a more lighthearted Lifetime movie — a 2020 holiday rom-com called A Taste of Christmas — and she more recently starred in 2023 music biopic called Southern Gospel. She started out with an uncredited role in 2010’s Letters to God, a guest spot on the prematurely cancelled TV show, The Glades, and short films like Crooked. Coming up, she will return for Wednesday Season 2 and is also starring in a series adaptation of the book A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder for BBC. 

Brady Noon (Wyatt Walker)

As CC’s brother, Wyatt, we have Brady Noon, who made his acting debut alongside his own real-life twin sibling, Connor, when sharing the role of Tommy Darmody on the first four seasons of Boardwalk Empire. The brothers later appeared together in the 2022 rom-com, Marry Me, after Brady made his feature-length film debut in the raunchy comedy, Good Boys, in 2019. 

Soon after, he played a good boy trying to survive middle school in two animated Disney+ original movies based on the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and, between them,  starred in the streaming platform’s The Mighty Duck: Game Changers cast as Evan Morrow. He also had an uncredited role in Disney+’s coming-of-age, sci-fi adventure movie, Crater, in 2023 — the year when his voice acting career really began to take off when he joined the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem cast as Raphael. He is set to reprise said role in Nickelodeon’s upcoming series spin-off, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, in 2024.

Rita Moreno (Angelica)

Angelica — a mysterious woman responsible for the Walkers suddenly walking in each others’ shoes — is played by Rita Moreno, who is also no stranger to Netflix originals. She starred on the platform’s reboot of the hit sitcom, One Day at a Time, before lending her voice to the recent Carmen Sandiego series (having voiced the title role in the original ‘90s cartoon), the limited series Maya and the Three, and the film My Father’s Dragon from 2022. 

Of course, Moreno is best known for the roles that made her an EGOT winner — including her Oscar-winning role in 1961’s West Side Story which Steven Spielberg later remade and cast her in. Highlights from her 70-plus years as a performer also include other classic movie musicals liked Singin’ in the Rain and The King & I, the long-running children’s show, The Electric Company (which earned her a Grammy), her role in the Oz cast, and hit 2023 movies 80 for Brady and Fast X.

Matthias Schweighöfer (Rolf)

Rolf — a dog trainer living next door to the Walkers — is only the latest of many Netflix original movie characters played by Matthias Schweighöfer. His working relationship with the streaming giant started in 2021 when he joined Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead cast as safecracker Ludwig Dieter — a role he reprised in a prequel called Army of Thieves (which he also directed) and is set to voice for the upcoming animated series spin-off, Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas. In 2022, he starred in a sports biopic called The Swimmers and appeared alongside Gal Gadot in the Heart of Stone cast the following year.

Schweighöfer is even more famous in his native country of Germany for writing, directing, and starring in movies — such as the 2011 rom-com What a Ma — and TV shows, like Amazon Prime’s action thriller You Are Wanted, which he also composed the music for. He made his English-language debut in FearDotCom, later starred in Valkryie opposite Tom Cruise, and more recently appeared in another World War II-era drama when he joined Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast as theoretical physicist, Werner Heisenberg. Also in 2023, he is playing record producer Frank Farian in an upcoming Milli Vanilli biopic called Girl You Know It’s True.

We also wanted to make sure we mentioned Lincoln and Theodore Sykes as the Walker’s baby, Miles, and Oliver as their dog, Pickles. The Family Swtich cast also includes the likes of Top Gun: Maverick cast member Bashir Salahuddin, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino from Netflix’s One Piece cast, comedian Fortune Feimster, comedian and podcast host Paul Scheer, Andrew Bachelor from McG’s The Babysitter, and comedian Pete Holmes, among others. 

If you're wondering what the best Ed Helms movies are, you aren't alone – thankfully, we have plenty of options for you right here. 

Ed Helms is an actor who has been around for some time. Starting his career in television with parts in shows like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and a significant role in The Office cast, Ed Helms only continued to shine in comedy. And later on, in some drama as time continued. And now, several years later, Helms has been in plenty of movies that will undoubtedly make you laugh. 

From The Hangover movies to some dramas he appeared in later on, these are the best Ed Helms movies and how to watch them.

We’re The Millers (2013)

In We're the Millers, a pot dealer decides to convince his neighbors to pretend to be his family for him to smuggle drugs from Mexico back into the United States so he can make it big. 

Ed Helms wasn't a part of the leading family in We're the Millers – which consisted of Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, and Will Poulter. Honestly, We're the Millers is one of Jason Sudeikis' best movies, too. 

But you want to know who Ed Helms did play? The supplier of said drug that Sudeikis' character was taking across the border into America. Helms played Brad Gurdlinger. Yes, that name is hilarious, and so was Helms' role. He is so funny, and his chemistry with Sudeikis is off the charts. 

Rent/Buy We're The Millers on Amazon.

The Hangover Franchise (2009 - 2013)

You can't get more iconic than The Hangover franchise for Ed Helms, considering it's one of the movies that blew him up as an actor. The films follow a group of friends who get into wacky adventures the day after bachelor parties when they can't remember what the heck happened the night before. 

All three movies are different in the stories they tell. Still, the main three stars of The Hangover cast – Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, and Zach Galifianakis – always delivered hilarious moments that make me snicker to this day, more than ten years after the last film was released. 

I'm still waiting for a fourth film, but I doubt we'll ever get there, and you can watch Ed Helms in some of his prime comedic acting.

Rent/Buy The Hangover on Amazon.
Rent/Buy The Hangover Part II on Amazon.
Rent/Buy The Hangover Part III on Amazon.

Jeff, Who Lives At Home (2011)

Directed by Jay and Mark Duplass, Jeff, Who Lives at Home stars Jason Segel and Ed Helms and tells the story of a man who is sent off to run an errand for his mother, and this one moment changes his life when he ends up spending the day with his brother. 

This movie has a small cast, which makes it much better than many other comedy dramas, instead of the enormous ensembles you might get for other films. But what makes Jeff, Who Lives at Home a great movie is the chemistry between Jason Segal and Ed Helms, who perfectly capture the relationship between brothers and find new ways to make me laugh each time. 

Stream Jeff, Who Lives at Home on MGM+.
Rent/Buy Jeff, Who Lives at Home on Amazon. 

Tag (2018)

Okay, I'll be honest and say that Tag is my favorite movie on this list because of the simple premise – the comedy film is just about a group of guy friends who have had a game of tag going on for decades. 

This film is so goofy, and I love it. Helms is great as Hogan Malloy, but when I tell you he shines with the other actors – Jon Hamm, Jake Johnson, and Jeremy Renner – I mean it. 

Tag is hilarious and heartwarming and will make you want to call your friends and go and play tag yourselves. I mean, there are even controversial tag scenes – and the movie is actually based on a real story. 

Rent/Buy Tag on Amazon.

The Lorax (2012)

The Lorax is based on the Dr. Suess' book of the same name and follows the story of a boy who visits the Once-ler to try and impress a girl with a "real tree" outside of their walled city. 

Okay, so on the surface level, The Lorax isn't the best Illumination film, but you can't deny it isn't a fun time. The reason this has to be on the best Ed Helms movies list is that Helms' character, The Once-ler, has become social media famous in more ways than one. If you're on Tumblr or TikTok, you know the real deal. 

But truthfully, he kills it in this voice role, and his song, "How Bad Can I Be?" is a banger. I stand by that. 

Stream The Lorax on Peacock.
Rent/Buy The Lorax on Amazon.

Chappaquiddick (2017) 

Chappaquiddick, also known as The Senator, is a political drama that is all about the real-life story of the Chappaquiddick Island, when Ted Kennedy's driving led to the death of the passenger in his car. 

Through most of the films on this list, Ed Helms has shown his comedy acting skills, but I like his role in Chappaquiddick. His role as Joe Gargan was a nice change of pace for the usually comedic actor, and he knocked it out of the park alongside co-stars. If anything, Chappaquiddick makes you want to see Helms in more dramatic roles. 

Stream Chappaquiddick on Starz.
Rent/Buy Chappaquiddick on Amazon.

Cedar Rapids (2011) 

Throwing it back to 2011, we have Cedar Rapids. Starring Ed Helms in the lead role, Cedar Rapids is all about a young man who is sent to an insurance convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the first time. While he's initially excited for the new opportunity, he is not prepared for what he faces there. 

Cedar Rapids is so funny, and for no reason other than Helms being a great lead character. I do love him in films where he gets to shine with his co-stars, but there's just something about him playing Tim Lippe that makes me smile every time I watch the movie. Not only that, but the scenes with him and John C. Reilly are gold. 

Rent/Buy Cedar Rapids on Amazon.

Together Together (2021)

Last, we have Together Together, a 2021 film directed by Nikole Beckwith. The film stars Ed Helms and Patti Harrison and tells the story of a young woman who decides to become a surrogate for a lonely man who wishes to start a family of his own – this one partnership changes their lives forever. 

This movie is at its heart a comedy, and has some hilarious moments that will make you snort out your drink. But aside from that, Together Together provides a great story about the relationship that forms from strangers into friends into possibly something more and the connections that build from the most random places. Pair that with an excellent Ed Helms performance, and it's a great addition to this list. 

Stream Together Together on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Together Together on Amazon.

With so many great movies, you'll have your hands full regarding the best Ed Helms movies. And while we wait for him to appear in any films in our upcoming 2024 movie premieres, we can rewatch these repeatedly – or maybe check out The Office again. 

Plenty of great movies tend to take advantage of the body-swapping trope – because it's such an effective one. We could go over to the horror comedy genre and look at Freaky or discuss one of the most well known body-swapping movies, Freaky Friday, starring Lindsey Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. But today, we're going to be talking about a new entry in this particular stable of films -- one starring Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms. The new flick is heading to Netflix later this year, and fans may want to consider checking it out. On that note, let's talk about the Family Switch release date as well as other facts about the forthcoming 2023 new movie release.

What Is The Family Switch Release Date?

Get ready, movie fans, because Family Switch will be available to stream starting on November 30, 2023. So be sure to add it to your 2023 Netflix movie release watch list. 

The next few months are going to be quite eventful for Netflix. Some of its biggest movies to release during that time are the music biopic Maestro, starring Bradley Cooper, and a new animated film titled Leo, which features Adam Sandler as the titular character. Needless to say, there's some interesting content heading to the platform, and the body-swap romp is an interesting addition.

Jennifer Garner And Ed Helms Star As Two Parents

As previously mentioned, Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms are set to be the main stars of Family Switch. Garner and Helms will play Jess and Bill Walker, respectively. Both actors have an exceptional amount of experience in the realm of comedy and are sure to rock their roles. 

Jennifer Garner has had experience when it comes to a tale about one experiences changes with their body, too. She was the star of the 13 Going On 30 cast after all. The film tells the story of a teen who wishes to be 30 years old and, thanks to some magic dust, she wakes up one morning to find that she's reached that very age. Additionally, Garner has appeared in many major films, such as The Adam Project, Love, Simon, Daredevil and its spinoff, Elektra.

Ed Helms is another major comedic star who's starred in his fair share of comedic movies and TV shows. He gained a lot of notoriety as a member of the Hangover cast but, even ahead of that, he was known as a member of the cast of The Office from 2006 to 2013. Aside from that, Helms has appeared in films such as The Lorax, We're The Millers, Vacation, Tag and Together. 

I like the idea of these two playing spouses, and I'm excited to see how they bounce off each other.

Emma Myers And Brady Noon Star As The Children

Family movies like this one usually involve kids and, in  Family Switch, they'll be played by Emma Myers and Brady Noon. According to their casting announcement from Deadline in December 2022, the characters' names are CC and Wyatt. 

These young stars have made names for themselves in the entertainment industry over the last few years. Emma Myers gained fame from her role as Enid as part of the Wednesday cast and will appear in the adaptation of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Meanwhile, Brady Noon had a prominent role in the Disney+ series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers and has appeared in notable productions like Boardwalk Empire, Marry Me and Good Boys.

Rita Moreno, King Bach, And Several Others Are Set To Co-Star

Variety announced in January 2023 that several stars had also signed on to join the cast.

The roster includes Rita Moreno (West Side Story), King Bach (The Babysitter), Pete Holmes (Home Sweet Home Alone), Cyrus Arnold (Mr. Harrigan's Phone), Dan Finnerty (Hocus Pocus 2), Vanessa Carrasco (New Amsterdam) and Naomi Ekperigin (Mythic Quest). Character details are unknown at this time. 

Family Switch Is Like Freaky Friday But Sees The Main Family Members Getting Swapped

If you want an idea of what Family Switch is about, think Freaky Friday but with more people getting switched. Based on the novel Bedtime for Mommy by Amy Krouse-Rosenthal, the movie tells the story of a family that's growing apart as the children grow up and become more distant. However, when they all encounter an astrological reader, they wake up to find that they've magically swapped bodies. 

With that, they have to figure out how to work as a unit when everyone has their own specific goals that they need to be achieve on that day, including nabbing a job promotion or nailing a college interview. 

A producer of Family Switch, Lawrence Grey, actually spoke about the story during an interview with Collider in October 2022. Among the topics he discussed was how the movie was inspiring by other notable features:

Those comments are definitely enough to pique my interest, and I can't wait to see the hilarity that ensues. 

McG Directed The Film

The last fact we should discuss is that McG directed Family Switch. The filmmaker is known for many movies, but he's arguably most famous for his directorial debut -- 2000's Charlie's Angels, which launched a film franchise based on the TV show of the same name. 

McG spoke about the movie in August 2023 during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, saying that Family Switch is "very meta" and that this is the kind of movie that "the world" needs right now. Additionally, he shared what one of his biggest hopes for the film is:

The director's body of work also includes Terminator Salvation, This Means War, The Babysitter, Fastlane, Supernatural and Chuck. He even helped produce the hit young adult drama The O.C. Most recently, McG helmed 2020's The Babysitter: Killer Queen, and he's currently set to direct a new film called The Uglies.

There are plenty of reasons to look forward to Family Switch, and I, for one, can't wait for November 30 to arrive so I can grab my Netflix subscription and stream it.

The Hangover became the highest-grossing R-rated comedy in 2009 domestically. It even managed to sneak into first place at the weekend box office ahead of Pixar’s Up! One of the comedy’s core cast members, Ed Helms, spoke about the panic and anxiety he felt due to The Hangover’s fame, painting us a picture of the horrors that celebrity life can bring to a person.

Ed Helms was already a well-known face on TV from being a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and his time on The Office as Andy Bernard. But Helms admitted on an episode of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend how overwhelming fame was for him after The Hangover blew up, saying:

It’s true that Ed Helms was shown on the big screen in many prominent roles after The Hangover came out. He lent his voice as a news reporter in the animated comedy film Monsters Vs. Aliens, went boy band in The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, and had his first leading man role in Cedar Rapids, which was critically well-received. The anxiety you feel getting a handful of film scripts and not knowing which ones to pick is understandable. On the other hand, The Hangover was clearly great exposure for The Office star to show he’s big-screen material.

After Ed Helms experienced fame after The Hangover, the comedy actor further explained a unique discovery during this time.

To go from living a quiet life to having a number of people reaching out to you can definitely be intense. Luckily, Helms gave credit to his Hangover co-stars Zach Galifianakis and Bradley Cooper for keeping him “sane” during filming. I’m sure that must have made it hard for him to say goodbye to them after The Hangover trilogy was completed. And you better believe The Hangover will always be a memorable experience for the Rutherford Falls actor, considering he pulled his own tooth for the movie! Don’t worry, it was an implant that was already there that he had a dentist remove for the role, but that's still the mark of a dedicated actor.

Ed Helms’ moments of anxiety from The Hangover show that fame can be an absolute nightmare, but this actor proves how important it is to break the stigma of anxiety by talking about it. As for if there will be The Hangover 4, Helms doubts it. It’s okay, as he doesn’t need these films to show off his acting chops. If you want to see his comedic performance in The Hangover movies, you can watch them with your HBO Max subscription. 

It’s awards season, and during this time of the year, we often talk about the crazy lengths certain actors go to really delve into their roles. For example, Lady Gaga stayed in her House of Gucci accent for almost a year, and Andrew Garfield learned how to sing ahead of Tick, Tick… Boom!. But here’s a throwback movie fact we don’t talk about enough: Ed Helms full-on removed a tooth to play Stu in The Hangover. 

Back when the movie came out, it was reported that Ed Helms actually had his tooth pulled ahead of starring in the movie with Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis. But now with nearly 15 years have passed since The Hangover's release, Helms spoke about it in greater detail. During his episode of Hot Ones, the actor said this: 

The first part of the story is that they tried other options (thankfully).  Ed Helms put a marker to one of his teeth to make it look like he’d lost a tooth on Stu’s fateful night in Las Vegas. However, it did not look good. Helms continued: 

The dentist removed the crown placed when Ed Helms was 20 years younger, and for three months, the actor was visibly missing a tooth to star in The Hangover. He also said this: 

Talk about commitment! Even though it was an implant in his mouth, to even go to the dentist for a role and have them take out an implant and then replace it goes to show that Ed Helms was willing to go the extra mile. Then the former Office star would wear a retainer to play Andy Bernard during that time. Pretty crazy, right? 

That’s not the only wild thing to happen during the production of The Hangover. The Las Vegas cops were also called while the movie was being shot thanks to Ken Jeong going nude for an improvised sequence. 

The Hangover hit theaters in the summer of 2009 and was one of the biggest successes of that year. It was the sixth highest grossing movie of 2009 domestically under Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Up, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Avatar. On the worldwide charts, it was the tenth in line, which is incredible for a comedy that reportedly cost $35 million to produce.

 Plus, the careers of just about every member of The Hangover core cast are doing incredible over a decade after the film’s release. So in that sense, it seems like pulling a tooth was worth it for Ed Helms. Just don’t expect a The Hangover sequel anytime soon. 

We’ve had comedies in the past where grown men behaved badly. But it really wasn’t until 2009’s The Hangover that it pretty much became a genre in itself. So much so, that Bridesmaids was often, some might say unfairly, referred to as a “female version” upon its release in 2011. To note, The Hangover cast, which included the likes of Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and many others, most likely had no idea what a massive hit the film would eventually become. In fact, The Hangover was, at the time, the highest grossing R-Rated comedy of all time, until it was surpassed by, you might have guessed it, The Hangover Part II in 2011.

Why did this story about men who go on a wild bachelor party that goes wrong resonate so much with audiences? Honestly, if I knew the answer to that, I’d be a multimillionaire, since I’m pretty sure nobody would have imagined that it would become a whole trilogy of films. That said, with a cast like this, I actually kind of get it, since it’s so jam-packed with stars. So, what are those stars doing today? Well, you saw the title of this article. You’re about to find out.

Bradley Cooper (Phil Wenneck)

Yes, while Bradley Cooper was in a bunch of notable films before The Hangover, namely Wet Hot American Summer and Wedding Crashers, I think it’s safe to say that a lot of movie-goers began to fall in love with the talented actor with The Hangover. Since then, he’s had a very successful career, both in television and in film. On the TV side, Nip/Tuck fans will remember his brief stint on the show as Aidan Stone, and he also did some episodes on TV shows based on films he’s been in such as 2015’s Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, and also a few episodes of Limitless.

On the film side, some of his most notable work, post the first Hangover, was The A-Team, Silver Linings Playbook, where he was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor, American Hustle (Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination), American Sniper (Best Actor nomination again), and 2018’s A Star Is Born, where he was again nominated for Best Actor, but he also directed and sang the hit song, “Shallow,” which won a Grammy for Best Original Song. MCU fans will know him best as talking raccoon, Rocket, in the Guardians of the Galaxy series. 2021 is actually a really busy year for Cooper, because he’ll be in an untitled Paul Thomas Anderson movie, a psychological thriller called Nightmare Alley, and is also voicing Rocket again in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Zach Galifianakis (Alan Garner)

While Bradley Cooper was definitely one of the breakout stars of the first Hangover, I like to think that Zach Galifianakis (and one other actor I will get to later) also shot into the stratosphere after this film. I actually wonder what he’s had a bigger role on, the big screen or the small. On the TV end, prior to The Hangover, I remember seeing him in some of my favorite shows like Wonder Showzen, The Sarah Silverman Program, and Tim and Eric Awesome Show. Great Job!. After The Hangover, he was in the immensely popular Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis, which even became a movie, Comedy, Bang, Bang, and of course, Baskets.

On the film end, he’s been probably even more prolific following The Hangover. Besides two Hangover sequels, he also did another Todd Phillips comedy, Due Date with Robert Downey Jr., costarred in the underappreciated The Campaign with Will Farrell, and could arguably be considered one of the greatest Jokers ever in Lego Batman. He’ll next be voicing a robot in the sci-fi animated comedy, Ron’s Gone Wrong, as the titular character.

Ed Helms (Stu Price)

Ed Helms was actually pretty well known prior to The Hangover since he portrayed Andy Bernard on The Office, but his brand of humor was definitely appreciated in the raunchy comedy. On TV, he’s been popping up here and there since the hit movie in shows like The Mindy Project, The Muppets, and as a voice on Bojack Horseman. He’s also currently on the Peacock original show Rutherford Falls.

Film-wise, Ed Helms was in one of my favorite comedies of the past few years, Cedar Rapids. He also played Clark Griswold’s son, Rusty, in Vacation, the sixth movie in the series, and was even the narrator for the Disney Nature documentary, Penguins. His latest movie is the Nikole Beckwith comedy Together Together.

Ken Jeong (Leslie Chow)

Ken Jeong is the other big star who really broke out after his role in The Hangover. He'd been in a string of great films prior to that movie as well, most notably Knocked Up, Step Brothers, Pineapple Express, and Role Models. But, after The Hangover, I feel like he was in everything. Some notable films include Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Crazy Rich Asians, and he even had a surprising cameo in the once biggest movie in the world, Avengers: Endgame, as a security guard. In 2021 alone, if all goes according to plan, he will have been in six movies, including Tom & Jerry, Boss Level, and even a My Little Pony film called, My Little Pony: A New Generation as a voice actor. He is also supposed to star in Charlie Day’s directorial debut, El Tonto, which still doesn’t have a release date yet.

Ken Jeong is probably most known for his TV work. The very real doctor was probably most famous for his role as Ben Chang on Community, but he also starred in his own show titled (What else?) Dr. Ken, which ran for two seasons. He can currently be seen as a judge on The Masked Singer, as well as its spin-off, The Masked Dancer. His next TV role is TBA for a release date, but it will be a voice role for a series based off of the movie Wonder Park, called Adventures in Wonder Park.

Justin Bartha (Doug Billings)

Funnily enough, we barely even saw Justin Bartha in the first Hangover movie even though he’s the actual groom they’re having the bachelor party for in the first place. We got to see a lot more of him in the sequels, though. On the TV end, he was on 17 episodes of The Good Wife sequel, The Good Fight, and he most recently had a recurring role on the crime drama, Godfather of Harlem.

In film, Justin Bartha starred in movies like CBGB, Sticky Notes, Against the Clock, and will next be seen in the upcoming Jason Mamoa action thriller, Sweet Girl, on Netflix.

Heather Graham (Jade)

Heather Graham's first movie was all the way back in 1984, in the Diane Keaton film, Mrs. Soffel. Since then, she's been in a ton of great stuff before The Hangover, such as Swingers and Boogie Nights. In fact, The Hangover was actually more of a resurgence to her career rather than a jumping off point. Following The Hangover, she was also featured in The Hangover Part III, Horns, the Netflix flick, Love, Guaranteed, and will also star in an upcoming horror film called Oracle.

On the television side, she’s been in shows like Portlandia, Californication, Get Shorty, and was also Rita Blakemoor in the recent The Stand series.

Mike Tyson (Himself)

Lastly, if you ask anybody—anybody at all—what they remember most about the first Hangover movie, they will almost certainly tell you that they remember when the four friends actually looked at the pictures of the night they blacked out on, and then, they’ll tell you they remember Mike Tyson singing “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins before he knocked out Zach Galifianakis’s character.

Since The Hangover, “Iron” Mike Tyson has been keeping busy. Besides reappearing in The Hangover Part II, he was also in Scary Movie 5, playing himself, and Ip Man 3. He was also in a number of TV shows, most notably the grossly underappreciated animated comedy, Mike Tyson Mysteries. Last year, he got back in the ring to fight Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition match, and with Logan Paul recently calling him out, maybe we’ll see Tyson strap on the gloves again to fight the YouTube celebrity. Only time will tell.

The Hangover is one of those lighting in a bottle movies that we may never see again ever in our lifetimes. Sure, R-Rated comedies are still being made, but I can’t think of any that might blow up like The Hangover, but who’s to say? For news on 2021 movies (or maybe you’re already thinking ahead to 2022 movies) make sure to stop by often!

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By now you have probably seen promos for Rutherford Falls, or at least heard about the new comedy series from The Good Place and Parks and Recreation creator Mike Schur, Ed Helms, and Sierra Teller Ornelas which debuted on April 22. But, you may be wondering how you watch Rutherford Falls streaming to see Schitt’s Creek staple Dustin Milligan, and how he does in his first major role since the critically acclaimed and ever-popular comedy series wrapped up after six seasons in 2020.

Watching Rutherford Falls streaming is honestly one of the easiest things you can do right now and you can see what all the hype is about in only a few clicks. Stick around if you want to find out how you can go about watching the new comedy series about two best friends who find themselves in the center of a major controversy in a quiet, small New York town.

Where is Rutherford Falls Available Streaming

You can currently watch all 10 episodes of Rutherford Falls streaming on Peacock. All you need to do is go to the streaming service’s app or website, find Rutherford Falls on the home screen, and start watching the hilarious and socially-conscious comedy about the descendant of one of the titular town’s founders embarking upon a misguided campaign to save a statue embroiled in controversy.

Stream Rutherford Falls on Peacock.

If you don’t currently have a Peacock subscription but want to check out one of the original series we here at CinemaBlend are excited about the most, don’t worry, because signing up is easier than you think, no matter which tier you decide on.

Sign up for Peacock.

Will Rutherford Falls Be On Netflix?

There was a time when you could watch Mike Schur comedy series like The Office and Parks and Recreation on Netflix, but those days have come and gone with the arrival of Peacock (and NBCUniversal’s call to put its biggest titles on the new streamer) on the block. And while you can still enjoy The Good Place on the streaming giant, that’s not the case for Rutherford Falls, as the show is not available on Netflix.

There is a good chance Rutherford Falls will never land on Netflix considering it is a Peacock original series and not one that initially premiered on NBC. It’s not all bad news, however, as you can watch Dustin Milligan and the rest of the Schitt’s Creek cast on the popular streaming service.

Where You’ve Seen The Rutherford Falls Cast, Including Dustin Milligan

As far as Peacock originals are concerned, it is difficult to find one with a more well-rounded and diverse cast than Rutherford Falls, including Schitt's Creek alum Dustin Milligan. With everyone from The Office and The Hangover star Ed Helms, to Dexter’s Dana L. Wilson, and Heathers’ Bobbie Yang all getting plenty of time to shine on the promising comedy series, there’s a lot to enjoy here. And, don’t even get me started on the accomplished Michael Greyeyes, or newcomer Jana Schmieding, who started out as one of the show’s writers before landing one of the starring roles.

If you want to see exactly where you’ve seen the Rutherford Falls cast before, don’t worry as CinemaBlend recently put together a full rundown of the actors and their biggest movies and shows to-date.

That about catches us up with everything there is to know about watching Rutherford Falls streaming on Peacock and other key information about the new original comedy series. If you want to see what else is coming to a television screen or streaming device, check out CinemaBlend’s 2021 TV premiere guide.

When Peacock first arrived on the streaming scene in 2020, there were plenty of reasons to be excited about NBCUniversal’s venture to capture the cord-cutting audience, with the roster of new original shows being one of the biggest. Included in the litter of the comedies, dramas, and sci-fi adventures was Rutherford Falls, which looks to be another hilarious yet socially-conscious show from Parks and Recreations and The Good Place’s Mike Schur, who created the show alongside Ed Helms and Sierra Teller Ornelas. And with a stable of actors, including Helms, who was responsible for some of The Office’s best episodes, the Rutherford Falls cast looks just as promising.

But after starting Rutherford Falls on Peacock (April 22), you may be wondering where you’ve seen the outstanding and well-rounded cast before. Well, to prevent you from losing yourself to a seemingly list of names and faces in an online rabbit hole, we’ve put together this quick and easy list of the Rutherford Falls cast with key background info on all the major players.

Ed Helms - Nathan Rutherford

Front and center on the Rutherford Falls cast is Nathan Rutherford, a descendant of the titular town’s founder who starts a misguided campaign to save the statue of his ancestor from destruction. It’s hard to think of a better person to take on a character that is delusional as he is eager than Ed Helms, which makes him perfect for the Peacock original. Fans of Mike Schur and his previous work are all too aware of Helms and his track record, which includes his portrayal of Andy Bernard on The Office for all but one season of its monumental run as well as parts of seven years on The Daily Show.

Outside of the television world, you probably remember Ed Helms for his take on the character Stuart Price in The Hangover and its two sequels. Helms followed up the success from the 2009 summer surprise megahit with comedies like Cedar Rapids, We’re the Millers, Vacation, and Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, in which he served as the voice of the tighty-whitey-wearing superhero and his alter-ego.

Jana Schmieding - Reagan Wells

Jana Schmieding portrays Reagan Wells, Nathan’s best friend and a member of the Minishonka Nation, on Rutherford Falls. The character, who spends her time helping fix Nathan Rutherford’s messes and champion the history of her people, is close to home for Schmieding, who was raised in a Lakota family before setting off to start her career in comedy, acting, and podcasting. Prior to joining the Rutherford Falls cast, Schmieding became part of the show’s diverse writers room not long after one of the show’s creator’s — Sierra Teller Ornelas — appeared as a guest on her podcast, via Voyage LA.

Prior to her turn on Rutherford Falls, Jana Schmieding appeared in a 2016 episode of Broad City and the 2017 miniseries Blast in addition to a number of short films.

Michael Greyeyes - Terry Tarbell

In Rutherford Falls, Michael Greyeyes portrays Terry Thomas, the CEO of the Minishonka’s casino who takes Reagan Wells under his wing and helps guide her as they try to increase the presence of their tribe. Much like his on-screen character, Greyeyes is an actor with an extensive track record of success both in front of and behind the camera. A member of the Plains Cree in Saskatchewan, Greyeyes has appeared in feature-length films like Terrence Malick’s The New World and the 2019 Disney+ original Togo.

Most will probably remember Michael Greyeyes from his various television projects over the years which range from small appearances on Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Walker Texas Ranger, and Numbers over the years. More recently, Greyeyes has shown up on Fear the Walking Dead, American Gods, True Detective, and I Know This Much Is True. He will soon appear opposite Zac Efron in the upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s Firestarter.

Jesse Leigh - Bobbie Yang

Jesse Leigh portrays Bobbie Yang, a high school student who serves as Nathan Rutherford’s snarky yet dedicated personal assistant on Rutherford Falls. Prior to landing one of the main roles on the new Peacock original series, Leigh made a name for himself on YouTube Red’s high school comedy Foursome which led to a major role on the Paramount Network adaptation of the 1986 black comedy Heathers.

Over the years, Jesse Leigh has appeared in a smaller capacity on shows like Superstore and Henry Danger as well as a number of short films.

Dustin Milligan - Josh Cogan

Dustin Milligan joins the Rutherford Falls cast as Josh Cogan, an out-of-towner reporter and podcaster who travels to the quaint New York town to cover the drama surrounding the removal of the town’s famous statue. Milligan has had a successful career in film, television, and web videos since appearing on the short-lived 2004 ABC drama The Days alongside Wandavision’s Evan Peters. In the years following his first role, the Canadian actor has built up an impressive television resumé with his most notable TV role being that of Ted Mullens on Schitt’s Creek throughout the show’s entire six-season run.

Over on the film side of things, Dustin Milligan has appeared in horror films like Final Destination 3, comedies like Extract, and horror-comedies like James Gunn’s Slither. He also showed up in the 2018 psychological thriller A Simple Favor.

Dana L. Wilson - Deidre Chisenhall

Dana L. Wilson appears on Rutherford Falls in a portrayal of Mayor Deidre Chisenhall, whose attempt to remove the troublesome statue kicks off Nathan Rutherford’s crusade in the first place. The lion’s share of Wilson’s 30-plus acting credits are in the world of television including a short time on the Dexter cast, appearing as Detective Angie Miller on the show's final season in 2013.

Between her turn on the Showtime serial killer drama and the Peacock comedy, Wilson found herself taking roes on shows like The Rookie, The Big Bang Theory, and Mom. She also appeared on various episodes of Major Crimes between 2015 and 2017.

The catches us up with the Rutherford Falls cast and where you’ve seen them in the past. If you’ve already watched all the Peacock original comedy series has to offer and you want more to watch, check out CinemaBlend’s 2021 TV schedule for all the latest.

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When it was announced The Office would leave Netflix, I bet the hit comedy’s biggest fans were at least happy to learn a subscription to Peacock, on which it is now exclusively available, was free. Yet, after an insurmountable number of times binging Michael Scott’s (Steve Carell) managerial bumbling, Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam’s (Jenna Fischer) blossoming romance, and other workplace misadventures, it might be time to find something else to watch. However, if you still cannot get enough of The Office cast, there is plenty more from them available to stream.

In fact, the stars of the NBC hit, itself inspired by Ricky Gervais’ acclaimed British mockumentary style sitcom, have since gone on to lead some incredibly impressive careers in front of and behind the camera. For instance, Steve Carell is a respected Academy Award-nominated actor, John Krasinski is a successful filmmaker and action star, and Mindy Kaling is the brains behind some of the most groundbreaking comedy series in recent memory, just to name a few. The amount of exciting big and small screen projects that involve the cast of The Office outside their Dunder Mifflin tenure is almost too big a number to compile.

However, we are going to try anyway by focusing primarily on just 12 of the series’ biggest names and the most noteworthy titles of their respective filmographies. The following are the best movies and TV shows a fan of The Office can also spend their time with right now, starting with the man who gave you a reason to admire someone you would be ashamed to call your boss otherwise.

Steve Carell (Michael Scott)

Following his stint as Scranton’s inept Dunder Mifflin manager, Steve Carell recently played an Army general whose job challenges are less his fault on the satirical Space Force (which he co-created with Greg Daniels) and a TV host whose career mistakes are far more despicable (but to Emmy-nominated acclaim) on The Morning Show for Apple TV+. The former Office lead has also exhibited wonderful acting range in films like the clever rom-com Crazy Stupid Love, Adam McKay’s bold, Oscar-nominated political biopic Vice, heartbreaking family drama Beautiful Boy opposite Timothee Chalamet, and even the animated Dr. Seuss adaptation Horton Hears a Who! - his second collaboration with Jim Carrey.

Stream Space Force on Netflix here.

Stream The Morning Show on Apple TV+ here.

Stream Crazy Stupid Love on Hulu here.

Stream Vice on Hulu here.

Stream Beautiful Boy on Amazon Prime here.

Stream Horton Hears a Who! on Disney+ here.

Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute)

Outside of creating the website SoulPancake, Rainn Wilson has done well to outgrow his otherwise best known role of the ridiculously self-serious Dwight Schrute by playing a widow upended by Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s mysterious derelict in Hesher, a gym teacher battling zombie children in Cooties, the voice of Lex Luthor in The Death of Superman, and, most recently, on Utopia as one of several people who believe they must save the world. Plus, to see the actor in something crazy before he landed The Office, Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses easily does the trick.

Stream Hesher on Amazon Prime here or on Tubi here.

Stream Cooties on Peacock here.

Stream The Death of Superman on HBO Max here.

Stream House of 1000 Corpses on Shudder here or on Tubi here.

Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly)

Even if receptionist-turned-saleswoman Pam Beesly is destined to remain Jenna Fischer’s defining role, it is still always a treat to see her in big comedy movies like Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story as the second wife of John C. Reilly’s titular musician and in Hall Pass as the fed-up wife of a horny Owen Wilson. The St. Louis-born The Office alum has also known for impressive turns in indie films, such as the quirky 2012 rom-com The Giant Mechanical Man or the mid-life crisis dramedy Brad’s Status, in which she plays Ben Stiller’s wife.

Stream Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story on IMDb TV here.

Stream Hall Pass on Cinemax here.

Stream The Giant Mechanical Man on Peacock here, on Tubi here, or on IMDb TV here.

Stream Brad’s Status on Amazon Prime here.

John Krasinski (Jim Halpert)

When you are not checking on Some Good News in the world with John Krasinski, you can also watch him save the world in the title role of Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan series - a massive leap from Jim Halpert. Of course, we can easily call everything the A Quiet Place director and husband of Emily Blunt has done since The Office (or even during) a massive leap, including Sam Mendes’ delightful Away We Go, Kathryn Bigelow’s harrowing Detroit, and Disney’s nature documentary Born in China, in which he serves as the narrator of.

Stream Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime here.

Stream Away We Go on Peacock here.

Stream Detroit on Hulu here.

Stream Born in China on Disney+ here.

Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor)

After ending her stint as Kelly Kapoor in 2012, Mindy Kaling starred in the acclaimed comedy The Mindy Project - the first TV series of her own invention before co-creating the semi-autobiographical coming-of-age sitcom Never Have I Ever for Netflix and co-developing a series reimagining of Four Weddings and a Funeral for Hulu. The multi-talented comedian, who wrote and directed several episodes of The Office, too, also penned and starred in Amazon Prime’s Late Night with Emma Thompson, but stuck purely to acting duties for the heist comedy Ocean’s Eight and when providing her voice to Wreck-It Ralph and Inside Out for Disney.

Stream The Mindy Project on Hulu here.

Stream Never Have I Ever on Netflix here.

Stream Four Weddings and a Funeral on Hulu here.

Stream Late Night on Amazon Prime here.

Stream Ocean’s Eight on HBO Max here.

Stream Wreck-It Ralph on Disney+ here.

Stream Inside Out on Disney+ here.

B.J. Novak (Ryan Howard)

Also pulling triple-duty as a star, writer, and director on The Office was B.J Novak, who played Ryan Howard - Dunder Mifflin's temp turned mainstay and love interest of Kelly Kapoor (and, supposedly, Michael Scott, too). While his, arguably, best known big screen role in Inglourious Basterds is currently unavailable to stream, you can catch him in other period pieces like The Founder, also starring Michael Keaton as McDonald’s franchise developer Ray Croc, and Saving Mr. Banks, in which Novak’s Robert B. Sherman tries to convince P.L. Travers to allow his cheery songs into Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins adaptation.

Stream The Founder on Netflix here.

Stream Saving Mr. Banks on Netflix here or on Disney+ here.

Ellie Kemper (Erin Hannon)

Ellie Kemper made a smooth transition from The Office after landing the title role of Netflix comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which would lead to further big screen roles, like as dog owner Katie in The Secret Life of Pets and its sequel from 2019. Before hitting it big as eccentric Dunder Mifflin secretary Erin Hannon, the actress starred alongside a young Donald Glover in the film Mystery Team, which he also wrote with his old troupe Derrick Comedy.

Stream Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix here.

Stream The Secret Life of Pets 2 on Netflix here.

Stream Mystery Team on Tubi here.

Ed Helms (Andy Bernard)

Joining the cast of The Office as Andy Bernard immediately made Ed Helms an exciting comedic talents, which increased with The Hangover and its two sequels (the first being the most successful). In addition to playing prolific TV personality Tom Snyder in A Futile and Stupid Gesture and producing (and appearing) on Australian comedy trio Aunty Donna’s American debut sketch series Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun on Netflix, Helms has also found success with more dramatic roles, such as in the tragic Joe Kennedy biopic Chappaquiddick.

Stream The Hangover Part II on HBO Max here.

Stream A Futile and Stupid Gesture on Netflix here.

Stream Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun on Netflix here.

Stream Chappaquiddick on Netflix here.

Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin)

It is hard to separate Angela Kinsey from her uptight character on The Office, partially because they have the same first name. To help better disassociate the two, check out the actress in Hulu’s reality TV parody The Hot Wives of Orlando, her supporting role in Netflix’s Miranda Sings series Haters Back Off!, or playing opposite the late Fred Willard in the 2014 sports comedy All Stars.

Stream The Hot Wives of Orlando on Hulu here.

Stream Haters Back Off! on Netflix here.

Stream All Stars on Peacock here.

Oscar Nuñez (Oscar Martinez)

The actor behind fellow Dunder Mifflin accountant Oscar Martinez has also been hard at work outgrowing his Office days. Oscar Nuñez plays one of many Chilean coal miners trapped underground in The 33, which is based on a true incident, and can also be seen on Mr. Iglesias, a the Netflix original sitcom led by comedian Gabriel Iglesias.

Stream The 33 on Hulu here.

Stream Mr. Iglesias on Netlflix here.

Phyllis Smith (Phyllis Vance)

Phyllis Smith was able to to reunite with one her fellow The Office alums in the beloved Pixar film Inside Out, in which she provided the voice of “Sadness” alongside Mindy Kaling’s “Disgust.” She also played a flight attendance in the third Alvin and the Chipmunks movie (which was cheekily subtitled Chipwrecked) in 2011 and later scored a starring role as high school teacher Betty Broderick-Allen on The OA - a unique sci-fi series on Netflix.

Stream Inside Out on Disney+ here.

Stream The OA on Netflix here.

Stream Alvin and The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked on HBO Max here.

Craig Robinson (Darryl Philbin)

It was Craig Robinson’s success outside The Office (in movies like Pineapple Express, for instance) that earned him (and his character, Darryl Philbin) a promotion on the show and his own short-lived series, Mr. Robinson, on NBC after the 2013 finale. The comedian has not slowed down since, appearing in unique comedies like the Rudy Ray Moore biopic Dolemite Is My Name alongside Eddie Murphy or An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn with Parks and Recreation alum Aubrey Plaza.

Stream Pineapple Express on Netflix here.

Stream Mr. Robinson on Peacock here.

Stream Dolemite Is My Name on Netflix here.

Stream An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn on Netflix here.

What do you think? Which The Office alum has the most successful career following the series’ end? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on this beloved sitcom, as well as even more of our own recommendations for movies and TV shows you can stream right now, here on CinemaBlend.

When looking back at the myriad romantic relationships that went down during The Office's nine seasons, the biggest standout is obviously going to be Jim and Pam, especially since John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer maintained their close friendship well after the final episode. The second best couple is a little harder to figure out, though. Would it be Michael and Jan? Dwight and Angela? Ryan...and...Kelly? If you answered "Erin and Andy," then you are in direct opposition of star Ellie Kemper.

Before landing the titular lead role in Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Ellie Kemper was added into The Office's ensemble as Erin Hannon in Season 5, where she spent a few seasons in an on-and-off relationship with Ed Helms' Andy Bernard. On the one hand, that particular romance made sense, considering both Erin and Andy shared similar desires to keep others smiling and happy. But on several other hands, they weren't exactly the smoothest pair, and Kemper said as much while talking to former co-star Brian Baumgartner for his behind-the-scenes podcast An Oral History of The Office. When directly asked if she thought the characters worked as a couple, she answered with:

Uneven is probably the best word to use for Erin and Andy's romantic ebbs and flows. Andy was all interested in Erin when she first arrived at Dunder-Mifflin (as was Dwight, weirdly enough), and then she returned that attraction in Season 6, though it was a situation where neither one wanted to really make a big first move, leading to misunderstandings and minor disappointments. I mean, even their first date (in "St. Patrick's Day") was marred by Erin's illness and Andy's suspicion that she had some kind of romantic connection with her foster brother Reed.

Just when things started to get going, Erin discovered that Andy had been engaged to Angela, which she hadn't known about before, and they split up. In Season 7, Erin dated Gabe for a while before turning her sights back on Andy, who was still bothered by the Gabe situation. And it just kept being a mess through Season 8 and 9, where Andy was dating Jessica, and then Andy got fired, and then Erin transferred to Florida, and then Erin started dating Andy's friend Pete. That latter relationship was still intact for The Office's finale, and I'm sure I'm not the only one hoping that it kept going, and that there weren't another 700 near-misses for Erin and Andy in the years that followed.

Obviously this opinion is more centered on how the writers handled the narrative ins and outs, and and not about the performances from Ellie Kemper and Ed Helms, who were both as solid as can be throughout their time on The Office. But in the same way that Michael and most women didn't work, and the way that Ryan and Kelly didn't work, and the way that Toby and everyone didn't work, Erin and Andy were just not crafted with pure compatibility in mind. And let's be real, Erin was way too happy and wonderful to put up with Andy's wishy-washy ass.

One thing is almost definitely guaranteed, though. Ellie Kemper likely doesn't hate the idea of Erin and Andy as much as Office fans hated the idea of Jim and Cathy, to the point where the actress Lindsey Broad unfortuantely still gets trolled about the role on social media.

The Office is currently available to stream in full on Netflix, where it remains one of the most-watched shows on the entire platform. It'll eventually get ported to NBC's Peacock, complete with extra footage, but while waiting for that to happen, check out all the new and returning shows arriving soon with our Fall TV 2020 premiere schedule.

During its nine season run on NBC, The Office became one of the most biggest, most culturally adored sitcoms of the early 21st century. Through its relatable brand of everyday characters, accompanied by warm performances, inspired plotlines, and engrossing emotional stakes, it's easy to see why so many viewers loved it (and continue to love it). 

Based on the excellent UK series of the same name, The Office became one of the most endearing, quotable American sitcoms of the modern era. But now that The Office has closed its doors, what is the cast up to now? Looking at stars like Steve Carell, John Krasinski, and Mindy Kaling, to name a few, the popular sitcom has launched some of our biggest comedy stars. Several other cast members have also seen their profiles soar thanks to the show's continued success. Let's take a look at where The Office cast has relocated.

Steve Carell (Michael Scott)

As the clueless, socially awkward (if not heartless) regional manager of Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch, Steve Carell served as the central figure on NBC's The Office for the majority of its run. The one-two punch of The 40-Year-Old Virgin and The Office's success turned Carell into a comedy A-lister, resulting in an expanding movie/TV career. These days, Carell is seen in Apple's The Morning Show, which got renewed for a second season. He's also starring in Irresistible, a new political comedy written and directed by Jon Stewart. And he once again lent his voice to the role of Gru in the upcoming Minions: The Rise of Gru, which has now been delayed to the summer of 2021. Additionally, Carell stars in the Netflix comedy series, Space Force, which he co-created alongside The Office's Greg Daniels. It's expected to premiere in May.

John Krasinski (Jim Halpert)

As a good-natured prankster salesman with a heart, John Krasinski's Jim Halpert often served as the one half of the emotional core of The Office, particularly with the ongoing "will they, won't they" relationship between him and his co-star, Pam (Jenna Fischer). Since The Office's final half-hour, Krasinski has continued to expand himself as both an actor and filmmaker. That was certainly seen with his surprise hit horror movie, A Quiet Place, which he directed and co-wrote in addition to starring in. Last month, audiences would've seen the much-anticipated sequel, A Quiet Place: Part II, which he once again wrote and directed, but the film was unfortunately delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this burgeoning horror movie franchise, Krasinski has also found a great deal of success playing the title role in Amazon's hit streaming series, Jack Ryan.

Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute)

As Dwight Schrute, the "assistant to the regional manager" and the constant source of Jim's pranks, Rainn Wilson played a memorable presence on The Office. While he didn't quite reach the same career heights as a few of his Office co-workers, he continues to have an active career in both movies and on television. Most recently, he was seen in the series finale of Transparent and a few recent episodes of Mom. Up next, he'll star in Gillian Flynn's new series, Utopia, and he's set to appear in the drama series, The Power. He'll also be seen in the thriller Don't Tell A Soul and he provided this voice to the animated movie Robodog, both of which are expected to come out at some point later this year. He also founded the website SoulPancake.

Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly)

As Pam Beesly, the receptionist of Dunder Mifflin who forms a "will they, won't they" co-worker relationship with Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), Jenna Fischer was the other half of The Office's emotional arc. The dryly funny actress who has primarily worked in TV since The Office ended, including Splitting Up Together, Drunk History, and You, Me, And the Apocalypse after her time on The Office. Fischer also wrote a book, The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide, which was published in 2017. She currently hosts the podcast Office Ladies alongside her friend and former co-star, Angela Kinsey.

BJ Novak (Ryan Howard)

As Ryan Howard, a low-level employee who became an active member of the office, B.J. Novak played a prevalent role both in front of and behind the camera on The Office. Serving as a writer and director on the popular series, Novak used his popularity from the series to continue working as both an actor and creative in the business. As an actor, Novak has been seen in The Mindy Project (which he also helped direct), Saving Mr. Banks, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Community, and The Founder since The Office came to a close. Up next, B.J. Novak will make his feature directorial debut with the horror-mystery-thriller Vengeance, which he also wrote and will star in. He appears to be following John Krasinski's steps by getting into the horror game.

Ed Helms (Andy Bernard)

A Dunder Mifflin salesman who found himself promoted to Regional Manager shortly after Michael Scott left Scranton, Ed Helms went from supporting star to the head of The Office over the course of the show's run. Promoted in part due to his rising popularity thanks to The Hangover movies, among other projects, Helms remains active following his tenure on The Office. He's appeared in movies both big and small, including Vacation, The Clapper, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Chappaquiddick, Father Figures, Tag, and more. Up next, Helms will star in the new Netflix action-comedy, Coffee & Kareem, which hits the streaming service on April 3rd. Helms is also soon set to be seen in another new comedy, Togetherish, later this year.

Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor)

As a customer service representative for Dunder Mifflin, Mindy Kaling's Kelly Kapoor grew in prominence throughout the course of the show's run. The actress, who was also a writer for the NBC sitcom, has also continued to rise in prominence since the show's finale, notably with her own TV series, The Mindy Project, as well as acting parts in A Wrinkle in Time, Ocean's 8, and a voice role in Pixar's Inside Out. Most recently, Kaling wrote and starred in Late Night, and she appeared in a few episodes of The Morning Show. She also created the Hulu series, Four Weddings and a Funeral, based on the 1994 movie of the same name, and she is the creator of the new Netflix sitcom, Never Have I Ever, which will premiere later this month.

Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin)

As the head of accounting at Dunder Mifflin, Angela Martin, played by Angela Kinsey, could often be a cold and careless person around the office. But as an actress, Kinsey has continued to brighten the screen through different film and television roles in Tall Girl, Fresh Off The Boat, Haters Back Off, and more. Up next, Kinsey stars in Mindy Kaling's Netflix series, Never Have I Ever. Also, she co-hosts the podcast Office Ladies with Jenna Fischer.

Oscar Nunez (Oscar Martinez)

As an accountant for Dunder Mifflin, Oscar Martinez, played by Oscar Nunez, is another character who has seen their role expanded on the show as it grew in popularity. Most recently Nunez has been since in shows like Life in Pieces, Mr. Iglesias, NCIS: Los Angeles, and more. Most recently, Nunez lent his voice to 3Below: Tales of Arcadia and Where's Waldo? He was also seen in a series of State Farm Insurance commercials.

Phyllis Smith (Phyllis Vance)

As the sweet-natured Phyllis Vance, Phyllis Smith's role on The Office grew over the source of the series. As an actress, Smith has since been seen or heard in The Middle, the Netflix series The OA, and she took on the voice of the adorably gloomy Sadness in Pixar's Inside Out.

Leslie David Baker (Stanley Hudson)

As a long-time Dunder Mifflin employee who is quick to scoff or roll his eyes at anything happening around the Dunder Mifflin offices, Leslie David Baker's Stanley Hudson always had a wonderful reaction to the goofiness of his work environment, particularly with his dry, witty, loaded retorts. As an actor, Baker has continued to work primarily in television since The Office's series finale. Most recently, he has been lending his voice to the animated series, Puppy Dog Pals. He also recently appeared in an episode of the CBS sitcom, Fam.

Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone)

Playing the part of the lovable Kevin Malone, a good-hearted — if not the brightest — accountant for Dunder Mifflin, Brian Baumgartner provided us with one of the most endearing characters on The Office. The actor continues to bounce between film and TV since The Office came to a close. He's been seen in shows like Melissa & Joey, Chicago Fire, The Goldbergs, and Good Behavior, to name only a few. He will next be seen in Electric Jesus.

Kate Flannery (Meredith Palmer)

As Meredith Palmer, Kate Flannery constantly found herself in some of The Office's most outrageous moments. Since her time on The Office, Flannery has continued to work primarily in television, notably doing voice work for shows like Steven Universe and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes. She'll next be seen in the comedy Golden Arm. Also, last year, Flannery appeared on the recent season of the competitive dancing series, Dancing with the Stars.

Paul Lieberstein (Toby Flenderson)

As Toby Flenderson, the long-suffering Human Resources Representatives who was often the bane of Michael Scott's existence (while earning the wrath of a few other Dunder Mifflin employees as well), Paul Lieberstein played a memorable punching bag on The Office, though Lieberstein also had an extensive influence on the program as a writer and director. Since The Office came to a close, Lieberstein has continued to work in front and behind the camera, directing and starring in episodes of The Mindy Project and The Newsroom while also appearing in the TBS series People of Earth. Most recently, in 2018, Lieberstein made his feature debut by starring, writing, producing, and directing the dark comedy, Song of Back and Neck.

Creed Bratton (Creed Bratton)

Playing a fictional version of himself, Creed Bratton was one of the oldest members of Dunder Mifflin and he was certainly among the most spirited. Although he is primarily a musician, his memorable role in this popular sitcom is what he might now be best known for. Bratton was an actor before the show became a hit, though the series definitely helped him find more roles. He was most recently seen in The Sisters Brothers and an episode of Into the Dark. He'll next be seen in the comedies Maybe There's a Tree and Mayfield's Game.

Craig Robinson (Darryl Philbin)

Although Craig Robinson didn't have a sizable role at the beginning of The Office as Darryl Philbin, his character was brought closer to the forefront in later seasons, and the actor's profile has continued to soar throughout the years. Most recently, Robinson has been seen in Dolemite Is My Name, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, and Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. He also was heard in Dolittle and Big Mouth. He also has a reoccurring part on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Up next, he lends his voice to The Ark and the Aardvark. Robinson will also appear in the fantasy film, Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon.

Ellie Kemper (Erin Hannon)

As Erin Hannon, the new receptionist at Dunder Mifflin, Ellie Kemper played a lively role in the later seasons of The Office. Since her time on the show, Kemper has continued to rise in prominence. Most notably with the title role in Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She has also done voice work for The Secret Life of Pets movies, Sofia the First, We Bare Bears, and more. She'll next be seen in the comedy The Stand-In, and she's set to star in the upcoming Home Alone reboot. Also, in 2018, she published her first book, My Squirrel Days.

Who is your favorite Office actor? Let us know in the comment section.

We live in an age very much defined by sequels, so when any original movie debuts it's worth wondering if a follow-up could materialize. That's especially relevant for a movie like Tag, which features an all-star lineup of actors from a wide variety of genres and franchises. With the idea of Tag 2 in mind, I recently asked Ed Helms and Jake Johnson who they would want to bring into the fold for a sequel, and they had some pretty awesome answers including Tom Cruise, Max Greenfield, and many others. In response to the question, Johnson said:

Jake Johnson has worked with a wide variety of actors and actresses over the years, so he knows plenty of people who he would want to include in a massive Tag 2 ensemble. Following the recent New Girl finale, he wants to see Max Greenfield join in AS his beloved character, Schmidt. Moreover, he wants to get Tom Cruise in on the action to fill out Tag 2's more intense sequences. Then finally, he wants to shine a spotlight on comedienne Charlyne Yi (known for her work on Knocked Up and House) to sign on as well.

Then there's Ed Helms, who liked the success they saw with The Avengers' Jeremy Renner and wanted to see more action stars enter this particular world. Building off of Jake Johnson's remarks, Helms also addressed the possibility of Tom Cruise entering the tag game, and included a few other awesome action heroes. Helms said:

One of the most interesting things to note about these two answers is the fact that both Jake Johnson and Ed Helms think that Tom Cruise could fit within the Tag world. The Top Gun star has already proven his comedic chops with his roles in films like Risky Business and Tropic Thunder, so it's not that hard to imagine how he could fit in this particular world. Given the fact that Jeremy Renner worked with Cruise on Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol and Mission: Impossible -- Rogue Nation, maybe it would simply take a phone call to get those wheels turning.

Not content to stick with just three individuals, Jake Johnson chimed in one more time during our Tag interview and noted that he would also want to bring the late Andre the Giant into a potential sequel if The Princess Bride actor was still around to do so. Getting a bit more heartfelt, Johnson said:

Of course, if you want to hear everything that Ed Helms and Jake Johnson had to say about the possibility of Tag 2 (or Still Taggin, as Johnson insisted on calling it), then you can check out a clip from the interview, below.

Only time will tell if we get a sequel, but for now, you can check out Tag in theaters. Beyond that, make sure to take a look at our full review of the movie and our in-depth review of the film as well as our review roundup, and head over to our movie premiere guide to get more information on all of the other movies set to hit the big screen this year!

We have already seen a few solid comedies debut this year, but the definition of slapstick is about to take on an entirely new meaning with the debut of Tag. The buddy comedy features an all-star cast of comedic actors like Mad Men's Jon Hamm and New Girl's Jake Johnson, and all of them throw themselves into the movie with some genuinely wacky antics on display. In fact, CinemaBlend recently sat down with Tag star Ed Helms to discuss the film, and he opened up about how the cast was allowed to go crazy with a set of souped-up golf carts while filming one specific scene. The Hangover star told us:

Tag centers on a group of friends who get together every year and hang out, and it really seems like that shined through, because these guys had fun working on the movie together. Specifically, when it came time to film the golf cart chase seen in the movie's trailers, the ensemble was given carte blanche to go nuts with the modified engines and go wild on the set. It sounds somewhat dangerous, but Ed Helms made sure to note that everyone was okay when all was said and done.

The concern over safety was probably a big issue on the set of Tag, as the production did not entirely go off without a hitch. Specifically, Jeremy Renner suffered two broken arms while filming a stunt in the movie, the details of which sound particularly gruesome. That said, despite The Avengers star's misfortune, nothing bad happened when the time came to go wild on those carts.

If you want a closer look at our chat with Ed Helms, check out a clip from the Tag interview below!

Based on a true story, Tag tells the tale of a group of friends who have been playing the same game of Tag every May for the last three decades. However, when Jerry (Jeremy Renner) decides to retire from the game ahead of his nuptials, the group descends upon his wedding to tag him and end his perfect winning streak.

Tag opens in theaters today, so make sure to check the R-rated buddy comedy out to see the wild golf cart chase for yourselves! As always, if you are on the lookout for even more information about Tag, you can also check out our in-depth review of the film, as well as our review roundup to see what other critics are saying about it!

The summer of 2009 brought with it one of the most iconic and hilarious comedies of the last decade, Todd Phillips' The Hangover. The raunchy comedy became the highest grossing, R-rated comedy of all-time domestically -- until Deadpool surpassed it. Naturally the film spawned two other films to form a trilogy and the chapter was seemingly closed on The Hangover franchise. But as with any property with name recognition and a built-in fanbase, there is always the question of a reboot or a continuation. One of the trilogy's stars, Ed Helms, evaluated the chances of a Hangover 4 in a recent interview, saying:

So you're saying there's a chance. Ed Helms doesn't sound too optimistic speaking to ­­­­­CinePop and I can't blame him. Three films is a lot of time to spend playing only one role and becoming known for simply one thing. I'm sure the actor wants to continue to broaden his comedic offerings beyond the Stu character and to pursue other acting opportunities that are not comedies, like his recent turn in Chappaquiddick. In the past, Ed Helms' Hangover co-star, Zach Galifianakis has expressed a wish that The Hangover franchise had just been one film. This comedy trilogy took up a huge part of these actors' lives but now they have each moved on to new chapters in their careers.

There is also the unavoidable fact that The Hangover franchise saw diminishing returns, fan enthusiasm and critical reception as it went on and sort of limped to the finish line. The original Hangover was one of those films you had to see in theaters to enjoy with an audience and this drove it to unprecedented success. But the sequel films relied too much on the original formula and were unable to quite catch that lightning in a bottle success. The Hangover is still viewed as a comedy classic, but similar to some other franchises, the sequels are not remembered as fondly.

The idea of a Hangover reboot this close to the final film in the trilogy also seems a bit premature. The Hangover Part III was only five years ago. Although, I have little doubt that The Hangover could continue at some point in the future, it sounds like it won't be a formal Hangover 4. I can see a film with a similar premise under a different name being developed or even a reboot bearing the branding but with all new characters and story. Comedy sequels have struggles matching the success of beloved predecessors but nostalgia is a powerful thing and reboots can find major success years down the line. To see all the films vying to become modern classics in 2018, you can check out our release guide.

Director Lawrence Sher's new comedy Father Figures marks the first time that Owen Wilson and Ed Helms have teamed up as leads for a two-hander, but it's not actually the first title that appears on both of their resumes. Back in 2009, both actors had roles in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, albeit with the former in an uncredited role. This is a strange bit of trivia I only recently discovered while preparing to interview the two actors at the Father Figures press day... but what's funny is that I was apparently the first person to bring it to the attention of the stars, as you'll see watching the video below:

With Father Figures on the verge of release, I had the chance to sit down with Ed Helms and Owen Wilson earlier this month in Los Angeles, and opened the conversation asking how they initially met. I only offhandedly mentioned Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (a film where they admittedly don't share any scenes), instead more curious about potential projects that didn't come together, but as you can see, the title mention caught them by surprise.

While Ed Helms firmly remembered his own part in the Night At The Museum sequel, turning to his co-star with a surprised look after the title drop, Owen Wilson was completely surprised to learn about Helms' part in the blockbuster. The two bantered:

Owen Wilson may not have remembered Ed Helms' admittedly very small role in Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, but he certainly did show a great amount of respect for his Father Figures co-lead during our interview. He noted that the two had never had the chance to meet before collaborating on the soon-to-be-released feature, but did find himself sizing Helms up like a boxer. Said Wison,

Also starring Glenn Close, Katt Williams, Terry Bradshaw, Ving Rhames, J.K. Simmons, and more, Father Figures arrives in theaters this Friday after a bit of a delay-- and be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interviews with the cast and the director!

While fans of The Late Show are used to seeing the outspoken Stephen Colbert spending his time taking charged political jabs at President Donald Trump and his administration, things got a lot more optimistic on last night's broadcast, which featured a giant episode-length reunion of former Daily Show stars from that series' most iconic stretch. Colbert welcomed Jon Stewart, Samantha Bee, Ed Helms, Rob Corddry and John Oliver (as Steve Carrell), and the gang took a trip back into the past for a pristine recreation of Colbert's last day at The Daily Show back in 2005.

The whole frigging Late Show episode was good, don't get me wrong, but this segment brings out everything that I love about all of these entertainers: broad humor dressed with subtleties, and high brow jokes crawling around with low brow jokes. Oh, and the funny hair, of course. Because a comedy sketch is not a true comedy sketch unless someone has got the funniest hair. Even though it's a flashback to 2005, there is no faux-follicle consistency.

Samantha Bee appears to be an extra on Miami Vice. Ed Helms won Worst Dressed at a Village People costume party. Rob Corddry is possibly a professional wrestler turned announcer. And Jon Stewart...well, he looks like Jon Stewart in a bad wig.

Take a drink of whatever Mountain Dew flavor was popular in 2005 every time these guys make a joke that is super-specific to the year in which the flashback takes place. Now, there obviously were some political jokes involved, since mixing former Daily Show crew members is just asking for D.C. satire saturation. It is nice, though, that George W. Bush is the subject matter, and they're basically kind to him, as opposed to what things used to be like. You know...whenever Steve Carrell looked like himself and not like current Last Week Tonight host John Oliver. But maybe my memory is just fuzzy.

When Stephen Colbert spread his big bald eagle wings and flew away from The Daily Show to settle in his new Colbert Report nest, he destroyed something beautiful. But from that, something else that was equally beautiful grew. And when he also destroyed that, he moved to CBS. And here we are. Looking for our yogurts.

You can still catch The Daily Show every night on Comedy Central at 11:00 p.m. ET. And, of course, you can see Stephen Colbert rocking it on The Late Show on CBS every night at 11:35 p.m. ET. And to see when everything else is heading to the small screen soon during the primetime hours, head to our summer TV schedule.

While Lawrence Sher is making his directorial debut with his new comedy Bastards, he actually has a long-time co-collaborator in star Ed Helms. After all, the two spent many years together working on Todd Phillips' Hangover trilogy, with Sher serving as cinematographer on all three films. Now that Sher has moved up to directing, the new comedy is obviously an opportunity for him to explore his own comedic sensibilities as a filmmaker -- but according to Helms, fans still should expect some of the Hangover DNA to be lingering in the movie. The actor recently told us,

I caught up with Ed Helms this week as he was walking the Warner Bros. press line at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, and had the chance to ask him about his work on Bastards and collaboration with Lawrence Sher. I specifically asked Helms about the influence that Todd Phillips had on the comedic stylings that we can expect in the upcoming film, and while it sounds like the director will use the platform to make a specific name for himself, there is also a reason why they worked well together in the past.

In Bastards, Ed Helms and Owen Wilson play a pair of fraternal twins who discover that their mother (Glenn Close) has been lying for decades about the identity of their father. This leads the brothers to set out on a road trip to try and find their dad, and awkwardly interview all of the men who formally slept with their mom. Going by the trailer, it doesn't look like it will go quite as dark as The Hangover trilogy, but give the footage below a look and tell us if it tickles your funny bone:

While talking with Ed Helms, I also asked him about his entrance to the project, if not just because the friendship between actors and cinematographers isn't one that you always hear about. Helms totally set me straight, however, revealing that "Larry" Sher has actually become one of his favorite people in the industry:

You can watch the video below to hear all of Ed Helms' comments about working on Bastards, collaborating with Lawrence Sher, and the R-rating that the comedy is most definitely going for:

Bastards, which also stars J.K. Simmons, Terry Bradshaw, Katie Aselton, June Squibb and Ving Rhames, will be in theaters on December 22nd... and while that's a long wait, be sure to stay tuned for more updates about the movie here on CinemaBlend.

Ed Helms recently headlined the Vacation sequel for Warner Bros., but he was also announced in the lead role of another ‘80s resurgence: Naked Gun. It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything on that front, but Helms recently spoke about the film and it turns out its future is not as secure as we might have thought.

The actor went into the Yahoo Movies studio to make the press rounds for Vacation, and he was asked about the status of the Naked Gun reboot. He said,

The next Naked Gun movie was announced back in December of 2013. Thomas Lennon and R. Ben Garant of the Night at the Museum and Reno 911 franchises were enlisted to write the script, while Helms stepped into the role of Detective Frank Drebin, made famous by Leslie Neilsen. We got an update on the film in January 2014, when Garant said the film will be more of a sequel than a traditional reboot. He went into further detail by saying they’re trying to reinvent the world while embracing the style of the original.

Then we got a contradictory update in March of this year from original director David Zucker. He said that the new Naked Gun won’t be like his version, meaning it won’t be in that same style of spoof. At the time we took his statements with a grain of salt or two, because it seemed, based on his own admission, that he wasn’t really involved with the project, but now they’re aligning with what Helms is claiming. So, ultimately, it seems like this could be in a bit of turmoil.

The original Naked Gun films are based on the ABC spoof series Police Squad! that lasted for six episodes before getting the axe. The first film, subtitled From the Files of Police Squad!, was released in 1988 and featured Drebin attempting to thwart an assassination on Queen Elizabeth II at a Los Angeles baseball game. Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear came in 1991 and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult came in 1994. The franchise became famous for its particular brand of humor. If you’re unfamiliar, Drebin famously compared the relationship between cops and women to swallowing Drano. "Sure, it’ll clean you out, but it’ll leave you hollow inside," he said in the first film. To potentially stray from this slapstick brand of humor seems to betray the franchise’s heart and soul, but then again, a contemporary reimagining could make its own mark.

Ed Helms is now seen as a huge movie and TV actor, popping up in such high-profile projects as The Hangover series and the Vacation sequel. But more than a decade ago, Helms was a lesser-known TV personality working on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. And now that Stewart is ending his run on the Comedy Central series, Ed Helms has shared a hilarious story about one of his first days on set.

At a first glance, getting laughed at when you are terrified about something may not really seem like the best medicine, but when Helms looks back on that one Daily Show moment so many years later, he tells THR that it was actually exactly what he needed in the moment. In fact, he’ll always remember how “gracious” Stewart could be.

The segment ended up going totally fine, and thanks to the perfection that is Comedy Central’s site, we’ve included the amusing “Touched by a Scalpel” mole clip from way back in 2002, below.

There were a lot of people who touched and shaped The Daily Show over the years it was on the air, and it’s nice that Jon Stewart was able to return the favor. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will end its run on August 6, 2015. Trevor Noah will take over for the veteran host, and his tenure will begin on Monday, September 28 at 11 p.m. ET. Here’s a look at what else is coming up this fall.

Tradition dictates that Ed Helms be recast as Rusty Griswold should Warner Bros. move ahead with another Vacation movie. The charcter was played by Anthony Michael Hall in National Lampoon’s Vacation, Jason Lively in European Vacation, Johnny Galecki in Christmas Vacation, and Ethan Embry in Vegas Vacation. There was even a Vacation short film called Hotel Hell that featured Travis Greer as Clark’s son. If this does in deed happen, however, Helms wouldn’t be too happy. 

Yahoo Movies caught up with the actor while he was out promoting the latest Vacation to ask him some questions posed by fans on social media. One Twitter user, Kevin Crossman, asked Helms if he’d be sad for any potential recasting. Helms replied: 

The studio hasn’t announced a sequel to Vacation, given it’s less than stellar box office numbers. The film debuted this past week and was squashed underneath the weight of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, and it barely beat Ant-Man. Furthermore, it earned the near universal ire of critics — including this guy! And I wasn’t even the harshest. Globe and Mail said there was “so much dead air,” Nerdist wrote it’s “so constantly and oppressively gross,” and Rolling Stone said “the gags smack of desperation.” We’ll have to see how it performs in the weeks ahead, but this coming weekend sees the debut of Fantastic Four, which is expected to beat Vacation at the box office. Long story short, I wouldn’t hold my breath for another installment in the near future. 

That said, if WB does eventually decide to move ahead with another Vacation, and on top of that recast Helms — who was criticized for unsuccessfully carrying the franchise — he’s certainly not alone. He can chat with the other Griswolds who came before him, especially the actresses who played his on-screen sister Audrey. Leslie Mann assumed the role in this iteration, but she succeeds the likes of Dana Baron (National Lampoon’s Vacation), Dana Hill (European Vacation), Juliette Lewis (Christmas Vacation), and Marisol Nichols (Vegas Vacation). 

This latest Vacation imagines the character of Rusty, now all grown up and a pilot for a low-level airline, with a family of his own. He and his wife Debbie (Christina Applegate) and his two sons are stuck in a rut and he tries to rekindle their old family magic by taking them on a road trip to Walley World, just like when he was a kid. As things normally go when there’s a Vacation movie involved, they encounter one tumultuous event after another, whether that’s Debbie vomiting up a pitcher of beer at a sorority party, the Griswolds wading into a pool of human or non-human waste, or getting chased by a trucker across the country. 

Ed Helms doesn't have to be in the zone as Andy from The Office to get his Princeton a capella jams on. The latest Vacation trailer, featuring the actor as an all-grown-up Rusty Griswold, kicks things off with his rendition of Seal's "Kiss From A Rose." As you can imagine, it all goes down hill for the family from then on. Watch the new footage below.

The first Vacation trailer was pretty NSFW, flaunting potty language and Chris Hemsworth's massive Asgardian package. This new look, first released on Yahoo Movies, is relatively tame, though there's still moments involving brotherly shenanigans, an implied suicide and lots and lots of poop.

The Vacation reboot isn't exactly a reboot. It's more of a continuation. Clark (Chevy Chase) and Ellen Griswold (Beverly D'Angelo) both make an appearance in this film, though they won't be going on a trip. It's all about their son, Rusty, and his family. He remembers the good times he had bonding with his parents and sister on the road to Walley World, and he wants the same for his kids and wife.

Of course, much like this first vacation, this one does not go as planned. They encounter all manner of distractions along the road, including run-ins with the police, crashing the "Honda of Albania," crashing with Rusty's sister Audrey and her super sexy friend Stone Crandall, and bathing in a pool of sewage. There's nothing that'll bring a family together more than covering each other in human waste...or witnessing a fight. The Griswolds find themselves a rival family and Rusty throws a few punches in his action scene with the other dad, played by Ron Livingston. Though they seem terrified of this crazy family, if it comes down to Livingston or Helms, I'd bet Livingston would emerge the victor.

There are also plenty of throwbacks to the original Vacation. This Vacation trailer features Rusty's son in the back seat flirting with a girl in another car. This mirrors a classic scene Clark has in the original film, where he's eyeing a woman in a sports car in the next lane. His flirting led to crashing the car, while Rusty's other son, Kevin, comes in to ruin his brother's chances by throwing a plastic bag over his head.

Joining Helms for this adventure are Christina Applegate as his on-screen wife, Leslie Mann as his sister, Hemsworth as Mr. Crandall, Skylar Gisondo and Steele Stebbins as his sons, as well as some familiar faces like Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Pena and Nick Kroll. John Francis Daley (known for his longstanding role of Dr. Sweets on Bones) and Jonathan M. Goldstein co-directed this film and co-wrote the screenplay.

Vacation will hit theaters on July 29.

The new Vacation came out of Las Vegas CinemaCon with real heat, screening a sizzle reel for theater owners and distributors that got the industry excited for the July comedy. Here with a sampling of what they saw is the totally NSFW red-band Vacation trailer, complete with Chris Hemsworth’s gigantic penis.

What you’ll notice, right off the bat, is that this new Vacation, written and directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein, embraces the legacy of the original National Lampoon’s Vacation, opening with footage from the 1983 comedy. We then learn that this will be a natural sequel to the original, and not a reboot, as some might have thought.

Ed Helms, then, plays Rusty Griswold, the version of the character played by Anthony Michael Hall opposite Chevy Chase in 1983. There are a few meta jokes about how those who don’t know the first Vacation can still enjoy this, and how the new movie will stand on its own. After that, we’re off to the races. In an effort to recapture the magic of his favorite family vacation, Rusty (Helms) piles his brood into their car for a cross-country trip to – where else? – Wally World.

Along the way, we get a number of jokes that borrow directly from the original film, or feel like they are in the same tone as the first Vacation film. Seeing the Griswold family bathing in fecal matter? That has the makings of a National Lampoon’s movie. Remember when a dog peed on Clark’s sandwich? Toilet jokes tend to get a laugh. Then there’s the supermodel-in-a-sports-car gag, only this one ends much differently. (I though that was Derek Jeter’s girlfriend, Sports Illustrated model Hannah Davis, behind the wheel, but she isn’t credited on IMDB, so maybe not?)

From the looks of Vacation, it wants to model itself after the in-on-the-joke tone of the 21 Jump Street movies, which openly acknowledge that they are delivering one thing (a reboot) while playfully tweaking our expectations. More than anything, this movie needs to remind us why we liked the first Vacation, making Rusty Griswold a Clark-esque anti-hero… a suburban shlub who is TRYING to do right by his family, even though he can’t really get out of his own way.

Vacation heads down Holiday Road and to a theater near you on July 29.

It looks as though the further adventures of the Griswold family will head to theaters fashionably early. It is being reported that the fumbling family farce, headlined by star Ed Helms, will once again put the ol' family Truckster back on the road a little more than two months ahead of its original schedule.

According to a scoop by The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. is moving the release date of the upcoming franchise revival, simply titled Vacation, from its originally set release of October 9th up to the more vacation appropriate July 31st. The move represents a big vote of confidence from the studio regarding the film’s ability to compete in the ultra-competitive summer movie season amongst some big-budget bonanzas. It certainly stands as a surprisingly auspicious sign for the movie, possibly due to good reactions from early screenings, considering that this once-beleaguered sort-of-sequel had been held up in developmental purgatory for years and even experienced delays well after receiving the greenlight.

In the film, it looks as though we’ll see the baton of the overzealous dad - who fruitlessly attempts to treat his family to an unrealistically idealized cross-country family trip (once again) to the magical land of Walley World - passed from Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold to his son, Rusty Griswold, played this time around by Ed Helms. He’ll be joined by Christina Applegate, who plays Rusty’s wife, Leslie Mann, who will fill the role of his sister, Audrey, plus Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, who will return to reprise their roles as the elders of the Griswold clan. Additionally, stars like Chris Hemsworth, Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key, and Regina Hall, amongst others, will show up.

The film continues the continuity of the original series that (barring the made-for-DVD stinkers) consists of the 1983 seminal comedy classic National Lampoon’s Vacation, followed by the similarly-branded European Vacation in 1985; the perennial holiday standard Christmas Vacation in 1989; and the less-celebrated Vegas Vacation in 1997. The last of these saw the "National Lampoon's" label finally dropped. The franchise has seen some big name writers and directors take helm of the franchise, including both Harold Ramis behind the camera and the late John Hughes with the pen, but their shoes will be filled by an interesting duo of actors-turned-writers in John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein, who will both serve as co-writers and co-directors.

For Daley, the former star of TV’s Bones and Freaks and Geeks, the gig comes as the culmination of a creative resume that he has been quietly building while still acting, with work on scripts like the Horrible Bosses films and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. For Goldstein, whose screenwriting credits run far deeper, the foray behind the camera will be territory just as new for him as it is for Daley, since neither of them have actually directed a feature length picture. Based on this latest move by the studio, though, signs seem to point to them doing just fine.

Vacation will begin a new generation’s pilgrimage to see a moose. Will it have moviegoers whistling "Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah" out of their assholes? We shall certainly see when the film hits theaters on July 31st.

1983 marked the beginning of the famous Vacation franchise that made a lot of careers in the mid 1980's. Among those whose success was enriched in the film's ensuing success were director Harold Ramis, writer John Hughes, and of course the couple at the center of it all, Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. In the roles of Clark and Ellen Griswold, the two would be three of the only original cast members to star in each installment of the series. So naturally, they were invited for the modern sequel, and we have a photo from the film's set commemorating the moment the franchise was handed off.

Courtesy of Ed Helms' HootSuite page, we now have the first photo of him as Rusty Griswold, standing in the middle of his cinematic mom and dad in the new Vacation film. Keep in mind, the last time you've seen the Griswolds on film was in 1997's Vegas Vacation, so if you've avoided seeing Community or Entourage, you're going to be a little surprised.

If anything, the photo above is the ultimate seal of continuity for all involved. It may not be a seal of approval, but considering how John Hughes' estate has proven that they have no problem speaking up when they feel a project is disrespectful to the late filmmaker's legacy, the film is currently resting at a "so far so good" rating. Remember, if you're going to continue a franchise, it's probably a good idea to bring back at least a couple of the parties involved in its inception.

While the exact story, as well as the children in Rusty or Audrey's families aren't hatched out just yet, the fact that Ed Helms and Leslie Mann are going to be the movie kids to Chase and D'Angelo in this new film is a good sign that the film is at the very least aiming for the right comedic direction. The fact that Chris Hemsworth and Charlie Day are along for the ride is the icing on the cake, leaving only the presence of Cousin Eddie as the missing ingredient. Though recent factors in Randy Quaid's life are probably a good reason as to why that ingredient is going to be missing.

Still, Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo look like they're having fun. What's better, they've aged rather well and naturally enough that there won't be any jokes about the kids looking worse than their parents. It's a tired joke, and comedians with the stylings of Chase and D'Angelo don't need to lean too much on old saws like that. With a cast to die for, and the writers behind Horrible Bosses at the helm, Vacation looks like it'll be a trip to Hell, but for all of the right (and hysterical) reasons.

Vacation packs its bags and hits the holiday road on October 9, 2015. Here's hoping that if a European Vacation reboot is in the cards, Christoph Waltz is invited to take part.

That on-again/off-again Vacation sequel that New Line wants to construct around The Hangover star Ed Helms seems to be back on again, and with a pair of high-wattage co-stars in pivotal roles.

The movie, from what we are learning, isn’t a reboot of the classic National Lampoon’s Vacation, but rather a sequel that casts Ed Helms (The Office) as a grown Rusty Griswold, son of Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold. Now The Hollywood Reporter states that Chris Hemsworth (Thor, The Avengers) and comedian Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) are in negotiations for supporting roles in the movie, which begins shooting in September.

Hemsworth would play the husband of Rusty’s sister, Audrey, who was played on screen by three different actresses in the three Vacation movies prior to this new film. Though the new Vacation hasn’t cast a replacement Audrey, it’s reported that Hemsworth’s character will be named Stone Crandall, and he will be "an up-and-coming anchorman."

Charlie Day’s part is described as that of a river-rafting guide. The movie, from what we hear, will involve Rusty (Ed Helms) and his wife (Christina Applegate) trying to take their family on a vacation. But Rusty, in this update, will carry the emotional scars of all of his father’s past failed vacations across our country and around Europe. He’s reportedly tired of being terrified of taking vacations, and wants to reclaim the family getaway. It has to be better than this, right?

In general, this is solid casting for a film that already was in decent hands with Ed Helms and Christina Applegate in the leads. Hemsworth has let on that he’d love to try a comedy – stealing several dry lines in the Marvel movies, but unable (until now) to let his funny flag fly in a full-blown comedy. And Charlie Day will be very familiar to the Vacation co-directors as they make their debut. They new movie will be helmed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who penned the first Horrible Bosses and came up with the story for the sequel.

Vacation begins shooting next month after a delay over the intended rating (some want an R rating, while producers likely fought for PG-13). Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo are down for cameos. Does the new casting make you more, or less, excited?

While this morning’s partial reveal of 2014's Toronto International Film Festival screenings was noticeably missing Alejandro González Iñárritu’s highly anticipated comedy Birdman, the director’s upcoming small-screen effort One Percent is at the center of some excellent casting news. The Media Rights Capital-produced series has targeted Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank, Oscar-nominated actor Ed Harris, and Hangover star Ed Helms, and each of them are in various stages of negotiations to join what will presumably be a prestige-laden show.

Should all go according to plan, the hour-long One Percent would take place within the world of organic farming – what? – and would see Helms and Swank playing a married couple who are having problems keeping their business above water, which of course leads to personal problems. As Deadline reports, Harris would star as the family patriarch, though it doesn’t say whose father he would play.

That isn’t much to go on, and doesn’t really hint too directly at what the title means. Is this the dreaded Occupation protesters’ “one percent,” or does it refer to something involving the farming community? Maybe that’s the percentage of startup businesses that actually stay open after a certain period of time. Regardless of what this plain-sounding story ends up being, I’m willing to trust that Iñárritu and this trio of actors wouldn’t team up on a complete waste of time.

Iñárritu will indeed be directing the series from a screenplay written with Birdman collaborators Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolas Giacobone and Armando Bo. MRC is expected to shop the series around in the coming weeks, probably trying to secure a straight-to-series order rather than going the pilot route. MRC, who worked with Seth MacFarlane on Ted and A Million Ways to Die in the West, snagged a two-season order for MacFarlane’s upcoming live-action comedy for Starz, and they're also one of the companies behind Netflix’s House of Cards, which was naturally also granted an all-at-once series order.

Should One Percent go through, this would be Swank’s first TV series since starring on Beverly Hills 90210 in the late 1990s. She hasn’t been in a lot of movies lately, either, having most recently starred in Philip Noyce and HBO Films’ made-for-TV drama Mary and Martha. She’ll soon be seen in Tommy Lee Jones’ western The Homesman and in George C. Wolfe’s caregiver drama You’re Not You.

Harris, meanwhile, starred in the at-long-last recently released thriller Snowpiercer and voiced a character for the in-theaters animation Planes: Fire & Rescue. He’s got an assortment of upcoming projects, including Michael Almereyda’s modernized Shakespeare epic Cymbeline, Michael Berry’s border drama Frontera, Jaume Collet-Serra’s hitman thriller Run All Night and Pamela Romanowsky’s adaptation of Stephen Elliott’s memoir The Adderall Diaries, which is currently filming. Oddly enough, Harris has never had a leading TV role.

Helms, who for years played Dunder Mifflin’s most bluegrassy employee on The Office, last appeared in theaters nationwide in We’re the Millers, but can be found on VOD in David Wain’s clever rom-com spoof They Came Together. He’ll next be seen in Joe Carnahan’s Stretch, assuming that film ever gets released, and will be heard in the upcoming Captain Underpants animated adaptation.

It’s hard to figure out exactly what kind of star Ed Helms really is. The comedy lifer has done time in bit parts in colorful ensembles, rising to prominence as a member of The Wolfpack in The Hangover. But since then, he’s had a sea of studio projects fall apart, and he suffered the fate of the final season of The Office, sidelined in favor of other characters. Audiences know him, but by name? Hard to say. The world isn’t exactly bubbling over with Cedar Rapids fans. But he’s a funny guy, and the former Daily Show correspondent is taking his career into his own hands, having conceived of a new starring vehicle (with Nicky Weinstock) for Lionsgate called Epic Fail

According to The Wrap, Helms would play the blackest of black ops soldiers, a guy called the Walrus who leads an elite team on a mission to "save America." It’s noted that he has a mustache and is super macho, so if you guessed that this was Helms’ Anchorman, well, that’s not a crazy guess, is it?

The script is from Mike Arnold and Chris Poole, who have previously worked on TV’s Archer and are currently writing a film for Ruben Fleischer. The two represent the realities of Hollywood screenwriting, which is that you might be able to make a ton of money doing it, but chances are you won’t be able to get it made into a movie. Both started out as lawyers working during the day and writing at night, and have yet to register a single film credit, despite penning acclaimed screenplays like The Grackle, once seen as a starring vehicle for Matthew McConaughey under David Gordon Green. Hey, that should still happen!

Helms has fought tooth-and-nail to earn a leading man credit, but to no avail. It seemed like that would be a reboot of the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, but that was scuttled due to ratings issues. He’s also attached to a Naked Gun restart (DON’T DO IT, ED) as well as a comedy called Central Intelligence. Helms currently has supporting roles lined up for Stretch (which may not even be released!) and a voice part in Captain Underpants but he’s still waiting for that big breakout role. Maybe these guys should team up to just do an Archer movie. Helms would be perfect Cyril.

Mumford & Sons is known for generally serious musical content. However, for the group’s new single, Mumford & Sons wanted to go a little more comedic, and so they enlisted Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, Will Forte, and Ed Helms to come to the set of the “Hopeless Wanderer” shoot and pretend to be the band for a day. The guys recently spoke with Rolling Stone to talk about a few of the best moments from the video, and why the band enlisted celebrities in the first place.

It’s amazing how our minds can trick us. At the start of the video, we hear Marcus Mumford sing as the band gears up. It’s early daytime, and between the sunspots it’s very easy to just assume we are seeing the band. Eventually, director Sam Jones lets us in on the joke, which was apparently conceived thanks to the guys in the band not really enjoying appearing in music videos.

The music video features a boat scene, and silly instrument chases, as well as an epic makeout moment, topped off with a ridiculous banjo dance at the end. It’s all very un-Mumford & Sons-ey, but somehow it works. The band says they just wanted people to know that while music comes from a serious place, the guys have fun with it, too.

If you haven’t yet caught the new video, you should give it a shot below.

“Hopeless Wanderer” is a single off of Mumford & Sons’ latest full-length endeavor, Babel. The album is available via iTunes and other outlets.

The casting process for Joe Carnahan's upcoming action comedy Stretch has mostly been about fun reunions between the director and former stars, including The A-Team's Patrick Wilson and Smokin' Aces' Chris Pine. But the newest addition to the production is not only a Carnahan first-timer, but also set to play one of the film's two biggest roles.

Ed Helms, who was just seen wrapping up the end of the Hangover trilogy last month and returning as real estate agent James Carri in the fourth season of Arrested Development, has signed on to Stretch, which has been confirmed to be Carnahan's next film. The story centers on a unlucky limo driver - played by Wilson - who tries to work off a major debt by chauffeuring a mysterious billionaire around town. Things wind up going horribly wrong, however, and the two men end up going through a night of hell. Variety, which first reported the casting news, says that Helms will be playing the billionaire in the movie. Pine's role is being kept a secret.

Wilson, Pines and Helms make up an extremely solid core, but apparently Carnahan isn't done with the casting process just yet. Following the trade's report, the director Tweeted an image of himself and his three stars and suggested that there's still at least one more major addition on the way.

Helms' next role is coming up soon, as he plays a crucial role in the upcoming pot comedy We're The Millers (which, going by the film's trailers, looks hilarious). He is also still attached to star in the upcoming Vacation reboot, but that project was recently put on hold due to creative differences.

In the summer of 2009 Todd Phillips’ The Hangover became a smash hit and stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis became three of the biggest, most sought-after names in Hollywood. The success continued with the first sequel, The Hangover Part II, which sent the characters to Thailand where they had to deal with another missing night. But this weekend, as you’ve read on the posters, it all ends.

To celebrate the finale of The Hangover franchise, The Wolfpack returned to Caesar’s Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where Warner Bros. held a press event for the new sequel and held roundtable interview where reporters could talk with the actors and filmmakers behind the series. Read our extended conversation with the three main stars below, in which the trio talks about their favorite memory from the set, the evolving darkness that has grown more significant from sequel to sequel, and bringing more heart to the characters.

Was there a point for each of you where the three of you realized the first Hangover had changed your careers?

Ed Helms: There was a moment, I think, that all of us shared, at a dinner in London. After the US premiere we went over to London to promote it, and we were getting box office returns from that opening weekend while we were in London, and Warner Bros. PR folks were all with us and we were getting a lot of input. Like, “Do you guys understand what’s happening here? This is gonna change your lives.” I think we all just had a little deer in the headlights moment at that dinner, and I’m so grateful we were together for that because otherwise who knows, we might have gone insane. That’s when it felt like something crazy was happening to our lives.

Do have a favorite memory or moment of the Hangover trilogy now that it’s over?

Zach Galifianakis: I think there’s a day when we were filming the first one that we all kind of agree, as far as a working experience... the most I’ve ever laughed in my life was the day we shot the first one, I don’t know if you recall, the older gentleman scene when we were in the hospital with him, and he’s nude. I got the giggles so badly, [pointing to his co-stars] and so did he, and so did he. There was nothing but euphoria running through my body, how much I was laughing. I had to walk off the set I was laughing so hard. That was also the day the election came in 2008. That was a really happy day. A day I will never forget because my body was just beaming with just happiness, because of the giggles from that day and then also what happened that night was a pretty special night.

Bradley Cooper: Then we went to Venice after, and there was a windstorm that night.

Galifianakis: Yeah, there was a windstorm that night. It was kind of a special night. But you know, we have so many good days. We have a lot of -- these movies have been really good to us and we enjoy working together, I think, for the most part.

One thing I was really impressed by in this was just how much heart there is. I was wondering how much insight you brought to your character since it was the last film.

Cooper: I think it’s more along the lines of where I wanted the movie to end up. I think we all think about in terms of the story rather than each individual character. That’s what’s been so special about it, it’s been such a communal endeavor. The filming of the movie, the logistics of it, every day in tacking a scene, it does feel like it’s the four of us. Ideas are thrown and shared and there’s no ownership at all. People sort of say that about collaborative experiences, but this really is the case. It started in the first one, but it really manifested itself in an economical way in the third one. Alan is one of the most incredible creations of a comedic character in decades in film, so the fact that the story revolves around figuring out who this guy is, how can we tame the beast, was a wonderful choice that Todd Phillips made - hopefully one that the audience wants to see. My hunch is that it will be, because there’s no more lost night, there’s no more inebriated nights devastation. It’s really just let’s take care of our friend.

So much of Alan is the heart of this movie, and he’s been essentially a likable guy. People root for him in his dysfunction. This one called for you to be objectionable from square one. It had gone over some weird edge. How did you approach it?

Galifianakis: You mean the beginning with the death of his father?

Well, absolutely. The dissociative reaction to the death of his father.

Galifianakis: It’s embarrassing, but I don’t overthink things too much when I work. I think that might be evident to a lot of people. As far as Alan goes, in the previous two movies, he is so random and can say anything and it doesn’t even have to make sense, and I think he was just there. He’s there to interject some one liners. With this one, since there is a couple of things that happen to him, meaning the death of his father and the tragedy of a highway, you do have to consider those beats in the script and track that in your mind as far as showing a twinge of him being vulnerable. Also the emotion with Melissa McCarthy. It’s fun for me to couple emotion with comedy. I think it helps comedy. I think a lot of times American comedies don’t play on emotion too much. They go for the joke, and what I like about Todd, and Todd and I did this in Due Date, is we kind of wanted to pull at the heartstrings. Just enough for it to be a bit more real, where Alan’s not just a joke. If that answers your question.

When Todd did Hangover II and Due Date, both of those movies have real darkness to them that Hangover and Hangover III don’t quite have. Coming off of the experience of making the second, which was sort of aggressively dark, did you guys have any particular feelings about a shift in tone, or something you wanted this to pivot on from that experience?

Galifianakis: Can I ask you a question? When you say the second one feels dark, is it because... I find the third one to be dark, in a weird way. Not as dark, but equally dark in a way.

Cooper: Well, there’s killing.

Galifianakis: I think it’s the finger of a kid, it makes it seem dark, the second one. What do you specifically think is the dark part of the second one?

I think it was that period where watch both Due Date and The Hangover II, both of them seem sort of mean about their humor. Whereas the first film seems more innocent. At this point it a stronger emotional undercurrent, so I was just wondering if you felt like there was a comparison.

Galifianakis: It’s a fair question.

Cooper: I think if you talk to Todd, which I’m sure you will, he would say the third is the darkest. I think that he would say that, just based on the content. All of the characters are unhinged in the second one. They’re out of their comfort zone, they’re in a foreign land, they’re screaming at each other. They’re trying desperately to make their way, but it’s not working. This third one. the goal is to help Alan. To get Doug back, but also to help Alan. To be there for each other. There were a lot more scenes in the third one like the first one, just driving in the car together, in between moments, that the second one didn’t really have as much of. Because the city was so chaotic, there weren’t these quiet moments by roadside, or finding a condom he thinks is a snakeskin. Those sort of things weren’t able to happen in the second, where with the third one there was that room. I’m going off on some sort of other idea, but that was why I enjoyed the third one a lot. We all did. I think we all did get a chance to sort of just sit with each other, the way we did in the first one.

Helms: I think you’re right, you hit on something that I hadn’t thought a whole lot about, but I did feel like when we made Hangover II, there was an intensity to it. Just being in Bangkok just made the work harder and the energy of it more intense. Getting back here to Vegas for Hangover III, there was like a breath of fresh air and relaxation and familiarity. I don’t if that’s maybe an abstract energy that work it’s way into both movie, but it’s interesting to think about.

Did you all finish on the last day together, and what was that like to say goodbye to this life-changing trilogy?

Galifianakis: It was strangely quiet. It was anti-climactic.

Cooper: We were conscious of not making it a big deal. Very conscious. There was no clapping or anything. We had a nice little party on the stage.

Galifianakis: A nice party on the stage, not a big loud party. I served Greek moonshine from Greece. We had a nice little band that Ed got together. It was a nice little family affair more than a celebration, because honestly, it goes without saying, we’ve worked with crew people for all three movies, mostly the same people, and it’s really a collaborative effort. We’re in front of the camera, but the heavy lifting happens with those guys, and we wanted to celebrate that and not make too big of a deal about it.

You guys are talking about not doing a fourth, but would you guys collaborate ever again? You can’t deny the chemistry you guys have.

Cooper: I would love to.

Galifianakis: We would like to do it if we switched genres, I think that would be fun.

Astronauts or something.

Helms: Yeah, I would do anything with these guys.

Cooper: Zach had a good idea yesterday that we just do Hangover Part IV with a flipcam.

Galifianakis: Make it like a mumblecore thing. It’s not that exciting, but it’s got good dialogue.

Helms: We should all do sequels to Midnight Meat Train, Cedar Rapids, and It’s Kind of a Funny Story.

Have you guys played the Hangover slot machine that they have downstairs on the casino level?

Galifianakis: I haven’t played it.

Helms: I played it last night.

Galifianakis: You did?

Helms: I played The Hangover slot machines right after I went to the Rolling Stones concert last night. It was amazing, and I went and played The Hangover slot machine and won $200.

Galifianakis: Life is really coming together for you.

I actually agree that the franchise has gotten darker and darker as the series has gone on, and I’m curious about the effect you saw that have on Todd Phillips. These are the biggest films of his career, so do you think he was given more creative freedom? How have you perceived the change in him going from the first movie to the third movie??

Cooper: I think he’s evolved as we all have. We’ve grown and learned from the first one. Warner Bros. gave him creative flexibility to the nth degree from the first one on, down to marketing and everything, the trailers. It is his vision executed by everybody, including us. I just think cinematically you’re just watching this guy blossom. He’s got like a hundred and ten piece orchestra scoring this one as opposed to Kanye West scoring the first one, basically. The lenses he chose to use to film this one is different. The scope cinematically, this movie is quite stunning visually and rhythmically. No comedy director makes movies like this. There’s not one that you can tell me that I can think of that does it quite this way. I know I speak for us, that’s really why we keep coming back. If any reason Todd Phillips didn’t direct [Hangovers] II or III, there’s no way we’d be there.

Helms: There’s something incredible -- Todd is a natural leader, he’s a captain. To run a film set of this scale, this complexity, with the decisiveness and clearheaded-ness that he does is very rare. Even directors that are making giant movies oftentimes it’s more chaotic. Todd just runs the ship, steers the ship through treacherous waters and gets us there every time. It’s really cool if you think about just in terms of how Todd has grown, it’s not like he was a rookie. The Hangover was not his first rodeo, but the scale of each Hangover in complexity from a production standpoint, and that’s been really cool to watch our captain take on bigger ships and just still steer them with scientific precision. The last set piece in Hangover III is so crazy, it’s so huge. We shut down the Strip, and had parachutes flying literally over the Bellagio Fountain.

It wasn’t digital?

Helms: It was a mix, but a lot of it was practical.

Cooper: It was a huge stunt.

Did you guys hang off the building at all?

Cooper: We hang off a building they built on a sound stage.

Galifianakis: It was six floors up, I think.

Cooper: It was the highest sound stage Warner Bros. has, because it goes down, deep down into the ground.

Helms: They basically built the top six floors of a building, it was crazy.

Galifianakis: And the wire that we hung from was like that, not even.

Were you afraid?

Galifianakis: I’m terrible at heights. I hate it. I’m glad I’m only 5’7”.

Bradley, with Silver Linings Playbook and The Place Beyond the Pines, and Serena coming up, is comedy interesting to you now that you’re doing all of this dramatic work?

Cooper: I don’t see it as separate things. As much of a drama Silver Linings Playbook was, there’s a lot of comedy in that movie, and we were very conscious of that too while making it. This movie I’m doing right now, American Hustle, which is another David O. Russell movie, there’s a lot of comedy. In an ideal world, the best dramas have brevity in it, so I don’t see it as two separate things at all. It’s really just filmmakers, I want to work with the best filmmakers.

Todd definitely wanted to kill somebody off in this movie. Did you have any sense that it might be you?

Galifianakis: I was volunteering.

After filming the last scene, what is it like finally watching the movie with the editing, the score. What was your reactions watching the movie?

Galifianakis: We cried.

Helms: I don’t know. I’m always stunned seeing these little nuggets we spent three months shooting in such specificity. These different angles, we repeat things over and over to get the right version, and then you don’t know what it’s going to look like. The only person who’s got his mind’s eye on all of it is Todd, and maybe Larry [Sher], our DP. I think it’s a magical thing, it’s really, really fun. Probably my favorite thing about watching a movie that I’m in the first time is to see all the things I didn’t know were happening in a scene around me, all the little expressions that these guys have. Reactions to things or maybe Todd laughed at something on set, and I didn’t know why and then I see, oh, because Zach did that in the background or some great little nugget. It’s so crazy and ridiculous what we get to do.

Galifianakis: You’re also in it so much that you don’t really -- I loved Hangover III, I laughed a lot actually. I emailed Ed to tell him how much his one line made me laugh out of all three movies, his joke. What I like about the third one is that we comment on the movie a little and the franchise, when I put the glasses on Carlos and Phil goes, “Oh God.” I feel like Todd left that in there, and we’re commenting like, “Oh, this is a cheesy moment, but we know some people might like this. Just bare with us. We don’t necessarily agree with this, but this is for somebody that might like it.” And I love that that’s in there. I don’t know if people read into that, but I get to read into that. That’s enjoyable for me, because I have that little inside work insight and that line’s enjoyable for me. It probably doesn’t mean anything to anybody else, but for me it’s fun to watch that kind of stuff.

Over the last couple months the reboot of National Lampoon's Vacation has been getting into high gear preparing to start production in July. It was announced that screenwriters John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein would be making their directorial debut with the project; Ed Helms had signed on to star as the older Rusty Griswold (who the story would focus on); Christina Applegate became attached to play Helms' wife; and even Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo were confirmed to return. But after all that progress, the brakes are being thrown on.

The Hollywood Reporter has learned that New Line has been forced to delay production on Vacation due to creative differences. According to the trade's sources, there are some who wanted to make the film R-rated, like the original, while others want to make it a PG-13 comedy that will widen its appeal to younger audiences. There seems to be some discrepency about how fast the issue could be resolved as some say that the delay could only be a few months, while others have said that cameras may not start rolling until later in the year.

The story, which Daley and Goldstein also scripted, follows Rusty as he attempts to lead his own family on a road trip. Chase and D'Angelo are returning as Rusty's parents, Clark and Ellen, though their roles are described as cameos.

I'm going to put it to the fans: would you rather see an R-rated or PG-13 Vacation reboot? Answer our poll below and tell us what you think in the comments below.

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If you thought Ed Helms played a good emotionally-frazzled buddy in The Hangover movies, just wait until you see what happens when he’s saddled with his own family. Earlier this year, New Line hired Horrible Bosses writers John Francis Daly and Jonathan Goldstein to write and direct a new installment of the classic Vacation franchise, and with the script pretty close to completion, the directors have settled on Helms as their leading man.

The Office star will play Clark Griswold’s son Rusty, who, now grown, has his own wife and children to angrily shuttle around the country in a desperate attempt to have fun. Helms has long been rumored as a front-runner for the project, but according to Variety, his involvement is now official. The specifics of where he might usher his family to or what nonsense they might encounter are being held strictly under wraps. Luckily, there are also some other cast member rumors. An effort is supposedly under way to get Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo to return as the Griswold parents, and if they come on board, their presence, along with Helms’, should allow Daly and Goldstein to cast pretty much whoever they’d like in the supports. Unfortunately, with Randy Quaid up to some ludicrous shenanigans, I wouldn’t expect to see Cousin Eddie.

Remakes and sequels produced decades after the last entry are often greeted with worry and frustration, but let it be said this one actually seems to be coming together. I’m not promising it’ll live up to the original, but there’s no way in hell I won’t be there to give it a fair chance. And those who aren't in line next to me are probably all fucked in the head.

Don't watch if you're at work...

Being the star of The Office, Ed Helms has to choose his movie projects wisely. There's a limited amount of time he has between seasons of the NBC comedy and it's important that he makes them count. When I spoke with Helms earlier this year he told me that there are three factors that go into his selection process: "“Is this an exciting story that I want to be a part of? Are these people that I want to work with? And can I fit it into my schedule?” It seems that They Came Together and We're The Millers have fit the bill.

Deadline reports that Helms is now attached for parts in both films. The former title is the new movie from director David Wain and is based on a script he co-wrote with Michael Showalter. The film stars Amy Poehler - who last worked with Wain on Wet Hot American Summer - as the owner of a small business that starts to see her company fail when a major corporation moves to town. Paul Rudd will be playing the owner of the conglomerate and Helms will be playing Poehler's character's love interest, an accountant named Eggbert. Wain and Rudd reteamed just this year with the comedy Wanderlust.

We're The Millers is a different kind of story and also has a much smaller part for Helms. The movie, which has been in development for years now and will be directed by Rawson Thurber, is about an aging pot dealer (Jason Sudekis) who plans to retire after one last score that involves moving 1,400 pounds of marijuana from Mexico to the United States. The way he does this is by hiring a fake family that includes Jennifer Aniston as his fake wife. Helms will play a character named Brian who is Sudekis' boss and "who may be hiding something nefarious and shady."

While no start date is given for We're The Millers, They Came Together will start filming this July before The Office begins production on July 30th. Helms will also be filming The Hangover: Part III this September.

As TV roles change, so too do Emmy nomination categories. Two actors featured in currently airing TV shows appear to be altering their Emmy nomination strategies this year by switching categories. And given the increased presence of one, and decreased presence of the other, both make sense, but will the adjustments hurt or improve their chances at a nomination and/or Emmy?

According to the Hollywood Reporter, The Office star Ed Helms is submitting himself for consideration for the Emmy for lead actor in a comedy for his role in NBC’s The Office. Previously, he’d been submitting himself for supporting actor in a comedy. His character Andy Bernard was promoted to regional manager, filling the shoes of Michael Scott, the character played by Steve Carell. I suppose it’s only fitting that Helms attempt to fill Carell’s shoes in the Emmy race too, as the former star of The Office had been nominated six times for the lead role. But will Helms be able to earn a nomination against the likes of Alec Baldwin, Louis C.K., Johnny Galecki, Matt LeBlanc, Jim Parsons, and whoever else may have trailed just behind that group last year? It’s worth a shot!

While Helms attempts to move up a category, it looks like January Jones is going to try her luck at the supporting actress in a drama category. Jones, who plays Betty in AMC’s Mad Men, was once nominated for the lead actress in a drama Emmy, but lost out to Kyra Sedgwick. She didn’t manage to secure a nomination in 2011, though her co-star Elisabeth Moss did. This year, as THR reports, Jones is submitting herself for consideration for the supporting category, which may improve her chances of receiving a nominations.

Betty Draper (err... Francis...) seems more like a supporting role now anyway. No longer married to Don Draper, the character hasn’t been around much this season. According to THR’s source, we’ll be seeing more of her later on in the season. Still, she doesn’t seem to fit the category of lead in the series this season. We’ll have to wait and see if moving to the supporting category will result in a nomination this year.

After making their names in the world of small-scale indie features, like their first two films The Puffy Chair and Baghead, brothers Jay and Mark Duplass have been slowly making their way into more mainstream filmmaking, first with the Fox Searchlight-backed Cyrus and now with Jeff Who Lives At Home, the largest film the directors have made to date, but a pretty tiny one by the standards of their studio, Paramount. Jeff, starring Jason Segel and Ed Helms as an estranged pair of brothers caught up in a rambling adventure one day, opened last weekend to strong reviews-- it's not just that Helms and Segel create a believable brotherly bond, but that the Duplasses bringing their naturalistic filmmaking to a studio film creates a nice contrast, an honest movie with small stakes but the budget and stars to get attention.

Though it was already set for a spring release at the time, Jeff Who Lives At Home premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last September; a few days after that premiere, I caught up with the Duplasses to ask if they really had cried their way through the entire premiere, how Segel and Helms worked with their improvisational style, and why they had to keep the Jeff script in a years until the time was right. Check out our conversation below, and see Jeff Who Lives At Home in theaters now.

Did you guys really cry through the entire premiere?

Jay and Mark: Both of us.

Is that a common thing?

Jay: Oh yeah. At the first public screening in particular. First it's crying because the Paramount logo comes up and you're like, "Oh God, we made a Paramount movie." It doesn't occur to you until you're sitting in an audience. Even when you're preparing, it, it feels glued together in your edit suite, and our edit suite is a dumpy little building in Glendale, California.

Mark: It's a shithole.

Jay: So it doesn't feel real and its own entity until you've gone away for a while, and you show up at the festival, and you didn't show up schlepping the tape and a backup tape in your pocket.

Mark: Try to imagine, if you can, walking into a theater of 2,000 people who have come to see your movie that has that Paramount logo rolling in front of it, of all those beautiful experiences you had in a movie theater where that logo rolled in front of it. As much as we have slowly gotten to that point in our career, and it is a natural progression, and I do kind of feel like, "Yeah, we do belong here," that's an intellectual concept. When you sit in the theater and you feel that, it just hits us. And we're wimps and we cry all the time.

Does it have anything to do with the extent to which the story is personal for you guys? I assume this isn't your relationship, but you must feel personally connected to the story of brothers.

Mark: We do. Someone said to us, and we just realized it, they could feel how much we love our characters in our movie. That was a really good point for us. These are quirky people and they do odd things, but we're not here to make fun of them. The laughs we have are with them, and so besides our own personal connections and the things in our own lives that we've put into the characters, they kind of take on a life of their own. Someone after the movie was like, "I want to hang out with Jeff. I would watch a whole other movie with just Jeff hanging out." I kind of feel that way too!

Did Jason and Ed have anything to do with developing the characters? You've said this is one of the more written scripts you've done.

Jay:: It left a little less room than I would say normally happens with our movies, because yeah, this movie is a little more on the rails in terms of scripting.

Mark: There's no pre-development or rehearsals or anything like that. But in the moment…

Because they're still improvising in the moment?

Jay: Absolutely. And we want them to bring what they love to the character. We feel like not only with our actors, but with our crew members too, the more that we can find that spark in them that just inspires them to do something special, to do something really specific that they love, that greatly outweighs any preconceived notion we might have had. We're not interested in extracting some preconceived notion. We want to create a space where lightning can strike and hopefully the most inspired version of our original thought can happen. That's tricky, because you need inspired, almost writer-minded people like Jason and Ed and Susan.

Mark: They help manage their character for you while they're improvising. That process you're talking about is especially true in the 4 or 5 scenes in our movie where it's two people having it out with each other. Those happen, and inevitably the dialogue we've written tends to go away, and we just start banging away, a camera on each of them trying to dig in and find the most personal stuff we can find. In our movies that's where the improvisation pays off.

This is so much more plot based than the movies you've made before. Is that a transition in the way you think about putting the movie together?

Mark: It's such a logistical thing. Even our careers, I always felt confident that we could write a script like this, and in fact it was written four years ago, before we wrote Baghead or Cyrus. When we were writing those early scripts, they were written very specifically so they could be made cheaply. If you look at the structure of Puffy Chair or Cyrus, there are less scenes, and they are big, long scenes. Which makes them easier to shoot. The reason Jeff sat around in a drawer for a while is because we knew it would be expensive to shoot. When you shoot a movie with this many scenes and it's a lot of bigger scenes-- dare we say setpieces-- we knew it would require more money. There was definitely a part of our brain that was like, OK, this is going to be a true hybrid for us, maintaining everything we've done up to this point, the organic improvisation, finding great stuff in the moment. But at the same time, part of this movie is Jeff being a little bit of a detective. That is a much more silent, cinematic filming process.

Jay: It's something that you can't improvise, because it's going somewhere very specifics. But this is kind of unprecedented because it is the first movie we've ever made that we could not have made without a lot of money. There's no way we could have done it. Cyrus we could have made that movie for $100,000 in our neighborhood. We would't have been able to have movie stars and a marketing team behind us, but….

Without talking too much about the ending of the movie, it is big, and it escalates the stakes in a way you haven't done before. How did you decide to raise the stakes in the final act so significantly?

Mark: Jeff is a movie with a really big idea in it. It's bigger than any idea we've tackled. Is there a hand guiding us in our destiny? Or are we just like, as Forrest Gump would say, floating around gentle like on a breeze? So to a certain extent the movie demands that we rise up to that at a certain point. But at the same time we love the idea of starting a movie very, very small inside of the big idea. You could almost look at Jeff as like a modern-day update of the quest movie. This is not Camelot, this is the suburbs and strip malls of Baton Rouge, and he's not pulling the sword from the stone, he's trying to pull the wood glue from the shelf of Home Depot. I guess what we have maintained from our previous filmmaking style is that lower dramatic bar, starting the movie small, but we knew that as the movie progressed we wanted to high jump that bar and take it to a new place.

And at the end, he finds meaning in something that also has bigger dramatic stakes that we can all understand.

Mark: That's a fun question for us. If you spent 10 years of your life looking for signs for your destiny, and you got that sign. Is that because it was your destiny the whole time, or because you were so obsessed for so long, you're clearly going to find something. Was that coincidence? Was that fate? We love that question.

Jay: And also, people in our lives who we know who are like that. They're telling me "You know, this was just meant to be." I find that half the time people are telling me that, I'm like "You are out of your fucking mind." You actually think that was meant to be because the Coke rolled down the ramp and hit your foot? And then half the time, I have chills-- it's all been leading to this moment. And that duality that we experience, watching people, either way we love those people because they're dreamers and they're hopeful and they're trying to make that connection.

Mark: And for Jeff in particular, Jeff has not an ounce of cynicism in his body. It should be fun to follow Jeff. The way that we love Jeff is, we're not like that-- we're a little jaded, a little cynical. It takes a lot in our lives to get a reaction. And what's so beautiful about Jeff is I think we've lost something that Jeff still has. Is Jeff an idiot? Is Jeff a genius? Probably a little bit of both, but it's still fun to watch him.

Pat, the character played by Ed Helms in the Duplass brothers’ Jeff, Who Lives At Home, is a fascinatingly layered character. Though the film initially portrays him as a selfish, egotistical prick, as the story continues and we watch him suffer through the realization that his wife might be having an affair we understand that he actually is a sweet, devoted guy underneath. It was this redeeming factor that let Helms really play out that awful side early on.

A couple weeks ago I had the chance to sit down one-on-one with the actor to discuss not only Pat’s inner workings, but how he chooses scripts as the star of a television series, why he almost turned the project down, and the pressures of improvising with the Duplasses.

Being the star of a television series, obviously you’re more limited in the time that you can commit to making movies. What do you typically look for when choosing a script and what was it about Jeff, Who Lives At Home in particular?

To me it’s about, “Is this an exciting story that I want to be a part of? Are these people that I want to work with? And can I fit it into my schedule?” [laughs]. That’s usually the biggest wild card. But if those things are in place then I am so psyched. And I really don’t think about it from a scale standpoint. If it’s a story and people that I am passionate about working with and for then that’s going to bring out the best in me and that’s going to have the most positive effect. I have fun doing it, and it will all sort of shake out in a positive way. I try not to make those decisions on like, “Is this a big movie or a big enough movie?” or whatever.

This movie sort of had it all. It was such a cool script and such a cool group of people to work with.

Does character work into it also? Are you looking for characters that aren’t like Andy Bernard?

That fits into the script, “Is this a story I want to be a part of.” So absolutely, absolutely it’s important. That’s not to say absolutely that I looking to depart from Andy Bernard consciously, but I think that probably, if I’m analytical about it, those are things that I’m gravitating towards – things that kind of change the game a little bit. That’s just sort of what I’m drawn to creatively as opposed to a conscious decision to break out. But Andy Bernard is such familiar territory, it’s been five years now of full television seasons doing this, and I think that Pat, this character, provided a very different kind of avenue for me.

And it’s funny because I didn’t want to do this – when I read the script I was about 40 pages in I was like, “No way I’m doing this. This character is reprehensible. And I’m not drawn to that. I want to play characters that I understand and that I think are cool – even if they’re flawed, like Andy, for example or Stu in The Hangover. This one I was like, “This guy is such a jerk. I don’t want to be this guy”… until I got further on and got through to the end and I realized like, “Wow, this is actually just a really honest portrayal of a complex guy who wants to be a better person than he is.” And that’s what I could relate to. Alright, he may be a jerk, but he’s mad at himself for it. And that, to me, is redemptive – and he finds a little bit of self-awareness through the course of the movie. And that’s like a painful but wonderful arc.

I need to say at this point that I absolutely loved this film and I loved all of the characters. And even though Pat shows very little respect for other people, and he’s a real jerk to his brother, at the same time he really does have this really core quality to him that you really can connect with. Because he really is just human.

I’m super, super excited to hear you say that! Because I was terrified that he would just kinda be this douche bag, but it was really important to me to find something redemptive in him and that kinda freed me up to really be the douche bag early on [laughs].

Was the character that you read in the first draft of the script basically the character that you see on screen or did he undergo some changes through collaboration through production?

I would say that Mark and Jay [Duplass] painted a character that I could really sink my teeth into. And of course I brought a lot to Pat just in terms of his behavior, but his choices, his context, his damage, those were all things that were written in there and for me the challenge was kind of like accomplishing that vision that Mark and Jay had. But I understood it. I felt like I got this character the more we talked about it. My first meeting with Mark and Jay it was like, “Yeah man, this is cool. We’re on the same page and we sorta see this character the same” and that was exciting.

The Duplass brothers have a very unique style. They’re two of the few filmmakers shoot in chronological order, they don’t do rehearsals, they shoot a lot of masters…I’m curious, from your perspective, how they compare to other directors you’ve worked with. And in terms of rehearsal, do you prefer to have it or do you like to find it on the day?

I don’t like to rehearse too much. I like to rehearse just to where I’m not thinking about blocking and I’m not thinking about my lines. In this case, with the Duplass brothers you’re not thinking about your lines anyway because you’re improvising the whole time. It is a very different way of shooting but it’s familiar to me because it’s hand-held cameras, kind of like a documentary style, which is certainly something I’m familiar with from The Office. It’s two cameras so I’m very comfortable with that sort of set up. That said, with Mark and Jay, like on The Office we improvise a little bit here and there, but it’s pretty short takes. We’ll play out maybe a two or three page scene of The Office once or twice a week, but it’s not like all the time. Mark and Jay, every scene is pretty much the entire scene every time you do it. It’s very rare that we’re going in for inserts and pieces. And that can be tedious, but it also just gets you to some really cool places and you find some amazing shit. I love it. I would love to do another movie with this whole gang, with Jason [Segel], I’ll do anything with Jason, ever. I just think he’s the greatest and we had such a good time. And Mark and Jay, I would do anything for them. I just love those guys and I’m partly in awe of what they got out of me, they being Jason and Mark and Jay. Love it.

Coming soon to theaters everywhere is a familiar figure from our shared childhoods who has a metaphorical axe to grind concerning environmental preservation. Born from what is arguably the most directly political of Dr. Suess's children's books, Universal Pictures glossy adaptation The Lorax expands on the story we all remember well. Beyond being a tragic tale of the Once-ler who destroyed the once beautiful land of truffula trees and bar-ba-loots, screenwriters Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul, who co-wrote 2008's Horton Hears a Who!, have crafted a story of a young boy (Zac Efron) who lives in a world of artifice but aims to get back to nature—if only to impress the dreamy girl next door (Taylor Swift).

Cinema Blend's Eric Eisenberg recently shared his impressions of The Lorax's first 20 minutes. Now hot on the heels of its chipper Super Bowl spot, Universal Pictures is offering a new clip from the film courtesy of Yahoo:

Here we see a younger pre-hermit Once-ler (Ed Helms) getting a literal rude awakening thanks to the Lorax (Danny DeVito) and his band of woodland friends. It's a scene that doesn't exist in the source material, but seems as well-suited as a thneed as it draws attention to what the Once-ler is really doing by chopping down truffula trees, namely invading someone else's home and treating it with little to no respect. Of course aside from the allegory there's also plenty of kid friendly jokes and physical gags. Basically, it looks like Daurio and Paul are applying the same level of thought and silliness that they did to Horton Hears a Who!

The Lorax opens March 2nd.

Sure, critics hated The Hangover Part II, but the Thailand-set sequel to the 2009 comedy blockbuster The Hangover went on to earn more than $580 million worldwide, so a third film was almost guaranteed. However, negotiations over at Warner Bros. stalled when the films three stars, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis, demanded a hefty salary of $15 million apiece, against the backend. Now, it's worth noting that the first Hangover had an estimated budget of $35 million, which included less than a million apiece for its three leading men, who were at the time largely unknown. However, the surprise success of the flick subsequently launched Cooper, Helms and Galifiankis, and with the sequel, each earned roundabouts $5 million - not counting backend compensation - for reprising their wolf pack roles. Now, the three, who had no prior contract for a Hangover sequel, appear to have Warner Bros. right where they want them, and are playing hardball with a united front.

While I'd like to believe this high price tag is a backwards way of Cooper, Helms and Galifianakis attempting to stop The Hangover Part III from happening altogether, it's far more likely that CAA, the agency that is representing each in these negotiations, has clued them in to just how badly the studio wants to expand on this globally lucrative franchise. THR reports that Warner Bros. is soon to buckle to their headliner's lofty demands, so they can proceed with plans to shoot this summer.

WB is hungry for financially bankable franchises, as the Harry Potter film series has finally come to an end, and this July The Dark Knight Rises will complete the Batman franchise (or at least Christopher Nolan's involvement with it). With two of their highest-earning franchises behind them, it's little wonder Warner Bros. would pony up such cash to continue The Hangover. But after the critical vitriol and audience bad will that came about from the last sequel, which many accused of being a shallow retread of the first, will moviegoers come back in the droves required to make The Hangover Part III a success? For what it's worth, the film's producers promise the Wolf Pack's latest adventure, which is set in Los Angeles, "will deviate from the forgotten-debauchery formula of the first movies." So, it seems we'll see.

The Hangover Part III is aiming for a Memorial Day 2013 release.

The Office’s Ed Helms and Paul Lieberstein were kind enough to speak with the press today on the subject of the new Dunder Mifflin regional manager. In the process, we also got some great little tidbits on the Halloween episode, Josh Groban’s upcoming appearance, and the question likely to be on every Office fan’s mind: What’s the deal with the documentary?


If you’re caught up on the series (and if you’re not, stop reading!), then you know Ed Helm’s character Andy Bernard has been promoted to Regional Manager at Dunder Mifflin, taking over the position Michael Scott vacated when he moved to Denver to be with his girlfriend Holly. Last Thursday, we saw Andy put to the test as DMS CEO Robert California divided the staff based on who he thought had the potential to be winners (and who didn’t). Andy stepped up in the end, sticking up for most of the “other side” and proving he has some backbone.

On the subject of his character’s new role as office leader, Helms seems optimistic and curious, saying:

The conversation later veered into more familiar territory, as writer (and the actor who plays Toby) Paul Lieberstein was asked about the Scranton Strangler and whether the unseen Scranton villain would ever re-emerge at some point. If you recall, Toby was on the jury that convicted a man for the stranglings taking place in the area. Apparently, the story may not be entirely wrapped up. Lieberstein talked about how the writers often over-script and said there was talk of extending the story. From the way he puts it, it sounds like there’s a possibility the real Scranton Strangler is still out there...

My money’s still on Gabe! Although, if that’s the case, I hope the story doesn’t continue for a while as I really like Gabe being on the show. It would actually be hilarious if they brought the Scranton Strangler back and the whole office suspected Gabe. That might lead to something even more awkward than Erin dumping him in front of everyone.

Speaking of Erin, for those of you who want to see Erin and Andy back together, while Helms and Lieberstein didn’t exactly say that would be happening anytime soon, they did say there would be some tension brewing between the two and it might come to a head just in time for Halloween. “Erin finds herself in a place where she doesn’t know how to interpret the fact that Andy’s not giving her work. He’s maybe being a little quieter towards her,” Lieberstein said. And then Helms added, “Her Halloween costume is just preposterously adorable this year. That just makes it that much weirder.”

On the subject of Josh Groban’s appearance, they weren’t positive on when his episode will air, however Lieberstein said he thinks its sometime at the end of October. Ed Helms sounds very excited about the episode, in which Groban plays Andy’s brother, saying:

He went on to add:

To elaborate on that, Lieberstein said there are aspects of Andy exagerated in Josh, and that his character is “even more naive and sweeter, if you can believe it. It’s interesting to see the two of them together.”

I just want them to sing! And if what Helms says is true, we should have something musical to look forward to!

Finally, on the subject of the documentary, which was once again acknowledged in a rare moment last season when Michael Scott was leaving (He asked the camera crew to let him know when the documentary airs), from what Lieberstein says, it’s less about what and when and more about why the documentary was being made in the first place.


“I think that’ll be a very fun reveal, but it might not be about what you think,” Lieberstein said. “I think what we didn’t see was the very first episode, which is why the documentary is there. What they came in for.”


What does that mean? Could this whole thing be some sort of elaborate corporate training video that never got made? Or perhaps they’re there to document the life/work of one specific character. If that’s the case, my money’s on Creed.

The Office airs Thursday nights at 9:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

A handful of the most anticipated films in the upcoming Toronto Film Festival lineup, like Steve McQueen's Michael Fassbender reunion Shame and Sarah Polley's Take This Waltz, don't yet have distributors in the United States, though of course we can expect that to change once they have their festival premieres. But one of the smallest films at this year's festival is actually going to be coming from the biggest studio in Hollywood-- Jeff Who Lives At Home. It's the new comedy starring Jason Segel and Ed Helms from the Duplass Brothers, who previously made indies like Baghead and The Puffy Chair for virtually no money, and whose last film Cyrus came from Fox Searchlight.

This time around they're teaming up with Paramount-- technically it's Paramount Vantage that will be releasing Jeff Who Lives At Home on March 2 next year, according to Deadline, but since that specialty arm of the studio doesn't really exist anymore I think it's fair to call this a studio picture. That spring release date sets Jeff apart from all the Oscar hopefuls who will premiere at Toronto and then rush into theaters in the following months, but I think we all knew all along that this isn't really Oscar's kind of movie. I mean, take a look at the synopsis provided by TIFF:

When the film first went into production we had a few more details on the plot, such as the fact that Segel and Helms are playing brothers, Segel as the slacker who lives at home with their mom (Susan Sarandon) and Helms the overbearing type-A guy. Apparently there's a whole lot of other stuff going on, including wood glue, that I can't wait to find out about. Jeff Who Lives At Home is going to wind up as one of those festival movies that I write about months and months before anyone else can see it-- and yes, I know that's irritating-- but it's worth it for a release date that seems perfectly suited to it.

This genre, without any doubt, is ripe for parody. I mean, some of the police procedurals on TV are so ridiculous, with their hot detectives and hotter one-liners, that they are teetering on becoming parodies of themselves anyway. I can't watch David Caruso on CSI: Miami without laughing hysterically. Adult Swim has decided to take the genre and make it funny, you know, on purpose, with their new show NTSF:SD:SUV::.

Yes. That is the name of the show, multiple colons and all. The acronym NTSF:SD:SUV:: stands for National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle:: (I'm still unsure why there are an additional two colons after vehicle but at the same time I'm unsure why people continue to watch the straight versions of the genre). These guys aren't the first to ridicule the CSI-style cop show, Billy Baldwin and Kristen Bell did a great job in the hilarious Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but they might be the first to bring it to TV, in fifteen minute installments.

The show was created by and stars familiar-comedy-face Paul Scheer (who's been in everything from Parks and Recreation to Piranha 3D) as well as a huge ensemble of talented comedians including Rob Riggle, Brandon Johnson, Ed Helms, Adam Scott, June Diane Raphael, Martin Starr, Rebecca Romijn and, Captain Janeway herself, Kate Mulgrew. It seems like it will strike a similar tone, style and format the another Adult Swim breakout, Children's Hospital.

Anyway, enough babbling. Here's the teaser.

NTSF:SD:SUV:: premieres this summer, Thursdays at 12:15 a.m. ET on Adult Swim.

Official synopsis from the Adult Swim Upfront,

Stumbled across this teaser on Vulture.

And now for your Odd News Story of the Day. If you saw The Hangover Part II, you certainly remember the new bit of facial decoration Stu acquired during this round of drug-induced amnesia. Specifically, Stu, played by Ed Helms, awoke with a tattoo patterned after boxer Mike Tyson's infamous facial ink. Well, here's a bit of trivia that probably never would have occurred to most of us, but really should have occurred to the Warner Bros. legal department: somebody designed that tattoo, the one that's on Mike Tyson's face, and by extension the one that's on Ed Helms' face for most of The Hangover Part II. And that guy would like a quick word, if you don't mind.

The Hollywood Reporter says that the tattoo's designer and copyright holder, a bloke named S. Victor Whitmill, had previously attempted to stop the film's release. Now that that particular cat's out of the bag, Whitmill is seeking an "injunction against the film's distribution and/or damages for copyright infringement." This could be the biggest tattoo-related case since The Ghost of Norma Jeane Mortenson vs. Megan Fox's Right Forearm.

What does the lawsuit mean for Warner Bros. and The Hangover Part II, aside from probably having to cut a check to Mr. Whitmill? Well, the studio says that if the matter can't be resolved quickly, they will digitally alter the questionable tattoo before the movie's home-video release in December. If they need inspiration, I'm sure the internet can help them out.

We've seen quite a few images and even a teaser trailer from Todd Phillips' The Hangover Part II, but each one has made us ponder the exact same question, a question first asked in the 2009 blockbuster: Where's Doug, a.k.a. Justin Bartha? Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helmes) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) have all been part of the marketing, but we've been left wondering if Doug disappearing would play into the plot. While all signs would point to yes, the answer is apparently no.

The print edition of Empire (via The Playlist) recently ran a feature on the upcoming comedy sequel and Bartha says flat out that missing Doug won't be a part of the plot this time around. But just because someone's not lost doesn't mean that their absence doesn't play a part of the bigger picture, the actor saying, "There are similar circumstances, but he’s a little bit more involved." The story also features a bit about the cast's experience off the set in Bangkok, which apparently was almost as crazy as what their character's go through in the movie. Said Cooper, "I didn’t feel like we’d started the movie ‘til we were in Bangkok - things started getting crazy, people started getting sick. We needed to get it into our blood. Literally. On a bacterial level."

The article also came with two new stills which - surprise! - still don't include Bartha as part of the gang. You can check out one of the scans below and head over to The Playlist for the other.