The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is about to power up the 2026 movie schedule, and its cast of voice actors are in full promo mode. During a recent stop at Nintendo’s Museum for a special event, the group showed up ready to sell the film, but they also ended up doing something a little unexpected. The guys leaned into method dressing. And yes, “Let’s-a-go,” because I’m absolutely here for it.

Universal Pictures even shared a video on its official Instagram from the visit, which you can check out below, featuring the full cast having a blast with the setup. Everyone looks great, and I do have to give a quick nod to Anya Taylor-Joy and her subtle Princess Peach-coded pink top. But the real headline here is that the guys are finally getting in on the method-dressing fun, and honestly, it works way better than it has any right to.

Getting to see some of Hollywood’s guys step into the method dressing space, even in a more relaxed, playful way, feels like a nice change of pace. At the Nintendo Museum stop, Jack Black, who voices Bowser, showed up in a loud flame-print shirt that is about as on-brand as it gets for a fire-breathing villain.

Charlie Day kept things equally on-theme with a perfectly Luigi-coded green-and-striped shirt. Then there’s Chris Pratt, who went a bit more subtle, layering a jacket over a shirt covered in classic Mario characters.

Now, who had the best fit of this crew? Keegan-Michael Key. He was rocking mushroom socks for Toad. No notes. Perfect execution. Plus, we’ve got Donald Glover stepping in as Yoshi, keeping it simple with a cool, clean green look that still gets the point across. It’s low-key, but it works.

Now, let’s be honest, method dressing has mostly been the domain of actresses lately. Think Zendaya channeling Prince for The Drama, or Margot Robbie fully committing to Barbiecore a few years ago and more recently pivoting into Wuthering Heights mode. Even Halle Bailey leaned into Ariel-inspired looks during The Little Mermaid run. It’s become part of the fun, a way to blur the line between actor and character without it feeling like full-on cosplay.

If we’re expanding the Method Dressing Hall of Fame, Lindsay Lohan deserved a spot too. When she was promoting Freakier Friday, she didn’t just dress on theme but leaned fully into nostalgia. From Barbiecore moments to subtle nods to The Parent Trap, she clearly had fun with it, but that lavender dress paired with a guitar-shaped purse at the UK premiere was the standout. It was a direct callback to the original Freaky Friday, hitting that sweet spot where the reference felt obvious but still stylish rather than costume-y.

For years, method dressing has been dominated by women turning press tours into full-on fashion moments. But if this Super Mario Galaxy Movie stop is anything to go by, the guys might finally be catching up, or at least starting to.

The timing couldn’t be better, either. 2026 is a stacked year for gaming moviegoers with upcoming video game adaptations, and this sequel is right at the center of that lineup. Nintendo’s favorite plumber is heading back to the big screen when The Super Mario Galaxy Movie hits theaters on April 1.

Expanding a tradition in films from writer/director Shane Black, the new 2025 movie Play Dirty is a story set at Christmas in New York – but it took a bit of cinematic magic to actually make that special setting happen. Instead of shooting in Manhattan during December, the production took place in Australia during the summer. As you might expect, this circumstance meant that the stars had to do a bit of extra imagining in crafting their performances… but what you probably couldn’t guess is that the work also involved serious distraction from the local fauna.

I learned about these surprising interactions with other members of the animal kingdom when I had the pleasure of recently doing a virtual interview with Keegan-Michael Key and Nat Wolff during the press day for Play Dirty (which is now available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription). We got on to the topic because I asked about the contrast of the season on set and the season in the movie, and Key told the story of encountering a tree full of giant bats:

You just have to lock in and start to use those imagination muscles. But I think maybe, perhaps we use them more on this film than other times in our career. I remember shooting a scene right when we're all running out of the building and we're running, LaKeith [Stanfield]'s character is running, Grofield, running across the street, and we're all running down to the subway to get in the subway 'cause we're like, 'Oh no, they moved it' la la la. All I remember is the tree above us was filled with enormous bats. Big enormous, like three-foot fruit bats.

But of course, this is Australia we’re talking about, so you didn’t really think that this article was going to conclude with just one fun animal story, right? Separate from the “Christmas in summertime” subject, Nat Wolff had a creature tale of his own and told me about witnessing some strange behavior from a local bird called the Australian white ibis. Said Wolff,

Never change, Australia!

Also starring Mark Wahlberg, Rosa Salazar, Thomas Jane, and Tony Shalhoub, Play Dirty is the latest feature adventure for Parker – the legendary thief of literature created by Richard Stark (the penname of Donald E. Westlake). It’s a heist film with plenty of big twists and turns to go along with comedy and action (as I note in my three-and-a-half star CinemaBlend review), and it’s available to stream now.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel has a name, and there's plenty of reason to be excited about The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Some are pumped to see Rosalina make her big screen debut, and others are psyched to see an adaptation of the popular Wii games. I'm excited for all of that, plus Keegan-Michael Key's latest update on where things stand with his Toad.

Mario and friends are headed to space, and while we already know to expect the movie in April, Keegan-Michael Key might've given an idea just how ready this movie is to hit theaters once the upcoming 2025 movie schedule closes out for the year. In an interview with ScreenRant, the comedian said that he's already wrapped on his voice work:

Animation takes a while to complete, and it's highly possible the voice work was the first thing finished ahead of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, including additional dialogue recordings that are part and parcel with the medium. Even so, it's impressive to hear just how quickly this movie is moving along, considering it will hit theaters just three years after the first movie came out.

It makes me wonder if work began on the sequel almost immediately after the first movie hit theaters, which wouldn't be surprising. The Super Mario Bros. Movie did incredibly well at the box office, and I don't think many studios would balk at giving a movie that made a billion dollars at the box office a sequel.

I'm not too shocked Keegan-Michael Key is wrapped on his work for Toad either, given the character's role in the first movie. He was basically the fill-in sidekick for when Luigi and Peach weren't there to serve the role, so I can't imagine the sequel is loaded with some massive Toad subplot. It's always possible we could be exploring the contents of the skulls of those mysterious creatures, and how much of that is brain vs. hollow shell.

If The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is anything like the games, we're going to see Mario travel to distant lands with some unique properties. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a world entirely made of water, but I also want to see Mario in that bumblebee costume as well. I guess if I'm being super honest, I want this sequel to get a better review than the one CinemaBlend gave The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Hopefully, it doesn't let me down.

As mentioned, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is in theaters on April 2026. For those who never played the games and have a Switch 2, both just went up for sale for the console. I don't think anyone needs to play the games to understand the movie, but they are very fun to play!

For almost 20 years (but just 8 seasons and some movies), Reno 911! has been cracking us up. The creators and core cast members, Thomas Lennon, Kerri Kenny-Silver, and Robert Ben Garant, all started on MTV's The State (along with late-season cast member Joe Lo Truglio), clearly used all their connections to bring in both up-and-coming comedians at the time (like Zach Galifianakis) and established superstars (like Kenny Rogers and Paul Reubens). Here is a list of actors who you may have forgotten played roles in the classic comedy.

Zach Galifianakis

Before he became a household name in The Hangover series, for which he delivered many of the funniest lines in the movie, Zach Galifianakis was a semi-regular contributor to Reno 911!. He played the role of Frisbee, a survivalist with a boatload of kids who lived out by the airport (and thought aliens were invading) in multiple episodes of the show in the early years.

Patton Oswalt

Comedian Patton Oswalt's career started with a slew of funny but small-ish parts in movies like Magnolia, Down Periscope, and Dodgeball. He first appeared on Reno 911! in the show's second season and went on to multiple appearances, playing multiple characters, including appearances in the two movies, Reno 911!: Miami and Reno 911! The Hunt for QAnon.

Paul Reubens

Paul Reubens really needs no introduction. As Pee-wee Herman, he became a Gen X (and all the generations after) icon. Reubens, who died in 2023, played the amazing character Rick, who headed up his own "citizens' patrol" which cracked up audiences, and annoyed the members of the Reno Sheriff's Department.

Paul Scheer

Paul Scheer has made it a habit to star in some of the funniest shows of the last 20 years. Shows like The League, Veep, and Black Monday have made Scheer a household name. HE also played multiple roles in Season 6 of Reno 911!

Natasha Leggero

Natasha Leggero's first role came in one of too-oft forgotten fake reality show Joe Schmo 2 in 2004, the follow-up to the original The Joe Schmo Show. From there, she appeared in the reality show MTV's The 70s House. Leggero parlayed that into three appearances on Reno 911! playing different characters, mostly getting arrested.

Ryan Stiles

Ryan Stiles is certainly most well-known for delivering some of the funniest lines on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, where he's been a cast member going back to the 1990s. He also popped up on Reno 911! as a police officer charged with training the idiots in the sheriff's department on how to go undercover in Season 5.

Jamie Lee Curtis

One of the most surprising cameos in the show's history came in one of the later seasons when none other than Jamie Lee Curtis appeared as Lt. Donna Fitzgibbons, a one-eyed, no-nonsense from Sparks Sheriff's department who Dangle brings in to prank the other members of the squad. She also shares Dangle's sense of fashion.

Keegan-Michael Key

One of the funniest recurring morons the Reno Sheriff's Department has to deal with is the "hypothetical criminal" played by the great Keegan-Michael Key. He appeared a bunch of times over the years as a character who comes with hypothetical crimes he definitely didn't commit. Somehow, he seems to keep getting away with the crimes.

Paul Rudd

The ageless Paul Rudd appeared in five episodes of the show in the final seasons of the original run. He played Guy Gerricault, a very unnerving Lamaze coach for Trudy while she's pregnant. He also appeared in the first movie, Reno 991: Miami as a completely different character.

Rachael Harris

After bouncing around Hollywood for about a decade, working regularly but never really starring in anything, Rachael Harris appeared in Reno 911! as Dangle's ex-wife. She's best known these days for her role as Linda in Lucifer.

Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate has an almost "blink and you'll miss it" cameo as the legendary Terry's wife. It's hard to believe Terry (Nick Swardson) would be married to anyone, especially someone who looks like Christina Applegate.

Dwayne Johnson

There isn't a bigger star on the planet than Dwayne Johnson. The Rock, as he was known in wrestling, seems to have endless energy, with movies starring him being constantly released. One such movie is the first one from this franchise, Reno 911!: Miami, where he plays a cartoonish SWAT team leader. It's a role that suits him perfectly, of course.

Ron White

Stand-up comic Ron White is one of the funniest comedians around and his character on Reno 911!, as a drunk pilot, is exactly the kind of role White was born to play. He's simply hilarious.

Charlie Day and Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Before they played Charlie and "The Waitress" in Always Sunny In Philadelphia, real-life couple Charlie Day and Mary Elizabeth Ellis played twins in a... disturbing...relationship in Reno 911!'s second season. The chemistry they are known for now was on full display in their one hilarious appearance.

Murray SawChuck

Fans of Pawn Stars will recognize Murray SawChuck (or Murray the Magician) as one of the experts Rick brings in when he needs to evaluate the value of a magic prop. He's also well-known for his stage show in Las Vegas. In his appearance on Reno 911!, SawChuck plays a magician who gets pulled over, and then pulls out a bunch of tricks, of course.

Nick Swardson

Without a doubt, the most popular recurring "criminal" on the show is Terry, played by the hilarious Nick Swardson. It's fair to say you probably haven't forgotten his unforgettable appearance across pretty much every season and movie from the franchise, but we had to include him on this list, of course.

Danny DeVito

Did you know that one of the "producers" of Reno 911! is the iconic Danny DeVito? On the show, he has appeared as himself, who is a producer of the fake show that the real show is mockumenting. How meta!

Jim Rash

Jim Rash is best known for playing the hapless Dean in the NBC sitcom Community. He's also an accomplished writer, earning an Oscar nomination for writing The Descendants, starring George Clooney and Shailene Woodley. He was one of the more "regular" recurring characters, Andrew, in the early seasons of the show, who was arrested, usually in a compromising position, a number of times. He appeared 15 times in total as the wacky character.

Michael Ian Black

Though he was never a full-time cast member of Reno 911!, Michael Ian Black, as a member of The State, is a good friend and regular cohort of many of the cast of Reno 911!. Black appeared in multiple episodes, playing multiple characters on the show, and in the movie, Reno 911!: Miami.

Ian Roberts

Ian Roberts was never part of The State, but he did cut his teeth in another legendary improv group, Upright Citizens Brigade, which he helped found with Amy Poehler, Adam McKay, and Matt Walsh. Heady stuff. He joined the regular cast of Reno 911! in the show's first final season in 2009.

Oscar Nunez

We all know Oscar Nunez from The Office and its sister show, The Paper, where his character, also named Oscar, is the lone crossover character between the shows. Before The Office, Nunez appeared in a couple of episodes in the first season as Captain Dwayne Hernandez. He appeared in a later season as "Spanish Mike" as well. He even popped up in the movie Reno 911!: Miami, as "Jose Jose Jose."

Diedrich Bader

At the same time that Reno 911! was a hit on Comedy Central in the mid-2000s, Dog the Bounty Hunter was a phenomenon on A&E. Naturally, the mockumentary about a police department had to mock the bounty hunter. Enter Diedrich Bader, famous for his roles in Office Space and The Drew Carey Show. Bader played "Tommy Hawk," modeled after the Dog (Dwyane Chapman), right down to the blonde mullet.

George Lopez

Every police department in every city has to deal with the mayor sometimes. When that mayor is a drunk, like George Lopez's character in Reno 911!, he can be maddening for the cops, but hilarious for audiences.

"Weird Al" Yankovic

"Weird Al" Yankovic has the honor that no one else on Reno 911! ever had. The legendary musician and actor got to play a person from real life. Appropriately, it was another musician, Ted Nugent. Of course, it's a completely over-the-top satirized version of the Motor City Madman, but Weird Al's look is dead on.

Seth Green

Sometimes it seems like Seth Green is literally everywhere. This was especially true in the 2000s. Whether it was shows like Robot Chicken, which he also co-created, or Entourage, or, of course, Family Guy, or movies like the Austin Powers franchise and The Italian Job, Green was great. He was also hilarious in his Reno 911! cameo as the ridiculously mean boss of two sheriffs who were undercover as fast food employees.

Rainn Wilson

If we're honest here, Rainn Wilson's appearance in Reno 911! as a murderer taking the sheriffs on a wild goose chase feels like it could almost be his character from The Office, Dwight's brother, or cousin. It's honestly one of the funniest episodes of the whole series.

Debra Wilson

Debra Wilson is probably best known as the longest-serving cast member of MadTV, which included the first 8 seasons of the classic variety show. In addition to a ton of voice work in movies and TV, she's also known for playing Oprah Winfrey in the Scary Movie franchise, and for playing Dominatrix on three episodes of Reno 911! in 2008.

Brian Posehn

Yet another stand-up who played a great recurring character on the show is Brian Posehn. Posehn played Stevie the Coroner in a few episodes in the show's original run on Comedy Central. It's a perfect character for the comic, famous for his deadpan delivery. Who doesn't want a seriously funny, but deadly serious, coroner on a show like this?

Nick Krull

Another actor who plays the absolutely perfect role for his talents is Nick Krull. Krull plays an offensive shock jock who makes his name by saying the most ridiculous things. His take on Cinco de Mayo is as funny as it is offensive.

Scott Thompson

Like others on this list, Scott Thompson is a veteran of a legendary sketch comedy troupe, The Kids In The Hall. He popped up in the show's sixth season in two episodes.

Masi Oka

Masi Oka is most famous for playing the biggest hero on Heroes, Hiro Nakamura. That role earned him an Emmy nomination. He also played a more serious role as the medical examiner, Dr. Max Bergman, in the reboot of the '60s show Hawaii Five-0. Oka got to show off his comedic chops in a couple of episodes of Reno 911! as a Japanese translator.

Jeff Foxworthy

Even some of the biggest Reno 911! fans may have missed this very brief cameo. The legendary Jeff Foxworthy. Not only was it brief, but audiences never actually saw Foxworthy in the one episode in which he appeared in the third season of the show. The "redneck" comedian played Fast Eddie McClintock, the "fastest criminal in Reno, and we only very briefly hear his voice over his CB radio as he speeds away from the sheriffs in his black Trans Am.

Spoilers ahead for the Season 5 premiere of Only Murders in the Building, “Nail in the Coffin.”

The first three episodes of Only Murders in the Building Season 5 are available now with a Hulu subscription, meaning it’s time for Charles, Oliver and Mabel to solve another murder. It also means that more guests will be gracing the Aronia. The Only Murders cast is famous for being stacked each season, whether an actor is recurring or just briefly appearing. Keegan-Michael Key is one of the newbies for the fifth season, and he’s gushing about joining the show.

The Key and Peele alum's recurring status in the show was announced earlier this year, but details about his character were being kept under wraps. However, the Season 5 premiere, which dropped on Tuesday, revealed that Key is playing Mayor Tillman, who only shows up to Lester the doorman’s funeral to lock in more voters. Tillman even goes on the main trio’s podcast because of their wide fanbase. Key opened up to People about being on the Hulu hit and could not praise it enough:

Only Murders is arguably one of the funniest shows on Hulu right now, and fans have also seen the humorous antics that occur off camera, thanks to BTS content from the stars. Still, everyone is also professional, and it's great to hear from a newcomer just how smoothly things run. This is far from the first time the show has been lauded for its on-set environment, as Steve Martin praised the show for the same reason.

It's unclear how many episodes Keegan-Michael Key filmed for Only Murders, but it sounds like his experience was memorable. Considering the good reputation the show has, it’s not surprising that it locks down so many guest stars each season.

Key’s turn as the mayor has already proven to be funny, and I'm excited to see what else we learn about Tillman in the episodes to come. And, as previously alluded to, Key is just one of many guest stars for Season 5, as Christoph Waltz, Beanie Feldstein, Logan Lerman, Renée Zellweger are more are also set to drop in. Most of their roles have been kept under wraps, but now that the new season has premiered, it won’t be long until fans find out which characters they’re playing.

As for the premise of Season 5, the new episodes pick up in the aftermath of the Season 4 finale, which saw Lester, the building’s doorman, get killed. At the same time, Téa Leoni’s Sofia Caccimelio asked Charles and Mabel to look into the disappearance of her husband, mob boss Nicky Caccimelio. So this new season has a lot going on, and there's sure to generate plenty of comedy and drama.

New episodes of Only Murders in the Building premiere on Tuesdays on Hulu. Be sure to check out the first three episodes of Season 5, as Keegan-Michael Key’s excellent performance alone makes the show worth a watch.

It’s hard to break into the sketch comedy scene, and even harder to become successful in it. Key & Peele is definitely one of the best sketch comedy shows to ever exist on television, and it ran for five seasons from 2012 to 2015 on Comedy Central. Not only that, but Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele have built wildly successful careers off it. However, fans have wondered why the two don’t seem as close anymore, and the Playing With Fire actor has decided to shed some light on their current relationship.

After previously mentioning they, unfortunately, don’t see each other much anymore, the Jingle Jangle actor recently clarified the nature of their relationship these days, telling People it more so has to do with the distance:

Man, I miss seeing these two comedic geniuses collaborate on Key & Peele. The comedic chemistry they share is off the charts, and it was what made their Comedy Central sketch comedy show so successful. Some of Key and Peele's funniest sketches were when it was just the two of them smoothly playing off each other, like Luther, “Obama’s Anger Translator” and “I Said Bitch.” So it doesn’t surprise me when the Migration actor says they carry that energy in their real-life friendship.

Continuing to talk about where their relationship stands these days, Key explained:

Could Key be hinting at a possible upcoming project between the two? It’s not impossible, as the pair have worked together in recent years on Toy Story 4 and Wendell & Wild. However, it’s been almost a decade since we’ve actually seen the friends appear together in the flesh for an on-screen project. If no one has said it, let me be the first: that’s too long!

Upon the conclusion of their sketch comedy series, the comedian duo remained close, starring in the 2016 action-comedy Keanu together before choosing to focus on other individual pursuits.

Peele’s career took a 180 into the thriller/horror genre and has earned quite a respected reputation because of movies like Get Out and Nope.

Key’s catalog on the other hand has stayed more or less in the musical/comedy scene, with recent roles in Schmigadoon! and Wonka.

However, their diverging career paths clearly don’t mean they had a falling out. And now that it's been made clear where they stand in each other’s lives, fans can save some hope they will collaborate again. I’m waiting for the Friends From College actor to pop up in another Peele thriller flick. Or perhaps one of these days the Candyman producer will drop a Key & Peele easter egg into one of his scripts just like his buddy’s movie Transformers One.

If I’m being honest though, I would love to see them do some sketch comedy again for old-time's sake, even if it’s just for a Super Bowl commercial, alla Suits style. The Us director has admitted he hates being boxed into a specific genre or type of film, and I have a feeling he’s got a lot more he wants to explore. Maybe one of those paths will lead back to Key...

Think, for a moment, of your favorite actors with experience in sketch comedy. Is every person that popped into your head a Saturday Night Live cast member or did you also picture a few sketch comedy actors who were never on SNL but from another show like, say, Mad TV?

We would not be surprised, since the sketch comedy TV show equivalent to MAD Magazine, which aired on Fox from 1995 to 2009, was one of SNL's biggest competitors during that time. However, even if you have never heard of the show, you would surely be able to recognize some of the most famous Mad TV cast members. See for yourself!

Keegan-Michael Key

From 2004 to 2009, Keegan-Michael-Key proved to be a real Mad TV MVP with his brilliant impersonations and hilarious original characters like Coach Hines. Teaming up with fellow Mad TV alum Jordan Peele for their hit Comedy Central show Key & Peele increased his notoriety a hundredfold and made him one of comedy's most recognizable and versatile talents.

Artie Lange

Artie Lange first acquired fame as one of the founding members of the Mad TV cast when he was 27 and later became even better known as a co-host/sidekick of The Howard Stern Show from 2001 to 2009. The comedian is also known for one of the best Norm Macdonald movies, 1998's Dirty Work, and various other notable film and TV appearances.

Alex Borstein

After starting out as an improvisational comic and breaking into voice acting, Alex Borstein made her live-action acting debut when she joined the Mad TV cast in Season 3. Ironically, her bigger claim to fame would be voicing one of the funniest Family Guy characters, Lois Griffin, but she has also received much acclaimed and two Primetime Emmy Awards for playing Susie Myerson in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Phil LaMarr

After getting his start in The Groundlings and fellow legendary comedy troupe, Second City, Phil LaMarr was a regular on Mad TV, during which he played characters like Jaq the UBS Guy, for its first five seasons. Before then, he played Marvin in one of the best movies of the 1990s, Pulp Fiction, and later became even better known for his extensive voice acting career, which includes voicing DC characters like John "Green Lantern" Stewart and the title role of Samurai Jack.

Bobby Lee

Despite joining the cast about halfway through the series' run, Bobby Lee became one of Mad TV's most celebrated breakout stars with upbeat performances and memorable recurring characters like Tank and unhelpful Korean translator Bae Sung. The comedian and podcast host became a staple of the Harold and Kumar franchise and a standout in funny movies and TV shows before branching out beyond comedy with his recurring role on the Magnum P.I. remake, for instance.

Nicole Sullivan

For her tenure on Mad TV's early years, Nicole Sullivan portrayed a vast collection of recurring characters, most notably the absent-minded Antonia and the deeply prejudice Vancome Lady. She later became a main cast member on The King of Queens, earned a recurring role on Black-ish, and would lead a notable voice acting career.

Taran Killam

One of the few Mad TV stars who went on to join the SNL cast is Taran Killam, who was already well known among younger viewers for playing Spaulding on the recurring Amanda Show segment, "Moody's Point," and other Nickelodeon originals. He also had a recurring role among the How I Met Your Mother cast (which included his wife, Cobie Smulders) as Gary Blauman, appeared on MTV's Wild 'n Out, was in the Best Picture Oscar winner 12 Years a Slave, and wrote, directed, and starred in Killing Gunther with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Will Sasso

Will Sasso made a great impression on Mad TV viewers with his hilarious impressions of the likes of Bill Clinton, Kenny Rogers, and more. The Canadian comedian, also known for playing Jim McCallister on Young Sheldon and its spin-off, George & Mandy's First Marriage, would lend his talent for funny portrayals to his role as Curly in the Farrelly Brothers' two modern Three Stooges movies.

Debra Wilson

In addition to uproarious recurring characters like Bunifa, founding Mad TV cast member Debra Wilson was best known for her uncanny celebrity impersonations, such as Oprah Winfrey and Tina Turner, to name a few. She continued to use that talent when she left the series after eight years, lending her voice to films like the Hotel Transylvania movies, TV shows like Monster High, and video games like World of Warcraft.

Jordan Peele

Despite leaving Mad TV on bad terms (because they would not let him out of his contract so he could audition for SNL), it is safe to call Jordan Peele one of the show's greatest success stories, and not just because of his hilarious performances Funkenstein and other characters. After launching Key & Peele with Keegan-Michael Key, Peele went on to write and direct some of the best horror movies in recent memory, including 2017's Get Out, which earned him a Best Original Screenplay Oscar.

Mo Collins

Mo Collins was one of Mad TV's most reliable and dynamic performers during her six years on the show, during which she played characters like Stuart's mother, Doreen Larkin. So, it is no wonder that she would later become known for versatile credits, such as recurring as Joan Calamezzo in the Parks and Recreation cast and joining AMC's Fear the Walking Dead as Sarah Rabinowitz.

Simon Helberg

We would totally understand if you forgot that Simon Helberg – best known from CBS's Big Bang Theory cast as Howard Walowitz – was on Mad TV. The Golden Globe-nominated comedian and actor was a featured cast member for one season from 2002 to 2003.

Orlando Jones

After starring in the first two seasons of Mad TV, Orlando Jones led a successful and eclectic career that includes films like the beloved comedy Office Space, Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia, and the hilarious alien invasion movie, Evolution. You might also recognize him for serving as the spokesperson for 7UP for years or as Frank Irving on Fox's Sleepy Hollow.

Nicole Parker

For six seasons of Mad TV, Nicole Parker's bread and butter was celebrity impersonations, which she also demonstrated in spoof movies like Disaster Movie. The actor is also known for TV shows like Bajillion Dollar Properties and several theatrical productions, such as a 2009 Broadway run of Wicked as Elphaba.

Ike Barinholtz

Despite no memorable recurring characters to his name, Ike Barinholtz delivered a certain charisma that made him a standout during his seven years on Mad TV. He continued to charm audiences with his main role on The Mindy Project, as the writer, director, and star of the 2018 political satire, The Oath, and in movies that range from comedies like Neighbors to comic book flicks like Suicide Squad.

Michael McDonald

The longest standingMad TV cast member (lasting from 1998 to 2008), Michael McDonald performed with The Groundlings and made memorable appearances in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and Seinfeld, for instance. His subsequent career has been plenty eclectic, from movies with Melissa McCarthy like Spy to appearing in one of the Halloween movies (Halloween Kills) as "Little John."

Stephnie Weir

In six seasons on Mad TV, Stephnie Weir played numerous hilarious characters including seven-year-old Penelope "Dot" Goddard and Dr. Kylie Johnson JD MD. She has since become known for starring in FX's The Comedians, HBO's Veep, ABC's A Million Little Things, and Fox's Happy Together.

Bryan Callen

Some of Bryan Callen's most famous moments from the first two seasons of Mad TV include impersonating Jim Carrey and performing in a barbershop quartet that sings a capella renditions of gangsta rap music. He has since notably appeared in movies like Bad Santa and the Hangover movies and had a memorable recurring role on How I Met Your Mother as Bilson.

Frank Caliendo

Frank Caliendo's impersonation of John Madden (among many other uncanny impressions he demonstrated on Mad TV) became so popular, that he was asked to appear semi-regularly on Fox NFL Sunday as the legendary sports commentator. The comedian also portrayed various celebrities on his short-lived TBS series, Frank TV, and for his various impressions, including John Madden

Crista Flanagan

Crista Flanagan gave many a memorable performance during her five years on Mad TV, such as her character Sally in sketches that spoofed Sesame Street. Highlights of her career outside of the sketch comedy series include a recurring role alongside the Mad Men cast as Lois Sadler and guest spots on hit sitcoms like Mom and Grace and Frankie.

Andy Daly

Prior to his two-season tenure on Mad TV, Andy Daly studied improv with the Upright Citizens Brigade and made appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. His notoriety grew in later years with roles in films like She's Out of My League, recurring stints in series like Silicon Valley, and creating and leading Comedy Central's Review as an overambitious critic of "life itself," Forrest MacNeil.

Aries Spears

The second-longest standing Mad TV cast member, behind Michael McDonald, is Aries Spears, whose best character would have to be his exaggerated portrayal of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal. He had previously starred in 1996's Jerry Maguire and was subsequently known for voicing Wizard Kelly on Disney Channel's The Proud Family and Disney+'s revival series, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

Erica Ash

Erica Ash served as a featured player on the Mad TV cast for its 14th and final season, following her two-season stint on The Big Gay Sketch Show. She went on to star in movies like Scary Movie 5 and Uncle Drew and had a main role in Survivor's Remorse before she sadly passed away from breast cancer in 2024 at 46.

Josh Meyers

While his older brother, Seth Meyers, was still finding his footing on the SNL cast, Josh Meyers joined the Mad TV cast for the eighth and ninth seasons. He would leave the show to replace Topher Grace's spot in the That '70s Show cast as Randy Pearson and later starred opposite Ike Barinholtz in The Oath.

Craig Anton

Craig Anton was a featured Mad TV cast member for the show's first three years, which saw him at his best playing the smarmy spokesperson for a revolting soda brand called Spishak Cola. The comedian is probably best known outside of the show for playing Lloyd Diffy on Disney Channel's sci-fi comedy, Phil of the Future.

Mary Scheer

After appearing in a movie based on an SNL character (1994's It's Pat), Mary Scheer became a founding Mad TV cast member and lasted on the show for three years. She has since been seen starring opposite Cassandra Peterson in 2001's Elvira's Haunted Hills and playing Freddie Benson's overbearing mother, Marissa, on Nickelodeon's iCarly.

Arden Myrin

Following a main on the NBC sitcom Working and roles in movies like Bubble Boy and Kinsey, Arden Myrin became a Mad TV star for the series' final four seasons. Since then, you might have recognized her from Evan Almighty, the Netflix series Insatiable, and a few of the funniest Key & Peele sketches, such as "Black Ice."

Paul Vogt

Mad TV's only known openly gay cast member is Paul Vogt, who starred in the show from Season 8 to Season 10. The actor also has movies like 2003's The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and 2010's Valentine's Day and TV shows like Hannah Montana and Perfect Harmony under his belt.

Christina Moore

Christina Moore had a steady career of appearing in guest spots on series like The Drew Carey Show and 24 before becoming a featured Mad TV cast member during its eighth season in 2003. That same year, she would replace Lisa Robin Kelly as Laurie Forman in the That '70s Show and has since led an eclectic career that includes series like TNT's Hawthorne and Disney Channel's Jessie and movies like Delta Farce and The Curse of the Necklace.

Nelson Ascencio

After joining the Mad TV cast as a featured player in Season 5, Nelson Ascencio would be promoted to a main cast member for the following season, which would also be his last. He is best known outside of the show for appearing in the Hunger Games movies as Flavius.

Jeff Richards

The first Mad TV star to also join SNL is comedian and podcast host Jeff Richards. One of his most notable highlights from the show is his convincing impersonation of former Late Show host David Letterman.

Tim Conlon

Tim Conlon was a featured Mad TV cast member during the series' second and third seasons. He is also known for 1994's Angels in the Outfield and for leading the short-lived sci-fi comedy Lost on Earth in 1997.

Considering we aren’t going to see The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 until well after the 2025 movie schedule has concluded, it’s perfectly normal behavior for fans to wish there was a Legend of Zelda-like musical instrument we could play to control the flow of time. (Anyone who just thought, “Why not use Mario’s Time Machine?” can GTFO right now.) Thankfully, star Keegan-Michael Key has shared some new details that will likely get fellow longtime fans as pumped as I am about the upcoming video game adaptation.

Resident fun guy Toad is voiced by the Key & Peele vet, and is as core to the Super Mario franchise as the plumber brothers and Princess Peach, so it only makes sense that the actor would be privy to the majority of the film’s sequences and locations, if not all of them. And it sounds like at least one very familiar setting will be explored on the big screen, along with a slew of video game references. As Key put it when talking to Men's Journal:

Anytime anyone says "lore," it just presents a reason and motivation to toss every other life responsibility aside in order to fully focus on the entire history of creator Shigeru Miyamoto's inspirations and accomplishments regarding the Mario Bros. franchise and brand. But I guess life doesn't work like that, so we'll have to spend a little less time speculating about what kinds of easter eggs there are and where it takes place.

Still, such speculating seems to be a warranted concept, as Key continued to tease how the second film will incorporate elements from the nearly 40-year-old video game sereis. As he put it:

Loving everything he just said there, and I don't think it's outside the realm of logical thinking to lightly assume that he's hinting at the second movie going far outside the borders of the Mushroom Kingdom and into outer space for the star systems of Super Mario Galaxy, a theory I posited back in March when Miyamoto also used world-broadening as a teasy concept.

Sure, "widened out the universe" can mean several things, but we're taking it at full mustachioed-face value here, because that's really one of the core video game ideas that didn't get featured in a big way for the first Super Mario Bros. Movie. And there were already so many easter eggs and references jammed in there, so pairing the Chris Pratt-voiced hero with a talking star might have been too much too soon. But after making more than a billion dollars at the box office, not even the sky is the limit here.

It's hard to even think about who might be considered a deep-cut character in the age of the Internet where no details are ignored in the thousands and thousands of videos that gamers have made about this francise. I'm all about more Paper Mario and Super Mario RPG references, though, if anyone is paying attention to me.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 is set to hit theaters on April 3, 2026, but don't forget to check out the upcoming Nintendo Switch game Mario & Luigi: Brothership when it arrives on November 7.

The now-iconic sketch comedy show Key & Peele has to be one of the most quoted TV shows of all time, so much so that fan-favorite sketches have already been beaten to death with the constant repetition of famous lines like “I said bi***” and “A-A-Ron!” It’s fair to assume that Keegan-Michael Key, one-half of the comedy duo, may be sick of hearing said quotes by now, but when Transformers One approached him with a script that referenced one of the most popular sketches of the show’s four-year run, he signed on without hesitation.

During my chat with Key about Transformers One, I had to bring up the scene where his character introduces a broken-down robot that he named “A-A-Tron,” a reference to the popular “Substitute Teacher” bit from the show. When I asked if there were any other Key & Peele references in the film that may have gone over my head, he said this:

What a good sport! That’s one way to get an actor to sign onto your project: work in a reference that’s hyper-specific to their career. In the film, Key plays an early version of popular Transformers character Bumblebee, who at the time is still known as B-127. Given how many alphanumeric names we hear at this stage of the film, A-A-Tron is a clever bit, and works very well as a reference that didn’t have to be shoehorned into the film. If it’s been a while since you’ve seen the “A-A-Ron” sketch, allow me to jog your memory:

As far as the other project that contained a Key & Peele reference, I’m not quite sure what Keegan-Michael Key is referring to, but it could be Toy Story 4. The two voiced Ducky and Bunny in the film, and while I can’t think of any jokes as blatant as “A-A-Tron,” they did bank on Key & Peele’s popularity in the marketing. Unfortunately the two don’t see each other much since the show ended, and both of their careers saw some changes. Still, I’m holding out hope that Key appears in a Peele-directed psychological horror flick. Only time will tell! In the meantime, enjoy this flashback to the Toy Story/Key & Peele crossover trailer:

Clever references to Key & Peele aside, Transformers One is getting a resounding nod of approval from both fans and critics alike. It’s also a stellar experience in 3D, and luckily for you, it’s in theaters right now! Our full interviews with the cast and crew are also delightful, so make sure to check those out. As for everything else coming our way in 2024 in the world of film, we will keep you updated.

Despite working together for years on one of the best sketch comedy series of all time, Key & Peele creators and stars Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele haven’t been in a live-action project together since 2016’s kitten comedy Keanu. Their award-winning collaborations technically continued in voice-acting form for Toy Story 4 and Wendell & Wild, but Key’s latest comments about their relationship are kind of a bummer, and left me with a big question for the Pixar sequel Toy Story 5.

Speaking with People about this career at large, Keegan-Michael Key used a very strong word to describe his lack of communication with his former comedy cohort, saying:

In the scheme of things, it’s of course perfectly normal for two grown adults to drift off down different paths that aren’t quite as parallel as they once were, especially given that both are living the happy husband life. (Key is married to Elisa Pugliese, while Peele is married to Chelsea Peretti.) And they also live on opposite sides of the country, with Peele central to L.A. and Key in New York City.

But most grown adults weren’t responsible for some of the funniest comedy sketches of the 2000s, so this one stings way more.

Of course, anyone paying attention to the former co-stars’ respective careers can easily track why partnering up again and again wouldn’t be the most natural fit for either. Beyond his animated voicework, Peele has largely replaced acting with writing/directing gut-punching horror movies like Get Out and Us, while Key has balanced his prolific comedy career with stage work. The Reboot star reflected on the duo’s shift in ideologies, saying:

I suppose the move here is to be genuinely grateful for all the MADtv and K&P comedy they delivered, and happy that those projects allowed them the freedom to take on more formidable creative challenges. But the more selfish part of me just wants them to never stop working together. Which brings us to...

Will Ducky And Bunny Be Together Again In Toy Story 5?

For all that Forky was THE universally beloved new Toy Story character brought into the fourth film, it wouldn't have taken much for Key and Peele's Ducky and Bunny to steal that comedy crown. The carnival-geared stuffed animals were most delightful, thanks in large part to the rat-a-tat chemistry between the two actors.

But with Toy Story 5 set to arrive in theaters well after the 2025 movie schedule has concluded, it still hasn't been 100% confirmed just yet if Keagan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele will be reprising their roles. Plus, neither character was shown in the promotional concept art that Pixar released at D23 in August, even though Forky was there.

The expectation for them to return is there, since they both survived Toy Story 4's adventure and fronted the film's third and final post-credits sequence. But with Peele working on his upcoming mystery genre movie and lord knows what else afterward, on top of Key's busy career, the challenge may just be finding an opening in both of their schedules.

The best case scenario here is that Ducky and Bunny will get their own spinoff movie, which will be released right after Key joins one of Peele's horror movies, and ending world hunger is also involved. But here in this average-case scenario, we'll just have to wait and see if any future updates cement the characters' returns.

Toy Story 5 is set to arrive in theaters on June 19, 2026.

Sometimes, all it takes is one joint appearance in a movie or television show for two popular actors to become known as an acting duo, and sometimes they prove to work so well together that they go on to star in even more projects together. We’ve come up with a list of 32 acting duos who have worked together multiple times, so you can see if you’ve watched all of the times these talented stars have been on screen with each other.

Tina Fey And Amy Poehler

Obviously, this funny duo began their most famed time together while starring on Saturday Night Live, but Tina Fey and Amy Poehler didn’t let the good times end there. The women were both in Mean Girls, starred in the movies Baby Mama and Sisters, and used their talents to great effect when co-hosting the Golden Globe Awards for several years.

Robert De Niro And Al Pacino

Two legendary actors make for a legendary acting duo, and while Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are frequently mentioned in the same breath, they’ve only been featured in four films together. Two of those movies, however, are absolutely the reason people often talk about them together as they count The Godfather Part II, Heat, Righteous Kill and The Irishman as their joint efforts.

Julia Roberts And George Clooney

Now, these two actually have made quite a few movies with one another, and largely with both in on-screen roles. Of course, it’s hard to forget that George Clooney and Julia Roberts are in all three of the Ocean’s Eleven films, but they’ve also starred in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney also directed), Money Monster and the 2022 rom-com Ticket to Paradise. The erstwhile Danny Ocean also produced August: Osage County, while Roberts starred.

Jane Fonda And Lily Tomlin

Frequently we see an acting duo together multiple times because they really are buddies in real life, and that’s true for Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. After first starring together in the 1980 hit 9 to 5 (with Dolly Parton, of course) they eventually re-teamed for the Netflix series Grace and Frankie (which ran for seven seasons), as well as the dark comedy Moving On and 80 for Brady.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

This duo has produced some well-known and beloved comedies and dramas over the years, as Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling first starred together in Crazy, Stupid, Love in 2011, moving on to Gangster Squad in 2013 and the Oscar-winning musical La La Land in 2016. Stone even once said she couldn’t “imagine” her life without Gosling, so these two will probably be friends forever.

Salma Hayek And Antonio Banderas

Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas sharing the screen in Desperado caused considerable heat, along with igniting a very real friendship, so it’s no surprise that they’ve now worked together a number of times. They’ve also been in the casts of Four Rooms, Frida, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids 3: Game Over, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and both Puss in Boots animated movies. That’s a lot!

Dwayne Johnson And Kevin Hart

We’ve already born witness to a rather lengthy history of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart ripping on each other during their (apparently) laugh and roast-filled friendship, and the two megastars have, indeed, brought that chemistry to the big screen multiple times. The duo counts Central Intelligence, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel, Hobbs & Shaw and DC League of Super-Pets as the titles they’ve appeared in together.

Matt Damon And Ben Affleck

If this isn’t a classic acting duo by now, there are none. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been “bizarrely close” friends since childhood, and they first joined forces to great effect by penning and starring in Good Will Hunting (after having both appeared in School Ties), which won them the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. They also worked on Dogma in the 1990s, then, after nearly 25 years, they joined forces again to write and star in The Last Duel, and since then have also worked together on Air and the upcoming RIP for Netflix.

Denzel Washington And Don Cheadle

If only these two powerhouse stars had already been in more movies together…Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle’s first pairing was as P.I. Easy Rawlins and his loyal but unpredictable friend, Mouse, in 1995’s Devil in a Blue Dress. While their work in the film garnered critical acclaim, it would be over 15 years before they teamed again for Flight.

Sanaa Lathan And Taye Diggs

We should never underestimate the power of a franchise when it comes to popular on-screen pairings. Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs appeared in The Wood together in 1999 and then went on to star in The Best Man, its sequel and the Peacock mini-series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. The duo also played the lead couple in the rom-com, Brown Sugar in 2002.

Scarlett Johansson And Chris Evans

Co-starring in a franchise with the same people will take an acting duo far, but Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans have surpassed even the typical standard where that’s concerned. Thanks to their joint time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they’ve appeared in a whopping seven movies together (including their mid-end credits cameo in Captain Marvel), and prior to their time as blockbuster movie-making superheroes they starred in The Perfect Score and The Nanny Diaries, bringing their current total to nine.

Anthony Mackie And Chris Evans

If you did enjoy many of those MCU movies, then you know that Chris Evans rubbed elbows with Anthony Mackie quite a bit there. But, did you also know that the two have been in XX non-Marvel movies together? Playing It Cool, What’s Your Number, and Ghosted also star/feature both actors and if you add in all their shared time in tights on screen, their total is also at nine.

Emily Blunt And Dwayne Johnson

The first time was a hit, so why not join forces again, right? Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson famously delivered winning chemistry in Jungle Cruise, and are coming back together for the upcoming drama The Smashing Machine. The two are also said to be willing to return for Jungle Cruise 2, whenever that can finally get off the ground.

Chris Pine And Ben Foster

The third time has been the charm so far for Chris Pine and Ben Foster. The duo famously portrayed bank-robbing brothers in Hell or High Water, joined up for The Finest Hours, and made it a three-peat in 2022 for The Contractor.

Margot Robbie And Will Smith

If it seemed that there could have been a little something extra going on between Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Will Smith’s Deadshot when you watched 2016’s Suicide Squad, then it might have been because you picked up on the chemistry the duo first built in Focus from the year before.

Margot Robbie And Brad Pitt

This big screen coupling made quite a showing for themselves across less than a decade, as Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt have starred in The Big Short, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and Babylon. 

Margot Robbie And Leonardo DiCaprio

Just imagine, had it not been for this pairing, we might not have the megastar who is Barbie actor/producer Margot Robbie right now. Her role in Wolf of Wall Street as the second wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s corrupt fraudster propelled her career, and by the time they starred in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood together Robbie was a major star.

Halle Berry And Hugh Jackman

We, again, have a superhero franchise to thank for bringing two great talents together, as Oscar winner Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman both have four of the X-Men movies among their credits. The duo also starred in Swordfish and Movie 43.

Awkwafina And Michelle Yeoh

This duo counts two megahits in their joint credits, with Awkwafina and Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh both having starred in Crazy Rich Asians (and we’re still waiting for that rom-com sequel) and the MCU entry Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Michelle Yeoh And Jackie Chan

Michelle Yeoh has been a star for several decades, and part of that reason is because of her breakout role in the 1992’s Supercop, which also starred Jackie Chan. But, they’ve made a number of other films with each other, including Supercop 2, and Hong Kong action films Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars, Project S, and both voiced characters in Kung Fu Panda 2, along with having starred in a 1984 watch commercial together.

Angela Bassett And Laurence Fishburne

While Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne were famously nominated for Oscars for their lead roles as Tina Turner and Ike Turner in 1993’s What’s Love Got to Do with It?, the duo was actually first together on screen for Boyz n the Hood in ‘91. They then later teamed up for Akeela and the Bee in 2006.

Julia Roberts And Richard Gere

If this isn’t a famous acting duo, then none are, despite their only making two movies with each other. Of course, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere starred in the mega-hit classic rom-com Pretty Woman and teamed up again for Runaway Bride in 1999.

Jennifer Aniston And Jason Bateman

For a while there, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, who are friends in real life, were kinda on a roll. Their first joint film was The Break-Up in 2006, and since then they’ve filmed four additional movies with one another: The Switch, Horrible Bosses and its sequel, and 2016’s Office Christmas Party.

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

Who can forget the glorious chemistry created by Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days? No one, that’s who! This is why they made a second rom-com, Fool’s Gold, just five years later.

Kirsten Dunst And Jesse Plemons

It’s not unusual for an acting duo to become friends in real life, but Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons took that a few steps further after working on the TV series Fargo together. Not only have they since starred in the film The Power of the Dog (which netted each their first Oscar nomination) and the A24 drama Civil War, but they married in 2022 and have two sons.

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

We could hardly leave Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks off of this list, as the famed actors have co-starred in two of the biggest romantic comedies of all time. Everyone knows them for making Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail hits, but before all of that, they led one of the weirder rom-coms made with Joe Versus the Volcano, and reunited for the 2016 drama Ithaca, which Ryan directed.

Drew Barrymore And Adam Sandler

People often mention Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler as an acting duo they want to see more of and with good reason. The two have made magic in the classics The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates and Blended.

Adam Sandler And Chris Rock

This pairing goes back decades, to the time when Adam Sandler and Chris Rock starred on Saturday Night Live together in the ‘90s. Since then, the real-life buddies have appeared in seven movies together, with The Longest Yard, Grown Ups and its sequel, The Week Of and Top Five counted among that number.

George Clooney And Brad Pitt

Of course, George Clooney and Brad Pitt helped to make the Ocean’s Eleven franchise a hit, but the friends additionally teamed up for the live TV movie 8, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney directed), Burn After Reading and the 2024 films If and Wolfs.

Keegan-Michael Key And Jordan Peele

The duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, who first became recognizable during their time on MadTV, eventually went on to their own acclaimed sketch comedy series, Key and Peele. But, while making names for themselves on other series and in a number of movies, they continue to work with one another on projects like Keanu, Toy Story 4 and Wendell & Wild.

Awkwafina And Simu Liu

It was the MCU that first brought Awkwafina and Simu Liu together in the hit film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and while we’re still waiting to see when that franchise will bring them back together, 2024 saw them team up again for the action comedy, Jackpot!.

Jane Fonda And Robert Redford

Dedicated film fans probably know that legends Jane Fonda and Robert Redford starred together in Barefoot in the Park and The Electric Horseman, but their joint movie appearances do go beyond that. They also starred in The Chase in ‘66 and reunited for Our Souls at Night in 2017, and both had their film debuts in 1960’s Tall Story.

As you can see, film history is packed with acting duos who’ve worked together more than once, and that will probably always be the case.

The famous Robots in Disguise are about to return by way of a new animated film called Transformers One. A major title on the 2024 movie schedule, the flick will explore the origins of beloved characters like Optimus Prime and Megatron. Unsurprisingly, a top-notch cast has been assembled for the production, and it includes Chris Hemsworth, Keegan-Michael Key, Brian Tyree Henry and more. Those castings alone are sweet, though I have to say what’s really cool is the sight of the three actors standing alongside their respective characters.

It was during a special fan screening of the upcoming movie that the trio of actors reunited alongside director Josh Cooley and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. At some point during the day, all five men joined together to take a photo on the Paramount Pictures Studios lot. But, as mentioned, this particular snapshot was made even cooler by the fact that the stars were surrounded by standees of the very characters they lent their vocals to. You can check out the image for yourself down below:

For an actor, I’d assume that it’s a major flex to be able to stand alongside a recreation of a character that you helped bring to life. There may be a particularly high amount of pride in that when the role is associated with such an iconic franchise. Imagine being Chris Hemsworth (who received an ovation after the screening) in that moment and not just saying that I voiced Optimus Prime but also pointing to the character right behind him. I could go on about how cool this is, but it’s so great that the Thor alum and his co-stars can now claim such a moment.

After seeing this photo, I’m actually even more intrigued to see just what each of the stars bring to their roles. While the Extraction star is voicing the eventual leader of the Autobots, Brian Tyree Henry portrays a young Megatron, who has yet to take his place as the ruler of the evil Decepticons. As the Transformers One trailer has teased, Optimus and Megatron (who are initially known as Orion Pax and D-16) start out as friends before their legendary rivalry is formed. On top of that, B-127 (who’s more commonly known as Bumblebee) is also in the mix and is voiced by Keegan-Michael Key. If you ask me, each of these stars was perfectly cast. And other A+ stars with roles in the movie Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Jon Hamm and Laurence Fishburne.

Reactions for Transformers One have surfaced since that previously mentioned screening, and it sounds like viewers are high on it. Many appear to be in agreement that the trailers don’t exactly do the movie justice. What I’m excited to see the most are fresh takes on the characters that fans have come to know and love. I’m particularly pumped to see a different side of Megatron and believe that Brian Tyree Henry more than has the chops to play him.

From this point on, Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Keegan-Michael Key and their co-stars are forever linked to this esteemed franchise. The cast will surely have more press to do and additional premieres to attend in the coming weeks. With that, I’d say it’s very likely that they’ll be in proximity to other recreations of their characters very soon. I’ll certainly be keeping my eyes peeled in case that happens!

Transformers One opens in theaters on September 20, so there’s still a little bit of time before fans can check out the movie. In the meantime, though, fans can use a Paramount+ subscription or a Prime Video subscription to stream the latest live-action installment in the franchise, Transformers Rise of the Beasts.

When Transformers One hits the 2024 movie schedule in September, fans of the robots in disguise will see how Orion Pax and D-16 went from brothers-in-arms to the archenemies we know as Optimus Prime and Megatron. The prequel is the franchise’s first animated theatrical release since 1986, and while we still have a couple of months to wait — Transformers One’s release date is September 20 — the sci-fi action movie is already making quite a splash, as those who caught an early screening are taking to social media with their first reactions.

When it premiered at Annecy Film Festival in June, Transformers One earned a huge standing ovation for Chris Hemsworth and the rest of its star-studded cast, which includes Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key and Jon Hamm. The anticipation for this origin story is only going to get more intense after reading what others have to say, too, as Gizmodo’s Germain Lussier seems to have left his screening one happy Transformers fan. The critic posted:

The mere fact that Transformers One is being screened so far ahead of its release date speaks to the confidence Paramount Pictures has in what director Josh Cooley and his team have created. Steven Weintraub of Collider says as much, tweeting:

Liam Crowley of ComicBook.com agrees, praising the cast and assuring those who have complained about the franchise's movies spending “too much time with humans” won’t have to worry about that in this Autobot-centric story. Crowley continues:

While the above critic says Keegan-Michael Key steals the show as Bumblebee, for Perri Nemiroff, it’s Brian Tyree Henry who’s driving the story’s emotional beats. Nemiroff calls Transformers One a “winner,” lauding the animation style and writing:

Some fans were taken aback by the comedy in the trailer, and after director Josh Cooley promised there was “real danger” in the story, the early moviegoers seem to agree the trailer doesn’t quite capture everything that’s great about Transformers One. Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture says:

Brandon Slagle writes that his screening included cheers from the audience, and he is surprised by how much he likes this offering. Slagle continues:

DesiNerd’s expectations were also exceeded, with the critic writing that fans will happy with the love shown to the franchise:

We’ll have to wait until after its September 20 release date to see where Transformers One falls in the ranking of the Transformers movies, but the first reactions are pretty promising!

In the realm of Transformers, leaders Optimus Prime and Megatron frequently are portrayed as lethal adversaries. Optimus heads up the Autobots, while his adversary Megatron commands the Decepticons. And even though the Transformers have been used to share stories in all forms of media – from video games and animation to the live-action movies that populate theaters – these inherent character traits have held true. Which is why it’s instantly disarming at the start of the trailer for Josh Cooley’s animated feature Transformers One to see Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry) as something else – friends.

The trailer for Transformers One recently arrived online. The movie opens in theaters on September 20, and will serve as an origin story for some of the most recognizable Transformers, including Bumblebee (Keegan-Michael Key). But as you can see in the first official footage from the movie, Transformers One showcases a bit of a buddy cop vibe to it, as it follows Orion Pax (Hemsworth) and D-16 (Henry) on a mission that originally pairs them up, then eventually describes what drives them apart.

Admittedly, it was jarring first seeing the Transformers One trailer as part of the Paramount panel in CinemaCon 2024. Maybe it’s because I grew up on the Michael Bay movies, but Optimus Prime and Megatron always wanted to tear each other’s heads off. Seeing them as buddies took some getting used to. But speaking exclusively with Josh Cooley (Inside Out, Toy Story 4) on behalf of the Transformers One trailer launch, it was that side of Megatron that he was most excited to showcase.

Cooley tells CinemaBlend:

Stories that big have to start somewhere, and Transformers One appears to be that initial step. Voice actor Scarlett Johansson promised that this animated feature would be unlike anything that fans of the series have seen before, and it struck me how family friendly the tone of the movie was based on the trailer. We also saw additional footage at CinemaCon that expanded on the universe that’s present in this story. Josh Cooley is right, it’s epic in scope. But if you want something grittier, you may have to wait until that eventual Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover that was announced from the stage in Las Vegas.

We’ll have plenty more on Transformers One as we get closer to the movie’s release date in September.

Abbott Elementary Season 3 is moving right along, and it’s been packed to the brim. So far, fans have been treated to Janine Teagues navigating her work at the school district, Jacob Hill breaking up with his boyfriend and principal Ava Coleman just being… well, Ava. There have also been a smattering of major guest stars this year, with the latest being Bradley Cooper, who cameod during the show’s post-Oscars episode. Now, it sounds like the star power isn’t dying down anytime soon, as it’s been reported that a number of other notable guests are making their way to the sitcom.

We now know that there are at least five notable names that’ll be popping up on Abbott Elementary before the season is out. Those stars are Keegan-Michael Key, Lana Condor, Cree Summer, Karan Soni and Tatyana Ali. As of right now, it’s unclear as to when exactly these stars will be popping up during Season 3. Per Deadline, details on their roles have also yet to be revealed. Though what I can say as a fan is that I’m deliriously excited to see these esteemed actors when I tune in for Abbott. 

It’s hard not to make note of the fact that all of the stars that’ve been cast have experience with comedy. Lana Condor may be young, but she’s proven her comedic chops through her leading role in Netflix’s To All the Boys and the comedic miniseries Boo, Bitch. (She also starred in the unreleased Looney Tunes film Coyote vs. Acme.) Some are surely also familiar with Karan Soni, who starred on the anthology comedy series Miracle Workers and has appeared on various sitcoms like The Goldbergs, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Silicon Valley. He’s probably best known for playing Dopinder in the Deadpool franchise. 

Tatyana Ali is a bonafide sitcom icon, as she notably played the role of Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (which can be streamed with a Max subscription). She’s also headlined the sitcom Love That Girl! and appeared in other comedies. Keegan-Michael Key is famous for his stint on Mad TV and for co-creating the beloved sketch comedy series Key & Peele alongside Jordan Peele. He was most recently a co-lead of the musical comedy series Schmigadoon!, and played a supporting role in the film Wonka. 

And, last but certainly not least, there’s the great Cree Summer – the prolific actress who had her breakthrough as a cast member on the college sitcom A Different World. While she still appears on live-action shows, she has and continues to do a massive amount of voiceover work, which she’s famous for. So, yeah, there’s a lot of talent here.

I’ve been incredibly impressed with the guest stars that have appeared amid Abbott Season 3 up to this point. The one-hour season premiere kicked everything off with a bang by having Philadelphia Eagles players Jalen Hurts, Brandon Graham and Jason Kelce. Comedian and influence Sabrina Brier also popped in as did Joy Ride alum Sabrina Wu. Though Bradley Cooper’s brief appearance, during which he was referred to as “the face of Alias,” was too perfect. 

The amount of stars that this series is capable of pulling never ceases to amaze me and, honestly, the sky is only the limit from here. Here’s hoping that Keegan-Michael Key, Lana Condor, Cree Summer and co. are all utilzed flawlessly when they appear on the warm and funny sitcom.

Catch the guest stars by watching new episodes of Abbott Elementary when they premiere on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC as part of the 2024 TV schedule. You can also stream them the following day using a Hulu subscription.

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele have produced some excellent films and TV shows in recent years but, if you’re like me, you probably still miss their work on Key & Peele. The beloved show arguably still stands as the two stars’ seminal comedic work, thanks to the plethora of perfect characters they and their colleagues crafted. A particularly memorable one is the vivacious Mr. Garvey, a substitute teacher who has a knack for mispronouncing his students’ names. I’ve missed him tremendously, so I was delighted to see Key channel the character when being asked to say “Willy Wonka” as his alter ego would. Believe me when I say he did not disappoint. 

The 52-year-old funnyman is a member of the Wonka cast and has been doing press alongside his co-stars as of late. He and the film’s lead, Timothée Chalamet, chatted it up with Jake Hamilton, a co-host of our own ReelBlend podcast. A fan of the Mr. Garvey character, Hamilton couldn’t help but ask his portrayer how the former inner city educator would say the name of one of cinema’s most famous chocolatiers. You can see the result in the Instagram clip below, and prepare to crack up as much as the actors did: 

I can’t tell you just how many times I’ve watched this A+ moment, which is the result of a really good question. Funny enough, in the full interview from Jake’s Takes (which is on YouTube), the eponymous host teed it up as the “stupidest” query the actors would hear that day. I think I speak for K&P fans everywhere when I say thank you to Jake for inquiring about that. 

The bits involving Mr. Garvey are still amongst the funniest sketches from Key & Peele’s five-season run on Comedy Central. In them, the teacher loses his patience while taking attendance, as he believes students like Jacqueline, Blake and Aaron are lying about their names. What results is nothing short of comedy gold, and it’s proven so popular that the character even returned in a Paramount+ ad last year. You can check out the OG skit, which is one of the most popular K&P productions on YouTube, below: 

What’s always amazed me is just how much the two stars committed to the characters they played on the show. Keegan-Michael Key, in particular, brought his immense energy to other roles, like that of President Obama’s anger translator, Luther and one of the equally hyped valets. Key previously revealed that Eddie Murphy inspired him to get into sketch comedy, as he saw the iconic comic’s Steve Wonder impression on SNL years ago. Today, I’d say that Key has more than made his mark in that world. 

Based on the footage from Wonka, one of the entries on the schedule of 2023 new movie releases, the Keanu star also had a solid level of vigor while working on that movie. He plays the role of an antagonistic police chief, who helps undermine the titular candy maker’s growing enterprise. When it comes to the comedic elements, the Tomorrowland alum seems to have solid chemistry with Timothée Chalamet. 

I definitely pine for more humorous skits from Keegan-Michael Key that involve Mr. Garvey and some of his other famous creations. However, it’s also great that he’s been able to branch out and try his hand at varied productions. Yet I’ll continue to savor any moment that he – or Jordan Peele – decide to reference or reprise any of their famous roles. 

You can check all five seasons of Key & Peele using a Paramount+ subscription, and you’ll be able to head to the theater to check out Wonka starting on December 15.

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

Jordan Peele

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

Carol Burnett 

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

John Candy

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

Dave Chappelle

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

Jamie Foxx

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

Eric Idle

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

Catherine O'Hara

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

Bob Odenkirk 

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

Michael Richards

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

Jim Carrey

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

Aziz Ansari

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

Rowan Atkinson

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

Eric Wareheim

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

Goldie Hawn

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

Eugene Levy

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

Flip Wilson

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

John Cleese

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

Bobby Lee

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

David Cross

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

David Alan Grier

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

Rick Moranis

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

Tracey Ullman

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

Keegan-Michael Key

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

Jennifer Saunders

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

Larry David

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

Tim Heidecker

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

Carrie Brownstein

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

Stephen Fry

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

Michael Ian Black

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

Amy Schumer

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

Tim Conway

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

Amanda Bynes

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

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

Some of the greatest moments in the nearly 50-year history of Saturday Night Live involve cast members struggling (and ultimately failing) to contain their laughter, and they are not the only ones. Some of the greatest SNL hosts the show has ever had are not impervious to breaking character either. As you can see from the list below, infectious examples of major celebrities who caught a case of the giggles while on the air at Studio 8H are not in short supply.  

Adele (Africa Tourism)

Adele was a great SNL host despite a lack of acting experience, but even her famously strong lungs couldn’t hold back laughter in her Season 46 episode. It’s hard to decipher if it's Kate McKinnon’s accent or just the way she says “tribesman” that causes the singer to break in the faux African tourist ad, but once she does, never quite stops.

Ben Affleck (Iranian Film)

Out of many examples of Ben Affleck breaking on SNL, we chose the Season 38 sketch framed as an HBO First Look at an Iranian-produced dramatization of the making of his Best Picture Oscar winner, Argo, called Bengo F*ck Yourself. He first snickers about two minutes in at Fred Armisen as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad portraying Affleck and a moment later when explaining he took the part of a sound man “to be in a movie worse than Gigli.”

Christina Applegate (Matt Foley: Van Down By The River)

Everyone in the ‘90s-era SNL classic — the first appearance of the late Chris Farley as motivational speaker Matt Foley — could barely keep their composure, especially after the late comedy icon accidentally destroys a coffee table. Even before then, you can see Christina Applegate struggling to hide her laughter behind her hair.

Drew Barrymore (The Love-ahs With Barbara And Dave)

The laughter was as contagious as the unbridled passion of Will Ferrell and Rachel Dratch’s recurring characters in this Season 27 edition of “The Love-ahs” set in a hot tub after notorious breaker Jimmy Fallon caused a chain reaction. Nearly three minutes in, host Drew Barrymore (as The Love-ahs’ friend, Barbara) begins her struggle to keep from giggling that lasts the rest of the sketch.

Candice Bergen (Extremely Stupid)

In SNL’s second season, Candice Bergen accidentally called Gilda Radner’s dim-witted character, Lisa, by her own character’s name, Fern, during a faux PSA sketch. All the future Five-Timer’s Club member could do is laugh as Radner then turned her planned speech about stupid people’s rights into a brilliant roast of her co-star.

Emily Blunt (Escorts)

In this 2017 bit, first-time host Emily Blunt stars alongside Leslie Jones as a pair of sex workers explaining their quirky guidelines to their clients, which involves roleplaying as a clumsy maid character she created. Twice, the British A Quiet Place star cracks up when she dons a more cartoonish British accent to say her character’s catchphrase, “Oopsy-doopsy, I muffed it up again!”

Dave Chappelle (Uncle Ben)

It’s no secret Dave Chappelle likes to shake things up when he hosts SNL, like in this sketch commenting on the recent discontinuation of food brands Uncle Ben’s and Aunt Jemima in 2020. The comedian first cracks up when debuting his deep Dennis Haysbert impersonation and again when he breaks the fourth wall with a clearly unscripted comment that makes Pete Davidson spit out his Count Chocula fangs.

Daniel Craig (Deep Quote Game Night)

It must be hard not to break when the typically well-composed Kate McKinnon gets the giggles, which seems to be what happened to Daniel Craig about 90 seconds into the Season 45 sketch "Deep Quote Game Night." Honestly, we can’t imagine this bit about a movie quote guessing game that turns awkward would have been as memorable had the former James Bond actor kept a straight face.

Larry David (New Wife)

Larry David looks so unrecognizable in this Season 43 sketch as a boisterous business man talking up his new spouse (Cecily Strong) to his coworkers, it is amazing the SNL players involved held it together so well. The Seinfeld co-creator and Curb Your Enthusiasm star causes himself to lose it completely, however, about three and half minutes into the "New Wife" sketch by the way he tells Beck Bennett’s character to “GET OUT!”

Billie Eilish (Hotel Ad)

The faux ad for a shockingly shady hotel is just one reason we’d love to see Billie Eilish return to SNL as both host and musical guest again. What makes this Season 47 bit so memorable (save a cameo from her brother and bandmate, Finneas) is the Oscar-winning singer’s frequent bouts of the giggles throughout.

Will Ferrell (Cast List)

Even a seasoned SNL veteran like Will Ferrell had to cover his mouth to hide his laughter in this sketch that was cut for time when he returned as host in Season 45. Of course, no one can contain themselves after he, as an over-serious high school theatre instructor, gets a little too close to Aidy Bryant when forcing the students to back away. 

Jamie Foxx (Maine Justice With Jamie Foxx)

Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx handles himself quite well as the bailiff in the Season 38 edition of “Maine Justice,” until it has a minute to go. All it takes is Jason Sudeikis’ uproarious judge saying the phrase “ass fire” to force the Django Unchained star to turn his head to hide his laughter, but Sudeikis kicks it up a notch by spontaneously kissing the actor’s arm.

Ryan Gosling (Close Encounter)

One of the most famous SNL breaks as of late is also our pick for Kate McKinnon’s best sketch ever: Season 41’s original version of “Close Encounter.” She has her future fellow Barbie cast member, Ryan Gosling, helplessly in stitches — just one of the host’s many breaks that night, actually — by the hilariously dry description of her otherwise horrifying alien abduction experience.

Tiffany Haddish (Whiskers R We With Tiffany Haddish)

You know comedy gold is afoot when Studio 8H brings in live animals, like in this edition of “Whiskers R We” from Season 43 that sees host Tiffany Haddish — who once auditioned for SNL — break Kate McKinnon and herself just seconds in with an unscripted, NSFW line prompted by a cat’s escape attempt. They both break again later on when a hairless feline tries to leap from McKinnon’s arms, visibly startling the future Haunted Mansion cast member.

David Harbour (Sauce) 

This Season 45 sketch starring Kate McKinnon as a frisky, elderly Italian immigrant and host David Harbour as his wife is far less messy than other sketches involving food have been. However, the Stranger Things cast member can’t help but smirk when McKinnon brings a finger dripping in sauce to his lips and inserts it right in his mouth. His laughter continues as they being to make out.

Sean Hayes (Jeffrey’s With Sean Hayes)

Many SNL hosts have fallen prey to the infectious shared laughter of notorious breakers, Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz, such as Sean Hayes in this early 2000s favorite set at elitist clothing store, Jeffrey’s. Seeing Will Ferrell ride in on a scooter about four minutes in and use an impossibly tiny cell phone really sends the Will & Grace cast member over the edge.

Kevin Hart (Barnes And Noble Firing)

It’s no wonder Tim Robinson got his own Netflix sketch series, I Think You Should Leave, with how effortlessly he cracks up Kevin Hart at the end of the Barnes and Noble-set sketch from Season 38. Robinson’s performance as the “old, useless” Carl makes it impossible for the comedian to get through his lines.

Jonah Hill (Benihana) 

The most recent time Jonah Hill played his own recurring SNL character, precocious six-year-old Adam Grossman, in Season 44 might be the best because it saw him break the most. Neither the Academy Award nominee nor Leslie Jones as his nanny can keep it together every time he taunts her by singing reggae hits. 

Janet Jackson (Corksoakers)

Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz are surprisingly stone-cold for most of the 2004 sketch as Italian winery owners explaining to tourists how they “soak corks.” However, host and musical guest Janet Jackson cracks up multiple times when she accidentally begins to say the actual suggestive phrase that “cork soaking” alludes to.

Keegan-Michael Key (The Muppet Show)

For anyone who ever got sick of Statler and Waldorf’s heckling, the Season 46 favorite starring Kenan Thompson and host Keegan-Michael Key as The Muppet Show venue security is for you. What makes it a classic is when the Key & Peele star beginning to chuckle after his aggressive assault on Statler causes record-breaking SNL veteran Thompson to break.

Adam Levine (Catfish)

This parody of Catfish likes to poke fun at how often Nev Shulman (host Adam Levine) mentions his name on the MTV reality series. About half-way through the sketch, the Maroon 5 frontman and former The Voice coach appears to break at his most animated utterance of the name, but bounces back pretty quickly by making it feel like a character trait.

Lindsay Lohan (Debbie Downer: Disney World) 

When people think of Rachel Dratch as Debbie Downer, they tend to think of this 2004 favorite set at a Disney World pancake restaurant that no one could keep a straight face during the sketch. First-time host Lindsay Lohan later revealed to Vogue that she was so overwhelmed by laughter, she decided to just walk off set as soon as she got the chance.

Julianna Margulies (Family Dinner)

This revolting 2000 sketch stars host Julianna Margulies as woman learning her boyfriend’s (Chris Parnell) dysfunctional salivary glands and weak teeth force his parents to feed him like a baby bird. By the end, the former ER cast member does the deed herself for the younger son (Chris Kattan) and can’t help but laugh the unspeakable act she just committed.

James McAvoy (New Orleans Vacation)

When James McAvoy hosted in Season 44, he experimented with almost as many voices as he used to play a man with DID in Split and Glass, but the one he used in this sketch was too much for him to handle. He can’t help but crack up nearly every time he puts on a thick, inauthentic Cajun accent to talk about he and his girlfriend’s recent trip to “N’awlins.”

Jason Momoa (Judge Barry)

When Jason Momoa makes a surprise cameo in a Season 45 sketch starring host Chance the Rapper as a courtroom judge of first impressions, he surprises himself with a hilarious flub. Both the Aquaman actor and the host can’t help but laugh when he calls himself a “paraplegic,” meaning to say “paralegal.”

Brittany Murphy (The Leather Man)

Season 28’s “The Leather Man” — which eventually goes off the rails courtesy of Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz — might actually be a prime example of the late Brittany Murphy’s exceptional talent. You can barely even tell when she breaks with the way she convincingly disguises her laughter as a quirk that fits perfectly in line with her character.

Pedro Pascal (Lisa From Temecula)

Just when you thought the internet could not love Pedro Pascal more, he earns its respect even more just by innocently succumbing to his own laughter during his Season 48 SNL episode. The most memorable instance came in this segment in when Ego Nwodim’s Lisa shakes the table with her aggressive steak cutting, giving the star of The Mandalorian and The Last of Us a case of the giggles that proves contagious.

Chris Pine (Star Trek Lost Episode)

Initially, it seems that the most memorable highlight of this Star Trek parody will be Chris Pine’s spot-on William Shatner impression, until he snickers at the awkward line delivery of the guy playing Sulu. Fun fact, according to the SNL wiki, that gentleman is production designer Akira Yoshimura, who has played Sulu in many other sketches poking fun at the sci-fi phenomenon.

Margot Robbie (Actress Round Table) 

It is no wonder why Margot Robbie would go on to star in two movies with Kate McKinnon from how the SNL star brings the laughter out of the Australian actor in the sketch from 2016. Robbie almost loses focus of her otherwise consistent Keira Knightley impression by how fictional Hollywood veteran Debette Goldry’s (McKinnon) shocking memories get the best of her.

Adam Sandler (Sandler Family Reunion) 

In a sketch where Adam Sandler is surrounded by people imitating characters from his best movies, it was Jimmy Fallon as his grandfather who finally caused the fellow SNL retiree to laugh. Apparently, as Fallon later recalled on The Tonight Show, his overlong bout of gibberish was a happy accident caused by misreading the cue cards.   

Seann William Scott (Short Shorts For The USA)

One of Will Ferrell’s all-time best sketches on SNL first aired in 2001 and sees him wear a half-shirt and a thong to work in the name of patriotism. Host Seann William Scott holds back the urge to laugh at the ridiculous and revealing ensemble from beginning to end.

Justin Timberlake (Celebrity Family Feud)

For his second time hosting, Jimmy Fallon impersonated Jim Parsons in a “Celebrity Family Feud” alongside musical guest Justin Timberlake as… Jimmy Fallon, with an incredibly enthusiastic imitation that the pop star can’t help but crack up at himself.  There is no clip of the Season 39 sketch on YouTube currently, but we recommend using a Peacock subscription to check out the whole episode.

There is sure to be more where these came from when SNL comes back for its 49th season on NBC.

Saturday Night Live has spawned multiple comedy stars and influenced generations of comedic talents in the sketch comedy arena. One of those talents who was influenced by the late-night institution was film and TV actor Keegan-Michael Key. Like many young fans during the series’ early years, Key found a particular cast member to idolize. His idol was the then-rising star Eddie Murphy. Now, the Key & Peele star has unveiled which classic Eddie Murphy SNL bit encouraged him to pursue sketch comedy, and it's a classic.

The comedic actor hasn’t been shy about Murphy's influence on his career. The Coming 2 America star’s Saturday Night Live run opened Key up to sketch comedy. He recalled seeing the impact of Murphy on his father in his forthcoming book The History of Sketch Comedy: A Journey through the Art and Craft of Humor (via EW). Key said:

Seeing the young comedian on TV caused Key's stoic dad to let his guard down, and it opened a new world for a young Key. During his run on the sketch comedy series, Murphy was making viewers laugh weekly through his impersonations and memorable characters. The Oscar nominee’s comedy chops led to the pair sharing a father-son moment. In recounting the memory, the Key & Peele star pinpointed the specific Murphy sketch in his forthcoming book, saying:

Murphy impersonating Stevie Wonder is one of the classics from SNL’s 48 seasons. Watching the comedy icon imitating the Grammy winner in his presence still elicits laughs to this day. Years after leaving the late-night series, fans still ask the comedy legend about the sketch or doing the impersonation. Understandably, the Stevie Wonder skit impacted a young Key, and the Dreamgirls star helped to revitalize the then-flagging show. 

Key gained recognition on the rival Fox sketch series MAD TV before catapulting to TV stardom with Comedy Central’s Key & Peele. The Schmigadoon! star even lived out his SNL dreams by hosting the show in 2021. And just like his idol, Keegan-Michael Key got to participate in a viral sketch by spoofing Michael Jordan and his pop culture-dominating docuseries The Last Dance. Doing so led to some viral moments rivaling the Emmy-winning sports miniseries. 

Keegan-Michael Key’s career has reached new heights since appearing on SNL. He made waves earlier this year as the beloved Toad in the blockbuster hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie. He still has more projects on the 2023 movie schedule too, including Wonka with Timothée Chalamet. The movie will arrive in theaters on December 15. If you love Key’s filmography, check out his most memorable TV and film projects. In the meantime, look over our 2023 TV schedule to see when Saturday Night Live will return to the small screen.

The character Willy Wonka from Roald Dahl’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired an eccentric performance from Johnny Depp in the 2005 movie of the same name and an iconic portrayal by Gene Wilder in 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Now it’s Timothée Chalamet’s turn to take up the mantle and give us the peculiar candy man’s origin story in Wonka. Details about the prequel’s plot and characters have been kept well under wraps, but we do know that Wonka will feature a stellar cast when it hits theaters on December 15, 2023. 

Anticipation is high for Wonka, especially with Paddington director Paul King at the helm and the amazing ensemble that’s signed on. Only a few details could be mined from the scrumdiddilyumptious trailer released in July, so even though we don't yet know who all of these actors will portray, we can still take a look and appreciate the talented cast members who have signed on for the prequel.

Timothée Chalamet (Willy Wonka)

We may not have many details regarding the characters in Wonka, but we certainly know that Timothée Chalamet has been tapped to play the title role. In fact, fans have already gotten a first look at Chalamet’s transformation, with the actor dressed in a sleek maroon jacket and signature top hat that caused the Internet to lose its collective mind. It’ll be exciting to see his take on the character after Keegan-Michael Key raved about Chalamet, saying the actor “drips charisma and wonderful confidence.”

Timothée Chalamet has become quite the hot commodity, receiving praise for his performances in Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird, Don’t Look Up, Bones and All and Dune. In addition to Wonka, the actor will appear this November in the highly-anticipated Dune: Part Two. 

Keegan-Michael Key

Keegan-Michael Key has been confirmed as part of the Wonka cast. The Toy Story 4 actor has been keeping busy over the past few years, with a second season of Schmigadoon! premiering to Apple TV+ subscription holders in April. He also appeared in the record-breaking box office success The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Disney’s live-action Pinocchio and Hulu’s Reboot, which was sadly canceled after just one season.

Rowan Atkinson (Priest)

Several huge names from across the pond have also signed onto Wonka, including Mr. Bean himself, Rowan Atkinson. Known for his physical comedy and playing bumbling characters, the actor appears from the trailer to be playing a priest. While there are many options to watch if you like Atkinson, he is best known for Mr. Bean, Blackadder, Johnny English, a scene-stealing moment in Love Actually and the must-watch Netflix series Man Vs. Bee. 

Sally Hawkins (Willy's Mother)

Sally Hawkins is set to portray the title character’s beloved mother, per Variety. A star of stage and screen, Hawkins is known to Paddington fans as Mary Brown from the 2014 movie and its sequel, and she’s just one of several actors brought over from those projects by director Paul King. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2017 for her work in The Shape of Water and for Best Supporting Actress for 2013’s Blue Jasmine.

Jim Carter

Jim Carter has also joined Wonka, boasting a career in film, television and theater that spans over six decades. He’s currently best known as part of the Downton Abbey cast, where he plays former butler Charles Carson, and his movie credits include The Little Vampire, The Witches, Ella Enchanted, Shakespeare in Love, The Golden Compass and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. 

Matt Lucas

It’s not hard to picture Matt Lucas in the Wonka-verse, as the comedian has been known to play some quirky characters in projects like Little Britain, Doctor Who, Shaun of the Dead and Bridesmaids. He also appeared in Tim Burton’s remake of Alice in Wonderland, portraying both Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and Lucas is another of several Wonka actors who worked with Paul King on Paddington. The actor also knows his way around the sweets, serving as a co-host on The Great British Bake Off for three seasons, before announcing his exit from the show late last year. 

Natasha Rothwell

Natasha Rothwell was a fan favorite in Season 1 of The White Lotus, and many fans are excited to see her character Belinda return in Season 3. The actress is also known for her work on Insecure, Love, Simon, both Sonic the Hedgehog movies and Wonder Woman 1984.

Olivia Colman (Innkeeper)

Olivia Colman is another character who CinemaCon crowds got a peek at, as Variety reports she will play a Cockney innkeeper in the Wonka world. Colman is best known for playing Queen Anne in The Favourite — a role that won her an Academy Award. She also won an Emmy for The Crown, playing Queen Elizabeth II, and was nominated for her roles on The Night Manager and Fleabag. 

Tom Davis

Paddington 2 fans might remember Tom Davis as the prisoner T-Bone in Paul King’s sequel, and he’s been in several British films and TV projects, including King Gary and Murder in Successville (the inspiration for Will Arnett’s Netflix series Murderville). 

Mathew Baynton

Mathew Baynton, a member of the Horrible Histories comedy writing troupe, has also been confirmed for Wonka. The actor stars in the UK version of Ghosts and won much acclaim as the co-creator, writer and star of the sitcom The Wrong Mans.  

Simon Farnaby

Another Horrible Histories vet and co-creator of Ghosts UK, Simon Farnaby, joins Wonka not just as an actor, but as a co-writer on the film. He worked with Paul King on the Paddington movies, co-writing the sequel and appearing as security guard Barry in both films. 

Rich Fulcher

Rich Fulcher may be best known for playing Bob Fossil on The Mighty Boosh, but he’s had several comedic and voice acting roles, including on Disenchantment, Rick and Morty, Drunk History, Children’s Hospital and more. His over-the-top comedy could be fun to see next to Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka, depending on his character. 

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Another Paddington 2 veteran, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, has a number of TV, movie and stage credits to his name, including the films Mary Poppins Returns, Doctor Strange and Justice League. 

Paterson Joseph (Arthur Slugworth)

With Wonka being an origin story for the famed candy man, we’re likely to get into the history between him and eventual rival Arthur Slugworth, and Paterson Joseph has reportedly been cast in this role, per Dialoguebooks. Joseph has been doing theater since the ‘80s, and has appeared in movies and series including HBO’s Avenue 5, The Leftovers and Law & Order: UK. 

Calah Lane

Calah Lane was reported to be a friendly face to Timothée Chalamet’s character, per THR, and that certainly seemed to be the case in the trailer. The young actress’ career started with plays, commercials and modeling, and one of her most recent roles was as 12-year-old Laurel on an episode of This Is Us. 

Colin O'Brien

Colin O’Brien has accumulated only a few credits in his young acting career, but they’re pretty noteworthy. After appearing in the 2022 horror Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, he starred opposite Connie Britton and Taylor Schilling in the book-to-screen adaptation of Dear Edward on Apple TV+. He was also featured in two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy’s 19th season this year. 

Rakhee Thakrar

Fans of EastEnders will recognize Wonka cast member Rakhee Thakrar as the actress who played Shabnam Masood in an unforgettable storyline on the popular British series. She also had a regular role on the Netflix series Sex Education and recurred on Mindy Kaling’s Hulu miniseries Four Weddings and a Funeral.  

Ellie White 

British comedy actress Ellie White is known for her role as Princess Beatrice in the parody series The Windsors. She also appeared on Wonka co-star Tom Davis’ Murder in Successville. 

Hugh Grant (Oompa Loompa)

Finally, Hugh Grant, known for dozens of movies including Love Actually, Notting Hill, About a Boy and Paddington 2, has been confirmed to be playing an Oompa Loompa, who audiences got their first peek of in the trailer. Paul King has since opened up about how he came up with the idea to cast Grant as the small, green-haired man, and I know movie lovers can't wait to see the actor finish the dance he started in the preview when the movie hits theaters.

Generations of moviegoers have enjoyed the story of Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory in different iterations (not to mention Roald Dahl’s book), so it's no surprise that people are excited to see Timothée Chalamet relay the character’s origin story later this year. While we wait for more news regarding Wonka, take a look at our 2023 movie calendar to see what else is coming soon. 

Although there hasn’t been a lack of animated Transformers adventures on TV over the years, movie-wise, it’s all been live-action offerings since the main Transformers film series kicked off in 2007. That will soon change though, as there’s an animated movie on the way that will explore the origins of the Autobots and Decepticons on the planet Cybertron. As of today, not only do we know what this upcoming movie is officially called, its main cast has been revealed too, with Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson among the actors who are ready to roll out.

This news comes straight from Paramount Pictures’ presentation at CinemaCon, with the first big reveal being that this movie will be called Transformers One. Hemsworth will voice Optimus Prime in the prequel, and Johansson will voice Elita. Their castmates include Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron, Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime and Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion. Ramsey Naito, president of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, had this to say about the project in an official statement:

While this will actually be the second animated Transformers movie to be released in theaters since there was 1986’s The Transformers: The Movie, Transformers One is directly tied to the cinematic Transformers continuity that’s been going for more than a decade and a half now. Transformers One marks Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson’s first time working together outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where they respectively played Thor and Black Widow. All these actors have prior voice acting experience, including Keegan-Michael Key being most recently heard as Toad in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Now we’ll get to hear these six actors’ takes on some of the popular robots in disguise.

Behind the scenes, Toy Story 4’s Josh Cooley is directing Transformers One off a script written by Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari. The title and casting news comes just hours after the next Transformers movie, Rise of the Beasts, dropped a new trailer. While there are other movies in development for the franchise, this animated flick will allow moviegoers to venture further into the past then ever before and see what life on Cybertron was like before war broke out and its robotic denizens came to Earth, be it to simply find a new home or conquer humanity.

Transformers One arrives in theaters on July 19, 2024. While we wait for more updates about what to expect from it, keep track of this year’s theatrical entertainment with our guide of 2023 new movie releases. You can also stream the last Transformers movie, Bumblebee, with a Paramount+ subscription.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie has been making waves at the box office (Chris Pratt and his baby goat have been celebrating) since its opening day. The movie has shattered records left and right, setting new benchmarks for animated films, five-day openings, and video game movies. Despite some initial skepticism from fans, the star-studded voice cast has proven to be a hit with audiences. So, while many people made their way to the theaters to be immersed in Mario's world, Seth Rogen and the rest of the talented cast opened up, with some hilarious answers, about what they would do if they had a chance to spend the day with their characters. Honestly, these answers are so delightful!

Seth Rogen, who voices Donkey Kong in the movie, had a perfect response to being asked how he would spend the day with his iconic gorilla character. The actor jokingly responded to IMDB: 

Look out, mustached men, because Rogen is taking it old school! Obviously, the Superbad actor’s answer is in good spirit and harkened back to Donkey Kong’s first video game appearance.

While Rogen is ready to cause havoc with Donkey Kong, Luigi voice actor Charlie Day just wants to have a nice day on the town with his character. The It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star said he would have some fashion questions for the pair of plumbers, explaining his ideal outing as:

Mario actor Chris Pratt kept his answer a bit more classy. According to him, he would like to break bread with the character’s families. Pratt responded:

I bet holidays would never be boring in the Mushroom Kingdom, or Mario's home in Brooklyn with his family. Maybe Pratt is on to something.

Anya Taylor-Joy said she wants to hit the road with Princess Peach. The actress explained that she’s all ready to strap on her motorcycle helmet, explaining:

Keegan-Michael Key, who voices Toad, said he’d leave it up to his pintsized fungi friend to figure out what they would do for the day. Key told the outlet:

Of course, leave it to Jack Black to think of something that would totally rock for him and his character Bowser to do. According to the School of Rock star, the villainous King Koopa could be a great friend for metalheads. He told IMDB: 

Could you even imagine Bowser rocking out to Tenacious D's "Tribute"? Now that would be the greatest song in the world! This wasn't the only funny answer the cast had up their collective sleeves. You can see them answering some of the most burning questions in the full video interview below.

It’s clear that the cast of The Super Mario Bros. Movie is having a blast imagining bringing their beloved personas to life and spending the day with them. It’s probably good that all the actors behind the game adaptation seem to love their roles because, after such a successful opening weekend, it seems like a sequel must be a serious conversation being had between Nintendo and Illumination Studios. Besides, the movie already teased a follow-up with an end credits sequence and some unresolved plot threads in the first film. So here’s hoping filmmakers can write a script that entices these A-Listers back for a follow-up.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie continues to chug along in cinemas. Make sure to check your local listings for times so that you can check out this talented voice cast bringing some of the most iconic video game characters to life. You can also check out our schedule of 2023 new movie releases to plan your next action-packed trip to the theater. 

There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding Nintendo and Illumination Entertainment’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and particularly Chris Pratt’s role as everybody’s favorite video game plumber. The actor has faced some backlash regarding his voice for the beloved character in the trailers and limited footage released so far, but he’s asked fans to “go see the movie” before making any final judgments. That opportunity is upon us, as the animated film is set to hit theaters on April 5. Now the reviews are in to help us know what to expect from the video game adaptation.

In addition to Chris Pratt, the movie boasts an impressive cast that includes Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong and other big names. The first reactions to the film were overwhelmingly positive, but now that critics have a chance to expound on their theatrical experiences, let’s dive a little deeper, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Eric Eisenberg rates the movie just 2 out of 5 stars, saying despite the great animation, the characters come off as one-dimensional and bland. He continues: 

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo agrees the movie is a mess, with characters who barely learn anything and stakes that don’t elicit any emotion. The critic wishes the filmmakers would have aspired to more with IP that is so beloved, saying: 

Joshua Rivera of Polygon notes that The Super Mario Bros. Movie provides loads of nostalgia but feels built to capture screenshots rather than make memories in its own right. The critic argues that the film’s attempts to bottle the appeal of Mario end up mostly just referencing it. The review continues: 

Not all of the reviews were so bleak, however. Owen Gleiberman of Variety joins the other critics in praising the animation but disagrees with the above critic's assessment that non-fans won’t respond to The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s energy. He also praises the fairy-tale story that provides a satisfying video game buzz, saying; 

Tom Jorgensen of IGN rates the movie a “Great” 8 out of 10, calling it a “pipe dream come true” and arguing that the movie’s charm and energy make up for its paper-thin plot. The critic concludes: 

The critics seem to agree that the animation is impressive, while the plot is lacking. Their overall enjoyment of the film beyond that is varied, so time will tell if this goes down as one of Chris Pratt’s best roles. If you want to see Mario, Luigi and the rest of the classic video game crew on the big screen, you’ll have your chance starting Wednesday, April 5. And it’s never too early to start planning your next trip to the theater, so be sure to check out our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to see what else is coming soon.

Excitement is high for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and it’s not just the video game enthusiasts who have been looking forward to hearing Chris Pratt and the rest of the star-studded cast bring the well-known characters to life. Conversations about another movie to follow the 1993 live-action flop started years ago, and now the wait is finally over, with Illumination’s animated film set for a slightly early release this Wednesday, April 5. The movie screened April 1 in Los Angeles, and those who have seen the movie have hit Twitter with their reactions.

In addition to Chris Pratt as Mario, The Super Mario Bros. Movie stars Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong. There was a bit of backlash after Pratt was cast in the main role, and the actor said he understands and is grateful for the passionate fanbase, but he implores fans to see the movie before they make any final judgments. There are now plenty of people who have seen the movie, so let’s see what they’re saying. 

One critic loves what the leading man did with Mario, and he says the movie hits some major nostalgic notes for those who grew up playing the video games, tweeting: 

Another viewer rates it a 10 out of 10, tweeting that they haven’t been this excited about an animated movie since The Lego Movie: 

The Dallas Film gives a high score as well, rating it a 9 out of 10. This viewer and several others are advising fans to be sure to stay through the credits: 

Atom goes so far as to call The Super Mario Bros. Movie “one of the BEST family films ever,” and says Jack Black and Chris Pratt are great in their roles -- but it’s Charlie Day as Luigi who is the highlight. Check out the full thread: 

Video game fans were hoping for some Super Mario Easter eggs, and it sounds like the movie doesn’t disappoint. Erik Davis of Fandango calls the movie “the ultimate love letter to every era of Mario”: 

Seth Rogen’s confirmation regarding Donkey Kong’s entrance song already has fans buzzing, and Tim Gettys of Kinda Funny says the music is the star of the show and that Nintendo fans are going to be obsessed: 

He isn’t the only audience member who had an emotional reaction to seeing the animated film on the big screen. André Segers of GameXplain called the movie a blast, despite a somewhat shallow plot. Segers says: 

Mike Manalo of The Nerds of Color also touches on some minor criticisms, saying the jokes don’t always land, and he wishes Luigi had played a bigger role. However, The Super Mario Bros. Movie perfectly captures the spirit of Mario, and Jack Black steals the show — a true feat given the talented cast. The critic tweets: 

The reactions to the flick are overwhelmingly positive, and even the viewers who pointed out some issues like a shallow plot seem to have enjoyed the movie overall. It definitely sounds like a crowd-pleaser, especially for those who love the games. It sounds like some are already hoping for more and, in that case, we’ve got some characters we need to see in the sequel. 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie hits theaters Wednesday, April 5, and be sure to check out our schedule of 2023 new movie releases to see what else is coming soon. 

There’s no arguing we’re in a reboot/revival age of entertainment and, sometimes, it seems there are few shows from past decades still out there that haven’t been updated for the current generation. That makes it all the more upsetting when an original series like Reboot — an ensemble comedy from Modern Family creator Steve Levitan — gets the ax after a single season. Johnny Knoxville, whose performance was just one of many reasons to watch, spoke out about the series' cancellation and received supportive messages from John Stamos and other celebrities.

In addition to Johnny Knoxville, the Reboot cast boasted numerous comedy vets, including Keegan-Michael Key, Judy Greer, Paul Reiser, Krista Marie Yu and Rachel Bloom. The meta comedy centered around the revival of the cheesy fictional sitcom Step Right Up and the drama that ensued off-screen and in the writers’ room. The Jackass veteran got real in an Instagram post about Hulu’s decision to cancel the series, writing:  

It’s a pretty scathing message to the streamer, but the reason for Johnny Knoxville’s frustration is obvious. As he pointed out, that the series was nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best Comedy Series. It also was positively received by pundits, amassing an 88% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  

Johnny Knoxville was definitely not alone in voicing his disappointment, as a number of celebrities commented their support for the actor, including Full House alum John Stamos, who wrote: 

Other famous names who joined the Uncle Jesse portrayer in mourning the end of the series (after just eight episodes) were Reboot star Judy Greer and more, who commented: 

• Judy Greer: Amen
• Maria Menounos: What?!!!!!!!!! Where do I start the protest. Hubby and I are OBSESSED!!!!!!!
• Whitney Cummings: Boo. Uncool. Amazing I’m still shocked by this business.

Judy Greer shined in her leading role as Step Right Up matriarch Bree, and former child star Calum Worthy played the most hilarious meta version of former child star Zack. The Sex Lives of College Girls’ cast member Alyah Chanelle Scott was amazing in her recurring role as a reality show star-turned-aspiring actress, and that’s just to name a few. In taking the action off the stage and into a diverse, multi-generational writers’ room, Reboot also made pointed commentary about the state of comedy in today’s world.

It’s a shame that Hulu isn’t giving Reboot a second season, but Johnny Knoxville says they’re shopping it around. So hopefully, there’s a chance we'll see the Step Right Up cast and writers return with a different studio. In the meantime, you can watch Season 1 using a Hulu subscription, and check out our 2023 TV schedule to see what shows are premiering soon. 

When I first learned that The Late Late Show with James Corden was coming to an end because Corden was stepping down as host of CBS’ talk show after nearly a decade on the job, I knew the announcement would be met with some differing reactions from the public. However, all that went through my mind was the question of whom the English Emmy and Tony Award winner would be passing the torch to when he officially leaves in the spring of 2023.

Later, I heard from Variety that CBS was considering abandoning the single-host format and replacing the actor with a whole panel. I will certainly keep that exciting idea in mind as I present a few people I think would make for a great new Late Late Show host (or hosts, perhaps).

Neil Patrick Harris

Like James Corden, Neil Patrick Harris has won multiple Emmy Awards and a Tony Award and has hosted a few award ceremonies to great acclaim, including the Oscars in 2015. Of course, that information just barely scratches the surface as to why the multi-talented and effortlessly charming former How I Met Your Mother cast member would kick serious butt as the new face of The Late Late Show.

Tig Notaro

Acclaimed stand-up comedian and Army of the Dead cast member Tig Notaro once hosted an online talk show called Under a Rock, which sheds light on her inability to immediately recognize celebrities by challenging her to guess the name of her guest in each episode. I think the experience might have served as great preparation for her to take on a job like hosting The Late Late Show, which would also give her the opportunity to become a little more in tune with pop culture.

Samantha Bee

Someone with experience hosting a late night show and whose own Emmy-winning program was recently and suddenly cancelled after seven seasons on TBS is Samantha Bee. I believe the Full Frontal host deserves to be given another chance to have her bold, unfiltered voice heard as the headliner of another show and I like the idea of her following her fellow former Daily Show correspondent — Late Show host Stephen Colbert — every night.

Nish Kumar

A comedian known for hosting the United Kingdom’s own equivalent to The Daily Show, The Mash Report, from 2017 to 2020 is Nish Kumar, who is severely underrated and underexposed in the United States. Because James Corden was also not very widely known to American audiences before taking over as host of The Late Late Show, maybe the gig could help the British-Indian comic — who already deserves another show, in my opinion — achieve greater status here.

Richard Ayoade

Another supremely talented British comedian I thought of to replace Corden (and I promise the amount of fellow U.K. natives on this list was purely coincidental) is Richard Ayoade, whom most probably recognize as Maurice Moss on one of the funniest British comedies on Netflix, The I.T. Crowd. He has brought his signature, subversive wit to various hosting gigs over the years — i.e. his Oscars Slap joke at 2022’s British Academy Television Award — and I believe it deserves a more stable home for American audiences to bear witness to on a nightly basis.

Matt Berry

Ya know, if The Late Late Show does become a panel talk show, I think it would be a great opportunity for Ayoade to reunite with fellow The I.T. Crowd star Matt Berry as co-hosts. Yet, that being said, the star of FX’s series adaptation of What We Do in the Shadows (and Toast of London, to name just a few) — with his velvety, booming voice and impeccable comedic talent — would be a more-than-perfect choice on his own, too.

Keegan-Michael Key

Ever since he and Jordan Peele brought their beloved, eponymous sketch comedy series to a close in 2015, Keegan-Michael Key has been busy doing a bunch of stuff, from poking fun at musicals with Cecily Strong on Apple TV+’s Schmigadoon! or doing the same with Hollywood’s obsession with reboots in the Reboot cast for Hulu. The Emmy winner has also tried his hand at hosting the likes of game shows, awards ceremonies, and even daytime TV (with a guest host gig on Live with Kelly and Ryan), but not late night, which I think he would be a fantastic candidate for. 

Tiffany Haddish

Tiffany Haddish has also been a guest-host on Live with Kelly and Ryan, as well as Ellen, in addition to hosting TBS’ movie presentation lead-in talk show, Friday Night Vibes, for 13 episodes and winning an Emmy for hosting Saturday Night Live in 2018. Let alone the fact that she is one of her generation’s most renowned comedians and versatile talents, she certainly has the right experience to show that she is ready to take on a gig like hosting The Late Late Show.

Aziz Ansari

Since he and the rest of the Parks and Rec cast had their final curtain call, Aziz Ansari has been up to a lot of different things — such as creating and starring on the Emmy-winning Netflix comedy, Master of None, and working on his feature-length directorial debut, Being Mortal — but “host” is not a title he has added to his resume since the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. I think we should change that, because The Late Late Show could use someone with the unique, comedic perspective that he has shown in some great stand-up specials over the years.

Billy Porter

I am not sure if there is anything that Billy Porter cannot do, based on his Emmy Award win for his starring role as Pray Tell on Pose, multiple Tony Award wins, and reputation for consistently employing the most entertaining presence in whatever project he is involved with — such as in Amazon Prime’s Cinderella cast, for instance. Therefore, even if he was not brought on as the sole host of The Late Late Show, his lively, infectious, flamboyant personality would easily make him the most memorable member of the panel.

Craig Ferguson

Do you remember when Conan O’Brien took over The Tonight Show for an astoundingly brief seven months and people got pissed when the person he replaced, Jay Leno, came back to host it afterward? I think that if Craig Ferguson — the person James Corden replaced — were to come back to The Late Late Show, it would have the opposite effect, because the Scotsman remains, in the eyes of many, the most beloved host in the show’s history.

Especially if the multi-host format becomes a reality, the possibilities of who could take The Late Late Show to new heights in its next era are endless.

In the past, we’ve seen Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka played by Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp, who were both able to show off the character's whimsical, yet mysterious persona. The new movie Wonka is about the eccentric chocolatier’s origin story, and with Dune star Timothée Chalamet taking on the lead role, his co-star Keegan-Michael Key sends nothing but praise for the lead actor’s performance in the new movie.

Toy Story 4 star Keegan-Michael Key was added to the cast of Wonka, but there are no updates yet on who he’ll play. The Key & Peele star spoke to The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere of his new Hulu series Reboot that his co-star Timothée Chalamet really gave a golden ticket performance that he’s very impressed with, saying:

As Chalamet has taken on a number of roles that have shown off his acting range with examples like Little Women and Call Me By Your Name, I would have to agree with that praise. Another quality that Keegan-Michael Key was impressed with was the musical numbers in Wonka. He explains that the Bones & All actor has seven musical numbers that he describes as “wonderous and a little bit epic.” Considering we’ve never heard the young actor sing before, this will be a real treat to audiences. He also felt that Timothée Chalamet’s performance definitely benefited from the direction of Paddington’s Paul King, who brought the film “childlike heart.” That’s exactly what any Willy Wonka film needs to attract families to explore how Wonka entered the world of pure imagination.

Some quick things we know so far about Wonka is that Paddington stars like Sally Hawkins, Simon Farnaby and Matt Lucas will be part of the project. Key will also get to work again with his Lion King co-star Rowan Atkinson. Also expect to see Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, Downton Abbey’s Jim Carter and Sonic the Hedgehog’s Natasha Rothwell in the film. We can anticipate seeing original music numbers and delving deep into Wonka’s time before his chocolate factory opened. We got some glimpses into his childhood and meeting the Oompa Loompas in Tim Burton’s adaptation, so it’ll be exciting to see King’s version of the classic story.

When the first look of Wonka was revealed that showed Chalamet in character wearing Wonka’s signature top hat, the internet lost its mind. Because the image shows the Lady Bird actor with this sly, yet sexy smile on his face, Twitter users felt like they were giving the character of Willy Wonka sex appeal. Considering we’ve seen Chalamet take on a bunch of serious characters, we’ve never actually seen the young actor show a child-like charisma in his roles. Still, this talented actor has said that Wonka should be looked at as “sincere” and “joyous,” and that proves not to always judge a movie by its one picture.

Keegan-Michael Key absolutely believes that Timothée Chalamet fits the role of Willy Wonka very well and loves the professionalism he brings to the title role. We’ll get to see a different side of Chalamet for ourselves in Wonka, as it has a 2023 release date of December 15th.

There have been a lot of great stop-motion movies released over the years like Coraline, James and the Giant Peach, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, to name only a few. Henry Selick, the director of those three movies, and several others, has a new animated film called Wendell & Wild that is now streaming on Netflix. The new animated movie looks, feels, and sounds a whole lot like his previous works thanks in part to its story, animation style, and the talented voice cast. Speaking of which…

If you have watched the movie, or at least plan on checking it out, there’s a good chance you are wondering where you’ve seen and heard the Wendell & Wild cast before. Well, no need to go digging through graves or summoning demons, because we have a breakdown of the stars and some of their biggest on-screen accomplishments prior to appearing in what looks like one of the most unique 2022 movies…

Keegan-Michael Key (Wendell)

Before we dive into Kat Elliot and the actress who is bringing the magically-inclined 13-year-old to life, let’s first talk about the two titular characters featured prominently in the film's trailer. The first of those characters, Wendell, is voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, one half of the team behind the Comedy Central sketch series Key & Peele.

Key has a great deal of experience as a voice actor that he brings to the Wendell & Wild cast, including multiple appearances in the Hotel Transylvania movies, roles in Disney productions like Toy Story 4, The Lion King (the 2019 remake), Pinocchio, and Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, to name only a few. He’s also no stranger to Netflix movies as he appeared in Dolemite Is My Name, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, The Prom, and The Bubble in the past few years.

Jordan Peele (Wild)

Also voicing a prominent role is Jordan Peele, who made a name for himself in the comedy world with his longtime creative partner Keegan-Michael Key on sketch programs like Mad TV and then Key & Peele, among others. In the new movie, Peele provides the voice of Wild, the second demon brother who tries to make a deal with the film’s young heroine.

Though he has cut back on acting gigs the past few years to pursue behind-the-scenes roles with his incredible horror movies like the Academy Award-winning Get Out, Us, and Nope, Peele has a great number of live-action and voice performances to his name. There are titles like Keanu (which he co-wrote), Storks, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, and shows like Bob’s Burgers, Big Mouth, and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, to name just a few.

Lyric Ross (Kat Elliot)

Providing the voice for Kat Elliot, the precocious 13-year-old girl at the center of Wendell & Wild’s story, is Lyric Ross, who has been a part of some of the biggest shows on broadcast TV the past few years, with more on the way.

Prior to landing a starring role in the new Netflix animated feature, Ross was cast as Deja Pearson on the long-running NBC drama series, This Is Us, first as a recurring character and then as one of the main figures in the final few seasons. Ross also appeared on Chicago Fire and Sirens in the years leading up to her first steady job. She is next to set to appear on Ironheart, though her exact role on the upcoming Marvel series has yet to be revealed

Angela Bassett (Sister Helley)

Taking on the role of Sister Helley, one of nuns at Kat’s school, is none other than Golden Globe winner Angela Bassett, who is no stranger to the world of voice-acting.

The list of Bassett’s best movies includes What’s Love Got to Do with It, Waiting to Exhale, Black Panther, Mission: Impossible — Fallout, and many, many more. In addition to all of those live-action roles, Bassett has lent her voice to a number of animated film projects over the past few decades, including the 2020 Pixar movie, Soul, Meet the Robinsons, Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle, and Our Friend, Martin. She’s also participated in animated TV series like BoJack Horseman, The Simpsons, and What If…?, in which she reprised the role of Ramonda, the Queen Mother of Wakanda. She’ll once again take on the role in the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

James Hong (Father Bests)

The legendary James Hong shows up in Wendell & Wild as Father Bests, the priest at Kat’s school who is equally devoted to his students and keeping the institution up and running.

Throughout his career, which goes back to the mid-1950s, Hong has appeared in hundreds of films ranging from cult classics like Big Trouble in Little China and Blade Runner, to animated projects like Mulan, Jackie Chan Adventures, and the Kung Fu Panda movies and TV spin-offs. In the past few years, Hong has popped up in titles like Everything Everywhere All At Once, Turning Red, Star Wars: Visions, and much, much more.

Ving Rhames (Buffalo Belzer)

Ving Rhames, the voice of Arby’s who's been in dozens upon dozens of iconic movies, joins the cast as Buffalo Belzer, a prominent figure in the movie’s underworld.

Throughout his career, Rhames has been a staple of the Mission: Impossible film franchise, given commanding performances in movies like Pulp Fiction, Con-Air, Bringing out the Dead, Dave, and Don King: Only in America, which earned him a Golden Globe in 1998. Like much of the Wendell & Wild cast, Rhames has a great deal of experience in the realm of animation, with voice roles in Lilo & Stitch, The Proud Family, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, and several others.

Sam Zelaya (Raúl)

And then there is Sam Zelaya, who takes on the role of Raúl, an outcast at Kat’s school. Prior to landing a role in the new movie, Zelaya’s only acting credit was in the 2022 soap opera short film, Poppets.

This is just the main portion of the Wendell & Wild cast, as there are all sort of surprises that await in the stop-motion animation movie. 

In an era of entertainment in which everything old is new again, a comedy poking fun at the idea of reboots, revivals and reimaginings could be a risky venture. But if anybody’s up for the task, it makes sense that it would be Modern Family creator Steve Levitan. Hulu’s new comedy Reboot takes aim at everything that is right and wrong about sitcoms, remake culture and comedy in today’s climate, and it does it with the most spectacular ensemble cast in the most appropriately meta way — with a TV show about a TV show. 

Keegan-Michael Key stars as an actor who played the patriarch of the fictional 2000s-era sitcom Step Right Up, which is receiving a modern-day revival, courtesy of Rachel Bloom’s Hannah. It’s a constant battle between her hopes to update the series with a more meaningful look at the series' family dynamics and original creator Gordon Gelman’s old-school (read: bordering on problematic) sitcom tactics. The result is comedy gold that everyone can enjoy, and here are the reasons you should fire up that Hulu subscription to watch Reboot. 

Johnny Knoxville Is The Perfect Jackass, But Not How We’re Used To Seeing Him 

Jackass star Johnny Knoxville plays Clay Barber, who plays the ex-husband Jake on the fictional sitcom. Clay’s life off-screen has been mired in drugs, alcohol and arrests, and at the time of the revival, we see him trying to clean up his act. That means he desperately needs this revival to work out — even if he continues to struggle with his demons — and honestly, his best moments are when he’s fighting against those baser instincts. 

Clay inadvertently becomes involved with Susan (played by the wonderful Kerri Kenney), the mother of Step Right Up’s former child star, who still hangs around her grown son’s set. Knoxville has no right being this damn funny as his character tries to navigate that awkward situation and, as you'd expect, a number of other scenarios. 

Calum Worthy Is The Best Worst Former Child Star Ever In Return To Sitcoms 

It’s so hard to single out any one or two actors in this amazing ensemble, because they are all worthy of praise, but Calum Worthy, like Johnny Knoxville, is just too good in this role. His performance as obnoxious former child star Zack Jackson feels like it should be grating, but it’s just brilliant. Zack’s wide-eyed naivety is only bolstered by his colleagues’ inability to acknowledge that he’s an adult now.

Like his character, Calum Worthy was a child actor, getting his start at 10 years old. The former Disney star is known for his role as Dez on Austin & Ally, but has since appeared in in multiple genres, also playing Nicholas Godejohn in the Hulu series The Act and Young Jasper in Netflix’s book-to-screen adaptation of Pieces of Her. The meta aspect of Worthy returning to sitcoms as a former child star is a thing of beauty. 

Judy Greer Shines In The Leading Role She’s Always Deserved 

Judy Greer has a long (and fabulous) career of supporting roles. Whether she’s the best friend, the kooky co-worker or the main character’s mother/daughter/sister, Greer is all too often the best part of projects that under-utilize her talents. Well, say goodbye to those! In Reboot she is the leading lady Bree Marie Jensen, who played the matriarch in Step Right Up before marrying the duke of a small European country. It’s no surprise that Greer nails every assignment, making even the tropiest of tropes feel more refreshing than overcooked. 

The Cast Of Comedy Veterans Appeals To Multiple Demographics 

When we think of multigenerational comedies, Modern Family comes to mind (for good reason), and while Reboot also is a product of Steven Levitan, it touches multiple demographics in a completely different way than the ABC sitcom. The A+ cast boasts comedy stars from three different decades, including Paul Reiser (Mad About You), Rose Abdoo (Gilmore Girls), Judy Greer (Arrested Development), Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele), Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), and the list goes on. 

In the same way that Hacks pits Gen Z’s Ava (Hannah Einbinder) against Baby Boomer Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), the characters in Reboot are able to make honest and often scathing social assessments about each other without alienating any segment of the home audience. Some of the best scenes take place in the writers’ room, where the young writers are constantly cringing at the veterans’ crass conversations and tired ideas of comedy, while the older writers are flummoxed by the new generation’s penchant for writing “jokes” that aren’t funny. 

Reboot Does Meta The Right Way, And Yes, There Will Be Tropes 

Rather than having the well-worn comedy plotlines play out on the fictional Step Right Up, Reboot incorporates the tropes right into the main story, and it just works. An argument in the writer’s room over whether or not it's funny when someone trips over something will inevitably end with one of them doing just that. Reed (Keegan-Michael Key) navigates the complexities of working with Bree (Judy Greer), who he used to date, despite currently being “in a committed relationship.” Even the obligatory “character gets too drunk/high and makes a fool of themselves” feels fresh when done by this cast with these scripts. 

It’s The Best Show About A Show Since 30 Rock 

There have been some truly iconic series that explore the behind-the-scenes happenings of fictional TV shows, with 30 Rock providing some of the funniest inside jokes. Tina Fey’s NBC comedy had its own star-studded cast to satirize Saturday Night Live, and Reboot could be the equivalent for a series parodying the best TGIF sitcoms. Step Right Up’s opening credits feel very Full House, and it’s so much fun to see the result of multiple generations trying to figure out what that kind of series would look like today.

TV viewers with any kind of appreciation for sitcoms should definitely check out Reboot, especially if you’re willing to laugh at the more ridiculous aspects. From an A+ cast to hilarious writing and meta plotlines, we can only hope this Reboot will see more seasons to come. The first season of Reboot is available for streaming on Hulu, with new episodes coming each Tuesday. Also be sure to check out the other best shows on Hulu and see what premieres are coming to television and screening with our 2022 TV Schedule.

Reviving hit sitcoms is a trend that has dominated TV (or streaming, more accurately) for years — such as with Netflix’s Full House sequel series, Fuller House, or Paramount+’s follow-up to Nickelodeon’s iCarly, more recently. Part of the fun of seeing the stories of these classic comedies continued as opposed to being remade is the original cast coming back to the spotlight and reuniting for the first time in a while. But, what if the actors are merely a shell of their former selves and a reunion with the former co-stars comes with disastrous results? That is the question that Reboot asks and answers in a hilarious fashion.

From Modern Family co-creator Steven Levitan, this new Hulu original September release chronicles the Hulu exclusive revival of a (fictional) family-friendly, early-2000s sitcom called Step Right Up. While things do not go so well behind the scenes when the show’s original cast members and creator are brought in to work together again, I cannot imagine the talented Reboot cast facing the same issues. Speaking of, let’s dive deeper into the hilarious, self-aware world of this new comedy by shedding light on who plays whom and where you know them from.

Keegan-Michael Key (Reed)

Playing Reed — an actor with a failed post-Step Right Up film career — is Keegan-Michael Key, who is already one of the biggest names in comedy from co-headlining the hit sketch series, Key & Peele, with his former MADtv co-star Jordan Peele, with whom he would also reunite on the big screen in Keanu and Toy Story 4. 

His other notable cinematic endeavors include Shane Black’s The Predator, Mike Birbiglia’s Don’t Think Twice, a couple of Disney remakes (2019’s The Lion King and Pinocchio from 2022), the Hotel Transylvania movies, and several Netflix original comedies like Dolemite is My Name and The Bubble, more recently. Reboot actually marks only his latest time on a TV comedy ensemble following the likes of Playing House, Netflix’s Friends from College, and the Apple TV+ musical fantasy Schmigadoon!

Johnny Knoxville (Clay)

As Clay — an actor with a post-Step Right Up criminal record — we have Johnny Knoxville, who most know best as one of the boldly immature pranksters from MTV’s Jackass and its many feature-length spin-offs, subsequently. However, years of risking his life on camera would soon earn him a relatively impressive acting career, as well, that includes low-brow comedies like 2005’s The Dukes of Hazzard and the surprisingly heartfelt The Ringer from 2006, and action moves starring the likes of Will Smith (Men in Black II), Dwayne Johnson (2004’s Walking Tall), Arnold Schwarzenegger (2014’s The Last Stand), Jackie Chan (2016’s Skiptrace), and Mads Mikkelsen (2019’s Polar).

Knoxville also voiced Leonardo in the new, live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies and has even done earnest dramas like Lords of Dogtown and the 2019 horror film, We Summon the Darkness, but Reboot actually marks his first time joining a scripted TV series’ main ensemble.

Judy Greer (Bree)

Bree — an actor with a disappointing post-Step Right Up TV career — is played by Judy Greer, who has been a standout in many main ensembles on TV shows of various genres, such as Showtime’s The First Lady cast and on FX’s Archer voice cast as Cheryl Tunt, most notably. 

However, she is even more prolific as a scene-stealer in some of the biggest blockbuster franchises — like the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ant-Man’s ex, Jurassic World as the sister of Bryce Dallas Howard’s character, or as the daughter of Laurie Strode in the latest Halloween movies. Greer has also starred in some highly acclaimed cinematic favorites like Steven Soderbergh’s Three Kings from 1999, 2004’s 13 Going on 30, the Oscar-winning dramedy The Descendants from 2011, and plenty more.

Paul Reiser (Gordon)

As Gordon — the creator of the original Step Right Up — we have Paul Reiser, who has some real-life experience with sitcoms (such as My Two Dads in the 1980s and the ‘80s-set Amazon original Red Oaks more recently) and reboots, having revived his own ’90s sitcom, Mad About You, as a Spectrum original in 2019. 

The comedian debuted in Barry Levinson’s Diner in 1982, played the human antagonist of Aliens four years later, and gave a memorable performance in Damien Chazelle’s Oscar-winning feature-length debut, Whiplash, in 2014. Reboot is the latest in what appears to be something of a comeback for Reiser that also includes his recurring role on Netflix’s The Kominsky Method, his enlarged role in the Stranger Things cast in Season 4, his awesome cameo on The Boys, and his return to the Beverly Hills Cop franchise in the upcoming fourth installment.

Rachel Bloom (Hannah)

Playing Hannah — who pitches Hulu the idea to revive Step Right Up — is Rachel Bloom, the Emmy-winning star and co-creator of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend who was previously best known for a serious of funny, musical shorts and a brief role on How I Met Your Mother in Season 7. 

Since then, her big claim to fame has been mostly voice acting roles — such as recurring spots on Bojack Horseman and Robot Chicken, playing Batgirl in 2019’s Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or Barb in the Trolls 2: World Tour cast, to name a few. Bloom also recently appeared on the aforementioned iCarly revival and opposite fellow Reboot cast member, Keegan-Michael Key, in Disney+’s Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers in 2022.

Calum Worthy (Zach)

As Zach — the now-grown-up, former child star of Step Right Up — we have the now-grown-up, former child actor Calum Worthy, whose previous sitcom experience mainly involves Disney Channel — such as Austin & Ally, most notably — but he also appeared on three episodes of Psych and had a pivotal role on Netflix’s mockumentary style true crime parody, American Vandal. 

His dramatic TV work ranges from guest spots on series like Stargate: Atlantis, Smallville, or Supernatural to joining the ensemble of Hulu’s true crime miniseries, The Act, or lending his voice to Pacific Rim: The Black for Netflix. Worthy made his feature-length debut in 2004 with Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, went on to play a teenage cyborg in 2007’s The Last Mimzy, and later was the lead of the 2017 rap battle film, Bodied.

Krista Marie Yu (Elaine)

Playing Elaine — Hulu’s new Vice President of Comedy, despite being “new to humor” — we have Krista Marie Yu, who is actually well-versed in humor from playing the title characters' daughter on Dr. Ken and foreign exchange student, Jen, on Last Man Standing. She also appeared on other TV comedies like Cougar Town, The Middle, and Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans, and funny movies like 2012’s Fun Size (with Reboot  co-star Johnny Knoxville) and 2015's Love the Coopers. 

Yu is also no stranger to drama, having starred in the 2016 horror movie, The Darkness, and landed small roles on the likes of Parenthood, the MCU-canon period adventure series, Agent Carter, and Netflix’s animated reboot of Carmen Sandiego, more recently.

They certainly don’t make sitcoms like Step Right Up anymore and it is rare to see such a star-studded ensemble of talented comedic actors like the Reboot cast all in one place. Check them out by streaming this Hollywood satire on Hulu, Tuesday, September 20, 2022.

Disney’s been on a roll with its live-action remakes of classic stories front since 2014’s Maleficent (or, if you want to go back a little further, 2010’s Alice in Wonderland), so it’s hardly surprising that Pinocchio, the Mouse House’s second animated feature film, is getting such treatment. The live-action Pinocchio movie has been in the works since 2015, and ever since Robert Zemeckis officially signed on to direct in early 2020, the project’s been making steady progress and moving forward.

Now, the long-awaited project is finally here and is currently available to stream for anyone with an active Disney+ subscription. If you have watched the live-action CGI hybrid re-imagining of the Disney animated classic or are planning on watching it over the weekend, there’s a good chance you’re wondering where you’ve seen and heard some of the Pinocchio cast before. Well, worry no more, for we are about to break down the full cast, starting with Tom Hanks…

Tom Hanks (Geppetto) 

Between voicing Woody across four Toy Story movies and playing Walt Disney himself in Saving Mr. Banks, not to mention starring in the Touchstone Pictures-produced movies Splash and Turner & Hooch, Tom Hanks should unquestionably be counted in the upper echelon of Disney actors. Hanks’ latest contribution to the studio is playing Geppetto, the kind woodcarver who fashions Pinocchio and raises him as his son when he’s brought to life. 

In addition to appearing in various Disney productions throughout his career, the two-time Academy Award winner has also given commanding and unforgettable performances in Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, and some of the best romantic comedies of all time. His more recent credits include Toy Story 4, Finch, and Elvis, which joined the list of other 2022 movies streaming just one week prior to the Pinocchio debut. 

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (Pinocchio) 

As one would expect, Pinocchio will be a mix of live-action and CGI, with Pinocchio obviously being depicted with the latter (until he’s turned into a real boy, of course). So, who will voice the beloved puppet? That honor goes to Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who many of you might recognize from playing Miles in Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor. 

That said, Pinocchio won’t be Ainsworth’s first Disney outing, as he can currently be seen as William in the Disney+ original movie, Flora & Ulysses. Ainsworth also joined Netflix’s The Sandman cast for one episode of the popular fantasy series. 

Keegan-Michael Key

One of the main villains in the original Pinocchio was Honest John, a con artist fox who convinces the eponymous protagonist to join Stromboli’s puppet show and later embark to Pleasure Island. That doesn’t change for the live-action Pinocchio adaptation, as Keegan-Michael Key provides the voice of Honest John. 

This is Key’s fifth time contributing to the Disney canon, having previously played Hugo Gernsback in Tomorrowland, Ducky in Toy Story 4,Kamari in the Lion King remake, and multiple characters in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Outside of Disney, the Key and Peele co-creator has appeared in family-friendly movies like the Hotel Transylvania franchise, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, and several others. 

Luke Evans (The Coachman) 

Honest John wasn’t screwing with Pinocchio on a whim… at least, not when it came to persuading him to go to Pleasure Island. Forthat, he was hired by The Coachman, who rounded up naughty boys to take to that sinister location, then convinced them to misbehave so they’d turn into donkeys and he could sell them. This time around, Luke Evans steps in to bring The Coachman to life.

Disney fans will recognize Evans as Gaston in the live-action Beauty and the Beast remake (he’ll reprise the role for a spinoff series), while others may know him more from his time in the Fast & Furious franchise or The Hobbit film series. 

Cynthia Erivo (Blue Fairy) 

Pinocchio coming to life wasn’t a miracle of nature; we have the Blue Fairy to thank for making the puppet be able to walk and talk. The Blue Fairy also appointed Pinocchio his conscience and informed him that he’d be able to become a real boy if he proved he was brave, truthful, and unselfish. Cynthia Erivo plays the live-action version of the Blue Fairy, with Pinocchio marking her first time working on a Disney project. 

Despite not having worked with the House of Mouse in the past, Erivo has built quite a name for herself in the past few years, with memorable performances in movies like Bad Times at the El Royale and Harriet (which earned her multiple award nominations) and a list of shows that includes The Outsider and Genius: Aretha.  

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jiminy Cricket) 

Having been given a much bigger role in Disney’s Pinocchio compared to the character in the original story, it’s only natural that the live-action remake brought back Jiminy Cricket for the latest retelling of the classic. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, whose more recent credits include Project Power and The Trial of the Chicago 7, provides the voice of Jiminy in the 2022 Disney movie.

One of the more successful child actors who transitioned to adult roles, Gordon-Levitt has found success in everything from Angels in the Outfield to Inception, and 3rd Rock from the Sun to Super Pumped over the years. 

Lorraine Bracco (Sofia The Seagull) 

Lorraine Bracco, whose notable credits include Goodfellas, The Sopranos, and Rizzoli & Isles, takes on the role of Sofia the Seagull, a new character introduced for the Disney+ exclusive Pinocchio. Recently, Bracco has landed roles on shows like BoJack Horseman, Blue Bloods, and several others, as well as movie appearances in the likes of The Birthday Cake and A Ring for Christmas.

Like several other Disney and Pixar films from the past couple of years, Pinocchio is available exclusively on Disney+. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more stories about Pinocchio, and don’t forget to look through our 2022 release schedule to discover what movies will come out later this year.

At long last, Chip ’n Dale, the fearless co-founders and leaders of the Rescue Rangers are back together, and in action, together again for another set of adventures in the new Disney+ movie bearing their name. The fun-filled and reference-heavy animated/live-action hybrid in the vein of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Tom and Jerry is finally streaming on the popular platform, meaning everyone with a Disney+ subscription can give the new film a spin. 

But, after doing so, you may be wondering exactly where you have seen and heard the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast before. Worry not, because we are about to break down all the stars of the highly-anticipated project, starting with the two leads, former Saturday Night Live greats John Mulaney and Andy Sandberg.

John Mulaney (Chip)

Starting off, we have John Mulaney who appears in the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast as the voice of Chip, the fearless leader and co-founder of the Rescue Rangers, and the member who didn’t elect to be converted to CGI.

Mulaney, who long served as a writer on Saturday Night Live before becoming one of the best guest hosts of all-time with his hilarious and catchy musical skits, has etched out a place for himself as one of the greatest modern stand-up comedians with specials like The Comeback Kid and John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City. 

On top of that, Mulaney has appeared on shows like Documentary Now!, Kroll Show, Big Mouth, and even had his own short-lived sitcom simply titled, Mulaney. And let’s not forget his hilarious portrayal of Peter Porker, a.k.a. Spider-Ham, in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and various short films in the franchise.

Andy Samberg (Dale)

Next up is Andy Samberg, who provides the voice of Dale, the more happy-go-lucky and free-flowing co-founder of the Rescue Rangers who has undergone a procedure to transform himself from traditional animation to CGI prior to the events of Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

Just like his co-star, Samberg first made a name for himself as one of the funniest members of the Saturday Night Live cast of all time, with memorable skits like “Lazy Sunday,” “I’m on a Boat,” and various others, including an iconic digital short featuring Justin Timberlake. Since then, Samberg has found success on shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and Never Have I Ever.

Over the course of his career, Samberg has also found success in cinema, with a major role in the Hotel Transylvania animated franchise, the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movies, and the 2020 time-loop romantic comedy, Palm Springs. And let’s not forget his work with his comedy music group The Lonely Island (who were responsible for some of those great SNL shorts).

KiKi Layne (Ellie)

Stepping in as one of the human roles in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is KiKi Layne, who portrays a rookie police detective (and Rescue Rangers superfan) named Ellie in the new Disney+ streaming exclusive.

Ever since giving her outstanding portrayal of Tish Rivers in Barry Jenkins’ 2018 drama, If Beale Street Could Talk, Layne has been one of young Hollywood’s brightest stars. In the years following her breakout role, Layne has given incredible performances in movies like Native Son, Captive State, The Old Guard, and Coming 2 America.

Will Arnett (Sweet Pete)

Taking on the role of Sweet Pete, a down-on-his-luck former Disney star who has turned to a life of crime in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, is Will Arnett, whose character makes a vow to bring his former employer down to Earth.

Arnett, who has appeared in live-action movies like Let’s Go to Prison, Semi-Pro, and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, and shows like Arrested Development, 30 Rock, and Murderville, is perhaps best known for his long list of voice-over credits on the silver screen and small screen alike. Over the years, Arnett has voiced characters in The Lego Movie (and its various sequels and spinoffs), The Nut Job franchise, Despicable Me, and most recently, Rumble, as well as shows like King of the Hill, The Simpsons, and most importantly Bo-Jack Horseman, which saw him portray the titular character in the decorated Netflix animated series.

Eric Bana (Monterey Jack)

Stepping in to voice Chip ’n Dale’s former partner-in-crime, Monterey Jack, in the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Eric Bana, who brings new life to the iconic cheese-obsessed Australian mouse once voiced by Peter Cullen.

Although he has spent most of his career in live-action roles, Bana has provided his voice for a few animated film projects over the years, including Finding Nemo, Mary and Max, and Back to the Outback. However, Bana is best remembered for performances in movies like Munich, Hanna, Star Trek, The Other Boleyn Girl, Troy, and Ang Lee’s 2003 Marvel movie, Hulk, which saw him portray Bruce Banner and his supersized alter-ego. Bana has also appeared on a number of shows in his native Australia like Full Frontal, Something in the Air, and The Eric Bana Show Live.

Dennis Haysbert (Zipper)

Providing the voice for Zipper, the housefly and trusty member of the original Rescue Rangers in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Dennis Haysbert.

Although younger members of the audience will recognize Haysbert’s voice from his portrayal of King Grayskull on Masters of the Universe: Revelation or from those Allstate insurance commercials, others will remember the actor from his roles in movies like Major League, Waiting to Exhale, and Heat, or his various shows that include Now and Again, The Unit, or 24, a performance that earned the actor a number of nominations for his portrayal of President Donald Palmer throughout the show’s run.

Keegan-Michael Key (Bjornson The Cheesemonger)

Providing the voice for the puppet character Bjornson the Cheesemonger on the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Keegan-Michael Key.

One of the most recognizable voices featured in the new Disney+ movie, Key is perhaps best known for his longtime sketch comedy program, Key & Peele, alongside Jordan Peele. In the years following the Comedy Central show’s conclusion, Key has found success with an assortment of animated series including BoJack Horseman, SuperMansion, Archer, and Green Eggs and Ham. He has also shown up in movies like the Hotel Transylvania franchise, Toy Story 4, The Prom, and most recently, as a member of The Bubble cast.

Tress MacNeille (Gadget)

Taking on the role of Gadget in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Tress MacNeille, who originally voiced the character during its original run, as well as voicing Chip during that same stretch.

Over the years, MacNeille has consistently been one of the hardest-working voice actors in the entertainment industry, working on shows like The Simpsons, Rugrats, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, and Futurama. If you are a fan of an animated series released anywhere between 1980 and now, chances are you’ve heard MacNeille’s voice more than a few times. And, it’s not just TV, as MacNeille has provided her voice for some of the most iconic Studio Ghibli films, like Kiki’s Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbor Totoro.

Seth Rogen (Bob The Warrior Viking)

Seth Rogen appears in Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers as Bob the Warrior Viking, the awkwardly-animated CGI character featured in the wacky trailer.

Since breaking out as a multi-talented star in the early part of the 21st century, Rogen has become one of the most entertaining names in Hollywood with a variety of great roles in movies like Knocked Up, Superbad (which he co-wrote), Steve Jobs, 50/50, and other unforgettable movies. He is also no stranger to voice roles, as he appeared in animated movies like The Lion King and the Kung Fu Panda franchise. He is set to provide the voice of Donkey Kong in the upcoming Mario movie.

J.K. Simmons (Captain Putty)

Taking on the role of the claymation police officer named Captain Putty in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is J.K. Simmons, who knows a thing or two about playing iconic cops.

Over the years, Simmons has been in movies like the Spider-Man franchise, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Palm Springs, Juno, and Whiplash, which earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and numerous other accolades. His TV work includes roles on shows like Oz, Law and Order, The Closer, and BoJack Horseman.

Da’Vone McDonald (Jimmy The Polar Bear)

Taking on the role of Jimmy the Polar Bear in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Da’Vone McDonald.

Throughout his career, McDonald has appeared in movies like Funny People, Drillbit Taylor, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, as well as shows like Drunk History, The PET Squad Files, and Dads.

Flula Borg (DJ Herzogenaurach)

And, rounding out the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Flula Borg, who shows up as DJ Herzogenaurach.

An accomplished actor, comedian, and musician, Borg has appeared on shows like Mr. Mayor, The Boss Baby: Back in Business, and Tangled: The Series throughout his career, as well as in movies like Ferdinand, Pitch Perfect 2, and a little movie called The Suicide Squad.

This is just a portion of the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast as there are all sorts of cameos and other surprises in the new Disney+ streaming movie.

Whenever a Judd Apatow movie comes along you are almost guaranteed to see some of Hollywood’s biggest stars being put in rather ridiculous situations, but few of those compare to his latest film, The Bubble, which debuted on Netflix on April 1, 2022. The movie, which centers on a group of actors brought together to film the sixth installment in the fictional Cliff Beasts dinosaur franchise on a closed set, sounds like some fever dream, but it is all too real and the list of actors involved is something else.

The Bubble cast features everyone from the acclaimed director’s wife, Leslie Mann, and daughter, Iris Apatow, to Hollywood action stars like Karen Gillan and Pedro Pascal, and even David Duchovny, and that’s barely scratching the surface. With so many names involved, you know we had to go through and break down the entire cast from this hilarious COVID Netflix comedy.

Karen Gillan (Carol Cobb)

Leading The Bubble cast is Karen Gillan, who portrays Carol Cobb, one of the longtime stars of the Cliff Beasts franchise, which is now in its sixth installment when the new Netflix movie starts. And, just like her character, Gillan knows a thing or two about successful action franchises.

Gillan has been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since she first played Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy back in 2014 and has continued to pop up in some of the best Marvel Movies in that time. The actress, who had a breakout role on Doctor Who, has also been a part of the Jumanji franchise since the long-dormant property was brought back with 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Her other credits include Gunpowder Milkshake, Stuber, and Oculus, to name a few.

Iris Apatow (Krystal Kris)

Iris Apatow, the daughter of director Judd Apatow and co-star Leslie Mann, pops up in The Bubble as Krystal Kris, a Tik Tok star who has recently joined the Cliff Beasts 6 cast.

Throughout her career, which started with a performance in her father’s 2007 romantic comedy Knocked Up, Apatow has appeared in a number of her dad’s films including Funny People and This is 40, as well as the Netflix original series Love, on which she portrayed Arya Hopkins.

Fred Armisen (Darren)

Taking on the role of Cliff Beasts 6 director Darren in The Bubble is former Saturday Night Live mainstay and Portlandia co-creator, Fred Armisen.

Throughout his career, Armisen has also appeared in countless movies, including Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Easy A, The Smurfs film franchise, and most recently The Mitchells vs. the Machines. Outside of SNL and Portlandia, Armisen has been a part of shows like Crank Yankers, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Documentary Now!, Big Mouth, and Late Night with Seth Meyers, where he serves as the late night talk show’s band leader.

Maria Bakalova (Annika)

Maria Bakalova plays Annika, one of the employees at the hotel where the Cliff Beasts 6 cast is holed up during the closed shoot in The Bubble.

Bakalova is most recognizable from her appearance in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, in which she portrayed Sacha Baron Cohen’s on-screen teenage daughter, Tutar Sagdiyev. Her performance was met with universal praise and earned her a Critic’s Choice Award and nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTA Film Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards, to name a few. Her other work includes Bulgarian dramas Transgression and Last Call, as well as the 2022 A24 horror movie Bodies Bodies Bodies.

David Duchovny (Dustin Mulray)

Taking on the role of Dustin Mulray, another mainstay of the Cliff Beasts dinosaur action franchise in The Bubble, is David Duchovny, who brings with him years of experience in comedy, sci-fi, and just about every other genre imaginable in film and TV.

Best known for his portrayal of FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on the long-running supernatural thriller series, The X-Files, and its film adaptations, Duchovny is also remembered for leading the comedy-drama series Californication as Hank Moody, with both roles earning him Golden Globe Awards and other accolades. Duchovny’s other work includes Aquarius, Twin Peaks (the 2017 revival), Evolution, and Beethoven.

Keegan-Michael Key (Sean Knox)

Keegan-Michael Key shows up in The Bubble as Sean Knox, another longtime member of the Cliff Beasts franchise, and one who seems to be down for any and all stunts.

Although best recognized for the long-running sketch comedy show, Key & Peele, alongside Jordan Peele, Key has an extensive body of work outside the hit Comedy Central series, including Mad TV, Reno 911!, Whose Line is it Anyway?, Friends from College, and Schmigadoon!, to name just a few. His film work includes a great deal of animated features like Toy Story 4, The Lion King, the Hotel Transylvania series, and the upcoming Super Mario Bros. movie.

Leslie Mann (Lauren Van Chance)

Showing up as Cliff Beasts franchise star Lauren Van Chance in The Bubble is Leslie Mann, who has appeared in a number of her husband’s films, including The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Funny People, and several others over the years.

Throughout her career, Mann has been a part of several dozen other film projects including George of the Jungle, Big Daddy, Orange County, Blockers, Motherless Brooklyn, and Blithe Spirit, to name just a small portion of her film work. Man has also popped up on shows like Freaks and Geeks, Modern Family, and The Simpsons. She is next set to lead the upcoming Amazon original series, The Power.

Pedro Pascal (Dieter)

Taking on the role of Dieter, one of the members of the Cliff Beasts 6 cast, in The Bubble, is Pedro Pascal, who fans of The Mandalorian will recognize from the sound of his, oh so familiar, voice.

In addition to playing one of the most badass Star Wars characters introduced in quite some time, Pascal has also made his mark on TV with explosive performances on shows like Game of Thrones and Narcos (with The Last of Us HBO series on the way). Pascal has a great deal of film credits to his name as well, including Wonder Woman 1984, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, If Beale Street Could Talk, and the ridiculous upcoming Nicolas Cage action comedy, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

Peter Serafinowicz (Gavin)

Peter Serafinowicz shows up in The Bubble as Gavin, the producer of Cliff Beasts 6 who has been put in the unenviable position of making sure the production doesn’t go off the rails.

One of the actors who have appeared in Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (he voiced Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace and Solo: A Star Wars Story and portrayed Denarian Garthan Saal in Guardians of the Galaxy), Serafinowicz has also popped up in movies like Shaun of the Dead, The World’s End, and John Wick: Chapter 2 throughout his career. He has also appeared in dozens of TV shows, with some of the most notable being The Tick, Archer, and South Park.

Guz Khan (Howie Frangopoulos)

Guz Khan appears in The Bubble cast as Howie Frangopoulos, another longtime actor in the successful yet out-of-this-world dinosaur action franchise, Cliff Beasts.

Fans of the Netflix original movie Army of Thieves will certainly recognize Khan from his portrayal of Rolph in the 2021 heist comedy, but that’s just one part of the British comedian’s career. Since making his debut in 2016, Khan has had major roles on shows like Borderline, Zapped, Man Like Mobeen, and Our Flag Means Death, as well a few movies, including Finding Fatimah and Walk Like a Panther.

Harry Travaldewyn (Gunther)

Relative newcomer and star-in-the-making Harry Travaldewyn shows up in The Bubble cast as Gunther, the COVID-19 compliance officer who is constantly trying to keep everyone healthy (from COVID, anyway) and under control on the set of Cliff Beasts 6 so that the movie's complicated production can finally come to a close.

The new Judd Apatow movie is only Travaldewyn’s second film credit to date, with his previous feature film being the Netflix historical drama, The King, in 2019. He’s next set to appear on the TV series Call My Agent and in the upcoming comedy-drama, Sweet Sue.

Nick Kocher (Scott)

Taking on the Scott, a member of the Cliff Beasts 6 crew, in The Bubble is former Saturday Night Live writer Nick Kocher, who has appeared in a number of movies, shows, and short films throughout his career.

A co-founder of the internet sketch comedy duo BriTANick alongside Brian McElhaney, Kocher has made brief appearances on shows like The Movie Show, CollegeHumor Originals, Next Time on Lonny, How I Met Your Mother, and Louie. His film credits include Awesometown, Much Ado About Nothing, and Balls Out.

Hopefully, this helps you make sense of the massive The Bubble cast and where you’ve seen the stars before. But, this is just the beginning of the list as Kate McKinnon, Rob Delaney, Vir Das, and multiple other familiar faces pop up from time to time in Judd Apatow’s latest effort. If you want to know what other movies are coming to the popular streaming service, check out our breakdown of the 2022 Netflix movie schedule.

And, if you haven't already, you can stream The Bubble on Netflix.

After what seems like an eternity spent locked up in a spooky castle, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania has finally premiered (on Amazon after skipping a theatrical release), kicking off the next chapter in the beloved animated franchise from Sony Pictures Animation. And, even though Adam Sandler didn’t return as Hotel Transylvania founder Count “Drac” Dracula, several longtime members of the series are back, along with some new additions.

So, after watching the movie for yourself, there’s a good chance you’re wondering where you’ve seen (or heard) the Hotel Transylvania: Transformania cast before and why some of those monstrous characters sound so familiar. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Just check in and we’ll get started on this wild and crazy bunch of monsters-turned-humans.

Andy Samberg (Jonathan “Johnny” Loughran)

Back again as Jonathan “Johnny” Loughran in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is Andy Samberg, who has been part of the franchise since it first opened back in 2012. One of the biggest Saturday Night Live stars of the past couple of decades, Samberg has managed to find success with various film and television projects, as well as having a successful music career.

Whether he’s showing up in movies like the delightful time-loop romantic comedy Palm Springs, leading the acclaimed comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or releasing hit albums with his comedy troupe The Lonely Island, there isn’t much Andy Samberg can’t do. And, with that Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers reboot in the works over at Disney+, we’ll be seeing (or hearing) a lot more of him in the near future.

Selena Gomez (Mavis Dracula)

Selena Gomez is also back in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania as Mavis Dracula, the daughter of Count “Drac” and wife of Johnny Loughran. Already a major star by the time she joined the voice cast of the first movie 10 years ago (thanks to Wizards of Waverly Place and several other projects), Gomez has somehow become an even bigger name since then.

With movies like The Dead Don’t Die, A Rainy Day in New York, and The Fundamentals of Caring all giving her room to show off her talents, the former Disney Channel star has also stayed true to her TV roots as one of biggest names in the star-studded Only Murders in the Building cast. And there’s more where that came from, as Selena Gomez is set to reprise her role in the Hulu murder mystery’s upcoming second season, which sounds bigger than the last.

Kathryn Hahn (Ericka Van Helsing)

Kathryn Hahn is back for a second round of action after her character, Ericka Van Helsing, was introduced in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation as the wife of Count “Drac” and great-granddaughter of Abraham Van Helsing.

Over the course of the past few years, Kathryn Hahn has gone from a successful and hilarious film and television actress to one of the most prolific names in Hollywood, with the Bad Moms franchise and one hell of a portrayal of Olivia Octavius is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Also, let’s not forget her amazing turn as Agatha Harkness on WandaVision, a role she will soon reprise in her own spinoff series Agatha: House of Harkness which will land on Disney+ at some point in the near future.

Jim Gaffigan (Professor Abraham Van Helsing)

Taking on the role of Professor Abraham Van Helsing, the former monster hunter and Count Dracula's great-grandfather-in-law who is responsible for the all the Transformania in the Hotel Transylvania 4, is again Jim Gaffigan. 

One of the funniest comedians around (and superb CBS Sunday Morning commentator), Jim Gaffigan has also made a name for himself while not talking about his food obsessions and kids as a stand-up comic. With appearances in movies like Troop Zero, Tesla, and Luca, Gaffigan has been all over the place on the big screen. Gaffigan has also had his own comedy series, The Jim Gaffigan Show, in addition to appearances on other shows, such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and even Stargirl.

Steve Buscemi (Wayne)

Wayne the Werewolf has been a major player in the Hotel Transylvania film franchise from the very beginning, and even though he’s still voiced by Steve Buscemi, he appears like nothing we’ve seen before in Transformania. 

Throughout his career, Steve Buscemi has been in everything from gritty dark comedies like Fargo to zany family-friend action spectacles like Spy Kids: The Island of Lost Dreams, and just about anything and everything in between. His voice work alone, which also includes The Boss Baby and Monsters, Inc., and other successful film and television franchises, is also definitely something worth mentioning.

Molly Shannon (Wanda)

Back again as Wanda the Werewolf in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is former Saturday Night Live superstar Molly Shannon, who has been a part of the franchise since its beginnings back in 2012.

Outside of SNL and movies based on characters from the long-running sketch comedy series, like Night at the Roxbury and Superstar, Molly Shannon has also popped up in movies like Promising Young Woman, Other People, and Bad Teacher, to name only a few. Her TV work includes The White Lotus, The Other Two, and the Wet Hot American Summer continuation series, First Day at Camp and Ten Years Later.

David Spade (Griffin)

Another longtime franchise star, David Spade, is back once again for Hotel Transylvania: Transformania where he provides the voice of Griffin, the invisible man.

Over the years, David Spade has been in some of the most unforgettable comedies, the most notable being Tommy Boy and Joe Dirt. Spade has also spent a large portion of his career working with former Saturday Night Live co-star Adam Sandler (including the first three movies in the Hotel Transylvania franchise). 

Keegan-Michael Key (Murray)

Keegan-Michael Key is back in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania as Murray the mummy, a character he first voiced in the second installment of the franchise back in 2015. 

The former Mad TV  cast-member and co-creator of Key & Peele has gone on to find a tremendous amount of success as a voice actor in recent years, including SuperMansion, Green Eggs and Ham, The Lion King, and Toy Story 4. His live-action work includes titles like Keanu, Playing with Fire, and The Prom. Keegan-Michael Key is also set to appear in the upcoming Wonka remake as well as the long-awaited Super Mario Bros. animated movie, both of which have impressive cast lists.

Brian Hull (Count "Drac" Dracula)

Taking on the role of Count “Drac” Dracula in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is Brian Hull, who stepped in after Adam Sandler departed the franchise. But, don't worry, Hull is a master impressionist who is more than capable of pulling this off.

Brian Hull doesn’t currently have all too many voice-acting credits in feature films, though he did appear in the Pup Star franchise. However, Hull has a massive following on YouTube, where he has gained 2.3 million followers for his insane impressions that include everything from various animated characters singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” to Disney and Pixar characters singing “Let it Go.”

Fran Drescher (Eunice)

Appearing once again as Eunice, a.k.a. Frankenstein’s wife, in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is none other than Fran Drescher, who happens to have one of the most recognizable voices in all of show business.

In the years since becoming a massive star as the main attraction of The Nanny cast, Fran Drescher has continued to work on various television projects over the years, including Happily Divorced, Broad City, and most recently, Indebted. Her film work, which goes all the way back to a small role in Saturday Night Fever, also includes The Creatress, After Class, and The Christmas Setup.

Brad Abrell (Frankenstein)

Taking on the role of Frankenstein (who was previously voiced by Kevin James) in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is veteran voice actor Brad Abrell. 

With credits going all the back to the original Swamp Thing series in 1990, Brad Abrell has provided the voices for characters in Men in Black (the movies and the 1998 animated series), The Bold and the Beautiful, and Green Eggs and Ham, to name just a few. And, if you've played a video game in the past decade or so, there's a good chance you've heard Abrell's voice on more than one occasion.

Asher Blinkoff (Dennis)

Returning for his third round of action in the animated franchise, Asher Blinkoff again provides the voice of Dennis, the dhampir son of Johnny and Mavis, in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.

In the years since joining the Hotel Transylvania franchise with the second installment in 2015, Asher Blinkoff has gone on to show up in Bling, Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs, and Sing 2, in which he provided the voice of one of the Rosita’s (Reese Witherspoon) piglets.

Hopefully, all of this helps you out in the event you’re scratching your head trying to figure out why the voices of the Hotel Transylvania: Transformania cast sound so dang familiar. If you’re looking for even more ideas of what to watch after you finish streaming the new Amazon animated release, take a look at all the promising upcoming 2022 new movie releases that will be coming to theaters and streaming platforms in no time at all.

When one thinks of video game movies that didn’t fare well, inevitably 1993’s Super Mario Bros. comes up. But after all these years, Mario, Luigi and the rest of the characters from this corner of the Nintendo entertainment empire are finally getting another shot at cinematic flory, albeit in animation rather than live-action again. Illumination has a Super Mario Bros. movie coming up, and it’s been announced that Chris Pratt and Anya Tayor-Joy are among the many big names that will make up the main cast.

Freshly announced from the Nintendo Direct event, we now know that Chris Pratt will be voicing Mario in the new Super Mario Bros. movie, while Anya-Taylor Joy has been brought aboard as Princess Peach. The rest of the main voice cast includes Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike. And for those of you who’ve enjoyed Charles Martinet’s vocal performances as Mario and various other characters in the video game franchise since the 1990s, not to worry, as he’ll be participating in the movie through “surprise cameos.”

While Sebastian Maniscalco revealed that he’d be voicing Spike in the Super Mario Bros. movie earlier this year, now we know who’ll be making up our main lineup of characters. Having already looked at social media a bit, it’s good to know I’m not alone in being surprised that Chris Pratt was tapped to play Mario, but this’ll add another entry on his list of voice acting bonafides, having previously participated in The LEGO Movie, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and Onward. And while Super Mario Bros. will mark Anya Taylor-Joy’s first animated movie, she does have some voice acting experience under her belt from the Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Behind the scenes, the animated Super Mario Bros. movie, which was first announced in 2017, will be directed by Teen Titans Go! To the Movies duo Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, while Minions: The Rise of Gru’s Matthew Vogel wrote the script. Illumination founder Chris Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario franchise, are attached as producers. Here’s what Meledandri had to say about the project in a statement (via THR):

As of right now, no plot details for Super Mario Bros. have been revealed, although like the classic Mario games, I imagine Princess Peach being kidnapped by Bowser will come into play, and Kamek will be among his many minions. It’s also interesting to see that Donkey Kong will appear in the movie, as he’s been part of Mario’s history since the beginning, with his 1981 arcade game seeing Mario (previously known as Jumpman) trying to rescue his then-girlfriend Pauline from the gorilla. Nowadays these two usually just cross paths in “event” games like Super Smash Bros., Mario Party and Mario Kart, so the fact that both Donkey Kong and Cranky Kong are showing up has me wondering if this movie will pave the way for a spinoff to more deeply explore the Kong side of the Nintendo universe.

Illumination’s Super Mario Bros. movie arrives in North American theaters on December 21, 2022. Learn what other movies come out next year in our 2022 release schedule.

Soon Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp’s exclusive club of actors who’ve played Willy Wonka on the big screen will welcome a new member. Earlier this year, Dune actor Timothée Chalamet was cast to play Wonka, though instead of him appearing in another direct adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Chalamet will follow the character at a time before he became the famed candy mogul. Now the upcoming Wonka movie has secured its second actor: Toy Story 4’s Keegan-Michael Key.

No details were provided by Deadline on who Keegan-Michael Key will play in Wonka, but his casting marks another notable update on the prequel. Those who watched Toy Story 4 will remember Key voicing Ducky opposite his Key & Peele costar Jordan Peele’s Bunny, while his other recent film credits include The Lion King remake, Dolemite is my Name and Playing with Fire. Along with his role in Wonka, Key will soon be heard reprising Murray the Mummy in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, as well as star in Disney’s live-action Pinocchio remake as the conniving anthropomorphic fox known as “Honest” John.

With barely any story details to work off of, it’s hard to say how Keegan-Michael Key fits into the Wonka picture. The most logical assumptions is that he’s either playing a mentor figure to Willy Wonka or appearing as the movie’s main villain, but whether it’s one of those roles or someone else, no doubt Key’s comedic chops will be prominently on display in the prequel. It’s also worth noting that since Wonka will be a musical, this’ll give Key another opportunity to show off his singing and dancing talents, as seen in The Prom, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey and the Apple TV+ series Schmigadoon!.

Wonka has been in development since 2016, the year that Warner Bros. secured the rights to the Willy Wonka character. By February 2018, Paul King, the director behind the first two Paddington movies, signed on to helm the prequel, and he’s not the only talent who connected to the beloved, marmalade-loving bear’s cinematic ventures. Simon Farnaby, who wrote penned the Paddington and Paddington 2 scripts, eventually signed on to write the latest draft of the Wonka screenplay.

Meanwhile, actors like Donald Glover, Ezra Miller and Ewan Gosling were reportedly in contention to play this generation’s Willy Wonka. Even Tom Holland was later mentioned as a potential candidate. Ultimately though, the role went to Timothée Chalamet, with his casting being announced back in May. Along with playing Paul Atreides in Denis Villeneuve’s soon-to-arrive Dune movie, Chalamet has also starred in movies like Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird, The King and Little Women.

With principal photography having recently begun in the United Kingdom, Wonka is set to come out on March 17, 2023. While we wait to learn who else will be joining Timothée Chalamet and Keegan-Michael Key in the cast, discover what movies will be playing in theaters sooner with our 2021 release schedule and 2022 release schedule.

It looks like Johnny Knoxville has found a new project following Jackass 4. Given the star has done more than enough for the franchise, which started out as an MTV reality stunt show in the early 2000s, it now looks like his next project will not be Jackass-related. Instead, he'll be teaming up with one of the Modern Family co-creators for a brand new streaming series.

Johnny Knoxville has starred in a total of six Jackass movies on top of the Jackass series, plus some extended cuts. The most recent in the franchise was Bad Grandpa, which came out in 2013; aka not particularly recently. Since the OG Jackass guys, including Knoxville, are getting a little old (no offense), none of them were planning on making another movie before the idea for Jackass Forever was born. I mean, you gotta consider all of the stunts they will be doing. However, with some added, younger, cast members, Jackass Forever moved forward in all its beautiful Jackass glory. But this time, it really could be the last time, at least for Knoxville and co.

With Jackass Forever releasing later this year, it was only just a matter of time before Knoxville and the others started looking for new projects. According to THR, Johnny Knoxville has been tapped to star in new Hulu comedy Reboot opposite none other than Keegan-Michael Key, with Modern Family co-creator Steve Levitan at the helm, which will be his first follow-up to the Emmy-winning series, which came to an end last year. Hulu did only give Reboot a pilot order, meaning that it has yet to be picked up as a series.

Per the outlet, the synopsis actually sounds a little meta:

It’s definitely an interesting concept and seems like it’s one to look forward to. Currently Johnny Knoxville and Keegan-Michael Key’s roles are unknown, so it’s hard to tell whether or not they will play either the cast or an old or new showrunner for the series within a series or something else entirely. With two big names already attached to the show, as well as the co-creator of arguably one of the best sitcoms of our time, it wouldn’t be surprising if Hulu did choose to move forward with Reboot. At least I'm hoping.

Johnny Knoxville is known for more than just the Jackass franchise, as he’s been in a number of movies. If Hulu gives Reboot a series order, it will mark one of Knoxville’s first actual TV roles outside of brief appearances including Drunk History and in SpongeBob. Hopefully it will be greenlighted.

Meanwhile, Steve Levitan, who serves as creator and executive producer, co-wrote the pilot alongside John Enbomb. Enbomb and Danielle Stokdyk also executive produce Reboot, which is from 20th Television. It’s interesting to point out that Levitan extended his deal with 20th in 2019 aka the studio behind Modern Family, which ran on ABC for 11 seasons.

Stay on the lookout for any more updates on Reboot and check out what's coming to Hulu soon, since it may be awhile before we hear about Reboot.

When it comes to musicals, TV audiences used to be mostly limited to live renditions of big screen releases, with full-scale original productions being delivered to the masses only on the rarest occasions. Now, however, a slightly more vast array of tune-driven projects exists, with Apple TV+'s Schmigadoon! the latest (and possibly greatest) in the recent line-up of small-screen musicals that also includes the now-defunct Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Central Park and others. And it cements another big comedy win for Apple TV+ just as Jason Sudeikis' mainstream success Ted Lasso is getting into Season 2.

For anyone who's a bit confused or wary of a show with an enigmatic title like Schmigadoon! - based on 1947's Brigadoon - let's go over some of the biggest reasons why Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong's new six-episode musical comedy should be the next breakthrough hit for Apple TV+.

The Town Of Schmigadoon! And Its Story Are Rich And Familiar

At its core, Schmigadoon! has as much in common with fairy tales as it does stage musicals. The town exists outside of measurable time and space, and basically serves as a moral, emotional and physical challenge to Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily's Strong's Josh and Melissa, the modern-day New York City couple that needs to genuinely discover "true love" before they are allowed to leave the endlessly quaint setting, whether it's together or apart. The episodes' structure juxtaposes Josh and Melissa's time in Schmigadoon with flashbacks depicting different and noteworthy points in their increasingly strained relationship, which adds to the whimsical nature despite being more firmly grounded in reality.

Schmigadoon! Is Made For People Who Love Musicals

From top to bottom, Schmigadoon! is a lovingly crafted parody that embraces the many musicals that inspired it, both in its full scope and in specific characters. For instance, Broadway star and recent American Horror Stories vet Aaron Tveit plays Danny, a womanizing carnival barker modeled after Carousel's Billy Bigelow. Meanwhile, Kristen Chenowith plays the magnificently stern preacher's wife Mildred Layton, who is based largely on The Music Man's Mrs. Shinn. And part of the fun of the show is watching how tropes and expectations get both bucked and fed into in equal amounts.

Schmigadoon! Is Also Made For People Who Don't Love Musicals

Just because Schmigadoon! creators Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio filled their new show with musical references, that doesn't mean viewers need to understand those references in order to enjoy the episodes, in the same way that you don't need to know that the Airport films exist in order to enjoy the classic spoof Airplane! Even if this was someone's very first experience with musical fiction, or if it was viewed by someone who absolutely abhors musicals, it would still be extremely effective, and is perhaps most similar to Galavant in that respect. The songs are that catchy, the lyrics are that clever, and the wordplay is that top-notch. To say nothing of the cast and their performances. Oh wait, let's not say nothing about those.

Schmigadoon!'s Cast Is A+, And Viewers Will Care About The Characters

Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key are stellar leads throughout Schmigadoon!, remaining likable even when their characters are being awful, while Alan Cumming's Mayor Aloysius Menlove may very well be the most amicable authoritative figure in all of fiction. Dove Cameron's farmer's daughter role could easily be a sexed-up stereotype, but she takes the role just enough beyond surface-level smarm. But arguably the standout character in the bunch is schoolteacher Emma Tate, as portrayed by Hamilton's Ariana DeBose, who really makes it feel possible that Schmigadoon could actually exist somewhere in the real world.

Kristen Chenowith's Big Moment

I'm not going to spoil anything here, since that would be a sin like few others on God's green Earth. Suffice to say, Kristen Chenowith delivers one of the most gloriously fabulous scenes of her career so far, and you won't know it's coming until you're already being wowed by it. And then you'll just want to rewind and go through it all again.

It's wild to me that, as someone who can appreciate musicals without ever truly being a fan of the genre, I am so wholly invested in not just one Apple TV+ musical comedy, but TWO of them. And while the animated Central Park scratches the itch for modernized approaches to the genre, Schmigadoon! is a reminder of why the genre's timeliness will always stay intact.

Along with Ted Lasso Season 2, Schmigadoon! is available to stream on Apple TV+, with new episodes releasing on Thursdays.

Apple TV+ has been coming out strong with some awesome series the last couple of years, from the hilarious Central Park to the heartwarming Ted Lasso. However, a newcomer is coming to the stage soon, added onto the 2021 TV shows that are debuting – Schmigadoon!

Yes, you read that right. The new musical comedy has come to our laptops and TVs through Apple TV+, joining the 2021 Summer TV schedule, giving us glorious skits and catchy tunes for several weeks. With so many stars in this one, there’s no doubt in my mind that you have seen this cast before. From Cecily Strong to Keegan-Michael Key and Dove Cameron, here is where you have seen the Schmigadoon! cast before.

Cecily Strong (Melissa Gimble)

As the first half of the couple who stumbles into the world of Schmigadoon!, Cecily Strong portrays Melissa Gimble. If that name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you might have seen her as a current cast member on the legendary primetime sketch show, Saturday Night Live, showing off her comedy skills.

If not, you’ve most likely seen her in the 2016 remake of the classic film, Ghostbusters, the sports-comedy film, The Bronze, or heard her voice on the animated comedy, The Awesomes. Cecily Strong has also had plenty of guest spots on TV shows as well, such as Superstore and Scream Queens. This, however, will be her first leading role in a live-action, non-sketch TV show, so it’s super exciting for her to be showing off her comedy skills in a leading lady way.

Keegan-Michael Key (Josh Skinner)

If you haven’t heard of Keegan-Michael Key, you’ve definitely been living under a rock. Portraying Josh Skinner, Key takes the second lead in Schmigadoon! He has been in plenty of TV shows that you might have seen him in before, namely the popular sketch show, Key and Peele, which he did with Jordan Peele. Key has also been in a couple of other television series, including the comedy series Playing House and the Netflix original series, Friends from College.

Keegan-Michael Key has also been in several films – almost too many to put down here. Some of his highlights are portraying Sammy in Pitch Perfect 2, voicing Murray the Mummy in the Hotel Transylvania series, playing Clarence in Keanu alongside Jordan Peele, voicing Ducky in Toy Story 4, playing Jerry Jones in Dolemite Is My Name, Gustafson in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, and Tom Hawkins in the Netflix musical, The Prom. Now that’s an actor with plenty of range.

Alan Cumming (Mayor Aloysius Menlove)

Portraying Mayor Aloysius Menlove in Schmigadoon!, Alan Cumming has been in the film and TV industry for a long time. However, another part of the entertainment world he has been a part of is theater, where he has performed in many productions, including Hamlet, The Accidental Death of an Anarchist, and Cabaret, for which he won a Tony Award.

Even so, Alan Cumming has been in plenty of television shows and films as well. For television, one of his bigger roles that you might have seen him in was The Good Wife, where he played Eli Gold. For film, some of his more popular roles were portraying Gutsy Smurf in The Smurfs film series, and performing in Battle of the Sexes, Goldeneye, and Son of the Mask. He’s definitely shown off some amazing talents over his years of acting, so it’s great to have him in Schmigadoon!.

Fred Armisen (Reverend Howard Layton)

In Schmigadoon!, Fred Armisen portrays Reverend Howard Layton, adding to the long list of many films and TV shows this famous actor/comedian has been in. Fred Armisen really came into the public eye when he signed on to become a cast member of Saturday Night Live, a role he would hold for several years, from 2002-2013.

However, after his time on SNL, Armisen went on to do many more projects, especially in comedy. He co-starred in the IFC sketch comedy, Portlandia, and the mockumentary IFC series, Documentary Now! with Bill Hader and Seth Meyers, two other SNL legends. Currently, he’s in the Showtime series, Moonbase 8, and has a recurring role on the Netflix animated comedy, Big Mouth. Fred Armisen has also done many film roles, with some of his big hits being Easy A, Anchorman, Battle of the Sexes, and plenty more.

Fred Armisen is also known for having some hilarious guest and recurring spots on famous sitcoms, such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, and so many others. He’s really been all over the place – it wouldn’t be a surprise if you’ve seen him elsewhere prior to Schmigadoon!.

Kristin Chenoweth (Margaret/Mildred Layton)

As Margert/Mildred Layton in Schmigadoon!, Kristin Chenoweth is the perfect fit for the musical role. Prior to her success in the film/TV realm, Kristin Chenoweth was (and still is) a very popular Broadway performer, with two major hits behind her – playing Sally in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Glinda in Wicked, the first of which she won a Tony Award for.

However, Kristin Chenoweth has done a lot in TV and film, as well. She had a recurring guest role on the popular Fox show, Glee, and the classic children’s show, Sesame Street. Chenoweth also had a recurring (later main) role on The West Wing as Annabeth Schott, showing off her drama skills as well. Recently, Chenoweth has portrayed Maleficent in the Disney Channel film series, Descendants, and had a role in the Netflix Christmas film, Holidate.

It’s great to have her on a show like Schmigadoon! where we get to hear her singing talents once again.

Aaron Tevit (Danny Bailey)

Portraying Danny Bailey, Aaron Tevit is a great choice for a show like Schmigadoon!, because he has been many musicals prior to this. For example, he was in Next to Normal, originating the role of Gabe, and as Frank Abagnale Jr. in the musical version of Catch Me If You Can, as well as playing Christian in the stage version of Moulin Rouge!, which he received a Tony nomination for.

Tevit has also taken his talents to film and TV before, portraying Enjolras in the 2013 film, Les Miserables, and Danny Zuko in Grease: Live. Other than musical talents, Tevit has also had a recurring role on the popular CW show, Gossip Girl, portrayed Mike Warren on Graceland, and Gareth Ritter on BrainDead. Tevit is also going to be in the upcoming American Horror Stories series on Hulu.

Dove Cameron (Betsey McDonough)

Dove Cameron, who portrays Betsey McDonough in Schmigadoon!, has a lot of TV credits. From a young age, she started with a dual role in Liv and Maddie, the popular Disney Channel series that won her a Daytime Emmy Award. While working at Disney, she also starred as Mal in the Descendants series, as the daughter of Maleficent (Kristin Chenoweth).

Cameron has also had a recurring role on the Marvel show, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and is going to be in the upcoming CW show, Powerpuff, a live-action version of The Powerpuff Girls, playing Bubbles.

In terms of film, Cameron hasn’t done as much as some of her co-stars, with one of her major roles being in the Netflix film, Dumplin’. However, after her role in Schmigadoon!, we might get to see her in more films soon. Her musical talents are second to none.

Ariana DeBose (Emma Tate)

In Schmigadoon!, you’ve already seen we have plenty of musical talent, and Ariana DeBose only adds onto that list, playing Emma Tate. Ariana DeBose has done a lot in theater, including her role as The Bullet in Hamilton: An American Musical, and main roles in both A Bronx Tale and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.

In terms of film/TV, Ariana DeBose hasn’t done much yet, with her only major role recently being in The Prom on Netflix, starring as Alyssa Greene, but you better watch out for her. In 2021, she’s going to be portraying Anita in the Steven Spielberg remake of West Side Story, so you’ll for sure see this talented actress popping up on your newsfeed after Schmigadoon!.

Jaime Camil (Doc Lopez)

Portraying Doc Lopez in Schmigadoon!, Jaime Camil has been all over the place – namely on Spanish language TV. While he’s done Spanish dubs for Open Season and Bee Movie, he’s also had voice roles in films such as Coco, The Secret Life of Pets, and Hotel Transylvania 3.

If you’re thinking you’ve seen him in American television, he did have a main role in the popular series, Jane the Virgin, where he played Rogelio de la Vega, and in Legend of the Three Caballeros.

However, Jaime Camil is more known for his roles in telenovelas – and he’s been in several. His big one was portraying Fernando Mendiola in La Fea Mas Bella, where he played the role for 300 episodes, but he’s been in many others, including Mujer De Madera, Los Exitosos Perez, Por Ella Soy Eva, and so many others.

Ann Harada (Florence Menlove)

In Schmigadoon!, Ann Harada portrays Florence Menlove. Prior to her appearance on the show, she was in the off-Broadway show, Avenue Q, originating the role of Christmas Eve. She also had roles in Broadway productions of Les Miserables, 9 to 5, Cinderella, along with several others.

However, Schmigadoon! is actually her first major role in film/TV, and it’s a welcome entry into the entertainment world for this talented singer.

Also in Schmigadoon, Jane Krakowski and Martin Short both guest-starred, as the Countess Gabriele Von Bierkom and the Leprechaun, respectively, adding onto the already long list of stars.

Jeez, with a talented cast like that, Schmigadoon! seems sure to succeed – maybe even become one of the best Apple TV+ shows that the streaming site has to offer. I can already feel myself singing along with the songs. Next thing you know, I’m going to be in a musical, too.

When it comes to comedy legends, there are many you can think of right on the spot. People like Robin Williams or Adam Sandler are always on those lists. But with me, my thing has always been the comedy legends of today, the ones that have been up and coming for years and have really established themselves as some of the funniest guys or girls out there. One of those legends for me is Keegan-Michael Key.

From his time on Key and Peele to some of his more recent escapades into musicals and comedic movies, Keegan-Michael Key has done a lot that fans enjoy. Online, there are plenty of options for people who love the comedic actor to stream, from some of his best movies on Netflix to the best movies on Amazon Prime. Here’s what to watch if you love the Key and Peele star.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

First up on our list, let’s take a look at, in my eyes, the perfect Christmas story. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey tells the story of an amazing toymaker who loses his spark to create when he grows older, and how his granddaughter comes into his life, helping with a magical invention that could change their lives forever.

Let’s start out with the music – oh my God. It’s some of the best music out there. Truly, the lyrics, along with the beats, to these songs will be stuck in your head, even if it’s not Christmas time. Keegan-Michael Key portrays the villain in this, which is honestly a wonderful change of pace from his usual roles in comedies and even has an awesome villain song that you can bop your head to. Even if it’s not Christmas time, this movie is worth the watch.

Stream Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey on Netflix.

Toy Story 4 (Disney+)

When the announcement of a fourth Toy Story came out, I was a bit concerned due to the fact that I believed Toy Story 3 was the perfect ending to the Toy Story franchise. However, there was no reason to doubt Toy Story 4, as it was a wonderful add-on to the classic story of toys, where we follow Woody, Buzz, and the gang with their new kid, Bonnie, on a story of belonging and acceptance.

Toy Story 4 also took the chance to introduce some awesome new characters – one of them being Ducky, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, alongside his buddy, Bunny, voiced by Jordan Peele. You can already see where this is going. These two were amazing in the roles they were given, from their awesome chemistry to their scenes with Buzz - even the schemes that they came up with were some of the funniest parts of the film. Truly an outstanding duo.

Stream Toy Story 4 on Disney+.

Saturday Night Light (Hulu)

Saturday Night Live has had some awesome guests in their more than 45-year run, with some amazing cast members that have come from it, like comedy legend Eddie Murphy, or more recent cast members like Amy Poehler. However, did you know that Keegan-Michael Key has only ever hosted one episode of Saturday Night Live?

With someone who is spectacular in sketch comedy, you’d think Key would get on there more, but even so, with the recent episode he did on the popular primetime sketch show, he rocked the house. From great skits like a parody of The Last Dance to him beating up a puppet with Kenan Thompson, you’ll be holding your side from laughing too hard watching this episode.

Stream Key’s Saturday Night Live episode on Hulu.

The Prom (Netflix)

I’m starting to see a trend now with Keegan-Michael Key – musicals are something he really seems to enjoy doing, and it shows with The Prom. In this Ryan Murphy-directed musical, based on the Broadway musical of the same name, we see two young women fight for justice for the right to go to prom together as a couple, along with some famous friends to help along the way.

As the principal of James Madison High School, Keegan-Michael Key does a fantastic job in his role. From the musical numbers he’s in, like “It’s Not About Me,” to the chemistry he has with his costars such as the impeccable Meryl Streep or Nicole Kidman, he dances his way into stardom. Who would have thought a principal would have this much skill to get down on the dance floor? Well, if it’s Keegan-Michael Key, you better believe it.

Stream The Prom on Netflix.

Friends From College (Netflix)

But just because Keegan-Michael Key has done some awesome films, that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t been in some really funny TV shows. Friends From College stars Key, alongside costars Fred Savage, Cobie Smulders, and more, telling the story of a close-knit group of friends from Harvard who are all in their 40s and are trying to navigate their lives in NYC – with a side of cheating as well.

The original series on Netflix ran for two seasons, but in those two seasons, we got to see a new part of Keegan-Michael Key that we don’t necessarily get to see that often. Mixed in with his common and hilarious comedic antics, Keegan-Michael Key really gets to show off his talent as a dramatic actor as well, displaying real-world situations accurately, such as the affair that he’s having, and the butterfly effect it has. It’s a great change of pace from his normal roles – and a welcome one at that.

Stream Friends From College on Netflix.

Dolemite Is My Name (Netflix)

If we want to talk about a big switch from his usual roles, look no further than Dolemite Is My Name, an original Netflix film that Keegan-Michael Key had a main role in. In this biographical film, Eddie Murphy stars as Rudy Ray Moore, who is known for playing the character Dolemite in his stand-up routine and blaxploitation films, starting with the titular film, Dolemite, showing the struggles of his life.

Key portrayed Jerry Jones, a screenwriter who is the complete opposite of the craziness of Rudy Ray Moore, creating a wonderful and intriguing contrast. Eddie Murphy and Keegan-Michael Key have stunning chemistry together in the scenes they are in, showing an astonishing connection between both comedy and drama. In terms of film, this is most certainly one of Key’s best to date, and I can only imagine what he’ll do going forward after an awesome movie like this one on his resume.

Stream Dolemite Is My Name on Netflix.

Rick And Morty (HBO Max)

I can’t go through a Keegan-Michael Key list without mentioning his iconic character in Rick and Morty. The popular adult cartoon shows the adventures of brilliant yet cynical Rick Sanchez and his nerdy grandson Morty, coming across several different aliens and space adventures that put their lives at risk on a daily basis.

In the Season 2 episode, “A Rickle In Time,” Keegan-Michael Key guest-starred as the Fourth Dimensional Being, an alien that was eternal and someone who has to keep the timelines in check – and was completely fed up with Rick and Morty’s sh*t, and decided to lock them up for splitting the timelines. His character was so iconic that he was brought back in Season 4 of the show, nearly four years later.

Stream Key’s Rick and Morty episode on HBO Max.

Key And Peele (Hulu)

It’s the reason you’re here, aren’t you? While Keegan-Michael Key has been around for some time, what really made him pop up on the scene was the sketch show that he and his buddy, Jordan Peele, did from 2012-2015, Key and Peele.

The show ran for five seasons and had some of the best sketches out there. If you for some reason haven’t watched Key and Peele, watch it now. You won’t regret it. While it’s amazing that both of these actors have gone on to do incredible things – Jordan Peele even won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for his critically acclaimed film, Get Out – it’s always fun to revisit these two at their roots and laugh my butt off. I will always remember the “Substitute Teacher.” Best skit of my life. I’m already laughing.

Stream Key and Peele on Hulu.

Hotel Transylvania 2 (Amazon Rental)

While Hotel Transylvania 2 isn’t available to stream, renting it is a must if you love Keegan-Michael Key. The sequel to the popular animated film, Hotel Transylvania, follows the story of Mavis having a half-vampire, half-human child, and Dracula, along with his buddies, are trying to find out if the young boy has any powers yet – putting him in a lot of danger and plenty of mischievous adventures.

While Keegan-Michael Key did not play Murray the Mummy in the first Hotel Transylvania movie – that was CeeLo Green – Key takes over the role with style, almost adding in a wonderful new comedic aspect to Drac’s gang. Key also continued to play Murray in the third film and will reprise his role in the upcoming fourth and final film, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, so it’s clear that Key loves the wrapped-up monsters. And honestly, you will too if animated movies are your go-to.

Rent Hotel Transylvania 2 on Amazon.

Pitch Perfect 2 (Amazon Rental)

It might be the last on this list, but it’s certainly not the least. Pitch Perfect 2, the sequel to the popular college film, Pitch Perfect, follows the Barden Bellas as they take their a cappella skills worldwide, creating a name for themselves after winning the national championship of a cappella, while also trying to maintain a normal college life.

Beca, the main character of the Pitch Perfect series, has an internship at a recording studio – and her boss is Keegan-Michael Key, who plays Sammy, a rude but very successful music producer. His scenes with Anna Kendrick are some of the best in the movie, especially when he realizes that Beca actually has talent as a record producer. Plus, Sammy’s moments with Dax, another intern, will have you laughing so hard (“Say one more hipster thing, and I’m going to shove you in your vintage bassoon case”).

Rent Pitch Perfect 2 on Amazon.

My personal favorite has always been Jingle Jangle – there’s just something about Keegan-Michael Key all dressed up in that outfit but acting as a villain that makes me snort with laughter every single time. No matter which one of these options is your go-to, you can bet that there’s plenty for you to stream. Now, all we have to do is wait for some of Keegan-Michael Key's next movies.

The Last Dance was a huge success when it came out in 2020, probably because it dropped at a time when many, many people were spending more time at home and also simply because it followed all-time captivating personality Michael Jordan and the many teammates and foes whom he played with and against over the years. After its first airing, which was ten hours and still not nearly long enough, we didn't get a ton of good spoofs about the documentary, but thankfully, Keegan-Michael Key was on SNL this week and gave us a great sketch that was worth the wait.

On Saturday Night Live this weekend, Keegan-Michael Key went all out, even including a sketch with The Muppets at one point-- a sketch you could only really get when a comedian is hosting the show. However, for me, the bit that resonated the most was probably Keegan-Michael Key’s spoof of The Last Dance. If you missed it, take a look.

For those who watched The Last Dance, there's going to be an immediate familiarity with what this scene is in reference to. In the documentary, Michael Jordan, who is consistently portrayed both by the doc and in his own words as being hyper-competitive, plays a game with the United Center security guards in which they throw a quarter against the wall. In the doc, Jordan is bested by security guard John Michael Wozniak, who then turns and does the Jordan shrug right in his face. It's absolute gold in the documentary and led to a bunch of articles exploring how close Jordan was with the security guards at the United Center. The moment also launched tons of memes and conversations on Twitter from people who couldn't get enough of Wozniak rubbing it in Jordan's face.

In the SNL sketch, Keegan-Michael Key plays Michael Jordan and John Michael Wozniak is played by Heidi Gardner, complete with his trademark blond hair. The back and forth starts in a very similar manner to the actual documentary, but instead of the game ending with Wozniak's shrug and victory, Jordan goes into full competition mode and increasingly ups the stakes until Wozniak is left heavily in debt, without pants and explaining to his wife that she'll need to spend a night with MJ. It's all ridiculous but also feels oddly possible given how aggressive Jordan is shown being throughout The Last Dance. Kenan Thompson also shows up as Charles Barkley in the sketch, which plays well because the impression is spot-on as always and Barkley actually plays a pretty extensive and fun role in The Last Dance, as well, although more as an on-court rival and not so much as someone gambling on quarters against the security guards.

We also get an appearance from Chris Redd as Dennis Rodman, which works really well here too. Rodman was, of course, very well known to basketball fans and those who follow pop culture prior to the documentary, but The Last Dance was the first extended glimpse into the larger-than-life personality for many younger viewers, and they could not get enough. The scene where he talked about how he rebounded was an all-time classic, and people couldn't get enough of his Las Vegas exploits with Carmen Electra either.

Moving forward, there are several documentaries attempting to pick up where The Last Dance left off. There is one coming about the Lakers dynasty. There's another following Tom Brady, and I'm sure there's a ton more we haven't heard about yet either. I'm not sure any will be able to recapture the magic of The Last Dance, which was a perfect storm of timing, over-the-top personalities and brutal honesty to the point of pissing off some players. As a huge sports fan, though, I cannot wait to watch them try.

As a Penn Stater, I’m always one for supporting my alumni. And that’s why I knew that when it was time to do a piece on my favorite James Franklin-impersonator, I had to take it because Keegan-Michael Key is one of the funniest people out there. With everything that he has done in the past, it’s no surprise that the next couple of years are going to be filled with projects for the comedic actor.

From new series on Apple TV+ to moving on over to the Disney realm, there are plenty of Keegan-Michael Key movies and TV shows to look forward to. This is everything that we know about the future of Keegan-Michael Key.

Schmigadoon! – 2021 (Post-Production)

One of the projects that Keegan-Michael Key has coming up is one I'm anticipating most. Apple TV+ has been coming out with some great shows since its debut not that long ago, from the Golden Globe-winning Ted Lasso to See to so many others. However, Apple TV+ will be adding a brand new addition to its library in the form of Schmigadoon!

Schmigadoon!, according to TV Line, is an upcoming musical comedy that stars both Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong. If you’ve heard her name before, it might sound familiar from the ever-popular Saturday Night Live. The show follows the story of a couple who go on a backpacking trip and end up discovering a magical town where everyone acts as if they are in a 1940s musical.

But there’s always a catch, and in this, they can’t leave this town until they find “true love.”

Schmigadoon! already sounds like an awesome premise, but the additional casting that has been added onto this already star-filled showed is astounding. We have people like Kristin Chenoweth from Wicked, Jane Krakowski from 30 Rock, Dove Cameron from Descendants, Ariana DeBose from Hamilton and The Umbrella Academy and so many more.

According to Apple's February 2021 announcement, Schmigadoon! is set to premiere this summer in 2021. There’s no set date yet, but if this series is going to be coming out as soon as June possibly, I’m all for it.

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania – 2021 (Post-Production)

Moving back into the movie world, we take a look at the fourth sequel (yes, you read that right, fourth) to the Hotel Transylvania series, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. There wasn’t a set release date until recently, or even a title, but the title has since been set to Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, with a release date set for July 23, 2021.

Keegan-Michael Key, who will be reprising his role as Murray the mummy, continues to work with an all-star cast behind him. According to The Wrap, former actors who have starred in the past movies are set to return, including Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg. However, it looks like Adam Sandler will be sitting this movie out, as Forbes notes Brian Hull will be voicing Sandler's Dracula character.

According to Variety, Selena Gomez is also going to be getting an “upgraded” position and stepping into an executive producer role, while also still voicing her classic character of Mabel.

There isn’t much known about what the plot is going to be about, but considering this is supposed to be the last installment in the Hotel Transylvania series, which has collectively earned over $1.3 billion, it’s sure to be a good one. 

Key's character Murray is only one of the many friends that Dracula has, so I’m sure that whatever ghoulish adventures they seem to stumble into, it will be full of fun.

Wendell And Wild – 2021 (Filming)

Now this is one that I’m super excited about, if not just for the pairing alone. Wendell and Wild, according to Variety, is an upcoming Netflix animated film that will tell the story of scheming demon brothers, which the movie is titled about, and how they must face off against their archenemy to somehow get out of hell.

Keegan-Michael Key is set to star alongside his former co-star of Key & Peele, Jordan Peele. And I don’t know if you’ve seen Key & Peele, but to me, it was one of the funniest sketch comedy shows out there. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. While the end of their show was the end of an era and both of them have gone on to achieve some amazing projects (like Peele’s Get Out), it’s certainly going to be interesting seeing them together again – even if it is just in animated form.

But will they ever do a Key and Peele movie together someday? In an interview with ComicBook.com, Keegan-Michael Key opened up about working with Peele:

With this in mind, it would certainly be fun to see these two team up again. They do make comedy gold, from having starring roles together in films like Keanu to voicing characters in Toy Story 4. Even so, I’m excited for when this comes out. While there's no set release date yet, it’s certainly something I’ll look forward to.

The Bubble – TBA (Filming)

While there hasn’t been much news that has come out about The Bubble, the cast list itself has got me amped for what this awesome movie could bring. Keegan-Michael Key is set to take up a role in The Bubble, a new Netflix comedy that is currently filming, according to Deadline.

Set to direct is Judd Apatow, who is known for several other amazing comedic hits like the Steve Carrell classic The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Trainwreck. With this in mind, I’m already getting my side ready for the number of laughs that will surely escape me when watching this film.

However, Keegan-Michael Key isn’t the only person to look forward to in this film. According to Deadline, there are several stars that have already been confirmed to join the ranks of The Bubble. This includes The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal, Avengers: Endgame’s Karen Gillan, and several others.

The plot roughly follows a group of actors and actresses who are stuck inside of a pandemic bubble at a hotel, and are all trying to complete a film. With a premise like this that feels almost like something you’d hear about in the news, and an A-list cast to follow, I’m sure The Bubble will give Keegan-Michael Key the chance to flex his comedic muscles even more.

Pinocchio – TBA (Filming)

As we all know, Disney has been all about making these live-action remakes for some time now and they most certainly do not seem intent on stopping anytime soon. One of the latest classic animated films to get ordered a brand-new version is Pinocchio, And while you could have sold me already with the cast they have set – I mean, Tom Hanks as Geppetto? There’s no better combination – they signed me on, even more, when Keegan-Michael Key joined.

According to The Wrap, Keegan-Michael Key will be playing Honest John, one of the antagonists of the film. While we’ve already seen Keegan-Michael Key show off his skills of being a villain in the musical Jingle Jangle back on Netflix in 2020, it’ll be fun to see what kind of voice skills he had can bring to the party.

Keegan-Michael Key isn’t the only star in this live-action film, however. The Pinocchio cast also includes several other A-list names that have signed up for Pinocchio, such as Joseph Gordan-Levitt as Jiminy Cricket, Cynthia Erivo as The Blue Fairy, Luke Evans as The Coachman and so many more.

There isn’t a set date for the release of this film as was expected, but with Disney, I’m sure that they’ll be getting this to Disney+ as soon as possible.

August Snow – TBA (Announced)

Now to our last item on this list, we move back to a TV series, where Keegan-Michael Key has signed on to headline an upcoming PI drama, titled August Snow, according to Deadline.

This show, which is in development for ABC, is based on the August Snow novels, which follows the story of a biracial former detective who grew up in Detroit’s Mexicantown, and his ups and downs of his life after leaving the force and sort of becoming a quote-unquote “Robin Hood of the hood.”

Per Deadline's article, August Snow received a script commitment in January, so it sounds like it's still in the development stages. While Keegan-Michael Key is known for more of his comedic moments and movies that focus on his comedy skill, it’ll be interesting to see him take on a role that’s so different from what he usually plays, should this project go to series. 

Keegan-Michael Key is actually a Michigan native, according to Deadline, so taking part in a series that takes place in his home state most likely means a lot to him. Here's hoping things work out for it.

Which one of these projects are you looking forward to the most? I know it’s only a matter of time before I get stitches in my side from laughing so hard. The new 2021 movies with him in it can’t come soon enough.

When it comes to Modern Family, there are so many stories and characters who intersect on a regular basis. While there have been celebrities who have popped up for recurring storylines on the long-time running show, there have also been several Modern Family actors who have appeared once or twice.

Most of these you might have forgotten, as some were from a long time ago. I mean, the show did run for eleven seasons, so there are guaranteed to be plenty of guest stars who have disappeared into the backs of our minds. These ten actors and actresses appeared on Modern Family at some point in time – let’s see how many you can remember.

Lin-Manuel Miranda (Guillermo)

He certainly didn’t throw away his shot to be on TV.

Before the success of Hamilton and the worldwide phenomenon that Lin-Manuel Miranda became, he was known for a few smaller projects, one of which was In The Heights, a Tony-award-winning production. However, prior to him starting to expand his horizons with amazing work such as Moana, Mary Poppins Returns and more, Miranda had a guest spot on Modern Family.

In this episode, he portrays Guillermo, a man who meets Gloria at a grocery store where he works. Gloria decides to bring him home to pitch his innovative dog training ideas to Jay. It’s certainly a smaller guest role, but even funnier to watch now that Lin-Manuel Miranda has reached higher heights of fame.

Winston Duke (Dwight)

To be honest, M’Baku was one of my favorite parts of Black Panther, just because, with all the drama that of that now-classic, he had some of the best one-liners in the movie. However, prior to him appearing in the hit Marvel movie, as well as the horror-thriller Us, he appeared in a couple of episodes of Modern Family.

In his episodes, Dwight, Duke’s character, was the star player on the football team that Cameron coached, and he ended up staying with Cam and Mitchell for a while after his home life became unstable. While he wasn’t in the series for long, his story certainly had more impact than many other pop-up celebrities who have appeared on the show.

Dan Levy (Jonah)

Before his success on the mega-hit that was Schitt’s Creek, Dan Levy had some smaller guest appearances on shows like Modern Family. While Schitt’s Creek was already on air at the time, it would take a while for the show to become as popular as it did. And, his character was just as hilarious as you would expect him to be.

Jonah, Levy’s character, is actually a courtroom sketch artist, who draws unflattering pictures of Mitchell when they are in court. Is it silly? Yes. It is still hilariously funny? Of course it is. It’s Dan Levy. You really can’t go wrong.

Keegan-Michael Key (Tom)

While Keegan-Michael Key has had plenty of work on his hands, from his projects on TV hits like Key & Peele, to movies like Jingle Jangle and Pinocchio, which will be coming out in the next couple of years, he is no stranger to guest roles on sitcoms. That’s exactly what happened with Modern Family.

In this episode, Key’s character, Tom, is part of a couple that Claire and Phil meet while on vacation. While they do hit it off and end up all going on double dates together, it seems that Claire and Phil always ended up with the check – a truly annoying circumstance. But, I mean, how can you not smile when eating dinner with Keegan-Michael Key? I’d pay for his check any time.

Edward Norton (Izzy)

While he was, most certainly, extremely famous prior to making his appearance on Modern Family, Edward Norton was still a great addition to the cast for one episode. While Norton has been in such hits as Fight Club and American History X, he takes a bit of a turn in this – a comedic one.

Norton’s character, Izzy, is hired by Claire because she believes that he was once part of Phil’s favorite band. Hilariously, though, was not and Phil has no idea where any of his music came from, creating a mess of a situation where they basically invited a total stranger into their home. Sounds like a normal Dunphy weekday, to me.

James Marsden (Barry)

This was one I really forgot because it was so early in the series that it happened, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s not a hilarious moment. You’ve seen James Marsden play a wide variety characters in films like Hairspray, the X-Men franchise, maybe even The Notebook, but in Modern Family, he’s simply a hot guy in a hot tub.

Seriously, that’s his role. In this early episode of Modern Family, Marsden plays Barry, a man that Cam and Mitchell find in their hot tub one night and decide that because he’s good-looking, they’ll allow him to stay. Near the end of the episode, thought, they end up finding out he has been staying in their daughter’s playhouse in the back. I can’t tell you how uncomfortably funny I found the episode the first time I saw it.

Aisha Tyler (Wendy)

Aisha Tyler, best known for her work in some big-time TV shows like Ghost Whisperer and Criminal Minds, also ended up stopping by the Modern Family set at one point for a guest appearance. In this episode, she plays Wendy, a former classmate of Mitchell’s at law school.

What’s even more interesting is that Mitchell actually ends up reporting to Wendy at the legal aid society which she founded, so it intertwines their lives even further. While it’s one of the most low-key guest appearances on this list, it’s certainly one of the best ones, in my opinion, for how natural it felt.

Josh Gad (Kenneth)

Ah…do you remember pre-Frozen Josh Gad? I swear every time I hear his voice now, all I can think about is Olaf. But, then I see his face and I’m reminded that he’s been really funny ion several things, and that was no different when he made his guest appearance on Modern Family.

In this episode from 2011, Phil meets Kenneth, a man who is now a billionaire because he, ironically, looked up to Phil and idolized him, trying to achieve his success through some of the methods that Phil used in the past. While the guest appearance is one of the older ones here, it creates a great character-building moment for Phil, establishing the question “what would Phil Dunphy do?”

John DiMaggio (Boat Captain)

Line this up as another one of those cameos that have surely evaded your mind. John DiMaggio actually had an appearance on the show. You may not recognize his face, but his voice is one of the most iconic out there, as he plays a robot that everyone loves – that’s right, he's Bender from Futurama. Which makes this rare guest appearance so much more fun.

In this episode, DiMaggio simply plays a boat captain, who stops Gloria, Jay, and Mitch from boarding. Again, it was so long ago, and such a small role, but if you know, you know.

Lauren Cohan (Receptionist)

I can almost guarantee that you didn’t remember this one – because I certainly didn’t. As a The Walking Dead fan, I know Lauren Cohan as soon as I see her. I know who she is and how awesome of an actress she is. So, color me surprised when I re-watched the show and noticed that she actually had a Modern Family guest role.

Don’t be shocked, it was quite a small role. She played a receptionist who guided our favorite characters in the right direction. But, I mean, if you’re a fan of The Walking Dead or even Supernatural, you know exactly who she is, which makes her appearance even more entertaining to see.

Which one of these surprised you the most? It’s a shame that Modern Family won’t be on the 2021 TV schedule but I’m sure there will be so many other comedies to look forward to as well – with even more amazing guest appearances.

Considering how long medical dramas like ER tend to last, how often cast members rotate, and how frequently it require new actors to play the patient(s) of the week, the cast list is unsurprisingly, but still impressively, large. The aforementioned NBC series lasted 15 seasons (from 1994-2009) and made A-listers out of George Clooney, Don Cheadle, and Julianna Margulies to name just a few, but did you know Chadwick Boseman was a guest star before he became a household name?

The late, Marvel movie alum is far from the only beloved celebrity to make an early appearance on ER. In fact, we found an overwhelming amount of notable names to choose from, but settled on a still sizable 20 to include below, starting with one of the busiest and most respected actresses of her generation.

Jessica Chastain (Dahlia Taslitz)

In her acting debut, two-time Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain played a 19-year-old who appears to have done a faulty job taking care of her brain damaged father on ER’s tenth season. Coincidentally, the It: Chapter Two star will soon appear in The Good Nurse - the true crime story of an MD (Eddie Redmayne) whose “faulty” performance causes hundreds of patient deaths.

Chadwick Boseman (Derek Taylor)

In the final season of ER, a then-31-year-old Chadwick Boseman appeared as a boxer alongside screen legend (and future The Mandalorian star) Carl Weathers as his father. After playing the lead of Black Panther just a decade later, the actor would become a screen legend himself and will be remembered as such long after his untimely death in August 2020, following a private cancer battle, at the age of 43.

J.K. Simmons (Gus Loomer)

Speaking of legendary Marvel movie performances, Palms Springs star J.K. Simmons reprised J. Jonah Jameson for the MCU in Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019. Back in 2004, on ER, the future Oscar winner played a man more concerned with the state of his Hummer than his own health after suffering a crash that he survived, but two others did not.

Danny Pudi (Mahir Kardatay)

Community’s Abed Nadir actor Danny Pudi had a more low-key Marvel movie appearance as a S.H.I.E.L.D. communications technician in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. His second acting gig was a prominent guest role on Season 12 of ER as a man who gets in a violent brawl with his sister’s boyfriend while she is treated at County General for stab wounds in the neck.

Chris Pine (Levine)

Danny Pudi would later appear in 2016’s Star Trek Beyond opposite Chris Pine, playing Capt. James T. Kirk a third time before starring in two Wonder Woman movies as Steve Trevor. This impressive career all started with an appearance on Season 9 of ER lasting mere seconds as a patient still drunk from a Valentine’s Day party… from five days earlier.

Anton Yelchin (Robbie Edelstein)

Chris Pine’s Star Trek co-star Anton Yelchin also made his debut on ER as a 10-year-old survivor of a car crash that killed his parents. Sadly, the talented actor passed away in 2016, at the age of 27, when his own Jeep rolled backward, struck him, and pinned him against the his home’s security fence.

Dakota Fanning (Delia Chadsey)

Another one of Anton Yelchin’s earlier roles was in the Steven Spielberg-produced sci-fi miniseries Taken opposite an 8-year-old Dakota Fanning. The now 26-year-old Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood actress also made her debut on ER as a 6-year-old recovering leukemia patient whose need for further chemo treatment is discovered after suffering a car accident.

Kathy Griffin (Dolores Minky)

Speaking of Quentin Tarantino movies, he actually directed a Season 1 episode of ER starring Kathy Griffin, who had previously worked with the director on Pulp Fiction. The comedian and former Bravo reality show star plays the troop leader for eight young Ranger Scouts who are all sent to County General with diarrhea.

Shia LaBeouf (Darnel Smith)

After ER, Kathy Griffin would a land a starring role on the sitcom Suddenly Susan, on which a young Shia LaBeouf once guest starred on. The former Disney Channel and Transformers star, who later made a name for himself with bizarre performance art (among other things), also appeared on the medical drama's sixth season as a patient with muscular dystrophy.

Josh Gad (Sgt. Bruce Larabee)

Also famous for his work with Disney, following his Tony-nominated performance in The Book of Mormon, is Josh Gad - the voice of Olaf in the Frozen movies. His first gig as part of the Screen Actors Guild was a 2005 episode ER as a combat medic stationed in Iraq with Michael Gallant (Sharif Atkins).

Katee Sackhoff (Jason’s Girlfriend)

Josh Gad also lent his his voice to the animated Star Wars: Rebels series, which also stars Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan Kryze - whom she recently brought to live action on The Mandalorian. Before Battlestar Galactica sparked her career as sci-fi royalty, she starred on a Halloween episode of ER from 2002 which, coincidentally, is the year she appeared in the infamous Halloween: Resurrection. Bonus fact: this was the first of four episodes starring MCU's future War Machine actor Don Cheadle.

Ewan McGregor (Duncan Stewart)

Speaking of Star Wars actors, playing a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy skyrocketed Ewan McGregor to the A-list. The Golden Globe-winning Scotsman actor had already received acclaim for his lead role in Trainspotting a year before playing a desperate man holding Dr. Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) and others hostage at a convenience store on ER's third season.

Nick Offerman (Rog)

Ewan McGregor won his Golden Globe for FX's Fargo, which, in its previous season, had starred Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson and Megan Mullally's husband) in a recurring role. The actor made his TV debut as aspiring rock star whose bass player band mate is rushed into County General on ER's mockumentary style Season 4 premiere that was filmed and broadcasted live.

Adam Scott (David Kerstetter)

Nick Offerman's Parks and Recreation co-star Adam Scott (who has made more dramatic turns recently in Black Mass or the HBO series Big Little Lies) can also boast ER as one of his earliest acting gigs. In the medical drama's first season, the then 22-year-old played a man bleeding out of his chest after being hit by a car.

Lin Shaye (Margaret)

Adam Scott also a few horror movies under his belt, as recently as Krampus or as early as Hellraiser: Bloodline, but Lin Shaye of Insidious and A Nightmare on Elm Street fame, a living legend of the genre. The 77-year-old actress, and sister of New Line Cinema founder Bob Shaye, also had the honor appearing on the final episode of ER.

Octavia Spencer (Maria Jones)

Another star I regard as an underrated Scream Queen (for Drag Me to Hell, the title role of Ma, and the grandmother in Robert Zemeckis' The Witches remake) is Octavia Spencer. Yet, years before she became the Academy Award-winning star of The Help, the actress appeared on Season 5 of ER as a pregnant woman thinking of having her third abortion.

Keegan-Michael Key (Witkowski)

While his best friend and writing parter Jordan Peele has since graduated into scarier and dramatic projects more frequently, Keegan-Michael Key is still trucking with plenty of comedic parts on his resume as of late. However, ironically, the now 49-year-old former MADtv star made his TV debut on ER in the eighth season of the popular and often humorless medical drama

Kal Penn (Narajan)

After hitting it big as one-half of the titular duo from the smash hit stoner comedy Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Kal Penn would soon graduate into more serious projects, such as a position in the Obama Administration and playing a doctor on House from 2007-2012. His first time playing a medical professional, however, was in a brief appearance on ER in a 2001 episode from the series' eighth season.

Jared Padalecki (Paul Harris)

Early 2021 sees Jared Padalecki graduate to a new genre, specifically the western, as the title character of The CW's Walker after chasing ghosts and goblins on Supernatural as Sam Winchester for 15 seasons. Yet, while the 38-year-old Scream King was still a series regular on Gilmore Girls, he played a high school student who gets in a car crash with his father, played by Jim Belushi, after arguing over his future as a hockey player on a Season 7 episode of ER.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Firefighter Larkin)

Starring as Jared Padalecki's father on Supernatural was Jeffrey Dean Morgan, whose best known role in the realm of medical TV dramas is on Grey's Anatomy as Denny Duquette, Izzie Stevens' (Katherine Heigl) patient and love interest. However, it was only a few years earlier when the prolific comic book adaptation actor appeared on the seventh season of ER as a firefighter undergoing a leg amputation.

What do you think? Does seeing these celebrities before their prime make you want to rewatch ER from the beginning to point out even more of the stars your may have missed? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on the long-running medical drama, as well as even more inside looks into famous guest stars that may have slipped your mind, here on CinemaBlend.

Live theater is one of the many industries currently suffering as a result of global health issues. And while Broadway theaters remain dark until audiences can safely gather, a movie version of hit musical The Prom recently arrived on Netflix. Directed by Ryan Murphy and helming all-star talent like Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, the movie released last weekend and has been trending on the streaming service since. The cast also includes Keegan-Michael Key, who explained to us exactly why his song "We Look to You" was so important to his process.

Keegan-Michael Key plays Principal Hawkins in The Prom, and is a fierce advocate for the movie's protagonist Emma. He also shared a connection with Meryl Streep's character Dee Dee, and they share a number of scenes together. In "We Look to You" Key got to serenade the Oscar winner, as Hawkins explains the importance of live theater for audiences. In the above video he shared with CinemaBlend's Sarah El-Mahmoud what it was like working with Streep, and how his real-life feelings informed the performance. As Key put it,

Well, there you have it. Because while Keegan-Michael Key is obviously different from his character in The Prom, singing his big number "We Look to You" was somewhat easy. Namely because the song celebrates an accomplished actor, and his scene partner was the legendary Meryl Streep. After all, she's arguably the most celebrated actress of all time. #RelatableContent.

Keegan-Michael Key's conversation with CinemaBlend's Sarah El-Mahmoud shows what it's like for people who get to work with Meryl Streep. The three-time Oscar winning actress has a reputation for a reason, something she shared with her The Prom character Dee Dee. Streep's work means so much to so many, so it was somewhat easy for Key to slip into character and sing a tribute song to his co-star. And by also including his own feelings about his co-star, he was able to truly tell the message of "We Look to You."

Keegan-Michael Key's role in The Prom is only the latest project where he got to show off his pipes. He also recently appeared in Netflix's Christmas musical extravaganza Jingle Jangle and got another song of his very own. Key also played a role in the recent remake of The Lion King, but his character Kamari the hyena didn't get any vocal lines.

Ryan Murphy assembled a killer cast to bring The Prom to life. The movie opens up on a quartet of familiar faces, namely Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, and Andrew Rannells. Some other familiar faces include Kerry Washington, Hamilton's Ariana DeBose, Keegan-Michael Key, and Tracey Ullman. This movie musical is the closest thing we'll get to Broadway for the time being, so it's a welcomed addition for many.

The Prom is currently streaming on Netflix. Be sure to check out our 2021 release list to plan your trips to the movies next year.

It is not too much of stretch to imagine Meryl Streep and her pal Nicole Kidman starring in a new, old-fashioned musical, yet seeing Keegan-Michael Key in the ensemble is unexpected - but welcome, nonetheless. However, those women are not the only veterans to the genre and the comedian is far from the last surprise in The Prom cast.

Directed by Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy, the film is based on a Tony-nominated hit stage show of the same name that was actually inspired by a heartwarming true story. It focuses on an Indiana teenager whose plea to take her girlfriend to the annual school dance convinces the conservative school board to cancel the event entirely. Upon hearing the news, a quartet of theater actors suffering from their own personal crises decide to give the lonely student a chance to be herself by organizing their own prom.

The bright, lavish, and socially-conscious comedy is a bit of a return to what made Ryan Murphy a household name before delving into darker territory with American Horror Story or Ratched, but for the star-studded cast, some are clearly enjoying a return to the musical scene while others are relishing in their first taste of it. So, just in time for The Prom’s premiere in theaters and on Netflix Friday, December 11, take a look at where you may recognize The Prom's talented cast, staring with one living legend who needs no introduction.

Meryl Streep (Dee Dee Allen)

Playing self-proclaimed “cultural disruptor” and self-obsessed Broadway star Dee Dee Allen in The Prom is far from Meryl Streep’s first song and dance. The three-time Oscar-winning star of Sophie’s Choice, The Post, and Steven Soderbergh’s new HBO Max exclusive Let Them All Talk got her start in theatre, which she would revisit on the big screen for cinematic adaptations of shows like Mamma Mia! (and its sequel) and Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods, as remade by Disney.

James Corden (Barry Glickman)

Said Into the Woods movie also starred James Corden as the Baker and Narrator, but, in addition to hosting the Tony Awards twice and playing Bustopher Jones in 2019’s Cats, that is merely the tip of the iceberg for his Broadway experience prior to playing performer Barry Glickman, who, like the young central character of The Prom, was rejected from his school dance as a teen, too. The British comedian has also hosted The Late Late Show on CBS since 2015 and will reprise the animated title role of the sequel to 2018’s Peter Rabbit in April 2021.

Nicole Kidman (Angie Dickinson)

The Prom is actually Nicole Kidman’s third collaboration with Meryl Streep after The Hours (which earned her an Oscar) and Big Little Lies (which earned her an Emmy) and her fourth musical film after 2001’s Moulin Rouge!, 2006’s animated Happy Feet, and 2009’s Nine. To continue our numerical theme here, the Netflix film is also the Australian actress’ second LGBT-themed film in two years after playing the unaccepting mother of a young gay man in Boy Erased and easily her funniest project within that time, as well, having done mostly dark dramas like Destroyer, Bombshell, and HBO miniseries The Undoing. However, that period also saw the Batman Forever star return to comic book flicks as Jason Momoa’s mom in Aquaman.

Andrew Rannells (Trent Oliver)

Andrew Rannells stars opposite comic book movie star Don Cheadle on Showtime’s Black Monday, but playing theatre actor Trent Oliver is a return to his roots, having led a stage career for years before his breakthrough role in The Book of Mormon - the Tony-winning musical from the creators of South Park. The openly gay Nebraskan also has an extensive voice acting career (including Pokémon), made his live action TV debut on HBO’s Girls, and has worked with The Prom director Ryan Murphy several times before, including playing himself on Glee’s series finale and one-half of a same-sex couple looking to adopt a child in the short-lived comedy The New Normal.

Kerry Washington (Mrs. Greene)

The role of homophobic PTA head Mrs. Greene in The Prom is Kerry Washington’s first role in a musical, having made her non-musical Broadway debut late after an extensive film and TV career, including Save the Last Dance, Boston Public, and playing The Thing’s blind love interest, Alicia Masters, in two Fantastic Four movies. It was in 2012 when the Little Fires Everywhere star achieved household name status as the Emmy-nominated lead of Shonda Rhimes’ political drama Scandal and reuniting with her Ray co-star Jamie Foxx in Quentin Tarantino’s pre-Civil War revenge western Django Unchained.

Keegan-Michael Key (Principal Tom Hawkins)

I may have said earlier that Keegan-Michael Key being in The Prom cast was surprising, but it is actually his second Netflix original musical this year after Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. However, The Lion King star’s role as an open-minded high school principal is a far cry from his overtly disciplinary character Mr. Garvey on Key & Peele - the popular sketch show he created and headlined with his former MadTV co-star Jordan Peele, whom he has also shared the big screen with in Keanu and Toy Story 3, to name a few so far.

Jo Ellen Pellman (Emma Nolan)

Persecuted lesbian teen Emma Nolan is the feature film debut of 24-year-old Jo Ellen Pellman, who is no stranger to the screen having appeared on HBO’s The Deuce and the Emmy-winning Amazon Prime original The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in 2019. However, what convinced Ryan Murphy to cast the openly gay actress as the lead of The Prom was her background in theatre, which includes productions at Walnut Hills High and the University of Michigan and a stint at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts studying Shakespeare.

Ariana DeBose (Alyssa Greene)

An extensive background in theatre is also what earned Ariana DeBose the role of the Alyssa, the closeted girlfriend of Emma Nolan and daughter of Mrs. Greene, in The Prom. The 29-year-old was in the ensemble for the 2011 cast of Stephen Sondheim’s Company (which also including Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Colbert) years before playing “The Bullet” in Lin Manuel Miranda’s blockbuster history lesson set to rap, Hamilton. Audiences could have also seen DeBose sing and dance this year as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake if not for Covid-19 causing it to be delayed for December 2021.

Tracey Ullman (Vera Glickman)

Other than my assumption that Vera Glickman must be related to James Corden’s character, I cannot find much about fellow Into the Woods star Tracey Ullman’s supposedly original role in The Prom. I imagine it will be a big deal once officially revealed, however, since her vast stage credits, Emmy-winning sketch comedy series (which The Simpsons is spun-off from), and spots in films like Robin Hood: Men in Tights and TV projects like the FX miniseries Mrs. America have made the 60-year-old British comedian one of the most celebrated women in entertainment.

Mary Kay Place (Grandma Bea)

Also a prolific figure in the industry is Mary Kay Place, who actually had worked previously with a few of her The Prom co-stars (namely Meryl Streep and Andrew Rannells in various projects) before playing Emma Nolan’s grandmother, Bea. Among the multi-talented actress, writer, producer, and director’s most notable credits are playing Meg in the classic ensemble dramedy The Big Chill, a distraught cuckquean in Girl, Interrupted, and the mother of Michael Cera’s crush in Youth in Revolt from 2009.

Kevin Chamberlin (Sheldon Saperstein)

Starring as Sheldon Saperstein is fellow theater-trained, Tony-nominated actor Kevin Chamberlin, whom you may not recognize by name, but have probably seen somewhere without realizing it. The 57-year-old Baltimore native made his feature film debut as an NYPD bomb squad specialist in Die Hard with a Vengeance, played a bouncer named Frank in Sam Mendes’ Road to Perdition, and had a recurring role on Heroes. He also played Gavel in The Emoji Movie alongside his The Prom co-star James Corden, but his best-known role to date might be as the Ross Family’s butler Bertram on the Debbie Ryan-led Disney Channel original series Jessie.

Logan Riley (Kaylee)

Alyssa Greene’s cheerleading squad, Kaylee (who was originally named “Mandy” in the 2016 off-Broadway run of The Prom), is played by Logan Riley. The 21-year-old actress, dancer, and model, has previously been credited under her full name (Logan Riley Hassel) in her most notable appearances, such as a love interest to Manny Rodriguez on a Season 4 episode of Modern Family and popular Bayview High School clique member Sienna on Netflix’s original Full House spin-off Fuller House.

Nico Greetham (Nick Boomer)

Playing Kaylee’s love interest is Nico Greetham, who landed his first big break as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance in 2013 before starring in a Broadway revival of Newsies, earning a small part on Glee, and a starring role on Power Rangers Ninja Steel as one of the yellow rangers. Playing Nick Boomer in The Prom is easily the 25-year-old’s biggest role to date, despite an uncredited as appearance as a “Young Goon” in Birds of Prey in 2020.

What do you think? Are you more excited to the theatrical veterans or the rising stars in the cast of The Prom? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on this fun musical event, as well as even more inside looks at the cast members of your movies and TV shows, here on CinemaBlend.

We're about halfway through November, so you know what that means. It's time to get the holiday festivities rolling. Christmas music is playing on the radio, seasonal decorations are being hung with care, and we're going to get a steady stream of holiday-themed movies and shows in the days and weeks ahead. For Netflix, that includes the debut of this latest streaming exclusive, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, which is a brand-new Christmas fantasy musical starring Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Anika Noni Rose, and Ricky Martin, to name only a few stars involved.

If you find yourself wondering where you've seen these familiar faces or fresh newcomers, we're here to help. Here's where you've seen Netflix's Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey's cast before.

Madalen Mills (Journey Jangle)

As our young protagonist, Journey Jangle, the granddaughter of Jeronicus who has spent little time with her very elusive inventor grandfather, Madalen Mills plays the lead role in Netflix's new Christmas musical. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey isn't merely Madalen Mills' first starring role but it's also her professional acting debut. It's the first acting credit, and she was only seen in reality TV series Reality Cupcakes prior to this performance. Thus, it's more-likely-than-not that Jingle Jangle might be the first thing you see this child actress in — though she has already filmed her second role, The Tiger Rising, a family film which also co-stars Katharine McPhee, Dennis Quaid, and Queen Latifah.

Forest Whitaker (Jeronicus Jangle)

Playing the part of Jeronicus Jangle, a genius-but-troubled toymaker who's no longer the inventor he once was, Forest Whitaker plays the lead adult role in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.

An Oscar-winning actor for portraying Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, Forest Whitaker is also the star of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Bird, Vantage Point, and Black Nativity, and he has prominent supporting roles in The Crying Game, Arrival, Bloodsport, Good Morning, Vietnam, The Color of Money, Street Kings, Where the Wild Things Are, Taken 3, Southpaw, The Last Stand, Phone Booth, Panic Room, Battlefield Earth, Black Panther, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Great Debaters, Platoon, Out of the Furnance, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Additionally, on television, Forest Whitaker can be seen in episodes of Empire, The Shield, and ER, and he appears in Godfather of Harlem, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, and the mini-series, Roots. He recently starred in Burden and Finding Steve McQueen and next, he'll be seen in Respect and City of Lies.

Outside of all of his various acting credits, Forest Whitaker is also an established director. He helmed Waiting to Exhale, Hope Floats, and First Daughter. He also directed music videos for Jagged Edge, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, and Whitney Houston, the latter of whom starred in his first film.

Keegan-Michael Key (Gustafson)

In the villainous role of Gustafson, a former apprentice of Jeronicus who ventures down a dark path, Keegan-Michael Key is the central antagonist in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. Best known as one-half of the sketch comedy duo, Key & Peele, alongside Jordan Peele, the comedian frontlined the Emmy-winning Comedy Central series of the same name and later co-starred in Keanu, which he also produced. The comedic pairing was also seen together in the first season of FX's Fargo. Additionally, Key was also a cast member on MADtv for six seasons.

His other television credits include starring roles in USA's Playing House and Netflix's Friends From College. He was also the host of The Planet's Funniest Animals from 2005 through 2008, and he currently hosts National Geographic's Brain Games and CBS's Game On!, both as of this year. Additionally, Key played a recurring role in Parks and Recreation and makes frequent appearances on The CW's Whose Line Is It Anyway? revival. Recently, Key narrates Netflix's series adaptation of Green Eggs and Ham and lends his voice to SuperMansion.

Keegan-Michael Key had starring roles in films like Don't Think Twice and Teacher of the Year. His other movie credits include Mr. 3000, The Predator, Tomorrowland, Wanderlust, Dolemite Is My Name, Playing with Fire, Horrible Bosses 2, Pitch Perfect 2, Vacation, Why Him?, Win It All, Let's Be Cops, Due Date, Just Go With It, Role Models, and Hell Baby.

Keegan-Michael Key did voice work for The Angry Birds Movie, The LEGO Movie, The Lion King (2019), The Star, the Hotel Transylvania sequels, Storks, and Toy Story 4 — the latter two reuniting the actor with Jordan Peele. Most recently, Key starred in Netflix's All the Bright Places. He'll next be seen in The Prom later this year and heard in Wendell and Wild alongside Peele in 2021. Additionally, he's attached to an upcoming, still-untitled AppleTV+ musical-comedy series. with SNL's Cecily Strong. Also, Key made his Broadway debut in 2017 with Steve Martin's Meteor Shower.

Hugh Bonneville (Mr. Delacroix)

Playing the part of Mr. Delacroix, a banker who'll shut down Jeronicus' business if he can't come up with a profit quick, Hugh Bonneville plays a prominent supporting role in Netflix's Jingle Jangle. The English film and television actor is most recognizable for his Emmy-nominated performance as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in Downton Abbey, a role he reprised in the film continuation of the same name last year. Additionally, Bonneville is well-known for playing Mr. Henry Brown in the Paddington movies. His other notable television credits include Married for Life, The Cazalets, Courting Alex, The Robinsons, Bonekickers, Country House Rescue, Freezing, Twenty Twelve, and W1A. Bonneville is also the narrator for The Cruise and Sofia the First.

Hugh Bonneville's other film credits include Iris, Tomorrow Never Dies, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Notting Hill, Muppets Most Wanted, Breathe, The Monuments Men, Bucke & Hare, and Mansfield Park. Next, the actor will play author Roald Dahl in An Unquiet Life. He'll also narrate the upcoming Silent Night - A Song for the World, which comes out next month.

Anika Noni Rose (Jessica Jangle)

In the role of Jessica Jangle, the mother of Journey and the daughter of Jeronicus, Anika Noni Rose provides a dramatic maternal performance in this seasonal musical. As an accomplished actress with demonstrated talents on the stage and screen, Rose has proven herself in a variety of projects over the course of a celebrated career. Particularly on the stage, Rose became a Tony-winning actress through her performance as Emmie Thibodeaux in Caroline, Or Change in 2004. She was later nominated again for playing Beneatha Younger in Broadway's 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun.

Furthermore, in the film world, Rose voiced Princess Tiana in Disney's The Princess and the Frog, and she reprised this animated role in 2018's Ralph Breaks the Internet. The actress also played Lorrell Robinson in Dreamgirls. Her other movie credits include Assassination Nation, Everything, Everything, For Colored Girls, Surviving Christmas, From Justin to Kelly, Imperial Dreams, Half of a Yellow Sun, and, most recently, Body Cam.

Meanwhile, on television, Anika Noni Rose played main characters in HBO's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and Starz's The Quad. She also had recurring roles in The Good Wife, Private Practice, Power, and Bates Motel. Additionally, Rose lends her voice to the animated series, Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins. And the actress appeared in episodes of Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere and Amazon Prime's Them: Covenant earlier this year. Next, Rose is set to star in Maid and voice a role in Pantheon. She also launched a web series called Bedtime Stories for the Littles earlier this year.

Phylicia Rashad (Mrs. Jangle)

As Mrs. Jangle, an elderly parental figure who reads this festive story to the children on Christmas Eve, Phylicia Rashad serves as a watchful narrator figure throughout the course of Jingle Jangle. Most notably, Phylicia Rashad is a Tony-winning actress for her lead performance as Lena Younger in Broadway's 2004 revival of A Raisin in the Sun, and she became the first Black actress to receive this honorary distinction. Later, she reprised this role for the play's 2008 television adaptation and she won the NAACP Image Award for her performance. Her other stage credits include Broadway productions of Into the Woods, Jelly's Last Jam, Gem in the Ocean, August: Orange County, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Additionally, Phylicia Rashad is known for her two-time Emmy-nominated role as Clair Huxtable in The Cosby Show. Rashad also played Ruth Lucas in Cosby. And she played recurring roles in Empire, Jean-Claude Van Johnson, This is Us, 13 Reasons Why, Do No Harm, and One Life to Live. The actress currently plays a role in OWN's David Makes Man.

On the silver screen, Phylicia Rashad is also known for her film roles in the Creed movies, Good Deeds, For Colored Girls, Just Wright, and Frankie and Alice. Earlier this year, the film and TV actress starred in Netflix's A Fall From Grace and Amazon Prime's Black Box, the latter of which was part of their Welcome to the Blumhouse streaming series. Next, she lends her voice to Pixar's upcoming Soul. Rashad is expected to return for Creed III.

Ricky Martin (Don Juan Diego)

In the role of Don Juan Diego, a sentient toy once created by Jeronicus who becomes a selfish egomaniac and works alongside Gustafson, Ricky Martin plays a splashy animated supporting role in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. The chart-topping Puerto Rican musician has been called the "King of Latin Pop," as he's quite easily one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all-time. His most well-known single is "Livin' La Vida Loca" though he also gained notice before this high-standing success through his performance of "The Cup of Life" at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards in 1999. He has sold over 70 million records worldwide.

While he's certainly well-known for his musical accomplishments, Ricky Martin has branched out into various acting roles. Most notably, he played Antonio D'Amico in FX's The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, which earned him an Emmy nomination. Martin also starred in the soap opera, Por Siempre Amigos, the telenovela, Alcanzar una Estrella II, and appeared in several episodes of General Hospital. He also guest-starred in Getting By and Glee.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is now streaming on Netflix.

One of scripted television's longest-running institutions, Saturday Night Live, is headed back into production and returning to the studio after its unexpected time airing with pre-taped skits from cast members' homes at the end of last season. While fans certainly admired the desire of the cast and crew to keep the good ship SNL afloat as much as possible under some trying circumstances, you can bet that viewers will be looking to see the legendary skitcom return to something much more like normal in Season 46. With new announcements on who will be hosting and performing as musical guests, it looks like all of our dreams will be coming true.

Every year brings an assorted number of wonders for those who love SNL. We tune in each week for the promise of laughs, fun surprises, wild satire, the occasional shocking (or shockingly funny) screw up and to see what kind of silliness the guest hosts (and possibly musical guests) will be roped into while trying to deliver the funniest possible show. This season will see Kenan Thompson head into his eighteenth season on the live show, further cementing his place as the longest-running cast member for SNL ever, but this promises to be a banner year for the series in other ways, as well.

This is, after all, an election year, and those behind Saturday Night Live are nothing if not truly gifted when it comes to both lampooning politicians and also casting said political figures for the show. We already know that (after sounding like he was totally done with putting in the effort) Alec Baldwin will return yet again to step into the presidential shoes of Donald Trump, a role that won him an Emmy in 2017, with former cast member Maya Rudolph reprising her Emmy-winning part as Kamala Harris.

Word also came down recently that they'll be joined by Jim Carrey, who will take over the part of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden from another former cast member, Jason Sudeikis. Who knows, with the way these special guest appearances are going, we might be treated to Brad Pitt's Dr. Anthony Fauci again. By the way, Pitt's performance also got an Emmy nod this year, so if we see a lot more special guests coming in to play real life people, I wouldn't be surprised.

Meanwhile, we do have our first announcement of who will host and act as musical guest on the Season 46 premiere of SNL, and you really can't be mad at who was chosen. So, let's get to the list of who will be handling hosting and musical duties this year! Be sure to bookmark this list, because it'll be updated when new info becomes available!

May 22 - Anya Taylor-Joy With Musical Guest Lil Nas X

Saturday Night Live will wrap Season 46 with another pair of newbies hitting the 30 Rock stage. The Queen's Gambit star and recent Golden Globe winner Anya Taylor-Joy will host, while rapper Lil Nas X will perform.

Past Episodes

October 3 - Chris Rock With Musical Guest Megan Thee Stallion

Hot! Hot! Hot! Chris Rock, of course, is another former cast member, having hit the SNL stage weekly from 1990 to 1993. The actor / comedian / talk show host has been back to lead the festivities at his old stomping grounds twice before, and is funny to his bones, so you know he'll bring his best on opening night. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion is coming off of several hits, including this summer's naughty scorcher "WAP," with Cardi B, and this will be her first time on SNL.

October 10 - Bill Burr With Musical Guest Jack White

Comedian and actor Bill Burr will make his SNL debut on October 10. The Monday Morning Podcast host was most recently seen in The King of Staten Island with Pete Davidson, and The Mandalorian, and his animated family sitcom, F is for Family, will be back for a fifth and final season on Netflix. After a bit of a shakeup, Jack White will step in to act as musical guest on the episode, marking his fourth time rocking the halls of 30 Rock.

October 17 - Issa Rae With Musical Guest Justin Bieber

The star, executive producer, and creator of the HBO hit comedy Insecure, Issa Rae, will mark her SNL hosting debut on October 17. Joining Rae on the show will be Justin Bieber, who will appear as musical guest for the fourth time.

October 24 - Adele With Musical Guest H.E.R.

Music superstar Adele makes her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live with the October 24, episode, after previously acting as musical guest way back in October 2008, and again in November 2015. Ten-time Grammy Award nominee H.E.R. (who won two of the awards in 2019) will make her debut as musical guest on the same night.

October 31 - John Mulaney With Musical Guest The Strokes

Comedian and former SNL writer John Mulaney will hit the stage to host for the fourth time on October 31. Rockers The Strokes will also perform for the fourth time.

November 7 - Dave Chappelle With Musical Guest Foo Fighters

Dave Chappelle returns for his second hosting gig, having previously hit the stage right after the 2016 presidential election. The Foo Fighters will perform as musical guests, for what will be the band's eighth time appearing.

November 14 through 28 - No New SNL Episodes

December 5 - Jason Bateman With Musical Guest Morgan Wallen

Ozark and The Outsider star Jason Bateman will return to host when the show comes back from a three-week break on December 5. This will be Bateman's second time in the job; he last hosted in February 2005. Country music star Morgan Wallen is scheduled as musical guest, after being booted off of the second episode this season when producers found out he hadn't been following their new production guidelines.

December 12 - Timothée Chalamet With Musical Guest Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Dune's Timothée Chalamet is coming to host SNL for his first time on December 12, while Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be along for their third performance.

December 19 - Kristen Wiig With Musical Guest Dua Lipa

Former cast member Kristen Wiig returns for her fourth hosting gig on December 19, with her starring role as Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984 heading to HBO Max (and theaters) on Christmas Day. Meanwhile, pop superstar Dua Lipa will hit SNL for the second time.

January 30 - John Krasinski With Musical Guest Machine Gun Kelly

Everyone's favorite prankster from The Office (and star of Jack Ryan and A Quiet Place), John Krasinski, will host when the series returns for the first episode of the new year. Singer/rapper/actor Machine Gun Kelly will appear as musical guest for the first time.

February 6 - Dan Levy With Musical Guest Phoebe Bridgers

Schitt's Creek co-creator/actor Dan Levy will host SNL for the first time on February 6. Rock/indie folk singer Phoebe Bridgers appears as musical guest.

February 13 - Regina King With Musical Guest Nathaniel Rateliff

Oscar, Golden Globe, and four-time Emmy Award winner Regina King will step on the 30 Rock stage for the first time on February 13. Folk and R&B artist Nathaniel Rateliff will perform.

February 20 - Regé-Jean Page With Musical Guest Bad Bunny

Breakout Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page hosts SNL for the first time, and will appear alongside musical guest, rapper, Bad Bunny.

February 27 - Nick Jonas With Musical Guest Nick Jonas

That's right, the actor/singer, known for films like Jumanji: The Next Level and Midway, hosts the last episode of February, and will also appear as musical guest.

March 27 - Maya Rudolph With Musical Guest Jack Harlow

Former SNL cast member Maya Rudolph returns to her old stomping grounds to host for the second time on March 27. Rapper Jack Harlow will hit the stage as musical guest.

April 3 - Daniel Kaluuya With Musical Guest St. Vincent

Two-time Oscar nominee (most recently for Judas and the Black Messiah) Daniel Kaluuya will host SNL for the first time on April 3. Rock/pop performer St. Vincent will act as musical guest.

April 10 - Carey Mulligan With Musical Guest Kid Cudi

Another two-time Oscar nominee (this time for Promising Young Woman), Carey Mulligan, will also step up to host for the first time in April. Rapper Kid Cudi will appear as musical guest.

May 8 - Elon Musk With Musical Guest Miley Cyrus

Tesla CEO Elon Musk will make his debut as SNL guest host for the first episode of May, as the series begins to wind down Season 46. Musk proved to be a rather controversial choice, so we'll see how his inaugural hosting gig goes. He'll be joined by musical guest Miley Cyrus, who's making her fifth appearance as either musical guest or host.

May 15 - Keegan-Michael Key With Musical Guest Olivia Rodrigo

Emmy winner and all around funny guy Keegan-Michael Key will mark his first time hosting SNL on May 15. Meanwhile, another newcomer, singer/actress Olivia Rodrigo will act as musical guest for the first time.

Again, be sure to bookmark this list so you can stay up to date on all of SNL's latest hosts and musical guests in Season 46!

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By now, most people have heard of the beloved comedy duo of Jordan Peele and Keegan Michael-Key. Their show Key & Peele developed a devoted cult following during its five seasons, and still gains new fans through the power of the internet. The sketch comedy series allowed Jordan Peele and Keegan Michael-Key to show off their many different talents.

Key and Peele created many memorable skits that fans repeatedly turn to when they need a good laugh. Their official Youtube page has over 2 million subscribers and received nearly 900,000,000 page views. Among their collection of unique videos, these are the ones people view the most.

10. Al Qaeda Meeting - 15.5 Million Views

Members of Al Qaeda have a meeting to discuss how to bomb a plane. It then turns to a hatefully praising TSA session. They try to think of various ways to carry out their plans, but the TSA's restrictions shut down all of their ideas.

This skit mocks the TSA for their tough flight restrictions, while also going “but they could be right and we should just follow them to be safe.” Key and Peele once again makes a taboo topic, like Al Qaeda, hilarious by embracing the absurdity of the possibility of these situations existing.

9. You Can Do Anything - 16.3 Million Views

Key plays an interviewer and Peele plays a basketball player who just won a big game. Feeling overly confident, he advises children to believe in themselves and their ability to literally fly.

Sometimes sports stars try a bit too hard to sound insightful and motivational. While there is nothing wrong with encouraging children and kids to believe in themselves, it can be a little too much. This is displayed in Peele’s character’s crazy rant about flying and robots.

8. Gangsta Standoff - 17.2 Million Views

Key and Peele play two gangstas who have a chance encounter. They both pull out their guns ready to shoot, but then they bond over their mutual love of Twilight. They are both team Edward. The skit then shows them going through their lives as best friends who never lower their guns.

Gun violence and gangs are a very serious topic, but Key and Peele shows the sad truth and ridiculousness of the fact that two rival gangs could easily become best friends if they just focused on their commonalities and less on their differences.

7. Ultimate C--k Blocker - 17.8 Million Views

Two friends go to a club and one (Key) spots a hot girl. He tells his friend (Peele) to check her out, but he seems uninterested. He then proceeds to hit on her and get her number. Every time Key’s character says that a girl is hot, Peele’s character goes to hit on her.

“Ultimate C**k Blocker” takes on horror movie elements. The way Peele’s character speaks, moves, and the atmospheric music puts this character right up there with the top horror movie villains, like Pennywise and Freddy Krueger. There is also a twist ending that suggests the cock blocker is actually Key’s inner self working to keep him faithful to his wife. The style choice of the skit makes sense because you never know when a cock blocker will strike.

6. Party Game - 18.5 Million Views

Two male friends (Key and Peele) and their female partners (Danielle Nicolet and Mekia Cox) are playing a game that seems a lot like Taboo. Key is giving the clues and Peele is the guesser. The two men start off really strong guessing right with very little clues. Then Key reads the clue, “pretends to be straight but really gay,” and Peele’s character says “me.”

The rest of the game is just awkward looks and tension as the answer is Ricky Martin, but Peele’s character just outed himself. He continues to further insist the clue talks about him as everyone in the room becomes increasingly uncomfortable. Telling your significant other that you’re gay (by accident, during a game) is certainly one way to stop game nights.

5. Fútbol Flop - 18.6 Million Views

Key and Peele are fútbol players on opposite teams. Key’s player prepares to steal the ball and likely bring his team to victory. Key’s character clearly has no physical contact with Peele’s character, but Peele’s character falls to the ground in agony. He soon dies, but wait, not really. It was an elaborate hoax to get Key’s team a red card and steal the victory.

The entire “Fútbol Flop” skit only happens in slow motion, and the only commentary or lines come from the sports announcer. Peele uses his knack for physical comedy to dramatize a man magically injured and dying. This skit is made even more funny by Peele’s fake ascent to Heaven, only to reject it to make the winning goal.

4. Pawn Shop - 20.1 Million Views

Key plays a sketchy character who comes to a pawn shop to request various items. His list includes a bow and arrow, skates, a suit of armor, and a bag with a dollar sign on it. Peele plays the judgmental pawn shop owner who catches on to Key’s character’s poorly thought out plan.

Peele and Key really capture the essence of their characters. Peele fully embodies the pawn shop owner who has seen a lot of these characters, and Key plays the guy who has no clue what he’s doing and probably is heading right towards his death.

3. Obama's Anger Translator - Meet Luther - Uncensored-20.6 Million Views

Peele plays our former president, Barack Obama and Key plays his anger translator, Luther. Obama gives an address to the people and Luther translates it to show Obama’s inner-angry monologue.

Peele does an amazing impression of Obama and Key’s angry translator is hilarious because I wouldn’t be surprised if deep down, Luther really represents Obama’s frustration with the American people. Obama remains cool and collected throughout the address while Luther’s anger escalates. In a hilarious conclusion, Obama only panics about what Luther has said when he calls Michelle Obama, Barack’s bitch. Fun fact, the real Barack Obama enjoyed the skit so much that he had Key revise his Luther character during the White House Correspondent Dinner.

2. Dubstep - 21.2 Million Views

Two friends, one moving (Key) and the other helping him move (Peele) are packing up an apartment. Peele’s character asks if he can play some dubstep music. The music takes control and their packing becomes more of a smashing session.

Ah dubstep. Some people really love the genre and others find it painful, noise without a place or purpose. Key and Peele’s skit reflects the damages it causes on a daily basis, but sometimes the beat is kind of hot, so who cares if you end up tossing yourself out of a window, right? The “Dubstep” skit’s dedication to madness is true art.

1. Awesome Hitler Story - 24.5 Million Views

Modern Family’s Ty Burrell guest stars in this clip. It opens with American soldiers being murdered by German soldiers during World War II. The soldiers are all shot through a closed door, so the Germans think that they’re all dead, but they miss the soldier played by Keegan-Michael Key. The soldiers played by Burrell and Jordan Peele then enter to inspect. Peele’s character notices Key’s character pretending to be dead, but Burrell’s character is too dedicated to telling his story about a brief, random encounter with Hitler to notice.

There are multiple levels of absurdity with this clip; first Burrell’s Nazi’s dedication to his boring Hitler story, second Key’s soldier being really obvious with being alive, and then the final act where now both the Nazi soldier and American soldier are faking their deaths. The clip gets its humor from the ridiculousness of the situation but the familiarity of it as well. You know minus the Nazis and Hitler part, we have all had a friend really into their awesome story that isn’t really awesome but we have to fake interest.

Key and Peele have branched off into their own projects, but come together when the project is right, so we can always expect and hope for more fun Key and Peele collaborations. Stream all five seasons of Key & Peele on Hulu

When sitting in a room with John Cena and Keegan-Michael Key, the conversation can go anywhere, so long as you have a star to guide you. With their latest film, Paramount’s family comedy Playing With Fire, containing a strong thread of action that draws the animated series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic into a good portion of the movie’s narrative, it felt like the atmosphere was ripe for some my Little Pony talk. So I went for it. You're welcome.

All of that is just a well-worded prologue to the fact that yes, I asked Cena and Key which character from the massively famous Discovery Family series they thought they were. It went just as swimmingly as you’d think.

But, of course, you want to know which ponies John Cena and Keegan-Michael Key best resemble, don’t you? You wouldn’t have clicked on that headline if there was no way those goods would be delivered. Well, you can see me talking through the ponies that Cena and Key best resemble in Playing With Fire.

In an effort to really honor the My Little Pony fandom, John Cena decided to flip the tables back onto me with the following:

If you’ve ever watched John Cena, be it in an interview or any sort of media, you know the man’s 100% present in what he’s doing. So taking his relative absence of My Little Pony knowledge, and turning it into a funny learning experience, is just par for the course when dealing with someone that knows how to talk with people like he does. The dude is generous as anything, as we’ve seen in his recent efforts to promote Playing With Fire.

When I spoke with Cena and co-star Keegan-Michael Key during the Playing With Fire press day, on behalf of CinemaBlend, I knew that both of them were up for pretty much anything in conversation. Once you see Playing with Fire, you'll be able to understand why this question is so, so timely and relevant.

We're about to get into some movie spoilers, here, so if you don't want to know about any My Little Pony gags in advance, now may be the time to bail. The way My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic ties into the structure of Playing With Fire is pretty simple. After John Leguizamo’s smokejumper Rodrigo puts the show on to help pacify the three children suddenly staying at their firehouse, we see the show’s iconography make its way into the film’s main storyline.

It all culminates in a moment that will have audiences laughing their heads off, where John Cena’s Jake Carson winds up wearing a way-too-small t-shirt that boasts Princess Celestia on the front -- something he touches on in the video above. While it feels like a perfect act of synergy between Paramount and Hasbro’s AllSpark Pictures, the companies that will be collaborating on a brand new My Little Pony movie for 2021, Playing With Fire makes this partnership work in its ultimate story of an atypical family bonding through something as simple as cartoons.

Much like John Cena’s character Superintendent Jake Carson, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic’s Twilight Sparkle is all about rules. Her intent as the series begins is to learn everything she can to be the best version of herself she can be. But as the series goes on, Twilight becomes more and more aware of the value that friendship, and to a certain extent family, are needed in a person’s life.

It’s no secret that Jake’s journey is supposed to take a similar route, and the way that Playing With Fire has him travel that particular path is as funny as it is heartwarming. However, an even better fit came when assigning Keegan-Michael Key the designation as the Pinkie Pie of the group, and the man himself was even primed to take on the mantle before the words left my mouth.

Keegan-Michael Key’s character, Mark, is a sort of righthand man to Cena’s Jake, acting as a sort of hype man between his boss and the outside world. However, in the dynamics of their four-man smoke jumper team (with John Leguizamo and Tyler Mane rounding out the numbers), Mark is definitely down for more than a little good-natured ribbing. He also has a supernatural ability to offer tissues from outside of frame, and disappear from a scene in a way that only Groucho Marx would be able to pull off.

So, with those qualities in Keegan-Michael Key’s team member, he’s definitely the Pinkie Pie of the group. In discussing the parallels between both characters, Key totally understood the reasoning behind the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic character he’d randomly picked. Sometimes, the pony chooses us, and we don’t know why until someone tells us; this was definitely one of those cases.

It may still seem like a random pull to have My Little Pony represented in a movie like Playing With Fire, but it’s another one of the ways the film keeps its finger on the pulse of what it means to be a family movie in the modern market. Director Andy Fickman’s film knows the right ingredients to be the sort of potential laugh riot that’ll make kids and parents smile, and it dives into that job with both feet firmly planted in that reality.

Though, to be honest, it also makes a good case for that new My Little Pony movie to offer cameos to John Cena and Keegan-Michael Key, if not full blown major roles in this supposed reboot. It’s just something for the folks at Paramount and Hasbro to think about, as the magic of friendship enters its new phase of cinematic wonder; and definitely something that compliments the work those men have done as part of the ensemble that is Playing With Fire’s highly-effective team of family comedy assassins. Not to mention, it wouldn’t even be the most outrageous cameo for the I.P. to have ever landed.

Playing With Fire opens in theaters this weekend, with early screenings on Thursday night.