The best Saturday Night Live stars made an impact on the classic sketch comedy series, not just because of their ability to be funny but, more importantly, their ability to act. These comedy icons would go on to prove their versatility by challenging themselves in more serious roles on both the big and small screen, going on to earn widespread praise for their craft. Here, we show our appreciation for these dramatic performances by very funny people, including some that earned these SNL stars Oscar nominations.

Kristen Wiig (The Skeleton Twins)

This one technically counts as a twofer because the eponymous siblings in the 2014 twin movie, The Skeleton Twins, are played by SNL veterans Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader. Wiig has never given a more absorbing performance than in this movie that gets honest about mental illness as Maggie Dean, who is forced to put her own mental health struggles at bay to care for her gay, suicidal brother, Milo.

Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer)

Robert Downey Jr. is already better known for his dramatic roles (and playing Iron Man in the Marvel movies) than his brief SNL stint. However, many agree that his career best so far is his portrayal of Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's Best Picture Oscar winner, 2023's Oppenheimer, which was his third Academy Award-nominated performance and the first to earn him the gold.

Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird)

Laurie Metcalf is one of the better examples of an actor with a largely forgotten SNL stint, considering she only made a couple of appearances on the show during Season 6. She is far better known for playing Jackie on Roseanne and The Conners and for her heartbreaking, Oscar-nominated performance in Greta Gerwig's acclaimed 2017 dramedy, Lady Bird, as the mother of the angsty titular role.

Will Ferrell (Stranger Than Fiction)

Director Marc Forster’s 2006 film, Stranger Than Fiction, is still, essentially, a comedy but an undeniably dark one, as it follows an IRS agent named Harold Crick, who can hear the author of his life story foretelling his impending death. The role was one of the first to prove that a goofy actor like Will Ferrell had dramatic chops and his tender performance, one of the strongest of his career, would earn him a Golden Globe nomination.

Will Forte (Nebraska)

Perhaps the best thing outside of SNL to star Will Forte (in addition to the MacGruber movie and his prematurely canceled TV show The Last Man on Earth) is director Alexander Payne's Nebraska. The comedian shows a new rare side of himself in the Oscar-nominated 2013 as a David Grant, who agrees to travel cross-country with his estranged father, Woody (Bruce Dern), to claim a potentially non-existent prize of $1 million.

Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)

While Eddie Murphy scored a radio hit in 1985 with "Party All the Time," the moment that truly convinced the world that he was a musically talented SNL star was his performance in Dreamgirls. He received an Academy Award nomination for playing troubled R&B singer, James “Thunder” Early in the acclaimed 2006 musical.

Abby Elliott (The Bear)

Creator Christopher Storer's acclaimed FX original, The Bear, is often billed as a comedy, especially around awards season. However, real fans of the culinary series know that it is truly one of the most emotionally grasping shows of its time and Abby Elliott (daughter of fellow SNL vet Chris Elliott) has contributed to some of its strongest moments as Natalie "Sugar" Berzatto.

Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems)

While he is still beloved for comedies like Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison, both critics and audiences agree that one of Adam Sandler's best movies is the intense 2019 thriller Uncut Gems. Many believed he deserved an Oscar nomination for his performance in the acclaimed A24 movie from Josh and Benny Safdie as self-destructive Manhattan jeweler Howard Rattner.

Sarah Silverman (I Smile Back)

It was not until years after her one-season stint on SNL that Sarah Silverman became one of the biggest names in comedy with her sharp stand-up and roles in popular funny movies. However, she had never received wider and stronger critical acclaim before playing vastly against type in the 2015 drama I Smile Back as a troubled woman struggling to hide her depression and self-destructive tendencies from her husband and young children.

Bill Murray (Lost In Translation)

Many would call Bill Murray (who was part of SNL's Not Ready for Primetime Players) losing Best Actor for one of the best movies of the 2000s, Lost in Translation, at the 2004 Academy Awards one of the biggest Oscar blunders in history. His performance in writer and director Sofia Coppola’s sophomore effort as a lonely veteran actor striking up an unlikely bond with a young woman (played by Scarlett Johansson) in Tokyo is a masterclass in raw honesty and charm.

Chris Rock (Fargo)

No one was more surprised to see Noah Hawley offer Chris Rock one of the lead roles in the fourth season of his hit anthology TV show, Fargo, than the former SNL star himself. Rock – who went on to play a cop in a Saw movie called Spiral and starred in the Oscar-nominated biopic, Rustin – really turned heads with his commanding performance as Loy Cannon, who leads his 1950s-ear, Kansas City crime family with an iron fist.

Bill Hader (Barry)

When he created Barry with Alec Berg, Bill Hader knew people would think the idea of him playing a contract killer who falls in love with acting is pretty funny. That must have motivated the former SNL favorite to prove that he could bring himself to some disturbingly bleak places with his two-time Emmy-winning performance in the title role of the hit HBO series.

Kate McKinnon (Bombshell)

We genuinely believe that one of the most essential reasons why Bombshell is one of Kate McKinnon's best movies is the dynamic SNL star's performance. Her role as Fox News employee Jess Carr – a composite character based on real people involved with the real-life events that inspired the 2019 docudrama – could be written off as comic relief but she does show some real gravitas in its more somber moments.

Dan Aykroyd (Driving Miss Daisy)

Some of Dan Aykroyd's most notable cinematic efforts are actually movies based on SNL characters, namely The Blues Brothers and Coneheads. However, he would earn praise and an Academy Award nomination for his moving turn as Boolie Werthan in 1989’s beloved period drama, Driving Miss Daisy.

Andy Samberg (Lee)

When appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Andy Samberg acknowledged that a movie like Lee – the 2024 biopic about World War II photographer Lee Miller, played by Kate Winslet – is unlike anything the Lonely Island member has done before. However, not only is the SNL vet a dead ringer for Miller's colleague, David Scherman, but he excels in his emotionally heavy portrayal of the man.

Maya Rudolph (Away We Go)

Director Sam Mendes' Away We Go is a sweet, tender-hearted dramedy about a couple (played by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph) traveling the country in search of a worthy home for their soon-to-be-born child. Carrying most of the emotional weight in the film is Rudolph, resulting in one of her most wonderfully down-to-earth performances from one of SNL's goofiest female performers.

Molly Shannon (A Good Person)

Writer and director Zach Braff's A Good Person – following a young woman (played by Florence Pugh) and her post-accident road to recovery with help from her would-be father-in-law (played by Morgan Freeman) – is led to by heavy-hitting Oscar darlings. Yet, some say the heart and soul of the 2023 dramedy is Molly Shannon's performance as the mother of Pugh's character, for which she gives her most acclaimed, heartfelt dramatic performance yet.

Jay Pharoah (Unsane)

Jay Pharoah only departed from SNL a couple of years breaking into dramatic acting with director Steven Soderbergh's Unsane. The comedian and talented impressionist is electrifying in the mind-bending psychological thriller as a mental hospital patient who befriends Sawyer (Claire Foy), who claims she has been admitted against her will.

Jenny Slate (Obvious Child)

Arguably the most memorable moment from Jenny Slate's one-season SNL stint is when she accidentally dropped the F-bomb during her first show (which she confirmed had nothing to do with her exit, by the way). Years after her time at Studio 8H, the comedian amazed critics with her beautiful and heartbreaking performance in the 2014 romantic dramedy Obvious Child, in which she plays a stand-up comic dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.

Casey Wilson (Gone Girl)

Some might say that a sign of a great actor is the ability to convey all that an audience needs to know just in one's silent expressions. For proof, see Casey Wilson's performance as Amy Dunne's "friend" Noelle Hawthorne in David Fincher's Gone Girl, in which you rarely, if ever, hear her speak but are thoroughly captivated by her body language.

Anthony Michael Hall (The Dead Zone)

In 1984, the same year that Anthony Michael Hall became a teen idol with roles in hilarious, high school movies The Breakfast Club and Weird Science, he became the youngest SNL cast member, coming on at just 17 years old. Years later, he fully reinvented himself as a serious actor as the star of USA's series adaptation of Stephen King's The Dead Zone, in which he plays a man who wakes from a coma with the ability to see the future.

Christopher Guest (The Long Riders)

Christopher Guest joined the SNL cast in 1984, around the same time his career as the most trusted mockumentarian began as one of the writers and stars of This is Spinal Tap. He had shown Hollywood his more serious side years earlier by starring in The Long Riders – a fact-based Western noted for casting real-life siblings as real-life outlaw siblings, such as Guest and his brother, Nicholas, as Charley and Robert Ford.

Jane Curtin (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)

After SNL, Jane Curtin went on to play many great comedic roles – such as her two-time Emmy-winning role on Kate & Allie and an acclaimed stint on 3rd Rock from the Sun – but did not have quite many opportunities to show her more serious side. That would change in 2018 when the one-time "Weekend Update" anchor starred in the biopic Can You Ever Forgive Me? as Marjorie, who works as the agent for author Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy).

Michael McKean (Better Call Saul)

Interestingly, Michael McKean was already an established comedy actor and had even hosted SNL before he joined as a cast member in the early 1990s. However, his reputation as a dramatic actor was never fully realized before his Emmy-nominated turn on Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad prequel series Better Call Saul as Chuck, the delusional older brother of Jimmy McGill (former SNL writer Bob Odenkirk).

Joan Cusack (Arlington Road)

Joan Cusack became the first SNL star to earn two Academy Award nominations but both were for comedic roles, namely from 1988's Working Girl and In & Out from 1997. One might argue she deserved similar recognition for her work in 1999's Arlington Road as Cheryl Lang, who, along with her husband (played by Tim Robbins), is suspected of domestic terrorism by their neighbor, a professor (played by Jeff Bridges).

Billy Crystal (Before)

With the exception of, perhaps, the tearjerker ending of When Harry Met Sally..., it is hard to imagine Billy Crystal in a role that doesn't require him to be his signature goofy self. Thus, the comedic genius shocked audiences when he served as the star and showrunner of Apple TV+'s dark thriller Before, in which he plays a widowed child psychiatrist whose newest patient exhibits signs of psychopathy.

Janeane Garofalo (Cop Land)

Janeane Garofalo's time at SNL is largely forgotten but, luckily, did not affect her reputation as one of the smartest and most dynamic comedic actors in the 1990s. She further proved her versatility in 1997 as Deputy Sheriff Cindy Betts in James Mangold's acclaimed crime thriller, Cop Land.

Chevy Chase (Law & Order)

Chevy Chase's bread and butter on and off SNL was playing smarmy jerks. However, he really upped the ante in 2006 for his guest star appearance on Law & Order as an anti-Semitic murder suspect.

Tina Fey (A Haunting In Venice)

In addition to being the Agatha Christie surrogate in Kenneth Branagh's third Agatha Christie adaptation, you could call Tina Fey's clever writer Ariadne Oliver the comic relief of A Haunting in Venice. However, the former SNL star and one-time head writer plays the role in the 2023 mystery thriller with an earnestness that is perfectly suitable for its story and tone.

Jim Belushi (The Principal)

Jim Belushi's stint at SNL was unavoidably a constant source of comparison to his older brother, John Belushi. Luckily, he went on to have a relatively successful run with more dramatic roles, such as a man who takes a job at an anarchic high school in 1987's The Principal.

Rob Riggle (12 Strong)

Rob Riggle's brief time at SNL led to a stint on The Daily Show and scene-stealing turns in comedies like Stepbrothers and 21 Jump Street but his best role might be from 2018's 12 Strong. As he told Stephen Colbert on Late Show, he was uniquely qualified to star in the fact-based military drama, not only because he is a former U.S. Marine but because the person he is portraying, Lt. Colonel Bowers, is his actual former boss.

Randy Quaid (The Last Detail)

One of the few people to become an Academy Award nominee before becoming an SNL cast member is Randy Quaid. He earned the honor from his performance in 1973's The Last Detail as a dishonorable discharged Naval officer who is shown one last good time by his superiors (played by Jack Nicholson and Otis Young) before facing jail time.

Hollywood has a long history with the military. During World War II many actors and directors served and aided in the war effort in different ways. It goes way beyond that, however. Here is a list of actors who have served in the military, either in the US or in other countries. 

Drew Carey

Funnyman Drew Carey is not someone you expect would be a marine, but that's exactly what he was before making it big on television. The Price Is Right host served six years as a field radio operator in the Marine Reserves in his home state of Ohio after dropping out of college. You have to imagine being a radio operator would be a good experience for talking into a microphone, right?

Bea Arthur

During World War II, an entire generation of men were expected to do their part in the war effort. Women, on the other hand, were not expected to join the service. Bea Arthur thought differently and enlisted in the Marines. Of course, the world being what it was at the time, meant she served stateside, doing jobs like typing and later working in the motor pool. 

Jamie Farr

Though he is most famous for playing a corporal in MASH who did all he could to undermine the authority of his superiors, Jamie Farr served with distinction in the 1950s after being drafted in 1957. He was already in show business at the time, so much of his work involved USO shows. 

Mel Brooks

EGOT winner Mel Brooks served in the US Army during World War II and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He joined almost straight out of high school in 1943 and was sent to Europe at the end of '44. He was honorably discharged in '46 and embarked on one of the most legendary careers of all time. 

Adam Driver

Like many in his generation, Adam Driver was inspired to join the military in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Shortly after the attack, Driver signed up for the Marine Corps. The Star Wars actor is very proud of his service, though it was cut short after he injured himself off-duty and was medically discharged due to his injury. 

Robert Duvall

One of Robert Duvall's most famous roles was as the psychopathic Colonel Kilgore who loved the smell of napalm in the morning in 1978's Apocalypse Now. He probably drew on his experience in the United States Army, where he served for a year in the 1950s, just after the Korean War. 

Don Knotts

Don Knotts might be most famous for goofballs on The Andy Griffith Show and Three's Company, but his time in the army was anything but goofy. Knotts served three years in the army during World War II and earned a slew of medals for his service in the Pacific theater. After the war, he embarked on what would become a legendary career in Hollywood. 

Morgan Freeman

It took a long time for Morgan Freeman to get famous, but once he did, he's been an ever-present voice in everyone's head. After high school Freeman enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for four years in the 1950s. After leaving the service, he moved to LA and got into acting, though it would really be another couple of decades of hard work before he found fame. 

Paul Newman

Few actors define "movie star" like Paul Newman. As one of the biggest stars of his generation, he is beloved for all of his roles over the years. Before heading to Hollywood, Newman served in the Navy during the Second World War, mostly on the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill. 

Richard Pryor

Comedy legend Richard Pryor made his business to ruffle feathers whenever and wherever he could. That includes during the two years he served in the army in the late 1950s. According to The New Yorker, he spent much of those two years incarcerated in a military jail after he and other soldiers stabbed a white soldier for a racial incident. 

Rob Riggle

Comedian Rob Riggle is one of the most dedicated Marines in Hollywood history. He joined in 1990 and served overseas multiple times throughout his 23-year career, including his time in the reserves. While most stints in the military were only a few years for the people on this list, Riggle served well enough and long enough to retire as a lieutenant colonel.

Jennifer Marshall

Jennifer Marshall might not be a household name yet, but fans of Stranger Things, know her as Max's mom Susan. Before becoming an actress, Marshall served five years in the Navy, including on the USS Theodore Roosevelt during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Jimmy Stewart

Jimmy Stewart was already one of the biggest stars in the world, having won an Oscar for The Philadelphia Story before he joined the army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Unlike some actors like Ronald Reagan, Stewart was in the thick of the fighting as a member of the Army Air Force and was well-decorated for it, including winning the Distinguished Flying Cross. He remained in the reserves until well after the war, retiring in 1968 with the rank of brigadier general. 

Ice-T

Ice-T is not only an actor but one of the pioneers of hip-hop. He first got interested in music in the late '70s, while serving in the army. His time in the army wasn't exactly filled with glory, however. He was charged with theft while serving and eventually was found in dereliction of duty as a result. He cut his time short because he was already a single father and was honorably discharged in 1979. 

Gal Gadot

In Israel, most citizens are required to serve in the Israeli Defense Force and Gal Gadot was no different when she was drafted at age 20. She served her mandatory two years in the army as a combat fitness instructor. She was famously part of a Maxim Magazine spread of female Israeli soldiers during her time in the service before trying her hand at acting and landing her breakthrough role in Fast & Furious. 

Bob Ross

Famous for his calm demeanor and his big hair (a hairstyle he came to hate), Bob Ross doesn't seem like the military type. For most people, Ross is all about vegging out and destressing while watching him paint like magic on TV. Before all that though, he was a master sergeant in the Air Force. 

Robin Quivers

Robin Quivers is most famous for being Howard Stern's sidekick on his notorious radio show and co-starring with him in Private Parts, but long before she became a key part of Stern's team, she was an officer in the Air Force. She joined after college in 1975 and eventually rose to the rank of captain before leaving the military and starting her radio career. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Like a few actors, Arnold Schwarzenegger's time in the army was somewhat undistinguished. He, of course, served in his native Austria, which required one year of service from all young men. During his time, he was already a rising star in the bodybuilding world and he even went AWOL to compete. After he was discharged, he entered his first Mr. Universe competition, placing second, and the rest is history. 

Sean Connery

Though he just missed World War II, Sean Connery joined the Royal Navy in 1946 at just age 16. No, he didn't serve on a submarine, and the James Bond star wasn't a spy. His time in the service was somewhat short-lived as he was discharged for a medical issue less than three years later. He remained proud of his service for the rest of his life, however. 

Caitlin Bassett

Quantum Leap star Caitlin Bassett is a rarity in Hollywood, a female combat veteran. Bassett served for seven years in the army, including three overseas deployments to Afghanistan before being honorably discharged in 2017 and embarking on her acting career. 

Gene Hackman

Hollywood legend Gene Hackman enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1947 at just age 16. He served for almost five years as a radio operator, including for a year in China. After he was honorably discharged, he went to college and finally at age 30 started acting. it was a long road, but Hackman couldn't have imagined the success he'd find as one of the most beloved actors of his generation. 

Tom Selleck

Tom Selleck served for six years in the California Army National Guard during the height of the Vietnam War. By serving in the National Guard, it meant he didn't end up going overseas to fight, but that should diminish his service. The Blue Bloods star began his career with bit parts on TV shows and in commercials while serving, though it was years before he famously had to turn down the role of Indiana Jones. 

Marlene Dietrich

Though she never formally served in the armed services, we could not make this list without Marlene Dietrich's fascinating story. The German-born actress renounced her German citizenship in 1939 when World War II began and she worked vigorously for the USO during the war years, supporting American GIs. Later in the war, she was recruited by the OSS to record songs used for propaganda against German soldiers. After the war, Dietrich was awarded the Medal Of Freedom for her service. 

Gregory Gadson

Battleship star Gregory Gadson is more famous for his service than his acting, which is unique on this list. Gadson is a West Point graduate who was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007. He lost both legs but learned to walk again using cutting-edge prosthetics and later, incorporating his injury into his character in Battleship. 

James Doohan

Star Trek legend James Doohan served bravely with the Canadian army during World War II and participated in the Normandy invasion on D-Day in 1944. He collected a number of medals for bravery during his time in the war and was even shot six times in the battle on Juno Beach on that fateful day. He later flew planes during the war as well. 

Charles Bronson

One of Charles Bronson's most beloved roles is that of an officer in one of the best war movies ever, The Great Escape. Though he was Polish in the movie, he served in the US Army Air Force during World War II as a gunner on a bomber. He served with distinction, flying on 25 missions in the Pacific during the war and earning a Purple Heart. 

Kris Kristofferson

As a singer-songwriter and actor, Kris Kristofferson has usually been connected to the counterculture, but it wasn't always that way. Kristofferson grew up an army brat and despite being a Rhodes scholar in college, he was pressured by his proud military family to join the service. He was commissioned as an officer and served in Germany after completing Ranger training. He left the army in '65 and moved to Nashville, and the rest is history.

Mark Valley

Fox's Human Target was a short-lived, underrated TV show with an all-star that included  Chi McBride, Jackie Earle Haley, Indira Varma, and Janet Montgomery. It was led by Mark Valley, who played Christopher Chance, based on a DC comic character from a book also called Human Target. Valley himself is a graduate of West Point who saw combat in the first Gulf War.  

Jake McLaughlin

One of the more interesting stories on this list belongs to Quantico star Jake McLaughlin. McLaughlin joined the army after high school and served in the Iraq war, seeing combat in the earliest days of the invasion. After getting out, he worked a few odd jobs before landing a role in In the Valley of Elah. From there, he's never looked back, landing roles in multiple TV shows and movies. 

Jesse Ventura

While Jesse Ventura, star of the wrestling squared circle and movies like Predator, never saw combat in Vietnam, he did have an impressive service career. He completed BUD/S school, which is SEAL training, and served as part of an Underwater Demolition Team, the predecessors to the SEALs. Later he would become a politician and a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. 

J.W. Cortés

Fans of the Fox Batman prequel show Gotham will recognize J.W. Cortés as Detective Carlos Alvarez, who works with Jim Gordon in the Gotham PD. Cortés served for 13 years in the Marine Corps, including during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Remi Adeleke

2023's Plane is somewhat under-appreciated because it's a great action flick. Part of what makes it great is the breakout performance from Remi Adeleke. Adeleke plays part of a private military unit charged with rescuing passengers in a disabled plane stuck in the Philippines. Adeleke plays the part well because, well, he's a former SEAL in real life. 

It is no secret to anyone who has ever watched the hit sketch comedy series that the Saturday Night Live cast changes every year. In fact, there are some SNL actors who do not last any longer than one season. While some one-season-wonders have since fallen into obscurity, there are plenty of others who may have already been well-known to begin with or went on to become bigger than anyone could have imagined, as you can see from this list below. 

Nancy Carell 

The 1995-1996 season of SNL saw the debut of a Second City improv grad then named Nancy Walls, who — according to Vulture — was best known for impersonating the likes of Diane Sawyer, Sharon Stone, and Martha Stewart. Years after her sole season on SNL, Nancy would return to Studio 8H to appear in the opening monologue for a Season 38 episode hosted by her now husband, Steve Carell.

Chevy Chase

As one of SNL’s most famous former cast members, it’s easily forgotten that Chevy Chase was on for just one year (the series’ first) due to his then-girlfriend’s reluctance to move closer to set, according to the book, Live From New York: The Complete Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. After Bill Murray replaced him, Chase had a successful movie career, became a Five-Timer’s Club member, and starred in the Community cast for several seasons.

Billy Crystal

Billy Crystal was an established name when he joined SNL in 1984 and was even supposed to be the very first show’s final act before his managers pulled him out, feeling the time slot was disrespectful, according to Live From New York. The comedian’s brief run — before going on to star in hit movies like rom-com classic When Harry Met Sally… — was a memorable one, especially for his recurring portrayal of Fernando Lamas.

Joan Cusack

John Cusack is an actor who has never hosted SNL, but his sister, Joan Cusack, was actually a cast member during the disastrous 11th season from 1985-1986, which — as she revealed on Terry Gross’ Fresh Air podcast — was a miserable experience. Luckily, her subsequent career after she and the rest of that year’s cast got fired has gone very well, including two Academy Award nominations (for Working Girl and In & Out), sharing the screen with her siblings on occasion, etc. 

Robert Downey Jr.

Yeah, that’s right: Iron Man was an SNL regular from 1985-1986, during which he realized the “rapid-fire sketch comedy” format was not for him — as he revealed to Sam Jones on Off Camera — and was later ranked dead last on Rolling Stone’s list of the show's best cast members in 2015. Even with the evidence recorded for the world to see, the two-time Academy Award nominee’s current career makes that mostly forgotten part of his career hard to believe.

Chris Elliott

Late 2000s cast member Abby Elliott is actually a second generation SNL star, following her father, Chris Elliott’s, short tenure in the mid-1990s, despite previously having the chance to join in the mid-1980s, as he told The Daily Beast. He was already on his way to being a comedy icon by then thanks to appearances on Late Night with David Letterman and surely is now, thanks to his role as one of the funniest Schitt’s Creek characters, Roland Schitt, to name one example.

Janeane Garofalo

After making her acting debut on short-lived sketch comedy series, The Ben Stiller Show, Janeane Garofalo joined SNL from 1994 to 1995. Today, the stand-up comedian is well known for numerous movie and TV roles, including for her twice Emmy-nominated role on The Larry Sanders Show and from one of Pixar’s best movies, Ratatouille, as Colette.

Gilbert Gottfried

In 2022, we lost comedian Gilbert Gottfried, who is well known for playing Iago in Disney’s Aladdin, but not so much from SNL. Gottfried told Joe Rogan that his one year as a regular was “terrible” because he came on in 1980, right after the original cast had all left, which had viewers especially critical. 

Christopher Guest 

These days, writer, director, producer, and actor Christopher Guest is known as one of the leading “mockumentarians” for hits like Best in Show and This is Spinal Tap. He and the rest of the faux rock band actually appeared on SNL when he was cast member from 1984-1985, during which he was the anchor for “Weekend Update,” when it was being called “Saturday Night News.”

Anthony Michael Hall

Anthony Michael Hall became the youngest SNL cast member in history at just 17, according to The Independent, when he joined in 1985. Of course, by then, he was already one of Hollywood’s top teen stars, having played Chevy Chase’s son in National Lampoon’s Vacation and stole the show in hit coming-of-age ‘80s movie classics like Sixteen Candles and Weird Science (alongside Robert Downey Jr.).

David Koechner

Years before he starred alongside SNL all-star Will Ferrell in the Anchorman movies, David Koechner actually met him when they were on the show together, as he told Larry King Now guest host, Tom Green. The actor and comedian also debuted his character, Gerald “T-Bones” Tibbons, in a few sketches during his 1995-1996 stint.

Laurie Metcalf 

She is best known for her role on Roseanne (and The Conners), her Oscar nomination for Lady Bird, and playing Sheldon’s mom on The Big Bang Theory, but one of Laurie Metcalf’s earliest gigs was SNL. On Late Night with Seth Myers, she reflected on her two contributions to the show: a “Weekend Update” reporter bit and a short film opposite Catherine O’Hara.

John Milhiser

A highlight of John Milhiser’s SNL tenure was his only slightly exaggerated Jon Cryer impersonation in a few segments from Season 39. After Deadline reported that his contract was not being renewed, the comedian later appeared opposite alumni Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones in 2016’s Ghostbusters.

Randy Quaid

In addition to stealing the show from Chevy Chase in the National Lampoon’s Vacation, Randy Quaid had also earned an Oscar nomination for 1974’s The Last Detail before joining SNL. His followed the infamous 1985-1986 season by broadening Cousin Eddie’s iconography in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation cast and starring in classics like Independence Day and Brokeback Mountain.

Rob Riggle

Rob Riggle’s 2004-2005 SNL stint was his first major showbiz gig following 15 years as an active marine, as he recalled to The Daily Beast. He also revealed his time as his season’s only “new guy” caused some dysfunction, but at least it led to a successful career as a Daily Show correspondent, appearing in hit comedies like The Hangover, and hosting Holey Moley.

Tim Robinson

As Primetimer recalls, Tim Robinson joined SNL in 2012 alongside Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong, but was the only one out of that new trio to not make it past one season. He would eventually make up for lost time pretty significantly by co-creating and starring on Netflix’s hit sketch comedy series, I Think You Should Leave.

Paul Shaffer

Paul Shaffer has an interesting SNL history, having started off as a member of the house band before becoming a cast member in 1979, at which point he became the first to drop the F-bomb during a show, according to EW. Today, we know him best as the band leader for David Letterman’s storied late night career.

Martin Short

A comedy legend of Martin Short’s stature and talent — despite not pleasing everyone, apparently — is someone you’d assume had been on there longer than one season, but, as he discussed with Howard Stern, that turned out to be the case. From 1984-1985, the Only Murders in the Building cast member played many memorable characters, including Ed Grimley, most notably.

Sarah Silverman

Getting fired from SNL in 1994 was a bit disappointing to Sarah Silverman, but — as she told Perri Nemiroff on Collider Ladies Night — that one season was a great experience that made navigating show business a little easier. The two-time Emmy winner is now one of the best-known comedians there is, having even gained an audience too young for her stand-up after voicing Vanellope in Wreck-It Ralph and Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Jenny Slate

Jenny Slate clarified to InStyle that her firing from SNL in 2010 had nothing to do with her accidental F-bomb in that season’s premiere episode, but claims she “just didn’t belong there.” Her career since — including playing Mona-Lisa Saperstein on Parks and Rec, creating and voicing the title role of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, and appearing in Best Picture Oscar winner, Everything Everywhere All At Once — has surely been a great consolation anyway.

Ben Stiller

Not quite a “one-season-wonder,” Ben Stiller explained to Howard Stern that he was on SNL for five weeks before quitting in 1989 because he preferred creating short films over performing in live sketches — much like he did with The Ben Stiller Show. After launching a phenomenal career (that included occasionally sharing the screen with his parents), he has since come back to host twice, make some cameos, and recur as Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Terry Sweeney

SNL’s first openly gay cast member (and first on “network, commercial-based television,” according to Out) was Terry Sweeney, who was a writer before being recruited for the 1985-1986 season. He went on to write for MADtv and co-created a short-lived sketch comedy called Hype and more recently appeared on American Crime Story Season 2 and Netflix’s The Politician.

Danitra Vance

While not out at the time, Danitra Vance is tied with Terry Sweeney as SNL’s first LGBTQ+ cast member, having starred alongside him during Season 11. According to Advocate, she actually resigned from the show herself and continued to write and perform sharply satirical comedy before she passed away from breast cancer in 1994.

Michaela Watkins

Michaela Watkins — best known as blogger Angie Tempura — told EW that Lorne Michaels fired her from SNL in 2009, believing she should have her own show, which eventually happened when she was cast on Hulu’s Casual and, later, The Unicorn on CBS. You may also recognize her from movies like Good Boys or from Hulu’s true crime miniseries, The Dropout, more recently.

Damon Wayans 

In the world of sketch comedy, Damon Wayans is best known for his spot among the In Living Color cast and his iconic characters like Homey D. Clown. However, prior to that, he was a featured SNL performer for 11 episodes before he was fired for — as he discussed in a Weekender interview — going off script. 

Noël Wells

College Humor and Upright Citizens Brigade vet Noël Wells was not brought back for a second season on SNL in 2014, but bounced back pretty quickly. She had a pivotal role on Netflix’s Master of None; wrote, directed, and starred in 2017’s Mr. Roosevelt, and more recently lending her voice to Star Trek: Lower Decks. 

Brooks Wheelan

In a 2014 “Celebrity Family Feud” sketch, Brooks Wheelan (as himself) assures Steve Harvey (Kenan Thompson) that he is on SNL, to which the host responds, “I doubt it." -- a playful dig at his lack of screen time during his freshman season. In July 2014, the comedian announced he would not be returning with a tweet reading, “Had a blast and loved every second of it. I'm totally honored to be able to make this next joke... FIRED FROM NEW YORK IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!

”

Mike O'Brien 

Mike O’Brien was an SNL writer from 2009 to 2015, but also pulled double duty as a cast member from 2013-2014, during which he played Jay-Z and Oprah in a couple of short, faux biopics. Some of his more recent highlights include a Booksmart cameo and creating the short-lived NBC sitcom, AP Bio.

Aristotle Athari

One of SNL’s more recent one-season-wonders is Aristotle Athari, who was actually the show’s first Middle-Eastern male cast member and second Iranian-American cast member, according to The Dallas Morning News. Despite minimal screen time before his Season 47 exit, he did have a recurring character: indecipherable, improvisational lounge singer, Angelo.

Peter Aykroyd

A year after his brother, Ghostbusters star Dan Aykroyd, left the show, Peter Aykroyd joined as a cast member in 1980 and went on to earn an Emmy Award as a staff writer. The former Second City member, sadly, passed away at 66 in November 2021, USA Today reported. 

Jim Downey

While Jim Downey was only an SNL cast member for one year in 1980, he has been a writer for the show longer than anybody, with more than 30 seasons under his belt. He would show up on camera every so often in the later years, such as for a pair of faux ads for a bank that only gives people change, which he also wrote.

Christine Ebersole

Christine Ebersole’s distinct professionalism can be summed up in a story she shared to Broadway World from her 1981-1982 SNL stint in which she managed to sing a parodic Christmas carol on live TV with a piece of fake snow stuck in her throat. The actor is better known today for Oscar darlings like Tootsie and The Wolf of Wall Street, starring alongside fellow SNL alums Chris Farley and David Spade in Black Sheep, and starring on CBS sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola since 2019.

Not everybody needs to reach Kenan Thompson’s record to really make it in comedy, as many of these one-season SNL actors can support.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Personally, it's hard to believe that we’re approaching the 10-year reunion for 21 Jump Street, 2012’s surprisingly fresh, funny big-screen reimagining of the once-famous ‘80s show of the same name. Starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, who also co-wrote the film, and continuing the steady rise of directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, this R-rated comedy was a raunchy riot, and its sequel, 22 Jump Street, also proved to be an entertaining revamping. Now that we’re nine years removed from the hit movie, the 21 Jump Street cast keeps proving their talents in a multitude of projects. Let’s take a look and see what they’re doing right now. 

Jonah Hill (Morton Schmidt) 

As Morton Schmidt, a smart-headed but socially awkward police officer who must pose as a high school student in order to track the rising spread of a synthetic drug, Jonah Hill co-wrote and starred in 21 Jump Street. He later reprised this role in 22 Jump Street. Most notably, Hill received two Oscar nominations for his supporting turns in Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street. His other notable film credits include Superbad, Knocked Up, War Dogs, This is the End, Hail Caesar!, Cyrus, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Django Unchained, Get Him to the Greek, and The Beach Bum. Also, the actor is heard in the How to Train Your Dragon films, The Lego Movie, Horton Hears a Who!, Sausage Party, and Megamind. Additionally, on the small screen, Hill starred in Netflix's Maniac. Most recently, he guest-starred on an episode of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. 

As a screenwriter, Jonah Hill co-wrote Why Him? He also wrote, produced, and directed mid90s. Additionally, Hill produced Richard Jewell and Apple TV+’s Beastie Boys Story. The actor was also seen in Adidas Originals: Superstar - Change Is a Team Sport. Next, Hill will co-write, produce, and star in Kenya Barris’ untitled Netflix comedy, which will premiere sometime next year. 

Channing Tatum (Greg Jenko)

In the role of Greg Jenko, a popular jock-turned-down-on-his-luck police officer who infiltrates a local high school through a revamped program, Channing Tatum proved his unsuspecting comedy skills in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 and 22 Jump Street. Following his breakthrough performance in Step Up, the actor was quick to impress with star turns in Magic Mike, Magic Mike XXL, Foxcatcher, Logan Lucky, and Side Effects. Tatum’s other film credits include The Vow, Dear John, the G.I. Joe movies, Haywire, White House Down, Jupiter Ascending, The Hateful Eight, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and Hail, Caesar! Furthermore, he's heard in Smallfoot, The Book of Life, and The LEGO Movies.

Most recently, Channing Tatum was seen in Free Guy and heard in Netflix’s America: The Motion Picture. Next, the actor will make his directorial debut with 2022's Dog, which he’ll also produce and star in. Additionally, Tatum will be seen in The Lost City of D and Pussy Island. He’ll also produce and star in Wingmen. 

Brie Larson (Molly Tracey)

Playing the part of Molly Tracey, a sociable high school student who befriends our undercover cops, Brie Larson was the female lead in 21 Jump Street. Most notably, the actress won an Oscar for her star-making performance in Room. Larson was also acclaimed for Short Term 12, The Glass Castle, Just Mercy, and The Spectacular Now. Additionally, she plays Carol Danvers, i.e. Captain Marvel, in several MCU movies, including Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame. Larson’s other notable film credits include Trainwreck, Don Jon, Kong: Skull Island, The Gambler, Rampart, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 13 Going on 30, Hoot, and Greenberg. Furthermore, Larson directed, produced, and starred in Netflix’s Unicorn Store. 

Recently, Brie Larson won an Emmy for The Messy Truth VR Experience. She also played Kate Gregson on Showtime’s United States of Tara. Additionally, Larson’s other TV credits include Community, Raising Dad, and Kroll Show. Currently, the actress is filming The Marvels. Furthermore, Larson is expected to star in and executive produce Apple TV+’s Lessons in Chemistry and Netflix’s Lady Business. 

Dave Franco (Eric Molson)

As Eric Molson, a popular drug dealer at Sagan High School, Dave Franco plays a secondary antagonist in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 Jump Street. He later reprised his role in 22 Jump Street. Following this performance, Franco’s profile continued to rise with his work in the Neighbors movies, the Now You See Me films, The Disaster Artist, If Beale Street Could Talk, Nerve, Unfinished Business, Warm Bodies, 6 Underground, and The Little Hours. Additionally, the actor can be seen in Superbad, Charlie St. Cloud, Fright Night, Milk, and Greenberg and he can be heard in The LEGO Movie and its 2017 spin-off, The LEGO Ninjago Movie. 

Furthermore, on television, Dave Franco starred in the final season of ABC’s Scrubs. He can also be seen in Greek, Privileged, and Do Not Disturb. Last year, Franco made his directorial debut with The Rental, which he also produced and co-wrote. He also produced Zola. Currently, Franco is directing Somebody I Used to Know, which he also co-wrote and will produce. As an actor, he’ll be seen in Apple TV+’s The Afterparty and Netflix’s Day Shift. 

Rob Riggle (Mr. Walters)

In the role of Mr. Walters, Sagan High School’s odd gym teacher with nefarious dealings, Rob Riggle proved to be the true antagonist in 21 Jump Street. He also provided a cameo in 22 Jump Street. Best known for his work as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Riggle has forged a fine career as a reliable funnyman, especially in Modern Family, SNL, NTSF:SD:SUV::., Human Giant, Gary Unmarried, Wilfred, New Girl, Funny or Die Presents, and Angie Tribeca, to name only a few shows. He can also be heard in American Dad!, Golan the Insatiable, and The Cleveland Show. Currently, Riggle hosts ABC’s Holey Moley. Next, he'll lend his voice to Netflix's My Dad the Bounty Hunter. 

Additionally, Rob Riggle’s other film credits include Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, The Hangover, Furry Vengeance, Larry Crowne, Dumb and Dumber To, Night School, Step Brothers, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, The Other Guys, The Internship, and Absolutely Anything. Most recently, he was seen in The War with Grandpa. Next, Riggle will be heard in The Ark and the Aardvark.

Ice Cube (Captain Dickson)

Playing the part of Captain Dickson, the intensely aggressive leader of the police force, Ice Cube often stole the show in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 and 22 Jump Street. Best known for his involvement in N.W.A., which resulted in the legendary album, Straight Outta Compton, the musician-turned-actor began his movie career with a supporting turn in Boyz n the Hood. From there, Cube appeared in Anaconda, Three Kings, Higher Learning, Ghosts of Mars, Torque, and Rampart. He also wrote and starred in the Friday movies. Additionally, Cube starred in xXx: State of the Union and Barbershop, later producing and starring in the latter's sequels. The actor also starred in and produced Are We There Yet?, Are We Done Yet?, the Ride Along movies, The Longshots, and First Sunday.

Additionally, Ice Cube wrote, produced, and starred in All About the Benjamins and he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in The Players Club. His other starring credits include Fist Fight and last year's The High Note. Next, Ice Cube will star in War of the Worlds. He's also trying to make Last Friday. Most recently, it was announced that Cube would team up Jack Black for next year's Oh Hell No.

Ellie Kemper (Ms. Griggs)

As Ms. Griggs, a teacher who harbors a not-very-subtle crush on Jenko, Ellie Kemper played a smitten character in 21 Jump Street. Most notably, the actress received two Emmy nominations for her titular role in Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Additionally, Kemper is well-known for playing Erin Hannon in NBC’s The Office. Furthermore, she can be seen in The Mindy Project. As a voice actress, moreover, Kemper can be heard in We Bare Bears and Sofia the First.

Away from TV, Ellie Kemper is best known for playing Becca in Bridesmaids. She can also be seen in Sex Tape, Laggies, They Came Together, Somewhere, Identity Thief, Get Him to the Greek, and Mystery Team. Additionally, as a voice actress, Kemper can be heard in The Secret Life of Pets 1 & 2, Smurfs: The Lost Village, The LEGO Batman Movie, and We Bare Bears: The Movie. Most recently, she was seen in The Stand-In. Next, Kemper will star in Disney+’s Home Sweet Home Alone. Currently, the movie actress is filming Netflix’s Happiness for Beginners. 

Chris Parnell (Mr. Gordon)

In the role of Mr. Gordon, Sagan High School’s drama teacher, Chris Parnell had a supporting part in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 Jump Street. Most notably, he's known for his time on NBC’s SNL. Additionally, Parnell is recognized for his recurring role in NBC’s 30 Rock. As a voice actor, he was heard in FXX’s Archer as Cyril Figgis and Adult Swim’s Rick & Morty as Jerry Smith. Parnell can also be heard in American Dad, Family Guy, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, and WordGirl. Recently, he appeared in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend. Next, Parnell is expected to be heard in Netflix’s Dogs in Space.

Away from TV, Chris Parnell’s other film credits include Hot Rod, the Anchorman movies Sisters, The Five-Year Engagement, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Down with Love, The Ladies Man, Battle of the Sexes, and The Ridiculous Six. He can also be heard in the Hotel Transylvania movies. Next, Parnell will be seen in Senior Year and Disney+’s Home Sweet Home Alone.

Dax Flame (Zack)

Playing the part of Zack, Jenko’s friend, Dax Flame provided an explosive part in 21 and 22 Jump Street. Prior to this performance, he first came into prominence through his popular YouTube channel. Later, Flame appeared in Project X, The Watch, and Another Evil. Following that last title, the internet personality stepped away from acting in order to pursue other projects. Most recently, Flame co-directed, produced, and edited 2019’s documentary, Indoor Garden. He was also the subject of the documentary, Ice Cream Man. Last year, Flame hosted his talk show, Smoothie Madness. The actor keeps an active presence on his channel. 

DeRay Davis (Domingo)

As Domingo, the leader of the One Percenters, DeRay Davis played a major antagonist in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 Jump Street. Currently, the actor plays a recurring role as Peaches in FX’s Snowfall. Also, Davis played a recurring role as R.J. in ABC’s My Wife and Kids. His other TV credits include Reno 911! and Empire. Additionally, Davis can be heard in The Boondocks and Black Dynamite.

Furthermore, away from television, DeRay Davis played Ray in the Barbershop movies. His other film credits include Meet the Blacks, Jumping the Broom, Life As We Know It, Old Dogs, Imagine That, Semi-Pro, Scary Movie 4, Johnson Family Vacation, The Fog, School for Scoundrels, Code Name: The Cleaner, License to Wed, Get Him to the Greek, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Drumline: A New Beat, Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars, and How High 2. Most recently, Davis starred in Gully. 

Nick Offerman (Deputy Chief Hardy)

In the role of Deputy Chief Hardy, the tough nut police captain who re-assigns Jenko and Schmidt to our retro title-bearing street, Nick Offerman had a notable supporting part in 21 and 22 Jump Street. Most notably, the TV actor played Ron Swanson in NBC’s Parks and Recreation. He also received praise for his work as Karl Weathers in FX’s Fargo Season 2. Additionally, Offerman can be seen in Children’s Hospital, Gilmore Girls, American Body Shop, George Lopez, 24, and NYPD Blue. As a voice actor, furthermore, he can be heard in 3Below: Tales of Arcadia, Comrade Detective, Gravity Falls, The Simpsons, and Axe Cop. Currently, Offerman co-hosts NBC’s Making It, for which the star was Emmy-nominated. 

Outside of television, Nick Offerman can be seen in The Founder, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Hearts Beat Loud, The Little Hours, and Bad Times at the El Royale, to name only a few of his credits. Most recently, Offerman was heard in Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans. Next, he’ll be heard in Sing 2 and he’ll be seen in Hulu’s Pam & Tommy and Amazon Prime’s A League of Their Own. Moreover, as an author, Offerman recently published Where the Deer and the Antelope Play.

21 Jump Street is available to stream on Peacock. 

It goes without saying that Robert De Niro is one of the greatest actors of our time. Having been a veteran of the film industry for over 50 years, he’s taken on a variety of roles, though most know him for his dramatic roles in classics like Mean Streets or Taxi Driver. This can cause some to overlook the more comedic roles that he’s taken on over the years. And as De Niro’s co-star Rob Riggle can tell you, the actor definitely knows how comedy works, despite not being a comedian.

CinemaBlend’s Jeff McCobb recently caught up with Rob Riggle to chat about his latest film, The War with Grandpa and getting to work with one of his idols, Robert De Niro. During the discussion, Riggle mentioned that De Niro doesn’t always get the credit he deserves when it comes to his comedic prowess and stressed that the veteran actor knows what’s funny and what’s not:

Rob Riggle is right in pointing out just how difficult comedy is to perform. A common misconception that some have is that drama is the biggest challenge for an actor. Dramatic acting does present its own set of obstacles but, as Riggle mentions, it can be hard for some to make themselves look foolish. You can check out our full interview with Riggle down below:

Admittedly, Robert De Niro’s comedic credits are a bit of a mixed bag, but a number of them have still struck a chord with moviegoers. His role as Jack Byrnes in the Meet the Parents trilogy has actually become one of his signature performances. I mean it’s hard not to love seeing him take Ben Stiller’s Greg Focker to task. He also turned in a strong performance in David O. Russell’s 2012 rom-com Silver Linings Playbook, which garnered him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Of course, one of Robert De Niro’s earliest comedic outings (which still stands tall as one of his best) is his performance in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy. The black comedy sees him play Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring stand-up comedian suffering from mental health issues, who goes to great lengths to kickstart his career.

Robert De Niro is truly a multifaceted actor with a lot of range, and he appears to have plenty left in the tank even at this point in his career. Hopefully, he’ll get more opportunities to flex his comedic muscles.

The War with Grandpa is now playing in theaters.

Despite having ended in Spring 2018, New Girl is the kind of show that fans will always have right next to their hearts, and the kind of cast that viewers will follow from project to project. Jake Johnson's newest show, Netflix's extremely explicit comedy Hoops, will feature quite a few actors from both New Girl's main cast and some recurring characters throughout its seven-season run, although with many more F-bombs than people might be expecting from the animated comedy.

For Hoops' Comic-Con@Home panel, Jake Johnson and other cast members (and creator Ben Hoffman) spoke at large for the first time about the streaming comedy, which centers on Johnson's foul-mouthed high school basketball coach Ben Hopkins. During the panel, the conversation turned to just how many former New Girl actors would be appearing. In the first place, Max Greenfield served as moderator while rocking a most un-Schmidt-like mustache. At one point, it was revealed that Greenfield himself will appear in Hoops. Here's what the actor had to say about it:

Max Greenfield showing up for two episodes is better than him showing up for no episodes, amirite? Even though his character Lonnie's ethics might be slightly suspect in any scene that Jake Johnson's shameless Ben is at the center of. You can take a look at the two characters they're playing in the pic below, which features the traditional character dynamic of Ben smiling sheepishly while another character glares at him.

What's more, it was also revealed that Max Greenfield's New Girl romantic interest Hannah Simone is also a part of Hoops' first season. That said, no information was disclosed about what role she would be taking, so viewers should take it as a challenge to try and figure out who she's playing whenever the season comes out.

Hoops' Jake Johnson did offer up some details about who New Girl vet Damon Wayans Jr. will be playing, though. While he won't be reprising the Fox comedy's role of "Coach," he will indeed be playing an actual coach. Here's what Johnson said about it:

Which brings us to the main Hoops ensemble, where Rob Riggle is part of the fun as Ben's steakhouse-owning dad, who is sorta played up as being a douche, but actually seems completely normal in retrospect since Ben is clearly the way bigger asshole. In any case, New Girl fans will remember Rob Riggle recurring as the overbearing cousin Big Schmidt. And Hoops' other stars Cleo King and Rob Funches also appeared in a couple of New Girl eps themselves, as noted below.

Jake Johnson and Hoops creator Ben Hoffman also threw out another few Hoops co-stars that viewers can expect to hear, and it shouldn't surprise anyone at this point in the story that a few of those additional names are also comedy actors who popped up on New Girl in the past. That shortlist is below, noting who they played and the eps they appeared in.

So by all means, save for Zooey Deschanel and Lamorne Morris, Hoops is probably the biggest setting for a New Girl reunion that fans could ever hope for, even though none of it is happening in live-action. But that's perfectly fine, though, since Hoops definitely wouldn't work as well as a live-action series.

While you'll also be able to find Jake Johnson in ABC's Stumptown at some point in the future, you can hear him on Hoops when it debuts on Netflix on Friday, August 21. Check out our 2020 Netflix schedule to see what other big shows are debuting soon on the streaming service, and then hit up our 2020 Fall TV schedule to see what the rest of the television spectrum has to offer.

Everything is about to get wetter, wilder and more than a little weird over on ABC thanks to the return of the most extreme version of mini-golf on the planet, otherwise known as Holey Moley. The series is returning for Season 2 amidst ABC's big summer game show premieres, and as seen in the exclusive video below, it looks like executive producer Steph Curry and the rest of the producers have really upped the ante for how much effort each week's contestants will need to give.

It truly does look like the Holey Moley team got tasked with building their own amusement park, given how big, bright and chaotic the Season 2 course looks. (This would definitely a "dream backyard" situation.) Check out the behind-the-scenes video below to take in all the non-PGA-regulated wackiness that Holey Moley will challenge players with.

Now if that doesn't look like the best way to lose a bunch of calories, and more than a few brain cells, then I don't know what does. Holey Moley had already put forth some amazingly bonkers holes during its debut season, but nobody could have expected some of these Season 2 concepts. I mean, they literally set someone on fire for the "Dragon's Breath" course. I wouldn't be surprised at this point if the producers found actual dragons to use, though their wings would make it hard for them to compete.

While there are obviously plenty of reasons why the show's design team went above and beyond in coming up with crazy ideas for the courses, Holey Moley's executive producer Paul Franklin perhaps summed it up best by saying the wilder the course, the more engaged and hilarious the reactions get from hosts Rob Riggle andJoe Tessitore, as well as Jeannie Mai. Sure, they would get thrown out of actual golf tournaments for laughing and whooping it up as loudly as they do, but this is Holey Moley! People golf upside-down here!

Another wild new course takes on a space theme named after the seventh planet in the solar system, with planets and rings and...dirty puns. Every golf game needs puns, right? Paul Franklin seemed to think so.

We see what you did there, and it didn't require a telescope.

Not only does the video above give viewers a new look at the size and scope of the Season 2 course, but it also gives fans a look behind the scenes at how the team tests and tweaks each aspect of the course. It doesn't take much to turn an obstacle from impossible to super-easy and back again, so everybody involved has to work to make sure each hole is just difficult enough so that only the most dedicated contestants will make it through.

Of course, it's not like all the test subjects are showing off their skills in the most impressive ways. I'm pretty sure even I can nail this dive, for instance.

And I don't know about you guys, but Steph Curry got me extremely interested in seeing what Holey Moley's final hole will be for Season 2. The video above didn't give viewers a full look at the pyramid-esque set-up, only using miniature models to get fans invested while Curry teased what's to come.

Holey Moley Season 2 will make its grand entrance on ABC on Thursday, May 21, at 10:00 p.m. ET. 

Be sure to have your caddy bring you something nice to drink before watching, and be sure to stay updated with our Summer 2020 premiere schedule to keep up with everything else hitting the small screen soon.

ABC is adding something completely unique to its Summer Fun & Games primetime lineup this week in the form of Holey Moley, a humor-infused mini-golf competition. The new series boasts NBA all-star Steph Curry as an executive producer who makes an appearance or two, and has an awesome pair of commentators in new Monday Night Football voice Joe Tessitore and the always hilarious Daily Show vet Rob Riggle.

CinemaBlend had the pleasure to talk with Rob Riggle ahead of Holey Moley's big ABC premiere – and we also got some info out of Joe Tessitore via email – and learned quite a bit more about what viewers can expect from the "challenging" and "extreme" series. Naturally, Steph Curry was a topic of choice, so let's start there.

How Involved Was Steph Curry?

As one of the most talented and lauded athletes in the country, NBA superstar Steph Curry was all over TV recently as part of the NBA Playoffs and Finals. (It didn't end well for Golden State, but that's neither here nor there.) Our own Sean O'Connell asked Rob Riggle how involved Curry actually was with Holey Moley as an EP. According to Riggle:

While Steph Curry likely wasn't part of the teams that physically constructed the courses, it sounds like he had his fair share of input on the course's challenging holes. I like to think he tried to push for everything to feature the Warriors logo, but that's probably not what happened.

Understandably, while he did have a lot to do with the development process for the show, that whole NBA career didn't exactly allow him to stick around for filming on a constant basis. Here's what Rob Riggle had to say on that front:

Fans will indeed get to see Steph Curry out on the course in the premiere, but time will tell how often he'll be around after that.

How Difficult Are Holey Moley's Courses For Both Amateurs And Pros?

Anyone who plays mini-golf on a regular basis knows that it takes a keen amount of skill to become an expert in the game, and that it technically doesn't have all that much to do with one's skills in regular games of golf. Here's what Rob Riggle told us when asked if a golf pro would have an advantage on Holey Moley.

Mini-shots fired! It sounds like one's overabundant skills in one area may not be all that's needed to win out on Holey Moley. Which makes sense, of course, since most mini-golf is played in settings where there aren't lots of people watching while cameras are rolling. And personally, I've never had ANYONE do color commentary when I play putt-putt.

Rob Riggle said he did get a limited time to test the course out, but what did he think?

Co-commentator Joe Tessitore echoed Rob Riggle's thoughts about being surprised by how difficult the Holey Moley course turned out to be for well-seasoned golfers.

Watching underdogs win out over professional athletes is basically the premise of every feel-good sports movie of all-time. So if that's the kind of scenario we're going to see often on Holey Moley, fans are likely going to keep tuning in to live vicariously through the winners.

What Kinds Of Surprises Will Holey Moley Give Fans?

Sure, this might be a show about mini-golf, but it's not a show ONLY about mini-golf. (Okay, it's mostly about that.) But Holey Moley will have lots of surprises, too, from special guests to genuinely surprising competitions. Here's what Rob Riggle teased about the first season.

Joe Tessitore got a little more specific about the guest stars, saying this:

So just how will these Olympians, actors and musicians make their way into the putting party?

Does Being A Comedian Help With Sports Commentating?

As a veteran actor who has delivered memorable performances in seemingly 75% of all the good TV and film comedies of the past 15 years, Rob Riggle hasn't exactly stepped into these kinds of shoes before in his career. When CinemaBlend asked if Riggle thought that having a comedian's sensibilities is a plus for color commentary, here's what he told us.

One of Riggle's strengths as a performer is the constant energy he brings to every medium, even if he's just standing in one place and talking. Holey Moley will certainly keep him busy as he spices up Tessitore's detail-oriented chatter.

Though Holey Moley is his first mini-golf show, Rob Riggle does have some background in sports-related comedy. NFL fans who watch Fox's Sunday pre-game broadcasts are used to seeing Riggle popping up every week to poke fun at various teams and players (and Terry Bradshaw), often through song. However, the NFL gig didn't do much to inform his job as a color commentator. In his words:

Technically, Rob Riggle could quickly write up and perform a song just ahead of taping a Holey Moley episode. So I'm just going to go ahead and hope that'll be the case at some point.

For those who can't wait to watch Steph Curry tear it up on the mini-golf course, Holey Moley will make its debut on ABC on Thursday, June 20, at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Sundays are heavenly for football fans aiming to spend the entire day cheering and jeering. Fox's NFL Sunday pregame show even offers non-football fans something to enjoy each week, thanks to the comedic stylings of Rob Riggle. Here, Riggle donned a blonde wig, and welcomed Saved by the Bell alumni Mario Lopez and Dennis Haskins for a cheesy-as-hell parody dubbed "Saved by LaVeon Bell," in reference to the beleaguered Pittsburgh Steelers running back.

Where can we begin talking about the magic seen above? The most obvious place would be the most obviously recognizable faces: Mario "A.C. Slater" Lopez and Dennis "Mr. Belding" Haskins. Saved by the Bell was a career-maker for both men, who remain game to make fun tie-in appearances such as these whenever they make sense.

It definitely looks like Mario Lopez had to turn in his appearance from elsewhere, since he's just seen in front of a green screen. Of course, when the green screen is used to showcase mock-ups of Saved by the Bell's fantastically colorful trapper-keeper backgrounds, we have zero complaints.

Speaking of those backgrounds, I'm not certain the logo for the Pittsburgh Steelers would feel at home in the stomping grounds of California's Bayside High. But then Bayside was not a place where logic was readily apparent. No one would have continued to employ Mr. Belding after he failed to have Zack Morris expelled and arrested.

For my money -- none of which went into this video at all -- the greatest moment in the video comes right as it starts, for two reasons. For one, Dennis Haskins gets to deliver one of the main catchphrases that Mr. Belding could call his own: "Hey, hey, hey! What is going on here?" Not only was that awesome on its own, but it was amusingly arbitrary within the context of the scene, since he seemed to be fully aware of what was going on here.

The second reason why that opening moment rocks is less readily noticeable that Haskins' audible words. As the scene jumps to Sorta-Belding, someone in a bear suit is making an exit by walking to the side of the stage. What was that bear's act about? Was it insane enough to make someone inquire about what was going on there?

Also, if there are tigers (Bayside) and bears (one in a suit), does that mean a lion was lurking nearby? Or is it too much to try and slap a Wizard of Oz reference on top of this already strange mash-up?

As great as the parody song is in matching up with Saved by the Bell's memorable theme song, it may not have been the easiest thing to understand for those who don't keep up with NFL drama. The well-paid Pittsburgh Steelers running LaVeon Bell attempted to get a bigger contract negotiation going into the new season, but was denied. In response, Bell chose to sit out the team's games this season, which also hasn't worked in his favor.

With the NFL's trade deadline coming next week, LaVeon Bell was expected to either take the franchise tag to round out the season, or for the Steelers to find a team to trade him to. It's possible neither will happen, though, since backup running back James Conner is crushing it, and other teams haven't shown much interest in picking Bell up.

Saved by the Bell's A.J. Slater and Moose might be interested in that kind of football story, but I can only see Zack Morris interested in figuring out how to use LaVeon Bell's tactics to his own advantage. Maybe Bayside will find oil under the field again.

The absolute best Saved by the Bell reunion happened on The Tonight Show, but this was still a bizarre treat. Check out what Rob Riggle will bring to Fox NFL Sunday next weekend at 12:00 p.m. ET. Fox is also the latest home of Thursday Night Football.

To see all the comedies and dramas about sports and teens that hitting primetime soon, our fall TV premiere schedule will be of assistance.

It is safe to say that Rob Riggle's life would have been very different right now, had he not landed on The Daily Show. Riggle joined the cast of the Comedy Central series in 2006, replacing outgoing member Rob Corddry. In a new interview, Riggle revealed what he planned to do if his audition had not gotten him the job. Taking viewers back in time to before he landed his breakthrough role, Riggle said:

As life would have it, or rather, The Daily Show would, Rob Riggle ended up with his Plan A working out. It is always interesting to hear an actor share their perspective on the audition that got them their breakthrough part. Many times, they did not think they did well, as Rob Riggle described in his interview on the podcast, Pardon My Take. Riggle obviously did not perform as poorly as he felt he did, because he ended up getting the part.

Rob Riggle's military career began in 1990. He would go on to serve for 23 years. As a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, Riggle retired in 2013. Speaking about his time balancing his military duties with his role on The Daily Show, Riggle took listeners behind the scenes of his complicated and exhausting schedule during his early years on the show. Riggle said:

That schedule sounds like it was beyond grueling, and Rob Riggle did that for two years. And, he still managed to make people crack up on The Daily Show. While Riggle admits it was not easy, his positive attitude undoubtedly made the difference between cracking under the strain of balancing military life while working on his acting career. Before joining The Daily Show, Riggle had been a cast member on Saturday Night Live for a season, starring on the sketch comedy series from 2004 to 2005.

Rob Riggle starred on The Daily Show for two years as a regular correspondent. Since departing the series, Riggle has experienced continued success in his acting career. He had a role in the sitcom Gary Unmarried and scored parts in feature films, including Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher's co-starring vehicle Killers. He has also returned for guest spots on the Comedy Central series and stopped in for a segment of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Following his retirement from the military in 2013, Riggle has maintained his acting streak with a bevy of roles on television and in movies. One of the various projects that are up next up for Rob Riggle is a role in Kevin Hart's Night School, which hits theaters September 28.

New episodes of The Daily Show return September 4 on Comedy Central. Wondering what to watch until then? Well, summer is still happening! Check out the new shows still on the horizon with CinemaBlend's summer premiere guide. For new television premiering this fall, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's fall premieres.

It always strikes me as odd whenever networks start developing comedies without bothering to get any actual comedic actors involved. Thankfully, Fox is doing right by their latest comedy pilot 48 Hours ‘Til Monday, as they’ve tapped Rob “I’m in Everything” Riggle for the lead role, with Saturday Night Live vet Jane Curtin as his co-lead. It almost doesn’t matter who else joins in now, because this could be gold.

If you’re into context clues, you’ve already picked up on the fact that 48 Hours ‘Til Monday is in reference to the weekend, and Riggle is set to play Charlie, a husband with three kids. One of Charlie’s central motivations in life is to make sure that his weekends don’t always go to shit, according to Deadline. It’s unclear whether he’s interested in spending those weekends with his wife and children, or if he’s more invested in getting away from them entirely, but Fox isn’t exactly known for its sensitive, family-oriented male characters. (Al Bundy’s NO MA’AM, am I right?)

Curtin will be one of the reasons why Charlie is seeking relief, as she’ll be playing his chain-smoking mother-in-law Louise. (I’ll take TV Tropes for $400.) She and her husband are actually living with Charlie and his family, and her later-in-life child-rearing efforts leave much to be desired. Now I can’t wait to see who will be playing Curtin’s husband. Is it too much (or too unwanted) to ask for Dan Aykroyd to make a small screen comeback to reteam with his Coneheads co-star?

Produced by Universal TV and TBD Productions, 48 Hours ‘Til Monday is the brainchild of former Saturday Night Live writer Charlie Grandy. (His time on the show started well after Curtin left.) He also spent years writing for The Daily Show, and penned several episodes of The Office and The Mindy Project. He also created the short-lived Guys with Kids, but that’s not quite as memorable as the rest of his resume.

Riggle has been all over the big and small screen in recent years, with roles in Let’s Be Cops, Dumb & Dumber 2, Maron, The League, Marry Me and Modern Family, to name but a handful. He’ll next be seen in the Crackle original feature Dead Rising: Watchtower, and his voice work will be heard in Terry Jones’ Absolutely Anything and Tom Gianas and Ross Shuman’s Hell & Back.

Curtin, meanwhile, was most recently seen back on the Weekend Update desk for SNL 40. She was a regular on the CBS series Unforgettable and appeared on TNT’s The Librarians last year.

After years of being in front of the camera on the small screen – as well as on the big screen in movies like the Scream franchise – Courteney Cox is ready to take a step behind them for her feature directorial debut.

The film is called Hello I Must Be Going, but I wouldn’t get too attached to that name, seeing as how Todd Louiso released his own Hello I Must Be Going just last year. The indie drama already has a cast, including Seann William Scott (Goon), Kate Walsh (Private Practice), Kyle Galliner (2010’s A Nightmare on Elm Street), and comedy vet Rob RIggle (The Internship). This is the first feature screenplay from screenwriter David Flebotte, who has a lengthy career writing for TV series such as Desperate Housewives and Boardwalk Empire, and also wrote for Cox’s FX show Dirt.

There aren't many plot details about Hello I Must Be Going available just yet, but we do know that Scott will play a man contemplating suicide who revisits his hometown to settle some scores. It’s bothersome that the word “comedy” isn’t used here at all, given Scott and Riggle’s involvement, but hopefully the subject matter allows for some dark humor sprinkles.

Cox probably caught the directing bug from having helmed around a dozen episodes of her sitcom Cougar Town, as well as the 2012 TV movie TalhotBlond. And we won’t have long to wait for this one, as it’s expected to go into production in Los Angeles later in the month.

Let's face it, most awards shows are pretty boring. Whether or not you love the topic at hand - film for The Academy Awards, television on The Emmys or music at The Grammys - the actual awards show more often than not fail to entertain. It's a hard thing to accomplish when you have to spend the greater part of four hours congratulating each other while also trying to please the millions of people watching at home. However, one awards show, and I may be bias as a spots fan, that never disappoints in the entertainment department is ESPN's The ESPY Awards, largely because they know how to hire a host.

This year, the 20th for the event celebrating the best in sports, the ESPYS have hired comedian Rob Riggle to be master of ceremonies. Personally, I've never found the man anything but hilarious so I'm definitely looking forward to see what he has in store for the show in July. ESPN's Front Row first announced that Riggle would be hosting the live broadcast and also caught up with the actor famous for being a correspondent on Jon Stewart's The Daily Show as well as appearing in films like The Hangover and Step Brothers.

In the interview, the actor said he was most looking forward to hosting the ESPYS in order to get the chance to "meet all my sports heroes, people I sincerely admire and respect and the 50-foot robot that breathes fire and can eat cars!" And while I don't think Truckosaurus will be in attendance, there will be no lack of sports heroes and superstars to the host to meet. ESPN also asked the comedian if he was thinking of bringing in any of his Hollywood buddies as possible collaborators and since he's "had the chance to work with some amazing actors, comedians and writers; some of Hollywood’s best and I’m calling ALL of them!" Even though Riggle was kidding when he said he's be calling 'all' his former collaborators, don't be surprised to see a lot of them show up. Some great examples in the past include:

Steve Carell's "The Decision" interview with Paul Rudd (obviously mocking the famous LeBron James broadcast about his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat)...

...and Will Ferrell accepting the Athlete of the Year Award for Tiger Woods...

...and John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell negotiating their terms to host the ESPYS.

Also, you should probably watch Will Ferrell as Jeff Vuvuzela or Ferrell serenade Lance Armstrong. You get the idea, Will Ferrell LOVES the ESPYS and I wouldn't be surprised to see him, and many other comedians show up. Already confirmed to appear this year, in order to celebrate the 20th anniversary, are former hosts Samuel Jackson, Lance Armstrong, Justin Timberlake and Seth Meyers. The ESPYS air Wednesday, July 11 LIVE at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Check out the full interview with Rob Riggle, the host of the 20th ESPY Awards, on ESPN.com.

Drug PSA’s were all the rage on television back in the ’80’s, so it’s fitting that the cast of the 21 Jump Street would spoof one, likely as a promotion for the Phil Lord and Chris Miller directed comedy, which is set to hit theaters this weekend. Of course, this video doesn’t warn against actual drugs, but rather the dangers of pretend drugs, which pretend kill.

The comedic take on the popular ’80’s TV series will have Channing Tatum and “famous person” Jonah Hill playing undercover cops as they investigate a high school drug ring. Apparently this involves a fictional drug called HFS, which has prompted Tatum, Hill, and Rob Riggle to team with Funny or Die on this video, warning people of the dangers of fictional drugs.

Real drugs may not be a laughing matter, but pretend drugs are apparently another story. All the same, best to stay away from good old fashioned Jamie Lee Curtis, and of course, shooting up air freshener (or “Glading”).

Back in the day, the original 21 Jump Street was known to air a PSA or two. Here’s one the show did about drugs...

21 Jump Street arrives in theaters on March 16. More information, photos and videos can be found in our Blend Film Database.

Even in the undeniably stilted setup of an on-camera interview, Rob Riggle seems like a guy you could easily know, like the friendly jock from high school who somehow wound up with a movie career, but can't believe it either. I could have walked into the room and said "Dude, you're in a movie with Channing Tatum!" and he would have gone, "I know, crazy, right??" Of course, I didn't do that, and of course, Rob Riggle has worked with virtually everyone you can imagine popping up in most of the best comedy of the last decade, from Arrested Development and The Daily Show to The Hangover and Step Brothers.

This weekend he's once again part of a killer comedy ensemble in 21 Jump Street, playing the high school teacher and coach Mr. Walters, who winds up with Jonah Hill's undercover cop character on his track team and gets further enmeshed in the movie's silly adventures. He also shares an unforgettable scene with Hill and Channing Tatum when the two undercover cops are forced to take drugs at school. I talked to Riggle about the comedy that makes him laugh, how his own high school experience compares to what we see in the movie, and what the ability to improv adds to a movie like this. Check out the interview below, and see 21 Jump Street in theaters this weekend.

The twisted minds that had a hand in bringing you such warped TV sketch shows as Human Giant, Pretend Time and Robot Chicken have conspired to take crass stop-motion comedy to the big screen withHell & Back, a horror-comedy starring Nick Swardson (Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star) and T.J. Miller (Our Idiot Brother). Here the pair play two twenty-something best buds, Remy and Augie, who are happily stuck in manchild mode, but must man up for a rescue mission once a mutual friend is mistakenly sent to hell. Variety reports Rob Riggle, who made memorable appearances in The Hangover, The Other Guys, and Human Giant, has signed on to play this hell-bound bud, who unlike Remy and Augie is willfully entering the realm of adulthood.

Also joining the stop-motion feature are Michael & Michael Have Issues's Kumail Nanjiani and The Sarah Silverman Program's Brian Posehn. The stand-up comic who is well known for his nerdy rants and devotion to heavy metal music will fittingly be voicing an over-the-hill devotee of '80s metal, while Nanjiani will play Sal the Demon, a presumably low-ranking hell employee. There's no word yet on when the laborious production of Hell & Back will begin, but as the films co-writers/co-directors, Tom Gianas and Ross Shuman, have plenty of comedy ties, there's sure to be more noteworthy funnymen joining the mix.

Hell & Back is slated for a 2013 release date, but in the meantime Miller can be seen in screenwriter Lorene Scarafia's directorial debut Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, which opens in April. Coming off the box office bomb that was Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star, Swardson has no new projects to announce at this time.

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

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

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

Anyway, enough babbling. Here's the teaser.

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

Official synopsis from the Adult Swim Upfront,

Stumbled across this teaser on Vulture.

When you see The Other Guys in theaters, the scene I watched them film will probably be pretty short and straightforward. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg walk in to a crime scene to investigate, Michael Keaton shows up to fire them, and rival detectives played by Rob Riggle and Damon Wayans Jr. come in to taunt them, reminding Wahlberg's character about how he shot Derek Jeter and earning a punch from Ferrell. The scene ends with Riggle consoling Wayans over the punch, and that's where things got weird on the set. Riggle stroked his beard. He called him by his first name-- something cops would never do, he explained later. By take 10 or so he was instructing his partner to "just lie down" and accept some manly comfort.

Things progressed to the point that even the crew was having a hard time stifling their giggles, and even if the bit gets cut, it showed that there will be a lot to look forward to from Riggle and Wayans Jr. when The Other Guys comes out August 6. Riggle, known for his stint on The Daily Show and bit parts in movies like The Hangover and Talladega Nights, and Wayans Jr.-- son of Damon, obviously, and star of Dance Flick-- came to talk to those of us visiting the set once their bromantically charged scene was over. It was their last day on set, and it was clear they had built a dynamic together in the weeks of filming, finishing each others' sentences and riffing off each other, cracking up everyone in the room in the process. It takes guts to steal a movie from Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, but that may be exactly what these guys are about to do.

So when did the romance start between your characters?

Wayans: This scene!

Riggle: It started way before production. Actually, this scene is when it really comes to light.

Wayans: He really let me know how he felt.

Riggle:Riggle: Well you can't make fun of my partner.

Wayans: I know, but there's like defense, and then after they left you were like--

Riggle: Motherly protection?

Wayans: Even mothers don't go that far.

Riggle: You're right. What mother would do that? Not mine.

[Director] Adam [McKay] spoke earlier about how he encourages improv and takes ideas from everybody. Is there a point where you hit the wall? When do you guys get burnt out? How do you keep it fresh?

Riggle: Honestly I could do bits all day long.

Wayans: It's all we do.

Riggle: Honestly, you could beat me, torture me, just don't bore me. That's how we wind up doing bits all day long, just to entertain ourselves.

Wayans: Even when the camera's off, we're trying to make each other laugh all the time.

Do your characters appear a lot in the movie? Do they show up every time these guys mess up?

Wayans: Every time they mess up we show up, or we're the cause of them messing up.

Riggle: We are the rival detectives in the precinct.

Wayans: We want to do anything to demean them. Anything to make it easier for us to succeed.

Riggle: Once the top cops disappear in the movie, then there's a power vacuum. They're trying to get it, and we're trying to get it. So it's a healthy competition.

Did we hear right during the scene? Did you say someone farted up your nose?

Riggle: Yeah, that wasn't in the script. That's why I was staggering out there, going I--uh--I-uh. It hit me like a slap in the face. I did, I walked into a fart cloud.

Who was the perpetrator?

Riggle: I can't say.

Wayans: Someone doing their own ad-libbing.

Riggle: We'll blame it on an extra. That's not fair, and it's not right, but that's what we're going to do.

Is Adam telling you anything between takes about getting back to the story? It seems like you're getting bigger and bigger with each scene.

Riggle: Sometimes for sure. But for a large part of the time he's like, I loved it, do it again.

Wayans: Say whatever you want.

Riggle: Try this, try that.

Wayans: That's his thing.

Do your characters get into any of the action scenes? Car chases or shootouts or anything?

Riggle; We definitely do a driving scene. We show up at some crime scenes after the fact. There's a fight sequence. So there is some stunt, action stuff.

Wayans: Violence. There's violence involved. I kinda like it.

Riggle: Yeah. There's some moments.

So it's more than just taking a punch from Will Ferrell?

Wayans: Yeah, actually yeah. And it's well-deserved too. We're not the nicest guys. Riggle: Mark Wahlberg and I have a fight scene.

Wayans: Instigated by yours truly.

Is it after the scene we're watching?

Wayans: Before.

How would you rate Will's right hook? It looks a little soft.

Wayans: It's soft, yeah. It is. But I kinda just gave him that. It was for the camera. He hits like a bitch.

Has the rest of the movie been kind of like this, where every scene has some improv? Or are there some really serious scenes.

Riggle: No, there's moments that require different levels of gravitas. But they're very few and far between. It's a comedy. It's Adam McKay, it's an Adam McKay movie. There's going to be a lot of improvising.

Wayans: You know usually in action movies, it's just like action with a little bit of comedy, or comedy with no action. He just put both of those worlds together in this movie, perfectly I think. Because it's like nonstop, balls to the wall funny, plus crazy Bourne Identity action. [in macho voice] It's sick!

How do he and Will compare to the style of your massive family of comedians, Damon?

Wayans: Um, I don't know how to compare. It's just a totally different way of doing stuff. Improvving, I'm used to going, say what's on the script. Then I got here and it was like, oh, this is what I do with my friends all the time.

Riggle: He's a natural improviser.

Wayans: They make million-dollar pictures by just riffing. It's great.

You look at something like Dance Flick and you see looseness in it, so you'd think there'd be improvisation.

Wayans: I got to improv. At the end of the day, they pick what they want to pick. A lot of it was still the script.

Riggle: That's the thing, this movie is going to have so many people in it, so many great actors and great comedians. And it's going to have so much funny in it that I don't know how they're going to cut it down. I think it needs an intermission.

Wayans: It does.

Riggle: I think it needs to be a three hour movie with an intermission.

Wayans: I agree.

What's the most trying thing you've had to do on this film? What's the one thing that hasn't been fun?

Riggle: It would probably be stroking his face.

Wayans: Yeah, that didn't really bother me too much.

Riggle: My toughest day was wrestling and fighting Mark Wahlberg all day. He's a very strong man.

Wayans: He likes to show it. He likes to show that he's strong.

Riggle: He beat the tar out of me all day. But actually it was a lot of fun, so I can't complain too much. There hasn't been a bad day. For me, personally, I've had a great time.

Have you heard some of the stuff that Michael Keaton's throwing out there? He's got some amazing stuff.

Riggle: He was an incredibly talented stand-up comedian back in the day, he's an incredibly talented improviser, and we all know his acting credits and skills. We actually laugh more with him off-camera than we do on, just standing in the hallway doing bits.

Wayans: He purposefully tripped over your foot. That was retarded.

Riggle: Yeah, just walking into the scene, he purposefully kicked my foot and did a big trip.

Rockefeller Center in early December is a crazy place, packed with tourists trying just to get a glimpse of the famous Christmas tree and skating rink. It feels pretty funny to weave through the clumps of starstruck people hovering outside The Today Show only to hop in an elevator, enter a nondescript office right inside 30 Rock, and come face to face with Will Ferrell.

With the madness of Christmas at Rockefeller Center 28 stories below them, Ferrell and his collaborators were hard at work shooting a summer comedy. The Other Guys had been taking over sections of New York for months, filming car chase and shootouts all over the city, but the day I visited the set with some online colleagues, things were limited to a regular office scene-- but that didn't mean they were normal. A routine investigation of a businessman's suicide devolved into silliness when detectives played by Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg were assigned to the case, and that's even before their competition, played by Rob Riggle and Damon Wayans Jr., showed up to taunt them and maybe flirt with each other a little.

As you probably already learned in the movie's trailer, The Other Guys stars Ferrell and Wahlberg as a pair of detectives who finally get a chance to step up to the big leagues when the force's star cops-- played by Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson-- are indisposed. No one was telling us whether or not the star cops die or simply get injured early in the film, but given the wild tone of the film, I'd count on a spectacular death sequence. Given the chance to investigate a suicide, the pair of cops jump all over their opportunity to hit the big league, but they're constantly being investigated by both their boss (Michael Keaton) and the rival team of cops played by Riggle and Wayans, who always show up to try and take them down.

We saw all of that in the scene they were filming that day in 30 Rock, where Ferrell and Wahlberg arrive to investigate the scene and start collecting clues, only for Keaton to show up and take them off the case, telling them all the reasons their clues mean nothing. Rubbing salt in the wounds are Riggle and Wayans, who have become so popular for their own work that they were at a bar doing shots with Derek Jeter, while Wahlberg's character has become notorious for, uh, shooting Derek Jeter. In the leg. The fact that Wahlberg is a famous Bostonian and Red Sox fan will probably make this movie a huge hit in Boston, as Wahlberg himself pointed out on the set.

Director Adam McKay took the cast through a lot-- a lot-- of takes of each scene, both to capture the standard different camera angles and to allow the actors room to improvise. They would stick to the script for a few takes to get the lines down, then McKay would encourage them to improvise, with every one of the actors getting in on the fun. Keaton constantly made up different photos to pull out of the envelope that was supposed to contain evidence-- quilting patterns was one-- while Riggle and Wayans, who ended the scene, carried out their final dialogue to the point that, in the last take, the two buddy partners seemed on the verge of making out. Even Wahlberg, who may be the least experienced in improv among all of them, was able to get in on it with McKay encouraging him, using some of his trademark intensity to make it truly hilarious when his character was demoted to the traffic beat.

Though we couldn't see McKay from the monitors we were watching, it was fascinating to watch the way Ferrell works with him from on camera. At one point we could hear McKay telling Ferrell he was "like the coach's son," basically telling him he was in charge among the fellow actors. I couldn't think of a better way to describe the working relationship between an actor and a director doing their fourth movie together; the two clearly get one another in a way that makes any great collaboration possible, and though Ferrell is the star, he also recognizes to help McKay turn the movie into what he wants to make it. As an unabashed fan of everything they've done together so far, I was really encouraged to see this kind of collaboration happening between them on The Other Guys as well.

You can call this overkill, but I swear this is true-- we were joined as visitors on the set by a family from Kentucky who were there because the youngest son was a Make-a-Wish kid, and apparently had the dream of visiting a Hollywood set. During on break Ferrell came over to chat with the entire family, take countless photos and sign T-shirts, and chatted amiably with them about their experience in New York. While we journalists moaned about being stuck inside on a Saturday afternoon, this kid and his family were thrilled to be in the very room. Way to put us in our place.

During breaks between scenes we got a chance to talk with all the principal actors as well as McKay and screenwriter Chris Henchy. Below is the interview with Ferrell and Wahlberg, and we'll be running all the rest of the interviews throughout the day. (Read Rob Riggle and Damon Wayans Jr. here) Included in the interview are three brand-new images from the film that you'll only find at the sites that visited the set-- and given how small that 30 Rock office was, there weren't that many of us. The Other Guys comes out August 6 this year, just in time for you to be totally sick of actual action movies and ready for a summer movie that is actually intentionally making you laugh.

There have been a lot of buddy cop comedies over the years. What made you and Adam decide to do one?

Will Ferrell: We just were big fans of Mark’s, and just thought that no one’s really used him in a comedy this way. If he was up for it we thought it’d be a fun kind of thing to do.

Mark Wahlberg: I’ve been dying to do a comedy, and these guys took me to dinner and bought a bunch of nice wine and said, “Do you want to do a movie?” I said, “Are you kidding me?” If you do the wrong kind of comedy you never get a chance to do it again if you come from my background. Having an opportunity to work with these guys was a real dream come true. Then they actually went through with it and wrote this part that was right up my alley, and I get to work with this guy so it’s a no-brainer for me.

Was it intimidating for you?

Wahlberg: No, because they were very clear that they would take me under their wing and protect me. I always thought comics are completely different from what they appear to be onscreen. You hear stories of how serious they are, how they try to be funny during a take but in-between takes it’s weird and awkward. These guys aren’t like that.

Ferrell: We’re more weird and awkward. (laughs) We just thought it would be a great opportunity to comment on the genre. To do what we do and put the spin on the buddy cop movie.

Who’s good cop and who’s bad cop?

Wahlberg: I try to get him to play good cop/bad cop in the movie. We’re confronting this guy. I say, “I go hard, then you come in.” I tear into this guy, and next thing you know this guy goes twice as bananas as me. [Note: you can see this scene in the trailer]

Ferrell: I mishear him, I think he says “bad cop/bad cop”.

Wahlberg: He goes bananas. To see Steve Coogan’s face when Will went nuts was pretty damn funny.

Mark, what are you learning from Will about comedy improv?

Wahlberg: These guys go non-stop, and not only Will but anybody, whether it’s a bit part or a day-player, everybody that comes in is on fire. You got to be on your toes and they let me riff. Every time they do a scene you get a couple takes that are written, then you go nuts. I’m always trying to learn from every single person I work with. If I was ever the most experienced person on set that’s when I’d be nervous. When you have guys like these around you, you feel like you can do anything you want to do and still come off looking good.

This cast is huge. When you say, “Be in my movie,” does everyone come ‘a running?

Ferrell: This one was so cool because we started making these movies and said, “Wouldn’t it be fantastic to get that person?” and there was no way in hell. With this movie the people we actually wanted were like, “Of course, we’ll do it.” It’s nice to see that our work has been liked to the point where you picture Eva Mendes and she’s like, “Sure, tell me when.” Everyone was really looking forward to being a part of this.

Wahlberg: And she plays his wife! (laughs)

Ferrell: Which is a natural conclusion; I don’t know why you’re all laughing. (laughs)

How is it shooting in New York?

Ferrell: We love it. It’s such an energy to shoot here. Definitely when you’re doing an exterior in a big crowded part of the city there’s some issues with people constantly yelling. “HEY ENTOURAGE! I LOVE ENTOURAGE!” (laughs)

Wahlberg: Or you tell people to wait for a minute and they just walk right through the shot. Even old ladies! They’re like, “I don’t give a fuck.”

Will, I think we heard Adam on the set treating you like the coach’s son. Is that what your working relationship is right now, you’re kind of one and the same?

Ferrell: A little bit. I’m more like a coach’s son who was never good at basketball, not allowed anywhere near the court, I just got to fill the water bottles, wash the towels. We don’t even really think about what it is we do because it’s our fourth movie; we kind of know what the other guy is thinking. It’s pretty open territory. It’s not just me, though, he’s open with everybody. It’s best idea wins. He’s one of the few directors to say, “Frank the sound guy had a good idea, we’re going to do this.” He’ll give credit; he takes no ownership of anything. The biggest thing you want to set up is a feeling that if you fail it’s okay. At least 50% of the stuff we come up with, and probably 80% on some days, is terrible. But the 20% is so good it’s worth it. As long as you have that going in and everyone feels comfortable and it’s a great working environment. Adam sets that up.

How realistic is this? Your movies have gotten pretty wacky in the past.

Ferrell: This might be the most realistic thing we’ve done. We are real detectives, and we want this stark, real, gritty background so when we throw in these jokes they bounce even higher.

Wahlberg: Every time we’re doing something we’re trying to make each other laugh and say something funny, Adam’s always like, “Make sure you say something about the case…”

Ferrell: There aren’t any broad portrayals, or super-over-the-top characters.

Wahlberg: Certainly with me I’m trying to stay as committed as possible no matter how absurd it is, and hopefully that’ll translate as funny as opposed to doing pratfalls and shit.

Mark, can you talk about shooting Derek Jeter? Is that something you wrote into the script?

Wahlberg: That was something they were nice enough to write in for me, and he was dumb enough to do it. No, I took great pleasure in that, especially after them winning the World Series.

Ferrell: (laughs) We had to openly root for the Yankees this year.

Wahlberg: We wanted them to show up in a good mood. The Red Sox were already out of it anyway, so I was okay with that. I got to have my cake and eat it too. We were sitting there talking and laughing and I told him, “Do you know how this movie’s going to play like in Boston when I shoot you in the leg?” Just that is enough to cement me in Boston for the rest of my life.