One of the Best Comedies of the Last Five Years Announced a New Cast

I’m not usually a big prank guy. I like to make people laugh, but I am not out to make them uncomfortable. However, a few years ago, an older friend (Eric) called me to ask if I wanted to sit on a park bench and chat with him and a mutual friend (David). Eric is blind, would be accompanied to the bench by David (who is closer to my age), and I would meet up with them. But Eric then said, “If you want, we can make it a surprise.” For whatever reason, I decided to take that a step further.

I have several wigs in my possession, so I tossed one on. Then I completed my outfit with some sunglasses, a baggy shirt, and jean shorts that were a little ripped. Walking with a pretend limp, I showed up slightly after my friends, sat on the bench next to them, and started playing with a lighter. David is a very nice guy and tried to ignore me, so I asked him for a cigarette a couple of times. He politely declined, and, on the third ask, tried to move him and Eric to another bench. I stopped them by quickly standing up and revealing myself, much to David’s delighted surprise.

The three of us sat together for about an hour after that, talking, joking, and laughing about what had just happened. The intent was never to take things too far, but I was impressed to see my friend try to take the polite route when faced with something socially awkward. He never snapped at me or scolded me, even though I was trying to be obnoxious, and instead just tried to leave the situation. Then, not long after that, I saw a similar thing done on Jury Duty.

I won’t pretend that I went to nearly the extremes reached on that show, which aired on Amazon Freevee almost three years ago. It wasn’t like I had a whole cast at my back supporting my nonsense. Regardless, I tried to make someone feel a little on edge, and they responded with kindness, and that’s what made Jury Duty sing. It popped a regular guy into an insane situation (jury duty with a bunch of character actors who he thought were real people), and he remained a good person throughout. It even led to him getting a two-year development deal, though it… does not look like much came of it.

Now, Jury Duty is returning with a whole new premise, cast, and “target.” The new season takes place at a company retreat and follows Anthony, a temp worker who has just joined the company. The show has already been filmed and is due out in March. While the entire cast has changed, the creative team of Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky (two former Office writers who almost made a Ghostbusters movie) has returned. Here is the list of new castmembers according to Deadline:

“Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat will feature Alex Bonifer (Kevin Can F**k Himself), Blair Beeken (Pluribus), Emily Pendergast (Veep), Erica Hernandez (True Lies), Jerry Hauck (Paradise), Jim A. Woods (The Office), LaNisa Renee Frederick (Shifting Gears), Marc-Sully Saint-Fleur (Home Economics), Rachel Kaly (Worried), Rob Lathan (Inside Amy Schumer), Ryan Perez (The Break with Michelle Wolf), Stephanie Hodge (The Comeback), Warren Burke (Dead for a Dollar), and Wendy Braun (Atypical).” There’s no James Marsden equivalent there, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have one. I could easily see the company paying for a celebrity to show up at the retreat as part of the season. And, hell, I hope it’s Marsden again.

Will Anthony be as good a person as Ronald Gladden? We’ll see! But I also genuinely wonder if that was the intent this time. Ronald’s reactions surprised everyone in the first season. He was more like lightning in a bottle. This time, they might be fine with just letting someone lose their mind at all of the mishigas.