Why 'Brooklyn Nine Nine' Continues to Win the Guest Star Game

By Vivian Kane | Lists | November 24, 2014 |

By Vivian Kane | Lists | November 24, 2014 |

Shows like The Mindy Project and New Girl get a lot of attention for their cameos and guest stars. And for good reason— their guest stars are incredible. New Girl has had appearances by Taylor Swift and Jessica Biel. In her pre-Danny days, Mindy had a super hot guest star boyfriend every other week: Olyphant, Ed Helms, Seth Rogen (hey, “super hot” is a subjective term). But you know who doesn’t get a lot of credit for their guest stars? Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Which I guess makes sense. Their guests aren’t flashy. They’re more low-key, farther under the mainstream radar, but no less talented. They’re what Alison Tolman (who ALSO had a guest arc on The Mindy Project) would describe as “attractive but attainable.” Sure, they’re stepping up their game this season with Eva Longoria and Ed Helms (that guy gets around), but they still have their roots solidly in the cult favorites, the kind of esoteric actors that make you feel pride at recognizing them. Actors like:

Dan Bakkedahl

Who you recognize from Community, Veep

Craig Robinson

Who you recognize from, oh I don’t know, take your pick. Though it’s probably that episode of Friends when Phoebe wants to change her name to Princess Consuela Bananahammock. That’s where you know him from, right?

Kyra Sedgewick

Who you recognize from making sure sh*t gets closed.

Marc Evan Jackson

Who you recognize from Sparks Nevada, Marshall on Mars!

Sandra Bernhart and Stephen Root

Who you know from being Sandra Bernhart and Stephen Root.

Apollo Robbins

Who you recognize from being the greatest pickpocket in the world.

Patton Oswalt

Who you recognize from TV. Movies. The Internet.

Dan Donohue

This one’s for the major theatre geeks, and I’m only including it because it made me squeal embarrassingly loudly. Donohue played Scar in the Lion King on Broadway and is basically the Brad Pitt of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Moshe Kasher

Who you recognize from his awesome stand-up.

Brian Huskey

Who you recognize as being That Guy from That Thing. Like Children’s Hospital and Veep.

Matt Walsh

This show sure does like it’s Veep crossovers, doesn’t it?

Jenny Slate

Who you recognize from Parks and Recreation, Obvious Child, Marcel the Shell.

Fred Armisen, playing that character he plays so well.

Who you recognize from Portlandia, SNL.

Marilu Henner

Who you recognize from Taxi. Plus a lifetime of awesomeness.

Dean Winters

Who you recognize as Dennis Duffey, dummy.

Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Who you recognize from her gig as a Waitress.

Stacy Keach

Who you may better know as Stacy Keach, badass gum enthusiast.