Saturday Night Live has an incredible list of famous alumni, and it is often forgotten that Julia Louis-Dreyfus is on that list. Her 3 years on SNL (Seasons 8-10) are often overshadowed by her role as Elaine Benes on Seinfeld, a show that broke away from the typical sitcom formula and made her a household name. Louis-Dreyfus truly got her big break from the SNL scouts, leaving Northwestern University after getting tapped to be SNL’s youngest player at the time. However, the Veep actress recently got real honest about how hard SNL was, and revealed the one person who made her time in Studio 8H more bearable.

SNL might seem like a well-oiled machine these days, but it took 50 years to get there. In a conversation at the Cannes Film Festival this past week, the Seinfeld alum told The Hollywood Reporter the early 80s was a rough era for the famous sketch show. All of SNL’s inaugural cast was gone, including creator Lorne Michaels, who took a hiatus from the show from 1980-1985, leaving an “incredibly competitive” power vacuum behind-the-scenes for the 21-year-old Louis-Dreyfus to navigate. The Thunderbolts actress described a jarring introduction to the entertainment industry during her SNL tenure, involving a lot of “extracurricular activities”:

It may seem like a ridiculous concept now given SNL is such a consistent staple of the American TV landscape, but at the time, SNL was still a young show, trying to regain its footing and figure out its new identity.

For the most part, Louis-Dreyfus was part of some pretty successful SNL casts, which included Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, and Jim Belushi, and as a natural born performer, she could hold her own. But the You Hurt My Feelings actress described the environment behind-the-scenes as every man for himself, emphasis on the man part, saying it was a very “male-centric staff.”

Louis-Dreyfus’ sunshine in the storm, although I highly doubt he’s ever been described as such, was meeting writer Larry David. The Curb Your Enthusiasm star joined the sketch comedy show behind the scenes for the 10th season, Louis-Dreyfus’ last season on the show, and seemingly clicked.

At the Aspen Ideas Festival last week, Louis-Dreyfus told Sam Fragoso of Talk Easy that she and David bonded over their shared grievances: that no one knew what was funny, no one understood their shared humor or their sketches, and that they weren’t being put on air. After 2 years of struggling to be seen at 30 Rock, Louis-Dreyfus told THR she found good company in Larry David:

Things worked out well for the writing-player duo though, with David hiring Louis-Dreyfus to join one of the best sitcoms of all time. Perhaps the other SNL writers should have listened more to the Seinfeld stars, because their comedy style was clearly a hit with audiences.

While it’s disappointing to hear these two legendary comedians had such a rough time on the iconic NBC sketch show, I’m glad it brought their genius minds together, leading to incredible TV collaboration through the years. Both David and Louis-Dreyfus did eventually return to Studio 8H, with the Veep star hosting 3 separate times, and the Seinfeld co-creator appearing as a recurring guest during the 2016 election cycle to impersonate Bernie Sanders. I honestly hope they’ve healed some of their early SNL trauma, as I’d love to see them reunited in the place that started it all!

Kyle Balda's The Sheep Detectives will hit theaters on May 8th, and the book to screen adaptation has a stellar cast helping to make the novel into a big screen adventure. That include live-action actors led by Hugh Jackman, as well as he A+ voice cast bringing the titular sheep to life. I had the chance to speak with them ahead of the movie's release, where I asked some hard hitting questions: could their pets solve their own murder?

The Sheep Detectives' trailer showed the CGI creatures that are on a mission to solve their shepherd's murder. They're led by Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Lily, and during our conversation the Seinfeld star addressed whether or not she would trust her dog to solve the mystery of her hypothetical murder. She responded resoundingly with:

Honestly, that's relatable. I've had plenty of dogs in my life, but they weren't exactly the smartest animals I've ever met. Sure they had lots of love to give, but I'm not sure they had the intelligence or drive to try and solve a mystery. Maybe I need some sheep in my life.

Critical response to The Sheep Detectives has been quite positive, with the movie balancing laughs with a moving story about grief. It feels like the movie is a mix between Babe and the Knives Out franchise (the latter of which is streaming with a Netflix subscription). Actor Nicholas Braun plays bumbling cop Tim Derry in the film, and also didn't have much faith in his dog. As he told me:

I suggested that the Succession star keep a ball in his pocket at all times. At least then his dog might be incentivized to solve his murder if tragedy befell him. Although it's never going to have the keen strategic mind as Lily and the rest of The Sheep Detectives' fluffy characters.

Actor Chris O'Dowd voices Mopple, a Merino sheep who is one of the hearts of the movie. When I asked about his pets, he joked that one of them was actually able to commit a murder, rather than solve one. As he told me:

While I'm a dog person by nature, I love the way cats truly DGAF... especially when its time for them to be fed. That's exactly the case with O'Dowd's cat, who clearly has an affinity for his wife. Luckily he's also got dogs and even a tortoise, which honestly sounds like the perfect cast for a Sheep Detectives sequel.

The Sheep Detectives hits theaters on May 8th as part of the 2026 movie release list. I personally loved the movie, and would highly recommend seeing it in theaters... and bringing tissues. Trust me.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly expanding, thanks to new titles being released in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen as Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has become a major character, thanks to memorable performances in projects like The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Thunderbolts*. Fans are curious when she'll be popping up in upcoming Marvel movies, and she had a hilarious reaction when asked when that might occur.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus has had a wildly successful career on the small and silver screens, including her Emmy-winning work on Veep (streaming with a HBO Max subscription). She's appeared as Valentina in a variety of MCU projects, and when asked about her future by Who Let Alyssa Out, the beloved actress said the following:

I mean, she's not wrong. While nobody would actually harm Louis-Dreyfus, Marvel is known for its tight security. And while certain actors like Mark Ruffalo and Tom Holland are known for letting secrets slip, it sounds like the Seinfield star isn't trying to join those ranks. And I really don't blame her, especially given how intense fans of the MCU can be.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus made these funny comments about her ongoing role in the MCU while promoting her new movie The Sheep Detectives. But as is the case with many Marvel actors, the subject eventually turned to her time in the shared universe. She was mostly recently seen in Thunderbolts*, and fans are curious to see what happened after that incident.

While Valentina's return to the MCU is a mystery for the time being, she was referenced in Daredevil: Born Again's second season, with Matthew Lillard's Mr. Charles seemingly working for her. It looks like she still has some power... even if the New Avengers seemingly have her under their collective thumb.

Since the New Avengers are included in the Avengers: Doomsday cast list, perhaps we'll end up seeing Valentina sometime during its mysterious runtime. Hell, I'd settle for her being referenced by the team of heroes.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus' new movie The Sheep Detectives hits theaters on May 8th as part of the 2026 movie release list. For now, her time in the MCU is streaming over on Disney+.

We lost one of the greats on June 19th, 2013, as that’s when we lost James Gandolfini. A guy built like him, you’d think that he’d always be typecast to play tough guys, but that's exactly what made him interesting, because that wasn’t the case.

Sure, he did play his fair share of heavies, but he was also able to stretch his abilities in fascinating ways. For instance, I recently wrote about his role as the voice of Carol in Where the Wild Things Are. While he did sound angry, you could also hear that he was scared deep down inside, too. What range!

Speaking of range, he used it to his full ability in my favorite Gandolfini movie, 2013’s romantic comedy, Enough Said. Here’s why I love it so much.

For Such A Tough Looking Guy, Nobody Could Play Vulnerable Like James Gandolfini

At the end of The Sopranos, we see Tony coming out ahead after defeating the New York crew led by Phil Leotardo (Played by the late, great Frank Vincent). So, to celebrate his “victory,” he takes his family out to one of their favorite restaurants, and…well, by this point, I’m sure you know the controversial ending. However, here’s the thing: what’s great about that whole scene is that Tony's vulnerability is radiating off the actor. Whether you think he lived or died, it doesn’t matter. What the audience is left with, though, is a sense that Tony is not safe, and he’ll never be safe. He just has to live (or not) with that knowledge.

James Gandolfini plays an even more vulnerable character in Enough Said. It’s not a loud performance, like Tony Soprano, but his vulnerability is evident all the same. Gandolfini plays a divorced man with a teenage daughter who’s going off to college. Even though it’s typical to see female characters having the whole Empty nest syndrome thing, we see it from Gandolfini’s character, Albert, as he’s struggling to prepare for his daughter’s departure.

Gandolfini doesn’t play this as a big, shouting moment, but rather, it’s quite understated. You can see it in his eyes when he talks about his daughter, played by Eve Hewson. You can also hear it in his voice when he talks about how sophisticated she is when Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character, Eva, asks about a bag in his kitchen.

Oh, and about Dreyfus. The crux of this film is Albert’s budding relationship with Eva, and I’ll get into that next.

Gandolfini Has Genuine Chemistry With Julia Louis-Dreyfus

You know what? If Gandolfini and Dreyfus were ever in a movie together prior to Enough Said, I don’t think I would ever, in a million years, “ship” them. Dreyfus, the star of Seinfeld, Veep, and so much more, just doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who would go for somebody like Gandolfini, and that’s played up in this film as well.

Early on, when Albert meets Eva at a party, he’s attracted to her, but she’s not physically attracted to him, which again lends itself to how vulnerable Gandolfini’s character is. She views him as overweight and doesn’t really think they would hit it off due to her lack of attraction. However, once they do start dating, you get a sense that things will actually work out. That is, of course, until she has her image of him tainted by a new friend and client of hers, played by Catherine Keener, who is also Albert’s ex-wife.

Before that, they had real chemistry together. He has a subtle sense of humor, which mixes well with Eva’s broader and louder sense of humor. He also has a deep inner world, whereas Eva is quite neurotic, so you’d think their personalities would clash, but not really. It’s not until Eva lets her neurosis eat away at their relationship that things start to go awry.

It also doesn’t help that she’s been keeping it a secret that she’s been speaking to his ex-wife on multiple occasions. That said, without the necessary conflict involved with the ex-wife, Albert and Eva really do seem to complement each other well. It’s quite wonderful.

The Story Takes Its Time, And It’s Rewarding Because Of It

At the top of this article, I discussed how James Gandolfini played tough guys, but he didn’t just play tough guys, and that really works in this film’s favor since Albert is not tough. That’s why the secret that Eva is hiding from him, that she knows his ex-wife is like the equivalent of a ticking bomb, since you know he’s going to find out eventually.

However, what’s interesting is that throughout the film, we’re just waiting to see how he’s going to react to the news. Is he going to flip out like Tony Soprano and punch a hole in the wall? Or, is he going to cry in his beer and mope? The answer is neither. In fact, just like the rest of the movie, his reaction is very subtle but impactful. Albert tells Eva that she broke his heart, and he’s very quiet about it, saying that the worst part is that she made a fool out of him in front of his daughter. Meanwhile, Eva is crying because she wanted it to work out, but she realizes that she messed everything up herself by listening to her client rag on him all day.

The build-up to this moment, where they’re going out on dates, spending time together, and just enjoying each other’s company, is what MAKES this moment so impactful. The whole film, we just want Eva to tell Albert that she’s been talking with his ex-wife. We don’t like being in on the secret, since we know it will make Albert feel.

The way Gandolfini pulls this off is masterful. We understand that Albert is not Tony Soprano. He’s not a tough guy, and he’s just had his heart broken. Honestly, it’s the performance of a lifetime.

It’s A Romantic Comedy That Feels Like It’s Directed Squarely At An Older Demographic

Enough Said didn’t make our list of the 50 best romantic comedies, but it’s actually my favorite, with Silver Linings Playbook coming in at a close second. And, it’s mostly because Enough Said is for old people, like me (Well, maybe slightly older, but still!).

Because that’s the thing about rom-coms. I feel like the vast majority of them are directed toward young people. The whole, will-they, won’t-they trope just works when you have two young people who shouldn’t work on paper, but do work for real. And, in my younger years, I liked stories like Chasing Amy and (500) Days of Summer, because I guess I could see myself somewhere in those young characters’ relationships.

That said, the older I get, the more I appreciate movies like Enough Said, as the couple not staying together doesn’t necessarily seem like the end of the world. Instead, just like in real life, if it happens, great. If it doesn’t, well, at least you enjoyed your limited time with them, and that’s what we get here. It’s a movie that feels like it’s geared more toward an older demographic, where people need to be pragmatic about things.

For instance, given that you’re more cognizant of your own mortality the older you get, do you feel like wasting your time in a relationship with somebody who is being dishonest, or do you go back to being single, and at least confident that you’re not wasting your life with somebody who doesn’t truly value you?

It’s for that reason that this is my favorite Gandolfini movie.

As one of the most rewatchable TV shows ever, Seinfeld remains a favorite among fans, even though it's been off the air for years now. Even cast member Julia Louis-Dreyfus -- who portrayed Elaine Benes on the show -- still enjoys reflecting on the beloved sitcom. However, that doesn’t mean she enjoys every aspect of the series. The successful Saturday Night Live alum recently got real about Elaine’s style, and she’s very apologetic.

Louis-Dreyfus appeared on Amy Poehler's Good Hang Podcast, during which she reflected on her time with the Seinfeld cast and portraying Elaine Benes. Elaine’s style choices also came up. Not only did the character have a “slutty/sexy phase” that included some pretty tight clothes, but Louis-Dreyfus recalled wearing those ensembles while welcoming two babies during the show's run.

As a result, Julia Louis-Dreyfus' belly had to be hidden, which is a common practice for some actresses. To remedy that, Louis-Dreyfus had to wear “huge picnic table cloths.” Poehler joked that that style and other fits from the ‘90s are back, but Louis-Dreyfus humorously issued a plea:

• Julia: Listen, if anybody in America is listening to this, please don't do the '90s again.
• Amy: You and Jen Aniston, when you look at pictures of Rachel and Elaine, everybody's dressing like that now.
• Julia: I don't know what to say. I'm just so fucking sorry, I really, really am.

Poehler disagreed with Louis-Dreyfus and said that some of the styles were jackpot, which is why she brought up Rachel from Friends as well. That being said, a lot of throwback fashion styles are making a comeback these days. Still, Louis-Dreyfus just doesn’t want anyone to copy Elaine, because she believes those looks are better left in the past, regardless of the reason she wore them in the first place.

Between her hairstyle and some of her more trendy outfits, Elaine Benes certainly made her mark on ‘90s fashion, even if Julia Louis-Dreyfus doesn’t see it that way. That decade was indeed a very different time, and there were some pretty bold choices made back then. So it’s not surprising that the Emmy winner would have some regrets. And, considering that the Jerry Seinfeld-created show remains in circulation (as its streamable with a Netflix subscription and syndicated on TV), it's likely those outfits will continue to be seen for years to come.

While Louis-Dreyfus may not have liked Elaine’s style at times, that doesn’t mean that the ‘90s were all bad fashion-wise. There are many iconic outfits from ‘90s movies and shows and, even though a lot of them wouldn’t be able to make a comeback today given the changes in sensibilities, they're still pretty great. I'd even includes some of Elaine’s style choices in that batch. (Just maybe not the picnic table cloths that were clearly used to hide JLD's pregnancy.)

There have been talks of a Seinfeld revival and, if that were to happen, I'd be eager to see what kind of outfits Elaine would wear today. Needless to say, I'd expect her clothes be a tad more conservative and very different from the outfits of that "slutty/sexy phase."

The holiday season is always a great time of year to reflect back on the highs and lows of Seinfeld, as the iconic NBC sitcom is largely responsible for "Festivus" entering mainstream pop culture as a non-Christmas way to kick off the end-of-year celebrations. While Festivus 2025 has officially passed, Jerry Seinfeld revealed a reunion that took place on Christmas Eve that has already delighted plenty of fans of the sitcom, who now have more to enjoy than just rewatching episodes with a Netflix subscription.

Jerry Seinfeld reunited with Seinfeld costar Julia Louis-Dreyfus and co-creator Larry David on Christmas Eve, and the three were evidently sharing enough laughs that it was difficult to capture a photo with all three of them looking right at the camera. The stand-up comedian/actor's caption suggests that a good time was had by all. Take a look:

Would Jerry and Elaine be sharing Christmas Eve together if Seinfeld was still on the air in 2025? The show's finale back in 1998 was notoriously divisive, to the point that Jason Alexander had to defend it all over again in 2019 after the Game of Thrones backlash. Still, there's a reason why it remains one of the best shows to binge-watch on Netflix, and fans can have fun imagining what Jerry, Elaine, and the rest would be up to nearly thirty years after that finale.

It's a sign of the enduring love for the series that Jerry Seinfeld's Instagram comment section is full of comments that range from nostalgia to quotes from memorable episodes of the sitcom. Check out just some of them:

• claudio14off_s: "Happy Festivus for the rest of us❤️"
• seinfeldepisodes: "Another Festivus miracle!"
• tatofalciano: "This is gold, Jerry. Gold!!!"
• pathgirlnyc: "You want a Christmas card?! Here’s your Christmas card!"
• relevantseinfeld: "This is my Mount Rushmore."
• i_wantmydaddys_records: "Please do a reunion season. Or a movie or something."

I'm guessing that plenty of the people in Jerry Seinfeld's comment section would agree about the appeal of a reunion season, and there may even be a wider audience nowadays than back in the '90s thanks to Netflix shelling out a lot of money for the streaming rights to all nine seasons. Even if a revival never happens a la Frasier or Will & Grace, a Seinfeld movie would surely get plenty of attention.

Personally, I think a reunion special similar to what CBS produced for Everybody Loves Raymond would be great, and even a fun option for the holiday season in 2026 for a Festivus celebration. It at least looks like Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreygus, and Larry David are still on very good terms! Seinfeld is out in 4K UHD as of 2024.

Both actors appeared in several episodes of Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm, with the HBO series also featuring Jason Alexander and Michael Richards for a Season 7 episode, fittingly called "Seinfeld," in 2009. (In case that's the closest that fans ever get to a Seinfeld reunion, you can find the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode streaming with an HBO Max subscription now.)

For now, fans can at least enjoy the photos from Jerry Seinfeld to show the mini Seinfeld reunion, even if nothing new is ever produced on the small screen. You can also obviously revisit the original series on Netflix any time.

With the 2025 movie release Thunderbolts a.k.a. The New Avengers now available to stream with a Disney+ subscription, fans are already wondering what comes next for two of the blockbuster's standout supporting characters: Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and Geraldine Viswanathan’s Mel. The duo delivered some of the film’s sharpest moments, with Val flexing her political power in front of live TV cameras and Mel quietly hinting at a bigger MCU future. So naturally, there has been chatter regarding whether the two might appear in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Louis-Dreyfus admitted that playing Val in impeachment hearings gave her serious Veep flashbacks. And while the Seinfeld alum isn’t confirmed for the upcoming Marvel movie, she’s clearly ready for another round, saying,

Meanwhile, Geraldine Viswanathan may have had less screentime in Thunderbolts, but she’s already become a Thunderbolts* cast member fan favorite. Mel notably wears a songbird necklace in the movie, sparking fan speculation that she’s actually Melissa Gold, aka Songbird, one of the original Thunderbolts in Marvel Comics. In a recent chat with ComicBookMovie.com, Viswanathan admitted she’d love to see that transformation happen:

The Songbird buzz potentially isn’t just wishful thinking. Marvel’s been dropping little breadcrumbs like this for years: just look at Monica Rambeau’s slow roll into Photon. That necklace Mel wears paired with how she holds herself next to Val feels like exactly the kind of setup the MCU loves to capitalize on later. And if Geraldine Viswanathan does get the chance to go full Songbird, it wouldn’t just be a fun nod, as it could set up a whole new hero ready to soar into bigger arcs down the road in the canon.

You need to give these two a call, Marvel, because they’re ready to suit up. As for what’s next? A Thunderbolts sequel isn’t on Marvel’s schedule right now, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Geraldine Viswanathan both sound game to suit up again. And if Marvel’s track record has taught us anything – just look at Wong, Jimmy Woo, or Yelena Belova – it’s that side players can absolutely grow into bigger arcs. So yeah, don’t be surprised if Mel’s possible Songbird future takes off sooner rather than later.

It feels like a no-brainer that Val and Mel could slip into Doomsday or its upcoming sequel Avengers: Secret Wars for at least a scene or two. A full-on Thunderbolts sequel doesn’t seem to be on Marvel’s radar right now, but with Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova already rumored for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, there’s no reason Mel couldn’t pop back up in the MCU in the near future.

For now, Marvel fans can stream Thunderbolts and keep their eyes peeled for casting updates as Doomsday races toward its place at the end of the 2026 movie schedule release.

While the podcasting market continues to expand, with everyone and their mom seeming to have one, there truly are some gems on the airwaves. Regardless of your familiarity and regularity in dabbling, where does one start? As someone who dabbles in a few series and loves a good pop culture injection of any form, a celebrity-hosted show can offer a lot! These stars’ pods cover plenty of ground from BTS on favorite sets to politics to emotionally forward conversations. If you’re lost, in a rut or just looking for another stellar title to add to your audio arsenal, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in!

Oprah’s Super Soul - Oprah Winfrey

We know her, we love her, and the dynamic Oprah Winfrey continues to evolve and push interviewing bounds. Super Soul is more or less an adaptation of her inspiration and often a spiritual talk show that ran through the early 2020s. Be prepared to hear some deep conversations if you aren’t already, though we all know it tends to come with the unmistakable Hollywood giant.

Literally! With Rob Lowe - Rob Lowe

The 61-year-old Hollywood vet has wide-ranging conversations with plenty of well-known professionals. Whether it's well-established or rising stars in movies and TV, music or sports, Lowe jumps right in with them. And as a member of The Brat Pack, the pull he has with landing guests is pretty impressive and diverse.

Renegades: Born In The USA - Barak Obama, Bruce Springsteen

Though it only ran for one season and has 8 episodes to its name, the former president and The Boss’ collab rocked. Their conversations consisted of the changing dynamics of the USA through the lens of music, personal happenings, fatherhood and future revitalization. They also share their backstory on how the friendship and pod came to be.

Goop - Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow and Goop’s virality continues to regularly break the internet (especially those body-forward scented candles). But the Hollywood A-lister and her empire went to new heights with the addition of their own podcast, which she hosts. Naturally, it dives in holistically to grander topics with today’s ‘brightest thinkers and culture changers’ to dissect the conversation at hand.

Wiser Than Me - Julia Louis-Dreyfus

As always, when Louis-Dreyfus commits to a project, she knocks a role out of the park. One of her most recent titles as host of Wiser Than Me is no different; her interviewing women who are expert veterans in their given career is a true delight. She’s had everyone from Jane Goodall to Jane Fonda, and she’s just getting going.

Good Hang - Amy Poehler

Don’t overlook the Parks & Rec star’s Good Hang, even though it may be one of the newest entries on the list. Poehler’s sunshine bright vibes radiate through the show while she chats with A-list Hollywood names. But the most signature part shines through when she has a mini cameo from a friend of the guest who praises them ahead of the main convo. (If you haven’t seen or know where the viral clip of Rachel Dratch fumbling with headphones on a Zoom, now you do.)

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend - Conan O’Brien

In the comedian’s corner of the interview world, you can certainly expect his signature smart silliness he has brought to the masses over the decades. But why did he jump into the world? As the title implies, and per his summary, O’Brien realized after years of interviewing celebs, ‘the only people at his holiday party are the men and women who work for him,’ and wanted to change that.

Fly On The Wall - David Spade, Dana Carvey

While not an outright Saturday Night Live podcast, two huge alums, Spade and Carvey, lead this industry-leaning show. The pair has their fair share of guests and covers plenty of Studio 8H lore depending on who’s with them that week. Beyond the sketch show conversations, they often jump into current pop culture, current events and even fan-submitted fare.

Bill Gates And Rashida Jones Ask Big Questions - Bill Gates, Rashida Jones

Gates and Jones came together at the beginning of the pandemic in search of musing about some big questions. Though there are only five episodes, nothing seems off the table, from climate change to the psychology behind lying. But the unexpected co-hosts tackle these larger sociological and worldly topics with intentionality and ease.

The Big Podcast With Shaq - Shaquille O'Neal

The dynamic retired basketball player continues to surprise us with his plays (he just confirmed he was a Swiftie on the Kelces’ pod), and did just that when he kicked off his new podcast network by way of his own. Aptly named, Shaq and co-host Adam Lefkoe, of course, talk sports among themselves and alongside guests, but also hit a range of topics.

Minnie Questions - Minnie Driver

The Good Will Hunting actress’ offering sets up each interview through seven thoughtful questions. Though each question is relatively simple, it’s proven time and again that it unearths quite a conversation. Her therapy session meets fireside chat structure stands apart from other celebrity podcasts since its intention dives into a soulful exploration of life’s questions.

All There Is With Anderson Cooper - Anderson Cooper

While plenty of entries on the list cover an array of subjects from casual conversations, behind-the-scenes Hollywood magic and love and relationships, Cooper dives into loss (which he’s experienced multiple times over since childhood). What started as the beloved CNN news anchor processing the passing of his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, and the ins and outs that go along with it, has blossomed into something much more. He’s built a safe ground for guests and listeners alike to reflect and process the big topic.

Red Table Talk - Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Norris

The multi-generational, familial women-hosted show has gone viral a few times over since its inception on Facebook. Nothing, as we’ve seen, is off limits in this conversational style show and doesn’t shy away when things get nitty gritty. Though the OG got the axe in 2023, it got going again with no ties to Facebook, and its episode catalog continues to rank with some of the best Hollywood fodder out there today.

The Weekly Show With Jon Stewart - Jon Stewart

The beloved TV host has a podcast that pairs with his regularly scheduled show. The Weekly Show offers a more expansive look into our ever-developing world with notable minds in essential roles across the professional field. If you’re looking for even more Stewart material, he had a short-lived but excellent 2 season show called The Problem with Jon Stewart that dove into topics that were ‘too big for TV.’ With either, you can count on a laugh paired with some big, thought-provoking discussions.

SmartLess - Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Sean Hayes

SmartLess is like an improv dinner party you weren’t invited to, but somehow snuck into. Each episode brings a surprise guest to the table, and with it comes comedy, curiosity, and the kind of bromantic chaos that three A-listers with zero filters can deliver. It’s part talk show, part therapy session, and all charm—who would’ve guessed the vibe would be achieved by the Michael and Gob Bluth actors with a dash of the Jack McFarland actor.

Armchair Expert - Dax Shepard

Maybe one of the most recognizable and longstanding on the list, Shepard started his series in 2018. Though the premise is relatively simple in terms of chatting with well-known faces, things can go deep quickly. The CHiPs alum has had ex-costars like Lauren Graham, incidentally spill about Parenthood peer, Mae Whitman’s baby daddy, and Oscar-nominated stars like Michelle Williams reflect about her late ex-partner, Heath Ledger. Needless to say, there’s a lot to work with here (and a 300+ episode backlog to sift through).

Office Ladies - Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer

Of course, there was bound to be at least one rewatch pod in the bunch, and with The Office ranking as one of the best sitcoms ever, it’s a natural pick to include. Kinsey (who played Angela Martin/Lipton/Schrute) and Fischer (who played Pam Beesly Halpert) recount excellent tidbits and memories as they rewatch the NBC classic while hosting Dunder Mifflin cast and crew members.

Life Is Short - Justin Long

First and foremost, I’ve got to give the Jeepers Creepers actor’s name for his show is A+ play on words (specifically short and long). But, behind the small chuckle the title of the pod offers is a surprisingly poignant base for Long and his brother, who co-hosts the show. The siblings jump in the deep end with their guests and discuss all there is about life, which includes everything from emojis to their perspective on life.

LeVar Burton Reads - LeVar Burton

Fiction lovers and previous PBS Kids unite! The beloved Reading Rainbow star’s pod is a modern-day take on the classic 26-year run show, but now catered toward adults. Short form stories are the main genre he dives into each week, and the whole thing feels just like a little bit of a time machine, for those who tuned in regularly to RR.

New Heights - Jason, Travis Kelce

No, I’m not talking about their mom, Donna Kelce, landing a spot on S4 of The Traitors US, but it’s worth mentioning. The NFL family show is full of BTS looks into being brothers while also playing football professionally. They also often go out of bounds of the shared ground and discuss everything from pop culture to UFOs.

The High Life - Ricki Lake

The former television host is getting back to her roots with The High Life. And while she still has plenty of Tinseltown names as guests, the focus with her offering is health and wellness. Nothing is off the table within the larger landscape; she hits everything from menopause to energy healing.

Las Culturistas - Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers

In case you’d like to know, this is my ride or die pick of the list. The college besties-turned-Hollywood-darling co-hosts have amassed a cult turned mainstream following thanks to culture catch-ups, regular bits they have A-list guests participate in (what sparked their interest in culture and their wry ‘I Don’t Think So Honey!’ critique of something) and their own award show. Clearly, I could go on about it, but if you need more proof, Tina Fey’s iconic advice to Yang speaks to why we, ‘readers, kayteighs, publicists, finalists and kyles,’ love it all.

WTF With Marc Maron - Marc Maron

The rough around the edges comedian and actor’s podcast is one of the most well-known celebrity series. As a blueprint of public figures' iterations to come, Maron got started in 2009 after his radio show got canned. In the decade-plus he’s been at it, he hosted writers, directors, comedians, actors and many more in the typical style that is commonplace today. But, heads up, he just announced his show will end this fall, so don’t miss out!

Podcrushed - Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, Sophie Ansari

The Gossip Girl alum’s shared show isn’t a far cry from the hit teen series fodder. They’ve just spun the clock a little further back to schoolyard drama and middle school crushes. Badgley, alongside Kavelin and Ansari, takes on listeners' stories, reads them and explores all the ins and outs of starting to grow up (and all the turmoil that tags along).

Broad Ideas - Rachel Bilson, Olivia Allen

While you may know of Bilson’s other pod, Beyond The O.C., involving ex-castmate Melinda Clarke, Broad Ideas includes her longtime bestie, Olivia Allen. The new duo essentially cover any ground two girlfriends would in any given conversation (mental health to ghosts are promised). But hosting a new guest to join in on the fun each week brings it to the next level.

The Mess Around With Hannah And Lamorne - Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone

If you know anything about where these two co-hosts met, you can probably guess this is a New Girl rewatch series. And if you know that, you probably know they played CeCe and Winston (Bishop), respectively, and the title comes from a bit that the characters shared. Also, plenty of past cast and crew come through to reminisce about all the shenanigans that went down in 4D.

Films To Be Buried With With Brett Goldstein - Brett Goldstein

Though he’s still relatively new to the scene, the Ted Lasso star is hitting it big (and is now on Shrinking). With that success, his unique corner of the recording studio has only found more success. And while the title of Goldstein’s show is pretty straightforward and self-explanatory, it has me hooked. I think it’s safe to say he’s just getting started.

At Your Service - Dua Lipa

While I haven’t actually listened to the singer and actress’ show, it may be the hidden gem on the list. Heading into her third season, she continues to host a slew of knockout guests, and her collection of candid conversations runs the gamut of interesting fare. Everything from psychedelics to running Apple.

Getting Better With Jonathan Van Ness - Jonathan Van Ness

Ever since being introduced as the current generation’s hair & grooming lead on Queer Eye, JVN has been stealing the show as they help build up others. By natural curiosity and the drive to learn, the Getting Better podcast helps them grow and build spaces to learn even more. The weekly episodic content comes in all shapes and sizes–from finance lessons to discourse on culture, they’ve got it covered.

Why Won’t You Date Me? - Nicole Byer

The Nailed It! host is also a pro-podcaster. If you go looking for Byer’s love and relationship pod, you may find quite a slew aside from the aforementioned one (Best Friends!, 90 Day Bae and Newcomers). But this humorously titled one is the most well-known and long-standing one, where she has everyone from friends and experts to an occasional ex or two dish all about dating and love.

Lovett Or Leave It - Jon Lovett

While Jon Lovett’s beginnings aren’t traditional Hollywood standards material, the comedian was a former speech writer for Barack Obama. From there, he and fellow Obama peers (Dan Pfeiffer, Tommy Vietor and Jon Favreau–not to be confused with the A-lister) then co-hosted Pod Save America. His newest show is a hybrid of political news mixed with fun, well-known guests, and a bit of shenanigans all tied into one, always providing a laugh.

The Bald And The Beautiful - Trixie Mattel And Katya Zamolodchikova

One of RuPaul’s Drag Race’s biggest winners, Trixie and ride or die fellow queen, Katya, have taken the world by storm together. After meeting on season 7, they quickly went on their way to make creative projects together, starting with their viral cult followed series, UNHhhh, to their aptly titled pod. It’s a lot of the same banter, just funneled into discussing pop culture and Tinseltown-leaning topics.

No matter what side of the aisle you sit on, I think we can agree that it’s sad to know that the 2025 TV schedule will continue to be devoid of new episodes of Veep. Through its seven-season run on HBO, the satirical ensemble comedy led by Julia Louis-Dreyfus took blistering aim at American politics, with very few subjects spared. Apparently, someone took the time to dig into that very show on a recent flight, and it was captured by none other than the Seinfeld cast vet herself, complete with a very sweet message.

As you’ll see in the embed from Louis-Dreyfus’ Instagram stories, she spotted this Veep fan taking flight and captured the moment. But pay close attention to the text at the bottom:

Honestly, if I knew Julia Louis-Dreyfus was sitting behind me as I was watching Veep, I’d kinda be nervous. For all I know, the Selena Meyer moments I find to be the funniest would vastly differ from the ones she favors. Not to mention, her thoughts on the series finale may differ from mine, as I consider Season 7’s “Veep” to be one of the best final episodes of a sitcom ever.

Though looking at the final bit of text signaling that Ms. Louis-Dreyfus was a fan of making that HBO Max subscription driver has me convinced of one thing: we’d probably both agree with her emotional reaction to Veep’s final filming day. But at the same time, it’s not like she’s been sitting around, obsessing over what Selena Meyer’s presidency would have been like.

In her post-Veep years, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has kept the wheels turning with a variety of projects. Indie darlings like A24’s well-received You Hurt My Feelings have helped mix things up alongside her continuing role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Also, the blockbuster corner of her resume saw another appearance as she was part of Thunderbolts*’ impressive cast.

But even with that MCU project keeping the villainously funny Countess Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the frame, my mind returns to the seven years spent with Veep. Let's be honest, Val does sometimes feel like Selena in a PG-13 environment - especially when we see her pulling the levers of power in D.C.

Since she’s so fond of that previous series, I wonder if Julia Louis-Dreyfus would be up for a Disney+ series that followed her Marvel character’s continued efforts to gain power - and the foils that keep getting in the way? While no one wants a mere imitation of creator Armando Iannucci’s darkly comic cable hit, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have something similar in nature to bridge the gap between films.

That’s probably just something I’d be interested in, especially seeing as Marvel's TV shows are going to be more stand-alone prospects in the future. But feel free to see Thunderbolts* in theaters and weigh in on that subject yourselves. Meanwhile, you can see all seven seasons of Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Veep, as they’re still streaming on HBO Max.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly releasing new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next upcoming Marvel movie heading to the big screen is Thunderbolts*, which features a killer ensemble cast. In it Florence Pugh jumps off a skyscraper, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus is making it clear that she gets into the action too.

What we know about Thunderbolts* has been limited ahead of its release, with the studio guarding the movie's contents. Fans are eager to see the cast of Thunderbolts* interact with each other, with Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontaine seemingly bringing them together. In an appearance on Radio Andy, the Seinfeld icon let slip that she got physical in her most recent MCU appearance, saying:

Well, I'm intrigued. While Valentina has appeared in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Black Widow's credits scene, she hasn't been involved in any action sequences just yet. But that'll change in Thunderbolts*, and I'm eager to see exactly how adept the character is in a fight.

Security for the shared universe is notoriously tight, so this sliver of information is definitely thrilling for fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order. In that same interview, Louis-Dreyfus shared her passion for getting into Thunderbolts*' action, saying:

As previously mentioned, actress Florence Pugh has been making headlines over a wild stunt that's shown in the Thunderbolts* trailer. Marvel was originally unsure about the dive, but it looks like it's going to be pretty epic on the big screen. On top of spectacle, it also looks like it's going to be a gripping emotional moment for Yelena. I mean, just look at her face here:

We haven't any big crossover moments in the MCU since Endgame, so Thunderbolts* look thrilling on paper. What's more, the scrappy group of antiheroes who make up that team have been confirmed as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast list. Unfortunately, Julia Louis-Dreyfus hasn't been included in that ensemble... at least not yet.

Luckily the wait for Thunderbolts* is nearly over, as it hits theaters May 2nd as part of the 2025 movie release list. We'll just have to see which characters survive, and just how thrilling the action sequences are.

Over the last year, Sabrina Carpenter has risen to superstardom thanks in large (or grande) part to the Disney star releasing her single “Espresso” ahead of last April's Coachella set. The single led to her closing out Season 49 of Saturday Night Live, followed by the variety sketch series parodying “Espresso” during Season 50, and it all came full circle when Marcello Hernandez was “arrested” as Domingo during one of her concerts on the Short n' Sweet Tour. Now, the song is at its next logical phase: dramatic readings from celebs like Ariana Grande and Saoirse Ronan.

In celebration of the 2025 Grammys telecast, W Magazine tasked a list of all-stars including Grande, Ronan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Selena Gomez, Cynthia Erivo, Zoe Saldaña, Harris Dickinson, Ryan Destiny, Drew Starkey, and several others to perform dramatic readings of the now-Grammy-winning song. Some really put their all into it with very dramatic readings, while others were content to sing, and some just read it plainly. But it was all too good when combined, as seen below:

One would think if Grande wanted to sing “Espresso,” she fully would, but she instead only offered up a dramatic reading; still, I would desperately love for her to sing the song for another video.

Also, Ronan thinking that the song was “Nespresso” really pulled the whole thing together, and she probably is not the only one who thought that. It’s not surprising that Gomez would sing along, considering she went all out while at the Short n’ Sweet Tour with some friends last year.

W Magazine has done dramatic readings in past, for Taylor Swift songs and Olivia Rodrigo, among others. Plus, “Espresso” is not the only Sabrina Carpenter song that was the focus of a dramatic reading. The publisher also did one for “Please Please Please” featuring Paul Mescal, Andrew Garfield, Demi Moore, and even Pamela Anderson, and it was again one of the greatest things ever. Now, a dramatic reading of “Juno” would perhaps take the cake, especially if it came with a “Juno” position.

Despite having perhaps one of the biggest songs of 2024, Carpenter has one gripe about having a song called “Espresso.” The “Taste” singer told Time that she’s “intentionally stopped” herself from getting the coffee beverage, and I can’t say I blame her. She’s probably had many of them while the song was making rounds last year, and it would probably be too predictable at a Starbucks or Dunkin’ to order one, but at the very least. She still seems to be having a lot of fun performing the song.

Fresh off three Grammy wins, Carpenter probably won’t be slowing down any time soon, and it wouldn’t be surprising if there were more dramatic readings or parodies of her songs in the near future. Following her split with Barry Keoghan, it might be the best to remain busy, and I’m excited to see what she has next up her sleeve.

Though Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz’s 2025 Netflix movie Back in Action is still crushing it atop the streaming site’s daily Top 10, with horror sequel Scream VI chasing it menacingly at #2, the rest of the list is slightly harder to predict from day to day. But among the Minions and Trolls bouncing around underfoot, a relatively recent and below-the-radar A24 fave is making a Julia Louis-Dreyfuss sized impact for those with Netflix subscriptions.

We’re talking about the Emmy-winning actress’ dramedy You Hurt My Feelings, which A24 aligned itself with in late 2021 before the film’s initial premiere in January 2023 at Sundance, which was followed by a domestic theatrical run that kicked off in May. And as it goes with most things that Julia Louis-Dreyfus is part of, critics were all over this one.

You Hurt My Feelings has managed to maintain quite the impressive Rotten Tomatoes score, which is currently at 94%. Which would be one thing if only a few reviews were accounted for, but that's after a whopping 218 reviews. The audience score is quite lower at 64%, but that tends to be the norm for quieter movies.

It’s perhaps not quite the fare that most would expect upon hearing the studio A24, in that there are no horrific entities, sci-fi complications, scantily clad weirdos, or really anything that could be labeled hardcore beyond its emotional beats, of course. (Check out our upcoming A24 movies rundown for more on-brand projects.)

A reteaming between Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her Enough Said filmmaker Nicole Holofcener, You Hurt My Feelings wasn’t exactly a box office behemoth upon its Memorial Day weekend release in fewer than 1,000 theaters. It earned a little under $2 million for the four-day weekend, and amassed $5.7 million in total.

But theatrical success certainly doesn’t have an affect on how well a film can do once it hits Netflix’s library, where millions of people can access You Hurt My Feelings without having to seek out a theater that isn’t entirely geared to blockbuster releases. And at the moment, it’s sitting pretty in the #9 slot, where its feelings are hopefully not too shabby. Check out the full list below.

Netflix's Top 10 Movies - January 29, 2025

• 1. Back in Action
• 2. Scream VI
• 3. Despicable Me 2
• 4. Saturday Night
• 5. Despicable Me
• 6. Boss Baby
• 7. You Gotta Believe
• 8. The Secret LIfe of Pets
• 9. You Hurt My Feelings
• 10. Trolls Band Together

Is it somewhat amusing to see an adult-oriented movie likeYou Hurt My Feelings sharing the ranks with Poppy and Branch and Gru? Kinda. But it also speaks to the dramedy's pull that it's clocking a comparable amount of views to worldwide animated hits. And for what it's worth, one of JLD's improvised moments led to the funniest scene of 2023 cinema, at least to one of CinemaBlend’s own.

And one can only assume that Julia Louis-Dreyfus' filmography will be further explored by even more fans once she gets all villainous for Marvel’s Thunderbolts* and any other upcoming Marvel movies that we may not know she's in yet.

Captain America: Brave New World is kicking off the batch of upcoming Marvel movies on the 2025 movies schedule, and Thunderbolts* will follow a few months later and, among other things, give Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine another platform to shine on. In fact, the actress has teased that her character’s origins will finally be explored in what will be the 36th of the Marvel movies in order. However, I’m especially impressed the sweet gift that Louis-Dreyfus’ husband gave her when she landed her MCU role, which is giving me all the nerdy feels.

In addition to sharing how she has a lock on keeping MCU spoilers secret from even her family, Louis-Dreyfus had the following to say in her interview with EW about how both this special gift and what lays ahead for Valentina in next year’s Thunderbolts*:

The issue Julia Louis-Dreyfus is referring to is Strange Tales #159, which was published in August 1967. She was introduced during the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. run by Jim Steranko that run until issue #168 who crossed paths with Nick Fury. She would go on to become Fury’s love interest and one of high-ranking members in the international espionage agency. While the Seinfeld alum isn’t the first to play Valentina in live-action (that honor belongs to Lisa Rinna in the 1998 Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV movie starring David Hasselhoff), this is unquestionably the character’s most prominent appearance outside the comics, so I’m glad Louis-Dreyfus’ husband got her that issue to commemorate the major casting.

As for these “earlier schemes” Louis-Dreyfus mentioned, it’ll be nice to finally have that “better understanding” that’s coming about Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in Thunderbolts*. With the exception of previously being married to Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross, as revealed in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, we don’t know anything about her past. What we do know is she’s been plotting her machinations for years and has recruited folks like Yelena Belova and John Walker to help her. Whatever she’s plotting will come to a head in Thunderbolts*, but she’s more than cemented her status as a sinister version of Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury.

These answers and more will be revealed when Thunderbolts* opens in theaters on May 2, 2025. Meanwhile, you can stream Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ previous Valentina appearances with your Disney+ subscription.

In 2021, Julia Louis Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine hit the Marvel Cinematic scene, first appearing in the franchise second Disney+ subscription-exclusive series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and then cameoing in Black Widow, the 24th of the Marvel movies in order, a few months later. Then the character returned in late 2022 for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and she’ll finally return next May for Thunderbolts*. So by now, Louis-Dreyfus knows her way around handling Marvel spoilers, so maybe Tom Holland, Mark Ruffalo, two of the franchise’s most notoriously loose-lipped actors (among others), should take a note from her on the matter.

While discussing what to expect from Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the upcoming Marvel movie, which included sharing how we’ll see “her entire plan unfold” and describing the character as an “anti-villain,” Louis-Dreyfus informed EW that she hasn’t shared any Thunderbolts* spoilers with anyone, including her two sons, who she described as “Marvel fanatics.” As she explained:

This is definitely how someone who’s working on a Marvel production should handle spoilers: assume you might accidentally say something, and then put in extra effort to make sure you don’t do that. While Mark Ruffalo and Tom Holland obviously don’t go around deliberate spoiling key Marvel plot points left and right, there have certainly been times when the Hulk and Spider-Man actors could have benefited from exercising the same kind of restraint Julia Louis-Dreyfus is talking about. As just two examples, Ruffalo spoiled the end of Avengers: Infinity War nearly a year ahead of its release, and Holland spoiled that same movie to a packed theater before it’d even started playing.

Tom Holland once claimed that Mark Ruffalo was worse about spoilers than he was, and frankly, I’ll give him. After all, along with the standard variety of spoilers, Ruffalo also accidentally live-streamed the beginning of Thor: Ragnarok during the world premiere. Regardless, Julia Louis-Dreyfus clearly has the art of Marvel secret-keeping down to a fine art and science. Now she just has to keep her streak going for roughly half a year until Thunderbolts* is released… though that’s not to say that will be the last we see of her in the MCU.

Thunderbolts* hits theaters on May 2, 2025, and Louis-Dreyfus’ costars include Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Olga Kurylenko and Lewis Pullman. Jake Schreier directed the feature, and Eric Pearson, Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo all worked on the script.

Since television began, women have been an important part of its history. This is a list of many of the groundbreaking women who have made their mark not only for themselves but for all women in the industry. Women like Lucille Ball, Barbara Walters, Mary Tyler Moore, and many more.

Lucille Ball

I Love Lucy has been one of the most enduring hits in the history of television. It's been on TV both in the first run when it first aired in 1951 and in reruns ever since. Almost the entire time TV has been in people's homes. Of course, that's all because of the brilliant Lucille Ball's performance as Lucy. She's a one-of-kind legend we're unlikely to see the likes of again.

Roxie Roker

Over the course of her incredible career, Roxie Roker broke new ground everywhere she acted, whether it be on the big screen, the Broadway stage, or, as Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, on television. The most important thing Roker did on TV seems so antiquated now that it's hard to believe, but when she was on a hit CBS show, she was actually the first Black actress to appear on a TV show in a relationship with a white man. It was a huge deal.

Carol Burnett

Not only is Carol Burnett one of the funniest women in TV history, but she's at or near the top of the list of the funniest people, period. Her eponymous show was a groundbreaking sketch comedy show and she not only paved the way for more female comedians to have their own show, she paved the way for enduring sketch comedy shows like Saturday Night Live

Betty White

There are few actors more beloved than Betty White. When she died just shy of her 100th birthday in 2021, the outpouring of grief from fans was incredible. It wasn't just for her roles on legendary shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Golden Girls, but for her whole career in television back to its earliest days.

Shonda Rhimes

Many of the women on this list are here for what they've done in front of the camera. Shonda Rhimes is here for what she does behind the scenes as one of the most prolific show creators of all time. Not only is she one of the first women to be so successful as a TV producer, but she's one of the first Black women to do it, making it doubly important and groundbreaking.

Ellen DeGeneres

It's obvious why Ellen DeGeneres is on this list, but that doesn't mean we should overlook the obvious. When DeGeneres came out as a lesbian on her sitcom in 1997 it was actually earthshattering. It shouldn't have been and today, something like that would hardly be blinked at and that's all because she had the guts to do it when she did.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag does something that few shows have done before it - it's an unflinching look at the life of a single woman and by doing that it, it automatically less of the cultural taboo it's been for far too long. It's weird that it's taken so long for something like this be a cultural stone, but at least we're here now.

Barbara Walters

In the TV news business, there is no more groundbreaking figure than the legendary Barbara Walters. As a news broadcaster, reporter, interviewer, and panel host, Walters did many things no woman before her had ever done. It's hard to downplay just how much of a trailblazer Walters was during her amazing career.

Marta Kauffman

As the producer and co-creator of Friends, Marta Kauffman showed the world that a woman could create what was, at the time, the biggest show in the world. It wasn't a show "for women," Friends was a show for everyone and few shows have seen the kind of popularity Friends had - and continues to have today with its endless life on streaming.

Mary Tyler Moore

Without The Mary Tyler Moore show, we might not have had other trailblazing shows like Murphy Brown, or Ellen, or Fleabag. Mary Tyler Moore did it first and, for many, still did it best. Before he blazed a trail on her own, she was also an early hero on The Dick Van Dyke Show. She truly made it on her own on TV.

Jane Curtain, Lorraine Newman, And Gilda Radner

It had to be hard for the three women in the original "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" on Saturday Night Live, Jane Curtain, Lorraine Newman, And Gilda Radner. The show felt like a frat house at times and there they were, consistently as funny or funnier than the frat bros that made up the rest of the amazing cast. Talk about groundbreaking.

Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson's first television role came in 1961 and her final appearance came just before her death in 2020. In between she starred in literally 100s of episodes of television and often was the first and only Black woman on those shows and episodes. There aren't enough words to explain how important she was for every Black woman who came after her on TV.

Peggy Charren

Activist Peggy Charren is different than most on this list. She wasn't an actress, nor did she even work in the television industry. Instead, she was an advocate for the children at home watching. It's because of the work of Charren that kids had the option to watch informative and educational TV, and not just corporate drivel made to sell more sugary cereal to them. Anyone who grew up loving Sesame Street or The Electric Company has Charren to thank, at least in large part.

Katie Couric

It's hard to believe that it took until 2006 for a major network to have a female lead anchor, but it's true. That woman was, of course, Katie Couric and for that alone, she should forever be remembered as a groundbreaker. She's done so much more as well, so it's not the only thing she'll be remembered and appreciated for.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus' career has been nothing short of spectacular. She is one of very few people, much less women, to have won more than 10 Emmy Awards, for her work on not one, not two, but three hit shows. Seinfeld, The Old Adventures of New Christine, and Veep have all been great in large part due to her talent and hard work.

Irna Phillips

On her Wikipedia page, Irna Phillips is described as a scriptwriter, screenwriter, casting agent, and actress. In reality, she kind of invented the entire genre of the soap opera in the 1940s, first on radio and later on TV. She was the first to really pinpoint women as a target audience and write and create shows geared towards them. Daytime TV would be very different if not for Phillips.

Diahann Carroll

Diahann Carroll isn't the most famous person on this list and that's kind of weird because her contribution to TV is huge. Her groundbreaking role as the lead in Julia showed that Black actors, especially Black women, could be a whole more than just maids or other stereotypical roles they typically played before Julia debuted in 1968.

Candice Bergen

Even before she blazed a new trail in Murphy Brown as the first woman on TV to express the desire to raise a child as a single mom, Candice Bergen was breaking ground on TV. She was the first female member of the SNL Five-Timers Club, for example. As the lead on Murphy Brown, she won so many Emmys (five) that she started declining invitations to give others a chance at the career boost a win provided.

Bea Arthur

Like her cast mates on Golden Girls, Bea Arthur was a true trailblazer. For starters, she is one of few women in Hollywood who served in the active military during World War II as a marine. Once she got to Hollywood, she played by her own rules which eventually landed her a recurring role on All In The Family in the early '70s, tackling some of the biggest issues of the day. That led to the spinoff Maude where she was unflinching in her pursuit of bringing women's liberation issues to the forefront on prime-time TV, including such political hot topics as sensitive as abortion in the early '70s.

Oprah Winfrey

Of all the entries on this list, the one who might need the least introduction is Oprah Winfrey. Starting with a small locally-produced talk show on TV called AM Chicago and later simply The Oprah Winfrey Show, Winfrey built a massive media empire and became one of the biggest moguls in television. Her empire reaches across all forms of media these days and she's among the richest people in the world. And then there are all the cars she's given away...

Nichelle Nichols

Nichelle Nichols was the sole woman in the original Star Trek cast and she more than held her own. Not only was she an equal member of the Enterprise crew, she was an equal member of the cast. On the show, Nichols' character Uhura shared an on-screen with Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) which was one of the first, and most famous example of an interracial kiss on network television. It seems simple, but it was incredibly groundbreaking at the time.

Donna Reed

There were plenty of family-focused sitcoms on 1950s television. What set The Donna Reed Show apart is evident by its name. It was one of the first shows that focused on the mother, played by Donna Reed, as the primary character of the show. This wasn't Father's Knows Best or My Three Sons. Reed was the star and the main character. Additionally, she was no mere wallflower. She was a strong, independent-minded mother and wife who had a full life as a homemaker and mother and audiences saw it all, not just June Cleaver doing the dishes while wearing her pearls.

Laverne Cox

Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox wasn't the first transgender woman on TV, but she was one of the most visible as part of such a huge hit. Cox, and her character were remarkable not only because she was was transgender but because her character Sophia dealt with problems that weren't just because she was transgender, but because she was also human locked up in prison. Sophia wasn't simply a one dimensional character, she was much more than her gender. That was, and still is, rare.

Jodie Whittaker

If she does nothing else in her career (and that is unlikely), Jodie Whittaker will forever be known for being the first female Doctor on Doctor Who. That alone makes her incredibly groundbreaking and worthy of inclusion on this list. There was even a time when critics and fans thought that such a thing would be impossible. Whittaker has been remarkably popular and has proven all the doubters wrong.

Marlo Thomas

Like many instances on this list, it's hard to believe that there was ever a time when it was shocking to even consider an entire television show focused on an unmarried woman. Of course, there was a time when that was true, but that was before Marlo Thomas starred in That Girl starting in 1968. The show, which was actually a little controversial at the time was all about Thomas' character moving to New York to try to make it in show business.

Debbie Allen

Debbie Allen is probably best known as the star of the TV version of Fame (and a small role as the same character in the movie), as well as a judge of So You Think You Can Dance. But Allen's accomplishments run so much deeper than that. She is one of the most prolific TV directors of the last few decades and was the choreographer for the Oscars for a decade. She's had an amazing career on both sides of the camera.

Kerry Washington

It's really hard to wrap one's head around the fact that between Julia, starring Diahann Carroll, which ended in 1971, and Scandal when it started in 2012 (created by Shonda Rhimes), there were no TV shows with a Black female lead. Kerry Washington changed all that when Scandal became a huge hit and ran for six seasons on ABC.

Lynda Carter

Who says girls can't be superheroes? Well, today we know all too well that women can not only be superheroes, but they can lead franchises as such. Back in the late '70s, that was an open question that was answered by Lynda Carter who helped turn Wonder Woman into a hit show that ran for three seasons and then became a staple of syndication for years after.

Sandra Oh

It seems like Sandra Oh has been around forever. She got her big break as part of the cast of Arliss on HBO, then found more fame as a member of the cast of Grey's Anatomy. Her groundbreaking moment came in the titular character in Killing Eve. When she did, she became the first woman of Asian descent to lead a show in the United States. Remarkably it took until 2018 for that to happen. Like all the other women on this is, she proved there are still trails to be blazed.

Pauline Frederick

Pauline Frederick was a groundbreaking female reporter with ABC and NBC during her career. She covered major events like World War II and the Vietnam War, first on radio and then as one of the first female reporters on TV.

Mary Kay Stearns

Like the TV network it was first broadcast on, The DuMont Network, Mary Kay Stearns, and her sitcom Mary Kay And Johnny has mostly been lost to time. Few people remember the show or the network and that's too bad, because both were groundbreaking. In fact, Mary Kay And Johnny was the very first sitcom ever aired on broadcast TV when it debuted in 1948. Mary Kay Stearns starred with her real-life husband Johnny Stearns and not only was it the first sitcom, but it was the first show to feature a pregnant woman and the first to show a married couple sleeping in the same bed.

Viola Davis

As an EGOT winner, Viola Davis has proven over and over what a powerhouse actor she is, no matter where it is. Whether on stage, in film, or on television, she is one of the best to ever do it.

When a performer says goodbye to the Saturday Night Live cast, it does not necessarily mean forever. Often, the sketch comedy TV show will invite an esteemed alum to appear in an episode either as a special guest or as a headliner, sometimes resulting in a hall-of-fame hosting gig. The following are some of our favorite times a former SNL star made a grand impression when they came back to Studio 8H.

Eddie Murphy

After leaving SNL in 1984, Eddie Murphy came back to host (actually his second time, having hosted while still on the cast in 1982) for an episode later that year, on which he debuted, arguably, his best SNL sketch, "White Like Me." After being honored at the 40th anniversary special, the Academy Award nominee came back to host a third time, resulting in one of the most acclaimed episodes of Season 45.

Ben Stiller

You might have forgotten that Ben Stiller was a cast member since he only lasted four episodes in 1989, which he acknowledged when he first came back to host in 1998 after becoming a bigger name in comedy. He would return to host again 2011 in, followed by a series of recurring appearances as Donald Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, in 2018.

Norm Macdonald

Famously, Norm Macdonald was fired from the SNL cast in 1998 for, as the NBC executives at the time claimed, not being funny. Just a year and a half later, he came back to host an episode, during which he joked in his monologue that he had not gotten any funnier but the show had gotten "really bad" since his exit.

Robert Downey Jr.

Before becoming one of the most beloved A-list actors in Hollywood, Robert Downey Jr. was one of the most heavily criticized cast members from one of the most heavily criticized seasons of SNL from 1985 to 1986. He only came back to host once in 1996, during which he proved was the supremely talented performer we know and love and, eventually, became the first former SNL cast member to win an Oscar for Oppenheimer in 2024.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus would not become a comedy icon until after her three-year stint at Studio 8H from 1982 to 1985 when she joined the Seinfeld cast as Elaine Benes. In 2006, fresh off her Emmy win for The New Adventures of Old Christine, she became the first female former SNL cast member to return as a host, which she would follow with two more gigs.

Jimmy Fallon

After a successful six years at SNL from 1998 to 2004, Jimmy Fallon would return for three hosting gigs and countless cameos. Each time the late-night TV host comes back to Studio 8H tends to be a celebrated affair, especially because there is a good chance that his friend, Justin Timberlake, will show up to participate in a new edition of "The Barry Gibb Talk Show" or some other sketch.

John Mulaney

While he was never part of the SNL cast, John Mulaney would perform a few funny segments on "Weekend Update" during his five years on the writing staff. He would later become one of the biggest names in stand-up comedy and such a beloved host that he joined the Five-Timers Club within only four years.

Dan Aykroyd

Sometimes, for a cast veteran, the key to a memorable hosting gig is to wait an exceptionally long time to come back as an SNL host, much like Dan Aykroyd did. The legendary, Canadian-American comedy star, known for sketches like “The Coneheads” and “Super Bass-o-Matic ‘76” from his tenure as a Not Ready for Primetime Player, headlined an episode in 2003, more than two decades after leaving the show.

Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman is actually one of several SNL cast members who only lasted one season but still ended up becoming a huge success in the end. Two decades after she was let go from the series, the acclaimed comedian hosted a funny episode from Season 40.

Martin Short

It is hard to believe that a performer like Martin Short was only an SNL cast member for one season but he has, luckily, continued to demonstrate his dynamic comedic talents through memorable hosting gigs. His first hosting gig from 1986 was shared with his Three Amigos co-stars, Chevy Chase and Steve Martin – the latter of which he would co-host with again in 2022.

Adam Sandler

Surprisingly, despite making a couple of cameos over the years, Adam Sandler would not host SNL until 2019, which resulted in an instant favorite episode in which he sang two memorable songs. The former "SNL Bad Boy's" first tune (including a Chris Rock appearance) was during his monologue and discussed how he was fired after four seasons in 1995 and the other was a tribute to Chris Farley.

Kate McKinnon

After 10 wonderful years at SNL, the great Kate McKinnon would return a year and a half later to host the last episode of 2023, which proved to be a very successful episode, and not just because it featured cameos by Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and her Barbie director, Greta Gerwig. Also, in Season 49, she would also come back for one more appearance as alien abduction victim Colleen Rafferty to make host Ryan Gosling laugh uncontrollably once again.

Chevy Chase

Only two weeks after his final episode as an SNL cast member, Chevy Chase made a hilarious, self-mocking cameo in the cold open as himself, performing music for tips outside of 30 Rock. He would continue to return for more cameos and eventually became the first host to join the Five-Timers Club before the idea of it had been suggested by Tom Hanks.

Billy Crystal

In a unique twist on this topic, Billy Crystal was actually meant to appear on the very first episode of SNL in 1975 but was ultimately cut for time, as depicted in the 2024 movie Saturday Night. As his notoriety increased, the comedian was asked to host twice in 1984 before being hired later that year as a cast member, during which he lit up the screen with his impersonation of Fernando Lamas and other notable characters.

Tina Fey

Having served as both "Weekend Update" host and head writer near the end of her nine-year tenure, Tina Fey was a true SNL MVP but some of her most memorable moments on the show occurred after her 2006 exit. Prior to her Five-Timers Club induction, the 30 Rock creator and star made numerous appearances as Sarah Palin that earned rave reviews.

Dana Carvey

A key element to SNL's new golden era from 1986 to 1993 was Dana Carvey and his wonderful talent for impressions, which he would continue to lend to Studio 8H in the years since his exit. The Wayne's World star is one of the most frequent returning cast members, especially in Season 50 as President Joe Biden.

David Spade

Many of David Spade's funniest quotes originate from his six years on SNL in the early-to-mid-1990s. His blunt, sarcastic, and sometimes unapologetically brutal delivery of mockery at other celebrities' expense would serve him well in his hosting gigs – the first of which included a cold open featuring Brad Pitt as his therapist.

Kristen Wiig

The final episode of SNL's 37th Season was the final episode for a few notable cast members but it ended with a grand send-off purely dedicated to Kristen Wiig's esteemed seven years, which included some hilarious quotes. It was not long before the Oscar nominee was asked to bring back her famous characters as a host and her Season 49 episode saw her induction into the Five-Timers Club.

Chris Farley

After becoming one of SNL's most esteemed icons during his five-season run and proving to be a box office draw with movies like Tommy Boy, Chris Farley was at the height of his fame when he came back to host two years after leaving. However, his October 1997 episode is now remembered more somberly because, only two months later, he would pass away from a drug overdose at the age of 33.

Maya Rudolph

Maya Rudolph proved herself as an all-time great during her seven years on SNL in the 2000s. She would return for multiple hosting gigs and an innumerable amount of special guest appearances, most notably as her Emmy-winning portrayal of Kamala Harris.

Pete Davidson

For his clever "Weekend Update" commentaries, fascinating personal life, and title as the youngest SNL cast member on record, Pete Davidson was one of the series' most talked about performers when he left at the end of Season 47. He was initially meant to return as a host for the following season but, due to the Writers' Strike, he instead returned for the Season 49 premiere, which featured a viral pre-filmed bit poking fun at his post-SNL career inspired by Barbie's "I'm Just Ken."

Tracy Morgan

Impersonations of the likes of Al Sharpton and Oprah Winfrey and hilarious original characters like Brian Fellow and Astronaut Jones made Tracy Morgan a force to be reckoned with during his seven years on SNL. As a result, each of the 30 Rock cast member's returns to the Studio 8H stage as a host or guest have been warm celebrations of his best moments as a cast member.

Paul Shaffer

Starting off as a member of Studio 8H's house band, Paul Shaffer later made history as the first person to drop the F-bomb on SNL during his 1979-1980 stint on the cast. Of course, he bounced back from the incident without issue and would make cameos on the show and host an episode from 1987 after being David Letterman's bandleader greatly increased his notoriety.

Damon Wayans

One of the most infamous SNL cast firings is that of Damon Wayans, who changed the nature of a character on the fly in the middle of a broadcast in 1986. The comedian would find even greater success as a member of the In Living Color cast and, in 1995, was asked to come back as a host.

Phil Hartman

It is easy to understand why some argue that Phil Hartman is the greatest SNL cast member of all time and why, just two years after his exit, he was asked to host twice in 1996. We have no doubt we would have seen more of the Emmy winner gracing the Studio 8H stage again if not for his untimely murder in 1998 at the age of 49.

Chris Rock

The first "Bad Boy of SNL" to return as a host was Chris Rock in 1996, which was three years after his departure. At that point, the comedian had found decent subsequent success by making appearances on the show's biggest competitor at the time, In Living Color.

Jason Sudeikis

While he would make several post-exit guest appearances, Jason Sudeikis' first time hosting in 2021 was eight years after he left the show, which was actually a year later than he had intended. The gig was a big moment, given his Emmy-winning success on Ted Lasso at the time and his heartfelt opening monologue celebrating his time as a writer-turned-cast member.

Will Ferrell

Despite a hiccup or two in his early days on the cast, Will Ferrell became one of the most beloved SNL cast members of the 90s and early 2000s. His many appearances since, including five hosting gigs, have resulted in some of the show's most celebrated moments in recent years.

Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler's impeccable skills of impersonation and arsenal of uproarious characters made her seven years on SNL a one-of-a-kind era. Her many notable appearances since include co-hosting with her friend and one-time "Weekend Update" co-anchor Tina Fey in 2015 and making cameoing as Leslie Knope alongside her fellow former Parks and Recreation cast member, Aubrey Plaza, in 2023.

Darrell Hammond

One of the all-time longest-standing SNL cast members is Darrell Hammond with 14 seasons but his time at Studio 8H would not stop there after all. In addition to making special appearances – most notably in "Celebrity Jeopardy!" sketches as Sean Connery – the actor would succeed Don Pardo as the show's announcer when Pardo passed away in 2014.

Molly Shannon

Three-time Emmy nominee Molly Shannon is the driving force behind one of the most iconic SNL characters to earn their own movie, Mary Katherine Gallagher. The misfit Catholic high school student is just one character she has brought back for her numerous appearances on the show since leaving in 2001, including two hosting gigs.

Bill Murray

After Chevy Chase left in 1976, stepping in to join the Not Ready for Primetime Players was Bill Murray, who hilariously acknowledged his struggle to make an impression on SNL early on in a famous sketch. Of course, the Oscar nominee would quickly achieve wild notoriety in the 1980s, which made his subsequent five hosting gigs and additional cameos much-celebrated occasions.

Who owns Avengers Tower? It has been a lingering question that has plagued a subset of the Marvel Studios fandom. And in a recent interview during the Deadpool and Wolverine press day, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that the answer as to who (or what) bought Avengers Tower was going to be revealed soon. If you asked me to guess, though, I didn’t expect the answer to come in next summer’s upcoming Marvel movie, Thunderbolts*. Following the release of the first full trailer for Thunderbolts*, Marvel fans took to the internet with their theories that Valentina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) meets with the team in the open-air bar/lounge area that once was part of Avengers Tower.

Which, to me, means that this is going to become a Dark Avengers movie. And that’s PROBABLY what the asterisk refers to in the title.

Let’s dig into the theory.

That’s Avengers Tower, Right?

Above is the photo that most fans are pointing out as appearing to take place in a renovated Avengers Tower. The view of Manhattan in the background. The large expanse of floor-to-ceiling windows. The bar that is off to the left of the photo. If you go back and watch scenes from The Avengers, or even the infamous hammer scene from Avengers: Age of Ultron, you likely will come to the same conclusion that Valentina set up her base of operations in what started off as Stark Tower, then became the official headquarters of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes before they moved out in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) sold the tower when the Avengers moved to a larger campus in upstate New York. That location was decimated in the final battle against Thanos. At the same time, the concept of the Avengers has been defunct since Tony Stark sacrificed himself at the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame. It’s my belief that the Avengers are going to be coming back, in some important format. For starters, we got a glimpse of Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) recruiting Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) for a possible Young Avengers team up. And we have two Avengers movies in Doomsday and Secret Wars to look forward to.

But that’s not what I think is happening here.

I Think The Asterisk In The Thunderbolts Title Will Change This To ‘Dark Avengers’

And above, I think, is your first look at the official Dark Avengers roster. In the comics, the Dark Avengers are formed by Norman Osborn. They are a team of super-powered villains (Bullseye, Venom, etc) who all have natural Avengers counterparts. That gets a little confusing here, as Yelena is a natural Black Widow, but John Walker, Bucky, and Red Guardian all seem like the “Evil” Captain America. Then there’s Taskmaster, who basically can mimic the fighting styles of any hero. So, you know, this isn’t a simple A to B translation.

Still, seeing the Thunderbolts recruited by Valentina makes it seem like Marvel is setting up either a Dark Avengers or possibly a Secret Avengers roster. This happens at the same time that Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford) was seen asking Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) if he’ll help him reassemble the Avengers in Captain America: Brave New World. Global politics are on the agenda in the MCU in 2025.

There Are Other Avengers Connections In The Trailer

Did you guys see this moment? I don’t think this is Avengers Tower. It more looks like a Washington, DC fundraiser attended by Valentina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). But there are banners commemorating “The Battle of New York,” the first official time that the Avengers needed to assemble. And there’s paraphernalia from that event, including Loki’s scepter. Someone wants the audience to be thinking about The Avengers, and the sacrifices they made to keep us safe.

And then Val is going to put together a different roster, for an alternate mission.

The cast for Thunderbolts has me most intrigued for this movie, and I was thrilled to see the trailer launch with character moments between Florence Pugh and David Harbour. The action looks good, but when you bring these personalities together, I want them to have moments to shine. Particularly Lewis Pullman, because his character – Sentinel – has the chance to be a real wild card.

Thunderbolts will be the second Marvel movie arriving in theaters in 2025, behind Captain America: Brave New World, but ahead of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. We’ll have more information on the movie as it gets closer to release.

Many of comedy’s most esteemed legends were once part of the Saturday Night Live cast, but that does not necessarily mean that NBC’s long-running series marked the beginning of their career. Some Studio 8H veterans first cut their teeth as part of The Second City — a Chicago-based improv troupe that also served as a jumping-off point for the likes of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, and more. As for the many SNL stars who performed with Second City, we have them listed for you below.

Dan Aykroyd

Famous for co-creating the Blues Brothers and the Festrunk Brothers (arguably his single best SNL sketch), Not-Ready-For-Primetime Player Dan Aykroyd is also a veteran of Second City. In fact, the future Ghostbusters star and writer performed with the troupe in both his native Canada and Chicago.

Amy Poehler

Second City was actually just one of a few places where Amy Poehler studied improvisational comedy in the early 1990s before becoming an SNL all-star. The future Parks and Recreation cast member also trained at iO (then called ImprovOlympic) and was a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade.

Martin Short

Some of Martin Short’s funniest characters from his one-season stint on SNL actually originated from his time at Second City and on the troupe’s own sketch comedy series, SCTV. The most notable example would have to be childish pop culture obsessive, Ed Grimley.

Tina Fey

The dynamic power duo of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler first came to be when they performed at Second City together. Before becoming SNL’s first female head-writer, Fey also made history as a member of Second City’s first gender-equal cast.

Bill Murray

Before Bill Murray became Chevy Chase’s replacement Not-Ready-For-Primetime Player, he practiced improv at Second City. He recalled to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show that he started at the same time as John Candy and described his first-day performance as “pretty bad.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Despite her subsequent success in the Seinfeld cast, leading Veep, and other accomplishments, there are still many people who are not aware or have forgotten that Julia Louis-Dreyfus was on SNL. Even fewer people probably know about her early days studying improv at the Second City.

Rachel Dratch

During an interview with Today, Rachel Dratch — known best for playing Debbie Downer on SNL — discussed her days as part of Second City. She said — while noting how every Second City performer probably feels this way — that she believes she was part of a “golden age” for the troupe’s touring company, during which future icons like Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert were involved.

Cecily Strong

One of the few SNL stars who lasted at least 10 years on the show, Cecily Strong developed her impeccable comedic skills as part of Second City. The Emmy winner spoke to The Chicago Tribune about touring with the troupe on a cruise line of all places.

Chris Farley

Bob Odenkirk was the writer of the iconic SNL sketch in which Chris Farley first performed as motivational speaker Matt Foley at Studio 8H. However, the late comedic first introduced his character at Second City, which is where he was first discovered by SNL creator Lorne Michaels.

John Belushi

Before John Belushi made history on SNL, his rise in the comedy world began at Second City. It was at the company’s Chicago club where Belushi met Dan Aykroyd, starting a legendary partnership that led to the creation of, arguably, the best SNL-inspired movie, The Blues Brothers.

Bill Hader

Bill Hader’s experience with show business dates back to when he worked as a production assistant on the set of movies like the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led Collateral Damage, as he told Conan O’Brien once. However, it was his days performing with Second City that really paved the way for the star and co-creator of Barry to eventually join SNL.

Tim Meadows

Tim Meadows’ Second City stint began in 1989, when he began writing and performing revues like The Gods Must Be Lazy. Two years later, he began what would be a record-breaking run on SNL at the time, lasting 10 seasons, during which he made Leon “The Ladies Man” Phelps a household name.

Gilda Radner

Even before debuting on SNL (then called NBC’s Saturday Night), Gilda Radner became acquainted with fellow Not-Ready-For-Primetime Players like Dan Aykroyd as part of The Second City. It was there that she created Emily Litella, who went on to become an all-time great “Weekend Update” guest for her tendency to misunderstand the topic she was editorializing.

Mike Myers

Many of Mike Myers’ best characters who are most often associated with SNL were actually first introduced during his time with The Second City. The Canadian-born comic debuted Wayne Campbell and German talk show host Dieter as part of the troupe, specifically.

Jason Sudeikis

Jason Sudeikis actually had a fair amount of experience with improv even before he joined Second City, having trained at Chicago’s Annoyance Theatre and iO and forming J.T.S Brown early on. The future Emmy-winning Ted Lasso cast member was even a founding member of Second City’s Las Vegas branch before becoming an SNL writer in 2003 and, eventually, joining the cast.

Vanessa Bayer

As part of The Second City Touring Company, Vanessa Bayer performed in productions like Jewsical: The Musical and Girls’ Night Out: Uncensored. Soon after, she was on SNL impersonating Miley Cyrus, playing Jacob, the Bar Mitzvah Boy, and other memorable performances that eventually earned her an Emmy nomination the year she left Studio 8H.

Mary Gross

The versatile Mary Gross had a very successful run at Second City, having won a Joseph Jefferson award for her performance in the company’s revue of Well, I’m Off to the Thirty Years’ War in 1981. That same year, she joined the SNL cast, alongside fellow Second Citizen Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tim Kazurinksy, and would later star alongside other veterans in Christopher Guest’s music movie favorite, A Mighty Wind.

Tim Robinson

Tim Robinson would actually find even greater success following his SNL exit as the star of his Netflix sketch comedy series, I Think You Should Leave. His pre-SNL career involved a stint at Second City when he was just a teenager, according to Vulture.

Aidy Bryant

Aidy Bryant’s time with The Second City started when she enrolled in Columbia College’s comedy studies program, which allowed her to train full-time with the company. She would perform with Second City Theatricals on Norwegian Cruise Line alongside Cecily Strong before they both were cast on SNL in 2012.

David Koechner

After studying under iO co-founder Del Close, David Koechner — also known from the Anchorman movies and despicable The Office character, Todd Packer — joined The Second City and performed in revues in Rolling Meadows, IL. Alongside fellow future SNL performers Nancy Carell and Rachel Dratch, he performed in the company’s very first long-form improv show, “Lois Kaz.”

Alex Moffat

As a Chicago native, Alex Moffat has quite a bit of experience with the city’s improv scene, having been a part of iO, Annoyance Theatre, and, of course, The Second City. In 2016, he joined SNL and became best known for impersonating the likes of Tucker Carlson and Eric Trump during this six-year stint.

Jim Belushi

Jim Belushi followed in the footsteps of his older brother, John, by performing on SNL from 1983 to 1985, but similarities between their careers do not stop at Studio 8H. While John was a Not-Ready-For-Primetime Player, the future According to Jim star performed with Chicago’s Second City group from 1977 to 1980.

Mike O’Brien

Some might call Mike O’Brien an actor SNL never quite figured out how to use in sketches, save his funny pre-taped fake biopics, like The Jay-Z Story. Despite this, his Studio 8H stint is predated by plenty of improv studies in Chicago, including training at Second City and performing in a mainstage production of “America: All Better.”

Robin Duke

Robin Duke is one of the few SNL alums who had previously starred on The Second City’s SCTV. Her best-known work from Studio 8H is, just about, the perpetually annoying Wendy Whiner.

Chris Redd

There is actually a bit of a gap between Chris Redd’s time as a Mainstage understudy at The Second City (with which he toured both the United States and Europe) and his 2017 SNL debut. After leaving Second City, he had roles on TV shows like Empire and appeared in The Lonely Island’s 2016 mockumentary, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

Brian Doyle-Murray

Bill Murray’s older brother, Brian Doyle-Murray, is an alum of both the Toronto and Chicago branches of The Second City, having served in the troupe in the early 1970s. In the early 1980s, he was a featured player on SNL, most notably as a “Weekend Update” host. 

Tony Rosato

Tony Rosato is probably best known for playing bumbling kitchen chef Marcello on SCTV. The late, Italian-born comedian never quite achieved an SNL moment as memorable, having joined the cast during the much-maligned first season without Lorne Michaels as EP.

Horatio Sanz

Horatio Sanz became a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade with other comedians he met while taking classes at The Second City. Some of those same comedians wound up sharing the stage with him on SNL, during which he appeared in multiple sketches that did not go according to plan, sometimes due to his own laughter.

Peter Aykroyd

Peter Aykroyd briefly became an SNL cast member in 1980 after his older brother, Dan, left the show. The late Emmy-winning writer and actor also had a stint at The Second City in common with his sibling.

Jerry Minor

While living in Detroit, Jerry Minor started writing and performing with other local sketch comedy groups before getting into improv at The Second City’s mainstage. In 2000, he was cast on SNL for what would be one season, during which he, most notably, played Grand Master Rap and impersonated notable figures like Al Sharpton.

Tim Kazurinsky

Tim Kazurinsky might be better known for his time at The Second City in the 1970s than his SNL stint in the early 1980s. In fact, he might even be better known for writing movies like About Last Night and starring in the likes of Police Academy than both.

Nancy Carell

It was while they were both performing for The Second City where a woman then known as Nancy Walls met her future husband, Steve Carell. However, between the two of them, she was one who became an SNL cast member for a year in 1995.

While a spot on SNL is something most aspiring comedians long for, it is still an amazing honor to have The Second City as their first gig.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding on the big screen or streaming with a Disney+ subscription, but a few upcoming Marvel movies are especially anticipated. Chief among them is the recently renamed Thunderbolts*, which will be a massive crossover event featuring antagonists and villains from various franchises. And one Thunderbolts* star offered a thrilling update about filming progress.

What we know about Thunderbolts* is super limited, as the studio is trying to keep it secrets until the movie's release. But fans are hyped, especially considering how many familiar faces are in the Thunderbolts* cast list. Chief among them is Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is reprise her role as Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine. While speaking with Variety, she was asked if she wrapped her role in the blockbuster. She responded, offering:

Well, that's exciting. If Louis-Dreyfus is wrapped on Thunderbolts*, then the movie must be pretty far along into production. So hopefully we'll get some hints about what will go on when that blockbuster finally hits theaters next May. 

Those of us who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will know that big crossover events have slowed down over the past few years. There hasn't been an Avengers flick since 2019, and the next one won't arrive until 2026. As such, Thunderbolts* has the opportunity to be a massive project when it arrives in theaters.

The story of Thunderbolts* is a complete mystery, and it should be fascinating to see how the various villains and antagonists are pushed together, as well as how they eventually function as the titular team. While some of them have clear connections like Florence Pugh's Yelena and David Harbor's Red Guardian, others have never met in universe just yet. Julia Louis-Dreyfus' character will presumably be one of the forces bringing them together, as she's already got a relationship with Yelena and U.S. Agent. And I assume some of the characters aren't going to get along at first.

The MCU has had a number of box office blunders in recent years, specifically titles like Eternals, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, and Thor: Love and Thunder. So the pressure is on for the studio to make money soon, and Thunderbolts* is one title that might get fans back in the theater. Namely because there are some beloved characters involved in the movie, especially Yelena and Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes. 

All will be revealed when Thunderbolts* hits theaters May 5th, 2025. In the meantime, check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the theater next year. 

While she’s arguably best known for heading up two of the best sitcoms of all time in Seinfeld and Veep, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is currently talking up two upcoming projects that veer from the norm: the grief-infused fantasy Tuesday and the MCU ensemble film Thunderbolts. But she obviously still knows a thing or two about the world of comedy, and was recently asked about her take on “politically correct” humor, and her answers stood somewhat in contrast to the viral comments made by her former co-star Jerry Seinfeld.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Take On Political Correctness

Speaking with The New York Times about her career, her candid and enlightening podcast, and more, Louis-Dreyfus discussed her desire (or at least willingness) to potentially return to a straightforward TV comedy one day, assuming it’s of a more limited fashion than anything open-ended. That led to her speaking about how dissimilar she is from Veep’s ego maniac Selina Meyer — which is why that role was a joy to play — with the topic then turning to political comedy, correct or otherwise.

Jerry Seinfeld’s recent comments were addressed, and the Emmy-winning star was asked what she thought about where things are now, to which she replied:

That's a sentiment that anyone who frequently rewatches older movies and TV shows can attest to, particularly when it comes to the 1990s, where some of the best movies of the decade are rife with slurs and derogatory terminology regarding race, nationality, mental state, etc. But to her point, any movie can feature moments of questionable taste and humor without the entire project falling short.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus continued, saying:

The New Adventures of Old Christine vet is taking a centrist approach to the topic in saying that there's nothing wrong with believing some topics and ideas are possibly not ideal for comedy, while also positing that there is potentially something wrong with someone having a completely one-sided opinion about politically correct humor. Particularly if that opinion is complaintive.

And she actually shared a revised take on the matter, having been re-contacted a little over a week after the first interview took place, and she had this to say:

To be sure, Louis-Dreyfus wasn't specifically calling out or commenting on her former co-star Jerry Seinfeld with any of her comments, since she wasn't directly asked to comment about him. But one could imagine they would have quite the interesting conversation about it if that opportunity ever presented itself. (Possibly on her podcast?)

Jerry Seinfeld’s Viral Comments About Correctness

Jerry Seinfeld, who returned for Curb Your Enthusiasm’s series finale that poked fun at Seinfeld’s polarizing swan song, made headlines for sharing his opinions about modern comedy earlier in 2024 ahead of the release of his Netflix comedy Unfrosted. His comments at the time, which touched on cancel culture, were widely criticized, to the point where he showed up on SNL and spoofed himself.

But then in April, Seinfeld talked to the New Yorker and doubled down on his opinions, calling out the “extreme left” and “PC crap” as the reasons why comedy is so hard to find on television now compared to the days when sitcoms ruled the small screen. In his words:

His comments went viral after the interview went live, with commentators from all sides of the aisle either lauding him or decrying his words. Seinfeld described the process he believes is responsible for diluting modern comedy, saying:

Unfrosted, like the comedian's past work, was largely free from anything super-topical or politically motivated, at least until all the moments satirizing January 6 later on. And it can be streamed with a Netflix subscription by anyone who hadn't gotten around to watching the Pop Tarts origin story just yet.

Meanwhile, Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Tuesday hit the 2024 movie release schedule on June 7, and can be watched in theaters now.

Seinfeld was legendarily about “nothing,” but really it was about the four main cast members of the show, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, ending up in ridiculous situations. In a case of life imitating art, Louis-Dreyfus found herself in a very Seinfeldian situation when giving birth to her oldest son and a nurse recognized her. 

While speaking to Ina Garten on Louis-Dreyfus’ podcast Wiser Than Me, the two recognizable women talked about what it was like to be confronted by fans, and how sometimes those fans, according to Louis-Dreyfus, “feel like you’re a friend.” For Louis-Dreyfus, it once happened at a most inconvenient time, just as she went into labor. 

It’s not a moment most people would appreciate, and honestly it's a little shocking to me that a nurse of all people would be the one that would do something like that, during a time like that. Louis-Dreyfus wasn’t impressed, to say the least,

Awful probably doesn’t even begin to describe it. Sure, giving birth to your child is a beautiful, amazing thing, but that doesn’t mean you're up for joking around with the hospital staff! It’s hard enough, as Louis-Dreyfus mentions earlier in the conversation that fans always expect her to be funny, but standing naked in a bathroom about to go to labor probably isn’t a time anyone should ever be expected to be funny, even Elaine Benes! 

Decades later it’s a hilarious story that feels like it could be ripped straight from the script of a great Seinfeld episode with a title like “The Obstetrics Nurse,” or “The Hospital Bathroom.” You can just picture George outside the delivery room diving to stop the nurse from entering the bathroom as Jerry stands stunned at what he’s seeing and Kramer up to a ridiculous scheme and asking the doctor if he enjoys the Salsbury Steak at the hospital cafeteria. 

In this day and age of streaming everything we want, whenever we want, it’s easy for people to feel connected to their favorite TV characters, and Elaine has long been among the funniest. For the real people behind those characters, it can lead to some incredibly awkward moments. So let’s all remember not to bother any stars as they give birth, lest you get called out on a podcast years later. 

Speaking of streaming, if you want to see Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the rest of her pals, you can stream Seinfeld with a Netflix subscription. 

There are some former Saturday Night Live cast members who, after making a huge impact in a short amount of time, you could tell were destined to make a name for themselves at Studio 8H, leading to a celebrated and influential career in comedy. Then, there are also performers who are now regarded as comedy legends or, at least, respected names in the craft who, for some reason or another, did not find the star-making moment they were searching for during their short stint on the show. Why don’t we give the stars you may have forgotten were on SNL the recognition they deserve because, as far as we are concerned, their unremarkable legacy from the show was not their fault.

Jenny Slate

The one best-known thing from Jenny Slate’s SNL stint is her accidental F-bomb (on her first episode), which she assured InStyle had nothing to do with her firing at the end of the season. Luckily, her stardom only increased with a scene-stealing recurring role on Parks and Rec as Mona-Lisa Saperstein, creating and voicing Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, and making a memorable appearance in the 2023 Best Picture Oscar winner, Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Harry Shearer

As the voice of multiple memorable Simpsons characters — including Ned Flanders and Mr. Burns — and one of the members of Spinal Tap, Harry Shearer is nothing short of a legend in the comedy scene. Unfortunately, his time as an SNL cast member — first from 1979 to 1980 and again in 1984 — was an unpleasant and creatively stifling one, as he revealed to IGN.

Casey Wilson

We would certainly consider SNL a career highlight for Casey Wilson, but not necessarily among the top tier. For instance, playing Penny Hartz on ABC’s short-lived, but much-loved sitcom, Happy Endings, her pivotal role in David Fincher’s Gone Girl, or hosting multiple podcasts have contributed more to her stardom.

Tim Robinson

You could argue that Tim Robinson was actually one of the saving graces for his sole season on SNL, but the show was not quite fitting for the comedian's style. His penchant for the surreal and the cringeworthy was clearly better suited for his Netflix show (and another great sketch comedy series), I Think You Should Leave, anyway.

Janeane Garofalo

Did you forget that Janeane Garofalo was on SNL? You are not the only one. The comedian's best work in the realm of sketch comedy can instead be found on the criminally short-lived '90s show, The Ben Stiller Show.

Joan Cusack

Highlights of Joan Cusack's acclaimed career include two Academy Award-nominated performances (for Working Girl and In & Out). However, very rarely is her short time at SNL from 1985 to 1986 acknowledged because, quite frankly, there was not much worth acknowledging.

Ben Stiller

It’s not that SNL never really knew the best way to use Ben Stiller but, more accurately, he realized the show was not the best use for his talents at the time. He showed his strengths by making short films for The Ben Stiller Show, but would later come back to host SNL a few times and even landed a recurring stint as Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Sarah Silverman

With a successful stand-up career, two Emmy wins, and a main role in a beloved animated Disney movie franchise (Vanellope from Wreck-It Ralph and Ralph Breaks the Internet), Sarah Silverman is undeniably one of comedy’s biggest names. However, she would not get to that point until years after she was fired from SNL after one forgettable season — an experience for which she is still grateful for preparing her for the industry.

Robert Downey Jr.

It might be a bewildering surprise for some to learn that Iron Man himself was, not only on SNL in the mid-1980s, but is regarded as one of the weakest cast members in the show’s history. These days, however, Robert Downey Jr.’s sense of humor is considered a signature key element of his subsequent success and he has since become the only former SNL actor to win an Oscar (for Oppenheimer).

Noël Wells

Highlights of Noël Wells’ sole season on SNL include brief celebrity impersonations and… well, that’s really about it. She was already at her funniest, however, as part of College Humor and the Upright Citizens Brigade and would also go on to have a major role on Master of None and join the Star Trek: Lower Decks voice cast, to name a few achievements.

Damon Wayans 

Damon Wayans is actually a special case, in the sense that SNL had every chance to let him fully utilize his talents, but never took the initiative. This led the actor to take matters into his own hands and go off script, which got him fired, but paved the way for him to make a name for himself in the In Living Color cast.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Although she never really became an SNL all-star during her three seasons, Julia Louis-Dreyfus certainly did make an impact on then-SNL writer Larry David, who later gave her a career-defining, Emmy-winning role in the Seinfeld cast as Elaine Benes. Following that revolutionary sitcom, she won more Emmys for leading The New Adventures of Old Christine and HBO’s Veep cast, earned the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2018, and shows no sign of stopping any time soon.

Rob Riggle

With some funny moments as a Daily Show correspondent, hilarious appearances in hit comedies like The Hangover and Stepbrothers, etc., Rob Riggle is one of modern comedy’s greatest scene-stealers. Yet, nothing from his 2004-2005 SNL stint — also his first real showbiz breakthrough after 15 years in the Marines — lent to that reputation, which might have had something to do with the pressures of being “the new guy,” as he revealed to The Daily Beast.

Laurie Metcalf 

Laurie Metcalf is less a case of SNL not figuring out how to use an actor and more a case of the show depriving her of the chance, with her only contributions to the show being a “Weekend Update” bit and a pre-taped short. Of course, she would go on to become a star after playing Jackie on Roseanne (and later The Conners) and earned an Academy Award nomination for 2017’s Lady Bird.

Christopher Guest

Christopher Guest did have a few memorable SNL moments — such as he and Billy Crystal’s recurring appearances as Willie and Frankie or when, just a few months after 1984’s This is Spinal Tap released, he and the rest of the fictional rock group showed up in character in a pre-taped segment. Speaking of, further mockumentaries like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind would prove to be his true bread and butter.

Christine Ebersole

You may recognize Christine Ebersole from Academy Award-nominated dramedies like Tootsie and Licorice Pizza, her Tony Award-winning performances in Broadway musicals 42nd Street and Grey Gardens, or starring on the CBS sitcom, Bob Hearts Abishola, as Dottie. You may not recognize her so quickly from her one season on SNL in the early 1980s, during which she served as Brian Doyle-Murray’s co-anchor on “Weekend Update” (when it was called “SNL News Break”), most notably.

John Milhiser

John Milhiser is best known for being the second openly gay male SNL member, but not much else from his time at Studio 8H. The Upright Citizens Brigade veteran has since proved his skills with a recurring role on TBS’ The Guest Book, appearing opposite fellow SNL alumni Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones in 2016’s Ghostbusters, and plenty more.

Michaela Watkins

Perhaps you and some people you know may have quoted Michaela Watkins as blogger Angie Tempura before the actor was fired from SNL in 2009. Yet, we have a feeling you recognize the comedian and former Groundlings member even better from TV shows like Casual on Hulu and CBS’ The Unicorn or movies like Wanderlust, Good Boys, and Paint, for instance.

Gilbert Gottfried

The legendary, late comedian Gilbert Gottfried — known for countless movie and TV show roles, including Iago in 1992’s Aladdin — told Joe Rogan that the intense pressure of being part of the first cast to follow the Not-Ready-For-Primetime Players made his only year on SNL “terrible.” Well, in that regard, we suppose he would be thankful that his stint has gone largely forgotten ever since.

Danitra Vance

According to Advocate, Danitra Vance — famous for being SNL’s first Black female repertory player and first gay female regular, despite not being out at the time — is also known for, almost exclusively, playing stereotypical characters on the show. After leaving on her own accord during Season 11, she went on to put her sharp satirical talents to better use before tragically succumbing to breast cancer in 1994.

Brooks Wheelan

The funniest moment from Brooks Wheelan's SNL stint sees him acknowledge just how little screen time he actually got for that one season. He bounced back from his exit pretty well, thought, with an acclaimed stand-up career, roles on movies and TV shows like Big Hero 6: The Series, and his podcast, Entry Level.

David Koechner

Arguably, the best thing to come out of David Koechner’s single season on SNL is his friendship with Will Ferrell, who debuted on the show at the same time in 1995. Koechner later worked with Ferrell again in the Anchorman movies as his most iconic character, Champ Kind, which opened doors for plenty more hilarious small-screen and big-screen appearances.

Chris Elliott

When Abby Elliott joined SNL in 2008, few realized at the time that she was the daughter of Chris Elliott and even fewer realized that made her a second generation cast member. Elliott’s talents shone brighter anyway before his 1994-1995 Studio 8H stint with appearances on Late Night with David Letterman and since as one of the funniest Schitt’s Creek characters, Roland Schitt, to name a few examples. 

Michael McKean

As the star of movies like This is Spinal Tap and Clue and a main player on Laverne & Shirley, Michael McKean was already a certified comic genius (and even hosted SNL) years before he joined the cast from 1994 to 1995. Yet, very little evidence of what made the future Better Call Saul cast member such a refreshing comedic force could be found on the Studio 8H stage.

Aristotle Athari

Aristotle Athari did have one decidedly memorable role on SNL as an improvisational lounge singer named Angelo. However, his funniest roles are still outside of Studio 8H, including his recurring role as Gabe on Silicon Valley and one-half of the titular duo from the sci-fi rom-com, Molli and Max in the Future.

Nancy Carell 

She is best known today as Steve Carell's wife, but is also his frequent collaborator, appearing alongside each other in several films and TV shows and co-creating the hilarious cop show spoof, Angie Tribeca. However, Nancy Carell's one-season stint on SNL (during which she impersonated the likes of Diane Sawyer, Sharon Stone, and Martha Stewart) is largely forgotten.

Mike O'Brien

When it came to performing in sketches, Mike O’Brien never made much of an impression — save a couple of short, faux biopics in which he played Jay-Z and Oprah Winfrey. Perhaps O’Brien’s original Studio 8H gig as a writer was where his true talented lied, which became especially evident when he created the acclaimed, yet short-lived, NBC sitcom, AP Bio.

Dean Edwards

Dean Edwards is yet another example of an SNL cast member never really given a chance to shine beyond his ability to impersonate celebrities while appearing in the cast from 2001 to 2003. Come to think of it, that has essentially been the comedian’s claim to fame outside of the show, too, having filled in as Donkey in a few Shrek spin-offs, for instance. 

Laura Kightlinger

Laura Kightlinger was among the youngest SNL cast members, having been hired at 25 years old in 1994, which is, decidedly, the most noteworthy detail about her stint. Her later career, which involved producing and making guest appearances on sitcoms such as 2 Broke Girls on CBS and NBC’s Will & Grace, is what she is better known for.

Morwenna Banks

Holding the record for shortest SNL tenure is Morwenna Banks, who was added to the cast for the final four episodes of the 20th season and was not being asked to come back. Luckily, the British comedian and actor was doing just fine before coming to New York — she found success on the U.K. sketch show Absolutely — and has been since — writing, producing, and starring in various titles and voicing Mummy Pig on Peppa Pig.

Randy Quaid

Randy Quaid was another established Hollywood talent before he joined SNL for one season in 1985, having previously earned an Academy Award nomination for 1974’s The Last Detail and originated Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise. He never quite brought the same energy to those iconic roles, or subsequent notable performances, that he did to the show.

Lauren Holt

In late 2020, Forbes put Lauren Holt on its “30 Under 30” list for that year, which has us convinced they saw her work before she joined the SNL cast that season. Her talents are much more evident from her days in the Upright Citizens Brigade or as a found member of musical improv troupe, The Pickup.

SNL may know how to pick ‘em, but it does not always know how or when to give its cast members their moment to show the world what they are capable

When it comes to those channels that we all need to pay a little extra for – such as Showtime, Starz, etc. – they all seem to produce some of the absolute best shows. But you want to know which channel I think has made stars even bigger? HBO. 

The channel, which stands for 'Home Box Office,' has produced some of the best TV shows of the last twenty or so years, and with that, several actors and actresses have come and gone and left their mark, earning plenty of awards recognition for their work in the shows. Today, we'll be going over 32 of them. 

Emilia Clarke (Game Of Thrones)

Of the Game of Thrones cast, Emilia Clarke probably became one of the most-known actresses in the world after her portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen. On the show for the entirety of its eight seasons, Clarke earned plenty of awards recognition and was nominated several times for a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the show, including her last nomination in the Lead Actress category. 

Jonathan Groff (Looking)

While Jonathan Groff never earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for his role in the LGBTQ+ show Looking, he did win plenty of other awards for his time on the show. Groff is known to be a triple threat with his acting, singing, and dancing talents. He was even a part of the original Hamilton cast, but his starring role in Looking brought on plenty of recognition.

Zendaya (Euphoria)

The Euphoria cast is filled with talent, but let's be honest – Zendaya is the main star we're all looking towards. Nominated several times for the show for a Primetime Emmy, Euphoria has taken this once Disney Channel star and given her the chance to show off her incredible acting skills, one I'm sure she'll continue to do. 

Peter Dinklage (Game Of Thrones)

Peter Dinklage has been around in movies and TV for some time, but everyone recognizes him as Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones, a performance he did for eight show seasons. Out of the entire cast, Dinklage was the one to be nominated for the most Primetime Emmys – and he won four times. 

Lena Dunham (Girls)

Girls lasted for six seasons and gave plenty of stars shining lights, such as Allison Williams, Adam Driver, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and more, but Lena Dunham was certainly the award-winner of the group. The actress, who also created the comedy for HBO, earned several nominations at the Primetime Emmys, the Golden Globes, and more. 

Tony Hale (Veep)

The Veep cast is highly talented, and Tony Hale is just one of many. And his role as Gary Walsh in Veep is undoubtedly one of his best. Among several other awards that he was nominated for this role, he won the Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series twice before the series ended. 

Bill Hader (Barry)

This show – especially Barry Season 4 – was a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end, and Bill Hader's performance has been hailed as one of the best of the show. Hader has been nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards, and the show has also been nominated for Outstanding Comedy.  

Michael C. Hall (Six Feet Under)

While Michael C. Hall gained a lot of fame for another role he did – the still rewatchable Dexter on Showtime – he gained a lot of fame at first for his role in Six Feet Under, where he played David, one of the brothers who owns a family-funeral home. His role in the show earned him several nominations, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. 

Jeremy Strong (Succession)

Succession’s success is awesome to watch, growing larger and more prominent over the years, and one of the lead actors, Jeremy Strong, has gained a lot of award recognition throughout the series' four seasons. Among Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Drama Series, and more, Strong has also earned nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the Primetime Emmys. 

Lena Headey (Game Of Thrones)

Cersei Lannister is undoubtedly one of the most-hated villains of Game of Thrones, but I don't think anyone could hate Lena Headey's performance. Throughout the series, the actress earned several nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, among several other awards at the Golden Globes, the Poppy Awards, and more. 

Anthony Carrigan (Barry)

I don't know where it came from, but NoHo Hank became my favorite character in Barry, and I think it's because of Anthony Carrigan's portrayal of him. While Carrigan's character didn't get as much hype at the beginning of Barry, the actor has earned several awards for his role in the show, including Primetime Emmy nominations. 

Diana Rigg (Game Of Thrones)

Olenna Tyrell had to be the best player in Game of Thrones, and I'm pretty sure we all were heartbroken when Diana Rigg passed away. The actress earned several nominations for her role in the show, including Primetime Emmys for her guest appearances. Who could ever forget Olenna? 

Brian Cox (Succession)

I don't think anyone could forget Brian Cox as the patriarch of the Roy family in Succession, Logan Roy, the leading man we were all following for years on end. And, of course, Cox earned plenty of praise for his portrayal in the show, including several Primetime Emmy nominations and wins. 

Sydney Sweeney (The White Lotus And Euphoria)

Sydney Sweeney is an exceptional case on this list, as two of her shows on HBO have earned her nominations. She was a part of The White Lotus Season 1 cast, which earned her a Primetime Emmy nod, and for the second season of Euphoria, she also earned a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Both of which were certainly deserved. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)

As the lead of Veep, I don't think we could get through a list like this without mentioning Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her role as Selina Meyer. The series, which ran from 2012 - 2019, was a massive success for her and earned the actress several nominations and wins for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy and the series for Outstanding Comedy Series at the Primetime Emmys. 

James Gandolfini (The Sopranos)

We can only have an HBO list by mentioning James Gandolfini from The Sopranos. As the patriarch of the Soprano family, Tony, James Gandolfini won several awards over the series, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the Emmys three times. The show itself also won Outstanding Drama Series several times. 

Evan Peters (Mare Of Easttown)

Mare of Easttown was a limited series on HBO, and the entirety of the cast was incredibly impressive. Evan Peters has gained fame over the last decade for his roles in movies like X-Men and the anthology series American Horror Story, but his role as Detective Colin Zabel has been hailed as one of his best. His portrayal earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, among other awards. 

Henry Winkler (Barry)

Henry Winkler is a TV legend from Happy Days, but his role in Barry is one of my favorites. And the people who award these actors agreed too, as Winkler earned several awards for his character, Gene Cousineau, including Primetime Emmy wins. 

Kate Winslet (Mare Of Easttown)

Kate Winslet was the star of Mare of Easttown, a limited series on HBO, and out of everyone on the cast, she won the most awards for her time on the show. Some of her accomplishments include Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the Primetime Emmys, TV Film of Miniseries Lead Actress of the Year for the Gold Derby Awards, Best Television Movie or Miniseries Actress for the Critics Choice Awards, and more. 

Edie Falco (The Sopranos)

For the six seasons of the American crime series The Sopranos, my favorite out of the entire cast was Edie Falco. Carmela was possibly the best TV wife out there and was the only person who would keep up with Tony's mess. Falco's portrayal of her went down in history. The actress was nominated for (and won) several Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, and more. 

Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos)

Michael Imperioli played Christopher Moltisanti, the protégé of Tony in The Sopranos and someone who seemed to get some of the best storylines in the show. During his time on the series, Imperioli was nominated for his role in several awards, such as  Emmys, Golden Globes, Prism Awards, and more. 

Jake Lacy (The White Lotus Season 1)

The White Lotus cast for Season 1 had some impressive talent, but everyone seriously loved to hate Jake Lacy's character, Shane Patton. But everyone also loves his performance — which earned the actor several nominations across awards shows, including a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. 

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game Of Thrones)

Game of Thrones created several big names for Hollywood, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is another that we saw plenty of in the awards sphere. His character of Jamie Lannister is often credited as having one of the best character arcs in television and earned several award nominations, including the Primetime Emmys. Game of Thrones itself won Outstanding Drama Series several times. 

Sarah Snook (Succession)

The entire Succession cast is filled with talent, but one of my favorites has always been Sarah Snook, who played Shiv in the popular HBO series. Portraying the character for all four seasons, Snook has been nominated for several awards, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. 

Alexandra Daddario (The White Lotus, Season 1)

Daddario has been in the industry for some time, but her role in The White Lotus Season 1 is considered one of her best. The anthology series gave the actress the chance to shine as Rachel, and she was nominated for several awards, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the Primetime Emmys.  

Matthew McConaughey (True Detective, Season 1)

True Detective is an anthology series from HBO, and many lovers of the show agree that Season 1 had one of the best storylines, led by a captivating performance from Matthew McConaughey. The Academy Award-winning actor earned several awards for his lead performance in the first season, including a Crime Thriller Award, a Critics' Choice Award, a Primetime Emmy nomination, a Golden Globe nomination, and more. 

Issa Rae (Insecure)

Insecure is a comedy-drama from HBO, featuring co-creator Issa Rae in the show's lead role. The series was extremely well-received, and Rae was nominated for several awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series at the Primetime Emmys and Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes. 

Kit Harrington (Game Of Thrones)

Jon Snow is probably the most known character from Game of Thrones aside from Daenerys and Tyrion – which is not surprising considering the character is getting his own Game of Thrones spinoff series. The actor behind him, Kit Harrington, was nominated for several awards during his time on the show, including the Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama for the show's final season. 

Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus, Seasons 1 And 2)

While The White Lotus is an anthology series, Jennifer Coolidge was a part of the main cast for the first two seasons (and only the first two). And her time on the show as Tanya was exceptionally well-received and loved. Among many other awards, Coolidge won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series of Movies. 

Anthony Hopkins (Westworld)

Anthony Hopkins is one of the most critically acclaimed actors of our time, and of course, he has been praised for his TV performances. This time around, it's Westworld, where he earned several nominations from the Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, and more. The series was also nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at the Primetime Emmys. 

Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus Season 1)

Murray Bartlett was a part of The White Lotus Season 1 and he was honestly one of the show's funniest characters. For his performance as Armond, Bartlett earned several nominations. The show was also nominated for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series for Season 1.

Jeffrey Wright (Westworld)

Jeffrey Wright is a great actor who has been in various movies and TV shows, but one of his most critically acclaimed roles was portraying Bernard Lowe in Westworld, a series he starred in for some time. Wright earned several nominations, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. 

There are so many amazing actors and actresses who have gone on to do incredible things. And truthfully, this makes me want to see all these shows again to see their talent. Is anyone up for a Game of Thrones rewatch?

Seinfeld is known for a great many things. It’s incredibly funny, for starters. It also has phenomenally built episodes, with A and B plots regularly colliding to hilarious results. One of its most magical aspects, however, is its special language and the characters regularly coining unique phrases. Each season added to the pop culture lexicon that we still use today, more than 30 years after the show’s debut.

We’ve put together this feature to celebrate that special part of Seinfeld’s existence, and hopefully it will deliver some reminiscence-based chuckles along the way.

Festivus

Are you sick of the consumerism that drives the holiday season? Perhaps you should try celebrating Festivus – created by the one and only Frank Costanza. On December 23, you can observe the special day by putting an aluminum pole up in your living room, ending a communal dinner by telling all of the people in your life about all the ways they anger you (a.k.a. the Airing Of Grievances), and concluding the evening with a wrestling match (a.k.a. The Feats Of Strength). Expect one or two Festivus miracles.

Bottle Wipe

There are many ways that actions reflect a relationship, and a Bottle Wipe is a good one. If you provide a bottle of water to a person to whom you are attracted, and they wipe the nozzle before taking a sip, it’s a clear indication that the attraction is not mutual. After all, if the person wanted you, they’d want your germs. This behavior is so significant that it even supersedes an open-lip kiss.

Close Talker

Have you ever been in a conversation with a person and find that they are standing just a bit too close to you? These individuals disrespectful of personal space can easily be summed up as Close Talkers. The prime example on Seinfeld, of course, is Elaine’s boyfriend Aaron (played by Judge Reinhold) in “The Raincoats.” His obsessiveness with showing Jerry’s parents a good time in New York is weird enough, but the way he gets in people’s faces during a chat is next level.

Decompressing

When you go from a strenuous activity to a time of freedom, it’s best – in the wisdom of George Costanza – to not act quickly or rashly. Instead, the best course of action is a period of decompressing, which is a pretty fancy way of saying “doing nothing.” It should be noted that there is risk in this behavior, in that your muscles could potentially become severely atrophied, leaving you open to severe injury.

Mimbo

Dumb people come in all shapes, sizes, colors and creeds, and they can also be any gender. That being said, the word “bimbo” generally refers to a pretty, airheaded woman, so Seinfeld made the effort to create a term for the male equivalent. A portmanteau of “man” and “bimbo,” “mimbo” is coined by Jerry in “The Stall” when he is talking about Elaine’s boyfriend, Tony, who is hunky… but definitely a moron.

Anti-Dentite

Nobody likes going to the dentist, but there are some people who take their dentist-hate a touch too far. Per Kramer in “The Yada Yada,” Jerry crosses a line when he starts making too many jokes about Dr. Tim Watley despite not being a dentist himself, and that veers him right into Anti-Dentite territory.

“These Pretzels Are Making Me Thirsty”

Do you ever have one of those moments where you just don’t know what to say – be it because of frustration or awkwardness? You should give “These pretzels are making me thirsty” a shot. It’s meaningless unto itself (particularly if you’re not actually eating pretzels when you say it), but it sure does fill up a silent moment in a conversation.

Desour

Grudges are generally not helpful. If someone disappoints you in a minor way, it’s best to try and positively move on from the incident and try to fortify the relationship. If you’re able to do this, congratulations! As George Costanza would say, you have successfully desoured. Now you can get to work on sweetening too.

Bad Breaker-Upper

A relationship may end for a variety of different reasons, but there are some people who like to stick a knife (or fork, perhaps) in your side as a goodbye. Elaine encounters one of these individuals in “The Andrea Doria,” and she acknowledges him as a bad breaker upper shortly before they part ways… but that doesn’t mean she can just shake it off when he tells her that she has a big head,

“Serenity Now!”

“Serenity now!” is the verbal equivalent of a stress ball. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with extreme emotion, just use it as a mantra to try and calm yourself down. Be warned, though: if you go too long without properly venting your emotions, as George learns in “The Serenity Now” when Kramer destroys 25 computers the stocky, dimwitted bald man bought from himself as a salesman at his dad’s company.

Double Dip

When it comes to crudité and the like at party buffets, people are technically free to dip how they want to dip, but if you don’t want to commit what is generally seen as a major social faux pas, you should consider just taking one dip and ending it. Unfortunately, George Costanza is an unabashed double dipper, and that leads to some serious consequences at a Detroit funeral in “The Implant.”

High Talker

If a woman you know is in a relationship with a man with a high voice, a.k.a. a High Talker, it’s best to be careful when talking on the phone. As seen in “The Pledge Drive,” identities can easily be confused and it can lead to some highly messy circumstances.

Jimmy-Leg/Arms

We now know it generally as Restless Leg Syndrome, but back in the 1990s, Seinfeld summed up the behavior brilliantly as having “the Jimmy-Leg.” In “The Money,” Kramer’s girlfriend (played by Sarah Silverman) is a chaotic sleeper, and when the Hipster Doofus goes to Frank Constanza for advice, he reveals that Estelle Costanza has the same condition in her arms (a.k.a. “the Jimmy-Arms”).

In The Vault

If you want to assure a friend that a secret is safe with you, all you have to do is tell them that it’s “in the vault,” and, barring your reputation, it should earn confidence. Be warned that this promise means a lot less if a lot of people “know the key” (in the case of Elaine, it’s peppermint schnapps).

Non-Laugher

A person who doesn’t find jokes funny is a person without a sense of humor… but that’s not the same thing as a non-laugher. A non-laugher will find enjoyment in a joke or gag, but instead of laughing, they will instead lean on a phrase like, “That’s funny.” As Jerry discovers in “The Switch,” this kind of individual is not an ideal match for a comedian.

Pop-In

One of the greatest demonstrations of the tight-knit relationship between the four principal characters in Seinfeld is their devotion to the pop-in – particularly when it comes to Jerry’s apartment. When Kramer, George, or Elaine want to see Jerry, they only very rarely call to announce their imminent arrival; instead, they prefer to just show up on a whim at apartment 5A at 129 West 81st Street.

Yada Yada Yada

Before TL;DR, there was “yada yada yada.” Does your story have a bunch of extraneous details that don’t add to what you and a friend are talking about? “Yada yada yada” is the perfect conversation shortcut. That being said, you should be aware that overuse of it may convince others that you are hiding something.

Muffin Top

Muffins are delicious, but not all sections of a muffin are equal. The stumps are tasty, but the real flavor center of the pastry is where, in Elaine’s words, the “muffin breaks free of the pan and sort of does its own thing.”

Mental Alarm

Alarm clocks can be obtrusive devices that start a day on a negative note, so it’s easy to be envious of people like Cosmo Kramer who can simply set a mental alarm: they think about what time they want to wake up, and their body does the rest. Note: due to the existence of a mental snooze button, these individuals should not be trusted to wake you up for important events (like getting a marathon runner to a race on time).

Picker

Any elementary school student can tell you that picking your nose is uncouth behavior – and yet there are pickers out there who do it flagrantly and in public. A warning to those who practice their behavior: if seen by the wrong person, it may cost you a romantic relationship.

Re-Gifting

Sometimes a friend or acquaintance gives you a gift that you have no use for, but it always seems wasteful to throw out something that is brand new. Re-gifting, from a certain angle, is similar to recycling in the present-giving world… but it’s definitely best to not get caught doing it, and that means not re-gifting to people who are in the same social circle. Dr. Time Whatley learns this lesson the hard way in “The Label Maker.”

Low Talker

Here is a warning to all the Low Talkers out there: if people don’t understand what you are saying, misunderstandings are bound to arise, and from those misunderstandings can come serious problems. For example, you may end up losing your career as a clothing designer because you accidentally lock a comedian into wearing your clothes on television and viciously embarrassing him (See: “The Puffy Shirt”)

Spongeworthy

If contraceptives are in short supply, sexual standards must be adjusted. Will the enjoyment that can come with sleeping with someone be worth the risk of potentially not sleeping with someone better? If the answer to that question is, “yes,” then that person is deemed, in Seinfeld parlance, to be Spongeworthy.

Shiksappeal

Per Seinfeld, shiksappeal is akin to an anti-Oedipal complex for Jewish men. Instead of having an attraction to women like their own mother, they are instead attracted to the opposite, such as a shiksa (Yiddish for a non-Jewish woman). In correlation, a non-Jewish woman who attracts Jewish men is said to have shiksappeal.

Man Fur

Putting aside the controversial nature of the sartorial practice, wearing fur is generally done by women in our society… but Seinfeld shows us that there are men out there with the audacity to wear a Man Fur. Elaine is utterly embarrassed when David Puddy begins to rock one in the episode “The Reverse Peephole,” and when she defenestrates the fuzzy jacket at a party, she finds herself facing a weird consequence: David takes the jacket belonging to the party’s host, Joe Mayo, and then she has to pay to replace it.

Baldist

Is Elaine Benes a baldist? That’s an accusation that Jerry levels at his best female friend in “The Beard” when he learns that she has never dated a bald man. It’s an open question whether or not she has a prejudice, but she definitely doesn’t like toupees, as she makes a show of throwing George’s out of a window.

Shrinkage

Thanks to Seinfeld, men no longer need to feel self-conscious when exiting a cold pool. The beloved NBC sitcom let the world know about the existence of “shrinkage,” though the sacrifice was one George Costanza's relationship in “The Hamptons.”

Bro/Manssiere

At an advanced age, men can get a bit… heavy upstairs, but that’s where the bro/manssiere is useful. Kramer and Frank Costanza can’t agree on what to call their invention, but it’s a support undergarment designed specifically for men, and it notable features Velcro in the back instead of hooks like a woman’s bra (though this is a feature that Morty Seinfeld would certainly hate).

Sidler

While some people stomp around like a Clydesdale, others, like J. Peterman employee Lou Filerman in “The Merv Griffin Show” can sneak around and sidle up on you. These sidlers are tricky to deal with, as they can not only steal credit for your work, but leave you holding the bag when you’re getting chewed out by your boss.

Two-Face

Ask any cinematographer: lighting is extremely important. With the wrong kind of shadows cascading, a beautiful person can look all kinds of ugly – hence the nickname Two-Face (yes, like the Batman villain, if that helps). Unlike Jerry in “The Strike,” it’s best not to just constantly bring them to the same place where you know they’re always going to look good.

Man Hands

“Like a creature out of Greek mythology”: Man Hands is the nickname that Jerry gives to Gillian, a woman he’s seeing after a setup orchestrated by Elaine in “The Bizarro Jerry.” She is gorgeous, but the series’ titular character can’t get over the fact that she has large, strong, and off-putting hands.

Good Naked/Bad Naked

The human body is a beautiful thing… sometimes. While people can look great prancing and posing in the nude, there are some positions we take that just look ugly regardless of your body shape. It’s the difference between good naked and bad naked, and it’s all well spelled out in Season 9’s “The Apology.”

Usually, when you think of people who get their start in show business early, you think of famous child actors. However, the same could be said about SNL cast members — many of whom can say they first got hired onto the show when they were just in their mid-20s, or even younger. The following are some of the youngest performers to grace the stage Saturday Night Live yet.

Anthony Michael Hall

According to The Independent, when Anthony Michael Hall became an SNL regular in 1985, he set the record for the show’s youngest cast member at just 17 years old. By then, he was already a teen idol from starring alongside fellow Studio 8H vet Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Vacation and standing out in now-iconic ‘80s movie classics like Sixteen Candles and Weird Science.

Dan Aykroyd

One of the youngest members of SNL’s original run from 1975 to 1980 was Dan Aykroyd, who became a Not Ready For Primetime Player at 23 years old. His high-energy performance style and bizarre ideas — he wrote beloved sketches like The Coneheads, among others — ensured a glorious Studio 8H tenure and his lasting legacy as an esteemed comedy icon.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Despite her unforgettable, Emmy-winning performances in the Seinfeld cast as Elaine Benes and Selina Meyer in the Veep cast, an actor you may have forgotten was on SNL is Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The sketch comedy series was the multi-Emmy winner’s big break in 1982 when she was just 21.

Pete Davidson

When Pete Davidson made his “Weekend Update” debut in 2014, the then-20-year-old was aptly referred to as SNL’s “Resident Young Person” and would frequently appear in sketches as a very convincing teenager. The comedian, who left the show in 2022, would soon grow up to be one of the biggest stars of his day, from co-creating and leading his own series, Bupkis, to joining blockbuster franchises like the Fast and Furious movies and the Transformers series.

Eddie Murphy

An often credited for coming to SNL’s rescue during its struggles in 1980 was Eddie Murphy, who was the first cast member hired while still under the age of 20 (19, to be exact). With unforgettable characters like Mister Robinson or his iconic take on Gumby, he showed a voracious talent way beyond his years that soon secured his place as one of Hollywood’s brightest stars. 

Joan Cusack

As she recalled to Terry Gross on the Fresh Air podcast, Joan Cusack did not have the best experience when she was cast on Saturday Night Live from 1985-1986 (not considered the show’s best season either) at age 23. Fortunately, after becoming the first SNL actor nominated for an Oscar two times (for Working Girl and In & Out), getting the chance to act alongside her siblings (including John Cusack) multiple times, and other memorable achievements, it seems things got better for her.

John Belushi

One of the first faces that most longtime fans picture when they think of SNL is John Belushi, whom you might assume already had decades of comedic work under his belt before being hired on the show in 1975 based on his staggering talent. As it turns out, the future star of The Blues Brothers — one of the greatest SNL movies ever made — was only 26 at the time.

Jay Pharoah

A then-22-year-old Jay Pharaoh quickly made a grand impression on Studio 8H when he appeared on “Weekend Update” with a spot-on impression of Will Smith in 2010. This would be only the first of many hilarious impersonations he demonstrated week after week until he, unfortunately, was fired from SNL in 2016.

Aidy Bryant

When Aidy Bryant was first hired in 2012, the then-25-year-old would often play teenagers, such as in one of SNL’s most popular sketches on YouTube in which she plays a high school student unaware she is an adult film character. The Shrill star would continue to play younger roles throughout her decade-long SNL tenure (which was actually longer than she had intended, due to Covid).

Robert Downey Jr.

Talk about starting early — Robert Downey Jr. earned his first IMDb credit at 5 years old when his father cast him in a bizarre avant-garde drama called Pound in 1970. Fifteen years later, after the future MCU star turned 20, he joined the SNL cast for just one season, during which he realized sketch comedy was not really his game, as he revealed to Sam Jones on Off Camera later.

Jimmy Fallon

Even as the host of The Tonight Show from 2014 on, Jimmy Fallon has, impressively, looked around 24 years old the entire time. However, that was actually the age at which the skilled impressionist, whose tendency to laugh often caused some sketches to not go as planned, joined the SNL cast in 1998. 

Sarah Silverman

With two Emmy Awards, a Disney franchise (the Wreck-It Ralph movies, as the voice of Vanellope), and an acclaimed stand-up career, Sarah Silverman has done a pretty good job navigating show business. According to her interview with Perri Nemiroff for Collider Ladies Night, she credits her brief SNL tenure, from 1993 to 1994, when she was just 22 as a great help in that area.

Kenan Thompson

Kenan Thompson got his start in sketch comedy even earlier than many can say, having been cast on Nickelodeon’s All That at age 15. About a decade later, in 2003, the then-25-year-old graduated to Studio 8H and went on to become one of the longest-tenured SNL actors in the show’s history.

Chris Farley

Chris Farley is a prime example of a showbusiness icon who achieved much in little time. The high-energy comedic talent, known for characters like motivational speaker Matt Foley and, later, movies like the fan favorite 1995 classic, Tommy Boy, was hired on SNL in 1990 at 26 and passed away just seven years later.

Laraine Newman

Arguably, one of the most underrated Not Ready For Primetime Players is Laraine Newman, who might be best known as Beldar (Dan Aykroyd) and Prymaat’s (Jane Curtin) daughter, Connie, from the “Coneheads” sketches. She was also one of the original SNL cast’s youngest members, having been hired in 1975 at 23.

Chris Rock

His blistering, hilarious satirical commentaries on “Weekend Update” made Chris Rock, easily, one of the sharpest ‘90s SNL cast members. Those appearances also stood as proof that he was wise beyond his years, having joined the cast in 1990 at age 25.

Gilbert Gottfried

Before the late Gilbert Gottfried became known for movies like Beverly Hills Cop II and 1992's Aladdin (as the voice of Iago), one of his first (and lesser-known) gigs was Saturday Night Live. The comedian started his 12-episode stint as part of the cast in 1980 when he was 25.

Abby Elliot

Abby Elliott was already 7 years old when her father — future Schitt’s Creek cast member, Chris Elliott — joined the SNL cast for the 1994-1995 season. Fourteen years later, in 2008, the future member of FX’s The Bear cast became part of Studio 8H's legacy at age 21.

Damon Wayans

Years before performing bits like “Homey D. Clown” and “Men on Film” in the In Living Color cast made him a comedy all-star, Damon Wayans was hired on SNL 1985 when he was 25. As he recalled in a Weekender interview, his stint only lasted 11 episodes because he decided to go off-script while a sketch was live in progress.

Andrew Dismukes

Andrew Dismukes is one of those SNL cast members who can be seamlessly inserted into a sketch set at a high school or as a family’s teenage son. One might even be surprised to learn that the actor — who also shined as a Joker-obsessed wedding bestman in a sketch that is somehow both terrible and amazing — was as old as 25 when he joined the show in 2020.  

Ben Stiller

Five weeks after joining the SNL cast, then-23-year-old Ben Stiller quit the show, wanting to just create short films instead of perform live sketches, according to an interview with Howard Stern from 2018. The actor and filmmaker later would do exactly that on the short-lived The Ben Stiller Show — also starring non-SNL sketch comedy performer, Bob Odenkirk — but eventually came back for a few SNL hosting gigs and a recurring role as Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Yvonne Hudson

Yvonne Hudson officially became the first Black female SNL cast member (and third Black cast member overall after Garrett Morris and Eddie Murphy) when she was 25. According to a Vulture interview with fellow Season 6 cast member Mitchell Kriegmann, Hudson was actually Studio 8H’s receptionist before she was brought onto the ensemble in 1980, which may explain why she has no other acting credits to her name.

Marcello Hernandez

One of the underrated Marcello Hernandez’s most popular SNL sketches — which spawned a sequel featuring Bad Bunny — saw him playing a college student bringing his girlfriend (Chloe Fineman) home to his overprotective, Spanish-speaking mother (Pedro Pascal). The comic’s college days were actually not too far away from him when that bit aired during his introductory season, having been hired in mid-2022 when he was 25.

Adam Sandler

Before Adam Sandler’s movies started to really launch him toward icon status in his 30s, the comic was making a name for himself on SNL while still in his 20s. The actor behind characters like Opera Man and songs like “Lunch Lady Land” first came onto the show when he was 25 in 1991.

Ellen Cleghorne

Ellen Cleghorne, SNL’s second Black, female cast member, was hired in 1991 when she was 26 and stayed on until 1995. Outside of Studio 8H, she is known for appearing in blockbusters like Armageddon as well as several comedies featuring fellow SNL veterans, such as Little Nicky opposite Adam Sandler and Old School with Will Ferrell.

Jay Mohr

Highlights of Jay Mohr’s two-year SNL stint, which began in 1993 when he was 23, include his impressive impersonations of celebrities like Christopher Walken and Billy Idol. Highlights of the comic’s career since include his antagonistic role in Jerry Maguire, his Emmy nomination for executive producing Last Comic Standing (which he also hosted, originally), and appearing in the Air cast for Amazon.

Melanie Hutsell

Best known for playing Jan Brady in “Weekend Update” segments and Di for the Delta Delta Delta sorority, Melanie Hutsell came on to SNL as a featured performer in 1991 when she was 23. Some may also recognize her from her small appearance alongside the Bridesmaids cast, a recurring role on Netflix’s Lady Dynamite, and more.

Brad Hall

According to People, when Brad Hall joined the SNL cast in 1982, the then-24-year-old had already met his co-star and future wife, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as students at Northwestern University. The couple would go on to work together again when he created her first follow-up to Seinfeld, Watching Ellie.

Laura Kightlinger

Laura Kightlinger was 25 when she joined the SNL cast in 1994, during the show’s 20th season. After a year, she found even greater success as a producer of sitcoms like Will & Grace and 2 Broke Girls, on which she also made guest appearances.

Gary Kroeger

Al Franken is not the only SNL cast member to go into politics later on. According to the Des Moines Register, Gary Kroeger, who was hired in 1982 when he was 25 years old, ran for Congress in his home state of Iowa in 2015.

Tom Davis

Tom Davis was actually hired at SNL as a writer during the first season when he was 23, but would not be brought on as a cast member until two years later in 1977. Before he passed away in 2012, he also made a cameo in the sort-of Christmas movie classic, 1983’s Trading Places, alongside Al Franken, helped write the Coneheads movie from 1993, and more.

Peter Aykroyd

When Dan Aykroyd and the rest of the Not Ready For Primetime Players left the show in 1980, his then-25-year-old younger brother, Peter, briefly joined the cast the following season. Also an Emmy-winning SNL writer and former member of the Second City comedy troupe, Aykroyd sadly passed away in November 2021 at the age of 66.

Sometimes the brightest SNL stars turn out to be among the youngest as well.

The “will they, won’t they” trope refers to when a TV show traces the blossoming romance of two central characters — such as Jim and Pam from the U.S. version of The Office cast or the two original lead Cheers characters, Sam and Diane. But, what about the characters who led a major storyline that involved the end of their relationship and, more specifically, the end of a marriage? We thought we would give some of the most iconic divorced TV characters their due by highlighting our favorites below.

Ross Gellar (Friends)

The ultimate TV divorcee — in sitcoms, at least — is easily Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer), who is splitting from his first wife, Carol, in the Friends pilot. In Season 4, his marriage to Emily Waltham (Helen Baxendale) is ruined during the ceremony because of his oft-debated history with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), who later becomes his third wife by a drunken mistake in Vegas. 

Joyce Byers (Stranger Things)

Before Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) and the rest of the Stranger Things cast faced off against Demagorgons and other creatures, she had another monster to contend with: her husband. The selfish, deceitful, and abusive Lonnie (Ross Partridge) did not even care about the disappearance of his own son, Will (Noah Schnapp), in Season 1 of the Netflix sci-fi drama and blamed Joyce, who eventually — and quite thankfully — found romance with longtime friend, Jim Hopper (David Harbour).

Don Draper (Mad Men)

The seemingly picture-perfect union of Don Draper and Betty Hofstadt (Mad Men cast members Jon Hamm and January Jones) came to an end by the AMC period drama’s fourth season after unsuccessful attempts to reconcile amid each other’s affairs. However, it was not the ad executive’s last or even first marriage. Previously, his union with Anna Draper (Melinda Page Hamilton) — widow of the man whose identity he stole — was annulled and he and his third wife, Megan Calvet (Jessica Pare), began to grow apart in the penultimate season.

Reba Hart (Reba)

One of the best country music singers-turned-actors, Reba McEntire, became sitcom royalty with her Golden Globe-nominated performance as the lead of her own comedy on The WB (and, later, The CW). Lasting six seasons, Reba was the story of a Southern single mother of three struggling to maintain a relationship with her ex-husband (played by Christopher Rich) and the woman he left her for (Melissa Peterman). Luckily, as the theme song says, she’s a survivor.

Seong Gi-hun (Squid Game)

In one of the best Netflix TV shows, Squid Game, the central protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Emmy winner Lee Jung-jae) chooses to leave for the deadly tournament after surviving the first round. But, after learning that his daughter is about to move to the United States with his ex-wife and her new husband, which is what convenes him to reenter the games. However, in the Season 1 finale, he ditches his chance to reconnect with his daughter in favor of taking down the tournament, which we will see playing when Season 2 of the South Korean hit premieres.

Frasier Crane (Cheers, Frasier)

On Cheers, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) meets and eventually weds fellow psychiatrist, Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth). After she left him for another man before later pleading reconciliation, the long-running series ended with their marriage facing an uncertain fate. When Frasier’s self-titled spin-off premiered, it was revealed that he had left for good before packing up for Seattle, where they would sometimes reunite, including on Paramount+’s revival series in 2023.

Toby Flenderson (The Office)

The HR representative at Dunder-Mifflin’s Scranton branch, Toby Flenderson (The Office writer Paul Lieberstein), is divorced — a fact his self-described enemy, branch manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell), often uses to taunt him. Toby and his ex-wife had a daughter named Sasha (Delaney Ruth Farrell), whom we meet in one of the most cringe-worthy episodes of The Office, “Take Your Daughter to Work Day.”

Dorothy Zbornak (The Golden Girls)

What led Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) to move in with her mother, Sophia (Estelle Getty), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), and Rose (Betty White) is her split from Stan (Herb Edelman). Nonetheless, Dorothy’s ex-husband would remain a recurring staple of The Golden Girls, and the former spouses’ lasting, yet imperfect, affection for one another made for a uniquely charming pair.

Bobby And Pam Ewing (Dallas)

The only thing as captivating as the mystery of who shot J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) on Dallas was the marriage of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) to Pamela (Victoria Principal), who comes from the rival Barnes family. The Romeo and Juliet-style romance which turned many against them was initially the central focus of the primetime soap (one of the most popular TV shows of its time), until the couple ended up turning against each other.

Kirk And Luann Van Houten (The Simpsons)

In Season 3 of The Simpsons, we meet Milhouse’s parents, Kirk (Hank Azaria) — one of the most popular Simpsons characters to enter the series late — and Luann Van Houten (Maggie Roswell). In Season 8 — after a disastrous game of Pictionary at Homer and Marge’s dinner party — the couple called it quits and Kirk’s many efforts to salvage their union — including penning a song called “Can I Borrow a Feeling” — could not redeem it, unfortunately.

Grace Adler (Will & Grace)

Interior designer Grace Adler (Will & Grace cast member Debra Messing) almost got married in the pilot before finally finding her match in Dr. Leo Marcus (Harry Connick, Jr.), until his one-night-stand on a Cambodian Doctors Without Borders assignment ruined things. While they managed to work things out, remarry, and raise their daughter together in the finale, the 2017 revival series (which ignores the previous series’ ender) reveals that Grace, unable to trust Leo for his past mistake, left him again.

Michael And Jane Mancini (Melrose Place)

At the beginning of Melrose Place, the heart and soul of the Beverly Hills, 90210 spin-off was surgeon Michael (Thomas Calabro) and fashion designer Jane Mancini (Josie Bissett). However, by Season 2, Michael’s suddenly villainous transformation — complete with a terrible attitude and adulterous habits — saw the end of the marriage.

Matt Foley (Saturday Night Live)

When Chris Farley’s most famous SNL character, Matt Foley, made his SNL debut — in a beloved sketch written by Bob Odenkirk — the motivational speaker provided three important facts about his life: he is 35, divorced, and lives in a van down by the river. In subsequent editions of the bit, we learn he has actually been married “thrice” and even winds up in jail for failing to pay alimony at one point.

Cleveland Brown (Family Guy)

One of the funniest Family Guy characters, Cleveland Brown (Arif Zahir, who replaced Mike Henry) was married to Loretta (Alex Borstein) until she was caught cheating with Quagmire (Seth MacFarlane). When he got his own spin-off, The Cleveland Show, he reunited with his childhood friend and secret crush, Donna Tubbs (Sanaa Lathan), and his dreams came true when they married.

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

After years of putting up with the neurotic and selfish behavior of her husband, Larry David (creator Larry David), the final straw for Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) came late in Curb Your Enthusiasm’s sixth season when he was too preoccupied with a TiVo installer to comfort her during a turbulent flight over the phone. Larry would later attempt a few schemes to win her back, including casting her as the wife of a character he inspired, George Costanza (Jason Alexander), for an in-show Seinfeld cast reunion special. 

Alan Harper (Two And A Half Men)

Initially, the premise of the long-running CBS sitcom, Two and a Half Men, saw Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen) reluctantly take in his brother, Alan (Jon Cryer), and nephew, Jake (Angus T. Jones), after Alan’s wife, Judith (Marin Hinkle) kicks him out. Alan later meets and marries the young, ditzy Kandi (April Bowlby) in an impromptu ceremony, but she splits with him because of — as it is eventually revealed — their differing opinions on having children… and his ear, nose, and chest hair.

Selina Meyer (Veep)

For, just about, the entire duration of their 12-year marriage, Andrew Meyer (David Pasquesi) cheated on his wife, Selina (Emmy winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus) almost constantly. Still, upon their reunion on Veep — a show Parks and Rec fans will love —  the attraction between them remains strong, which results in some increasingly ridiculous hijinks behind the scenes of Selina’s political career.

Lucious And Cookie Lyon (Empire)

We learn at the beginning of Empire that Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) divorced Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) while she was still in prison — kicking off a volatile personal and professional relationship between the music industry magnates upon her release. While they would remarry in Season 4, the sixth and final season began with them separated before, eventually, finalizing their second split.

Maura And Shelly Pfefferman (Transparent)

At the beginning of Amazon’s Emmy-winning dramedy, Transparent, Maura Pfefferman (Jeffrey Tambor) — then known as “Morton” — revealed to her wife, Shelley (Judith Light) that she was transgender, Shelley could not accept this news and opted to split up. Eventually, however, despite a brief chance at rekindling their romance, they prove to be much stronger friends.

Jules Cobb (Cougar Town)

After the series finale, Friends cast member Courteney Cox’s most successful follow-up was an ABC (later TBS) original sitcom called Cougar Town. She played Jules Cobb: a single, forty-something mother to Travis (Dan Byrd) — whom she had with ex-husband, Bobby (Brian Van Holt) — who eventually remarries when she falls for her neighbor, Grayson Ellis (Josh Hopkins).

Lou Grant (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)

One of the first TV characters depicted as a divorcé was Lou Grant, portrayed by the late Ed Asner to multi-Emmy-winning acclaim on The Mary Tyler Moore and on his more dramatic self-titled spin-off. The TV news producer’s marriage to Edie (Priscilla Morrill) ends roughly halfway through the series, but they remain in touch and Lou even attends Edie’s nuptials to Howard Gordon.

Erica Kane (All My Children)

One of the most notorious divorcés in TV history is Erica Kane, played by the legendary Susan Lucci on All My Children. Over the course of four decades on the ABC daytime soap opera, the businesswoman was seen tying the knot a staggering eleven times.

Angela Bower (Who's The Boss?)

Years before Judith Light portrayed a divorcé on Transparent, she played single mother Angela Bower on the hit ABC sitcom, Who’s the Boss? The advertising executive would eventually find love again with her widowed live-in housekeeper, Tony Micelle (Tony Danza).

Rhoda Morgenstern (Rhoda)

When Valerie Harper left the Mary Tyler Moore Show to star in her own spin-off, Rhoda, the title character would meet and marry a divorced man named Joe Gerard (David Groh). Their relationship would only last a couple more years and we discovered much later in a 2000 TV movie called Mary and Rhoda that she found a new French husband named Jean-Pierre Rousseau, but that marriage did not last either.

Niles Crane (Frasier)

Arguably the funniest recurring gag in Frasier is that Niles Crane’s (David Hyde Pierce) wife, Maris, is never once seen — due to the characters’ increasingly bizarre descriptions making her impossible to cast — even after their marriage falls apart in Season 4. Thankfully, Niles would later fall in love with his brother’s housekeeper, Daphne (Jane Leeves).

Angela Martin (The Office)

After her engagement to Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) ends due to her affair with Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), Angela Martin’s (Angela Kinsey) marriage to state senator Robert Lipton (Jack Coleman) ends due to his affair with Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nunez) in the final season of The Office. Soon after, she and Dwight finally and openly admit their love for each other and wed in the series finale, which actually counts as their second after Dwight fooled her into a marriage while she was still engaged to Andy.

Alexis Morrell (Dynasty)

Much of the most intense drama on the long-running primetime soap opera, Dynasty — which was later rebooted for The CW — stemmed from the relationship between former spouses Alexis Morrell (Joan Collins) and Blake Carrington (John Forsyth). The marriage was actually the first of four for the socialite, who also went on to marry Cecil Colby, Dex Dexter, and Sean Rowan.

Bill Dauterive (King Of The Hill)

For all 13 seasons of King of the Hill, Bill Dauterive (voiced by Stephen Root) never quite got over his ex-wife, Leonare (Ellen Barkin). There was a time in Season 5 when he had a chance at finding love again with former Texas governor Ann Richards (voicing herself), which ultimately went nowhere, but was almost ruined by one of Leonare’s schemes.

Mike and Gloria Stivic (All In The Family)

The conservative Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) would constantly butt heads with the more liberal Mike Stivic (future filmmaker Rob Reiner), who was married to his daughter, Gloria. However, by the end of the groundbreaking run of All in the Family, the couple separated. Archie initially assumed it was by Mike’s doing, until Gloria admitted to her own infidelity.

Mr. Big (Sex And The City)

The classic “will they, won’t they” relationship between Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City cast lead Sarah Jessica Parker) and John James “Mr. Big” Preston (Chris Noth), would eventually result in marriage (until his death, as revealed in the sequel series, And Just Like That…), which was the entrepreneur’s third. He was previously married to a woman named Barbara and, during a time when he and Carrie were apart, married a younger woman named Natasha (Bridget Moynahan).

Louie (Louie)

Much like in real life, Louis C.K.’s fictionalized version of himself in the acclaimed FX series, Louie, is a divorced comedian. In fact, one of its sharpest elements is its almost tragically hilarious depiction of single parenthood from his perspective.

Henry VIII (The Tudors)

Borrowed straight from the history books, Showtime’s The Tudors incorporates a truly heinous depiction of a marriage ending. Because divorce is against her religion, Catherine (Maria Doyle Kennedy) has her marriage to King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) annulled due to his obsession with Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer). As a result, she is exiled. 

Breaking up is hard to do, but in the case of these divorced characters, it made for great television.

When it comes to TV shows, Seinfeld has one of the most polarizing series finales of all time. The characters all end up in jail and, while some feel this was an apropos ending for the sitcom, others found the finale to be unsatisfying. That’s why when Jerry Seinfeld teased plans to revisit the installment alongside his co-creator, Larry David, he sent the Internet into a frenzy. However, not everyone seems to be in the know about a possible reunion, including the comic's co-star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. When she was asked about her friend and colleague's sentiment, she dropped a humorously blunt response.

The Emmy winner spoke with The Guardian, during which she was asked about her former co-star's comments and whether new episodes of the series could really be in the works. Apparently, the comedy routine was the first time the New Adventures of Old Christine star had heard about the potential reunion, and offered she offered the laugh-worthy response below:

If the veteran comic was serious about doing something with the '90s sitcom's ending, he clearly hasn’t pitched the idea to the rest of the cast. Other stars have yet to comment on their own participation in the supposed project so, if it is happening, it's likely in its early stages. The Veep actress didn’t confirm whether or not she’d get involved if something were to happen, but I think many fans would agree that doing a Seinfeld reunion without Louis-Dreyfus would be foolish. After all, Elaine is one of the best characters on Seinfeld. Longtime fans would probably agree that Elaine has some of the funniest moments in the entire NBC show's run -- and is one of the reasons the show is so rewatchable.

Jerry Seinfeld teased a reunion years ago, so his latest comments regarding a re-examination of the show aren't too surprising. Also, if there's anything the past several years have taught us, it's that nostalgia is a hot commodity, as many TV shows have returned via reunions or full-blown revivals.

After the show ended, rumors of a “Seinfeld-curse” swirling, with many believing the actors wouldn’t be able to pivot to roles beyond the series. However, the SNL alum defied this, as Julia Louis-Dreyfus has starred in plenty of movies and shows since the sitcom ended its nine-season run in 1998. The actress, who is currently playing Valentina Allegra de Fontaine as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, also finds the supposed curse to be "moronic."

The beloved star reprised her role as Elaine on SNL less than a decade ago, so maybe she’d be willing to take a stab at her iconic role once again. Though of course, we still don’t know much about the idea and whether that would even be necessary What can be said right now, though, is that there’s certainly a fanbase for a revisitation of some sort. We'l have to wait and see what happens but, if Julia Louis Dreyfus does get involved, I’m sure many will be happy-dancing like Elaine.

You can currently stream the classic show using a Netflix subscription. Fans should also read up on other comedies to check out if you like Seinfeld.

It's been said that being the star of a long-running show can be both wonderful and terrible. On the one hand, being a part of anything successful is a good thing, but there is a threat for a performer that audiences will only ever think of them for a single role. In the late 1990s, it was suggested that this idea particularly applied to the cast of Seinfeld, and it was actually referred to as a "curse" – but nobody has done more to prove that superstition wrong than Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who spoke about the fake hex in an interview earlier this year.

Since Seinfeld came to an end in 1998, Louis-Dreyfus has been the star of two successful television shows (The New Adventures Of Old Christine and Veep), has had roles in multiple acclaimed films (including Enough Said and the recently released You Hurt My Feelings), and she has even joined one of the biggest blockbuster franchises in the world with her recurring role as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She certainly seems far from cursed, and in an interview with Rolling Stone this past spring, she let her blunt thoughts on the topic be known:

To be fair, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards and Jerry Seinfeld have all had different levels of success compared to what Julia Louis-Dreyfus has done as an actor in her post-Seinfeld career (with Richards notably the subject of controversy in 2006). But they've all done standout work – including the special Seinfeld reunion that was orchestrated in the seventh season of the on-going HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Asked to further reflect on her Seinfeld past in the Rolling Stone interview, Julia Louis-Dreyfus noted that there isn't an episode of the beloved NBC sitcom that she favors more than others, but she does have a special way of reflecting back on her time making the show. Specifically, she enjoys watching the clips of her and her co-stars screwing up scenes:

Anyone who has ever watched a gag reel from Seinfeld will understand why Julia Louis-Dreyfus has a particular fondness for them. The clips suggest that she had a propensity to "break" more often than her co-stars, breaking into fits of hysterical laughter in reaction to well-delivered lines. One of the best examples of this is from the making of the episode "The Little Kicks" from Season 8. One of the last scenes features Louis-Dreyfus' Elaine Benes getting into an argument/fight with Jerry Stiller's Frank Costanza at a police station, and the former repeatedly struggles to keep her composure. Watching it, you can perfectly recognize just how much fun she is having:

That's just one of many amazing gag reel moments, however. If you want to enjoy hours and hours of that kind of hilarity mixed with wonderful stories and interviews, I couldn't more highly recommend buying the Seinfeld DVD box set.

For those of you who are content just watching the show, the entire series is available to stream with a Netflix subscription, and you can see where your personal favorite episode fits into our ranking of Seinfeld best.

James Gandolfini, known for his unforgettable portrayal of Anthony "Tony" Soprano in the groundbreaking HBO Crime Drama The Sopranos, is one of those rare actors whose work leaves a lasting impact for generations to come. On the tenth anniversary of Gandolfini's untimely passing, his fellow co-stars are taking a moment to remember him. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Michael Imperioli, a beloved member of the Sopranos cast, recently shared heartfelt tributes, reminiscing about their experiences working alongside the immensely talented actor.

Although widely recognized for his portrayal of a tough New Jersey Mob Boss, the actor showed a completely different side according to Julia Louis-Dreyfus, his co-star in the romantic comedy-drama film Enough Said. In an interview with USA Today, the Black Widow actress shared her unique perspective on the late actor. Released three months after his passing, the 2013 film was one of his last and featured him as Albert, a kind-hearted and reserved single father. The plot revolves around Albert's blossoming relationship with Eva, a massage therapist played by Louis-Dreyfus. The talented Veep star expressed her deep admiration for the Cinema Verite actor, emphasizing:

The Seinfeld alum's words highlight the genuine and sensitive nature that the True Romance actor brought to his performances. And those attributes certainly resonated with audiences and fellow actors alike.

Michael Imperioli, who played the iconic character Christopher Moltisanti on the mob drama, took to Instagram to pay tribute to his late co-star. The Goodfellas actor shared a favorite photograph of himself and James Gandolfini, remembering his on-screen uncle in a heartfelt caption as the "Batman" to his "Robin." You can see the post below:

Years after the Zero Dark Thirty star’s death, his profound influence still resonates with his co-stars. The actor passed away unexpectedly while in Italy for the 59th Taormina Film Festival, leaving Hollywood shocked. Michael Imperioli, like others, carries the lasting impact of James Gandolfini's presence, a testament to the enduring effect he had on those who knew and admired him.

His portrayal of mob boss Tony in the critically acclaimed series earned him multiple Emmy awards over the course of six seasons. In a recent Vanity Fair article, several of the actor’s colleagues and friends, including Edie Falco and Julianna Margulies, shared their heartfelt recollections of working with the actor. They revealed that while he was renowned for his role as a criminal on and off camera, he was a warm and generous individual. In fact, some of his fellow Sopranos cast members recall him splitting one of his initial bonus checks among the entire cast, highlighting his kindness and generosity.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus joins forces once again with her Enough Said writer and director Nicole Holofcener for their latest film, You Hurt My Feelings, which is now showing in theaters as part of the 2023 movie release schedule. She’s also set to return as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in upcoming Marvel Movies. Meanwhile, The Many Saints of Newark actor received well-deserved acclaim for his portrayal of Dominic Di Grasso in HBO's The White Lotus season 2, a performance that is bound to leave a lasting impression. However, fans of The Sopranos will likely always hold Imperioli in high regard for his memorable role as Christopher. It's worth noting, though, that fans should think twice before making this unsettling requests to the actor.

One would think that James Gandolfini would be incredibly happy for his colleague and what they've achieved. And in turn, I would imagine that they'll continue to hold his spirit close as they continue to produce art as he once did.

For those longing to revisit some of late star's finest work, the entire series of The Sopranos is available for streaming with a Max subscription, offering the opportunity to relish his remarkable performances.

There are numerous Seinfeld scenes viewers can still recall to this day. However, there is one scene that continues to live on in memes and viral videos – the infamous Elaine dance. Fans can thank the comedic timing of Julia Louis-Dreyfus for making the scene what it was. She may have moved on to many notable TV roles, but the sequence has continued to follow her. There have been multiple fans – famous or not – who’ve imitated the iconic dance. Now, You star Penn Badgley has joined in the fun by doing the Elaine dance for Louis-Dreyfus. And this has me (and probably others) wondering when the comic might do an impression of Badgley's famous character, Joe.

Penn Badgley took the chance to show off his best Elaine moves in front of its originator since the Seinfeld alum was guesting on his podcast Podcrushed. And thankfully, the Netflix star decided to share the meta-moment with fans by posting the funny moment on his TikTok account. Of course, Badgley did his best to impress the multi-Emmy winner, but it was Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ reaction that stole the show. Check out the unexpected duo’s exchange in the hilarious post below:

The leading man proved once again his off-beat humor belongs on a sitcom or mockumentary after You’s fifth and final season airs on Netflix. He captured every Elaine movement with little effort. Of course, the cherry on top was seeing Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ face, as she seemingly came off as annoyed by Badgley’s spot-on moves. The Veep star has probably seen enough impressions to last her a lifetime, but she was definitely a good sport to participate in the Gossip Girl alum’s post.

Like many Seinfeld fans, Penn Badgley has probably seen the iconic scene a million times. The unforgettable jig made waves when the Season 8 episode “The Little Kicks” debuted in 1996. Now, you can see how Badgley's rendition compares to the original version by checking out the clip below:

After watching the original Elaine dance scene and Penn Badgley’s impression, you have to wonder: Where is Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ take on the beloved serial killer? She could totally channel one of Joe’s many viral monologues from the hit Netflix drama. Just imagine the Old Christine alum hiding behind a bookcase or staring stone-cold into a camera. It would be great to see the talented actress channel her inner psychopath in a hilarious video. Maybe if Badgley pops up on the comedic actress’ podcast, Wiser Than Me, at some point, they can collaborate on another social media post. I don't know about you, but I think such a thing could go viral like this current clip has.

In the meantime, you can check out every season of Seinfeld by watching it with an active Netflix subscription. And stay on the streamer to catch up on the first four seasons of You before Penn Badgley’s murderous heartthrob Joe returns for the final season. Fans can also catch Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the critically-maligned You People, which is available on the streamer as well.

At present, Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontaine can primarily be described as a shadowy figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She's popped up in a few different stories – including The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – and given off a sinister vibe, but we don't yet have a full grasp on her motivations and intentions. That should hopefully change next year with the arrival of director Jake Schreier's Thunderbolts, as the actor's latest comments about the film has us thinking that we'll get more than a couple questions about the character answered by the developing blockbuster.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is part of the stacked cast in Thunderbolts, the actor set to star alongside David Harbour, Florence Pugh, Olga Kurylenko, Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, and more, and she recently expressed her excitement about the film with Vanity Fair. The Seinfeld and Veep star does a career retrospective in the interview, and while discussing her work on the aforementioned Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, she teases what's next for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine:

While Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has been dancing around the edges of the post-Avengers: Endgame Marvel Cinematic Universe, Julia Louis-Dreyfus' suggestion that the movie is "very character driven" gives us hope that it will give us the opportunity to get to know the character better. She's been operating as a kind of villainous Nick Fury so far, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduced to the canon that Martin Freeman's Everett Ross is her ex-husband, but we want to know more (and we already know that we're going to see her fight).

Director Jake Schreier is reteaming with Beef creator Lee Sung Jin for the film, the latter signing on to write a new draft of the script in late March. The original plan was to have Thunderbolts start production this summer, and there were reports in early May that principal photography would stay on schedule during the on-going WGA Writers Strike, but plans since then have changed, and filming has not yet begun.

Despite the delay of production, Marvel Studios still has Thunderbolts planned on their slate to be released on July 26, 2024. If anything changes, you can be sure that we'll be reporting on it here on CinemaBlend and update our Upcoming Marvel Movies guide (you can also keep track of all small screen happenings with our Upcoming Marvel TV feature).

The versatile and talented Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been responsible for some of the funniest television most of us have seen in our lifetimes. You can watch her incredible work as Elanie on Seinfeld if you have a Netflix subscription. She continued to dominate the comedic airwaves in the HBO series Veep, but also shows off her range by stretching into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where she has played the mysterious Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in a handful of recent features. But it will always be her comedic work that resonates with me, which is why this one scene from Louis-Dreyfus’s new movie You Hurt My Feelings will end up being the funniest scene I’ll see in a movie this year. 

You Hurt My Feelings played at this year’s Sundance film festival, where it gained attention of critics ahead of its May opening (the film is playing in limited release right now). In it, Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays an author who is coming off a moderately successful memoir and is trying her hand at fiction. Only, she overhears her husband (Tobias Menzies) admitting to a friend that he doesn’t like the book, sending her into a spiral. It’s rich material that Louis-Dreyfus explores with writer-director Nicole Holofcener, but one specific moment was improvised. And it was hysterical. 

In the moment, Louis-Dreyfus and her on-screen sister (played by Michaela Watkins) are visiting their mother, who’s the quietly judgmental type. They don’t really want to be there, and the mom is kind of fed up with their attitudes. But in one beat, Louis-Dreyfus picks up a Playbill for the Broadway version of Beetlejuice, which was lying on the counter. And none of it was planned. In a recent interview, Watkins told us:

Kudos to Julia Louis-Dreyfus for recognizing the potential in something as basic as a Playbill or a show that her mother likely wouldn’t attend. When we brought the moment up to the Seinfeld alum, she elaborated:

Movies like You Hurt My Feelings make me wish Julia Louis-Dreyfus only did indie comedies, though we know that the pay is much better when she’s part of Marvel’s The Thunderbolts, even though that film has been delayed by the writer’s strike. Still, keep your eye on the list of upcoming 2023 movies to find gems such as You Hurt My Feelings, tucked into theaters between the blockbusters. 

Unfortunately, it’s well-documented that Hollywood has a tendency to be sexist and ageist as told by various women in the industry over the years. As we continue to observe Women’s History Month this year, we’re looking at the actresses across movies and television currently working today that have carved out a place for themselves despite the status quo favoring younger actresses, whilst it's the norm for the male actors to enjoy careers well into their 60s, 70s and beyond. 

It was reported a few years back by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media that while characters over 50 make up a fifth of characters on television, only a fourth of them are played by women (via Buzzfeed). With that in mind, there’s a gender gap with opportunities being favored for older men much more than women. Thankfully, these actresses have found a way to thrive in Hollywood after turning 50.  

Michelle Yeoh 

Recently, at the 2023 Oscars, the ceremony actually celebrated numerous actresses that are thriving after 50, including Best Actress winner, Michelle Yeoh. The Everything Everywhere All At Once lead accepted the award not only as the first Asian actress to win in the category, but as a “beacon” of hope for more women her age to be seen in major roles. As she accepted the trophy, she said: "Ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are past your prime." 

Yeoh has been over 50 in Hollywood for over a decade now, and is enjoying an exciting era in her career by finding key roles in successful movies like Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, or finding empowering roles in recent TV series like Star Trek: Discovery and The Witcher: Blood Origin. 

Jamie Lee Curtis

Yeoh’s Everything Everywhere co-star Jamie Lee Curtis also took home an Oscar for the movie in the Best Supporting Actress category after over 45 years working in Hollywood. Curtis was a teenager when she found her breakout role in Halloween, but decade after decade she has continued to be cast in exciting roles, especially after turning 50. In Curtis’ fifties and sixties the actress has revived her role as Laurie Strode in a new Halloween trilogy, starred in Knives Out and has a wealth of roles on the horizon, including Borderlands and Haunted Mansion. 

Angela Bassett 

Curtis’ fellow nominee in the Best Supporting Actress category in 2023 was Angela Bassett, for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, who also remains a working icon into her mid-sixties. Aside from starring as Queen Ramonda in the Marvel franchise, the actress continues to lead the network series 9-1-1 along with appearing in multiple seasons of American Horror Story and recently being part of the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Helen Mirren

One of the most iconic actresses to consistently nab interesting roles for herself following turning 50 is Helen Mirren. The British talent hit the milestone in 1995, before she’d made some of her most beloved and best movies, like 2001’s Gosford Park, 2003’s Calendar Girls or her 2006 Oscar-winning performance in The Queen. Mirren has continued to play leading roles in the past decade, such as starring in the Red films, her incredible role in the Fast and the Furious movies along with leading 1923 and Shazam! Fury of the Gods within the past year. 

Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin

While I could certainly talk about Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in their own right, the fact that this pair got themselves their own hit comedy series, Grace and Frankie, in their late seventies (across seven seasons, no less) deserves to be celebrated. These two have modeled, brought life to and joked about the lives of older women who are best friends, and we’re so blessed it exists. The pair hit 50 in the late ‘80s and thrived, remaining booked and busy. Among the 2023 new movie releases, they are in back-to-back movies together, too, 80 For Brady and Moving On. 

Rita Moreno

One of Rita Moreno’s first roles was in 1952’s Singin’ in the Rain. Seventy years later her career is still very much popping, between starring in Netflix’s sitcom, One Day At A Time, and voicing the role of Carmen Sandiego for the original animated series. This year, Moreno also starred in 80 For Brady and has joined the Fast and the Furious franchise as Dominic Toretto’s grandma. 

Sally Field

Speaking of 80 For Brady leads, Sally Field has continued to remain relevant and very much respected in Hollywood at the age of 76. From being nominated for an Oscar for her role in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln to bringing new life to Aunt May in The Amazing Spider-Man movies, or starring in critically acclaimed movies like Hello, My Name Is Doris and Spoiler Alert, Field has continued to impress after a massive first half of her career. 

Emma Thompson

In the nearly 15 years that Emma Thompson has been over 50, she has accomplished a lot. She gave a powerful performance as P.L. Travers in the sweet Saving Mr. Banks' movie alongside Tom Hanks, she gave Cruella a formidable foe of her own in the titular 2021 Disney prequel, and tackled the usually taboo topic of exploring sexuality past one’s “prime” and filmed nude scenes for Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. 

Ming-Na Wen

When Ming-Na Wen turned 50 back in 2013, she was just getting her start playing Melinda May on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, a badass and highly-skilled operative she continued to play for over 100 episodes. Since finding success with that series, which is now her most famous role outside Mulan, Wen has joined the Star Wars universe as Fennec Shand, a female bounty hunter and master assassin. 

Catherine O’Hara

Catherine O’Hara is well-known to an entirely new generation than those who grew up seeing her in movies like Best In Show, Beetlejuice or Home Alone, thanks to her beloved role in Schitt’s Creek as Moira Rose. O’Hara will go down in history as playing one of the funniest TV characters in a big role she found well after 50. 

Jane Lynch

Jane Lynch booked her most popular role of Sue Sylvester on Glee right as she was turning 50 and played the character for six seasons before finding all sorts of work in showbiz otherwise. She notably voices the role of Calhoun in the Wreck-It Ralph movies, along with having major roles in the hit shows The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Party Down and with hosting 75 episodes of the original celebrity game show, Celebrity Game Night. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

The Seinfeld star not only found herself a whole other well-loved TV show to lead and produce after 50 with HBO’s Veep, which she also won nine consecutive Emmy awards for, but she’s a major player in the Marvel universe now. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been consistently quick on her feet on the comedy front and proved to be an impressive dramatic actress as well, with roles in films like Enough Said. 

Jennifer Coolidge

Then, there’s Jennifer Coolidge’s recent comeback for The White Lotus that has the actress literally everywhere right now. Along with the 61-year-old recently winning her first Emmy for her hilarious role as Tanya McQuoid, Coolidge has had loads of projects she has stolen the show in, in the past couple of years in particular, like Promising Young Woman, The Watcher and Shotgun Wedding alongside Jennifer Lopez.

Jessica Lange 

Four decades after Jessica Lange became a star for roles like her Oscar-nominated work in Tootsie and Frances, she is still a huge name, particularly thanks to her move to TV in collaboration with Ryan Murphy on his numerous shows. Lange always provides strong performances in her ever-changing American Horror Story roles, along with portraying Joan Crawford in Feud. 

Allison Janney 

Allison Janney is another actress who got wide recognition for being in one of the best-regarded TV shows of all time, The West Wing. After starring in 155 episodes of the drama, Janney has continued to explore all sorts of interesting characters across her career, especially after 50, whether it be in the sitcom Mom, winning an Oscar for her chilling mother role in I, Tonya or her booked 2022 that put an additional three movies under her belt. Janney is even more famous now than she was when she was a younger actress. 

Julianne Moore 

A new role from Julianne Moore is never too far away these days. The 62-year-old actress has accomplished a lot over 50 and has even been in with the kids because of her key role in the Hunger Games franchise or starring alongside Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard in the recent indie, When You Finish Saving the World. Moore has starred in so many great movies just within the past decade that it can be hard to recall she’s also the same actress from Boogie Nights and Far From Heaven. 

Tilda Swinton 

We don’t have enough female character actors in the world, but Tilda Swinton embodies someone new so frequently that we can barely imagine what she’s like in real life. The majority of Swinton’s best roles have occurred since she turned 50, such as We Need To Talk About Kevin, or her numerous times working with Wes Anderson and Bong Joon-Ho. 

Viola Davis

Viola Davis is one of the most acclaimed actors of our time right now and it feels like she’s also just getting started. Recently, the actress did just about every stunt as a warrior and leader in The Woman King and has become the most-nominated Black actress in Academy Awards history. 

Meryl Streep 

I mean, it’s Meryl. What else do we have to say? The 73-year-old actress has always been magnificent on screen no matter her age and has proven her great talent and ability to be a chameleon on the screen again and again. Since turning 50, Streep has starred in all-time great movies like The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia, and Iron Lady, and looking forward, she's about to guest star in Only Murders In the Building. 

It’s great to see so many women have broken through and found roles for themselves after 50 in the industry. It really comes down to great roles being written for women of all ages for their opportunities to exist. 

A clash of cultures and ideals can either be a recipe for disaster or a source of comedy, and Kenya Barris’ new Netflix comedy movie, You People, is a little bit of both that creates a dynamic experience. The movie, which stars Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy as soon-to-be son-in-law and father-in-law, and puts the differences between the characters front and center, with members of Jewish and Islamic faiths trying to make things work.

If you caught the 2023 Netflix movie during its brief theatrical release or just as it began streaming on the platform in late January, there’s a good chance you’re wondering where you’ve seen the members of the You People cast before. Well, below, we will break down the two families at the center of the latest effort from the black-ish and blackAF creator, which features comedy heavyweights on both sides of the aisle.

Jonah Hill (Ezra Cohen)

Starting things off is Jonah Hill, who stars in You People as Ezra Cohen, in addition to co-writing the movie with director Kenya Barris.

Years from now when people look back on Hill’s career, they will find one of the most varied filmographies of the early part of the 21st century thanks to his ability to pull off all types of roles. From iconic comedies like Superbad and 21 Jump Street to Academy Award-worthy performances in underrated baseball movies like Moneyball and Martin Scorsese crime epics like The Wolf of Wall Street, Hill continues to prove he’s one of the best around. He has even taken to working behind the scenes with directorial efforts like Mid90s and Stutz.

Eddie Murphy (Akbar Mohammed)

Comedy legend and Golden Globe winner Eddie Murphy shows up in You People as Akbar Mohammed, the father of Jonah Hill’s on-screen girlfriend.

Though he is one of the most legendary comedians, actors, and personalities on the face of the planet, and someone who needs no introduction, there could be someone out there who either has no memory of the Saturday Night Live megastar or has You People as their introduction to his work. Over the years, Murphy has led one iconic movie after another, with titles like 48 Hours, Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, Boomerang, The Nutty Professor, and Shrek quickly coming to mind. And, this is barely scratching the surface of Murphy’s body of work and contributions to pop culture, as listing them all would take up this entire article. 

Lauren London (Amira Mohammed)

Next up is Lauren London, who shows up in You People as Amira Mohammed, Jonah Hill’s on-screen girlfriend and the daughter of Eddie Murphy and Nia Long’s characters.

Throughout the early stages of her career, London appeared in movies like ATL, This Christmas, I Love You, Beth Cooper, and Madea’s Big Happy Family, while at the same time landing roles of varying capacities on a list of shows that included Everybody Hates Chris, Entourage, 90210, and even a 2009 episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. 

More recently, London has worked on movies like the 2021 Tom Clancy adaptation, Without Remorse, and shows like The Talk, Games People Play, and True Story. 

Nia Long (Fatima Mohammed)

Nia Long appears in You People as Fatima Mohammed, Lauren London’s on-screen mom and Eddie Murphy’s character’s wife.

For more than 30 years now, Long has been one of the most prolific actresses of her generation, with outstanding performances like Brandi in the late John Singleton’s landmark drama Boyz n the Hood, Debbie in Friday, and Jordan Armstrong in the Best Man film (and now TV) franchise. Add movies like Big Momma’s House, Boiler Room, and Are We There Yet? from the aughts, and it’s easy to see why she’s why she’s such a beloved actress. 

But if that wasn’t enough, Long has long been an incredibly busy name on the small screen, with appearances on shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Third Watch, Judging Amy, House of Lies, blackAF, and countless others. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Shelley Cohen)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus appears in the You People cast as Shelley Cohen, Jonah Hill’s on-screen mom.

An 11-time Primetime Emmy Award winner, Louis-Dreyfus has been a part of some of the most popular and influential comedy series in the history of TV, with more than one career-defining role on the likes of Seinfeld, Veep, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and even Saturday Night Live. Add in Curb Your Enthusiasm (the Seinfeld “reunion” storyline is still an all-time great), Arrested Development, The Simpsons, and now her work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and you have a career that’s on a whole other level.

And, let's not forget movies like Deconstructing Harry, A Bug’s Life, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and Troll. 

David Duchovny (Arnold Cohen)

David Duchovny, a standout ‘90s TV star with his own legendary status, shows up in You People as Jonah Hill’s on-screen dad, Arnold Cohen.

Best known for his portrayal of FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on the quintessential ‘90s series The X-Files, Duchovny has remained relevant over the years thanks to great performances on shows like Californiacation, Aquarius, and Twin Peaks (both the original run and the 2017 Showtime revival), and numerous others. Movies like Beethoven, Chaplin, Evolution, Zoolander, and The Bubble have only added to his status over the course of the past few decades. 

Molly Gordon (Liza Cohen)

Taking on the role of Liza Cohen, Jonah Hill’s on-screen sister, in You People, is Molly Gordon.

Though not as recognizable as some of the actors named higher up on the list, Gordon has been putting in the work the past decade or so, with roles on shows like Orange Is the New Black, Animal Kingdom, Ramy, and most recently on Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, where she took on the role of Linda Zafrani. Her film work includes roles in movies like Life of the Party, Booksmart, Good Boys, Shiva Baby, and Am I Ok?. 

Travis Bennett (Omar Mohammed)

Rounding out the main portion of the You People cast is Travis Bennett, who plays Lauren London’s on-screen brother, Omar Mohammed.

Bennett, who got his start with his Taco rap persona as part of the Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, has transitioned into a successful TV actor over the course of the past decade, landing roles on shows like Workaholics, Loiter Squad, and most recently, Lil Dickey’s off-the-wall FX dark comedy, Dave.  

You can catch these actors and many others by watching You People streaming right now, but only if you have an active Netflix subscription. If you want to know a few reasons to sign up for the service, check out the list of the best movies currently on Netflix.

Stream You People on Netflix.

Julia Louis-Drefyus is one of the most celebrated comedic actors of our time, with a whopping 11 Emmy wins for her roles in projects like Seinfeld and Veep. She joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Phase Four, with small but memorable roles in Black Widow, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and most recently Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Despite this, she recently compared her Marvel cluelessness to doing her taxes. Because of course she has a hilarious way of looking at it.

After her aforementioned appearances in the MCU, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is going to have her first starring role in the upcoming villain-centric blockbuster Thunderbolts. She recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where she was asked about this highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie. When asked if she was more of a hero or villain, Louis-Dreyfus revealed just how confusing the shared universe really is to her. In her words:

Well, that was hilariously honest. Leave it to the comedy legend to have audiences in stitches, while explaining exactly how she’s approaching her growing role as the MCU’s Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. But smart money says her understanding becomes deeper as they finally begin filming Thunderbolts. 

Given how behemoth the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become over the last decade and change, you can’t fault Julia Louis-Dreyfus for being a little bit overwhelmed. After all, it’s been over a decade of movies and TV projects. And since she was asked to pop into multiple properties throughout Phase Four, it was no doubt disorienting trying to keep track of the shared universe’s contents and her character’s intentions. You can watch Louis-Dreyfus’ utterly delightful appearance on Kimmel below:

Julia Louis-Dreyfus admitted that her character Valentina operates in the morally gray, rather than being a hero or a villain in the MCU. As such, it should be fascinating to see her dynamic in Thunderbolts, and how she presumably helps to lead the team of antagonists on a mission for the US Government. Is she the MCU version of Amanda Waller? Only time will tell.

Of course, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has also been keeping busy with projects outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She’s currently promoting her role in Netflix’s new comedy You People, which also stars Eddie Murphy. Other titles include upcoming titles You Hurt My Feelings and Tuesday. Still, Marvel fans are excited to get more of her on the big screen.

Thunderbolts will arrive in theaters on July 26th, 2024, so production should presumably begin sooner rather than later. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always growing and expanding, and Phase Four was no exception, thanks to exciting projects on the small and silver screens. During this time we got a few small appearances by Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, including most recently Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. And after that latest cameo, the Emmy-winning actress had a big request for the Thunderbolts movie.

One of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies is definitely Thunderbolts, which is a crossover movie featuring a number of the shared universe’s antagonists. This should be a real starring role for Julia Louis-Dreyfus, with her character presumably helping to lead the titular team. And the Veep icon shared with Variety a pitch that she submitted to the powers that be at Marvel. Namely, that she wanted to get into the action of that next blockbuster. As she put it,

I mean, can you blame her? The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for its thrilling action sequences, both on the silver and small screens. Each member of the Thunderbolts has a unique set of abilities, which should make these scenes all the more exciting. And as such, Julia Louis-Dreyfus doesn’t want to miss out on the fun. Let the lady kick some butt, Mr. Feige!

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ comments about Thunderbolts reveal she wants in on the action, but also proves just how early in the development process it’s still in. The Seinfeld actress still hasn’t gotten a script, despite it already having a release date for 2024. Let’s just hope that Marvel Studios picks up the pace, and lets Louis-Dreyfus scratch that action itch that she’s got. 

It looks like Thunderbolts will be the MCU answer to The Suicide Squad, with a group of villains recruited on a mission for the US Government. The cast includes Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Black Widow characters Yelena (Florence Pugh), Red Guardian (David Harbour) and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Ant-Man 2’s Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Falcon and The Winter Soldier’s U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell). Finally, Harrison Ford will be the new Thunderbolt Ross. Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina has already shown she operates in the morally gray, and I have to wonder what danger she might put the team in for her own agenda. 

While Julia Louis-Dreyfus has only had small roles, she’s already appeared in Black Widow, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Still, it looks like Thunderbolts will mark the first time that she actually takes center stage. And given how Valentina has her finger in so many different pies, it seems like she could be a major figure in the shared universe as a whole. 

Thunderbolts is currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 26th, 2024. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

For years now, we’ve been following along with the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and later this year, a new team will make its debut in this superhero franchise. In this case though, the membership in the MCU's Thunderbolts movie will be made up of anti-heroes and reformed supervillains. Paper Towns’ Jake Schreier is directing the upcoming Marvel movie, and Eric Pearson, Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo all worked on the script.

We’re still in the dark about what kind of threat the MCU’s Thunderbolts will deal with once they're banded together, though as shown the Thunderbolts* trailer, this all kicks off with someone wanting to kill the protagonists. For now, let’s go over the actors who have come aboard this feature (and yes, that asterisk does belong in the title), most of whom, including Sebastian Stan and Florence Pugh, we’ve already spent time with in the MCU.

Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan has been part of the MCU longer than anyone else on this list, first appearing as Bucky Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger. Originally thought to have perished in that movie, Bucky was brought back into play in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as a brainwashed HYDRA assassin. Fortunately, by the end of that movie, Bucky managed to break free from the terrorist organization, though he still had to deal with HYDRA’s lingering influence on his mind in Captain America: Civil War. Stan then reprised Bucky in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and in 2021, he co-starred with Anthony Mackie in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

When we left off with Bucky in that series, he’d finally made amends with everyone he’d hurt as the Winter Soldier, then headed to Louisiana to join Sam Wilson and his community for a celebratory cookout. He’d finally reached a good point in his life after decades of hardship, but the time has come for him to put his unique set of skills back to use. In Thunderbolts*, Bucky will prove key to branding this group of characters together.

Florence Pugh

The Black Widow mantle lives on on through Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova. We met Yelena during the Black Widow movie, which was set in between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. The adoptive sisters went on one last adventure that saw them freeing the other Black Widow agents, as well as Taskmaster (more on her later) from the Red Room’s influence. Unfortunately, that was the last time Natasha and Yelena would see each other, with Black Widow’s post-credits scene showing Yelena visiting Natasha’s grave.

In that same scene, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine assigned Yelena to kill Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, whom she blamed for Natasha’s death. Yelena attempted to carry out this task during the Hawkeye series, but by that show’s finale, Clint persuaded her to drop this mission of vengeance. So Yelena didn’t carry out what Valentina expected of her, but these two will be working together again during Thunderbolts*. Yelena's also the one who figures out someone is gunning for her and her teammates.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Nick Fury is still active in the MCU, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has been giving off the same kind of vibes the one-eyed spy did in the MCU’s Phase 1. Prior to her appearance in Black Widow, Valentina first appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, when she approached John Walker after he’d been discharged from the military and stripped of the Captain America mantle. Valentina thought John made the right call taking the Super Solider Serum and murdering a Flag Smasher, and by the Falcon and the Winter Soldier finale, she’d set him up as U.S. Agent.

Valentina then resurfaced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as the new head of the CIA, and we also learned that she and Everett K. Ross used to be married. Now there’s Thunderbolts* on the horizon, and just like Nick Fury did with the Avengers, it’s looking like Valentina will be responsible for this team’s creation. However, this is a woman who looks like she’s willing to step over certain lines that Fury would never cross.

Wyatt Russell

Although Sam Wilson accepted the elderly Steve Rogers’ shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame, when The Falcon and the Winter Soldier rolled around, he was hesitant to actually become the new Captain America. As such, he gave the shield to the U.S. government, and they in turned appoint John Walker to carry on as Steve’s successor. However, the pressure of being the patriotic superhero quickly weighed on John, and it also soon became clear that he had anger issues and a massive ego. This all came to a head when he injected himself with the Super Soldier Serum, which amplified these qualities and led to him brutally murdering one of the Flag Smashers.

John was then relieved of duty, and it wasn’t long after that Sam Wilson finally decide to suit up as Captain America. But now John is walking down a new path as U.S. Agent, and because Valetina Allegra de Fontaine is in charge of the CIA, then he’s basically still working for the U.S. government, just in a different capacity. In the Thunderbolts* trailer, it doesn't look like John is particularly pleased with the way his life's gone, but maybe the events of the movie will help change things for the better.

David Harbour

Alexei Shostakov, a.k.a. Red Guardian, was the father figure in the family unit that Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova were in as kids, with Melina Vostokoff being the mother figure. However, sometime after their mission in the United States ended, David Harbour’s character was thrown into prison, and had Natasha and Yelena not freed him, he likely would have spent the rest of his life incarcerated. Luckily that wasn’t to be, and after putting his Red Guardian suit back on, Alexei teamed up with Natasha, Yelena and Melina to take down Dreykov and the Red Room.

Alexei was last seen leaving to parts unknown with Melina, Yelena, the remaining Black Widows and Taskmaster as Black Widow’s main story concluded, so when we reunite with him in Thunderbolts*, over half a decade will have passed in the MCU timeline. It looks as though Alexei's leading a lonely life when we reunite with him, but Yelena coming to visit will pave the way for him to experience excitement again.

Hannah John-Kamen

Hannah John-Kamen's Ava Starr, a.k.a. Ghost, from Ant-Man and the Wasp is back. As a result of being caught in an accident in her father’s lab as a child that killed both of her parents, Ava gained the power of intangibility. The problem was that her body was in a constant state of "molecular disequilibrium,” requiring her to wear a special suit to control her ability to phase through solid matter. Ava agreed to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. in exchange for a cure for her condition, but when she learned that S.H.I.E.L.D. was controlled by HYDRA and had no actual intention of helping her, she fled with Bill Foster, a scientist colleague of her father’s who sincerely offered to help her.

Ava and Bill wanted to harness the quantum energy that Janet van Dyne was filled with to devise their cure, but Hank Pym believed this would kill his wife. So Ghost proved to be a major nuisance throughout that Marvel movie, but Janet eventually willingly gave her some quantum energy to temporarily stabilize her. Ava and Bill then went into hiding, and while Scott Lang, Janet, Hank and Hope van Dyne had planned to deliver more quantum energy to Ava, Scott ended up being trapped in the Quantum Realm while retrieving that energy, and the latter three were among the people Thanos turned to dust. But Ava will be in control of her condition when we reunite with her in Thunderbolts*.

Olga Kurylenko

Taskmaster’s identity was kept secret during the marketing of Black Widow, but within the movie itself, we learned it was Olga Kurylenko’s Antonia Dreykov who was under that mask. Thought to have been killed by Natasha Romanoff when she was trying to assassinate Antonia’s father, she was actually gravely injured and disfigured. Dreykov inserted a chip into his daughter to relieve her of her agonizing pain, but this also allowed her to completely control her. That, combined with Antonia’s natural ability to mimic any physical action she sees, resulted in Dreykov turning the girl turning the girl into Taskmaster, a brainwashed assassin who carried out the Red Room’s directives.

Antonia spent most of Black Widow essentially as a blunt instrument for her father’s schemes, but Natasha Romanoff was eventually able to snap her free of the mind control using the final vial of Red Dust. With her direction in life now uncertain, Antonia left with the surviving Black Widows, Yelena, Alexei and Melina before the authorities arrived. It would be nice to learn what’s been up to in between Black Widow and Thunderbolts*, including whether she's been a force for good as Taskmaster or more of a mercenary.

Harrison Ford

Following the passing of William Hurt, Harrison Ford is taking over the role of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross in the MCU. As far as that character’s history in this franchise goes, although we last saw him hunting down Natasha Romanoff in Black Widow, chronologically within the MCU timeline, he was last seen attending Tony Stark’s funeral. Since it was revealed in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law that the Sokovia Accords have been overturned, Ross now finds himself back in a world where superheroes are free to operate without any government supervision.

To be up front, although Harrison Ford will first appear as Thunderbolt Ross in Captain America: Brave New World, there are conflicting reports about if he's in Thunderbolts* too. Even if he is, it's unclear if the team is named after him, which it most certainly is not in the comics, nor has it been clarified if he’ll be allied with the Thunderbolts or somehow be an adversary to them. However, the fact that he's President of the United States in Brave New World would suggest the former is more likely. Also, since the Brave New World trailer confirmed the inclusion of Red Hulk, it's a good bet his alter-ego will remain Ross, and perhaps he'll turn into this behemoth in Thunderbolts* as well.

Lewis Pullman

At the start of January 2024, Beef star Steven Yeun dropped out of Thunderbolts*, with the actor later confirming it was due to scheduling issues. A few weeks later, Top Gun: Maverick's Lewis Pullman was reported to be lined up as Yeun's replacement. It's since been confirmed that Pullman is playing Bob, a bulletproof man who was being kept at a facility where Yelena, U.S. Agent, Taskmaster and Ghost end up. In other words, we're getting the MCU's version of Sentry, although whether he'll actually be called that or wear a costume hasn't been clarified yet.

Geraldine Viswanathan

At the end of January 2024, Thunderbolts* was hit with another casting shakeup. Like Steven Yeun, The Bear's Ayo Edebiri had to stepped away from the movie due to scheduling issues, and Geraldine Viswanathan was cast in her place. Reporter Jeff Sneider claimed on his The InSneider newsletter that Viswanathan will play Mel, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's assistant. For those wondering where you might have seen the actress before, her major credits include Blockers, The Broken Hearts Gallery, The Beanie Bubble, Drive-Away Dolls and Miracle Workers.

Laurence Fishburne

When Ava Starr’s parents died, Bill Foster became her surrogate father. In addition to having worked Elias Starr at S.H.I.E.L.D., Foster was also once Hank Pym’s assistant on Project Goliath, allowing him to try growing his body to enormous heights on several occasions. As mentioned earlier, Bill wanted to sincerely help Ava with her condition, and after Janet van Dyne stabilized the woman towards the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp, she and Bill went on the run. Laurence Fishburne is now reportedly reprising Bill in Thunderbolts*, which begs the question of if the two of them have had their records cleared, or if Bill will still have to keep a low profile once Ava starts working with the title team.

Rachel Weisz

Remember when I mentioned Melina Vostokoff earlier? Like Alexei Shostakov, Rachel Weisz’s character reentered the lives of Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova in Black Widow. Because Yelena was shown to be doing her own thing in Hawkeye, I imagine that Melina has been spending the years between Black Widow and Thunderbolts* by Alexei’s side, as it clearly looked like they were ready to resume their romantic relationship in the former movie. Although Alexei and Yelena will be part of the Thunderbolts team, I’m curious what the rationale will be for Melina not joining. That’s assuming, of course, that Valentina hasn’t already recruited her for a different mission.

Wendell Pierce

Although arguably best known for his appearances on TV shows like The Wire, Suits, The Odd Couple and Jack Ryan, Wendell Pierce also built a lengthy film resume, and Thunderbolts* is next up on it. This is the second upcoming superhero movie he has lined up, as he’s also playing Perry White in James Gunn’s Superman, the first theatrical entry in the DC Universe franchise. But when it comes to Thunderbolts*, it hasn’t been shared yet who Pierce is playing.

Chris Bauer

Like his The Wire co-star Wendell Pierce, Chris Bauer has also been around the TV block quite a bit through shows like True Blood, The Deuce, Heels and For All Mankind, but he’s also appeared in various types of movies. After looking over his filmography though, it’s arguably safe to say that Thunderbolts* is the biggest cinematic project he’s participated in yet. As is also the case with Pierce though, we have no idea who Bauer will play in the Marvel movie.

Thunderbolts* hits theaters on May 2. Use your Disney+ subscription to watch all these characters’ past MCU appearances for yourselves while we wait to learn who else will appear in this movie.

Warning: SPOILERS for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are ahead!

Even ignoring folks who pop up in end-credits scenes, every now and then, Marvel Studios manages to keep certain appearances secret until a movie’s release. In the case of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, audiences learned that Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, whom we’d previously seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Black Widow, had a role to play in the story. However, there’s been criticism pointed at Valentina’s appearance in Wakanda Forever, and director/co-writer Ryan Coogler is pushing back against this.

Overall, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has been warmly embraced, having been met with positive reviews from critics and the general public alike, and making more than $800 million worldwide at the time of this writing. That said, to some, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine felt shoehorned into the story, and Ryan Coogler responded to that belief by saying the following to The New York Times:

So straight from Ryan Coogler, this wasn’t one of those instances where Marvel Studios dictated that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine be included in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, whether her presence felt organic or not. Not only had Coogler included her in the sequel long before The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Black Widow came out, but she actually had a bigger role before Black Panther 2 needed to be retooled in order to address T’Challa’s death following Chadwick Boseman’s passing. That’s not to say that you’re obligated to like how Valentina was used in Wakanda Forever, but as Coogler explained, she was always going to be involved in these particular MCU proceedings.

Following her setting up John Walker as U.S. Agent in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and then hiring Yelena Belova to kill Clint Barton in the Black Widow end-credits scene (which the assassin attempted to do in Disney+’s Hawkeye series), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever brought back Valentina Allegra de Fontaine as the new director of the CIA, as well as revealed that she was the ex-wife of Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross. While the former spouses were cordial with one another early on in Wakanda Forever, Valentina later arrested Everett because he shared classified information with the Wakandans about the United States’ plans for the African nation. Fortunately for Ross, he was freed by Okoye by the end of the movie.

We’ll regroup with Everett Ross next year in the Secret Invasion limited series, but as far as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine goes, she’s next confirmed to appear in Thunderbolts. Along with Yelena Belova and John Walker being recruited, the title team Valentina is leading also includes Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, David Harbour’s Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen’s Ava Starr/Ghost and Olga Kurylenko’s Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster. Harrison Ford will also appear as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross following his first appearance as the character in Captain America: New World Order.

Thunderbolts comes out on July 26, 2024, and while Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is still playing in theaters, it’s expected to become available to Disney+ subscribers in early 2023. Feel free to look through our upcoming Marvel movies guide to learn what other big screen entertainment this superhero franchise has coming up.

Ever since Seinfeld and Veep icon Julia Louis-Dreyfus surfaced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making her first appearance in the closing moments of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, fans knew she was being set up to hold a significant role in future projects. You don’t hire someone of her caliber for a cameo, however, even Louis-Dreyfus admits to being surprised by the offer to join what has been a constantly evolving on-screen universe. Her mysterious character, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, recruited John Walker (Wyatt Russell) in that scene, then appeared with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) as Black Widow drew to a close. Marvel is following a playbook with Valentina, and producer Nate Moore shares with us part of their strategy with regards to this character and a classic character who came before her.

Nate Moore sat down with CinemaBlend to discuss Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine was brought up because she surfaces in this sequel, as well. In it, we learn that the character once was married to Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman), and still maintains a close relationship with the federal agent. Add it to the growing list of things we know about her. And when describing Marvel’s approach to De Fontaine in the MCU, Moore compared her to another powerful string-puller… Nick Fury. He said:

As is mentioned in the full interview clip at the top of this story, Valentina’s presence is building to the upcoming Marvel movie Thunderbolts, which as of right now is closing out Phase 5. She’s featured in the team concept art that Marvel Studios shared. She’s expected to lead this band of antiheroes (full-blown criminals?) when that movie arrives on July 26, 2024. 

The interpretation of the Thunderbolts will be different from the comics, where Norman Osborn led a team of pure villains masquerading as the Avengers following a conflict that left the real heroes in bad standings. Something devastating could happen in a Marvel Phase 5 that arrives before Thunderbolts, hastening the need for Val to recruit Yelena, Taskmaster, Ghost, Bucky Barnes and more. While we wait to find out, brush up even more on the Thunderbolts’ history, because we feel like it’s going to be important.

As we know about Nick Fury, that man is everywhere… and he keeps on ticking. He’ll be an integral part of the Disney+ series Secret Invasion (according to this badass trailer) and may end up being a thorn in Valentina’s side. Sam Jackson versus Julia Louis-Dreyfus? Sign us up.

When it comes to some of the most famous television stars of the last few decades, I’m sure there are plenty that come to mind, but for me, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is one who always comes to mind. The actress, known for her roles in hilarious comedy shows such as Seinfeld and Veep, has been around for decades now and has consistently shown just how freaking hysterical she can be. 

We may know her as someone who is funny, but Louis-Dreyfus has actually done plenty of other movies and TV shows that you might not know her from, whether that be her amazing voice roles, other series, or movies where she truly shines. Here is where you can watch the best Julia Louis-Dreyfus movies and TV shows, and where they are streaming. 

Saturday Night Live (1982 - 1985)

I mean, you knew this was going to be on here. It had to be on here. This popular primetime sketch comedy has been around since the 1970s and makes fun of anything in pop culture, politics, and more - with some of the biggest comedy stars getting their start here, such as Eddie Murphy, Maya Rudolph, and more. 

Like many comedy stars, Julia Louis-Dreyfus was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from Seasons 8 - 10, showing off not only her comedic talent but her ability to act as well. It’s hard to see her in something prior to her big role in the legendary Seinfeld, which we will talk about next, but you have to check her out in SNL. She is truly at her funniest - and it makes it even better to watch her host the show years later. 

Stream Saturday Night Live on Peacock.

Seinfeld (1989 - 1998)

You know it, you love it, the show about literally nothing, it’s Seinfeld, starring Jerry Seinfeld as a fictionalized version of himself in New York City, just trying to get by as a comedian and facing wacky situations with his friends and neighbors. 

Seinfeld is often considered one of the best sitcoms of all time, and it’s partially due to the amazing chemistry that the Seinfeld cast had with each other. Julia Louis-Dreyfus played Elaine Benes, Jerry’s former girlfriend, and wowie did her career explode after her role on this show - and for good reason! She was funny, charismatic, and had a smile that you’ll remember in your dreams with how charming she was. There’s no one quite like Elaine Benes, and only Louis-Dreyfus could really bring that talent to the big screen. 

Stream Seinfeld on Netflix.

Hannah And Her Sisters (1986)

Next up, we have Hannah and Her Sisters, a comedy film directed by Woody Allen with a large ensemble cast that tells the story of a large family that goes through hell and back over two years, including scandals, affairs, and so much more - all of which begin and end with a nice dinner at Thanksgiving. 

Keep in mind that this movie is stacked with stars, so Louis-Dreyfus’ role isn’t that big compared to many of the others featured, such as Mia Farrow, Michael Caine, and more. Her role as Mary is important, and in her minor role, she gets to show just how much of a scene-stealer she really is. The movie itself is super good, too, having won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay, as well as two other Oscars.

Rent/Buy Hannah and Her Sisters on Amazon.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

If you’re looking for a hilarious Christmas movie, be sure to check out National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. In this film, we follow the story of the Griswald family and their crazy hijinks that they get up to, this time during their Christmas vacation, and when other family members come to visit, mayhem occurs. 

Something I love about Louis-Dreyfus’ role in Christmas Vacation is that she plays someone who isn’t a part of the family at all. She plays Margo Chester, a neighbor who usually ends up paying for the antics of the Griswalds and honesty, I relate to her on a whole other level because of how ridiculous this family can be, and she just portrays the role so perfectly you can’t help but like her. This movie is just a great Christmas film and you’ll love it from start to end. 

Stream National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on Netflix.
Rent/Buy National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on Amazon.

A Bug’s Life (1998)

If you want a fun Pixar film, check out A Bug’s Life. In Pixar’s second animated full-length feature ever, A Bug’s Life follows the story of an ant who wishes to save his colony from a group of grasshoppers, but as he does, he finds the kind of help that he didn’t think he’d ever receive in the form of a strange circus troupe - and learns a little about himself along the way. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Princess Atta, a queen-in-training and honestly, Atta is such an underrated character for Pixar. Not only is Louis-Dreyfus in this voice role an excellent pick, as she delivers some killer jokes that will make not only children but adults chuckle as well, but the character overall is someone who just wants to keep her people safe - and anyone can relate to that. Plus, it’s always fun to revisit movies like these years later since Pixar has come out with so many other movies since then. We truly wish this could have gotten a sequel.

Stream A Bug’s Life on Disney+.
Rent/Buy A Bug’s Life on Amazon.

Deconstructing Harry (1997)

If you’re looking for a great black comedy, check out Deconstructing Harry. Now this is a crazy ensemble film featuring plenty of stars that tells the story of Harry Block, a writer who is on a journey to receive an honorary degree with three passengers in his car, which flashes back to the past and has characters from his writings that make this trip all the more entertaining. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus played Leslie, a character of Harry's, and while her role in the film wasn’t as big as some of the others, she shined in her scenes and made me laugh several times, because that’s just how skilled she is. And when I say this film has many stars, I mean Billy Crystal, Tobey Maguire, Jennifer Garner, Woody Allen, Stanley Tucci - even Robin Williams! There are so many amazing and hilarious moments, and you’ll surely love it. 

Stream Deconstructing Harry on FreeVee via Amazon.
Rent/Buy Deconstructing Harry on Amazon.

The New Adventures Of Old Christine (2006 - 2010)

If you’re looking for another fun sitcom from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, this is the one you should check out. In The New Adventures of Old Christine, we follow Louis-Dreyfus’ character, Christine Campbell, a recently divorced mother who is trying to maintain her life and make sure her family is in order, while also attempting to maintain a close relationship with her ex-husband. 

This series is plenty of fun and a great return to form for Louis-Dreyfus in terms of her legacy in the sitcom world, and the story is great as well, with funny moments for the whole family to enjoy. Louis-Dreyfus actually won a Primetime Emmy for her performance in the first season of the show, so you know that she’s spunky and great in it - just like she always is in these types of comedic roles. With five seasons to watch, this is a great one to binge. 

Stream The New Adventures of Christine on HBO Max.

Enough Said (2013) 

Are you looking for a romantic comedy? Then Enough Said is the one for you. In this film starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the late James Gandolfini, we mainly follow Eva, a masseuse who ends up seeing a man named Albert - only to discover that he has a connection to a friend/client. 

I’ll be honest and say that I don’t think Enough Said is one of the best romantic comedies of all time, because the premise itself (at least to me) is a very simple one that we have seen before. However, what makes this film stand above the rest are the performances from both Louis-Dreyfus and Gandolfini. Oh my God, their chemistry was so good and I loved their relationship from the beginning to the end. It pains me that Gandolfini never got to see the film, as he died prior to its release, but he made something special with Louis-Dreyfus that I truly enjoy.

Stream Enough Said on Amazon with Cinemax.
Rent/Buy Enough Said on Amazon.

Onward (2020)

The return of Pixar! Onward is all about two brothers (played by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt), who go on a mystical journey together in order to see their dad one last time using magic, after his passing years ago. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus voices their mother, Laurel Lightfoot, and yes, she is the best mother in all of Pixar and I stand by that. Not only is Louis-Dreyfus the perfect casting for this role, as her comedic timing is on point, but you just can’t help but love Laurel. She is so loving to her boys, cares about them deeply, and is a badass with a sword and I love that for her. I stand by this queen. 

Onward didn’t do so well at the box office, some of which was due to the pandemic, but if you haven’t seen it yet, you really should check it out now. 

Stream Onward on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Onward on Amazon.

Veep (2012 - 2019)

Last but not least, we have Veep, an HBO political satire that starred Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the lead role for seven seasons. The main premise of this show is that Selina Meyer is the Vice President of the United States (at least for the first few seasons) and has to clean up after the president and all his messes while simultaneously trying to stand out amongst everyone else. 

Louis-Dreyfus was stellar in this role. While the Veep cast is all talented in their own ways, Louis-Dreyfus was truly the standout, and for good reason. Her star power is impeccable and Selina Meyer is just the perfect character for her. She won six consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for her portrayal. That’s right, six. That’s how you know it’s good. 

Stream Veep on HBO Max.

There is no one quite like Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and if for some reason you haven’t seen how skilled she is, then you need to check out some of her shows/movies as soon as you can. You won’t regret it. 

Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill have each shined in Hollywood in their own special ways, and now their professional paths are finally crossing. In August, it was announced that Murphy and Hill will join forces for a still-to-be-titled Netflix comedy movie that will be directed by BlackAF’s Kenya Barris. Now it’s been announced that Seinfeld star Julia Louis-Dreyfus has joined this project as its first supporting cast member.

Specific plot details about this Netflix comedy are still being kept under wraps, but as revealed last month, the story is described as “an incisive examination of modern love and family dynamics and how clashing cultures, societal expectations and generational differences shape and affect relationships.” Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill’s characters will find themselves clashing on some of these issues, and according to THR, Julia Louis-Dreyfus will appear as Hill’s mother. Interestingly enough, this news comes right as Seinfeld, which Louis-Dreyfus starred in as Elaine Benes, is about to make its Netflix debut.

Although this Netflix comedy will mark Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ first time starring in a streaming-exclusive movie, the actress isn’t unfamiliar with the streaming realm in general. Earlier this year, she debuted as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, a role she reprised in Black Widow, which ended up being made available on Disney+ Premier Access at the same time it premiered in theaters. Louis-Dreyfus also lent her voice to an episode of the Netflix animated series Archibald’s Next Big Thing, which stars her Veep cast-mate Tony Hale.

As far as Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ other recent credits go, along with Veep concluding its run on HBO back in 2019, 2020 was a big year for the actress, as following a seven-year hiatus from cinematic territory, she starred in two movies. The first was Downhill, which, in addition, to acting alongside Will Ferrell, she produced. Then a month later, Louis-Dreyfus could be heard in the Pixar movie Onward, which ended up going to Disney+ just a month after it hit theaters due to the pandemic.

In addition to appearing on-screen with Eddie Murphy and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jonah Hill also co-wrote the script with Kenya Barris, with both men also producing through their respective Khalabo Ink Society and Strong Baby production companies. Murphy and Barris were already tied together through Coming 2 America, which Barris wrote, but now Barris gets to direct the actor in his feature filmmaking debut. This will be Murphy’s Netflix follow-up to 2019’s Dolemite is my Name, while Hill previously starred in the platform’s Maniac miniseries and will soon be seen in the Adam McKay-directed Don’t Look Up.

It’s unclear when this untitled Netflix comedy will begin shooting, but as soon as that’s announced, as well as more actors are added to the cast, we’ll let you know. In the meantime, look through our Netflix October 2021 guide to learn what the service will be adding next month.

I often have trouble deciding on my favorite of the Seinfeld characters, but Elaine Benes has a pretty solid case. Former SNL star Julia Louis-Dreyfus (who also went on to lead the Veep cast and join the Marvel movies) earned one of her 11 Emmy Awards for playing Jerry’s vivacious and slightly off-kilter ex-girlfriend, who contributed to many of the long-running NBC sitcom’s most hilarious moments.

To prove just how important Elaine was to the the series’ success (despite not showing up until Episode 2), we came up with 13 classic examples of her greatest hits and could not bring ourselves to cut any of them out of the following list, which starts with one of the first glimpses of her irresistible dark side.

Elaine Is Desperate To Get Her Boyfriend On A Plane To Seattle (Season 2,"The Busboy")

Elaine’s subplot in the Seinfeld Season 2 classic “The Busboy” involves a reunion with a one night stand from Seattle whom she grows to loathe and greatly anticipates his flight home. Unfortunately, they oversleep on the day of his departure, plunging her into an erratic uproar trying to get him packed and ready in the little time they have. Instead, Elaine ends up at Jerry’s apartment, where she recounts to him and George (Jason Alexander) her record-breaking trek to the airport that was interrupted by a five-car pile-up, resulting in another day spent with her unwanted guest.

Elaine Suffers In Coach On A Flight To New York (Season 4, "The Airport")

Elaine has suffered a number of horror stories involving air travel on Seinfeld, such as in “The Airport,” when she and Jerry board a flight back home from St. Louis. Jerry claims an open first class spot, where he lands a date with the beautiful model seated next to him, while Elaine is stuck dealing with obnoxious passengers, rude attendants, and a revolting bathroom in coach. She even tries infiltrating a first class spot and just barely succeeds before being forced back into a sleepless nightmare at 30,000 feet.

Elaine Avenges A Public Bathroom Injustice (Season 5, "The Stall")

Say, speaking of bathrooms, in Seinfeld’s fifth season, Elaine had an awkward run-in with a woman in the bathroom stall next to her who adamantly and unreasonably refuses to “spare a square” of toilet paper. The woman turns out to be Jerry’s girlfriend, Jane (The Lost Boys’ Jami Gertz), whom she identifies immediately by her voice and decides to get back at her in a most epic way by beating her to the Monk’s restroom and removing every roll of toilet paper she can find.

Elaine Mocks Jerry's Dirty Talk (Season 4, "The Cheever Letters")

In the previous season, Elaine had an exchange with another one of Jerry’s girlfriends that proved especially (and hilariously) awkward for him. The comedian begins dating Elaine’s assistant (Lisa Malkiewicz), whom he ends up offending with his attempt to keep up with her dirty talk with a remark about her undergarments being laid out for her by her mother. Jerry’s fear that the comment will make it back to Elaine comes true when, at the very end of the episode, she mentions that her mother bought her some new panties and “they’re all laid out for me.”

Elaine Needs To Know If Her Boyfriend Is "Sponge-Worthy" (Season 7, "The Sponge")

Elaine’s own love life has also had its issues, and sometimes because of her own actions, as it turns out. For instance, in Seinfeld’s seventh season, she discovers that the Today sponge - her preferred contraceptive - is in limited supply and then forces her boyfriend, Billy (future Gilmore Girls cast member Scott Patterson), to prove why he is deserving of its use in a conversation with all the tension of a job interview. However, when they finally consummate their relationship, Elaine ultimately decides that Billy is not “sponge-worthy” after all.

Jujyfruits Ruin Elaine’s Relationship And Job (Season 5, "The Opposite")

Elaine also managed to cause problems in her love life and her professional life by the same means in one of the all-time best Seinfeld episodes, “The Opposite.” After offending her hospitalized boyfriend, Jake Jarmel (Marty Rackham), by stopping for Jujyfruits before visiting him after his car accident, the chewy candy later prevents her from warning a sick Mr. Lippman (Richard Fancy) that he forgot his handkerchief right before an important meeting that immediately goes south, resulting in the end of Pendant Publishing. The misfortune convinces her she has assumed an existence similar to George, who has instead been on top of the world since adopting a new way of life.

Celibacy Has The Reverse Effect On Elaine’s Intelligence (Season 8, "The Abstinence")

Another time that George’s good luck had the opposite effect on Elaine occurred in Season 8’s “The Abstinence,” in which George’s temporary inability to make love to his girlfriend causes a major boost to his IQ. Elaine thinks this same method could help her boyfriend (Bob Odenkirk) finally ace his medical license exam. While the abstinence works in his favor, it turns Elaine into a self-described “moron” who can barely finish a complete sentence and is easily amused by a spinning tire display at an auto body shop.

Elaine Takes Too Many Muscle Relaxers In Florida (Season 3, "The Pen")

An even funnier example of Elaine exhibiting infantile behavior on Seinfeld occurs when she accompanies Jerry to Florida to visit his parents, who can only offer her an extremely uncomfortable pull-out sofa to sleep on. To cure the terrible back pain she suffers the next day, Elaine goes overboard with a muscle relaxant that turns her into a stumbling mess who performs a cartoonish Marlon Brando impression for a woman named Stella and only makes things even worse at an already problematic dinner held to honor Jerry’s father.

Elaine Has A Silent Freak Out On The Subway (Season 3, "The Subway")

Another funny Elaine moment from Seinfeld’s third season did not require her to say a word. When taking the subway to a wedding, her train suddenly stops, igniting an enraged, expletive-laced projection of her inner thoughts that we hear over voice over. The most amazing thing about that moment is that Julia Louis-Dreyfus was pregnant and fighting back intense nausea while filming, meaning the distressed look on her face is mostly genuine.

Elaine Gets Bit By A Rabid Dog (Season 5, "The Glasses")

Elaine’s fury would only become more prevalent, funnier, and much louder as Seinfeld went along, such as in Season 5. After she suffers a dog bite, Elaine suspects she has contracted rabies, especially after she begins to frequently snap at her friends - including Kramer (Michael Richards), whom she calls a “hipster doofus” during one fervent episode. Elaine’s illness is confirmed when she beings to have trouble swallowing and starts foaming at the mouth in one of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ finest displays of physical comedy.

Elaine Dances At Her Office Party (Season 8, "The Little Kicks")

Perhaps Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ all-time greatest display of physical comedy occurs in the Seinfeld classic “The Little Kicks.” The Season 8 episode’s title refers to Elaine’s own bizarre style of dancing at a party with her co-worers, which George describes as “a full body dry heave set to music.” Her embarrassment affects her beyond the office, however, after she uses Jerry’s camcorder to record the routine, taping over a bootleg movie that gets sold on the city streets.

Elaine Throws George’s Wig Out The Window (Season 6, "The Beard")

While we are on the subject of “best-ofs,” when naming Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ all-time greatest “freak out” on Seinfeld, my money is on Season 6’s “The Beard,” which was the first show after the series’ 100th episode celebration. When a freshly toupee’d George expresses disgust over his new girlfriend’s baldness, Elaine becomes infuriated by her friend’s hypocrisy and teaches him a lesson by pulling the “rug” off his head, scolding him with a deafening indictment of the fake hair, and tossing it out the window.

Elaine Ruffles The Soup Nazi’s Feathers (Season 7, "The Soup Nazi")

Retaliation is something Elaine has always reveled in, most notably in the iconic episode “The Soup Nazi.” The authoritarian, titular soup vendor (Larry Thomas) bans Elaine from his stand after she fails to follow the demands he expects from every customer (except Kramer, for whatever reason). However, after discovering his recipes in an armoire he unwittingly gifted to her, she threatens him with his signature “no soup for you” line, leading him to close up his business.

It is no secret that all of these classic Elaine moments (which fans can revisit on Netflix as of October 1, 2021) are, indeed, “sponge-worthy” and it should be easy to understand why it was impossible to narrow all of them down to a smaller quantity for this list. Honestly, as far as I am concerned, anyone who does not believe the Seinfeld cast was lucky to have Julia Louis-Dreyfus can get out! But, to the fans who are with me, which one would you consider to be the greatest Elaine moment of them all?

This poll is no longer available.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Minor spoilers for Black Widow lie ahead.

It may still be early days for Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the TV and film installments we’ve received have already added so much to the franchise. They’ve done a particularly strong job of bringing in new faces like Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness or Owen Wilson’s Mobius M. Mobius. And of course, there’s also Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who made her MCU debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The character is still an enigma at this point, as her endgame is unclear. But based on a sweet exchange between Louis-Dreyfus and Marvel’s Kevin Feige, fans can definitely look forward to seeing more of the actress in the future.

Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige recently took to Twitter to watch Black Widow alongside fans. Throughout the viewing, he also answered fan questions and dropped some cool behind-the-scenes stories in the process. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who briefly appears in the film, eventually came into the discussion, as a fan inquired about when she’d show up again. Feige gave a very optimistic response, which drew a nice reply from Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Check out exchange down below:

While Kevin Feige does his best to keep MCU secrets from fans, it’s no secret that he loves to gush about the many stars he’s able to work with. His praise of Julia Louis-Dreyfus is great to see, and it’s absolutely deserved. It’s true that the Emmy-winning actress hasn’t had too much screen time up to this point, yet she’s been pitch perfect whenever she’s appeared.

Unlike recent MCU additions like David Harbour’s Red Guardian and Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, Val was a complete surprise, as Marvel wanted it. Falcon and Winter Soldier head writer and producer Malcolm Spellman previously explained that Val’s inclusion on the show began when he and his team were writing a “shady-ass CIA character” to meet with John Walker. Sometime later, Marvel suggested Val fill the position, and the rest is MCU history.

The team at Marvel Studios went to “stunning” lengths to conceal Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ role, so it’s no surprise that nothing leaked ahead of time. And although her debut was actually meant to occur in Black Widow, her role in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier still works perfectly. You can check out her debut on the show by streaming it on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

Val is currently proving to be somewhat of the anti-Nick Fury, as she’s been recruiting people with notable skills. As you can imagine, there are theories circulating about what she’s planning, but some signs point to her forming the MCU’s version of the Dark Avengers. While it’s only speculation, it’s certainly not impossible.

One thing that is clear, though, is that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is being positioned as a power player in the MCU going forward. It’s exciting to imagine what Kevin Feige and co. have planned for Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ manipulative and witty operative.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Black Widow are ahead!

With the exception of Avengers: Endgame, ever Marvel Cinematic Universe movie has featured at least one mid/post-credits scene, if not several. Black Widow, which hit theaters and Disney+’s Premier Access tier last Friday, continued that trend by winding the clock forward to show Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova visiting Natasha Romanoff’s gravesite post-Endgame. Yelena was soon joined by Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, and Black Widow writer Eric Pearson admits that he feels guilty about what their conversation sets up for the MCU’s future.

For those who need a refresher on Black Widow’s post-credits scene, or on the off chance you’ve read this far and haven’t seen the movie, Valentina decided to personally inform Yelena who her next target will be: Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye/Ronin, who Valentina describes as the man “responsible” for Natasha’s death. While speaking with THR, Eric Pearson mentioned that Marvel Studios requested that Clint be the target, and when he wrote that scene, he wasn’t informed about where we’d see Yelena next. In his words:

Although we’ve known since December 2020 that Florence Pugh is reprising Yelena Belova for Disney+’s Hawkeye series, Black Widow’s post-credits scene provides some much-needed context for why she appears as Clint Barton is training Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop. Eric Pearson did his duty of capping off the first Phase 4 movie by establishing more ties between Yelena and the wider MCU, but this subsequently led to him worrying about if this plot twist would cause problems for the writer(s) on another MCU project down the line.

Fortunately, it seems like things worked out, as fitting Yelena Belova into Hawkeye feels organic given how close Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff were. Whether or not the Hawkeye writers, headed by Mad Men’s Jonathan Igla, were bothered by having to include the character or welcomed the opportunity is unclear, but now we’ll get to see Yelena and Clint cross paths. Hopefully he can quickly clear up with her what truly happened on Vormir, because as anyone who watched Avengers: Endgame knows, Clint did everything he could to try and make it so he would be the one to sacrifice himself for the Soul Stone rather than her.

Black Widow also marked Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ second appearance as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, having first shown up in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to recruit John Walker. However, because Black Widow was originally supposed to be released in May 2020, this was intended to be the first time audience saw her MCU incarnation, so Eric Pearson was “excited” that he was able “do a lot to shape Valentina’s personality.” It remains to be seen if Valentina truly knows what happened between Natasha and Clint on Vormir or if she’s simply inferring what went down from what little information is available, but either way, she wants Clint out of the picture and believes Yelena is the person to get the job done.

While we wait for more news about Hawkeye, including when it will debut on Disney+ (which you can subscribe to with this link), be sure to read CinemaBlend’s review of Black Widow and look through our upcoming Marvel movies guide.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for the end of Black Widow. If you have not yet watched the film, read on at your own risk!

After what has felt like an exceptionally long wait, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is back on the big screen. We originally expected Cate Shortland’s Black Widow to arrive in theaters about 10 months after Jon Watts’ Spider-Man: Far From Home, but instead the pandemic has made it so that it’s been about two years, and the 2020 movie became a 2021 movie. Fortunately, that drought has ended. And not only does that mean fans get to go to their local cinema to see superhero blockbuster action, but we also once again have the wonderful experience of anticipating a special end credits scene.

In this respect, Black Widow definitely delivers, as there is a special coda included in the movie that provides a wonderful tease of what’s to come in the franchise – both in the immediate future, and in the vaguer macro sense. In this feature we’ll dive into what happens and what it means, and to operate logically let’s start with the former…

What Happens In Black Widow’s End Credits Scene

In the wake of the adventure in Black Widow, which takes place between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, the Marvel end credits scene performs a kind of time jump and catches up with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) sometime in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame. This is made clear because of where Yelena is standing: over the grave of Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson).

As she quietly mourns her sister, she is approached by a mysterious individual whom fans who watched The Falcon And The Winter Soldier will instantly recognize as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). It’s made clear that this isn’t the first time that they are meeting, and that Yelena is working for Val – evidenced by the former Russian spy complaining that she is supposed to be on vacation.

It’s not made explicit what the two women have been doing together, but it is made clear what their next “collaboration” will be. Val tells Yelena that she has acquired a new target, and that it will give Yelena the chance to get revenge on the person responsible for Natasha’s death. A photo is shared, and it’s revealed that the man the Black Widow is meant to kill is none other than Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye – who was with Natasha on Vormir in Avengers: Endgame when she sacrificed her life in aim of acquiring the Soul Stone.

How Black Widow’s End Credits Scene Sets Up The Hawkeye Disney+ Series

It was back in December that it was officially confirmed that Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova would be appearing in Disney+’s upcoming Hawkeye series starring Jeremy Renner – but, naturally, Marvel kept mum regarding any details regarding the role that she would play in the limited series. Now, thanks to the Black Widow end credits scene, we have a much clearer idea of how she will be entering that particular narrative.

Based on the evidence presented, it seems that Yelena’s role in Hawkeye, at least at the start of the show, will be an antagonistic one, as she executes her mission to try and assassinate Clint Barton. Of course, she is clearly being manipulated, so it also seems fair to assume that there will be at least some time in the story dedicated to the Avengers’ resident archer trying to convince the new Black Widow of the truth.

Set to debut later this year (an official date has not yet been announced), Hawkeye will be another original Disney+ series set in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, and it will primarily center on Clint Barton’s efforts to train a young woman, Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), as his successor and to take on the Hawkeye mantle. In addition to Steinfeld, Jeremy Renner, and Florence Pugh, the show will also star Tony Dalton, Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Alaqua Cox, and Zahn McClarnon. We don’t yet know if Julia Louis-Dreyfus will also be making appearances, but speaking of her…

How Black Widow’s End Credits Scene Could Impact The Future Of The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Sending Yelena after Hawkeye is clearly a big swing made by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, but as those who have watched The Falcon And The Winter Soldier know, that is only one of multiple plays that the mysterious woman is in the process of facilitating. She clearly has a vendetta against established superheroes and a desire to control her own team of costumed vigilantes, and it seems totally fair to assume that is going to develop as a huge deal in the next few years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

For those who don’t recall, the last time we saw Val was in the final episodes of the MCU’s second Disney+ original series, and what she was doing was setting up the semi-disgraced John Walker as U.S. Agent – a new super soldier operating in parallel to Sam Wilson as the new Captain America. Unlike the case with Yelena, we have not yet seen the villainess with the purple-striped hair dispatch her patriotic “hero” on any missions, but she is very clearly a fan of his violent instincts and how they mix with his super strength.

With the launch of Phase 4, it seems like Val is being established as a kind of anti-Nick Fury – and in that sense her appearance at the center of this end credits scene feels like a natural counterbalance to Fury’s debut at the very, very end of Jon Favreau’s Iron Man.

Taking a step backwards out of the canon, it is interesting to note that Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s first appearance as Val was initially going to be this scene in Black Widow, with her expanded role in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier meant to play out subsequently. But then the pandemic came and jumbled Marvel Studios’ release strategy. Had things gone as originally planned, the end credits scene discussed here would have been vastly more mysterious, with fans left wondering about the enigmatic new character, but instead we have now have a lot more context for her cameo, and it’s going to feed plenty of speculation.

Black Widow is now in theaters and available on Disney+ via Premier Access. To learn about everything coming up in the next few years from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, check out both our Upcoming Marvel Movies guide, and our Upcoming Marvel TV guide. And for a look at all of the movies we've seen thus far, check out our Marvel movies ranked feature.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was filled with a number of surprises, including appearances from previously established Marvel Cinematic Universe characters. The series, however, also introduced some new characters to the sprawling franchise. This includes the crafty Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by the always-delightful Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The character popped in to recruit former Captain America John Walker for a yet-to-be-revealed assignment and ultimately gave him the title of U.S. Agent. Many fans likely weren’t expecting to see the character and, now, producer and head writer Malcolm Spellman has shed some light on how she came to be added to the show.

Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has an interesting history in Marvel Comics, but the espionage agent is not quite known to the general public. This made her inclusion that much more interesting and, according to Malcolm Spellman, it was Marvel Studios that actually suggested using her to fill a need in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier:

It’s honestly hard to argue with Malcolm Spellman’s recent comments on Everyone Loves A Good Story. Although she was originally set to debut in Black Widow, Val’s reveal was orchestrated well for the show, and having her appear makes sense, especially when you consider that she definitely fits the description of a “shady-ass CIA character.” On top of that, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a strong casting choice for the role, given that she can play characters that are both questionable and likable.

As of right now, Val’s future in the MCU is uncertain, given that Marvel Studios (in typical fashion) isn’t ready to go into specifics with the public just yet. However, that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating about what might lie ahead for her. She seems to be assembling her own team of “heroes,” which some fans believe could become the Thunderbolts or even the Dark Avengers.

Whatever happens, John Walker actor Wyatt Russell is more than ready to team up with Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a future MCU project. He recently revealed that he doesn’t know what Marvel’s planning, but he’s excited by the possibilities. Let’s hope we get to see more of the woman known as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine sooner rather than later.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is currently streaming on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier packed a number of surprises into its six-episode run – from the introduction of Isaiah Bradley, to the appearance of the Dora Milaje – but easily the most delightful was the arrival of Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. While very little was revealed about the Marvel Cinematic Universe incarnation of the comic book character, she immediately charmed audiences with her sly demeanor and sinister attitude. Clearly the franchise has some big things planned her, and while we don’t quite know what those plans are just yet, the filmmakers behind the Disney+ original are teasing a “Pandora’s Box to be opened.”

With the Falcon And The Winter Soldier finale arriving on the streaming service this past Friday, I was delighted to have the opportunity to talk to director Kari Skogland and head writer Malcolm Spellman this week during a post-release virtual press day and discuss the series in depth. One of the thing that I asked both of them about in separate interviews was working with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and developing Val as a character, and what they described was the Seinfeld and Veep star very much getting into the role. Said Skogland,

Val is only featured in the last two chapters of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier and only appearing in two scenes total, but she makes a lasting impression – and a massive part of that is her demeanor. She has been established as thoroughly mysterious figure, and it definitely sounds like she is up to some nefarious business. I asked Kari Skogland about throttling the gas pedal in that respect, and she explained,

What will that future entail? Could it possibly lead to the introduction of the Thunderbolts/Dark Avengers? Will Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s story continue in the developing Captain America 4 starring Anthony Mackie? We have a wide variety of questions right now, but sadly few answers.

Speaking to the opportunity to bring Julia Louis-Dreyfus into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Malcolm Spellman noted that he was a big fan of hers long before he had the opportunity to work with her, and that knowing what she could do as an actor had an important influence on the way that Val was written into The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. Said the writer,

What the series was able to pull off with Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in such a short amount of time is impressive, and it all starts when she slinks out of the shadows following John Walker’s dishonorable discharge. Kari Skogland discussed the process of filming that moment, giving Wyatt Russell a lot of credit for maintaining the heightened emotions from the court martial scene that precedes it and not falling into the trap of trying to generate a certain comedic rhythm with his co-star. Said the filmmaker,

By the end of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has begun the process of rebranding John Walker as U.S. Agent, including getting him a new suit, and clearly she is recruiting him for some kind of bigger project. Needless to say, we’ll be paying very close attention to any and all developments regarding her character going into the future, and it seems fair to assume that we won’t have to wait very long before she pops up again.

While we wait for more exciting future Marvel Cinematic Universe developments, The Falcon And The Winter Soldier is now streaming in its entirety on Disney+ – and to keep track of everything that is coming up on the small screen for the franchise, be sure to check out our Upcoming Marvel TV Shows guide.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Slight spoilers for the season finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier -- “One World, One People” lie ahead.

Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier introduced a number of new characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from new (and temporary) Captain America John Walker to Flag Smasher leader Karli Morgenthau. But the character who arguably shocked audiences the most is Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by the delightful Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It’s safe to say that fans weren’t expecting to see the actress show up on the show, let alone playing that particular character. Still, Marvel has been able to keep some things secret, and Louis-Dreyfus has now revealed the “stunning” way in which her role was kept under wraps.

Studios will go to great lengths to keep things a secret when it comes to high-profile projects, and Disney/Marvel Studios is no exception. Julia Louis-Dreyfus recently took to Twitter to reveal that she was covered in a “stunning” hooded cloak when she was snuck onto the set. Don’t believe her? Well, she even included a video, and you can check it out for yourself down below:

It may seem a bit simple, but a cloak is definitely an effective way to keep a person’s identity a secret. When Julia Louis-Dreyfus puts that hood on, she’s pretty much unrecognizable to any who’s not in close proximity to her. This is definitely invaluable when you have spectators trying to snap set pics from far distances. It would seem that studios like Disney have found a bit of a repellent in the form of cloaks.

Marvel Studios actually isn’t the only branch of the Disney family to use this approach. Former Mandalorian star Gina Carano, who referred to the show as the most secretive project she had ever been a part of, confirmed that the show also used cloaks and hoods to cover up any potential spoilery details. You can check out the Star Wars show and all of its surprises by streaming it on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

In terms of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, you honestly have to be impressed with how the show was able to keep other things from being revealed. One of the biggest things that immediately comes to mind is Sam Wilson’s new Captain America outfit, which was finally revealed in all of its glory in the finale.

Marvel has yet to reveal specifics when it comes to the future of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, though it’s more than apparent that she’ll be a major player moving forward. And now that the actress has been revealed to be playing the role, the crew likely won’t have to take quite as many precautions with her on set.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is available to stream in its entirety on Disney+.

When Julia Louis-Dreyfus popped up as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, I had not seen a more exciting and unexpected cameo on one of the Marvel TV shows since… well, I think we all know the answer to that (see Evan Peters’ Quicksilver on WandaVision). Initially, my elation was due to the mere sight of a Seinfeld alum in a Marvel adaptation, but when I looked further into the history of this mysterious character from the comics, I began to find even more reasons to be excited or, more accurately, curious.

That being said, you have not seen anything yet if you thought Val’s cameo in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode 5 left much to be desired, as there is actually not much that I can say about her origins from the comics. Even her actual name remains a mystery after more than 50 years since her introduction into the Marvel Universe, but there is still much to be amused by regarding the facets of her life which have been “declassified” so far. So, to better prepare us for what future Julia-Louis Dreyfus has ahead in upcoming Marvel movies, let us take a look at her character’s past with the following essential facts about Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, starting with her best-known position in the world of espionage.

Valentina Would Become A Leading S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent

Created by writer and artist Jim Steranko, Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine was first introduced in Strange Tales Vol. 1 #159 in August 1967. Her Marvel Comics debut would also mark her debut as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., which she would join after the murders of her wealthy, Italian socialite parents while aiding a European resistance movement, which made her life feel “meaningless.” She would take on the Mongolian warlord Plan Chu - better known then as the Yellow Claw, but later preferring the name Golden Claw - in her first mission upon recruitment.

In following years, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine would become one of the organization’s top operatives with her impeccable skills in hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship at a nearly perfect level of expertise, and strong leadership capabilities. She would even become S.H.I.E.L.D.’s liaison to United Kingdom, where she was assigned to help Union Jack (sort of like a British Captain America, but not Captain Britain) after Nick Fury went underground.

Valentina Was Once Romantically Involved With Nick Fury

Speaking of Nick Fury, not all of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s relationships at S.H.I.E.L.D. have been strictly professional. She and the organization’s famed director would share a passionate affair that, upon discovering this fact, has me dying for Julia Louis-Dreyfus to cross paths with Samuel L. Jackson in a future Marvel Cinematic Universe installment.

It should be noted, however, that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s relationship with Colonel Nick Fury would actually prove to be a little too passionate at times, with Val often intentionally trying to get under his skin by flirting with Steve Rogers in plain sight. This would actually incite conflict over her heart between Fury and Captain America, much to chagrin of Rogers’ lover at the time: Sharon Carter.

Valentina Led The Femme Force With Sharon Carter

The rift Valentina Allegra de Fontaine created between Steve Rogers and Sharon Carter would cause a jilted rapport between the S.H.I.E.L.D. operative otherwise known as Agent 13 and the contessa. Things did not get any easier when Sharon and Val (who was actually referred to as Agent 14 at S.H.I.E.L.D., believe it or not) began working together on the Femme Force in the the early 1970s.

First established by Nick Fury under the authorization of President Richard M. Nixon to create equal opportunities in the line of defense, the Femme Force was an elite special forces group that consisted entirely of female S.H.I.E.L.D. agents until it went defunct. The unit was collaboratively headed by Sharon Carter and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who led the group to respectability within S.H.I.E.L.D., especially in the battle against Red Skull and Hydra. However, the fact that Sharon and Val could be successful allies and romantic rivals simultaneously is not the even the most ironic aspect of that fact.

Valentina Is Also Known As Madame Hydra

As I said before, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is a major figure of mystery in the Marvel Universe, with her most essential information being revealed much later. One of the most striking revelations surrounding her history was that, all while she was working for S.H.I.E.L.D., Val was actually a double agent covertly working for Hydra, and even became something of a poster child for the fascist organization by assuming the aptly dubbed moniker of Madame Hydra.

It should be noted that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is not the first person in Marvel Comics (or onscreen) to take up that mantle. The first would be Ophelia Sarkissian (otherwise known as Viper) who would later appear in 2013’s The Wolverine as played by Russian Actress Svetlana Khodchenkova and later re-envisioned for the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as an artificially intelligent digital assistant called AIDA. Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ MCU iteration of Val is poised to be the most definitive Madame Hydra we have seen on screen so far.

Valentina Was Also A Russian Sleeper Agent For Leviathan

That being said, if Julia Louis-Dreyfus is also poised to be the most definitive iteration of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine we have seen on screen so far, that would mean it should also be prepared to mention the organization that she was actually reporting to the entire time. Yes, that is right: in addition to secretly being a double agent for Hydra during her tenure at S.H.I.E.L.D., Val was, in reality, a Russian sleeper agent under the command of Leviathan.

Valentina Allegra de Fontaine revealed her true colors to Interpol after she created a conflict between Hydra and Leviathan, which is a Soviet terrorist organization that was also a focal point of Marvel’s short-lived Agent Carter series in 2015. As it turns out, Val’s parents were also sleeper agents for the organization, in Italy. So, I suppose she was not being dishonest about her mother and father being highly influential to her career.

You know, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is actually just the second person to play Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in a live action-setting, the first being Lisa Rinna in a made-for-TV movie starring David Hasselhoff as Nick Fury from 1998. With all due respect to the Hoff, I think most agree that Samuel L. Jackson’s performance in following Marvel movies in order was an improvement. I believe the veteran leader of the Veep cast has a good chance of leading that same legacy.

The latest episode of Marvel Studios and Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier included multiple shockers. One of these was the introduction of a new character, and possible ally to John Walker, played by Julie Louis-Dreyfus, and the Veep actress’ reaction says it all.

Keeping secrets is Marvel Studios’ superpower and the latest one came as a major surprise to many fans watching. After John Walker is stripped of his role as Captain America, and as a representative of the United States government and its military, he’s hit rock bottom. However, Julia Louis-Dreyfus' mysterious Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine enters. Or to her preference, you can call her “Val," but only in your head. Louis-Dreyfus reacted to her best-kept secret on Twitter, holding a card with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine on it and her shocked expression proves a picture is worth a thousand words:

Although Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ scene with Wyatt Russell's John Walker was brief, it was definitely memorable. After introducing herself to the former Captain America, she tells Walker she believes he did the right thing by killing the Flag-Smasher and that she knows he took the super soldier serum. Before he can get a word in, she states that she will be in touch with him and gives him a blank card.

It’s unknown what part Val will play in the season finale, if she even appears at all. Some comic fans have noticed that she could be the MCU version of Madame Hydra, which would make her an even more formidable enemy in the future. And whether or not Walker will team up with Val remains to be seen, though it should be interesting to see how things pan out.

La Contessa Valentine Allegra de la Fontaine made her first appearance in “Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.” for Strange Tales #159 in 1967. She’s an espionage agent whose affiliations include Leviathan, Hydra and J.A.N.U.S. along with S.H.I.E.L.D. With Val’s history with HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D., it’s hard to figure out which side she’s actually on. Now that Walker’s been stripped of everything he ever trained and worked for, that might set him over the edge and lead him to go after something even bigger and more dangerous.

The final episode of the first season of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier drops on Friday, meaning everything is on the line. It’s hard to predict will happen, since Marvel has surprised us numerous times in the past. If Val were to return, it would be interesting to see if she and Walker will connect again and discuss more plans for the future. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has already killed it in the brief time she’s been on screen, so hopefully she'll be shaking things up in the MCU sooner rather than later.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier releases its final episode this Friday on Disney+.