MovieChat Forums > The Leftovers (2014) Discussion > Whats with the ABC sitcom guest stars in...

Whats with the ABC sitcom guest stars in Season 2???


Anyone else notice this?

Eddie from "Family Matters" as the spiritual guy who's house gets burnt down

The Dad from "Just the 10 of Us" in the background of that publishing meeting

Brett Butler from "Grace Under Fire" as the woman who makes Matt hit a guy with an oar for $$

Mark Linn-Baker from "Perfect Strangers" as...well, Mark Linn-Baker from "Perfect Strangers"


You think this was because the casting agent likes 90s and 80s sitcom stars? or because it's easier for Lindelof to have connections to ABC? Or was this a wink to the audience? Or just coincidence?

Anyone else notice anybody else? I just thought it was kinda cool

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Yes, I noticed it. In fact, I posted a thread on this subject some months ago. You can add to the list:

--Betty Buckley (the mom from Eight is Enough) played Meg's mother.

--Geoffrey Owens (Elvin from The Cosby Show) appears in Season 1.

And from more recent sitcoms:

--Mark Harelik (Sheldon's boss Dr. Gablehauser from The Big Bang Theory) played the publisher who is attacked by Laurie.

--Regina King (the Human Resources lady from Big Bang Theory) plays Erika Murphy.

--The twin boys who were Jill's friends in Season 1 (from the cast of ABC comedy/drama Desperate Housewives).

And from 80s comedy movies:

--Steven Williams (the state trooper in The Blues Brothers and the tree trimmer in Better Off Dead) plays Virgil.

--Joel Murray (George from One Crazy Summer, also is Bill Murray's brother and has guest-starred in several sitcoms from 90s to present) played George Brevity.

I think it's pretty cool too, especially since multiple episodes from Season 1 featured songs from 80s musical artists like Hall and Oates, Captain and Tennille, etc. ...A wink from Lindelof, like you said?

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I FORGOT that Joel Murray was on "Dharma and Greg"!
I mostly mean bit parts from sitcom stars of bygone eras, not just the bit part people, but there are lots of nice bit part performances on the show that you're catching.

Adding to the list: The Clerk from "Dazed and Confused" is in the S2 premiere for a one-liner (makes sense, they shot around Austin).

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That's why I led off with the Eight is Enough mom and Elvin from the Cosby show. I got carried away and added some bonus trivia. :)

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--Joel Murray (George from One Crazy Summer, also is Bill Murray's brother and has guest-starred in several sitcoms from 90s to present) played George Brevity.


Didn't realize the actor is one of the "Murray" brothers. I've seen him in a few things; but never knew his name.

In trying to find him on YouTube, I clicked on his "God Bless America" speech (from the movie of the same name)...some powerful stuff.

Reminds me more of Brian than Bill.


"This moment was always looking for me."

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Mark Lynn Baker was mentioned as a celebrity disappearance in season one.

Unless Alpert's covered in bacon grease, I don't think Hugo can track anything.

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Regardless, they all did a good job with their respective roles.

I am you and what I see is me.

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