2023 in Review: The Stealthiest Castings and Very Coolest Cameos
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Some of TV’s most delightful moments involve not what happens on-screen, but who appears on-screen.
In 2023, for example, we were treated to a veritable parade of movie stahhhs — a singing Brad Pitt included! — passing by the smaller screen. Other top-secret castings put a very fun “bow” on shows such as Justified: City Primeval, How I Met Your Father, NCIS: Hawai’i and The Blacklist.
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And there were the cameos that, though perhaps known (or spoiled), still proved to be a ton of fun, such as when Kim Cattrall finally put in some face time on And Just Like That…, Brec Bassinger’s Stargirl shined on Titans, and Frasier reunited with Roz.
With such casting coups and delightful drop-ins in greater supply than ever this year, TVLine’s 2023 in Review has rounded up more than 30 on-screen appearances that caught the audience-at-large off guard and/or teased us all with a really fun wink-wink.
From The Bear serving up a delicious Olivia Colman to Matthew Broderick’s surprise involvement in the latest Only Murders plot, let’s revisit some of the year’s very best cameos and most secret castings — then, chime in with the ones you enjoyed most!
Ben Schwartz, The Afterparty
With another murder mystery afoot, we did not expect to see Yasper back in action, even when the second season took us inside some prison walls. It was a short and sweet cameo, but we were glad to see that the Season 1 killer was still working on his bars… behind bars.
C-3PO, Ahsoka
We had already been quite thrilled when Episode 5 of Disney+’s latest Star Wars series made passing mention of one Senator Leia Organa. (We’re easy that way.) But two weeks later, when Hera faced a court martial for defying orders, who rode to her rescue — with an (alleged) message from Leia — but C-3PO. This was not the cameo we were looking for, but what a golden delight.
Ryan Reynolds, American Auto
The Deadpool actor’s stealth cameo in the episode “Celebrity,” in which Payne Motors searches for a new spokesperson after an unseen Kevin Costner breaks ties with the company, was so nonchalant and chill – there was nary a hint it was coming – that we wondered if it was a fever dream. But no, Reynolds really did appear via video conference to accept the gig… and then later ditch “Costner’s sloppy seconds.”
Kim Cattrall, And Just Like That…
Cattrall famously steered clear at first, but we’re glad she didn’t stay away: Her cameo as the iconic Samantha Jones in the Season 2 finale was, in a word, fabulous. Cattrall slipped right back into her signature role like no time had passed, with Samantha sharing a warm phone call with her old friend Carrie and giving us a jolt of vintage Sex and the City vibes.
Olivia Colman, The Bear
The seventh episode of the acclaimed dramedy’s second season was a wonderful meditation on Richie’s journey, set in motion by “cousin” Carmy, to becoming a better front of house man. As Richie learned the fine art of fine dining (whilst polishing many a fork), there were reverential mentions of unseen restaurant owner Terry. Who could possibly live up to such a build-up? Oscar and Emmy winner Olivia Colman, that’s who. “Every second counts,” and so does brilliant guest-casting.
Andrew McCarthy, The Blacklist
Edward, the longtime pilot of Raymond Reddington’s private plane, had been heard but never seen during the NBC drama’s 10-year run… until the July 6 episode, when James Spader’s fellow Brat Packer was revealed to be the man in the cockpit all along. (Spader and McCarthy most memorably co-starred in Pretty in Pink, but also shared the screen in 1987’s Mannequin and Less Than Zero.)
Charlie Sheen, Angus T. Jones and Jennifer Taylor, Bookie
Twelve years after Sheen got himself kicked off Two and a Half Men, and nearly nine years after Chuck Lorre dropped a baby grand piano on Charlie Harper’s head, the duo buried the hatchet long enough to recreate the poker scene (with Jones!) from Men’s 2003 pilot episode. (As an added bonus, Taylor, who played Charlie Harper’s fiancée Chelsea, cameoed not as herself, but as a rehab patient who was unfamiliar with Sheen.)
Torrey DeVitto, Chicago Med
The former series regular’s surprise appearance in the Season 8 finale’s closing minutes was brief but significant in what it gave to longtime viewers and “Manstead” fans: closure. Reunited with his ex-fiancée Natalie Manning (DeVitto) and her son Owen in Seattle, exiting doc Will Halstead (played by Nick Gehlfuss) no doubt has a happy future ahead with his new family.
Rachel McAdams and Brad Pitt, Dave
FXX’s chaotic hip-hop comedy has had its share of big-name guest stars, but we were still shocked to see two bona fide A-listers stop by in Season 3. When Dave penned a tune about McAdams being his dream girl, the real deal showed up to give him a shot. Then in the season finale, Pitt was outrageously funny as he charmed (and sang!) his way through a real crisis when he and Dave were held hostage by a crazed stalker.
Peri Gilpin, Frasier
Paramount+’s revival surrounded Frasier Crane with an all-new supporting cast, but it warmed our hearts to see Gilpin return as Frasier’s old pal and radio producer Roz in the season finale, helping Frasier process his grief over the death of his dad Martin. (Bonus points for it being a Christmas episode, which Frasier has always done so well, making us feel all merry and bright.)
Anne Dudek, The Good Doctor
Fifteen years after Amber’s heartbreaking death on House, TV’s erstwhile “Cutthroat Bitch” resurfaced on another David Shore medical drama – this time as mother to a teenage patient diagnosed with lupus a rare, inherited intestinal disorder.
Gilles Marini, Grey’s Anatomy
Our jaws hit the ground right along with Nick’s when he was greeted at the door of estranged girlfriend Meredith’s new house by this card-carrying dreamboat. Luckily for Dr. Marsh, Marini’s Michael turned out to just be Mer’s brilliant daughter Zola’s tutor — and gay.
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Father
Sophie’s Season 2 fender bender resulted in the legendary return of Barney Stinson, who offered sage advice to the sequel series’ protagonist amid her search for her absentee dad. Best of all was hearing NPH’s ladies’ man alter ego gush about his three-year-old daughter Ellie, who was born in How I Met Your Mother’s series finale.
Walton Goggins, Justified: City Primeval
Ever since the Justified revival-of-sorts was first announced, and up until its day of premiere, fans of the FX drama were clamoring for Raylan’s No. 1 frenemy to be involved. After all, they did dig coal together. Alas, the enigmatic Boyd Crowder was nowhere to be seen… until the limited series’ very final sequence, which brought back Goggins for a cunning prison break, giving great hope for a Raylan/Boyd face-off down the road.
Eden Sher and Neil Flynn, Lopez vs. Lopez
Five years after ABC’s The Middle wrapped its nine-season run, Flynn and Sher (who for 215 episodes played Mike and Sue Heck) had a surprise reunion on NBC as another father-daughter duo — this one embroiled in a prank war with George and Mayan Lopez.
Drea de Matteo, Mayans MC
FX’s Sons of Anarchy spinoff frequently paid homage to the mothership over the years, and it saved the best throwback for last. De Matteo reprised her Sons role of Wendy Case in the penultimate episode, crossing paths with EZ Reyes in what was ultimately a completely coincidental meeting, separate from the war raging between the Mayans and the Sons.
LL Cool J, NCIS: Hawai’i
Part of the thrill of Special Agent Sam Hanna unexpectedly saving Jane and Kate’s bacon in NCIS: Hawai’i‘s Season 2 finale stemmed from the fact that, not 24 hours prior, NCIS: Los Angeles ended its 14-season run . The news that LL Cool J is on board for a guest-starring Hawai’i arc surely helped LA fans cope with their loss — and maybe hope for an update or two on Callen & Co.
Marsha Warfield, Night Court
John Larroquette was the only original cast member to return for NBC’s sequel to the ‘80s courtroom comedy — until Warfield made a surprise appearance in the Season 1 finale. Her bailiff character Roz now faced Larroquette’s character Dan Fielding as a defendant in his courtroom after a rowdy bachelorette party gone wrong… and we’re guilty of wanting to see a lot more of Roz in Season 2.
Matthew Broderick, Only Murders in the Building
Broderick wasn’t the first celebrity who’d been asked to play a heightened version of himself on Hulu’s whodunnit, and we doubt he’ll be the last — but he was the first to relish in the opportunity to make a complete and total ass of himself, and the result was golden. The only thing funnier than watching him drive Oliver to the brink of insanity was seeing Charles channel Ferris Bueller as he showed Broderick the door.
Simu Liu, The Other Two
Max’s gone-too-soon comedy was famous for its savage pop culture satire, so when Cary and Brooke’s mom Pat told her kids she was dating “Marvel star Simu Liu,” we thought it was just another throwaway gag. But no! Liu was more than happy to take the joke to the next level, showing up in the flesh at a family dinner — and going along with it when Pat, um, shared way too much about their bedroom behavior.
Lizzy Caplan, Party Down
When we first heard Caplan wasn’t available to star in Party Down’s revival season, we were more disappointed than… well, most of the catering company’s clientele. But color us surprised when Casey and Henry randomly ran into each other in the season’s very last scene. Here’s to hoping Starz is cooking up another helping, so Caplan can come back for real next time.
Ethan Hawke, Reservation Dogs
We figured we’d meet Elora’s dad before the Rez Dogs said goodbye, but we never could’ve guessed he’d be played by Ethan Hawke. The actor soared as estranged father Rick, delivering banter that felt awkward, yet real and relatable. The casting helped deliver one of the season’s best showings and even won Hawke and Devery Jacobs our coveted Performers of the Week honor.
Paige Tamada, The Santa Clauses
The former child actor — who appeared in 1994’s The Santa Clause movie as Judy, the elf with the centuries-old hot chocolate recipe — resurfaced in a Season 2 episode of the Disney+ sequel series as the purveyor of Judy’s Hot Cocoa. (Perhaps Judy, like Bernard and Curtis, embarked on Kribble-Krabble and never returned to the North Pole?)
Martin Quinn, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
As Pike and members of the Enterprise crew searched for survivors of a Gorn invasion, they stumbled upon a bloody scene that was actually a clever trap. And when the resourceful engineer behind the contraption revealed himself as the Scotty, we were giddy like 12-year-olds seeing Star Trek for the first time. (Quinn being the first actor of Scottish descent to portray the iconic character made this cameo feel even more special.)
Pep Guardiola, Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso has always pulled from the real-life football world, but never so overtly as in Season 3’s penultimate episode, when Guardiola — Manchester City’s actual manager — popped up as the team faced AFC Richmond. “Don’t worry about wins and losses,” Guardiola told Ted after the match, echoing Ted’s own coaching thesis from Season 1. “Just help these guys be the best version of themselves on and off the pitch.”
Brec Bassinger, Titans
Gar’s journey into the Red allowed for “cameos” from Grant Gustin’s Flash, Zachary Levi’s Shazam, Max’s Harley Quinn and others, yes, but via archival footage/audio drops from TV and film projects. DC’s Stargirl‘s Brec Bassinger, though — in, admittedly, a well-spoiled cameo — actually appeared in the flesh, making this meeting of young heroes truly super.
Jared Padalecki, Walker Independence
Walker star/EP Padalecki told TVLine that he was determined to find a way to appear on the spinoff, and he did it: The actor – who also exec-produced the cancelled offshoot – crossed paths with Hoyt Rawlins (played by Walker-turned-Independence star Matt Barr) in Episode 12, during which the two robbers delivered cheeky dialogue like “Feel like I seen you before” and “Maybe I’ve just got one of those faces.”
Melissa McBride, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
Show of hands: Who was excited to see the Walking Dead OG turn up in the spinoff’s Season 1 finale? Yeah, us, too. Even knowing that McBride would be making a cameo — and opening The Book of Carol as a series regular in Season 2 — the sight of the badass back in action was still a thrill.
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