It’s obviously not the first sketch comedy show that you think of from the ’90s — that’s Saturday Night Live, Kids in the Hall, The State, or In Living Color — but MADtv ran for 14 seasons from 1995 to 2009 and spawned a ton of comedic stars who are still making an impact. From big-screen blockbusters to animated titans and beloved cult series, MADtv alums pop up just about everywhere in Hollywood, so on this, the 20th anniversary of the show’s premiere, let’s take a look at what some of MADtv‘s alums have been doing to keep busy.
Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald, likely best remembered by MADtv fans as his recurring character creepy man-child Stuart, has found his place in Melissa McCarthy movies. The actor obviously has a fan in Paul Feig – not only did he have a role in 2013’s The Heat, but also in the recent (shockingly hilarious) film, Spy. Since leaving the sketch show in 2008, he finished out his run as a recurring character on Scrubs (Dr. Toilet), had a part on former castmate Nicole Sullivan’s show Rita Rocks, and landed small roles on shows like Cougar Town (which he also worked as a producer on) and House of Lies. He’s been Ben Tomlund, Fiona’s husband’s campaign manager, on Lisa Kudrow’s brilliant Web Therapy since 2010.
Most recent? A guest appearance on The CW’s new Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Mo Collins
Joan gotcha! Mo Collins left MADtv and Lorraine Swanson behind after six seasons on the show to join the illustrious Pawnee Today.
Aside from that scene-stealing recurring role (Joan Callamezzo on Parks and Recreation, readers), Collins, now 50, has had numerous TV guest parts since 2005.
There was Californication and Modern Family, as well as Suburgatory and Chuck. She works heavily in the voiceover realm, as well, lending her vocals to kids cartoons like Sheriff Callie’s Wild West and Batman.
She’ll next hit the big screen next year in the Robert De Niro/Zac Efron flick Dirty Grandpa (yes, the movie that spawned those shirtless pics).
Nicole Sullivan
Nicole Sullivan’s 10 years on MADtv are obviously a major point in her career, but they honestly might not be the highlight. The actress’ recurring role as Holly Shumpert on The King of Queens came during her tenure on the sketch show, but it’s also what she might be best recognized for.
Like some of her former castmates, Sullivan works heavily in animation. She’s voiced characters on Family Guy and kid’s programs like Kim Possible, The Penguins of Madagascar, and Super Best Friends Forever.
A mother of two, she’s had recurring roles on Scrubs and Cougar Town, and supporting parts in major movies like 17 Again. At one point, she had her own Lifetime TV series: Rita Rocks, about a working mom who starts an awkward mom garage band.
She currently pops up from time to time as Janine on Black-ish.
Alex Borstein
Ms. Swan in now 42, and married (to Jackson from Gilmore Girls) with two children. Yes, she voices Lois Griffin – but there’s more.
She plays Frank’s overworked lawyer Lou on Shameless, she’s popped up in Seth MacFarlane’s movies Ted and A Million Ways to Die in the West, too.
Her vocal talents have been heard on The Cleveland Show and Robot Chicken, and will be used on the upcoming Hank Azaria-starring adult animated series Bordertown in 2016.
Look for her next in the star-studded Christmas flick Love the Coopers (we’re talking Marisa Tomei, John Goodman, Diane Keaton, Olivia Wilde, Ed Helms, Anthony Mackie…)
Will Sasso
Sasso, who hails from Canada, joined MADtv in 1997 and stuck around until 2002.
Like Borstein and Sullivan, he, too, voiced characters on Family Guy. He also had a major role on the short-lived series, $#*! My Dad Says in 2010 (alongside Sullivan), before hitting the big screen as Curly in the rebooted Three Stooges movie in 2012.
Sasso has also appeared on Drunk History, Justified, Modern Family and About a Boy, and will voice a character in the A-list 2016 animated supervillain film Henchmen.
On Oct. 13, he revealed on Twitter he’ll have a role on the upcoming season of Shameless. We’re already excited.
Stephnie Weir
Stephnie Weir seemed to be at her best when playing offbeat, odd birds during her six seasons with the show. Now 47, the actress has been focusing more and more on her writing and producing career. She wrote on 65 episodes of the sketch show, and then penned one episode of Raising Hope (and produced 24), and six of Will Arnett series The Millers.
She was back on screen this year in short-lived Billy Crystal mockumentary series The Comedians as the chuckle-inducing, awkward FX producer Kristen Laybourne.
“All I can do is knuckle down, write something really good, and hope someone responds to it,” Weir told Vulture of being a female writer in Hollywood. Keep up the good work, Steph!
Frank Caliendo
Ah, the impression king. Caliendo was best known during his time on MADtv for his spot-on impressions of both George W. Bush (although I’m partial to Will Ferrell’s take) and John Madden. In fact, he even performed as the now-former president during 2006’s White House Correspondent’s Dinner.
In 2007, TBS gave him his own sketch show called Frank TV, which ran for only 15 episodes. He served as Fox’s NFL Sunday prognosticator, taking over for Jimmy Kimmel, until 2012 – skits which typically included his Madden portrayal. Caliendo still rolls out his shtick on ESPN’s Mike & Mike talk show from time to time.
Caliendo is currently on tour across America, and is scheduled to hit Atlanta, Georgia next. The “Live Frank Tour” continues into April 2016, so grab your (cheap) tickets now!
Ike Barinholtz
Ike Barinholtz is in his prime as the weird, manic, but lovable Morgan Tookers on Mindy Kaling’s The Mindy Project (which recently made a well-received move to Hulu). Since joining the series, Barinholtz nabbed a part in the highly anticipated Suicide Squad and secured a book deal to share his own essay collection, which is set for release in 2017. The book, which Barinholtz promises will cover both sex and pizza, will be more than just layover reading, according to the star.
Before hitting his stride in 2015, the 38-year-old appeared as Ivan in Eastbound & Down, Jimmy in Neighbors, and Frank Gibiatti in The League. Oh, and don’t worry, he’ll be back for Neighbors 2. No word on how his limbs healed, however.
Phil LaMarr
Largely known before Mad as Marvin from Pulp Fiction, LaMarr transitioned from being in front of a camera to mostly being behind a microphone while turning himself into one of the biggest names in the voice acting game, thanks to his work for both DC and Marvel animation, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Family Guy, and most notably, Futurama, where he voiced the part of Hermes.
Orlando Jones
Jones is the “Chevy” of MADtv, writing and starring in the show before leaving after just two seasons — a gamble that paid off with steady work in films like The Replacements opposite Keanu Reeves and many dancing men in a prison cell for some reason, Bedazzled, and Drumline into the early 2000s (a period that also included an iconic turn as 7Up spokesperson). But while things slowed down a little for Jones and the roles he got didn’t quite stand out in the mid-aughts, he came back strong with a co-starring role in Sleepy Hollow that ran through the show’s second season. Jones can next be seen in The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea opposite Jason Sudeikis and Maisie Williams when it comes out in 2016.
Keegan-Michael Key
Keegan Michael-Key is one half of the, arguably, most famous stars to come from MADtv. Alongside longtime friend and co-star Jordan Peele, the Penn State alum made a name for himself as one of the sketch comedy greats with the now-concluded Key & Peele.
Besides K&P, Key has popped up in blockbusters like Tomorrowland, Vacation, and Pitch Perfect 2. You demand more? He’s already got four films on the docket for 2016, alone, and Deadline revealed recently that he’ll re-team with Peele to executive-produce a single-camera undercover cop comedy series for Fox.
Jordan Peele
The other half of the aforementioned duo, Peele, also has several solo projects lined up. He’ll follow up his Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp gig by voicing a character in the big screen pickup of children’s book series Captain Underpants, before rejoining Key for Keanu. Set for 2016, Keanu is a comedy where a group of friends hatch a plot to steal back their cat by posing as drug dealers. Will Forte is also signed on. I’m writing this from the theater while waiting patiently.
Arden Myrin
You know those male actors who always play character parts and make you say “Oh, that guy!” Well, Arden Myrin is the female equivalent. The 41-year-old, who starred in 76 episodes of MADtv from 2004 until its end, has brought her recognizable face to everything from Party Down to Bachelorette and Orange Is the New Black.
Most recently, she popped up in several episode of Fresh Off the Boat and Bones, and is set to appear on Bob Odenkirk and David Cross’ new Netflix sketch comedy show. Arden is also currently starring in The Public Theatre’s off-Broadway production of Barbecue.
