Jake Johnson is building a comedy sandbox full of familiar faces, and NBC just announced who gets to play in it. The network’s upcoming single-camera workplace comedy Sunset P.I. has added guest stars Spencer Moss, Nelson Franklin, Patrick Gallagher, David Paymer and Wrenn Schmidt to its roster, joining previously announced cast members Jane Levy, Langston Kerman, Mary Shalaby and Keith David.
The show premieres in February, and it follows Mickey Wilder (played by Johnson), a private investigator working at a past-its-prime detective agency in Hollywood. That premise alone sells the setting: a fading business in a city built on glamour, run by a man whose job is slowly disappearing. But the guest list is where things get interesting.
The New Guest Stars
Moss plays Aylie, Mickey’s 14-year-old niece who happens to be technologically savvy. That’s a classic sitcom setup — the kid who knows more about computers than everyone else in the room. Moss comes from “She’s Fine” and “Doctor Odyssey,” which gives him TV credits even if the titles don’t immediately scream recognition.
Franklin joins as Kyle, an accountant at a large bio-tech company. That’s a weird fit for a private investigator show, but it works in practice: the accountant who knows too much, the guy who sees the money behind the crime. Franklin brings “Veep” and “The Social Reckoning” to the resume.
Gallagher is Garr, an LAPD detective on a murder scene. That’s the kind of role that exists purely to give the main characters someone to talk to while solving a crime. Gallagher’s credits include “Big Sky” and “Joe Pickett.”
Paymer portrays Irvin Mandrake, a big-wig movie producer who had blockbuster hits in the 1980s. Paymer is attached to “Dave” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Mandrake is the kind of character who can walk into a room and instantly make everyone feel small.
Schmidt rounds out the group as Cynthia, a mysterious woman with sinister intentions. She’s the one who raises the stakes, the one who might not be telling the truth. Schmidt’s credits include “For All Mankind” and “Nuremberg.”
The Previously Announced Cast
Johnson’s Mickey is joined by Jane Levy, Langston Kerman, Mary Shalaby and Keith David, all of whom were previously announced for the show. The new guest stars are listed as additions to the ensemble, not replacements for the core group.
The Creative Team Behind the Show
The show comes from writers and executive producers Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici. The pilot was directed by Akiva Schaffer of the Lonely Island. The series is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
The Network and the Premiere Date
NBC picked up “Sunset P.I.” to series in May. The premiere is set for February.
The show is a single-camera workplace comedy, which is a specific subgenre. It’s the kind of show where the camera stays with the characters as they move through their day, and the workplace becomes a character itself.
The show is set in Hollywood, which gives it a specific flavor. A past-its-prime detective agency in a city built on glamour is a great idea.
The Talent Representation Details
Each of the guest stars is represented by a different agency. Moss is represented by CESD and Industry Entertainment. Franklin is represented by CAA, Artists First and Hansen Jacobson Teller. Gallagher is represented by TalentWorks and Vanguard Management. Paymer is represented by Stride Management and Independent Artist Group. Schmidt is represented by Greenlight Management, Innovative Artists and Peikoff Mahan.
That’s a lot of representation for a handful of guest stars.
The Bottom Line on the Casting
The casting of “Sunset P.I.” is a mix of established names and fresh faces. Moss and Schmidt bring new energy to the show, while Franklin, Gallagher and Paymer bring proven comedic instincts. The combination of a teenager, an accountant, a detective, a producer and a mysterious woman creates a rich tapestry of characters.
The show has a strong creative team, a recognizable format, a premiere date and a network commitment. It has everything it needs to succeed except one thing: the show itself.
The show premieres in February, and the wait begins now. The guest stars have been announced, the creative team has been named, and the network has committed to it. Now it’s time to see if the show lives up to the promise of its cast.
The answer will come in February.
Key Facts Box
- Premiere: February
- Network: NBC
- Lead actor: Jake Johnson as Mickey Wilder
- Guest stars: Spencer Moss, Nelson Franklin, Patrick Gallagher, David Paymer, Wrenn Schmidt
- Previously announced cast: Jane Levy, Langston Kerman, Mary Shalaby, Keith David
- Writers/executive producers: Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici
- Pilot director: Akiva Schaffer
- Production: Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group
- Pickup date: May
- Mickey’s niece: Aylie, played by Spencer Moss
- Bio-tech accountant: Kyle, played by Nelson Franklin
- LAPD detective: Garr, played by Patrick Gallagher
- Movie producer: Irvin Mandrake, played by David Paymer
- Mysterious woman: Cynthia, played by Wrenn Schmidt
The show’s guest stars each bring a distinct credit history to the table. Moss’s “She’s Fine” and “Doctor Odyssey” sit alongside Franklin’s “Veep” and “The Social Reckoning,” Gallagher’s “Big Sky” and “Joe Pickett,” Paymer’s “Dave” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and Schmidt’s “For All Mankind” and “Nuremberg.” That mix of backgrounds suggests a show willing to draw from across television rather than relying on one stable of familiar names.
The premiere date is February, and the network has committed to it. The question now is whether the show can live up to the promise of its cast.
The show premieres in February, and the wait begins now. The guest stars have been announced, the creative team has been named, and the network has committed to it. Now it’s time to see if the show lives up to the promise of its cast.
The answer will come in February.
Source material: “Jake Johnson Comedy ‘Sunset P.I.’ Casts Spencer Moss, Nelson Franklin and More (EXCLUSIVE),” Variety.
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