Entertainment

'The Great Indoors' Cast Brings Great Comedy

by Laura Rosenfeld

I hope your fall TV viewing schedule isn't too full, and if it is, you may want to make room for CBS' newest comedy anyway. The network will head to The Great Indoors on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 8:30 p.m. ET when it premieres the new sitcom about an adventure reporter tasked with leading his outdoor magazine's move to a web-only publication and all of the Millennial madness that comes with it. Well, love or hate that premise of the show at first glance, The Great Indoors cast should pique your interest, at least a little bit.

But don't think that just because much of the central conflict of this show will have to do with Millennials versus older folks means that the cast will be filled with a bunch of youngsters. Not only are there familiar faces in The Great Outdoors, but they're also ones that have made a lasting impression on the comedy world, so much so that they've been a part of some of the most iconic projects of our time.

So will The Great Indoors live up to the talent of these comedic geniuses? You'll have to tune in to the sitcom's premiere to find out. But for now, I'll let their impressive resumes do the talking.

Joel McHale as Jack

Joel McHale leads The Great Indoors cast as Jack, that aforementioned adventure reporter helping his publication head into the digital age. Of course, McHale is probably best known for his work on another comedy, Community, where he played lawyer-turned-community college student Jeff Winger. He was most recently seen in The X Files reboot as conservative TV personality Tad O'Malley. McHale is also known for his 12 seasons hosting the pop culture clip show The Soup, which ended its run last year.

You may have also seen McHale in movies like Blended, Ted, and Deliver Us From Evil, or live since he tours around the country as a stand-up comedian. He has also been a part of other huge TV moments like hosting the 2014 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner and emceeing the 2015 ESPY Awards. You can even find him in print nowadays since he just released the memoir Thanks for the Money: How to Use My Life Story to Become the Best Joel McHale You Can Be, one of the many celeb-penned books hitting shelves this fall.

Stephen Fry as Roland

The Great Indoors' other big comedic heavy hitter is Stephen Fry, who will be playing Roland, the magazine's founder and legend among explorers. He rose to prominence in the United Kingdom and then around the world as one-half of the comedy duo Fry and Laurie (the other half would be Hugh Laurie). The two became famous for their sketch show A Bit of Fry & Laurie, as well as the period comedy Jeeves & Wooster.

Of course, Fry has gone on to gain worldwide acclaim in many different types of projects in the U.K. (starring as Melchett in the comedy Blackadder, playing the titular character in Kingdom, and hosting the game show QI) and the United States (appearing as Prime Minister Alistair Davies in 24: Live Another Day and as Dr. Gordon Wyatt in Bones). Fry is also well-known for his film work, which includes everything from period dramas like Wilde, for which he earned a 1999 Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Oscar Wilde, to big blockbusters like Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, where he played the Master of Laketown. Fry brings his unique flair to every project, so I expect The Great Indoors to be no different.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Clark

When you see Christopher Mintz-Plasse, only one word probably comes to mind: McLovin. Yes, the actor burst onto the scene as one-third of the awkward trio at the center of Superbad. Mintz-Plasse went on to appear in some of the most famous comedies of this decade, including both Kick-Ass movies, both Neighbors films, and Pitch Perfect. His voice can also be heard in animated movies like Trolls, How to Train Your Dragon, and Paranorman. You may have also recently seen him in the Netflix original series Flaked.

Throughout his career, Mintz-Plasse always seems to play the nerdy outcast, and it doesn't look like his role as Clark in The Great Indoors will differ from that type too dramatically. Press materials for the show describe him as a techie who knows all about surviving on Mars and a zombie apocalypse. However, it looks like he's grown a beard for this role, so that kind of ups his cool factor a tad, don't you think?

Susannah Fielding as Brooke

Susannah Fielding plays Roland's daughter in The Great Indoors , and yes, she is a fellow Brit. Brooke used to date Jack, and she also has the attitude of making sure all of the staffers are rewarded for their work — whether they deserve it or not, according to the show's press materials.

This is Fielding's first role in the U.S., but she has gained a pretty good following in the U.K. due to her work in the crime drama Wallander. She has also appeared in Doctor Who, Scrotal Recall, and the episode "Nosedive" featured in the new season of Black Mirror. Fielding's resume is also full of theater work in London, so yeah, she can pretty much do it all.

Chris Williams as Eddie

Chris Williams brings a diverse wealth of experience to the role of Eddie, Jack's bestie who owns the local dive bar, in The Great Indoors. He has appeared in TV shows like Californication, CSI, CSI: Miami, Monk, 24, Weeds, Reno 911, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Silicon Valley. He also memorably portrayed the drag impersonator of Wilhelmina Slater, played by his sister Vanessa Williams, in Season 4 of Ugly Betty. You may also recognize Williams from Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Friday After Next, or his live stand-up. If The Great Indoors ends up being a hit, it looks like Williams could finally get some serious time in the spotlight.

Christine Ko as Emma

Christine Ko will take on the role of Emma in The Great Indoors . She's the social media expert of the team who thinks Jack is super old school — and not in a good way. Ko is fairly new to Hollywood, but you may have seen her in Ballers or the TeenNick series Hollywood Heights. Perhaps The Great Indoors will be her great break.

Shaun Brown as Mason

Rounding out the cast as Mason, who the show's press materials describe as "a hipster-lumberjack" who never actually spends any time outside, is Shaun Brown. He has had guest spots in True Blood, The Newsroom, and Grimm. He has also starred in some indie films, including the upcoming Wilson, which stars Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines, and Laura Dern.

Whether we're seeing a different side of some comedy vets or meeting some comedic rising stars, The Great Indoors should be a whole lot of fun with this bunch.

Images: Darren Michaels (2), Monty Brinton (3), Michael Yarish, Francis Specker/CBS