Annie Potts
Past Gig: Young Sheldon’s scene-stealing Meemaw
New Gig: The Grey’s Anatomy dynamo brought in to replace Catherine when her pettiness gets her booted by the board of her own foundation
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Dream Roles for Stars of Cancelled Shows: Abbott’s New P.E. Coach, Enigmatic Severance Bureaucrat, Elsbeth’s M.I.A. Son and More
We lived, we loved, we lost. Yes, there were some heartbreaking cancellations in 2024, but the good news? It’s time to start thinking about Fall TV, so let’s revisit TVLine’s annual tradition of conjuring up possible new gigs for the cast members of recently axed shows.
The Grim Reaper visited many comedies and dramas this year, bringing freshman newbies like The Girl on the Bus, Wolf Pack, Death and Other Details and Extended Family to premature ends. Meanwhile, Young Sheldon and Station 19 wrapped up their lengthy runs, freeing up even more of our small-screen faves for fresh roles. So TVLine put on its casting director hat and crafted some hypothetical characters for them — like a new spirit on Ghosts, a replacement duo for Mr. and Mrs. Smith, a new Rookie recruit and a key figure for The Handmaid’s Tale‘s final season.
We’ve placed stars on shows spanning both broadcast and streaming, including NBC’s forthcoming Reba McEntire sitcom (which would tee up one very special reunion, if you ask us!)
But again: These are dream castings from Team TVLine, not actual news items.
Scroll through the list below to review our picks, then hit the comments to share the beloved faces you want back on TV ASAP.
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Image Credit: Bill Inoshita/Warner Bros. Entertainment -
Boris Kodjoe
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Past Gig: Station 19 “fire zaddy” Robert Sullivan
New Gig: The too-hot-to-handle new Abbott Elementary P.E. coach who leaves Ava tongue-tied -
Barrett Doss
Image Credit: ABC screenshot Past Gig: Embattled Station 19 first-responder Vic Hughes
New Gig: The Beef Season 2 firestarter whose terrible advice makes hot tempers flare -
Melissa Benoist
Image Credit: Courtesy of Max Past Gig: The Girls on the Bus journalist Sadie
New Gig: While we like The Way Home star/EP Chyler Leigh’s suggestion that her former Supergirl castmate could guest-star as a Lady of the Pond, we’re going to pitch her as Elliot’s yet-to-be-introduced ex-wife -
Jared Padalecki and Sarah Michelle Gellar
Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW/Everett Collection, Paramount+ Past Gigs: Walker’s titular Texas Ranger Cordell Walker; Wolf Pack’s arson investigator Kristin Ramsey
New Gigs: Kick-ass spies forced into a fake marriage in Season 2 of Prime Video’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith, if they go through with replacing Donald Glover and Maya Erskine. (We can’t resist a good WB reunion.)
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Mandy Patinkin
Image Credit: Courtesy of Hulu Past Gig: Death and Other Details’ detective Rufus Cotesworth
New Gig: An enigmatic bureaucrat high up the Lumon corporate ladder on Severance who’s dispatched to stop Mark from bringing down the company -
Lauren Ash
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney/ABC Past Gig: Not Dead Yet‘s no-filter newspaper boss Lexi
New Gig: Ghosts‘ Patience, the Puritan ghost who wants revenge on Isaac -
Tommy Martinez
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney/Freeform Past Gig: Good Trouble’s follically gifted Gael
New Gig: The Cleaning Lady’s Derek, the yet-to-be-seen confidant of Ramona Sanchez and potential Season 4 villain -
Jack Martin
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Past Gig: La Brea’s displaced Josh
New Gig: The Rookie’s newest recruit, a fresh-faced, clean-cut Iowa transplant -
Billy Gardell
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Past Gig: Sock salesman Bob Wheeler on Bob Hearts Abishola
New Gig: A barfly who gets romantically involved with Melissa Peterman’s Gabby on NBC’s forthcoming Reba McEntire comedy Happy’s Place (which would double as a Young Sheldon reunion for Gardell and Peterman) -
Nasim Pedrad
Image Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery Past Gig: 14-year-old Persian-American boy Chad Amani on the TBS-turned-Roku comedy Chad
New Gig: The new district attorney brought in to replace India de Beaufort’s Olivia on NBC’s Night Court -
Paige Spara
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC/Disney Past Gig: The Good Doctor’s extremely patient wife Lea
New Gig: Best friend to Emily Osment’s Mandy McAllister on CBS’ Young Sheldon spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage -
Katja Herbers
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount+ Past Gig: Evil skeptic Kristen Bouchard
New Gig: A key figure in helping June and Serena while they’re on the run in The Handmaid’s Tale’s final season -
Donald Faison
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Past Gig: Boston Celtics owner Trey on Extended Family
New Gig: Courtney’s father, who comes to town and disapproves of the way Marty and Courtney are parenting his granddaughter on CBS’ The Neighborhood -
Abigail Spencer
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Past Gig: Extended Family matriarch Julia
New Gig: Ormewood’s (temporary?) new partner on ABC’s Will Trent -
Alex Tarrant
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Past Gig: NCIS: Hawai’i’s Special Agent Kai Holman
New Gig: A new Three Rock inmate who will keep Fire Country’s Eve on her toes -
Perdita Weeks
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Past Gig: Magnum P.I.’s badass Juliette Higgins
New Gig: Young Tali’s nanny-slash-bodyguard on Paramount+’s NCIS: Tony & Ziva -
Raymond Lee
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Past Gig: Quantum Leap physicist and leaper Ben Song
New Gig: A physicist working on the Wallfacer Project in 3 Body Problem Season 2 -
Caitlin Bassett
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Past Gig: Addison, a military vet and Ben’s hologram on Quantum Leap
New Gig: A newbie detective who works with Chicago P.D.’s Intelligence on a trial basis to see if she has what it takes to join full-time -
Skylar Astin
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Past Gig: So Help Me Todd’s titular investigator
New Gig: Elsbeth’s never-before-seen but oft-mentioned son, Teddy
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Lauren Ash as Patience would be perfect!
Of all the great suggestions in this article this one jumped right out at me – this would be perfect casting! And then I’d want her to stick around, too…
Agreed, this was a stellar suggestion and now needs to happen!
Thank you, and I agree. :)
NO DON’T RUIN ELSBETH WITH SKYLAR ASTIN
I like Skylar and don’t think he would ruin it, but I do think they should try to cast more authentically for the role since Teddy has been established as gay. Along those same lines, I would totally watch Jared and Sarah together in something but I don’t think Amazon would go from two diverse leads to two white leads.
Elspeth is sort of a zany character. I could see her son going the opposite way, and being very buttoned up. Sort of Niles Crane type. Skylar is very good as either affable and easy going, or more zany himself. He’s fine, but the ideal fit isn’t eactly that.
Exactly delete Elsbeth and bring back TODD
Absolutely loving the ideas for Annie Potts (Catherine has GOT to go!) and Skylar Astin. Those would be perfect for them.
Boris- yes
Barrett- yes but a positive and likeable character
Abigal- yes
Alex- He needs to move to NCIS:Sydney
Raymond- Beef, playing Barrett’s husband
Sklar- yes, perfect casting
Skylar Astin gig is perfect.
I am really liking Perdita Weeks dream casting and Alex Tarrant would be great on either Fire Country to NCIS:Sydney!
Abagail Spencer would be great on Will Trent.
Abigail Spencer could play Dr. Sara Linton if they decide to bring that book character into the series.
To whoever came up with the idea of teaming up Jared Padalecki and Sarah Michelle Gellar. You are a genius, I see your vision and hope the TV gods hear you 🙏
Sign me up for Sam and Buffy as the new Mr. & Mrs. Smith!
Thirded. The TVLine team always comes up with great ideas for this article every year. Really like the Boris Kodjoe and Lauren Ash ones as well
The actress who plays Stella Walker should join NCIS: Origins as a young version of lauren Holly’s Jennifer Shepard.
I agree with Skylar and SMG, maybe not Jared P but I’d see him in something else with a strong co lead.
A bit of a variation on this exercise. Have Tori Anderson play Kate in one of the FBI shows, which would then link the NCIS verse to the Wolf verse. Mega verse would result.
So many great dreams!! I hope a few come true.
Boris Kodjoe, Jared Padalecki and Sarah Michelle Gellar, Paige Spara are my top 3, but a few more.
I love Melissa on The Way Home and Page Spara on George and Mandy. Also, Skylar Astin as Teddy on Elsbeth would be great.
Yes Boris Kodjoe on Abbott!!
I wonder how many, if any, of these casting ideas actually happen. Like does a show creator, producer, or someone else see them and be like “Oh wow! That is a great idea. We have to make that happen!” And then they do.
There have been shows created with a specific actor in mind (although that happens more in movies than TV shows). Sometimes actors are hired for roles because of their performance in another TV show.
There have also been times that a character has been added or their personality has been changed because of the impression the actor made in the audition.
I’d watch pretty much anything with Sarah MIchelle.
Some I’ll never watch but some I can’t wait for the add it’s
The zest it brings will both great
Paige Spara deserves better lol
Annie P and Skyler, a huge YES! They are always great in what they bring- I watch anything with those actors!!
NO, Put Elsbeth back to wherever and BRING TODD BACK! CBS can do it they did it with SWAT for the overrated one!
Why not have Annie Potts stay with withe Young Sheldon spinoff? Love the suggestion of Lauren Ash for Patience, part of me wants Anna Camp for her though, but I want her in everything to be fair. Great suggestion for Nasim Pedrad as well
Why would you replace 1 blonde with another on Chicago PD? That doesn’t make sense.
I hope Raymond can book something soon because his performance on Quantum Leap I really enjoyed.
Maybe Skylar could do a guest role as Dave’s relative on The Neighborhood since they both have this bubbly personality.
Alex would be a great fit in of those Dick Wolfe shows whether it be FBI or Chicago Fire.
Yes to Ash on Ghosts, yes to Kodjo on Abbot, yes to Patinkin on Severance, yes to Pedrad on Court, all great choices on some fave shows of mine.
Kudos to you guys on these picks.
Extremely happy with these stars from my canceled shows coming to all the shows that I already watch! I can’t wait for this fall’s premieres. Bring it on!!!!
I’d like to see Jared branch out & try something different, like a sitcom, or maybe directing. He’s been on the same network doing angsty family dramas his whole career. Cordell Walker isn’t much different from Sam Winchester, so a spy show wouldn’t be much of a stretch either.
All excellent choices!