Where Are They Now: “The Class” TV Sitcom of 2006/2007

January 31st, 2008 · 1 Comment · Tagged as The Class · You Tube

The Class was one of the sitcoms of 2006/2007 that for some reason got canned after nineteen episodes. It wasn’t because of ratings, nor for poor writing. In fact, David Crane, who made his name with Friends, was the co-creator/ co-writer/ co-producer of The Class. Take all the best elements of Friends and add a lot more varied characters. Cancelling The Class was one of CBS’ big mistakes. It had reasonable ratings, a large cast of good actors/ actresses, comedy, angst, and so much chemistry between three pairs of characters: Nicole and Duncan, Kat and Ethan, and Richie and Lina.

Hopefully this show gets a second chance, maybe after the WGA writers’ strike ends. However, some cast members have been getting on with their careers. At least three of them are separately in Cloverfield, Untraceable, and Meet the Spartans. With a bit of digging, I found out what the rest of the cast are doing. I’ve only included cast members that appeared in five or more episodes. Pics and video clips are provided where available.

Warning: the sound levels on the video clips below are all over the place, so be ready with your mouse.

Main Characters

Andrea Anders - Before Andrea Anders’ role as Nicole Allen in The Class, you might recognize her from her role as Alex Garrett in the short-lived Joey sitcom, which starred Matt LeBlanc as his Joey character from the Friends series. Since The Class, Anders has only appeared in the Numb3rs episode “Power.”

Jon Bernthal - Jon Bernthal played Duncan Carmello, who was still secretly in love with his old flame, Andrea Anders’ character Nicole. Since The Class, Bernthal has appeared Day Zero (2007). In 2008 he’ll be in A Line in the Sand, Pinkville, and Bar Starz. In 2009, he’ll be in The Pacific, a TV mini-series.

Lizzy Caplan - Lizzy Caplan played the smart-mouthed Kat Warbler, who had a thing for Jason Ritter’s character, Ethan Haas, but couldn’t bring herself to be open about it. Caplan says that of all the characters she’s played, she’s “pretty similar” to Warbler. She currently appears in the well-hyped monster flick Cloverfield as Marlena Diamond (I didn’t recognize her). In 2008, she’ll be in Crossing Over, My Best Friend’s Girl, and the TV movie The Pitts.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson - While The Class was mostly sitcom, there were poignant, painful moments, mostly provided by Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s character Richie Velch, his bitter wife Fern (Sara Gilbert), and his new love interest Lina (Heather Goldenhersh). Since The Class, he’s appeared in one Ugly Betty episode (as Gabe Farkus), is currently in Untraceable (didn’t recognize him), and will appear later this year in Wonderful World.

Heather Goldenhersh - Heather Goldenhersh plays the very sweet Lina Warbler, twin sister to cynical Kat (Lizzy Caplan). Even when Richie Velch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) accidentally runs her over, she still loves him. She has no current projects but has previously appeared in Southern Belles (2005), The Merchant of Venice (2004), The School of Rock (2003).

Sean Maguire - Sean Maguire played gay Kyle Lendo, who became Ethan Haas’ (Jason Ritter) friend and sort-of relationship advisor. Since The Class, he’s appeared in LA Blues and The Dukes, and currently appears as Leonidas in the 300 spoof Meet the Spartans, which opened this past weekend.

Jason Ritter - Jason Ritter, son of John Ritter (8 Simple Rules, Three’s Company), played Ethan Haas, a goody-goody doctor that seems the exact opposite of his love interest Kat Warbler (Lizzy Caplan). Since The Class, he’s appeared in The Education of Charlie Banks. In 2008, he’ll appear in Good Dick, The Deal, Peter and Vandy, and A Handful of Beans.

Lucy Punch - Lucy Punch played the annoying TV reporter Holly Ellenbogen, who was so clueless she didn’t realize her husband was gay. Her character disappeared after thirteen episodes, without explanation. However, her husband character stayed. Since The Class, Punch has probably had the most work, appearing in Hot Fuzz, Grindhouse, Ladies and Gentleman (TV), The Sarah Silverman Program, St. Trinian’s, and Fairy Tales. This year, she’ll be in Kids in America and another yet-to-be-titled movie.

Supporting Characters

David Keith - David Keith played Yonk Allen, husband of Nicole Allen (Andrea Anders), and retired injured football hero, who probably had more brain injury than he realizes. Since The Class, he’s appeared in Succubus: Hell Bent. In 2008, he’ll be in Boys of Summerville and Clown Hunt. He’s the second oldest apparent cast member, with a career in entertainment that dates back to a Happy Days episode in 1978. He also has composing, directing, producing, and stunt credits. (Age is an issue, because CBS was told all lead cast would be 28 or under.)

Sam Harris - Sam Harris, an openly gay actor and million-selling recording artist, plays “straight” character Perry Pearl, husband of annoying Holly Ellenbogen (Lucy Punch). I say “straight” because everyone else knows Pearl is gay, even if he and Ellen don’t. (Watch the video clip below to understand why.) Harris has no current movie or TV projects listed.

Julie Halston - Julie Halston plays Tina Carmello, over-protective mother of Duncan (Jon Bernthal). After The Class, she appeared in I Think I Love My Wife. She’ll play Bitsy von Muffling in Sex and the City: The Movie later this year.

Sara Gilbert - Sara Gilbert played Fern, Richie Velch’s (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) wife, who’s bitter about his job loss thanks to his whistleblowing. And when she finds out Richie is in love with Lina Warbler (Heather Goldenhersh), bitter doesn’t begin to describe her. Since The Class, Gilbert has appeared in ER, Private Practive, and a couple of episodes of the great new geeky comedy The Big Bang Theory. She’ll be in The Big Change in 2009. The video clip below doesn’t show “Fern” but is about her and shows how much less of a man Richie Velch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) feels around her.

Jaime King - Jaime King played Palmer, Ethan Haas’ (Jason Ritter) girlfriend for six episodes. She’s had a modelling career and had numerous movie appearances before The Class. Since the show, she’s only been in They Wait (2007). In 2008, she’ll appear in Fanboys, The Pardon, and A Fork in the Road. In 2009, she’ll be in The Spirit and Sin City 2 (she was in Sin City).

Karley Scott Collins - Karley Scott Collins played Oprah, daughter of Holly Ellenbogen (Lucy Punch) and Perry Pearl (Sam Harris) - so named because Oprah Winfrey’s talkshow is a favorite of Perry’s. Since The Class - which was her debut in the entertainment business - Collins has appeared in one episode of Private Practice and Paris Hilton’s new movie, the wretched The Hottie and the Nottie. She’ll also appear in Amusement in 2008 and Pulse 2 in 2009.

Cristian de la Fuente - Cristian de la Fuente played Aaron, partner of Kyle Lendo (Sean Maguire), and only appeared in occasional episodes. Since The Class, he’s appeared in a variety of TV series including Psych and Ugly Betty. He’ll appear in Love and Virtue in 2008. (For a video clip, see the one under Sean Maguire, above. Cristian is the one without glasses.)

Trent Ford - Trent Ford played Benjamin Chow, boyfriend of Kat Warbler (Lizzy Caplan) for five episodes. Since The Class, he’s appeared in one episode of Life. He’ll be in Rez Bomb in 2008 and Primal Scream in 2009.

The Class, in my estimation, had a lot of potential, but it’s hard to say that there were any lead characters. And with such a large cast, it might have been hard for viewers to get attached to any of them. Still, the show had a lot of potential. (You can buy downloads of The Class from Amazon.)

I’ve heard it said that if a show makes it through even a three-year run, that the residual fees from reruns for most lead cast members is usually enough to live on for their lifetime. It’s unfortunate that such a well-written show didn’t make it through one season, and that lead cast don’t have it made yet. That’s despite the production experience of David Crane (writer: Joey, Friends, Dream On; producer: Friends, Jesse, Couples, Dream On). Crane and Jeffrey Klarik created the series and wrote most of the episodes between them. Even if CBS doesn’t want the show, maybe it can find another home, or even drum up support online.

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That was a kickass article. What do I do now?

1 response so far ↓

Matt McCormack // Feb 22, 2008 at 6:56 pm

The Class has to stay. laugh out load comedy!