Why John Mulaney Cancelled His Birthday Vacation For Natasha Lyonne & Poker Face

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John Mulaney joined Season 2 Poker Face thanks to a text from his pal Natasha Lyonne.

In this week’s intriguing Peacock mystery series, Charlie Cale (played by Lyonne) reappears, showcasing her extraordinary knack for sensing deception, a talent she utilizes to unravel murders and crimes she accidentally encounters. However, it’s not just Lyonne who graces the screen in the second season; notable stars like Mulaney, Kumail Nanjiani, among others, have joined as guest performers.

As a gamer, I’ve always wondered how they manage to snag big-name guest stars in my favorite shows. Tony Tost, the showrunner, spilled the beans to NBC Insider that it’s a blend of brainstorming actors during the writing phase or filling roles after the script is done. When a familiar face pops up in my thoughts, it certainly helps to have Natasha Lyonne and Rian Johnson’s circle of pals and frequent collaborators just a call away.

One instance where an SNL alumnus and comedian quickly made their mark in the writers’ room was evident. Keep reading to uncover the exclusive insights about it.

What to know about John Mulaney’s role on Poker Face as shady FBI agent

As the team behind “Poker Face” Episode 3, titled “Whack-a-Mole,” started mapping out the storyline and characters, it turned out to be quite straightforward to decide who would portray Special Agent Daniel Otis. This episode revolves around Cale uncovering a mole within mob boss Beatrix Hasp’s (Rhea Perlman) group, only to find himself entangled in a compromised FBI investigation.

In a conversation about that specific episode, it was mentioned that the author, Wyatt Cain, initially described it as having a character similar to comedian John Mulaney, portraying an FBI Agent. Tost then suggested reaching out to him, saying “Given Natasha’s friendship with John, let’s send a message and ask if he’d like to join us for two weeks.

Thankfully, Mulaney was game. In fact, he was so game, he cleared his schedule to make it happen.

As I shared with you all, “John, when phone calls arrive, try not to have a birthday getaway in Hawaii booked,” I reminisced to NBC Insider. To my delight, it seemed he had, but graciously canceled – now that’s what I call a true friend.

Simon Helberg and Richard Kind’s roles in Season 2 of Poker Face

The stellar lineup of guest stars for Season 2 does not fail to impress. Joining Mulaney in Episode 3 is Simon Helberg, known from “The Big Bang Theory,” and Richard Kind, recognized for his roles in “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Young Sheldon.

Occasionally, you customize it to suit their abilities, but at other times, you yearn for someone to enter the scene and portray a role that’s unexpected for them, remarked Tost. There’s a certain magic at work. You can discover these remarkable guest stars and unique character roles by approaching from various directions.

In the initial episode, titled “The Game Is a Foot,” Cynthia Erivo (known for roles in “Wicked” and “Harriet”) played various characters in a complex murder mystery that unfolded. For Episode 2, Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad” and “Do the Right Thing”) and Katie Holmes (“Batman Begins” and “Dawson’s Creek”) will share the screen as a troubled couple starting a funeral home. Simultaneously, their marriage faces challenges as they welcome a film set into their business during its tumultuous phase.

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2025-05-08 20:03