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A friend was watching The Accountant 2 and admitted they were only watching it for Jon Bernthal. For some reason, that gave me a reverse That’s So Raven moment, I suddenly remembered that one of the first things I saw Jon in was The Class. The only other thing I remembered about the show was that Lucy Punch was also a main cast member. The only other detail I recalled was that Lucy Punch was also part of the main cast. Curious, I checked to see if it was streaming (it’s not) and was surprised when I came across a photo of the full cast.
Recognize some of these faces?
Created by David Crane (co-creator of Friends, Episodes) and his husband Jeffrey Klarik (co-producer of Mad About You) the series premiered on CBS, September 18, 2006, and ran for 19 episodes before being cancelled due to low ratings and budgeting. It revolves around a group of eight 28-year-olds who were all in the same third-grade class. Though they all drifted apart, they are brought back together when Ethan (played by Jason Ritter) decides to throw a party to celebrate his engagement to a fellow classmate.
Fun fact: Aaron Paul auditioned for this show and was very upset that he didn't get the role. But if he had, he wouldn't have been able to audition for (and get!) the role of Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad.
Now let's revisit the cast:
Character: Ethan Haas. A well-meaning, optimistic romantic who reunites his third-grade classmates while navigating the fallout from a broken engagement and reigniting old flames. He also happens to be a pediatrician and has a golden retriever.
Played by: Jason Ritter is probably best known for his heartfelt and versatile performances across television and animation. He gained prominence as Kevin Girardi on Joan of Arcadia, moved on to roles like Sean Walker in The Event and Mark Cyr in Parenthood, the latter earning him a Primetime Emmy nomination. He also voiced Dipper Pines in the popular animated series Gravity Falls and portrayed Pat Rollins in the Netflix series Raising Dion.
In film, Ritter has appeared in critically acclaimed features like the Emmy-nominated HBO movie The Tale, Bitch, and The Intervention. He currently stars in NBC’s Matlock and bares a strong resemblance to his comedy legend father, John Ritter.
Character: Holly Ellenbogen is a sharp-witted television news reporter and Kyle Lendo’s former prom date—now married to interior decorator Perry Pearl and mother to baby Oprah. She returns to the group reunion determined to flaunt her seemingly perfect life, though her presence (and abrupt departure after episode 12 due to budget cuts) hints at undercurrents of tension and unresolved issues.
Played by: Lucy Punch is a British actress celebrated for her standout comedic and character roles in both film and TV. She first gained notice as the eccentric receptionist on Doc Martin.
She broke into major Hollywood movies with scene-stealing turn as Darla in Dinner for Schmucks, followed by memorable roles in Bad Teacher and Hot Fuzz, showcasing her knack for playing offbeat, often risqué characters.
On the small screen, Punch earned acclaim as Amanda in the BBC parenting satire Motherland and its spin-off Amandaland, and charmed audiences as the villainous Esmé Squalor in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Most recently, she appeared in the musical fantasy Into the Woods, The Meddler and Silent Night.
Character: Kat Warbler, a sarcastic, sharp-tongued cynic who guards her heart but shows fierce loyalty to her twin sister, Lina, and gradually reveals a softer side.
Played by: Lizzy Caplan is widely recognized for her breakout turn as Janis Ian in the cult hit Mean Girls, and for her acclaimed Emmy-nominated lead performance as sex researcher Virginia E. Johnson in Masters of Sex.
She has had strong supporting performances in films like Cloverfield, 127 Hours, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Now You See Me 2.
More recently, she earned further Emmy recognition for portraying Libby Epstein in Fleishman Is in Trouble, and continues to shine in acclaimed projects like Castle Rock, Netflix’s Zero Day, and Fatal Attraction.
Character: Richie Velch, a sweet but unlucky man recovering from a painful breakup, whose awkwardness and honesty lead him into unexpected love.
Played by: Jesse Tyler Ferguson (with the baby-est face of the cast!) is best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Mitchell Pritchett on the long-running ABC sitcom Modern Family, earning five consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
He also built a strong Broadway reputation, originating the role of Leaf Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and winning a Tony Award in 2022 for Best Featured Actor in Take Me Out, in addition to his acclaimed one-man show Fully Committed.
Character: Duncan Carmello, a charming slacker who still lives with his overbearing mother and rekindles a spark with his high school sweetheart. The season ends with he and Kat having a one night stand.
Played by: Jon Bernthal. He gained worldwide attention as Shane Walsh in The Walking Dead, a volatile and deeply conflicted friend, Frank Castle/The Punisher in Marvel's Daredevil and The Punisher, a revenge-driven vigilante whose portrayal earned acclaim for its emotional depth and intensity. His most recent television work as Michael “Mikey” Berzatto in The Bear, earning him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor. As one of two people who watched the television adaptation of American Gigolo, it was criminally underrated!
He's been equally successful in film, having supporting and lead roles in The Wolf of Wall Street, The Accountant/The Accountant 2, King Richard, Widows and more.
Character: Lina Warbler, Kat’s sunny, romantic twin who maintains a positive outlook despite repeated heartbreaks, and quickly forms a surprising bond with Richie.
Played by: Heather Goldenhersh is best known for her Tony-nominated Broadway performance as Sister James in Doubt (2005), along with notable film roles such as Nerissa in The Merchant of Venice (2004), Martha Pomeroy in Kinsey (2004), and Sheila in School of Rock (2003). She and Jesse Tyler Ferguson even had a reunion when she guest starred on Modern Family in the season 7 episode, Thunk in the Trunk (pictured right).
Character: Nicole Allen, a glamorous former cheerleader trapped in a loveless marriage to a controlling football star, as she wrestles with lingering feelings for Duncan.
Played by: Andrea Anders. In addition to supporting and guest roles on Oz, Law & Order, Ted Lasso, and Modern Family, Andrea is probably most known as Alex Garrett, Matt LeBlanc’s quirky and neurotic neighbor, on the Friends spinoff, Joey, and as Linda Zwordling in the cult favorite Better Off Ted.
Character: Kyle Lendo, a kind-hearted and sensitive gay man who is happily settled with his boyfriend but must confront unresolved emotions tied to his past. He was popular in school and all the girls were in love with him. He took Holly Ellenbogen to their senior prom, but at the afterparty he was caught in bed with Michael from his Spanish class. He is now a first-grade teacher.
Played by: Sean Maguire is an English-American actor and singer whose career began at age five opposite Laurence Olivier, but he first rose to fame playing Tegs Ratcliffe in BBC’s Grange Hill and Aidan Brosnan in EastEnders .
He found U.S. recognition through his roles as Donovan Brink in UPN’s sitcom Eve and later as Robin Hood in ABC’s hit Once Upon a Time.
Maguire has built a varied filmography with parts in The Magicians, The 100, Timeless, Criminal Minds, and a leading role in Meet the Spartans, while also sharing his passion as founder of The Players Conservatory acting school in Los Angeles.
