It's official: 'Kimmy Schmidt' has the best guest stars EVER!
Warning: Contains spoilers about Season 1 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
So, did you spend your whole weekend binging Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix? Because we did (two times through and then some), and it's safe to say that we're obsessed. For real, it's basically our 30 Rock 2.0. Which isn't too surprising, given that it's created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, and has the same weird sense of humor of Rock, only this follows ex-cult member Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) as she moves to the Big Apple.
As much as we adore our core group of characters (played by Kemper, Tituss Burgess, Jane Krakowski and Carole Kane), we also can't get over how great the guest stars were throughout the 13-episode first season. Although we're surely missing a few, we rank our 10 favorites:
1. Jon Hamm
as Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne
We heard plenty about the Reverend and saw flashbacks of the cult in each episode, but we didn't actually meet him until his trial in Episode 11. And we have to say, when we realized he was played by Jon Hamm, we couldn't have been more excited because it was JUST TOO PERFECT! From winning over the courtroom with his doofy charisma to auditioning for The Apprentice because "it was the return of Omarosa," we're seriously pulling for Richard Wayne Gary Wayne to work his way into Season 2 somehow (and for Hamm to pick up a guest actor Emmy).
2. Nick Kroll
as Tristafé
Further cementing Episode 11 as Kimmy's best episode yet (hurry up, 2016!), Kroll appeared as SpiritCycle trainer Tristafé (pronounced: "trista-fey"), who urges Kimmy and Jacqueline to find their bliss (trademark Tristafé). Is he Season 1's most quotable guest star? We think so. Now, excuse us as we go have a cucumber-water cool-down with the rest of the first-row bikes.
3 & 4. Tina Fey and Jerry Minor
as Marcia and Chris
In a nod to Marcia Clark and Chris Darden of the O.J. Simpson trial, Fey and Minor (Community) hilariously play clueless prosecutors with Midwestern sensibilities. But as delightful as it is to see them, we admittedly could be biased by this exchange:
Chris: Remember our trip to Pittsburgh, hon? With the free Paste BN?
Marcia: You go straight for the red, I go right for the purple. We are a classic Paste BN couple.
5. Dean Norris
as Le Loup
The Breaking Bad star goes Full Metal Jacket as a hard-nosed acting coach, who tries to train Titus to pass for straight and win a role in Entourage 2. But PSYCH! Entourage 2 isn't actually happening, although kudos to Titus for successfully ordering his first "beer drink."
6. Kiernan Shipka
as Kymmi
Shipka goes 21st-century Sally Draper for her all-too-brief turn as Kimmy's half-sister. Seriously, guys, she just wants to go to "the Empire State Building of Olive Gardens" in Times Square! Is that too much to ask? (Also, "there's an O.G. in Durnsville?!")
7. Amy Sedaris
as Mimi Kanasis
In a role that's not a far stretch from her wacko realtor Pam on Broad City, Sedaris plays a strung-out divorcee who's sent to convince Jacqueline to also get a divorce. A word of advice, Kimmy: The woman who travels to Naples, Fla., with her therapy dog, Boyfriend, probably isn't the best one to sing the praises of single life.
8. Martin Short
as Dr. Franff
An anti-plastic surgery PSA if we've ever seen one. (Also, did you understand ANYTHING he said?!)
9. Matt Lauer
as himself
Fresh out of the bunker, the "Indiana Mole Women" stop by Today to talk with Lauer. Here, the news anchor dryly sends up how the media covers tragedies, as well as frivolous morning-show segments ("Coming up, fall salad mistakes! Plus, one of the Mole Women gets an ambush makeover!").
10. Richard Kind
as Mr. Lefkovitz
He may not be able to teach Kimmy why tree clams (aka pistachios) are so delicious, but Lefkovitz does let his GED class watch Major League. Trust us, Kimmy: Movie days were always the best school days — don't fight it! Just study with Dong and you'll be A-OK.
Alright, now back to listening to the theme song on loop.