Earlier this year, it was announced that CW had revived MADtv for eight hourlong episodes to be aired during primetime, beginning July 26. At the time of the announcement, it was unclear whether the cast would be made entirely of burgeoning comedians, or if the producers would try to secure more established stand-up stars, and it seems that they ended up with something of an in-between. (Cast members from the original show, which aired from 1995-2009, will appear as hosts in this new revival.)
The cast of eight was announced today, and it’s a varied one. (The first season of MADtv also had a cast of eight, but it eventually grew to be as large as 12.) Here they are, in brief: Carlie Craig has appeared on Impressions with Dana Carvey; Jeremy D. Howard is an improv stalwart; Amir K has appeared on Last Comic Standing; Piotr Michael has done voiceover work for Bill Maher; Michelle Ortiz has appeared in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D; Chelsea Davison works for Chris Hardwick’s late night show, @Midnight; Lyric Lewis is a member of the Groundlings; and Adam Ray has appeared in The Heat, Spy, and will voice Slimer in the upcoming Ghostbusters film, so clearly he’s a friend of Paul Feig’s.
Former cast members who will be returning as hosts have yet to be confirmed.
Here are the cast members’ full bios, courtesy of a release (via THR):
Carlie Craig is an actress, comic, singer, improviser and impressionist whose impressive credits include producer/performer on YouTube star Todrick Hall’s MTV docuseries as well as USA Network’s First Impressions with Dana Carvey.
Chelsea Davison is a sketch comedy writer and performer based in Los Angeles, known for her work on MTV, UCB and YouTube. She is currently a writer on the hit Comedy Central show @Midnight and was named a “New Face” at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal.
Jeremy D. Howard is known for his larger-than-life characters and improv skills. He has been in several independent films and has appeared in several commercials. An athlete and former choir director, he participated in the CBS Diversity Showcase earlier this year.
Amir K is well known for his stand-up comedy appearances around the world. Born Amir Kamyab, he is an Iranian-American performer who has appeared on Last Comic Standing and Jerks with Cameras, in addition to a role in the Academy Award-winning film Argo.
Lyric Lewis is a member of The Groundlings Main Company and was featured in the 2015 New Faces: Characters showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. A cast member in the 2015 CBS Diversity Showcase, her past acting credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Drunk History.
Piotr Michael is a versatile impressionist, improviser and actor. A regular contributor to “The Howard Stern Show,” he is known for his impersonations of celebrities such as Simon Cowell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charlie Sheen and Donald Trump. His voiceover work includes Disney’s Wander Over Yonder, Conan and Real Time with Bill Maher, as well as video games Final Fantasy, Call of Duty and Warcraft.
Michelle Ortiz studied at the prestigious Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia and trained as a classical opera singer in Germany. Ortiz participated in the 2014 ABC Diversity Showcase and the 2016 CBS Diversity Showcase. Her television credits include Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Life in Pieces.
Adam Ray is a comedian/actor best known for his roles in The Heat and Spy. He is also featured in the upcoming reboot of Ghostbusters as the voice of the iconic character Slimer, and currently co-hosts the new TBS comedy game show Separation Anxiety. His comedy sketches have garnered over 30 million views on YouTube and Funny or Die.