By now, Fox's Animation Domination is the stuff of legend. Over the years, the network's on-again off-again Sunday night animated comedy block has been home to The Simpsons, Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, American Dad, Bob's Burgers, and many more. This weekend sees a new addition to the lineup, and it promises to be a real doozy.
Co-created by Amy Poehler and Simpsons writers Mike Scully and Julie Thacker, Duncanville centers around an awkward teen navigating raging hormones, an unrequited crush on his classmate, his quirky family, and the offbeat inner fantasies of his adolescent mind.
Amy Poehler isn't the only big name attached to the series. As has increasingly become the case (see Bless the Hearts, BoJack Horseman and Big Mouth), the series features a voice cast that's a virtual who's who of American comedy. Here's who will be lending their voices (and their prodigous comedy chops) to Duncanville:
If you've seen her on TV at any point over the last 2+ decades, Amy Poehler has almost certainly made you laugh. After becoming a star on Saturday Night Live, Poehler moved on to even greater success playing Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation for seven seasons. Together with Tina Fey, she’s hosted the Golden Globes ceremony three times, a gig they’re set to reprise in 2021. She’s also been a part of the sprawling cast of Hot Wet American Summer, starred in several films alongside Fey, and written a best-selling book: Yes Please. In recent years, Poehler has been active behind the scenes as well, producing a growing empire of critically acclaimed series, including Broad City, Difficult People, Russian Doll and Making It, which she co-hosts alongside Nick Offerman. Not only is Poehler Duncanville's co-creator and executive producer, she also voices both Duncan and his mother Annie
Best known for his role as Phil Dunphy on Modern Family (a role that's netted him two Primetime Emmys and eight nominations), Ty Burrell has also starred in in The Skeleton Twins, Muppets Most Wanted, and Rough Night.
If you're not already in the cult of Riki Lindhome, it's time you climbed on board. The creative force behind two television shows, Garfunkel and Oates and Another Period, Lindhome has guested on everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls and Pushing Daisies to The Big Bang Theory and Enlightened. Most recently she appeared in the ensemble mystery Knives Out, where she played Donna Thrombey, wife to Michael Shannon’s Walt.
Joy Osmanski is best known for her recurring roles on Grey’s Anatomy, Samantha Who? and Santa Clarita Diet. She’s also played significant parts in several short-lived comedies, notably the Anne Heche vehicle Save Me and another animated Fox show, Jonah Hill’s Allen Gregory.
Jones rose to the comedy big leagues after appearing in The Office and Parks & Recreation. She starred in the TBS comedy Angie Tribeca (a favorite on this site), and even won a Grammy for co-directing the documentary Quincy, about her father Quincy Jones. She’s also appeared in the films I Love You, Man and The Social Network.
Rapper and ten-time Grammy nominee Wiz Khalifa's 2010 hit song “Black and Yellow” catapulted him to stardom. He's made a recent foray into acting, memorably playing Death in AppleTV+’s Dickinson.
A member of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles, Sodaro has appeared in guest roles on dozens of shows, including Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Kroll Show, Superstore, Disjointed, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Lady Dynamite. Her voice credits include Bob’s Burgers and a recurring role on the Madagascar animated series, All Hail King Julien.
An in-demand comedy writer and performer, Lester has been on the writing staff for HBO’s hit show Girls and NBC’s The Carmichael Show. He recently appeared as a stockbroker named Yassir on TBS’s Black Monday and had a role in the short-lived Fox time-traveling comedy Making History with Adam Pally.
Duncanville premieres Sunday February 16th at 8:30 PM ET on FOX.
Mathew Rodriguez is an award-winning editor, journalist and essayist. He is currently the associate editor at TheBody and has written for Out, The Village Voice, Teen Vogue, Mic, INTO and The Advocate.
TOPICS: Duncanville, FOX, Amy Poehler, Betsy Sodaro, Joy Osmanski, Julie Thacker, Mike Scully, Rashida Jones, Riki Lindhome, Ty Burrell, Wiz Khalifa, Yassir Lester