Now that everyone has had some time to recover from the broadcast networks’ spring cancellation spree, it’s time to look to the future and revisit TVLine’s annual tradition of dreaming up possible new gigs for the cast members of recently axed shows.
The Grim Reaper visited many comedies and dramas, bringing freshman newbies like Alaska Daily, The Winchesters, True Lies and Gotham Knights to a premature end. Meanwhile, The Flash and Riverdale announced their final-season runs, freeing up even more of our small-screen faves for fresh roles. So TVLine put on its casting director hat and crafted some hypothetical characters for them, like a Company You Keep con man as Chicago Fire’s new leader, a Walker Independence star as a Good Doctor resident and a Goldbergs alum as an Animal Control wrangler.
Plus, we’ve come up with two scenarios that would reunite stars from Reba and 30 Rock, so you’re welcome! And we think you’ll really want to believe in our dream role for Big Sky’s Kylie Bunbury.
(But again: These are dream castings from Team TVLine, not actual news items. Not yet, anyway!)
Scroll through the list below to review our picks, then hit the comments to share the beloved faces you want back on TV ASAP.
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Candice Patton
Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW Past Gig: The Flash’s Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Iris West-Allen
New Gig: The apple of Joe Goldberg’s eye — and perhaps the one who finally takes him down? — during the fifth and final season of the Greg Berlanti-EP’d YOU
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Catherine Haena Kim
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Past Gig: The Company You Keep CIA agent Emma Hill
New Gig: A fun-loving but dedicated new ED doctor on Chicago Med
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Cheyenne Jackson
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Past Gig: Kat’s friend and love interest Max on Call Me Kat
New Gig: A ’90s pop star mounting a comeback who catches Summer’s eye on Girls5eva, reuniting him with 30 Rock‘s Tina Fey — plus, he can sing!
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Hilary Swank
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Past Gig: No-nonsense reporter Eileen on Alaska Daily
New Gig: A no-nonsense cop investigating a bizarre murder on the new season of Fargo. (Hey, she’s already acclimated to the cold.)
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Jimmy Smits
Image Credit: ‘East New York’ (Courtesy of CBS) Past Gig: East New York‘s John Suarez, the veteran two-star NYPD Chief who was name was floated by Councilman Sharpe, a wannabe mayor, to be the new police commissioner
New Gig: The same John Suarez, who after falling out of favor with Sharpe nonetheless catches the eye of Blue Bloods‘ Mayor Chase, as a possible replacement for Frank Reagan
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JoJo Fleites
Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW Past Gig: Mary’s hunter pal Carlos on The Winchesters
New Gig: A non-binary new Coterie roommate on Good Trouble. (Think of the hair-off with Gael!)
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Kat McNamara
Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW Past Gig: The strong-willed Abby Walker on Walker Independence
New Gig: A new (and highly skilled) surgical resident on The Good Doctor who has to work twice as hard to prove herself because her father is a member of the board
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KJ Apa
Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW Past gig: Embattled Riverdale dreamboat Archie Andrews
New gig: The ab-fabulous Station 19 probie that Jack doesn’t want dating sister Brooke
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Kyla Pratt
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Past Gig: Cat café waitress Randi on Call Me Kat
New Gig: An overly enthusiastic med school student who gets on Abishola’s last nerve on Bob Hearts Abishola
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Kylie Bunbury
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Past Gig: Private investigator Cassie Dewell on Big Sky
New Gig: Either Scully or a gender-swapped Mulder — we’re not picky! — in Ryan Coogler’s reportedly in-the-works diverse X-Files reboot
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Milo Ventimiglia
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Past Gig: Con man Charlie Nicoletti on The Company You Keep
New Gig: A legendary firefighter who takes over as rescue squad’s leader during Severide’s (continued?) absence on Chicago Fire
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Navia Robinson
Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW Past Gig: Scrappy, badass Carrie aka the Robin to the late Bruce Wayne’s Batman on Gotham Knights
New Gig: Another mysterious transfer student, who enters Jin’s orbit, in American Born Chinese Season 2
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Steve Howey
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Past Gig: Skilled international spy Harry Tasker on True Lies
New Gig: A rival high school football coach on Young Sheldon who catches the eye of all the women in Medford — including June Ballard and Brenda Sparks (played by Howey’s former Reba costars Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman)
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Troy Gentile
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Past Gig: Karate master, wannabe rapper and naive middle child Barry on The Goldbergs
New Gig: An annoyingly hyper new animal wrangler on Animal Control