3 ‘This Is Us’ and ‘Bob Hearts Abishola’ Cast Members Who Starred in Episodes of the NBC and CBS Shows
This Is Us episodes have featured many guest stars, several of whom also appeared in the CBS show Bob Hearts Abishola. The two shows actually have more actors in common than several shows that air on CBS. Take a look at these three actors who played parts in both series.
#1: Wendie Malick starred in season 2 of both ‘This Is Us’ and ‘Bob Hearts Abishola’
Wendie Malick (Baywatch) plays Toby’s (Chris Sullivan) mother, Mary Damon, in the This Is Us Season 2 finale and Jen in Bob Hearts Abishola.
After the This Is Us Season 2 finale, she did not know if it would be her only appearance. However, she hoped she would return.
“[Toby’s] coping mechanism of using humor to deal with depression and how he got me out of mine,” Malick told TV Insider about her character in 2018. “I think that’s such a rich and juicy storyline cause I know so many stand-up comedians and funny people who actually have a real dark side. So many who can be hilariously funny, but part of it is a protective sort of shield and covers up some loneliness or some kind of depression.”
On the Bob Hearts Abishola cast, Malick played Jen. She came as an old friend of Bob’s mother, Dottie (Wolf of Wall Street Christine Ebersole). When Dottie developed depression after having a stroke, Bob brought in her old friends Jen and Trish (Taxi Marilu Henner) to cheer her up. However, they were very shallow people.
#2: Jack McGee played small, but incredibly important role on ‘This Is Us’ and ‘Bob Hearts Abishola’
Actor Jack McGee might not have played the biggest roles in This Is Us and Bob Hearts Abishola, but his effect on the series hit characters hard.
In a This Is Us trailer for the season 2 episode “That’ll Be The Day” (which you can catch on IMDb), McGee’s George finds that he’ll move out of his house soon. He decides to be neighborly and gift Jack and Rebecca Pearson with a crockpot.
However, the innocent gift led to one of the most tragic events in the show. This Is Us Season 2, Episode 14 showed Jack Pearson’s death when the crockpot started a house fire. And it caused a lot of heat for McGee.
Similarly, in Bob Hearts Abishola Season 2, after Abishola (Folake Olowofoyeku) turned down Bob’s (Billy Gardell) proposal, McGee played a small part that changed the entire series. He played the elderly Mr. Clark, an aging patient at the hospital with his wife.
His interaction with his wife helped Abishola see the positives of marrying Bob. It ultimately leads to their wedding in Bob Hearts Abishola Season 3.
#3: Susan Berger starred in much smaller parts for the NBC and CBS shows
The last This Is Us and Bob Hearts Abishola cast member in the two shows is Susan Berger.
In another This Is Us Season 2 episode, “The Most Disappointed Man,” Berger played the appropriately name Susan. The episode follows Randall adjusting to the foster system as Kate and Toby advance their relationship.
In Bob Hearts Abishola Season 3, Episode 8, Bob’s employee Goodwin (Bayo Akinfemi) has a panic attack. He is put on ‘light duty’ with Berger’s Shirley to relieve his stress. However, he sees it as degrading. By the end of the episode, however, he decides to tackle light duty as well as he can.
While This Is Us and Bob Hearts Abishola might not have the most in common, the two shows share a lot of cast members.
