After a ridiculously successful first season, fans of Elsbeth are ready for the police procedural to return with more murder mayhem and hijinks.
With a Rotten Tomatoes score of ninety-four percent, the review aggregator’s consensus on the show is that “Carrie Preston’s standout character from The Good Wife makes for a great detective in this amiable and clever spinoff.”
The series has proven that The Good Wife universe has plenty of room to expand into more shows and genres. Elsbeth starkly contrasted the heavy intensity of The Good Wife and The Good Fight.
It has a fun and lighter tone than its sister shows, but that doesn’t mean the creators aren’t above dropping an easter egg or two.
In fact, all of the episodic murderers for Season 1 were actors who had previously portrayed different characters in either The Good Wife or The Good Fight.
So, in that vein, we have compiled a list of former Good Wife guest appearances for potential killers going into the next season!
Denis O’Hare
Character: Judge Charles Abernathy
First Appearance: The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 2, “Stripped”
Having acted since 1992 and in the filming industry since 1993, Denis O’Hare is no stranger to the rigors of Hollywood. His versatility in acting has become the actor’s calling card.
O’Hare has amassed twenty-three awards nominations with thirteen secured wins.
The actor is also well known for his various roles on the hit horror anthology FX series from Ryan Murphy, American Horror Story.
How would we like to see him used? Picture this: O’Hare as an over-the-top drag queen who uses stilettos or poisoned wigs to win the stage competition. Perhaps we could make it a musical episode?
Matthew Lillard
Character: Rowby Canton
First Episode: The Good Wife Season 5 Episode 11, “Goliath and David”
In the TV sphere, Matthew Lilliars is known for his role as Dean Boland on Good Girls, but he’ll always be remembered for his film work on Scream and the Scooby Doo movies, too.
Talk about a flash from the past. Can you imagine how nostalgic having this ’90s icon on the series would be?
Matthew Lillard could bring the level of camp that the show has become known for. With over thirty years of experience, Lillard has been a cultural staple for a whole decade.
From our perspective, Lillard is the kind of actor who could easily play an unhinged stalker who accidentally kills his obsession and does more to lead the police toward him rather than cover his tracks.
Renee Elise Goldberry
Character: Geneva Pine
First Episode: The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 12, “Painkillers”
I don’t know about you, but I want to age like the immortal Renee Elise Goldberry. Who looks that amazing in their ‘50s?!
The actress, also known for her role as Quellcrist Falconer on Altered Carbon, has also appeared in Evil, the supernatural drama series by Robert and Michelle King.
Goldberry has been shining in the spotlight since 1997 and rose to prominence in 2015 with her role in Hamilton.
With her far-ranging skills, she has the comedic talent to be a fan-favorite killer. And oh, do we have plans for her potential guest appearance!
Goldberry could bring Elsbeth back to her lawyer days by playing a crooked attorney who kills a news source that is hindering one of her cases. Surely, you can imagine that, too!
Margo Martindale
Character: Ruth Eastman
First Episode: The Good Wife Season 7 Episode 1, “Bond”
There are certain familiar faces that pop and make you go, “Oh, I know them from somewhere.” That’s Margo Martindale, who makes an impression wherever she goes.
Martindale started her acting career back in the ‘80s and garnered a close friendship with Kathy Bates. With seven awards under her belt, Martindale always acts the crap out of her characters.
The actress is quite well known for her role as Claudia on the FX spy period drama series from Joe Weisberg, The Americans, but we don’t see her playing a Russian agent on Elsbeth.
Instead, we would love to see Martindale as a sweetly sinister suburban grandma who’s got it out for a mom on the school run. Her crime? Possibly a minivan hit-and-run.
Ana Gasteyer
Character: Judge Lessner
First Episode: The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 16, “Fleas”
Ana Gasteyer is one of those actresses you can mention in conversation, and everyone knows her from a different show or film. It may be SNL, or it may be Mean Girls.
Her range is wide, and she is also known for her role as Susan Cinoman on the ABC period sitcom series by Adam F. Goldberg, The Goldbergs.
Gasteyer originated multiple roles on SNL and was a go-to for numerous impersonations and could easily transition from a judge to a criminal on Elsbeth.
There hasn’t been a killer comedian yet on Elsbeth, and it would be a great role for Gasteyer to stretch her comedic muscles. We’ve even got a fitting title: they could call the episode “A Killer Act.”
Gary Cole
Character: Kurt McVeigh
First Episode: The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 15, “Bang”
Now, Gary Cole is a face that almost every person who’s ever seen television would recognize. As well, they should since he’s been acting for nearly forty years.
He became prominent in the early ‘90s and has not stopped working since. From television to film, Gary Cole is everywhere. He’s bound to end up on Elsbeth at some point.
In addition to his work on The Good Wife, The Good Fight, and NCIS, Cole is also known for his role as Kent Davison on the HBO political satire comedy series from Armando Iannucci, Veep.
Still, we don’t imagine him talking politics again.
When I look at Gary Cole, I see him playing a corrupt priest who stole money from the church and had to take out one of the deacons who discovered his secret. But what secret could that be? Something comedic. If we can tie it to his role in Office Space, we’ll give it bonus points!
Anna Camp
Character: Caitlin D’Arcy
First Episode: The Good Wife Season 3 Episode 5, “Marthas and Caitlins”
It’s hard to believe that an actress who plays sweet and bubbly characters rose to fame playing a villain. That just goes to show how talented Anna Camp is.
With just over fifteen years in the industry, Camp has already starred in high-profile projects like the Pitch Perfect franchise, and soon, audiences can watch her in the hit Netflix series YOU.
Here at TV Fanatic, we’ll never forget her role as Sarah Newlin on the HBO fantasy horror drama series from Alan Ball, True Blood.
Camp has a sweet and disturbing smile. She could bring a campy character to the series like Jane Krakowski’s Joann from Elsbeth Season 1 Episode 2. But we see Camp’s role with even fewer redeemable qualities — if that’s possible!
Stockard Channing
Character: Veronica Loy
First Episode: The Good Wife Season 4 Episode 9, “A Defense of Marriage”
If there were ever a living television and film legend, it would be Stockard Channing. From Grease to Practical Magic and even Knuckles, this lovely lady puts the “act” in “actress.”
How do you argue with over FIFTY years of acting? So, it should be no surprise that Channing has sixty-four awards nominations and seventeen wins.
The actress also had a role as Brenda Phillips on the NBC police procedural comedy-drama from Jeff Rake, The Mysteries of Laura.
Channing does sweet like no one else, but we’ve also seen her cocky side more than once.
It would be fun to see her lean hard into that side as a ball-busting CEO who has to silence an intern after they learn of a dark secret from the boss’ past.
Mike Colter
Character: Lemond Bishop
First Episode: The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 16, “Fleas”
Lord, Mike Colter is one tall glass of water, but that’s not the only reason the actor would make an excellent fit for Elsbeth. It’s reason enough for me, though.
Having headlined his own series and been a prominent character in The Good Wife and The Good Fight, Mike Colter has enough talent and training to take on any genre or role.
The actor is known for his roles as Luke Cage on the Netflix superhero series and as Father David Acosta on Evil, May It Rest in Peace.
Colter has the kind of character range that would allow him to play just about any kind of character, as long as that character is shirtless.
He’s already been a priest. It’s time the actor sinned a little. He came close on The Good Wife, but we’d like to see him go even darker on Elsbeth. Give her something extra to investigate!
While the possibilities are endless, this list of talented actors would make for amazing guest stars on Elsbeth.
The following season of the series is slated for October, so get ready for campy murders during the spooky season.
Either way, you can catch me glued to CBS, watching Elsbeth do what she does best in the most over-the-top prints known to man!
Did you see a favorite actor of yours on this list?
Who else do you think would make for a great killer on Elsbeth?
Drop a comment below to let us know, and join us again when we tell you more about your favorite new and returning shows!