11 Worthy Web Series Featuring Your Favorite Hollywood Actors
Olivia Popp
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In decades past, famous actors began their careers in television and moved into film. Now, television is becoming its own gold standard for new media.
Thus, many actors begin or continue their careers making or starring in web series, which are often available for everyone to watch but cater to a niche audience demographic, helping to develop a fanbase.
Often, artists and actors create and act in web series because they are passionate about the content they are producing, which makes it even more special for viewers.
Read on to learn about 11 web series that feature actors that you probably know and love -- and you may even want to watch these shows yourself.
1. The Guild
The Guild stars Felicia Day, geek goddess best known for Buffy, Eureka, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, and Mystery Science Theater 3000. An incredible series that can be watched on YouTube as independent episodes or as season-long mini-movies, Felicia day plays Cyd Sherman, a video game obsessive who meets her online friends in person. Trouble, romance, and comedy naturally ensue.
2. Con Man
Alan Tudyk, best known for Joss Whedon classics Firefly and Dollhouse, created and stars in Con Man, a satirical look at a washed-up science fiction television actor who only wants to be seen at conventions -- a humorous play on his own career. The series also features fellow Firefly actor Nathan Fillion and guest stars frequent collaborator and fellow geek television hero Felicia Day. Tudyk plays Wray Nerely, poking fun at himself in a hysterical pseudo-behind-the-scenes look at his own life.
3. Hollywood Hitmen
Hollywood Hitmen, a comedy about two bumbling assassins, was co-created by and co-starring Enver Gjokaj and Maximilian Osinski. Gjokaj is best known for playing Peggy Carter's love interest in Agent Carter and as Victor on Dollhouse. The show also guest stars Dichen Lachman (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Dollhouse, The Last Ship) and Jessy Schram (Falling Skies, Once Upon a Time, Nashville) as much more clever, competing assassins in the business. Although short and sweet, Hollywood Hitmen is a gem of a show featuring Marvel actor favorites.
4. Slingshot
Slingshot stars Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. favorite Natalia Cordova-Buckley as Yo-Yo, an Inhuman with the super-speed abilities. Although the six-part series aired after Season 4 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the story takes place between Season 3 and 4 and includes a different Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. character in each episode, including Daisy Johnson (Chloe Bennet), Director Mace (Jason O'Mara), Coulson (Clark Gregg), Fitz and Simmons (Iain de Caestecker and Elizabeth Henstridge), Agent May (Ming-Na Wen), and Mack (Henry Simmons). If you're a fan of Marvel and want to dive into Yo-Yo's story, here's your chance.
5. Web Therapy
Lisa Kudrow, best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay on the hit sitcom Friends, stars in Web Therapy. She plays a self-absorbed, ignorant fake therapist named Fiona Wallice who treats her patients via short, three- to five-minute video chat sessions. The four-season series, however, is best known for its huge array of guest stars, including every Friends co-star, Meryl Streep, Alan Cumming, Rashida Jones, Conan O'Brien, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jane Lynch, and Darren Criss. Kudrow spins a bizarre concept into a wonderfully kooky series that excels in its delightfully strange form of deprecating, bizarre comedy.
6. The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl
Commonly known as Awkward Black Girl, the show features Insecure star Issa Rae, Sujata Day (currently also on Insecure), and Tracy Oliver (writer of Girls Trip). What started as a low-budget show quickly blossomed into a relatable, hysterical series that featured a narrative that went beyond stereotypical stories onscreen today. Awkward Black Girl became the inspiration for Insecure, and the series' rap sequences are similarly seen on the hit HBO series.
7. Single by 30
Independent film production company Wong Fu Productions created Single by 30, a romantic comedy series starring Glee alum Harry Shum Jr., singer-songwriter Kina Grannis, and YouTube star Anna Akana. The show ran for one season YouTube Red in which Peter (Shum) and Joanna (Grannis) recall a marriage pact they made in high school that stated they would marry if they were both Single by 30. The series is heartfelt, wholesome, and comedic, featuring a great collection of Asian American talent.
8. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Mutant Enemy Productions' three-part web series, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, is now 10 years old. Created by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Zack Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen, the musical comedy stars Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day, and Simon Helberg. The series follows Dr. Horrible (Patrick Harris), an evil genius who is determined to win the love of Penny (Day), but is constantly thwarted by hero Captain Hammer (Fillion). With a catchy soundtrack and infinitely clever dialogue and scenarios, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is an all-around favorite.
9. Broad City (web series)
Comedy Central's Broad City started as a simple YouTube web series from creators and stars Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson. Like the TV series, the web series follows the two best friends (also named Ilana and Abbi) as they go about their day-to-day lives in New York City, not without humorous shenanigans and embarrassing situations. Each episode is short and sweet, demonstrating their humble and humorous beginnings.
10. Notary Publix
SNL star Kate McKinnon acts alongside her sister Emily Lynne in Notary Publix, a nearly absurdist web series about notaries. Their rival notary is fellow SNL star Aidy Bryant, and the series features other SNL players. It's bizarre, wonderful, and a quick watch -- you can binge it on YouTube anytime.
11. Ctrl
Originally airing on CBS in 2009, Ctrl features Arrested Development and Veep star Tony Hale who plays a nerdy office worker who discovers he can control life itself using the functions on his keyboard -- such as hitting Control-Z, which undoes an action in his life. Based off of a 2008 short film that premiered at Sundance Film Festival, it is an incredibly unique premise with a relatable set of characters -- and only 10 episodes to cover it all.
