September 15 - 21, 2024
Kaitlin Olson (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) stars in ABC’s seriocomic series “High Potential,” premiering Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Kaitlin Olson in “High Potential”
celebrityq&a
BY JAY BOBBIN
Dermot Mulroney OF CHICAGO FIRE ON NBC Q: I understand that Dermot Mulroney is joining “Chicago Fire” for its new season. Why have there been so many cast changes on that show lately? A: That can happen with a series that has run for a long time, and that NBC drama will be entering its 13th season when it resumes new episodes on Sept. 25. Dermot Mulroney will be playing the new chief of Firehouse 51, succeeding Eamonn Walker, who has said that he is open to returning for guest appearances as Wallace Boden. There’s precedent for that, since founding cast member Jesse Spencer has made multiple returns as Matt Casey since leaving as a series regular. If one looks at the history of “Chicago Fire,” changes in its co-stars are nothing new. Lauren German departed after the first couple of seasons when her paramedic character Leslie Shay died on duty, and Kara Killmer followed as her replacement, Sylvie Brett. Killmer herself left the show last season, and Jocelyn Hudon — a familiar face from Hallmark Channel movies in recent years — is now succeeding her as Lizzie Novak. Monica Raymund left the role of paramedic Gabby Dawson after six seasons, and she also has made returns as a guest star. Charlie Barnett departed as firefighter Peter Mills after the first few years of the show, and Miranda Rae Mayo joined as firefighter Stella Kidd in Season 4 (and married Lt. Kelly Severide, played by Taylor Kinney, in Season 10). Firefighter Brian “Otis” Zvonecek, portrayed by Yuri Sardarov, died at the start of Season 8 from injuries suffered on the job. Dora Madison, Steven R. McQueen, Annie Ilonzeh and Alberto Rosende are among other “Chicago Fire” alums. And though he wasn’t a series regular, Treat Williams made sufficient appearances as Severide’s firefighter-veteran father Benny over the first seven years to have a presence on the series; the character died in Season 7.