Jackie Tohn and The Good Place: The Best Character You Forgot to Google
You know that feeling when you're watching a massive hit show and a face pops up that feels incredibly familiar, but you can’t quite place it? That’s basically the "Jackie Tohn Experience." Long before she was winning hearts (and causing stress) in Nobody Wants This or wrestling in spandex on GLOW, she did a quick, chaotic stint in the afterlife.
Jackie Tohn appeared in The Good Place as Alexis, one of the high-energy, low-moral-fiber demons from the Bad Place.
She wasn't a series regular. She didn't have a redemptive arc where she learned the value of human ethics. Honestly? She was just there to be a total nightmare to Eleanor and the gang, and she was brilliant at it.
If you blink, you might miss her. But if you're a fan of Mike Schur’s universe, her performance is a masterclass in "demon energy." She pops up in Season 1, specifically in the episodes "Most Improved Player" and "...Someone Like Me as a Member." She's part of Trevor’s (Adam Scott) entourage of douchebag demons who descend upon the Good Place to claim Eleanor Shellstrop.
The Alexis Energy: Why It Worked
Alexis is everything you’d expect from a middle-management demon. She’s loud, she’s wearing "bad" fashion, and she treats human suffering like a funny TikTok trend. Tohn brings this specific brand of "party girl from hell" charisma that she later perfected in other roles.
👉 See also: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
In The Good Place, the Bad Place isn't just about fire and brimstone. It’s about being annoying. It’s about the person who talks during a movie or the person who clips their toenails on a plane. Tohn’s Alexis fits this vibe perfectly. She’s part of that "Bad Place Crew" that makes the audience realize that eternity with these people would be way worse than a literal pit of lava.
Where You’ve Seen That Face Before
Most people watching The Good Place back in 2016 weren't screaming "It's Jackie Tohn!" yet. That came a year later when GLOW premiered on Netflix.
- Melrose in GLOW: This is the role that changed everything. She played Melanie "Melrose" Rosen, the bratty, wealthy, yet deeply layered wrestler.
- American Idol: Yeah, for real. She was in the Top 36 of Season 8. She did a version of "A Little Less Conversation" that was... well, it was very Jackie Tohn.
- The Boys: She played Courtenay Fortney, a Vought executive who—shocker—also isn't exactly a "Good Place" candidate.
- Nobody Wants This: Moving into 2025 and 2026, she’s become a household name as Esther, the fiercely protective and hilarious sister-in-law to Adam Brody's character.
Why Small Roles Like Alexis Matter for E-E-A-T
When we talk about "Expertise" in acting, it’s about the "working actor" hustle. Tohn is a prime example. She didn't just wake up as a lead in a hit rom-com series. She spent years doing two-episode arcs on shows like The Good Place, The Nanny, The Sopranos, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Her appearance in The Good Place is a "canary in the coal mine" for her talent. Even with limited screen time, she held her own against comedic heavyweights like Kristen Bell and Ted Danson. You can see the seeds of her future characters in the way she uses her voice—that raspy, high-energy delivery that makes every line sound like a secret she’s telling you at a bar.
✨ Don't miss: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Career
People tend to think of her as a "new" discovery because of her recent Netflix success. But Jackie Tohn has been professional since she was 9. She was on Ghostwriter! She’s a singer-songwriter who co-created the animated musical series Do, Re & Mi.
The misconception is that she’s just a "funny sidekick." If you look at her work in GLOW, specifically the Passover Seder scene in Season 3 (which she helped write based on her own family's history as Holocaust survivors), you see the depth. She’s not just the demon Alexis; she’s an actress who can pivot from "fart jokes in the afterlife" to "generational trauma" in a heartbeat.
How to Spot Her in Your Next Rewatch
If you’re doing your annual The Good Place marathon, keep your eyes peeled during the Season 1 finale arc. When the "Real Eleanor" (Tiya Sircar) is being traded, look at the group of demons hovering around the train.
Alexis is there, usually looking bored by the concept of goodness and thrilled by the prospect of causing a scene. It’s a tiny role, but it’s a vital piece of the show’s world-building. The Bad Place needed to feel populated by people who were genuinely exhausting to be around, and Tohn nailed the assignment.
🔗 Read more: Why American Beauty by the Grateful Dead is Still the Gold Standard of Americana
Actionable Insight for Fans
If you loved her 10/10 chaotic energy in the afterlife, your next move is to check out her 2025/2026 projects. She’s currently a staple in the "Jewish Hollywood" renaissance, bringing authentic, loud, and proud representation to the screen.
- Watch Nobody Wants This: If you haven't seen her as Esther, you're missing her best work to date.
- Listen to her music: She’s a legit musician. Her EP The Golden Girl is a deep cut for true fans.
- Follow her on socials: Unlike her Good Place character, Tohn is actually delightful and shares a lot of behind-the-scenes "working actor" content that is genuinely insightful.
Next time you see a "Bad Place" demon on screen, don't just assume they're an extra. They might just be the next big star of a 2026 Golden Globe-winning comedy.
Next Steps for You:
To see her in action, fire up Netflix and head to The Good Place Season 1, Episode 8. Fast forward to the scene where the Bad Place train arrives. Look for the demon with the most "I'd like to speak to the manager" energy—that’s our girl. After that, compare it to her performance in GLOW Season 3, Episode 6 to see just how much range she actually has.