If you spent any time on Twitter during the 2020 election cycle, you probably saw it. A grainy photo of a tall, blonde woman with a sharp wit, usually accompanied by a caption either praising or eviscerating her latest political take.
The problem? Half the time, the person in the photo wasn't even the person being discussed.
For years, people have been mixing up Kristen Johnston and Kirstie Alley. It’s one of those weird Hollywood glitches. They’re both tall. They both have that specific brand of "don't mess with me" comedic timing. They both dominated the sitcom world in different decades—Alley with Cheers in the late 80s and Johnston with 3rd Rock from the Sun in the 90s.
But honestly, the confusion reached a breaking point a few years ago. It got so bad that Kristen Johnston had to literally tell the internet to stop yelling at her for things she didn’t say.
Why Everyone Thinks Kristen Johnston is Kirstie Alley
Let’s be real. It’s the vibe.
Kristen Johnston is a two-time Emmy winner who stands about 6 feet tall. Kirstie Alley was also a powerhouse, a Golden Globe winner who carried Cheers through the post-Shelley Long era. They both have deep, husky voices and a penchant for playing "tough" women who are secretly falling apart.
Back in 2020, Kirstie Alley became very vocal about her political leanings. She was a staunch supporter of Donald Trump. Predictably, the internet did what the internet does: it started a digital firestorm.
Except people kept tagging Kristen Johnston in the crossfire.
Johnston, who is decidedly not a supporter of the same political movement, finally snapped. She posted a photo of herself holding a sign from her show Mom that simply said: "I am not Kirstie Alley."
She even joked about it, saying she was tired of being "dragged" for Alley's tweets. It wasn't out of malice, really. It was just a case of mistaken identity that had gone way too far. You’ve probably seen it happen to other actors, but with these two, the physical resemblance—the blonde hair, the height, the facial structure—made it a constant battle.
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The TV Land Crossover You Forgot Happened
What’s funny is that they actually worked together. They weren't rivals in the way the tabloids like to pretend.
In 2014, Johnston guest-starred on Alley's self-titled TV Land sitcom, Kirstie. The episode was titled "Maddie vs. Maddie." In a meta-nod to the confusion between the two, Johnston played "the other Madison Banks."
The plot was basically a fever dream for anyone who mixes them up. Johnston's character was a broken-down waitress who believed Alley's character had stolen her career-making role years prior.
Behind the scenes, the energy was surprisingly good. Johnston has spoken about the experience, mentioning how she actually had to take Alley’s dressing room during the shoot because her own show, The Exes, filmed on the same lot.
"Kirstie has my dressing room, and then I’m stuck in this dump," Johnston joked in a behind-the-scenes interview.
It was a "joyful experience," according to Johnston. Despite the fans wanting there to be some deep-seated feud, they seemed to respect each other as comedic heavyweights. They were two women who knew exactly how hard it was to stay relevant in an industry that usually discards women the second they turn 40.
Different Paths, Different Legacies
While the public might blur them together, their careers followed very different arcs.
Kirstie Alley was a movie star. Look Who's Talking was a massive, culture-shifting hit. She had a certain "it factor" that translated to the big screen effortlessly. But she also struggled openly with the media's obsession with her weight, eventually turning that struggle into the meta-comedy Fat Actress.
Kristen Johnston, on the other hand, is a theater kid at heart.
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She’s a member of the Atlantic Theater Company. She’s taught acting at NYU. Her career isn't just about the "fame" side of things; she’s deeply respected as a craftsperson. If you’ve read her memoir, Guts, you know she’s also been incredibly transparent about her own battles—specifically her addiction to pills and alcohol during the height of her 3rd Rock fame.
The Scientology and Politics Gap
This is where the two women diverged most sharply.
Alley was one of the most visible members of the Church of Scientology. She credited the organization with helping her overcome a cocaine addiction in the late 70s. For her, it was a lifeline. For much of the public, it was a point of controversy.
When Alley passed away in December 2022 after a brief battle with colon cancer, the tributes were complicated. People loved Rebecca Howe from Cheers, but they were less sure about the woman Alley had become on social media in her later years.
Johnston’s reaction to Alley’s death was professional and respectful. She didn’t lean into the old "stop confusing us" joke out of respect for the family. It was the end of a weird, decade-long era of being tethered to another person’s identity.
Sorting Out the Facts
If you're trying to keep them straight, here’s the easy breakdown of what most people get wrong.
First off, they are not related. Not even a little bit. Alley was from Kansas; Johnston is from D.C. and grew up in Wisconsin.
Secondly, Johnston did not "replace" Alley in any major roles. There’s a common misconception that Johnston took over a role in a movie or series when Alley left, but that never happened. They just happen to occupy the same "casting type" for certain producers—the tall, brassy blonde who can deliver a sarcastic line like a physical punch.
What We Can Learn From the Confusion
There’s a weird lesson here about how we consume celebrity culture.
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We tend to bucket people. We see "Tall Blonde Comedienne" and our brains just pick the first name that pops up. For twenty years, that name was Kirstie Alley. When Johnston arrived on the scene and won back-to-back Emmys, the wires got crossed.
But if you look at their work side-by-side, they couldn't be more different. Alley’s comedy was often rooted in a certain vulnerability—a "hot mess" energy before that was even a term. Johnston’s comedy is more surgical. It’s physical. It’s loud. Think about Sally Solomon on 3rd Rock—that wasn't just a sitcom character; it was a high-concept performance of an alien trying to understand a female body.
Moving Forward: Why It Matters Now
With Kirstie Alley gone, the confusion has mostly died down, but the legacy of both women remains huge for anyone who loves 90s television.
If you’re a fan of either, the best thing you can do is actually watch their work separately to see the nuances.
- Watch Cheers Season 6: This is where Alley replaced Shelley Long. It was an impossible task, and she nailed it by being the exact opposite of Diane Chambers.
- Watch 3rd Rock from the Sun: Specifically the episodes where Johnston has to deal with "human" emotions for the first time. Her face is basically a masterclass in rubber-mask acting.
- Read Guts by Kristen Johnston: If you want to understand why she’s so fiercely protective of her own identity, this book explains it all. It's raw, it's gross in parts, and it's incredibly honest.
At the end of the day, Kristen Johnston and Kirstie Alley were two distinct forces of nature. One was a movie star who became a lightning rod for controversy; the other is a character actress who became a sitcom icon and a respected mentor.
They shared a dressing room once, a few punchlines, and a whole lot of confused fans. But they each built a legacy that stands on its own. Next time you see a tall blonde making you laugh on a rerun, just take a second to check the credits. It’s the least we can do for two women who spent their lives making us laugh.
Actionable Insights for Fans
To truly appreciate their distinct contributions to entertainment, consider these steps:
- Differentiate by Era: Remember that Alley’s peak "it" girl phase was 1982–1995, while Johnston’s breakout was 1996 and beyond.
- Verify Social Media Profiles: If you're looking for Kristen Johnston’s current projects (like The Righteous Gemstones), ensure you're following her verified accounts to avoid the legacy "confusion" posts that still haunt the archives.
- Support Recovery Advocacy: Both women spoke openly about addiction. Supporting organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or local recovery centers is a great way to honor the honesty both actresses brought to their personal struggles.