You remember that feeling of watching a sitcom that actually made you squirm a little? Not because it was bad, but because it was so honest. That was the magic of The Carmichael Show. It only ran for three seasons on NBC, but looking back now in 2026, the cast of The Carmichael Show might be one of the most densly talented groups ever assembled for a network comedy.
Most sitcoms play it safe. Jerrod Carmichael didn't. He hired a room full of heavy hitters and then asked them to argue about things most people avoid at Thanksgiving. It wasn't just a show; it was a launchpad.
Jerrod Carmichael: From Sitcom Star to Reality Disruptor
Jerrod has always been a bit of an enigma. Back in 2015, we saw him as the straight man in a house full of loud voices. Fast forward to 2026, and he’s basically rewritten the rulebook on what a "celebrity" is allowed to share.
If you’ve been keeping up, you know his HBO era changed everything. After the massive success of Rothaniel—where he famously came out and won an Emmy for writing—he didn't just lean into traditional fame. Instead, he gave us the Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show in 2024. It was awkward, raw, and sometimes hard to watch, which is exactly why it worked.
Right now, in early 2026, he’s still hitting the clubs. He actually just had a set at the Hollywood Improv on January 13, and he’s heading to San Francisco’s Punch Line later this week. His latest special, Don’t Be Gay, which hit Max in 2025, proved he hasn't lost that edge. He still causes chaos, but now the chaos is mostly internal and televised.
Tiffany Haddish: The Nekeisha Effect
It’s wild to think that when the show started, Tiffany Haddish was the "estranged wife" character who mostly showed up to steal scenes and then leave. She was the secret weapon. Then Girls Trip happened in 2017, and the world finally caught up to what Jerrod already knew.
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Where is she now? Everywhere. Honestly, her schedule is exhausting just to look at.
- Girls Trip 2: It’s finally happening. Filming is set for spring 2026 in an "exotic locale" (rumors are pointing toward Ghana).
- The Big Screen: She’s got a stoner comedy called Toad coming up and an action-thriller titled The Deputy.
- The Foundation: She’s been putting a ton of energy into her She Ready Foundation, supporting foster youth, which feels like a full-circle moment for her.
She’s had her share of headlines and hurdles, but Tiffany remains a powerhouse. She even teamed back up with her Carmichael brother-in-law, Lil Rel, for a feature called Haunted Heist recently.
Lil Rel Howery: The Hardest Working Man in Hollywood?
If you look at the filmography of the cast of The Carmichael Show, Lil Rel might actually have the most credits. When he played Bobby, he was the lovable, slightly delusional brother. Now, he’s a legitimate movie star.
Just look at his 2024–2026 run. He was in Harold and the Purple Crayon, he’s got Animal Friends in post-production for a 2026 release, and he’s even doing voice work for Dog Man.
Rel has this specific "everyman" energy that directors love. He can go from a Jordan Peele horror classic like Get Out to a silly Disney+ Christmas movie without blinking. He also hasn't abandoned stand-up; his 2022 special I Said It. Y’all Thinking It. is still one of the better sets from that year. He's basically the glue of the industry right now.
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The Legends: Loretta Devine and David Alan Grier
You can't talk about this cast without the parents. Joe and Cynthia were the heart—and often the source of the conflict—of the show.
Loretta Devine is a national treasure. Period. Even in 2026, she is still the go-to person for any role requiring warmth, wisdom, or a perfectly timed "Lord have mercy." She’s been active in guest roles and voice work, recently appearing in the series The Studio.
David Alan Grier, meanwhile, is having a massive late-career surge. He won a Tony a few years back for A Soldier's Play, reminding everyone that while he’s hilarious, he’s also a classically trained beast of an actor. He’s been popping up in everything from The Patient to various Broadway revivals. The chemistry those two had on The Carmichael Show was so real that people still ask them if they’re married in real life. (They aren't, but they've been friends since the 80s).
Amber Stevens West: The Progressive Voice
Amber played Maxine, the "voice of reason" who usually ended up getting dragged into the family's madness. Since the show ended, she’s stayed consistently busy in the TV world.
She led the Starz series Run the World for two seasons, which was a cult favorite for its fashion and friendship dynamics. More recently, she joined the cast of The Neighborhood as a recurring character named Mercedes. She’s one of those actresses who makes every scene better just by being in it, often playing the most grounded person in the room—a skill she definitely perfected dealing with Joe and Cynthia Carmichael.
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Why the Show Still Matters
Looking back from 2026, The Carmichael Show feels like a time capsule of the mid-2010s. It tackled Trump, Black Lives Matter, assisted suicide, and depression—all while filmed in front of a live studio audience in the classic multi-cam format.
Most sitcoms from that era have faded into the background. This one hasn't. People are still discovering it on streaming because the writing was so tight and the cast was so fearless. They weren't afraid to look like the "wrong" person in an argument.
What most people get wrong is thinking the show was just about politics. It wasn't. It was about how we talk to the people we love when we fundamentally disagree with them. That’s a lesson that’s only become more relevant as the years go by.
How to Keep Up with the Cast
If you're looking to dive back into their work, here's the best way to do it:
- Watch the Specials: Check out Jerrod’s Don’t Be Gay on Max for the latest evolution of his voice.
- Follow the Film Festivals: Keep an eye out for Animal Friends featuring Lil Rel later this year.
- Stream the Original: All three seasons of The Carmichael Show are usually available on platforms like Hulu or Peacock depending on your region. It's worth a rewatch just to see how many future stars were packed into that one living room set.
To see what Jerrod is up to next, you can check his upcoming tour dates on major ticket platforms, as he's currently active on the 2026 comedy circuit.