It’s rare to see a sitcom take a massive swing on structure. Most comedies just stick to the living room or the office. But back in 2017, CBS tried something weirdly ambitious with a single-camera show that tracked one man’s life across three distinct time periods. If you’re looking back at the cast of Me Myself and I TV show, you’re basically looking at a "what if" scenario that still stings for fans of high-concept television.
The show didn't fail because of the talent. Honestly, the talent was the only reason it stayed afloat as long as it did.
Think about the logistical nightmare of casting three actors to play the same guy—Alex Riley—at ages 14, 40, and 65. You need physical similarity, sure, but you also need a shared "soul" or comedic timing that makes the audience believe this is the same person. Bobby Moynihan, John Larroquette, and Jack Dylan Grazer had to sync up their mannerisms in a way that most actors never have to worry about. It was a bold experiment. Then, it was gone.
The Three Faces of Alex Riley
Usually, when you talk about a lead actor, you name one person. Here, the cast of Me Myself and I TV show was anchored by a trio.
Bobby Moynihan played "Present Day" Alex (which was 2017 at the time). He was fresh off Saturday Night Live, and this was his big move into leading-man territory. He brought that classic Moynihan vulnerability—the guy who is trying so hard but the world just keeps dropping pianos on his head. In the show’s timeline, he’s a struggling inventor dealing with a divorce and moving into his best friend's garage. It was relatable. It was messy.
Then you have the legendary John Larroquette as "Future" Alex in 2042. Larroquette is a sitcom god. If you’ve seen Night Court, you know he has this dry, cynical wit that can turn a mediocre line into a masterpiece. In Me, Myself and I, he plays Alex as a successful, wealthy older man who has just suffered a heart attack and decides to reconnect with his past. He brought a much-needed gravity to the show. Without him, the future segments might have felt like a cheap sci-fi gimmick.
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Finally, there’s Jack Dylan Grazer as "Past" Alex in 1991. This was right around the time Grazer was blowing up because of the IT movie. He had to carry the weight of the "coming of age" tropes—moving to a new city, dealing with a new stepfather, and trying to impress the girl of his dreams. He was the energy source of the show.
Supporting Players Who Kept It Grounded
The show wasn't just the Alex Riley show, though. The ensemble around these three versions of Alex had to bridge the gaps between decades.
Jaleel White—yes, Urkel himself—played Darryl, Alex’s best friend in the 2017 timeline. It was actually great to see White in a role that let him just be a normal, funny, grounded adult. He wasn't doing a voice or a bit; he was the emotional anchor for Moynihan’s character.
In the 1991 timeline, we had Christopher Nicholas Smith and Mandell Maughan as the parents. Brian Unger played the stepfather, Ron, who was actually a pilot. This created a fun dynamic where the "past" felt like a legitimate 90s family dramedy, while the "present" felt like a modern struggle-bus sitcom.
Why the Chemistry Worked (And Why It Wasn't Enough)
You could tell the actors were watching each other. Moynihan and Larroquette, specifically, seemed to share a specific type of sigh—a "the world is exhausted" breath—that linked their performances.
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The problem with the cast of Me Myself and I TV show wasn't the performances. It was the math.
When you have three different timelines, you’re basically writing three different shows every week. The audience has to care about three different sets of stakes. If you loved the 1991 nostalgia but hated the 2042 future stuff, you spent a third of the episode bored. That’s a tough sell for a network like CBS, which usually thrives on straightforward, easy-to-digest multi-cam hits like The Big Bang Theory.
Me, Myself and I was sophisticated. Maybe a little too sophisticated for its timeslot.
It’s worth noting that the show was pulled from the schedule after only six episodes aired. Seven more were eventually released, but the momentum was dead. It’s a shame because the chemistry between the younger cast members and the veterans was starting to click. You could see the threads of Alex’s personality forming in Grazer and resolving in Larroquette.
The Legacy of the Cast Since 2017
What happened to everyone? Well, they’re doing fine, which proves the casting directors knew what they were doing.
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- Jack Dylan Grazer became a genuine star. Between the Shazam! franchise and voice work in Disney’s Luca, he’s one of the most recognizable young actors in Hollywood.
- Bobby Moynihan returned to what he does best: being everywhere. He’s a staple in the voice acting world (DuckTales, Star Wars Resistance) and continues to pop up in prestige comedies.
- John Larroquette went back to his roots, successfully reviving Night Court for a new generation.
Looking back, the show feels like a fever dream of talent. It’s a reminder that even with a powerhouse lineup, the "high concept" can sometimes be a double-edged sword. People want to connect with characters, but when those characters are split into three people, the connection gets stretched thin.
How to Revisit the Series Today
If you’re trying to track down the work of this specific ensemble, it’s a bit of a treasure hunt. The show isn't always front-and-center on the big streamers.
Honestly, if you want to see the cast of Me Myself and I TV show at their best, you have to look for the "Parallel Lives" episode. It’s the one where the themes of the three eras finally harmonize. It shows how a small decision in 1991 echoes into a mid-life crisis in 2017 and eventually becomes a moment of peace in 2042.
Practical Steps for Fans of the Show
If you miss the vibe of this cast, here is how you can effectively "scratch that itch" without waiting for a reboot that probably isn't coming:
- Watch the Night Court Revival: If you liked the "Future Alex" energy, Larroquette is essentially playing a refined version of that soulful grumpiness in the new Night Court.
- Check out "Mr. Mayor": Bobby Moynihan is fantastic in this Ted Danson vehicle. It captures that same "trying my best in a weird world" energy he brought to Me, Myself and I.
- Follow Jack Dylan Grazer’s Indie Work: If the 90s segments were your favorite, Grazer’s performance in We Are Who We Are (HBO) shows the incredible dramatic range he was developing even during his sitcom days.
- Digital Purchase: Since the show was cancelled early, it rarely loops on cable. Your best bet is purchasing the single season on platforms like Amazon or Apple TV to see the "lost" episodes that never made it to air during the initial CBS run.
The show was a victim of the "Peak TV" era where there was simply too much to watch and not enough time for a complex premise to find its footing. It’s a snapshot of a moment when network TV tried to be as daring as cable. Even if the ratings didn't hold up, the performances certainly do.