10 Familiar Faces Who Made Epic TV Comebacks

Old is new again, and all is well with the world. At least on television.

Networks are trying to re-build on the popularity of actors of television seasons past — and for the most part it seems like a winning formula. Let’s take a look at some of the familiar faces back on our screens this season.

1. John Stamos, Grandfathered

When you think of Full House, do Uncle Jesse and little Michelle come to mind? That’s what the creators of Grandfathered are banking on. John Stamos is back — a slicker, suaver, older Uncle Jesse.

And look, there’s a baby too. This time around, he is a restaurateur, living up the single life. His world is turned upside down when he finds out that not only did he father a son, but he is now a grandfather! The series milks for laughs all the trials and tribulations that come with these revelations. Uncle Jesse surfaces every time Stamos interacts with his newfound granddaughter and you feel the feels.

2. Rob Lowe, The Grinder

It feels like Robe Lowe has been around on our television or film screens forever. From St. Elmo’s Fire, to the West Wing, to Parks and Recreation, to Californication and now finally to The Grinder. It’s like he never left and never grew old. He’s always played a variation of the same guy — good looking and smooth, a man about town. And really, how can you blame anyone for typecasting him — look at him!

The Grinder is more along the same vein. Here he plays an actor who played a lawyer on television. When his show is cancelled, he goes back to his hometown in Boise and decides he knows enough to play a lawyer in real life, alongside his lawyer brother, Fred Savage (more on him to follow). Grinder has been picked up for a full season. Which means it’s been well received and also means that Rob Lowe is not leaving our television sets any time soon.

3. Calista Flockhart, Supergirl

Calista Flockhart’s first big TV role was as Ally McBeal in the late 1990’s. As the titular character she won hearts as the the quirky, sassy, smart and sometimes clumsy lawyer in her very short skirts, on the hit Fox show. She then appeared on ABC’s Brothers and Sisters for a spell. She’s back — playing against type — as the snarky, manipulative, media mogul Cat Grant.  

She’s the boss of Supergirl, Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist) whose quirkiness is somewhat reminiscent of Ally McBeal herself. It’s a different look for Flockhart, and it seems to be paying off.

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Riya Verghese

Riya is a software engineer by day and a writer by night. After years of writing code for a living, Riya decided to make time for her original love, creative writing. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her kids, reading, tweeting, and cooking. Riya also writes for DocBrownTV and UntitledTV. Follow her on Twitter: @rsarahsays