The “absolutely genius” TV show Julianne Moore would have loved to be in

Posted On November 17, 2025November 17, 2025

These days, Julianne Moore is best known for big-screen hits like The Big Lebowski, Boogie Nights, and Still Alice – but she actually kicked off her career on telly, making her small-screen debut way back in the 1980s.

The actor eventually got her big break when she appeared in Todd Haynes’ Safe, playing a woman who contracts a mysterious illness which makes her allergic to the outside world. Her bold performance captivated critics, and finally, after over a decade of trying to make it, Moore had made a name for herself in the industry.

Moore has cycled through various genres in her time, from sci-fi and horror to rom-coms and psychological thrillers, but since her Hollywood breakthrough, her television choices have been much more sporadic. Tending to stick to miniseries, Moore’s television choices align more closely with cinema, but there are two sitcoms that she wishes she could’ve starred in, which would’ve opened up a whole new avenue for her career.

The actor isn’t a stranger to sitcoms, having appeared in six episodes of 30 Rock in the past as Nancy Donovan, but she wishes she could’ve had a part in some other popular entries to the beloved genre – that’s if she ever found time outside of her busy movie schedule.

Talking to AV Club, Moore revealed her love of comedy, although she admits it’s not an easy genre to master. It takes real wit and perfect timing to be effortlessly funny, so when people do it well, you can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy that you didn’t come up with such a well-executed joke yourself.

“Oh, comedy is incredibly difficult,” the actor explained. “When I think about what I like to watch, honestly, if I could have been on a show like Arrested Development… I think that show is absolutely genius. Or The Office.”

Running for five seasons and revolutionising the comedy genre with its single camera format and absurd humour, Arrested Development has a dedicated cult following, and Moore proudly considers herself a huge fan. Perhaps in another universe she could’ve had a prominent role in the show, but these things don’t always work out. The same goes for The Office, presumably the hugely popular US version, which Moore could’ve easily fit right into.

With her comedic capabilities carrying many great performances, Moore is underutilised in the sitcom genre, so maybe that’s where she needs to focus her attention next. “I said that to somebody the other day, ‘Jeez. That’s what I like to watch. Maybe I should have been on that.’ So I don’t know. Your career brings you to funny places,” she admits. 

That’s one of the hardest things about being an actor (although, what do I know?). When you love a show or a movie, the desire to have been a part of it surely takes its toll, but all you can do is sit back and appreciate it for what it is. And it’s not too late for Moore to be part of a surreal, deadpan sitcom – in fact, it’s about time another unforgettable one came around.

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