Everyone knows the best way to learn history is with a side of alcohol, and if some talented actors can get involved then all the better. Comedy Central’s Drunk History (adapted from host Derek Waters’ original Funny or Die web series) is consistently just the ticket. Each episode tells a few historical tales that are as true as the extremely drunk storytelling host can remember, while celebrity actors try to lip sync and act out the storyteller’s version of events. Grab your favorite drink(s) and settle in–here are Drunk History’s top ten celebrity guest stars.
10. Maya Rudolph in S3E2 “Miami” as Griselda Blanco/The Black Widow/The Godmother of Cocaine
One of the biggest challenges of Drunk History is editing—making sure the drunk storytelling actually has an arc and that actors can match up with the drunk ramblings of the storytellers is no simple task. In this tale of the Godmother of Cocaine, Maya Rudolph’s wonderful acting and expressive face bring Dan Harmon’s storytelling to the next level.
Rudolph plays the strong and ruthless Griselda Blanco of the Medellin cartel with all her usual charm and humor, creating a character that will go down in Drunk History… well, history. The same episode also stars Josh Hartnett as Clark Gable and Johnny Knoxville as Ponce de Leon.
9. Ryan Gosling, Drunk History Christmas
Drunk History returned to Funny or Die in 2011 for a very special Christmas episode. Host Allan McLeod drank some whiskey and tried to recite “T’was The Night Before Christmas,” with Ryan Gosling appearing as the poem’s main narrator. One of the best parts of Drunk History is watching the actors wait for the storyteller to remember the next bit, and Gosling does not disappoint. He stares into the camera with signature Gosling (im)patience, waiting for McLeod to get him to the window, stop snacking, and allow the holiday cheer to begin. Gosling’s wife Eva Mendes stars alongside him, and Jim Carrey shows up as Santa.
8. Laura Dern in S2E2 “New York City” as Nellie Bly
This episode focuses on the story of Nellie Bly, a journalist who got herself committed to a mental health institution in order to expose how awfully the patients were being treated. Laura Dern takes to the role of Bly like a fish to water, moving seamlessly through the haphazard narration of JD Ryznar to create an amazing feminist hero for Drunk History.
Dern vows to show that she’s really smart, barks her way into the asylum (hard to say if the real Bly got there by impersonating a dog), and endures two nurses flirting to come out of there as one of the best guests from the show.
7. Jason Momoa in S2E9 “Sports Heroes” as Jim Thorpe
Preston Flagg’s narration of the story of Jim Thorpe, one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century, is a charming and mostly straightforward tale. Suitably, Jason Momoa stars as Jim Thorpe, playing the athlete with earnestness and boyish appeal.
The scene in the locker room when Thorpe has to scrounge up a new pair of shoes after his own are stolen is a particular highlight of Momoa’s winsome role. While Flagg’s tale doesn’t give in to a lot of meandering for Momoa to work out, Momoa does get to play a few moments of silly grandiose bragging for an otherwise kind of humble role.
6. Don Cheadle in Drunk History vol. 5 as Frederick Douglass
Jen Kirkman drinks a couple of bottles of wine and tells us the story of how Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln united over the issues of slavery and racism to become friends. Don Cheadle’s Frederick Douglass spars with Will Ferrell’s Abraham Lincoln over the issues of the Civil War, trying to find common ground so they can all move forward. Kirkman’s tale gives Cheadle plenty to do, including a rousing speech about how Lincoln was all right, despite being a white guy, and then “sticking up for ladies,” which we definitely can’t fault him for. Zooey Deschanel also makes a wonderful surprise appearance as Mary Todd Lincoln.
5. John Cho in S4E8 “Landmarks” as William Shakespeare
Almost everyone knows about William Shakespeare and his performances in the legendary Globe Theatre, but it’s the origins of the theatre that Mark Gagliardi tells the story of in this episode. John Cho appears on the scene as Shakespeare, the enterprising young dramatist who steals his theatre out from under the nose of a petty landlord. The story is true (though Shakespeare’s involvement is unclear), but it’s Cho who makes Shakespeare the character you want to cheer for in bare minutes of screentime. His unique mixture of gravitas and exuberance work well in this heist story, bringing Gagliardi’s excited and loving retelling of this story to life.
4. Adam Scott in S1E1 “Washington D.C.” as John Wilkes Booth
Toward the end of his time as Ben Wyatt on Parks and Recreation, Adam Scott guest starred in the first ever episode of Drunk History. He appeared alongside actors like Jack Black, Jack McBrayer, Bob Odenkirk, Fred Willard, and Dave Grohl. In it, he helps Allan McLeod tell the story of John Wilkes Booth and Edwin Booth, the two brothers and actors, one of whom killed Abraham Lincoln, and the other of whom is largely forgotten despite trying to capitalize on his brother’s notoriety. Scott plays McLeod’s interpretation of John Wilkes Booth like a high-strung and confused narcissist obsessed with killing tyrants. It works because Scott so completely commits to make JWB look off his rocker.
3. Octavia Spencer in S3E4 “Spies” as Harriet Tubman
Storyteller Crissle West takes us on a quick journey through one of the lesser known parts of Harriet Tubman’s life: Her daring military exploits as a spy for the Union during the Civil War. From the second Octavia Spencer as Tubman strides onto the screen, all eyes are on her. She steals the spotlight so completely, she leaves you a little breathless after her five-minute story is up. If you barely remember Harriet Tubman as just an old lady who freed some slaves, give Spencer and West just a few minutes to show you what a bad b*tch she actually was.
2. Evan Rachel Wood in S6E1 “Are You Afraid of the Drunk?” As Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (Mary Shelley)
Rich Fulcher gets drunk in the woods with Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Derek Waters to tell us the story of how Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (later, Mary Shelley) came up with the story of Frankenstein. Fulcher’s storytelling is meandering and hilarious, but Evan Rachel Wood commits to every word and nuance in his voice.
When he yells, she looks enraged, when he repeats the word “What” 18 times, she makes sure every repetition stands alone as a piece of comedy. Her appearance is among the funniest in the show’s history–creator Derek Waters described it as, “one of the best performances” ever on the show. and her costars—Elijah Wood, Seth Rogen, Will Ferrell, and Jack McBrayer—are the icing on the cake.
1. Alia Shawkat in S4E10 “Hamilton” as Alexander Hamilton
We can totally see a duel breaking out over who gave the better performance in this episode: Alia Shawkat as Alexander Hamilton or Aubrey Plaza as Aaron Burr. We’re giving the edge to Shawkat, if only for the utter delight with which she acts out Lin-Manuel Miranda’s narration of the Battle of Yorktown. (The saucy wink when we find out who really won the duel helps too.) Miranda’s storytelling is some of the most fun in the series, and he takes us on a romp made real by the infectious personalities cast in this episode. In addition to Shawkat and Plaza, this episode features Tony Hale, David Grohl, and Bokeem Woodbine being utter delights.
