Comedian and actor Al Madrigal, known for his sharp wit honed in San Francisco’s vibrant comedy scene, brought his talents to the set of the NBC mockumentary sitcom, St. Denis Medical. Madrigal, a former “Senior Latino Correspondent” for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and a stand-up veteran, appeared as guest star Michael, a building inspector.
In a recent interview, he emphasized that his excitement for the role stemmed largely from the opportunity to work alongside the show’s established and impressive cast.
Admiration for the Comedy Veterans
Madrigal singled out several cast members for their comedic prowess. He expressed a long-time appreciation for David Alan Grier, who plays Dr. Ron, calling himself a huge DAG fan on TV and in real life.
I’m a huge DAG fan on TV and in real life. And so I love David Allen Greer. I think he is one of the funniest people I’ve encountered. So even though we didn’t have scenes, I was excited to be on a show with him.
Enjoying the On-Set Dynamic
He also heaped praise upon Wendi McLendon-Covey, who stars as the hospital’s ambitious executive director, Joyce Henderson. Madrigal described her as uber-talented and referred to her as one of the most talented, talented comedic actors of all time.
Madrigal’s character, Michael, is a building inspector who develops a weird connection with Joyce during the episode. Working opposite McLendon-Covey was a highlight for Madrigal, who admitted he was completely captivated by her performance.
“Watching her change from scene to scene was amazing. It’s hard not to when you’re working with somebody like that, to just like watch a little bit too. You know, when it’s their coverage, you’re just like, ‘Oh my God, she’s so good’.”
Madrigal also gave a nod to the show’s stellar lineup of guest stars, noting that the cast for the season included fellow comedians like David Hornsby and his friend Paul Scheer, expressing that he was thrilled to be in their company and the company of the entire extremely talented cast.
A Natural Fit for the Mockumentary
While Al Madrigal’s acting resume is diverse, he found the straight-man character of Michael to be a simple and natural fit. He explained that playing a character like the building inspector, whose primary goal is just to do their job and leave, wasn’t a stretch for him.
He concluded that his appearance on the show underscored his appreciation for high-caliber comedy, making his guest-starring role on the highly praised St. Denis Medical a comedic home run.
St. Denis Medical airs Mondays on NBC at 8/7c and is available to stream the next day on Peacock.
