The Conners season 5 latest casting announcement suggests that the sitcom is set up to repeat one of season 4’s most welcome surprises. The Conners might be a sitcom about a working-class family, but that has not stopped the show from occasionally featuring some starry cameos. Like Roseanne, The Conners focuses on the brutal realities of life on the poverty line, but both shows still find time for cameos from the likes of George Clooney and Aaron Rodgers.

Country singer Jimmie Allen disclosed on social media that he would be playing a role in The Conners season 5 and this cameo can fulfill a similar role. While celebrity cameos can smack of desperation for some shows, The Conners has never run into this issue. On the contrary, some of the funniest moments in The Conners season 4 came from Eagles guitarist and rock legend Joe Walsh, who played Aldo’s dim-witted dad Jesse. As such, the news that Jimmie Allen will play a role on the show could be promising since it proves that, while The Conners season 5 made major cast changes, the sitcom can’t be accused of abandoning what makes the series work.

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Who Jimmie Allen Plays In The Conners Season 5

Jimmie Allen performing at a concert

Jimmie Allen offered no clues about the role he will play in The Conners season 5 when he shared the news on Twitter, simply saying that he looked forward to the episode and was learning his lines as he made the announcement. This means Allen could be playing himself since the "Best Shot" singer is a fairly famous face in the country music world. However, since Walsh opted to play an original character in The Conners season 4, this could be the route that Allen takes too. While The Conners season 4 struggled with Louise and Dan’s relationship, the show won over fans and critics alike with Walsh’s goofy cameo role.

Why Jimmie Allen’s Conners Cameo Can Recreate Season 4’s Best Joke

Dan and Jesse jam in The Conners season 4

Regardless of who Allen plays, his unexpected addition to the cast of The Conners could recreate Walsh’s success on the series. Since Walsh’s character Jesse didn't play a pivotal role in any episode, he never outstayed his welcome, but because the character was so chaotic, he always upped the conflict and drama quotient of every story he appeared in. Allen could potentially do the same if The Conners gives him a similarly anarchic role to play, which would be a smart choice since now that The Conners season 5 has given even Becky a redemptive arc, the show needs fresh agents of chaos in its midst.

Why The Conners Casts Non-Actors As Guest Stars

The Conners spinoff cast

Joe Walsh had some minor acting roles to his name before The Conners but was primarily known as a musician. Like Roseanne bringing Jesco White on for a guest spot, The Conners is more interested in the cultural cache of its guests than their acting experience. This goes for Allen too, who has not done any acting outside of music videos before this role. Since The Conners is a broad sitcom, the show can get away with casting less experienced actors, particularly when the bulk of each episode’s story is shared by television comedy veterans like Sara Gilbert, John Goodman, and Laurie Metcalf.

New episodes of The Conners air on ABC on Wednesdays.

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