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Chris Parnell admits he's been playing the same character on different shows

Christopher Hooton
Tuesday 12 April 2016 09:07 BST
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Parnell as Dr. Leo Spaceman in 30 Rock
Parnell as Dr. Leo Spaceman in 30 Rock (NBC)

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Chris Parnell has one of those voices that just lends itself to a certain kind of character, and not a very cool one, the actor freely admits.

This isn’t to say he’s typecast - 30 Rock’s Dr. Leo Spaceman is a million miles from Anchorman’s Garth Holliday - but he has played/voiced a few pretty similar characters.

So similar in fact, that a couple are actually just the same guy.

In a recent Reddit AMA, Parnell was asked: “What's the difference between Jerry [Rick and Morty] and Cyril [Archer]? They both seem to have similar levels of complete incompetence while also boasting large egos.

He responded blankly: “They are exactly the same character.”

As for the coolest character he’s played, he couldn’t think of one.

“Wow...that's a tough one,” he replied. "I don't know if I've ever really played anybody super cool. That's not the kind of role people like to cast me in. I just can't figure out why.”

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