Alan Barinholtz in ‘Jury Duty’.Photo:Amazon Freevee
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Amazon Freevee
Their bond goes beyond the (fake) courtroom.
Over a year afterJury Dutytook over the internet and stole fans' hearts, Alan Barinholtz, who played Judge Alan Rosen, tells PEOPLE that the cast remains a tight-knit crew.
“There’s seven or eight of us who since the inception ofJury Dutyfor almost two-plus years, we do Wordle every morning together,” Alan tells PEOPLE in a recent interview following his win onWho Wants to Be a Millionaire.
The Amazon Freevee series, which also starredJames Marsden, Mekki Leeper and Edy Modica, was set up as a mockumentary, where all but one participant knew it was fiction.
Ronald Gladden, the unassuming breakout star ofJury Duty, passed the eight episodes thinking he was taking part in a real case as the foreperson of the jury. All of the other characters, including all of his fellow jury members, were actors and comedians flexing their improv muscles with hilarious results.
Alan Barinholtz (left) and Ronald Gladden in ‘Jury Duty’.Amazon Freevee
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“It was all fake except for one important element: you,” he began. “You used your innate sense of compassion and reason to lead this jury to a just verdict.”
The cast of ‘Jury Duty’.JC Olivera/Getty
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Perhaps due in part to the unusual nature of the show, and its emotional confusion, the cast made a strong bond and have remained friends through the media storm surroundingJury Dutyand their new ventures, including Alan’s recentWho Wants to Be a Millionairewin alongside his son,Ike Barinholtz.
The duo won $1 million on the competition show on an episode that aired Thursday, Aug. 14, to benefit an ASL program at their nephew and grandson’s school. While Ike told PEOPLE he’s excited to tell hisMindy ProjectcostarMindy Kalingabout their win, Alan can’t wait to share the news with hisJury Dutycastmates.
“We also have a group [chat] with all 20+ members of the cast, and they all know aboutMillionaire.None of them know the conclusion, so I’m hoping that a bunch of them watch, and it’ll be a lot of fun,” Alan says.
Alan Barinholtz (left) and son Ike Barinholtz on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’.DISNEY/Christopher Willard
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DISNEY/Christopher Willard
Getting the role onJury Dutycame as a bit of a surprise for Alan, who spent the majority of his working life as an actual lawyer.
When the opportunity came around, his sons, Ike and Jon, encouraged him and helped him audition. The unconventional series has now served as a launching pad for Alan’s second career and Ike and Jon — who Alan calls the “coolest sons” — have continued to be his “advisors.”
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Jury Dutyis now streaming on Amazon’s free streaming site, Freevee.
source: people.com