David Anthony Higgins: Redux

Last season, I sung my praise for the hilarious David Anthony Higgins, who made a memorable guest appearance on Mike & Molly as the nerdy baseball fan known as Harry, a lovable weight challenged geek who dovetailed nicely into their Overeaters Anonymous meetings. What turned out as a terrific guest role has turned into a recurring character on the CBS hit comedy. This is pretty damn awesome, because Higgins brings out the warmth in this sweet, awkward oddball of a man, who in last night's episode, was trying to work up the nerve to ask Molly's sister Victoria out on a date, only to have his heart broken, and then put back together again.

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Character Actor of the Day: David Anthony Higgins

CBS' Mike & Molly makes me happy. I've said it before, and I'll repeat: I like Billy Gardell and the adorable Melissa McCarthy as the Chicago love birds. Yeah, yeah, yeah...the show can be formulaic, slightly predictable, and...oh dear...three camera. But I enjoy these characters and the ensemble built around them. Especially last night, when a guest character emerged in a scene at Wrigley Field who may have stolen the show.

Character actor David Anthony Higgins guest starred in last night's episode "Opening Day" as Harry, the baseball fan who, in my opinion, killed. Higgins is part of the"that guy...where have I seen him" club. He had a recurring role on Malcolm in the Middle (as Lois' on the job drug store manager), Talk Radio and most recently Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush. Go to imbd.com. Look at his credits.You've seen him.

Guys like Higgins deserve some recognition. I hope he's back on Mike & Molly soon.

Unfortunately, the best moments with Higgins from last night's show are not available for embedding, but here's a clip of the final scene that may give you a glimpse into what Mike, Molly and their friend Carl encountered at the ballpark. And believe me, if you're a baseball fan and go to games, you've encountered a Harry. (Update. Sorry looks like CBS took down the video I embedded when I originally posted this.)



David Higgins also starred in a stage show with comedic actor David "Gruber" Allen (to whom fans of Paul F.Tompkins' monthly show at Largo in Los Angeles will be largely familiar), and Late Night with Fallon's Steve Higgins. This is super funny.

Mike and Molly

If there was one thing I was concerned about CBS' Mike and Molly, is that the fat jokes were going to fly at the expense of the two lead characters. In fact, there was a moment during the pilot that annoyed me: When Molly's skinny mom (played by Swoozie Kurtz) and her voluptuous sister (played by Katy Mixon) eat up a freshly baked chocolate cake while Molly is sweating it up on an elliptical machine beside them. Here we go, I thought. Skinny people indulging in something the key character of the show cannot have - dessert. But as the pilot continued, and as the past few weeks of Mike and Molly evolved with character development, I've grown to love this show.

Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy play Mike and Molly respectively - and respectfully. They both bring an honesty to their characters, are very likable, and you root for them. The writing is funny and the ensemble cast really gels. It's also refreshing to see two key romantic characters look like real people - not impossibly gorgeous, cookie cutter blonds with muscle and perfection to which most people cannot relate.

Watch Mike and Molly on Monday nights 9:30 pm et/8:30pm ct.