When Camp Firewood celebrated its last day of camp in the summer of 1981, it was a time for revelry. Counselors were getting married, a NASA Skylab crisis was averted, love was made, gum was chewed, and a can of vegetables inspired the cook. It was the basis for Wet Hot American Summer, the then-unloved, but now beloved, "camp movie" satire created by David Wain.
Aging like a fine wine, WHAS has become something of a cult classic. However, what has truly earned it the significant amount of attention it's amassed since its release is its cast. Some have starred in hit television series', some have become major film directors, one has earned three Academy Award nominations, and one is an Avenger.
With the third visit to Camp Firewood releasing later this summer in Wet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later, let's take a look at where the WHAS cast has ended up, with Where Are They Now? The Cast Of Wet Hot American Summer.
16. Amy Poehler
Before Amy Poehler was the star that she is today (and even before she starred in Wet Hot American Summer), she was pioneering improvisational comedy with the Upright Citizen's Brigade troupe. Along with Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh, she helped jump-start a new wave in live comedy. Now, it appears that all of her hard work has paid off.
Since starring in WHAS as Susie, Poehler has since gone on to star in The House, which also stars Will Ferrell and Jason Mantzoukas, received a paltry 18% on Rotten Tomatoes. Then again, WHAS itself rocks a meager 32%, so... maybe time will heal all wounds in this case, as well.
15. Michael Showalter
In WHAS, Michael Showalter was a fresh-faced comedian jumping off the successes of David Wain's shows, The State and Stella. After WHAS, he stuck true to his roots and maintained a solid, albeit not-quite-mainstream, career in comedy — in acting and writing. As of late, however, he's taken a much stronger turn towards directing, having just released the Kumail Nanjiani semi-autobiography, The Big Sick (which earned a solid 97% on Rotten Tomatoes).
Before that, he also directed Sally Fields in Hello, My Name Is Doris, The Baxter, and the TV series (which he also co-wrote and starred in alongside WHAS star Michael Ian Black) Michael and Michael Have Issues. In 2016, he co-created and co-wrote the sleuthing comedy series, Search Party, which stars Alia Shawkat and John Early.
14. Molly Shannon
Molly Shannon has been a household name since SNL, so when she showed up in WHAS, it was like rekindling an old friendship. Her comedic style may lack subtlety during her sketch routines (see Mary Katherine Gallagher from Superstar), but Shannon has proven over the years that she is more than some over-the-top comedian. In fact, considering the fact that she studied drama at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, it's safe to say that Molly Shannon isn't just your run-of-the-hill joker — a fact which she has proven after showing up as Gail in WHAS.
Shannon has gone on to star in television shows and films such as Marie Antoinette, Year of the Dog, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Her most recent film, however, Other People, has earned her critical acclaim — notably by way of a Best ing Female award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards.
13. Marguerite Moreau
If you're wondering why Marguerite Moreau looks so familiar (aside from her role as Katie in WHAS, of course), it's because she played Connie in The Mighty Ducks.
Now, let's move on.
As the official goodbye girl of Camp Firewood, Moreau has maintained a consistent acting career since the first WHAS. In fact, even though her familiarity is still tied to the '90s with Ducks, she's been popping up all over television for years, and in a variety of genres. You might have seen her in Shameless, but if you care enough about WHAS to read this entire list, then you've definitely experienced the pleasure of Moreau returning to play Katie in Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (as well as Ten Years Later, which has already been established).
12. David Hyde Pierce
Who really expected David Hyde Pierce to show up in a movie like Wet Hot American Summer? Known for playing the know-it-all brother on Frasier, the David Wain universe seemed like a far cry from the sort of material that fell within the actor's wheelhouse. That said, when he shows up at Camp Firewood as Astrophysics Associate Professor (that means he's "less than") Henry Newman, he fit like a glove.
Since WHAS, Pierce made a trend out of voicing animated (and costumed) characters (following his role in The Good Wife, as well as the Dustin Lance Black-scripted miniseries, When We Rise.
11. Nina Hellman
Nina Hellman's career after WHAS has been more under the radar than others. Then again, considering the fact that WHAS was one of the first acting projects she's ever worked on, that's by no means downplaying her talent.
Over the years, she's shown up in various television shows, until securing consistent voice work on the animated series, Nurse Jackie and Expecto Patron, she of course returned as Nurse Nancy in First Day of Camp, and will do so again in Ten Years Later.
A betting man will put money on the fact that her character will make some blatant sexual reference once again.
10. Ken Marino
After proving how far he was willing to run for love in WHAS, Ken Marino has been climbing the comedic ladder ever since. He started slowly, landing roles in shows such as Party Down.
Marino essentially cemented his over-the-top brand of humor in Children's Hospital, before landing a role in Fresh Off the Boat, and in April 2017, he directed his first feature-length film, How to Be a Latin Lover.
In of other work he's done behind the scenes, Marino is also the co-screenwriter on several projects he's starred in, including The Ten, Role Models, Wanderlust, and the aforementioned Children's Hospital.
9. Joe Lo Truglio
For a while now, Joe Lo Truglio has been a sort of unsung hero in the comedy world. As Neil in WHAS, Lo Truglio pretty much displays the "Best Of's" regarding his particular style. Shows like Reno 911! and The State reinforce this. He's had small roles in Pineapple Express, and Role Models, but as of late, he's been fighting crime (from behind a desk) as Charles Boyle on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
In an unexpected move, however, Lo Truglio's next big career task comes in the form of directing. He's stepping behind the camera on a film that doesn't necessarily seem to jive with the career that's led up to it thus far. The movie is titled Little Green Men, and though there is little information regarding its plot, it's being referred to as a Sci-Fi/Thriller. Whether or not he injects his comedic stamp on the film remains to be seen, but it's still grounds for intrigue, no matter the direction he ultimately takes.
8. Christopher Meloni
Much like David Hyde Pierce, Christopher Meloni is one of those actors who doesn't seem like he belongs in the WHAS universe. That said, the WHAS would be a shell of its former self without him.
Before he was Gene the Cook at Camp Firewood, Meloni was Mr. Tough Guy in shows like Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle as Freakshow, it was clear that Meloni was more than happy to blur his talents between drama and comedy.
He's recently starred in television shows like Snatched.
7. H. Jon Benjamin
If you don't recognize H. Jon Benjamin's face, then you'll certainly recognize his voice. For one, he voiced the Can of Vegetables in WHAS, but since then, he's tackled characters that are already sealed within the animated comedy gold vault. These shows include Archer (in which he plays the titular Archer), Bob's Burgers (in which he plays the titular Bob), and Home Movies (which is ittedly not as secure within the animated comedy gold vault as it ought to be).
Aside from voice work, Benjamin has also dabbled in his fair share of live-action acting. Most recently, he's shown up in Aziz Ansari's series Master of None and the alien abduction Sci-Fi Comedy People of Earth. Mostly, though, he tends to stick with the voice acting — which is where audiences tend to love him best.
Hey, it's not his fault he has the voice of an (overtired) angel (who smokes too much).