25 Reasons 'The Good Wife' Had the Best Guest Cast Ever

Mandi Bierly

May 5, 2016 at 7:38 AM

1. The writers knew that when you have a great character, you keep him (or her) in your world.

2. They created a role worthy of Michael J. Fox.

3. They acknowledged that judges have personalities and personal views — and how they remain fair (unless they’re being bribed or just want to move their day along, of course).

4. They recognized another truth: Just because you have young kids doesn’t mean you’re soft.

5. They weren’t afraid to go quirky. Like really, really quirky.

6. They wouldn’t let you judge a book by its cover.

7. They knew a face you would want to slap — but wouldn’t want to stop watching.

9. They knew people with opposing views could be civil.

11. They knew how to make feminists think.?

13. They made us wish Matthew Perry could have stuck around.

14. They took advantage of filming in NYC.

15. They wrote sexy, accomplished women over 40.

17. They gave us a millennial we didn’t hate!

18. They always found new and different foils for Eli (Alan Cumming).

23. They created their own version of Snowden.

24. They even knew how to cast the right dog.

25. And finally, on the rare occasion they made a misstep, the role (read: Kalinda’s ex) was cast with someone who’d make it easy to forget.

1. The writers knew that when you have a great character, you keep him (or her) in your world.

Dylan Baker has earned three Emmy nominations for playing Colin Sweeney, an accused wife killer who first appeared in Season 1′s thirteenth episode, “Bad,” and returned often enough to be dubbed Alicia’s creepiest client (“I like you, Mrs. Florrick,” he once told her. “You feed my Mary Poppins obsession”). When the audience knows a recurring character well enough to find a cutaway shot to him scowling in a courtroom funny, you’ve done your job. (Credit: John Paul Filo/CBS)

When The Good Wife ends its seven-season run on May 8, the CBS drama will be remembered for many things: the empowering evolution of Alicia (Julianna Margulies), the continuous delight that was watching Christine Baranski in a role that has earned her an Emmy nomination for every season to date, and some of TV’s best writing. Of course it’s that last one that is truly responsible for the show being revered for its great guest stars. But here are 25 more reasons why that roster is the best ever.

The Good Wife series finale airs May 8 at 9 p.m. on CBS.

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25 Reasons 'The Good Wife' Had the Best Guest Cast Ever

1. The writers knew that when you have a great character, you keep him (or her) in your world.