Ever spent four hours staring at a beige wall while waiting for a number that never seems to be called? We’ve all been there. It’s the universal human experience of purgatory, also known as the Department of Motor Vehicles. So, when CBS announced a sitcom set entirely within those fluorescent-lit halls, people were skeptical. But honestly? The DMV tv show cast is the reason this thing hasn't just crashed and burned.
It's a weird premise. Taking a place everyone hates and trying to make it funny is a bold move. But the show, which premiered in late 2025, leans into that misery with a cast that feels like they’ve actually worked a retail job in their lives.
The Core Crew at East Hollywood
The show centers on the East Hollywood branch, and the chemistry between the lead actors is what keeps the engine running.
Harriet Dyer plays Colette. You might know her from American Auto or Colin from Accounts. Here, she’s a driving examiner with a "big heart and bad boundaries." Basically, she’s the person who wants to be your best friend while failing you for not checking your blind spot. Dyer has this frantic energy that works perfectly against the soul-crushing boredom of her surroundings.
Then there's Tim Meadows. The man is a legend. As Gregg, a misanthropic former English teacher turned examiner, he brings that dry, deadpan delivery he perfected on SNL. He doesn't want to be there. You don't want to be there. It’s a match made in heaven.
Rounding out the main office are:
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- Tony Cavalero as Vic: A former bouncer who now uses his physical presence to intimidate "difficult" drivers. He's hilarious because he treats a Toyota Corolla like a high-stakes security detail.
- Molly Kearney: They play Barbara, the newly promoted manager. Barbara is desperately optimistic, which is perhaps the funniest character trait you can have in a government building where the printer has been broken since 1998.
- Alex Tarrant as Noa: The "new guy" from New Zealand. He's the straight man to the office's chaos, and Colette’s massive, awkward crush on him is a primary engine for the show's B-plots.
- Gigi Zumbado: She plays Ceci, the DMV photographer. She’s the one who takes those terrible photos we all have to live with for eight years.
Why the DMV TV Show Cast Feels Different
Most workplace comedies try too hard to be The Office. You’ve got the quirky boss, the prankster, the bored receptionist. But DMV feels a bit grittier. Maybe it’s because the source material is actually based on a short story by Katherine Heiny called "Chicken-Flavored and Lemon-Scented." It has this specific, observational humor that isn't just about "wacky customers."
The show deals with the actual logistics of being a public servant in a city like L.A.
Take the episode "Easy Pass." Colette has to give Noa his driving test. It sounds like a standard sitcom trope, right? But the way the DMV tv show cast plays it—the genuine anxiety of a New Zealander trying to navigate American traffic laws while his coworker stares at him—feels weirdly real.
The Guest Stars are the Secret Sauce
Because the setting is a DMV, the show has a revolving door of guest stars who represent the "unwashed masses" of frustrated drivers.
We’ve seen Mark Feuerstein show up as Brent, a guy losing his mind because he can't use an expired passport for a Real ID. We’ve had Randall Park pop in as the manager of a rival North Hollywood branch. Even Leslie Jones made an appearance as Sally, a high-level executive assistant from the Sacramento main office—or "Big Sac," as they call it on the show.
These cameos don't feel forced. They feel like the people you actually see standing in line at 10:00 AM on a Tuesday.
What People Get Wrong About the Show
A lot of critics initially thought the show would just be a series of "slow worker" jokes. You know the ones—the Sloth from Zootopia vibe.
But the show actually flips the script. The workers aren't the slow ones; they're the only ones keeping the system from collapsing while dealing with people who don't know how to fill out a Form DL 44. The humor comes from the staff's internal lives. They aren't "DMV employees"; they're people who happen to work at the DMV to pay rent.
The Future of the Series
As of early 2026, the show is on a mid-season break but is scheduled to return with new episodes on February 23. The ratings have been steady, hovering around 3 million viewers per episode, which is solid for a network comedy these days.
People are starting to connect with the characters beyond the setting. There’s a growing fan base for the "will-they-won't-they" between Colette and Noa, even if some Reddit threads think it's a bit forced. Honestly, in a workplace comedy, you need that anchor.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and New Watchers
If you haven't jumped in yet, or if you're looking to dive deeper into the world of the DMV tv show cast, here’s what you should do:
- Watch "Stick Shift" first: If the pilot feels a bit too "setup-heavy," skip to episode 5. It's where the cast really finds their rhythm and the chemistry between Tim Meadows and Molly Kearney peaks.
- Check out the source material: Read Katherine Heiny’s short story "Chicken-Flavored and Lemon-Scented." It gives you a great perspective on where Colette’s character comes from.
- Follow the cast on social: Harriet Dyer and Tony Cavalero often post behind-the-scenes clips that show the Montreal set (yes, "East Hollywood" is actually filmed in Canada).
- Catch up on Paramount+: All nine episodes of the first half of Season 1 are streaming there now. It’s a quick binge—about three hours total.
The show isn't trying to change the world. It’s just trying to make the most relatable, miserable experience in American life a little bit more bearable. With this cast, it actually pulls it off.