By Courtney Potter
Hulu’s Phony is a coming-of-age mystery about Sam (Sam Nivola), a teenager who wakes up in the hospital after a car accident to discover his mom Ellen (Connie Britton)—his only parent, and his best friend—appears to have been replaced by an impostor. The series, created by Nick Paley, also stars Grace Brennan, Maliq Johnson, Colter Lee, Meera Syal, and Mahaela Park. Look for it, with all its quirky humor and intriguing mystery, streaming on Hulu on Disney+ beginning October 20.
Britton is no stranger to the worlds of Disney; TV aficionados will recall her role as Nikki on the late 1990s ABC sitcom Spin City, as well as her more recent turn as Rayna on ABC’s primetime drama Nashville. But that’s not all: Britton has made several other memorable appearances—and to celebrate the premiere of Phony, we’re taking a spin (pun intended) through a few! Check ‘em out, in essentially chronological order, below...
Nikki Faber on ABC’s Spin City (1996-2000)
Britton costarred on this ABC sitcom as Nikki, an accountant at the New York City Mayor’s Office. Confident and free-spirited, she’s often badgered by her family about her star-crossed love life. Speaking of which: She develops an on-again, off-again relationship with Mike (Michael J. Fox), the city’s deputy mayor. Hijinks, as they so often do, ensue.
Madeleine on ABC’s Cupid (1998)
The actress appeared on the pilot episode for this short-lived ABC sitcom starring Jeremy Piven as Trevor—a guy who may or may not be the Roman god of love, sent to Earth to bring couples together. As fate would have it, Trevor winds up in a mental hospital under the care of psychologist (and renowned authority on love) Dr. Claire Allen (Paula Marshall). While she agrees with his cause, she questions whether he really is who he says he is. (This series was brought back again in 2009, this time starring Bobby Cannavale.)
Gertrude Temple in Child Star: The Shirley Temple Story (2001)
Based on Shirley Temple's 1988 autobiography, this made-for-TV movie aired as part of ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney series. The film details the early life and career of the 1930s child actress, from her birth and first dance lessons to her rise to stardom in a series of Fox musical comedies and subsequent transition to teen actress—as well as the impact she made on American culture during the height of the Great Depression. Britton co-starred as Shirley’s mother, Gertrude, who often worked as her personal coach.
Rachel Davis on ABC’s Lost at Home (2003)
In this short-lived ABC sitcom, ad agency superstar Michael Davis (Mitch Rouse) is full of ambition—but he is losing touch with his family. The successful strategies that made him a success at work are, not so surprisingly, useless at home. So his wife Rachel (Britton) gives him an ultimatum, and he tries to win his family back... to moderate results.
Diane Huxley on FOX’s 24 (Season 5, 2006)
For the uninitiated, each season of the FOX series 24 took place over a single day. Before the events of Season 5’s “Day 5,” Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) was in hiding, as “Frank Flynn”—and rented a room from single mother Diane Huxley (Britton) in Southern California’s Mojave Desert. The two started having feelings for each other... so it came as the ultimate surprise when “Frank” suddenly took her son Derek (Brady Corbet) hostage and made his way up to Los Angeles. Diane, obviously, then learns of Jack’s real identity and gets swept up for a time in some dangerous events.
Vivien Harmon on FX’s American Horror Story: Murder House (2011)
If you’ve never seen an episode of the Ryan Murphy anthology series American Horror Story, buckle in—and maybe watch with the lights on. This particular season told the story of the Harmon family, who moves from Boston into a Victorian home in Los Angeles they come to find out is known as the “Murder House.” Vivien (Britton), already reeling from a miscarriage, is trying to trust her philandering husband Ben (Dylan McDermott) again. Eventually, through means we won’t describe here, Vivien becomes pregnant with twins by two different men. (Yes, you read that correctly.) But as this is a house positively chockablock with spirits, things go extremely haywire. You’ll have to watch for yourself... if you dare!
Rayna Jaymes on ABC’s Nashville (2012-2016)
Britton costarred on this tune-filled series—during both its ABC and CMT runs—as Rayna, one of country music’s top female vocalists... but she realizes she’s going to have to reinvent herself if she plans on staying relevant. Rayna’s father, Lamar Wyatt (Powers Boothe), is one of Nashville’s most powerful businessmen—and he doesn’t make things easy for her; neither does her husband Teddy Conrad (Eric Close), who aligns himself with Lamar to run for office. In the meantime, newcomer Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) is not about to let anyone stand in the way of her success—much less Rayna.
Abigail “Abby” Clark on FOX’s 9-1-1 (2018, guest appearance 2020)
Britton starred on the first season of this series, which currently airs on ABC. She portrayed 9-1-1 operator Abby Clark, who spends most of her time outside of the dispatch center caring for her elderly mother, who has Alzheimer’s. She begins a relationship with firefighter Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark)—but after her mother’s eventual passing, she leaves to travel the world, and doesn’t return to Los Angeles. Several years later, though, she and her new fiancée are involved in a train collision during a trip from their new home in Arizona to L.A., and she winds up calling 9-1-1 only to connect with Buck’s sister, and current dispatcher, Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt).
Don’t miss Britton on Phony, premiering Tuesday, October 20—only on Hulu on Disney+!