Happy’s Place Boss Reveals the Oscar Winner at the Top of His Season 3 Guest Star Wish List

The freshman season of NBC’s Happy’s Place has been a delightful treating-ground for fans of classic sitcoms, effectively serving as a mini Reba reunion. Over the course of its run, the show has successfully brought in the “big three” from Reba McEntire’s iconic previous series: Steve Howey, Christopher Rich, and JoAnna Garcia Swisher.

Naturally, with a Season 3 renewal on the horizon, fans and critics alike are wondering which familiar faces might pop up next from the Reba universe—or perhaps from executive producer Kevin Abbott’s other hit series, Last Man Standing.

The answer? None of the above.

In a recent interview, the showrunner revealed that he is looking well beyond his past filmography for the show’s next major guest star. Instead, he has his sights set on Hollywood royalty.

The Ultimate Get: Octavia Spencer

When pressed about who sits at the absolute top of the Happy’s Place Season 3 wish list, Abbott dropped a major bombshell: Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer.

“Actually, not anybody from Reba or Last Man Standing,” Abbott admitted. “We got word — I don’t know if it’s still true, but I hope so — that Octavia Spencer wanted to do the show.”

Rather than fitting a powerhouse talent like Spencer into a rigid, pre-written character, Abbott prefers a collaborative approach. He envisions crafting a bespoke role alongside the actress, ensuring it’s something she is genuinely excited to play.

“That’s what I’d want to do with Octavia — sit down and say, ‘Here’s what we think could be interesting, but what do you want to do?'” Abbott explained. “I love collaborating and taking things in unexpected places. That would be something I’d really love to do.”

The Art of the “Stunt Cast” (And a Michael Bublé Near-Miss)

This wouldn’t be the first time Happy’s Place has pivoted to accommodate major star power. Abbott shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes secret regarding Eric Stonestreet’s memorable guest appearance, revealing that the Modern Family alum wasn’t actually the first choice for the role.

Originally, the network intended to cast global music superstar Michael Bublé, who shares a working relationship with Reba McEntire on NBC’s The Voice.

“He’d said he wanted to do the show… but then he had visa issues and couldn’t do it, so we scrambled,” Abbott recalled.

With the network and studio locked into the idea of high-profile “stunt casting,” Abbott reached out to Stonestreet, who had previously expressed interest. Though the initial character wasn’t an immediate showstopper, the creative team sat down for a half-hour brainstorming session, completely reshaping the role into the fan-favorite character that ultimately made it to air.

Will Past Favorites Return?

While the focus for Season 3 is on fresh talent like Spencer, Abbott hasn’t entirely closed the door on the Reba alumni network. He expressed a strong desire to bring back Steve Howey, though scheduling could prove to be a major hurdle.

Howey has recently found massive success after landing a role on ABC’s breakout hit drama series High Potential. While a return to the Happy’s Place bar isn’t out of the question, coordinating production schedules between two major network shows is always a logistical jigsaw puzzle.

For now, the creative team is looking forward, hoping that a mix of collaborative writing and star-studded ambition will bring an Oscar winner to the sitcom stage.

What kind of character would you love to see Octavia Spencer play opposite Reba? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!