Cue the laugh track — “Studio C” is bringing in funnyman Rainn Wilson as a special guest for its upcoming season.
“We are so excited to announce the premiere of Season 22 will air April 6th and feature special guest star Rainn Wilson!!!” the BYUtv sketch comedy series announced Monday.
Fans of the series responded enthusiastically to the news, with one commenting, “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go tell everyone on the planet.”
Another wrote, “This is a dream come true.”
Wilson, best known for his role as eccentric salesman Dwight Schrute on the hit sitcom “The Office,” will appear on the upcoming “Studio C” season premiere, “I’m Dead Part 435 with Rainn Wilson,” performing in several sketches that include a wild smear campaign, a meltdown over a brownie and a cosmic grudge.
A sneak preview of the Wilson-led episode will launch on the “Studio C” YouTube channel on Friday, April 3.
“Studio C,” which was launched in 2012 by a group of BYU students and alumni, has previously welcomed high-profile guest stars, including Terry Crews, Josh Peck, Jon Heder, Kenan Thompson, Johnny Knoxville, Will Forte, Jack McBrayer and others.
Rainn Wilson’s honorary Utah college degree
Wilson is no stranger to Utah colleges. The comedian previously visited the state in 2024 to address 3,700 graduates at Weber State University’s commencement ceremony.
Ahead of his address, the Emmy-nominated actor received an honorary doctorate degree from Weber State University for his contributions to the arts and philanthropy.
He then delivered a message on faith, hope, love and overcoming adversity — while also telling jokes that left the crowd roaring with laughter.
After sharing half a dozen “Office”-related quips, Wilson reminded the audience, “This isn’t Dwight’s speech, this is Rainn’s speech.”
“Let’s face it, I’m old, I’ve been through a lot, I’ve suffered, I’ve pounded my head against the wall both literally and figuratively. I’ve tried a lot of things and failed at a lot of things,” Wilson said.
He added, “I’ve gained a lot of what us oldster boomers would call wisdom over the years.”
The comedian then asked the graduates to cultivate qualities that will help them live a joyful life in an age of cynicism, followed by sharing bits of what he considers “the meaning of life.”
He encouraged the crowd to become “other-centered,” focusing on serving others rather than indulging in shopping, partying or gaming. He also emphasized the value of cultivating relationships and expressing genuine love and warmth to others.
Finally, Wilson told graduates to “keep hope alive.”
“Don’t give in to the bitterness and the cynicism and pessimism of these modern times. Keep hope alive, like Jesus — and SpongeBob,” he said. “Bring Joy into your work, into your family life, into your friendships and above all, into your service to others. Trust me. If you do, you’ll be greatly rewarded.”
What has ‘Studio C’ been up to?
More than 3.4 million fans subscribe to “Studio C,” which launched in 2012 on BYUtv and became a viral phenomenon during its early years with popular sketches such as “Top Soccer Shootout Ever With Scott Sterling” and “Best Volleyball Block Ever With Scott Sterling.”
Other fan-favorite sketches include “Power of Fortune Cookies” with 84 million views, “The Crayon Song Gets Ruined” with 46 million views and “They’re in Training” with 37 million views.
Known for its clean, family-friendly humor and clever sketches, “Studio C” remains a staple on BYUtv.
With more than 1,500 episodes on YouTube and over 200 episodes on BYUtv, the series, which was created by a group of BYU students and alumni, has continued for 21 seasons, with its 22nd premiering in April.
All 10 original “Studio C” cast members have since left the series, many of whom have returned for brief appearances in recent seasons. Despite cast changes, the sketch comedy series continues to produce clean comedy on a weekly basis.