CBS’s hit investigative murder mystery series Elsbeth is back for season 2! The spin-off series from The Good Wife franchise has returned with Emmy-winner and Broadway alum Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni, “an astute but unconventional attorney who uses her singular point of view to make unique observations and corner brilliant criminals alongside the NYPD,” according to the official synopsis.

Returning to the second season are Broadway performers Wendell Pierce (Death of a Salesman) and Carra Patterson (Jitney) as precinct captain C.W. Wagner and partner in justice Office Kaya Bianke, respectively.

Like many of our favorite crime dramas, Elsbeth takes place and films in New York City. What does that mean for us theatre fans? Lots of familiar Broadway faces making guest star appearances, that’s what! Last spring, we gave you some of our favorite cameos that appeared in the premiere season, and we’re back to give you more. So far, the hit show has had Tony winners and nominees, a Dear Evan Hansen alum, and even a familiar face from The Good Wife. While we joked about it in our last recap, could this mean the possibility of more cameos from The Good Wife franchise (hint: Audra McDonald or Christine Baranski)?

Whatever the future holds for Elsbeth and her team, we’ll be watching. The second half of season 2 begins January 30. In the meantime, you can catch up on season 1 and the first eight episodes of season 2, now streaming on Paramount+.

Stop reading now if you want to avoid spoilers.

Season 2, Episode 1: Subscription to Murder

Well, there are a few ways to make a big splash for your season two premiere, and what better way than an appearance from three-time Tony winner Nathan Lane! Lane plays an opera-obsessed perfectionist whose nights at the opera are suddenly sullied when a Wall Street himbo (played by Corey Mach) sits directly in front of Lane. Wouldn’t a ruined evening caused by ringing (and answered) phones, loud potato chip chewing, and more antics drive anyone to the brink? Elsbeth is on the case, working with Prayer for the French Republic‘s Daniel Oreskes as Detective Buzz Fleming.

Episode 2: The Wrong Stuff

Billionaires. They’re just like us, right? When training to travel to a space station, a group of billionaires become murder suspects when one of them is killed in a not-so-freak “accident” during a session. To help Elsbeth solve the case, the NY Fire Department is called in to help assess the explosion. Enter Fire Marshall Jake Turling played by the ever-so-dreamy John Behlmann (Smash), who might be trying to start some romantic flames of his own with Elsbeth. 

Making a small cameo this episode is Broadway favorite Christian Borle, who is actually known to Good Wife. Borle reprises his role as Chicago lawyer Carter Schmidt who worked with Elsbeth at her previous firm. Schmidt warns that a past divorce case they worked on might be coming back to haunt them. Hopefully, we will see more of him in season two!

Episode 3: Devil’s Night

When an ex-child star, Mac, wakes up with a bad hangover, no memory of the last 24 hours, and is covered in blood, Elsbeth must help her recover her steps to determine if she committed murder on Halloween. Through the course of the investigation, the team attends a party thrown by Mac’s friend and former producer Roya (How to Dance in Ohio‘s Haven Burton). Could Roya’s pet monkey and invisible ink hand stamps be the key to figuring out whodunnit?

Episode 4: Diamonds Are for Elsbeth

If there is one thing people love to watch, it’s an elaborate jewel heist. And what do people enjoy watching more than that? A heist gone bad! Broadway and screen royalty Vanessa Williams (West End’s The Devil Wears Prada) plays Roslyn Bridwell, a fading socialite whose funds have dried up and will soon be kicked out of one of the most exclusive jewelry stores in NYC. But she isn’t going down without a fight. Williams’ character hatches a scheme with a ragtag team, including disgruntled store employee Judith (Becky Ann Baker), to pull it off. However, everything does not go to plan and some drastic measures must be taken.

Episode 5: Elsbeth Flips the Bird

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Elsbeth investigates the attack on a world-renowned chef and the death of a staff member at her five-star restaurant. The episode sees a return of not one, but two season 1 Broadway guest stars. First, leading the case (though let’s be honest, no detective is really in charge if Elsbeth is involved) is NYPD Detective Edwards, played by Tony nominee Micaela Diamond. Also back is Tony winner Laura Benanti playing supermodel (now turned friend) Nadine Clay, who uses her VIP status to help Elsbeth gain access to a seat at the chef’s table. If there is one thing you can count on with a Benanti cameo is some great one-liners and laughs…even when murder is afoot. 

The episode also features a short cameo from Ciara Renée (Waitress) as pop star TruRose. The singer is filing for divorce from one of Elsbeth’s former clients in Chicago and pleads for help, while ominously telling Elsbeth that helping her can make right the things she did for her former husband. Could this be the mystery case that Borle’s character warned about in episode two?

Episode 6: Gold, Frankincense, and Murder

Murder? At Christmas? Crime never takes a holiday at Elsbeth when Broadway funnyman Christopher Fitzgerald‘s (Spamalot) character Dirk Dasher, a celebrity Christmas curator, hatches a sinister plan to get rid of his wife. Unfortunately, the plan backfires. And who is witness to it all? & Juliet‘s Michael Ivan Carrier as Laird, the overworked, abused, and drama queen executive assistant to celebrity fashion editor Gisela Mott. Nothing says Happy Holidays like homicide!

Also, in a fun surprise for fans of the show and Broadway, Ben Levi Ross (Dear Evan Hansen) guest stars as Elsbeth’s son Teddy. We’ve heard her talk about him since season 1 and fans finally get to meet the son of the proud lawyer turned consultant. If I was a betting man, I’d wager we might get to see more Ross in the future.

Episode 7: One Angry Woman

What happens when our heroine is called in for jury duty? A whole shmorgishborg of Broadway guest stars! Elsbeth is selected to serve on the jury for a woman accused of killing her neighbor (who’s also her secret lover). Serving as the prosecutor is Fat Ham‘s Tony nominee Nikki Crawford, with Max Crumm (The Connector) and Sasha Hutchings (Gypsy) as fellow juror members. Crumm’s character has other motives for being on the jury and Hutchings is a businesswoman desperate to finish the case and get back to her job. With Broadway stars surrounding Elsbeth, jury duty has never been more fun.

Episode 8: Toil and Trouble

in the mid-series finale, it’s “lights, camera, action” for the NYPD team as they investigate the murder of the showrunner of a long-running crime series. It’s one of the more graphic deaths from this series so far (I mean, how often do you see someone take the heel of a stiletto through the eye?). The fictional series’ leading lady Regina Coburn (played by two-time Tony winner Laurie Metcalf) is desperate to be rid of the long-running series so that she can pursue real acting: performing as Lady M in the Scottish play in the West End. But to what extreme is she willing to go to finally escape her career prison? Enter KPOP‘s Amy Keum as the victim’s assistant. She’s all-seeing and all-knowing when it comes to the comings and goings of her former boss. Could she be the key to solving the mystery? If this isn’t a lesson in being kind to the assistants of the world, I don’t know what is. They might just help with your murder investigation!

Meanwhile, could love be in the air for one of our series regulars? Patterson’s character is on the hunt for a new roommate and might have found the perfect candidate in doctor-turned-coroner Cameron Clayden. Played by Slave Play‘s Sullivan Jones, could this perfect roommate also be a love connection? 

Season One and the first eight episodes of Season Two of Elsbeth are now available to stream on Paramount+.

0
of

Photos: Laurie Metcalf, Christian Borle, More Make Cameos on Elsbeth Season 2