Surprising TV Crossover: Taylor Lautner Stars as Andy Samberg's Son in a Hidden Gem!

Taylor Lautner and Andy Samberg have a comical father-son dynamic in a relatively unknown TV show. Despite gaining fame through his portrayal of Jacob Black in the Twilight series, Lautner has been acting since he was just 9 years old. Prior to his breakthrough in Twilight, he played Sharkboy in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl, made a guest appearance as Tyrone in one episode of My Wife and Kids, and even provided the voice for Ned in What's New, Scooby-Doo?

After his time in Twilight, Lautner went on to star in popular franchise films like Grown Ups 2, as well as indie features including Run The Tide and Tracers. He also took on the role of Dr. Cassidy Cascade in Scream Queens, and in 2022, played the supporting character Troy Lambert in Netflix's Home Team. Although many viewers may be familiar with these roles, there is one that seems to have been overlooked, despite the unique dynamic it presents - Lautner's character as the son of Andy Samberg's character.

WTF: Taylor Lautner & Andy Samberg's Cuckoo Characters Explained

In the first season of the Cuckoo series, Andy Samberg portrayed the character Cuckoo, also known as Dale Ashbrick. The show depicts him as a hippy who has spent years traveling and using drugs, leading him to genuinely believe that he holds the solution to all modern-day dilemmas. As his name suggests, Cuckoo openly shares his enigmatic views and ideas with the world, often causing friction with his in-laws. Sadly, Andy Samberg's character dies off-screen during one of his trips, preventing the events of the second season from unfolding.

In Cuckoo series 2, Taylor Lautner's character, Dale Ashbrick Jr., is introduced. He is Cuckoo's son who comes to England in search of his father. However, upon learning of his father's death, he decides to return home. Fortunately, the Thompsons recognize his innocence and naivety and agree to take care of him. Although Cuckoo and Dale have a father-son relationship in the show, Andy Samberg does not appear in the series after the first season, and Taylor Lautner takes his place as one of the main cast members.

Why Taylor Lautner Replaced Andy Samberg In Cuckoo

BBC commissioned a second series of Cuckoo following the success of its first season. Unfortunately, due to his busy schedule, Andy Samberg was unable to rejoin the cast and portray the main character in the second series. Samberg's portrayal had greatly contributed to the show's initial appeal, particularly in his comedic clashes with his father-in-law, Ken Thompson. It was rather surprising, therefore, when Taylor Lautner was selected to replace Samberg as the new Dale in the second series. Lautner's introduction marked the beginning of three more seasons for Cuckoo, with him starring in seasons 2, 3, and 4.