Rizzoli & Isles gave a subtle nod to National Lampoon’s Animal House

By: Start TV Staff     Posted: August 20, 2021, 11:10AM

Bruce McGill has been working in Hollywood longer than most. Mostly focusing his career around guest roles in TV shows, you can find the Rizzoli and Isles star in so many hit shows including MacGyver, Quantum Leap, and much more.

One of his most notable recurring roles was as Detective Vince Korsak on Rizzoli & Isles. Appearing throughout the series, Korsak is a former partner and friend of Jane Rizzoli.

But before he busted Boston’s most wanted, McGill had one of his first breakout roles in the comedy classic Animal House. In his second film credit, McGill played the role of Delta House member ‘D-Day’ who was most noted for driving a motorcycle in the house and drumming the William Tell Overture on his windpipe

Many years and many roles later and McGill states that Animal House is still his most asked-about role. Not shying away from this, the creators of Rizzoli & Isles snuck in an Animal House reference for the long-time actor.

In the first season, Jane asks Korsak if he ever attended college to which he replies: “I didn’t. I just watched Animal House a few times.”

McGill was more than happy to make the tongue-in-cheek reference to his earlier role but on one condition.

“[Series creator] Janet did ask me if I had any problem with it. And I said, ‘absolutely not. If somebody’s gonna make an Animal House crack on this show, it better be me!’ Now, if you’d tried to give someone else that crack, that would’ve been bad," said Bruce McGill about the Animal House reference.

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