Bobby Lee is a regular on the new NBC sitcom “Animal Practice” as Dr. Yamamoto.
His character is described as an offbeat veterinarian who is devoted to his practice, but equally devoted to gambling and partying with the rest of the staff.
The show premiered Aug. 12 and will air in its regular time slot, Wednesdays at 8 p.m., starting Sept. 26. The first episode can be viewed online at www.nbc.com.
“Animal Practice” centers on Dr. George Coleman (Justin Kirk, “Weeds,” “Angels in America”), a top veterinarian with an impressive list of famous animal patients at Crane Animal Hospital, a bustling New York City veterinary practice where it often seems as if the patients are running the place.
Despite his unorthodox style, George has an undeniable gift with animals of all kinds — except the human kind. Much to his chagrin, George learns that his ex-girlfriend, Dorothy Crane (JoAnna Garcia Swisher, “Better with You”), has inherited the family business and is now George’s boss. Whip-smart and ambitious, Dorothy shakes up the hospital as she brings order to the chaos and butts heads with George’s animal-friendly administration.
In addition to Lee, the supporting cast members are Tyler Labine (“Reaper,” “Sons of Tucson”) as Dr. Doug Jackson, a vet who’s great with animals, but hapless in matters of the heart; Kym Whitley (“We Bought a Zoo”) as Juanita; and newcomer Betsy Sodaro (“The Nick Show Kroll”) as Nurse Angela. Dr. Rizzo, the resident capuchin monkey at the hospital and George’s closest companion, is played by Crystal (“The Hangover II,” NBC’s “Community”).
Executive producers are Scot Armstrong (“The Hangover Part II,” “Old School”) and Ravi Nandan (“Best Friends Forever”) of American Work Inc., along with Emmy Award winners Joe and Anthony Russo (“Community,” “Arrested Development”), as well as Gail Lerner (“Happy Endings”). “Animal Practice” was written by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka (“The Sitter”), who also serve as executive producers.
Lee, best known from his numerous years as a cast member on Fox’s “MADtv,” can be seen as a regular guest on E!’s “Chelsea Lately,” and has been touring the country year‐round as a stand‐up comic.
A native of San Diego, Lee was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps, running the family clothing store. After stints in a local rock band and at the local community college, he was spotted by Frank Burns, the legendary manager of La Jolla’s Comedy Store.
In 1995, Pauly Shore saw Lee onstage and asked the young comedian to open for him in Las Vegas. It was then that Lee met Shore’s mother, the celebrated owner of the Comedy Store, Mitzi Shore. Lee became a regular at the club, and also went on the road with comic Carlos Mencia.
Lee landed a cast role on “MADtv” in 1999 and quickly became an audience favorite on the long-running sketch show, which aired for 14 seasons, creating such characters as confused film critic Johnny Gan, the world’s worst interpreter, Bae Sung, and the Blind Kung Fu Master. Audiences loved his takes on such real‐world figures as Connie Chung, Kim Jong-Il, and John McCain.
Lee’s film credits include “Kickin’ It Old School” and “Killer Pad,” both of which will be released later this year, and Sacha Baron Cohen’s “The Dictator.” He played Kenneth Park in the big-screen comedy “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle” and its second sequel, “A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas.”
Lee also appeared in “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Mind of Mencia,” and has performed stand‐up on “Late Friday,” “Premium Blend” and NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” He currently lives in Los Angeles.