Is that TJ behind Wayne?

On a recent rewatching of Wayne's World with my family, my husband asked me, "Is that TJ behind Wayne?" Because my husband has been subjected to endless rewatching (and rewatching) of Gilmore Girls (2000-2007), he is now able to spot the characters in other movies and shows, and he is usually right about his sightings. So yes, that is TJ, played by Michael DeLuise, behind Wayne, only in Wayne's World, he's Alan, the mostly silent sidekick to Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey). 

Once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it, and although Alan doesn't say a lot in Wayne's World, he definitely has a presence that is perhaps more amusing because of his silence (and overall look). 

Now that I know TJ was Alan, I will forever imagine that this was TJ's past before he grew up (a little) and married Liz (Kathleen Wilhoite), who is Luke's (Scott Patterson's) loveable sister in Gilmore Girls. 

The 1992 film is full of other cultural appearances, but three of my other lesser-known favorites include: 1. Brian Doyle-Murray, who plays Noah Vanderhoff of Noah's Arcade, but played Frank Shirley in the 1989 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. 

You know the boss that stiffs Griswold out of his Christmas bonus and has a change of heart after being kidnapped on Christmas Eve? That's Vanderhoff. And if you didn't recognize the last name, Brian Doyle-Murray is Bill Murray's brother. 

2. Then we have Carmen Filpi, who plays Old Man Withers in Wayne's World, and is basically the same character in The Wedding Singer (1998).

But at least he has a last name in Wayne's World as his character's name in the Wedding Singer is just "Old Man in Bar." Though his roles in each film are short, they're also equally memorable. 

3. That brings us to the third recognizable actor from Wayne's World, who is actually a much more well-known figure, but I had to include him on the list because of his sick dialogue in Wayne's World: Ed O'Neill, who plays Glen, the manager of Stan Mikita's Donuts. 

While Ed O'Neill is probably recognized by most because of roles on Married with Children (87-97), which he was on during Wayne's World, and the more modern Modern Family (2009-2020), I think a lot of people forget he's in Wayne's World, because his dialogue is so off-kilter. 

"Why is it that if a man kills another man in battle, it's called heroic, yet if he kills a man in the heat of passion, it's called murder?" Good question, Glen. Plus, you've got to appreciate the well-executed use of "yet." 

If you're a music buff, as my son is budding in to, then the movie is a candy jar of musical guest appearances, not to mention the sh-weet soundtrack. Party on; excellent.