Jim Harbaugh, comedian? Michigan coach goes for laughs on 'Detroiters'

Julie Hinds | Detroit Free Press

Jim Harbaugh, comedic actor?

The University of Michigan football coach, who's getting ready for the 2018 season, unleashes a new talent on this week's "Detroiters" at 10:30 p.m. Thursday on Comedy Central.

In an episode titled "Little Caesars," Harbaugh portrays himself in a scene at a charity event involving fowling. It's the game that's a hybrid of football and bowling.

During the scene, Harbaugh — spoiler alert! — loses his temper. And the results are explosively funny.

"I guess I can take direction. I'm coachable," said Harbaugh by phone Wednesday morning of his cameo, which was filmed last year at the Fowling Warehouse in Hamtramck.

"Detroiters" co-creator and star Sam Richardson told the Free Press earlier this year that Harbaugh was a great sport about the segment.

"We reached out to him and it turned out he loved the show. ... He was so game and so gung ho. He came to set and was like, 'I love you guys,' " said Richardson.

Harbaugh didn't hold anything back with his performance, according to Richardson: "He took it to the nth degree."

Harbaugh describes himself as a big fan of the show, which is made here and stars Richardson and Tim Robinson as small-time Detroit ad men.

"It was a lot of fun to do," said Harbaugh of filming his sequence. "The guys, Sam and Tim, are really good guys. The whole set, the people couldn't have been more of a pleasure to be around. I wish them nothing but success."

Harbaugh didn't hesitate when he was asked to do the cameo. "Why not? Why wouldn't you?" he said.

The episode, which follows Sam and Tim's pursuit of Little Caesars as a client, also features Carl Anthony Payne II of the classic sitcom "Martin," which was set (but not filmed in) Detroit.

There is also a brief appearance by Free Press columnist Mitch Albom and his WJR-AM co-host Ken Brown.

Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds: 313-222-6427 or jhinds@freepress.com.