Age: Gardell, 41; McCarthy 40
Occupation: Actor; actress
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 0
The stars of Chuck Lorre's sitcom Mike & Molly, which premiered on CBS last fall, play a cop and a teacher who get together after meeting via Overeaters Anonymous. Yup, an overweight cop and teacher. Cutting-edge television or too many fat jokes? Whether you find the show refreshing or offensive, it gives McCarthy, who many know from her supporting role on Gilmore Girls, and Gardell, who continues to tour as a stand-up comic, a new venue to exhibit their comedic gifts. Even if you don't care for the show, you'll probably like the stars — and you'll surely be seeing more of them.