In 2024, fans likely missed an appropriately spooky example of the show’s tastefully understated handling of its guest stars. On October 24, during 9-1-1’s seventh season, the 118 faced a series of Halloween-appropriate calls in “Masks”. Sandwiched between a bevvy of bizarre accidents is a disastrous car chase between a short-tempered teacher and young pranksters. One of those girls, Brooke, is played by none other than horror icon Jenna Davis.
Jenna Davis Plays a Frighteningly Good Bad Driver on 9-1-1
- The mummified man in “Masks” is based on the true story of Elmer McCurdy, an outlaw who died in 1911.
- Through a series of strange coincidences, his well-preserved corpse ended up in side shows and carnival attractions until 1976.
Narratively, “Masks” plays out like any other 9-1-1 episode. The 118 get to enjoy another peculiar Halloween night, and the audience goes along for the ride. The “primary” plot revolves around Henrietta “Hen” Wilson (Aisha Hinds) and her wife, Karen, disagreeing on her dedication to the job. Karen wants Hen to stay home and trick-or-treat with the family; Hen, however, wants to fulfill her role as 118’s paramedic.
Then, there’s the “C” plot. It starts with Athena teaching some disinterested teens about the dangers of drinking and driving, and horror fans may recognize one of the faces in that crowd. One of those teens, Brooke, is played by horror icon Jenna Davis. Unfortunately for Brooke, her harmless prank ends up angering Winston Pearson (Jack Impelizzeri) and kickstarting the episode’s final act.
Jenna Davis Is Best Known for Her Role in M3GAN
- Athena Grant is shown doing a presentation for C.A.R.E. The educational program is an obvious nod to the real-life Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, which the Los Angeles Police Department launched in 1983.
Jenna Davis Was Excited to Be Part of 9-1-1
- Eagle-eyed fans can spot a heartwarming photo of Eddie’s son, Christopher (Gavin McHugh), dressed as Wolverine. The adorable inclusion is a callback to a much earlier Halloween episode, “Haunted”, which aired in 2018 as part of 9-1-1’s second season.
Considering 9-1-1’s primetime dominance, it’s only natural for Jenna Davis to be excited about her inclusion. Like many of the show’s guests, she was eager to plug the heart-pounding drama both before and during her cameo. Her cheerful posts appeared across her many social media profiles, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Three days before “Masks” debuted, she posted an episode promo to her Instagram with a coy question: “See someone familiar?”
On Facebook, she jokingly bragged about getting into a “car chase”, an experience she hailed as “pretty epic.” She also uploaded a short clip to TikTok, in which she gleefully pointed out her presence as the episode aired. Davis’s certainly isn’t 9-1-1’s only guest star, but it’s safe to say that her reaction is among the most wholesome. Other stars have had similarly exciting experiences with the 118, including Abbott Elementary’s Lisa Ann Walter, but few have been as upbeat and vocally exuberant.
