Thomas Lennon Related To John Lennon

So, there I was, minding my own business at this quirky little coffee shop, when I overheard the barista say, "You know, Thomas Lennon is related to John Lennon." I nearly choked on my almond milk latte. I mean, I've always loved the Beatles, and I've seen a few episodes of Reno 911!, but this was news to me. I had to dive into this.

Thomas Lennon, the man behind the mustache

For those who've been living under a rock (or just don't watch Comedy Central), Thomas Lennon is the guy with the epic mustache who played Lieutenant Jim Dangle in Reno 911!. He's also been in a bunch of other stuff - How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The State, even Night at the Museum. But back to the Lennon connection.

So, what's the deal?

Turns out, Thomas Lennon is indeed related to John Lennon, the legendary Beatle. They're second cousins, once removed, or something like that. I won't bore you with the family tree details, but it's all verified by the man himself. Lennon even joked about it on Twitter, saying, "I'm related to John Lennon. It's like being related to a saint. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be that talented."

Now, I'm no genealogist, but I've got to say, this is pretty cool. It's like finding out your weird uncle is secretly a rockstar. Or, you know, a former rockstar. Sorry, Thomas, but you're no John Lennon. No offense.

But wait, there's more!

So, I was chatting with this guy at the coffee shop (yes, I'm still there, I've got a lot of time on my hands), and he tells me that Thomas Lennon has actually played John Lennon a couple of times. I mean, if you're gonna play a Beatle, you might as well play the coolest one, right?

First, there was a Saturday Night Live sketch where Lennon played John Lennon playing Paul McCartney. It's as confusing as it sounds, but it's pretty funny. Then, he played John Lennon again in a Community episode. I guess when you've got the Lennon genes, you've just gotta embrace it.

But here's where it gets really interesting. Remember that time John Lennon was shot outside his apartment in New York? Well, according to some conspiracy theorists, it wasn't John Lennon at all. They think it was Thomas Lennon in disguise. I mean, they do have the same last name, and Thomas was probably just a kid at the time, but still. A bit of a stretch, don't you think?

So, what's the point?

I guess the point is, you never know who's related to who. I mean, I found out my grandmother was related to Abraham Lincoln last year. It's wild. But seriously, Thomas Lennon being related to John Lennon is just a fun little fact. It doesn't make him a better comedian, and it doesn't make him a better Beatle. It just makes him a guy with a pretty cool claim to fame.

And hey, if you ever see Thomas Lennon, ask him about the time he saved a puppy from a burning building. I heard it's a great story. Or just ask him about John. He's probably used to it by now.