did anyone notice in season one, i think, that an older man played God, then he reappeared as a court clerk/judge wannabee ?

NC did this several times. Though the man who played God is a different actor than the slow, old-fogie court clerk.

But Jack Riley appeared three times that I can recall: as Beepo the gun-toting clown, a gay guy trapped in an elevator with Dan, and as the guy who gives Bull a prize wig.

Phil Leeds, who played God, also played the old man who took Bull to Jupiter in the finale, as well as three other eps.

Raye Birk, who played the other God, played Roz's anger-management instructor in another ep.

Bum Phil was even another character in the first season before he permanently became Phil.