Support NeoGAF

[thestopsign]

I've been re-watching 30 Rock for the past few months and the number of famous actors/celebrities the show pulls in for even just a one-off scene is ridiculous. Many of them like Chris Matthews are basically reoccurring characters.

Conan O' Brian (Tracy Does Conan: Season 1, Episode 7)
Paul Reubens (As Gerhardt Hapsburg Black Tie: Season 1, Episode 12)
Chris Matthews (Hard Ball: Season 1, Episode 15)
Tucker Carlson (Hard Ball: Season 1, Episode 15)
Jerry Seinfeld (SeinfeldVision: Season 2, Episode 1)
Rachel Dratch (Various Roles: Several Episodes, Season 1)
Al Gore (Greenzo: Season 2, Episode 5) and (Sun Tea: Season 4, Episode 6)
David Schwimmer (Greenzo: Season 2, Episode 5)
James Carville (Secret and Lies: Season 2, Episode 8)
Oprah Winfrey (Believe in the Stars: Season 3, Episode 2)
Jennifer Anniston (As Claire The One with the Cast of "Night Court": Season 3, Episode 3)
Larry King (Larry King: Season 3, Episode 12)
John Lithgow (Goodbye, My Friend: Season 3, Episode 13)
Calvin Klein (The Bubble: Season 3, Episode 15)
Steve Buscemi (The Natural Order: Season 3, Episode 20)
Moby (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Beastie Boys (Mike-D and Ad-Rock) (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Elvis Costello (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Mary J. Blige (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Sheryl Crowe (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Steve Earle (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Wyclef Jean (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Norah Jones (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Talib Kweli (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Cyndi Lauper (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Micheal McDonald (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Rhett Miller (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Robert Randolph (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Clay Aiken (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Sara Bareilles (Kidney Now! : Season 3, Episode 22)
Salma Hayek (As Elisa: Several Episodes, Season 3)
Jon Hamm (As Dr Baird: Several Episodes, Season 3)
Jimmy Fallon (Stone Mountain: Season 4, Episode 3)
Betty White (Stone Mountain: Season 4, Episode 3)
Julianne Moore (As Nancy Donovan Secret Santa: Season 4, Episode 8 and Winter Madness: Season 4, Episode 11)
Larry Wilcox (Secret Santa: Season 4, Episode 8)
James Franco (Klaus and Greta: Season 4, Episode 9)
Jon Bon Jovi (Anna Howard Shaw Day: Season 4, Episode 13)
Condoleezza Rice (Everything Sunny All The Time Always: Season 5, Episode 21)
Andy Samberg (The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell: Season 6, Episode 4)
Emma Stone (The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell: Season 6, Episode 4)
Nick Cannon (The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell: Season 6, Episode 4)
Suze Orman (Today You Are a Man: Season 6, Episode 5)
Amy Poehler (Live From Studio 6H, Season 6, Episode 18)
Fred Armisan (Live From Studio 6H, Season 6, Episode 18)
Donald Glover (Live From Studio 6H, Season 6, Episode 18)
Paul McCartney (Live From Studio 6H, Season 6, Episode 18)

I just pulled this off a website and I see already that it is missing major characters like Matt Damon's Carol, Will Arnett's Devon, Elizabeth Banks' Avery, James Marsden's Criss, and more. The show is absolutely loaded with these appearances and it comes out all the better for it I think. Is there any other show that even remotely matches it?

 

[SillyEskimo]

SNL has done pretty well with celebrity cameos.

 

[Yaboosh]

Common misconception, but that wasn't actually Oprah it was a 13yo girl that likes to give advice.

 

[thestopsign]

SNL has done pretty well with celebrity cameos.

Well sure. I guess I wasn't really counting that in my mind. You could include any late night show in that case though. I was more thinking scripted TV or more traditional TV shows.

 

[Megadragon15]

Wasn't Batman (1966) notorious for this?

 

[SillyEskimo]

Well sure. I guess I wasn't really counting that in my mind. You could include any late night show in that case though. I was more thinking scripted TV or more traditional TV shows.

While not having the sheer volume of episodes as 30 Rock, I believe Extras had the best setup, delivery, and overall use of celebrity cameos on TV.

 

[SpaceWolf]

The Simpsons (Seasons 1-7)

 

[old manatee]

Scooby Doo

 

[Sojgat]

Columbo

 

[Zeyphersan]

We were going to lose our virginities together! Now I'll never lose it!

 

[Nielm]

Friends and the celebrity callers in Frasier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GbOUIFa87g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNPrlVXeuEA

 

[Rainer70]

I think I prefer the celebrity cameos in Curb Your Enthusiasm.

 

[Zoe]

Parks and Rec had quite a few great ones.

 

[CarpeDeezNutz]

Friends and the celebrity callers in Frasier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GbOUIFa87g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNPrlVXeuEA

Thanks for posting I just started re-watching Frasier all the cameos went over my head as a kid.

 

[RecRoulette]

The Simpsons (Seasons 1-7)

Came to say this.