Top 10 Cameo Appearances That Didn't Have to Go THAT Hard
#10: Cher “Will & Grace” (1998-2006; 2017-20)
“Will & Grace” was chock-a-block of incredible cameos, but none slapped quite as hard as Cher’s. During her first appearance, she confronts Jack, whose obsession with her has reached new heights. He mistakes the icon for a drag queen and tries to out-Cher her until she knocks some sense into him. Her second guest spot is even more extra as she appears to Jack as an apparition of God after he knocks himself out. She convinces him to return to showbiz, reminds us she’s an Oscar-winning actress, and even finds time to plug her album. “Do [we] Believe” in the perfect guest appearance? Yes! And we don’t have to “Turn Back Time” to see that this is it.
#9: Britney Spears “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” (1996-2003)
The Princess of Pop has made her fair share of memorable guest appearances. We were tempted to include her “Jane the Virgin” episode, especially this dance scene with Gina Rodriguez. But we decided to go in a more bewitching direction. When Sabrina’s dissatisfied with her new life, her dad conjures up the pop star to cheer her up. The teenage witch gets a personal concert. However, she’s not really into this party for one vibe. Instead, Britney shares some advice as the duo dance it out together. It’s a short but sweet cameo that proves that Spears is a triple threat. “It Drives Us Crazy” just how well she and Melissa Joan Hart gel.
#8: Michelle Obama “iCarly” (2007-12; 2021-)
When the former First Lady told Carly and the gang that her daughters were big fans, she wasn’t just acting. In fact, that was the very reason she agreed to appear on the show in the first place. The episode was written specifically for Mrs. Obama and the “Joining Forces” initiative. This program she launched with Dr. Jill Biden was created to raise awareness and support for military families like the Shays. As well as promoting a worthy cause, her excellency showed off some stellar acting chops and brilliant comedic timing. And we’re sure she scored some major mom points with Malia and Sasha as well. She caps off the unforgettable episode with a round of Random Dancing.
#7: Neil Patrick Harris “Glee” (2009-15)
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“Glee” hosted a parade of impressive guest stars throughout its run. For instance, Kristin Chenoweth deserves a standing ovation for her role as April Rhodes, Will Schuester’s former Glee Club buddy. Gwyneth Paltrow also showed that she could go harder than most as substitute teacher Holly Holliday. However, we’ve chosen Neil Patrick Harris’s Bryan Ryan. He deserves this spot just for his epic “Dream On” performance alone. In this episode, the bitter past Glee Club member rediscovers his passion for music with encouragement from Schuester and the New Directions. Harris gave so much to his performance that he scored the Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy Award.
#6: Ricky Gervais “The Office” (2005-13)
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Did you ever wonder what would happen if Michael Scott from "The Office" U.S. ever met his British counterpart, David Brent? Well, wonder no more! The pair met in season seven of the American series. Fortunately, it was everything we could've hoped for and more. During the episode's cold opening, they bump into each other at the elevator. They unsurprisingly discover they have a lot in common, including a penchant for politically-incorrect humor. Michael also becomes quite emotional when David throws out his much-loved catchphrase. The only thing missing was a duet of The David Brent Dance, although that would be a lot to take in. (That's what she said). Sorry, we couldn't resist.
#5: David Bowie “Extras” (2005-07)
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Similarly to “The Office” and also starring Ricky Gervais, “Extras” is a mockumentary following the lives of background actors in the entertainment biz. In one episode, Gervais’ Andy Millman meets music legend David Bowie, and they soon get to talking. Andy’s story inspires the musician to adlib a new song. But it’s not the great honor Andy might’ve hoped for. It’s not particularly complimentary, but it’s incredibly funny and surprisingly catchy. Not only do we get to hear Bowie sing, but we get a glimpse of his comedic side too. We also love his seamless rapport with the rest of the cast as they help him pen his tune. Still, Bowie totally steals the spotlight.
#4: James Earl Jones & Carrie Fisher “The Big Bang Theory” (2007-19)
Stephen Hawking will always be the man who made Sheldon Cooper faint with embarrassment (xref). However, no guest appearance goes quite as hard as acclaimed actor James Earl Jones’. After bonding over their mutual love of “Star Wars,” Sheldon spends a very full-on day with the actor. While Sheldon’s typically the eccentric one in any given situation, Jones’ intensity leaves him bewildered. The best part is watching Darth Vader taunt Princess Leia with a round of ding-dong ditch. And based on her reaction, this isn’t a one-time occurrence. Astoundingly, this was the first time the two “Star Wars” actors had ever met. Luckily “The Big Bang” used The Force to bring them together.
#3: President Joe Biden Parks and Recreation (2009-15)
Leslie Knope rubs shoulders with some of modern politics’ most prolific personalities. We’ve seen John McCain, Madeline Albright and even Michelle Obama. But she’s always had the biggest crush on Joe Biden. Seeing the pair finally meet was arguably one of the best moments ever. When Leslie hilariously fan-girls over the then Vice-President, he proves to be a great sport and delightful scene partner. He even returned for a second episode with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden. The now President shared that his family are big fans of the show and that he enjoyed his filming experience. He also said that he was honored to make his acting debut in a series that celebrates public service.
#2: Brad Pitt “Friends” (1994-2004)
“Friends” had their pick of A-listers throughout the show’s ten-year run. It was tempting to choose Winona Ryder’s hilariously wild episode. However, we couldn’t pass over Brad Pitt’s notable appearance. He plays Will Colbert, Ross’ old high school friend who has a vendetta against Rachel. This was even funnier since he and Jennifer Aniston were married at the time. Not only is the actor hysterical as the co-founder of the “I Hate Rachel” club, but it’s clear he goes above and beyond to give us a stand-out performance. He both scored an Emmy nomination and left us wondering why he doesn’t do more comedy. During the 2021 reunion special, the cast even remembered this guest spot as one of the best. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Shakira, “Wizards Of Waverly Place” (2007-12) We’ve Never Been Able to Look at the Singer in the Same Way Since! Lin-Manuel Miranda, “How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14) Miranda Never Throws Away His Shot at Captivating Audiences The Beach Boys, “Full House” (1987-95) Thanks to John Stamos, the Tanners Got to Sing with the 60s Rock Band Rihanna, “Bates Motel” (2013-17) The Singer Was Not Messing around When She Put a New Spin on an Old Classic Serena Williams, “Law & Order – Special Victims Unit” (1999-) The Tennis Pro Served an Unforgettable Performance
#1: Prince “New Girl” (2011-18)
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When it came to celebrity spots, no show delivered quite like "New Girl." Taylor Swift's scene-stealing cameo springs to mind. So does the iconic "Prince" episode. The artist who previously turned down a "New Girl" appearance reached out after becoming a fan of the show. In response, the writers specifically penned an episode for him and incorporated many of his creative ideas. Jake Johnson also divulged that Prince is essentially the reason Nick and Jess get together. The artist radiates charm and charisma, not to mention a great sense of humor. He also debuts a new song at the end of the episode. Prince put 110% into every part of his appearance, ranking it high among "New Girl's" must-see episodes.
