Music stars’ standout cameos
Most convoluted cameo:
The Simpsons, for its third season premiere, featured a large white mental patient who thought he was Michael Jackson and sounded surprisingly like Jackson, although the credits at the end of the episode credited John Jay Smith. Who is John Jay Smith? No one knows. Because of some arcane contractual reasons, Simpsons creator Matt Groening and his writing staff have never been able to confirm Jacksons participation in the episode. Although theyve strongly hinted at it through the years. (Justin Sullivan / AFP/Getty Images)
Most necessary cameo:
Mick Jagger on “Knights of Prosperity”
Like fancy shoes and smoothie boosts, pop star cameos are frequently superfluous to the main action. But occasionally, the storytelling fates align to place the cameo central to the entire project. Such was the case with ABC’s short-lived comedy “The Knights of Prosperity,” in which several down-and-out guys conspired to rob Mick Jagger’s swanky New York apartment. Strange premise, and not one that requires Jagger’s continual presence. But without his cameo appearance in the series’ pilot, the whole enterprise would have just felt hollow. (Dave Hogan / Getty Images)
Best nonparticipatory cameo:
Bono on “South Park”
Chuck Jones and the “Looney Tunes” gang used to have celebrity cameos all the time in their cartoons yet never had to rely on the participation of Cagney, Bogart or Durante. But Hanna-Barbera changed all that with its extensive use of celebrity cameos in its “Scooby-Doo” mysteries of the 1970s. Luckily, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have taken things back a step by having scads of cameos by celebrities, without ever having to seek their participation. This was exemplified in 2007 when “Bono” appeared in an episode about competitive bowel movements. Fans got to see the U2 singer doing humiliating things while the show’s creators never had to wonder about what the real-life Bono would think. The best of both worlds. (Peter Morrison / Associated Press)
Best sense of humor:
Alanis Morissette on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Give Morissette credit: Just as her career was coming back down to reality after the smash mid-90s hit Jagged Little Pill, she appeared on HBOs paean to anxiety, Curb Your Enthusiasm. She played herself, and was to perform at a benefit concert, but when Larry David spoke irrationally about an impending terrorist attack, Morissette didnt prove a big-enough draw to assuage peoples fears. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
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Most incongruous cameo:
Flaming Lips on Beverly Hills 90210
Even the characters on 90210 seemed confused by a visit from the Flaming Lips. Its not Michael Bolton, said Ian Zierings Steve Sanders when asked if it was indeed the Flaming Lips onstage.
Back in 1993, the Flaming Lips hadnt yet dipped into the electronic-enhanced orchestrated pop that won the band a more mainstream following around the turn of the century. Instead, the group was marked by a harder-edged guitar sound, with a kaleidoscope of scorched textures to swarm around squeaky-voiced singer Wayne Coyne. But the band had an alt-rock hit with the odd She Dont Use Jelly, and was tapped to bring some cred to the mainstream soap opera. (Albert Olivé / EPA)
Best-cast cameo (and beyond):
Liza Minnelli on Arrested Development
Who didnt squeal with delight when Liza Minnelli made her sitcom debut as a vivacious, wealthy and vertigo-suffering neighbor named Lucille Ostero on the mile-a-minute comedy Arrested Development? It simultaneously made no sense and all the sense in the world. The casting on that show was generally spot-on, but Minnelli as a wobbly vertigo sufferer? That takes casting genius! (Paul Skipper / Associated Press)
Most unexpected cameo:
Timbaland on One Life to Live
Fans of daytime TV know its nothing new for a soap to host a musical guest theyve been doing it for years. But somehow, Timbaland popping up on One Life to Live as the big get when a new employee at a club has to hire an act feels especially incongruous. Celine Dion on All My Children makes sense but Timbaland, the super-producer and rapper? Who was expecting that? (Evan Agostini / Getty Images)
