Mandatory: "10 Strange Celebrity TV Appearances"

[JamesG]

Larry David on "Hannah Montana"






When Larry David makes an appearance on a show like "Entourage", no one really bats an eye. While "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Entourage" are drastically different shows, they were at least on the same network and targeted a similar demographic.

However, when he shows up on Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana", you have to be thinking to yourself, "What in God's name is he doing there?" As it turns out, his daughters were huge fans of the show, so he was able to get the three of them small cameo roles playing themselves.









Bruce Willis on "That '70s Show"






While it wouldn't be all that strange to see Bruce Willis guest star on a TV sitcom regardless of the fact that he is such a huge movie star (he had already done a multi-episode stint on "Friends"), it's weird because by the time this particular episode of "That '70s Show" hit the airwaves, Ashton Kutcher was married to Willis' ex-wife.

Sure, the two had patched things up and actually became friends by the time this role came around, but it still had to be pretty awkward. We're not just talking about for them, either. Seeing the two onscreen together knowing their history was just strange.

Surprisingly, Willis doesn't even phone it in, either and is genuinely funny in his one and only scene.









Quentin Tarantino on "Alias"






It's not as if Quentin Tarantino is a stranger to cameo appearances. In fact, he's in just about every one of the films he's directed, and even several that he didn't.

He has also already guested on a few obscure shows in the past, including "The Golden Girls" and "All-American Girl" by the time his "Alias" stint rolled around, but only the latter was after becoming a well-established director.

What separates "Alias" from those, though, is that he wasn't just making a brief cameo, but starring in a two episode arc in the show's first season that turned into two more appearances down the road.

So why'd he do it? Apparently, he was just a big fan of the show, and requested he get to be on it. Imagine that.









Johnny Depp on "The Fast Show"






It's truly amazing what fans will do for TV shows they love. Apparently, that even includes super rich and famous fans like Johnny Depp.

Depp was a huge fan of the sketch series "The Fast Show", which aired in the mid-90s for 3 seasons in the UK. He was even the show's final guest star, participating in a sketch that, quite honestly, if you don't like or understand British humor, you're likely to hate.

Be that as it may, Depp even expressed interest in returning to the series when it was revived in 2011. As far as how he got his initial role on the series, Depp said "When it was mentioned as a possibility, I actively pursued it. I went after [Paul] Whitehouse. I stalked him. I was sitting in a tree outside his bedroom window with a funny mask on and that's how I got the job." (Digital Spy)









James Franco on "General Hospital"






There's no doubt that James Franco is a bit of an odd duck, so it makes sense that he would be on this list. It was initially Franco that sought out a role on the daytime soap opera so he could use the footage in his co-directed short, Francophrenia (Or Don't Kill Me, I Know Where the Baby Is).

Franco insisted his character be an artist, and that he be crazy. The "General Hospital" writing staff created the super original (and weird) character of "Franco" for him. And it was never not weird, with Franco's character seemingly even dying again in true soap opera fashion.

Roger Howarth took over the role in 2013 after Franco left for good. Unless...it was just another elaborate fake out (cue suspenseful soap opera music).









Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes on "Degrassi: The Next Generation"






Much like Tarantino, Kevin Smith was a fan of the Canadian series. However, in this case, Smith was a fan of the original 1980s incarnations of the series, which were titled "Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High".

In any case, Smith starred in five episodes (along with the TV movie, "Degrassi Goes Hollywood"), and his good buddy Jason Mewes came along for the ride. The two played fictionalized versions of themselves shooting the fake film, "Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh!"

While all of that sounds like a a legitimate reason for them to be there, it doesn't make them blend in any better on the series, as they stick out like sore thumbs, especially to those who don't have a clue what "Degrassi" is.









Sir Ian McKellen on "Coronation Street"






Of course, casting James Franco on "General Hospital" is a bit odd, but what about when the same thing was done with Ian McKellan and the British soap, "Coronation Street"?

Well, we'll tell you what about: he was brilliant. According to many a critic of the series, he was, perhaps, a bit too brilliant. But, it was a lifelong dream of the actor's to work on the long-running series, so obviously they weren't going to say no.

Still, this was at the height of the great thespian's career, having just finished the Lord of the Rings trilogy two years prior. How'd he even have time for such a venture?









George Lucas on "The O.C."






Who would have thought the best way to get celebrities to make weird guest appearances would be through their daughters. Not only was that the case when it came to Larry David, but apparently a similar situation lead to this George Lucas cameo.

As the story goes, "The O.C." series creator, Josh Schwartz, wrote a passionate letter to Lucas requesting he guest star as himself on the series. Fortunately for Schwartz, Lucas' daughter was a huge fan of the show and convinced him to take the role.

Surely the fact that Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith was coming out a week after the episode aired had nothing to do with it, though.









Will Ferrell on "The Guardian"






This is easily the the strangest (yet subtly hilarious) appearance on this list, as not only was actor Will Ferrell credited under the pseudonym, Phil Reston, but at the time of his appearance on "The Guardian" in 2003, it was shrouded with secrecy. Nothing was mentioned of him prior to the show airing, and CBS publicists were originally reluctant to even acknowledge the comedic actor's involvement.

Of course, it's clearly him, as he was just wearing glasses and had a mustache. He played promising new guy, Larry Flood, and as upbeat and enthusiastic as he may have been, perhaps he should have been a little more assertive for a place on that elevator.

His instant death by the end of the episode after only a couple short scenes was probably not meant to be funny (at least for fans of the drama), but the way everything was set up for his character, there is no way it wasn't just an elaborate joke.

http://www.mandatory.com/2013/08/19/...nd-directors/1

[installLSC]

As usual, an internet article that thinks TV didn't exist before 1999. How about Frank Zappa on "The Monkees", Richard Nixon on "Laugh In", John Wayne on "Maude", or Admiral William Crowe on "Cheers"?

[TMC]

http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2...in-tv-history/

Ever since the early days of television, producers have looked to cameos for a ratings boost. We aren't sure if there is any tangible value in these guest spots, but that hasn't stopped producers from shoehorning them into your favorite shows for decades. Whether a musician pops up as the sensitive love interest for the ingenue, an athlete stops by out of nowhere to dispense some cookie-cutter advice, or a washed-up actor is looking for one last moment in the limelight, TV cameos are usually cirngeworthy affairs. The most memorable cameos stick with you in much the same way a train wreck takes up residence in the back of your head. You can't help look away as it's happening and the tragic event leaves a lasting imprint whether you like it or not.

Though we have seen many terrible cameos on our television screens through the years, some of them stand out as particularly awful. Certain stunt casting moves possess that perfect mix of desperation and absurdity needed to sink even lower than your run-of-the-mill shameless publicity move. It is time to salute the cheesiest and sleaziest casting moves ever dreamed up by ratings hungry execs. Here are The 25 Worst Cameos in TV History.