# What's the most surprised you've ever been at a (non SIMPSONS) TV guest star? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2009, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248 "2009-02-17T08:20:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/1 "2009-02-17T08:20:57Z")
I exclude the Simpsons because in addition to being on the air for 20+ years it’s hard to top Thomas Pynchon. [Johnny Carson on David Letterman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvHxH7fgrRE) was probably the absolute ultimate, though if you went for sitcoms only his appearance on Newhart was unexpected. Sticking to sitcoms, I remember being very surprised when Burt Reynolds guest starred on THE GOLDEN GIRLS back when he was still considered a movie star (but was testing the waters of TV). Huge ovation. Bob Hope was also a guest star but it was clearly filmed separately and incorporated; IIRC he didn’t interact with the regular cast. Speaking of animations, Gore Vidal’s voice cameo on _Family Guy_ was a shock. (He was later on THE SIMPSONS, which I’ll mention because I’ve already used him in the OP;).) ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/2 "2009-02-17T08:36:25Z")
Michael J. Fox walked into the scene in Scrubs, giving me just enough time to say “hey! I know that guy from somewhere!” before he walked off screen again. He walked back on screen, seemed to get frustrated, and walked off yet again. He walked on screen for a third time and, apparently satisfied, continued into the hospital. His obsessive/compulsive character was probably the best guest star showing I can remember. As a matter of fact, Scrubs featured other fantastic guest star performances by actors I don’t usually consider great, like Colin Farrel. ---
**Author:** ![Thalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@Thalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thalion)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/3 "2009-02-17T08:38:01Z")
[The finale of _Newhart_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwYw2i2icNg), with Suzanne Pleshette. One of the greatest surprise guest-shots ever. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/4 "2009-02-17T09:07:15Z")
Alex Trebek on the X-files was pretty damn surprising ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/5 "2009-02-17T09:19:56Z")
Sean Penn & Elvis Costello guesting as themselves on “Two and a half Men”. I think I win this thread. ---
**Author:** ![BACI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/6 "2009-02-17T09:57:22Z")
I’m going for Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) on a recent episode of Bones. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/7 "2009-02-17T09:59:21Z")
I thought Richard Dawkins in _Doctor Who_ was a nice touch, given that he’s married to Lalla Ward, an ex-Time Lady who was previously married to Tom Baker: Ward was introduced to Dawkins by Douglas Adams, who was a writer on the show. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/8 "2009-02-17T14:04:34Z")
Sammy Davis Jr. on All In The Family gets an honourable mention. President Nixon on Laugh In. I’m dating myself here, and also the fact that I don’t watch much TV anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/9 "2009-02-17T14:23:48Z")
Michael Gross as Michael J. Fox’s therapist on Spin City William Shatnet’s first appearance as the Big Giant Head on 3rd Rock, with the inside “Twilight Zone” joke. Dennis Rodmen on 3rd Rock as a alien ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/10 "2009-02-17T15:08:00Z")
Jackie Mason as a guest voice on Spongebob Squarepants (I also love the appearances of Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway) Jerry Mathers and Rocki Rhoades on Married With Children Tammy Fay Bakker’s appearance on the Drew Carrey Show was hilarious Robert Culp and Louis Gossett Jr. in Half Life 2\* Robert Culp on The Cosby Show - Not a TV show but I just had to mention it ---
**Author:** ![evilhomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/43a26b/32.png) [@evilhomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhomer)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/11 "2009-02-17T15:20:55Z")
The Candian sitcom **Corner Gas** has had quite a few surprising guest appearances, including: Prime Minister Paul Martin Prime Minister Steven Harper Former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson The band The Tragically Hip Kiefer Sutherland, and his mom Shirley Douglas (in separate episodes). Duane “Dog” Chapman and his wife Mike Holmes from Holmes on Homes ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/12 "2009-02-17T15:24:03Z")
The entire cast of the original _Laugh In_ as inmates at a magical sanitarium in an episode of _Sabrina, the Teenage Witch._ ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/13 "2009-02-17T15:28:15Z")
Martin Sheen on 2 1/2 Men as Rose’s father. Charlie Sheen’s recent cameo on Big Bang. Lou Diamond Phillips on Spin City. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/14 "2009-02-17T15:30:29Z")
Liza Minelli was hilarious and surprising on Arrested Development, as was Charlize Theron. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/15 "2009-02-17T16:17:50Z")
> [@Thalion](#): > > [The finale of _Newhart_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwYw2i2icNg), with Suzanne Pleshette. One of the greatest surprise guest-shots ever. This. I DIED when she rolled over! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/16 "2009-02-17T16:42:42Z")
John Wayne on Laugh In. In a giant bunny costume. Janet Reno on SNL. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/17 "2009-02-17T17:57:34Z")
One time Vanessa Del Rio, the porn star, appeared on _NYPD Blue_ as herself. It kind of surprised me – this was back before porn had mainstreamed, and the detectives pretty much treated her like any celebrity with a problem. It was interesting. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/18 "2009-02-17T18:14:59Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > John Wayne on Laugh In. In a giant bunny costume. > > Janet Reno on SNL. I was thinking [John Wayne on Maud](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0644311/). I didn’t know about the \*Laugh In \*appearance. I would vote for Suzanne Pleshette on the finale of Newhart though as \*\*Thalion \*\* posted. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/19 "2009-02-17T18:16:57Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > Sean Penn & Elvis Costello guesting as themselves on “Two and a half Men”. I think I win this thread. Didn’t see that, but Costello’s appearance as an annoying coffeehouse musician on “Frasier” was an entertaining surprise. ETA: At the time I hadn’t seen much of the new (old) Elvis and knew him as his old (young) self, so I kept saying, “Is that… No. Yes! Is it?” to myself. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248/20 "2009-02-17T18:21:20Z")
I was shocked when Cesar Romero appeared on **Batman**! And **Rawhide**. And the **Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour**. And **Fantasy Island, Tracey Ullman, Magnum PI, Blacke’s Magic, Falcon Crest, Murder She Wrote** … …Okay, by **Murder She Wrote** it stopped being a shock. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-surprised-youve-ever-been-at-a-non-simpsons-tv-guest-star/486248.md?page=2)