Cameo Central: 4 TV Series That Had the Most Celebrity Guest Stars
Big stars always loved to make cameos in these shows.
While the main reason we watch TV series is to follow the main cast of characters, sometimes viewers want the simple pleasure of seeing celebrity stars appear out of nowhere and wreak havoc on the show. Over the years, there have been a number of series that have turned celebrity cameos into a major feature, inviting more stars to take part in the show season after season.
Here are four TV series with the most celebrity guest stars.
The Love Boat (1977–1986)
The iconic comedy show about a luxury cruise ship and the misadventures of its crew and guests was one of the most popular series of its era, and the first to make celebrity guest stars a staple rather than a pleasant surprise.
During its decade-long run, the show featured 33 Oscar-winning actors in cameos, including giants like Olivia de Havilland, José Ferrer, and Joan Fontaine, and future big stars like Tom Hanks, Tim Robbins, and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Frasier (1993–2004)
This highly influential spin-off of the popular series Cheers managed to turn its main character's snobbery and intellectualism into a beloved trademark rather than an annoying problem. With Frasier himself working as a radio host, a lot of people called in to ask him questions, prompting the producers to invite many celebrities to lend their voices to callers, with the stars like Eric Idle, Gary Sinise, Matthew Broderick, John Lithgow, and John Cusack agreeing to such a proposal.
Friends (1994–2004)
This sitcom was the biggest show on the air for a decade, so some big-name celebrities definitely wanted to steal the spotlight from the main sextet of actors.
And the producers were more than happy to invite as many stars as possible, as the appearances of Brad Pitt, Alec Baldwin, Reese Witherspoon, Danny DeVito, Bruce Willis, and Charlie Sheen really elevated the show's status.
The Simpsons (1989–now)
The greatest animated series on the planet has been a zeitgeist-defining show for so long that celebrities are literally lining up to voice some of the show's episodic characters.
In the last decade alone, more than two hundred guest stars have voiced the characters, including the likes of Tom Waits, Stephen Merchant, Lena Dunham, Adam Driver, and dozens more.