MJ voted the 5th Best, Guest Appearance on THE SIMPSONS (of all time)

Michael Jackson voted the 5th Best, Guest Appearance on THE SIMPSONS (of all time) As The Simpsons heads into its 18th season this Sunday, all this week at IGN TV we're taking a look back at the best elements of the animated series. Today we present what we think are the 25 best guest appearances. Also this week we'll run down the 25 best peripheral characters on the show, along with the best episode from each of the past 17 seasons. But the really big treat is on Friday, when you'll be able to watch the opening seven minutes of the 18th season premiere, "The Mook, The Chef, The Wife and His Homer" before the episode airs this Sunday, September 10 at 8pm ET/PT! There have been scores of guest stars on The Simpsons, but what makes it a great guest appearance? In our book, it's a guest role that is not only memorable and enjoyable but helps make the entire episode itself memorable and enjoyable. Most of the appearances we list here are ones that were integral to the plot of an episode, as opposed to just short, now-you-see-'em, now-you-don't cameo shots. Please note that we left off anyone who voices on the show so often that they're nearly regular cast members, such as the great Phil Hartman, Kelsey Grammer, and Joe Mategna (although you'll see several of their characters on our Top 25 Peripheral Characters list). here is the top TEN People.. ........................................................................................................................... #10: The Beatles Voiced: Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney as themselves Appearing in three separate episodes, Matt Groening has said that it is a personal achievement that he was able to get all the living members of The Beatles onto his show. Paul McCartney appeared on "Lisa the Vegetarian," with then wife Linda McCartney. In this appearance they show Lisa that it is okay to be a vegetarian. Ringo Starr appeared in the episode "Brush with Greatness." In the episode Marge makes a painting of Ringo and sends it to him, only to have him compliment her on her ability. Finally George Harrison appears in "Homer's Barbershop Quartet," to show Homer where the brownies are on a buffet and claim that the Quartet singing on the roof of Moe's had been done before. Although none of these appearances were really large, the fact that the most popular band of all time appeared on The Simpsons is a large statement on the popularity and importance of the show. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #9: John Waters Voiced: John The lovably campy filmmaker behind Hairspray and Serial Mom (not to mention Divine's onscreen gross-out behavior) had a large guest star role as a character who was awfully close to Waters himself. Drawn to resemble Waters -- pencil-thin mustache included -- the director's character, John, was the owner of an offbeat collectibles store who Homer befriended, until he realized John was gay. Waters was great on this episode, which hilariously parodied Homer's homophobia. The hysterical conclusion involved John saving Homer from a dangerous attack by reindeer, thanks to the use of an outlawed, missile-shooting Santa Clause toy. As John said at the end, "Homer, I won your respect, and all I had to do was save your life. Now, if every gay man could just do the same, you'd be set." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #8: Jon Lovitz Voiced: Artie Ziff, Mr. Seckofsky, Professor Lombardo, Aristotle Amadopoulis, Llewellyn Sinclair, Ms. Sinclair, Jay Sherman Jon Lovitz has voiced a few minor characters over the years, such as Marge's Springfield Community college art professor, Prof. Lombardo; Shelbyville Nuclear Power Plant owner Aristotle "Ari" Amadopolis; and Marge's flamboyant "A Streetcar Named Desire" director, Llewelyn Sinclair. But Lovitz's voice may be best remembered as the recurring character, Artie Ziff. Artie was Marge's overeager prom date in high school in the episode "The Way We Was" and in season thirteen's "Half-Decent Proposal" Ziff was revealed to now be a billionaire, who offered Marge $1 million to spend a weekend with him. Ziff appeared a third time in the fifteenth season episode "The Ziff Who Came to Dinner," which found him living the Simpsons' attic, after losing his fortune by buying extravagant items. Lovitz has also appeared on two episodes -- "A Star Is Burns" and "Hurricane Neddy" -- as his character Jay Sherman from the animated series The Critic, which was created by Simpsons producers Al Jean and Mike Reiss. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #7: James Earl Jones Voiced: Narrator, Maggie Simpson, Moving Man, Serak the Preparer James Earl Jones has done many voiceovers for The Simpsons. With his unique voice, Jones has narrated two episodes: "Treehouse of Horror" and "Das Bus." Both of those appearances lent a bit of legitimacy to the narration that wouldn't have been present otherwise. But in everybody's favorite appearance, Jones lends his voice as Maggie in the fifth installment of Treehouse of Horror. In this appearance Maggie puts an axe into Willie's back, takes out her pacifier and says, "This is indeed a disturbing universe." Classic. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #6: Winona Ryder Voiced: Alison Taylor Lisa Simpson finally met her match when she met new student Allison Taylor, voiced by Winona Ryder in the sixth season episode, "Lisa's Rival." Allison was not only as smart or smarter than Lisa but she was also younger (having skipped a grade) and was even a master of Lisa's favorite instrument, the saxophone. The highlight of the episode involved Springfield's annual "Diorama-rama," as Lisa and Bart sabotage Allison's diorama of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," inserting a rotten cow's heart. Lisa and Allison both end up losing the diorama competition to Ralph Wiggum ("What's a diorama?") and his box of Star Wars action figures (as Ralph walks home you get two more classic Ralph lines: "I bent my Wookiee," and "My cat's breath smells like cat food.") ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #5: Michael Jackson Voiced: Michael The first of The Simpsons truly big name celebrity guests couldn't get much bigger than a (pre-lawsuit) Jackson, who appeared in the third season premiere under the pseudonym John Jay Smith. On the episode, Homer is sent to an asylum and befriends his large, white cellmate Leon, who just so happens to believe he's Michael Jackson, and sound just like him, thanks to Jackson himself providing Leon's voice. Jackson plays a big role on the episode, which involves Homer bringing him back home to live with the family (it's a pretty good bet this storyline wouldn't fly these days). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #4: The Krusty Comeback Performers Voiced: Bette Midler, Hugh Hefner, Johnny Carson, Luke Perry and the Red Hot Chili Peppers as themselves After his show is canceled, Krusty the Clown falls on hard times, only to turn things around with a comeback special. "Krusty Gets Kancelled featured one of the largest and most eclectic assembling of celebrities on The Simpsons at this point. Bette Midler parodies both her appearance on Johnny Carson (who also guest stars) and the strange but true fact that she'd "adopted" a stretch of Los Angeles freeway; Hugh Hefner shows off a surprising musical talent; and The Red Hot Chili Peppers perform. Plus, in perhaps the most inspired appearance, we meet Krusty's latest sidekick: Sideshow Luke Perry. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #3: Dustin Hoffman Voiced: Mr. Bergstrom Dustin Hoffman, credited as "Sam Etic" for contractual reasons, turns in one of the first and still one of the best guest performances on The Simpsons to date in the second season episode, "Lisa's Substitute." Hoffman's character, Mr. Bergstrom, is kind, funny, smart and engaging -- exactly the kind of teacher Lisa's always wanted. The episode stands up to repeated viewings, with Hoffman shining every time. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #2: Mark Hamill Voiced: Himself and Leavalle In the very funny tenth season Simpsons episode "Mayored to the Mob," Mark Hamill voices not only himself (appearing at a science-fiction convention) but also Leavalle, the head of a bodyguard academy that Homer attends. Truly great moments in this episode abound, many of them thanks to Hamill being such a good sport about his past, from Hamill dressing up as Luke Skywalker to singing "Luke be a Jedi" to the tune of Guys and Dolls' "Luck be a Lady." The episode ends on a perfect note, with Homer carrying Hamill away from paparazzi, a la Bodyguard. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #1: Albert Brooks Voiced: Cowboy Bob, Jacques, Brad Goodman, Hank Scorpio, Tab Spangler Always willing to lend his voice, Albert Brooks has been in five episodes of The Simpsons as five different characters. Each character that Brooks has worked on has made a lasting impression in The Simpsons universe. The first appearance by Brooks was in the episode "The Call of the Simpsons" in which he voiced an RV salesman named Cowboy Bob. The second was a large role in which he voiced Jacques in the episode "Life on the Fast Lane." This character would show up again, but would be known best for being the first character to try to entice Marge away from Homer. His third appearance was on "Bart's Inner Child," where he played Brad Goodman - a motivational speaker who tells the people of Springfield to get in touch with their inner child, like Bart. The fourth appearance (and easily the best) was as Hank Scorpio from the episode "You Only Move Twice." This hilarious role placed Brooks as Homer's new boss, and also a megalomaniacal Bond-esque villain bent on world domination. The final guest appearance (so far) by Brooks was in the episode "The Heartbroke Kid," where he plays Tab Spangler - the man in charge of a forced starvation camp: Serenity Ranch. In all these appearances Brooks has captivated the audience with his unique characters, and with any luck we will see 'A. Brooks' on many more episodes in the future.

weiweitiger

Sounds not very positive, ah? He who loves cartoon and woud like to play a cartoon role so seriously wouldn't be a bad guy, I believe it. Back up with MJ!

kayjay

#5: Michael Jackson Voiced: Michael The first of The Simpsons truly big name celebrity guests couldn't get much bigger than a (pre-lawsuit) Jackson, who appeared in the third season premiere under the pseudonym John Jay Smith. On the episode, Homer is sent to an asylum and befriends his large, white cellmate Leon, who just so happens to believe he's Michael Jackson, and sound just like him, thanks to Jackson himself providing Leon's voice. Jackson plays a big role on the episode, which involves Homer bringing him back home to live with the family (it's a pretty good bet this storyline wouldn't fly these days). i have just seen the episode. it was great. i kept watching it again and again. i found sth different in the voince of michael, it's just like i found the other side of michael,cuz i have read and watched a lot about him,but this time ,throuth this role he played ,i feel i really get closer ,whats more ,i appreciated the song that he sang with bart. the song is beautiful and joyful.