Top 10: Simpsons Guest Stars
To celebrate the news that Justin Bieber will soon be making his debut appearance.
Justin Bieber has announced on Twitter that he will soon make his debut guest appearance on The Simpsons. The tweet, which read "just did a voice over for the SIMPSONS!!! #swaggy", has since been deleted, suggesting that poor Biebs obviously got in trouble for blabbing (and possibly for also hashtag swaggying). To celebrate the news, we thought we'd devote some time and webspace to our very favourite celebrities who have voiced yellow versions of themselves over the years.
1. Sonic Youth, 'Homerpalooza' (1996)
Many legendary musicians have guest-appeared on The Simpsons over the past two decades: The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne and The Who. The best by far, though, we say, is Sonic Youth in the classic Season 7 episode 'Homerpalooza', where they appeared alongside Cypress Hill, Smashing Pumpkings and Peter Frampton as headliners at Hullabalooza, Springfield's version of Lollapalooza (ie. the 90s version of Coachella).
2. Conan O'Brien, 'Bart Gets Famous' (1994)
This is one of the reasons why GIFs were invented.
3. Ringo Starr, 'Brush With Greatness' (1991)
George Harrison appeared in Season 5's 'Homer's Barbershop Quartet' and Paul McCartney in Season 7's 'Lisa The Vegetarian' (alongside wife Linda) but it is Ringo Starr in the classic (read: ancient) episode 'Brush With Greatness' that we love the most, in part because it is a stellar example of why Marge Simpson is just the most beautiful human and greatest mother around.
4. Michael Jackson, 'Stark Raving Dad' (1991)
Michael Jackson almost sort of doesn't strictly qualify for this list — he voiced a character who was maybe the real Michael Jackson but was probably more likely just an oversized mental patient named Leon Kompowsky. MJ also didn't provide the singing part of his role. It is, however, perhaps one of the best-known and most tear-inducing guest-appearances in the show's history.
5. Lady Gaga, 'Lisa Goes Gaga' (2012)
Lady Gaga appeared on the season finale of The Simpsons. And, much like the 3D Gaga, the 2D Gaga changed her outfit 18 times within the length of an episode. The meat dress even made an apperance.
6. The Ramones, 'Rosebud' (1993)
Whenever you feel down and like there isn't any good in the world, remember that there exists an episode of The Simpsons in which The Ramones sing Happy Birthday to Mr. Burns.
7. Alec Baldwin, 'When You Dish Upon a Star' (1998)
Before Tina Fey invented 30 Rock, Alec Baldwin was but a little-known actor star married to Hollywood star Kim Basinger. He earned a guest-spot on the show's tenth season, in an episode where Homer becomes a personal assistant to celebrities. Alec also later played a dreamy scientist passionate about endangered manatees in the show's seventeeth season.
8. Julian Assange, 'At Long Last Leave' (2012)
Julian Assange recorded his guest-role remotely while still under house arrest. He also sounds a bit like Stephen Hawking.
9. Stephen Hawking, 'They Saved Lisa's Brain' (1999)
Lisa joins MENSA and hangs out with Stephen Hawking. Stephen has been quoted as saying that most young people these days think "Stephen Hawking" is a Simpsons character, not a real life genius.
10. Dolly Parton, 'Sunday, Cruddy Sunday' (1999)
Dolly doesn't actually sing in this episode, but she does use her super-strength makeup remover to dissolve a metal lock.
HONORABLE MENTION: Johnny Cash, 'The Mysterious Voyage of Homer' (1997)
On one hand, he doesn't play himself. But on another hand, he does — isn't Johnny Cash the Space Coyote spirit guide for all of us at one point or another in this thing called life?
Emily Royal
