11 Rock Star Cameos in TV Shows

From Davy Jones on The Brady Bunch to (Cow)Boy George on The A-Team, here are some of the more memorable musician TV cameos.

1. Davy Jones on The Brady Bunch

Marcia's all-out campaign to get the Monkees singer to perform at her prom yields a kiss on the cheek, a date, and a specially dedicated song. "Thank you girl, for making the morning brighter..."

2. Phil Collins on Miami Vice

In an episode called "Phil the Shill," the Genesis singer appears as the slippery host of a game show called The Rat Race. (He even sings the theme.) Crockett and Tubbs take an interest when they learn he has ties to a cocaine dealer. How '80s can you get?

3. Tom Waits on Fernwood 2 Night

When Wait's van breaks down in the fictional Ohio town, he ends up as a guest on the low-budget talk show. After befuddling the audience and host Barth Gimble with his gravel-voiced song, Waits cracks wise in an interview. Q: "Tom, where do you hail from?" A: "I come from Bedlam and Squalor."

4. Stevie Wonder on The Cosby Show

After Denise and Theo get into a fender bender with Stevie Wonder's limo, the singer invites the whole Huxtable family to visit him in the recording studio. Stevie ends up sampling the kids' voices for a new song, then sings a duet of "I Just Called to Say I Love You" with Clair. One of the best cameos ever.

5. Michael Stipe on The Adventures of Pete & Pete

The REM singer did a quick turn on the Nickelodeon kids' show as an eccentric ice cream vendor called Captain Scrummy. He pushed an item with the unappetizing name of "sludgecicle."

6. Roy Orbison on The Dukes of Hazzard

Boss Hog's Celebrity Speed Trap snared country stars like Buck Owens, Tammy Wynette, and Mel Tillis. But its biggest catch was Roy Orbison, who worked off his citation by singing "Oh Pretty Woman" at the Boar's Nest.

7. Bob Dylan on Dharma and Greg

In an episode called "Play Lady Play," Dharma auditions as a drummer for a band, not knowing who they are. The singer turns out to be Bob Dylan. After demonstrating her shaky chops, Dharma asks, "Do you want me to play some more?" Dylan replies, "Noooo."

8. Snoop Dogg on Just Shoot Me

After Finch (David Spade) is fired for canoodling with Jack's wife, he takes a job as an assistant to rapper Snoop Dogg. Eventually, Jack rehires him, prompting a misty-eyed Snoop to say, "I'm gonna miss that little blond fool."

9. Boy George on The A-Team

Faceman books country act Cowboy George into the Floor 'Em honky tonk. But a mix-up brings Boy George and Culture Club instead. Not exactly a match made in redneck heaven. But the fey singer catches the team's manly spirit and, in one memorable scene, kicks down a door.

10. Barry White on Ally McBeal

Nelle gets John the ultimate birthday present – a private performance from his favorite soul crooner, Barry White. "We got it together, didn't we, baby?" White says, as he shakes hands with the awestruck John.

11. David Bowie on Extras

The best rock star cameo ever. Andy (Ricky Gervais) has an awkward exchange with David Bowie in a bar, confessing that he has sold out to be in a sitcom. Bowie goes to the piano and writes a song with a verse that goes: "Pathetic little fat man / No one's bloody laughing / The clown that no one laughs at / They all just wish he'd die." Soon the entire bar is singing along.
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What other famous musicians do you remember dropping by popular shows?

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