When Classic Film Actors Guest Star on Sitcoms

With the support of Creative Europe – MEDIA Programme of the European Union

In this video, I talk about the various ways classic film actors guest starred on sitcoms: how the shows used their personas, how fame is used as a plot device, and how they represent nostalgia.

If you’re interested in some of the shows I talk about, here’s where they’re streaming:

Here’s Lucy - Amazon Prime
The Nanny - HBO Max, Tubi
A Different World - Amazon Prime
I Love Lucy - Paramount+
The Golden Girls - Hulu
Friends - HBO Max
That Girl - Amazon Prime
One Day at a Time - Netflix

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Music from Epidemic Sound

[destiny]

I can't imagine the amount of research, scripting and editing that goes into these videos. Your hard work does not go unnoticed or unappreciated, I really hope the YouTube algorithm favors your content because you deserve all the ad revenue in the world.

[stevennieves]

It’s a crime that Fran Drescher never won an Emmy or Golden Globe for The Nanny! She’s such an underrated talent.

[joel.saucedo]

We wouldn't be mad if you do a whole video about The Nanny, believe me.

[Darbyact]

I also love the way the muppets use guest stars!! The Muppet Show has a lot of great classics. So much love to Broadway too!

[zaniq]

I often said The Nanny is what you get when you combined the rump casts of My Fair Lady, Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof together along with I Love Lucy. Now that I think about it throw in the costuming of Bob Mackie from The Carol Burnett Show.

[EliCross]

Man, Marilyn on the Jack Benny show really looked every inch like the movie star she was.

[conormurphy]

This is why you turn notifications on, people, because THIS is a Saturday treat.

[slowdancers]

obsessed with the fact that lucy was the blueprint for so many great and classic tropes... a queen!

[DegrassiInstantStar]

_The Nanny_ is iconic. Anyone who doesn't love it makes me question their taste. Love this video being brought on by the series.

[reelred]

The Hannah Montanna transition will make me happy for the rest of the weekend. Bless you.

[NewTada]

The Hannah Montana transition caught me off guard lmfaooo.

[rosebyanyname]

the William Holden episode of I Love Lucy is my mom’s favorite! he had excellent comic timing

[MonicaFulmer]

I feel like these cameos are special treats for people who love whatever genre that actor is from. Like Easter eggs in comic book movies. My favorite version is when they bring a main character back in a reboot as a cameo. *chef kiss*

[BlackLikeInque]

Everybody Loves Chris did this with Black celebrities from the 70's, 80's and hell even Gina and Pam from Martin were recurring/main characters. It was nice seeing folks I hadn't seen in a real long time

[destiny]

Also does anyone else love stars guest starring in cartoons? I'm rewatching old scooby doo episodes with my daughter and the guest roles like Don Knotts and the Harlem globetrotters are hilarious

[benjaminjackson]

Lucille Ball was my gateway drug into classic Hollywood as a kid. I remember seeing all of the guest stars and researching all of the references they made to the actors of the time and just falling into a black hole of classic film lol.

[gonesnake]

I would absolutely love an episode about film star's appearances on talk and variety shows. Since they're usually done as part of a promotional push for their latest project you can often see them very out of their element.

[tsuxi]

Since you are enjoying The Nanny, I think is mention worthy the Season 6 Episode 22, 'The Baby Shower' where Fran Drescher does a cameo as herself and interacts with Fran Fine.

[phillipgregoryburkeactor]

Not a sitcom but this reminds me how Academy Award winner Greer Garson turned down the chance to play Joan Collins mother on DYNASTY.

[Xenolilly]

Murder She Wrote is not a sitcom but boy did it have the guest stars!