Quote: don rushmore @ June 6 2009, 1:52 AM BSTThere is a world of difference between a cameo and a guest appearance
Is a cameo always unbilled (uncredited) and restricted to a brief appearance (by a famous person) in a single scene, whereas a guest appearance involves a credit and more than one scene? Or can a cameo involve billing (actor's name in the credits)?
Quote: Kenneth @ June 6 2009, 8:50 AM BSTIs a cameo always unbilled (uncredited) and restricted to a brief appearance (by a famous person) in a single scene, whereas a guest appearance involves a credit and more than one scene? Or can a cameo involve billing (actor's name in the credits)?
Two good definitions, Kenneth. And yes, a cameo can also involve billing an actor's name in the credits.
A good example of a cameo is Matthew Perry's appearance in Caroline In The City.
A good example of a guest appearance is Michael Douglas's performance in Will And Grace.
Brian Glover did a good guest spot in Last Of The Summer Wine as a salesman
Quote: Tim Walker @ June 5 2009, 9:01 PM BST10) Ken Campbell in 'In Sickness And In Health'.
I'm not sure that a regular character can be classed as a "cameo", can it?
John Cleese's appearances in 3rd Rock From The Sun have always amused me.
A good for instance would be Cannon and Ball in Last of the Summer Wine: Bobby made a guest appearance, Tommy put in a cameo.
Are we doing American sitcoms as well? If so...
Colin Farrell in "Scrubs"
Jon Lovitz in "Friends"
Let's not forget Whoopi Goldberg's guest appearance as Judge Cameo in Rocky and Bullwinkle - the movie (so hardly relevant).
Sam turning up in Frasier (although it's rather a guest appearence).
For the few that probably care:
John Cleese won an Emmy for his work on 'Cheers'. The category was 'Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series'.
Reese Witherspoon made two guest appearances in 'Friends'.
Ken Campbell made sixteen appearances in 'In Sickness and in Health'.
So the above performances are not cameos; not even close.
Sorry to tear your list to shreds, Tim. On any other site, I wouldn't be so pedantic. But this is a specialist comedy website after all - so I felt somewhat obliged to point out your mistakes.
No bad feeling, I hope?
For reasons other than comedy I'd like to nominate George Clooney and Noah Wyle in Friends. 
And it was more of a guest appearance than a cameo, but I thought Brad Pitt in the same show was really quite funny in it.
I'd also like to 'second' Steve Coogan in Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Lastly isn't it time they repeated Caroline in the City? I used to love that show. No doubt they do, but on a channel I never get to see.
Jx
Quote: Jane P @ June 6 2009, 8:38 PM BSTFor reasons other than comedy I'd like to nominate George Clooney and Noah Wyle in Friends.
I feel I've let George down by not thinking of that already. 
My husband suggested JFK Jr. on Murphy Brown.
John Cleese in Cheers
Ian McKellen in Extras
Adam West in The King of Queens
Greg Kinnear/Patrick Stewart/Bob Hoskins in Frasier
Bruce Willis in Friends
Peter Bowles in Rising Damp
Quote: Jane P @ June 6 2009, 8:38 PM BSTLastly isn't it time they repeated Caroline in the City? I used to love that show. No doubt they do, but on a channel I never get to see.
I used to like that too.
I liked Hugh Laurie in Friends. As the moody air passenger.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ June 5 2009, 9:27 PM BSTYep and Graham Norton.
and Michael Redmond, and Brendan Grace, and Gerard McSorely, and...
I could've swore I said Morris in IAP already here?