Um, hello. They managed to get Thomas Pynchon to cameo with a paper bag over his head...TWICE! Defiantly the best cameo ever.

Peter, Boston,

Lawrence Tearney had a wicked cameo as Don Brodka. That was having it!

Luis, Bristol/ ,

the BEST was with Rodney Dangerfield. Rodney Dangerfield's character was Mr.Burns' son. Burnsy didn't love him nor could he refine him, so Rodney's Character faked a suicide and lived in Homer's basement. I laughed alot in that episode.

luke, salicks, USA

videos removed for terms of use violation Doh

ironicist, springfield,

Don't forget the ton of cameos where Homer is training all the pro athletes - My favorite being Lebron James.

Lebron - "Omlettes for dinner? This is the best day of my life!"
Lisa - "Really? Didn't you just sign a $90 million contract?"
Lebron - "Oh yeah. That was a good day too."

Matt Rouse, Ogden, UT, USA

This is a good list, but they left off some of my favorite celebrity cameos including: Tom Clancy in "Diatribe of a Mad Housewife" David Hyde Pierce in "Brother from Another Series" James Woods in "Homer and Apu" Buzz Aldrin in "Deep Space Homer" David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and Leonard Nimoy in "The Springfield Files" (I love that episode, one of the rare times a TV series crossover actually worked well) Of course, a list of 50 of the funniest Simpsons cameos would still probably leave someone off. There have just been way too many great cameos on the show.

Eric, USA,

Ricky Gervais! Not only did he give a riveting hilarioius cameo appearance, but he gave his writing expertise to the script! He showed up even Homer in the comedy category for about ten minutes.

Arick W. Mittler, Dayton, OH

I think the funniest was possibly Buzz Aldrin ("And remember, second comes right after first!"), but for sheer astonishment value, which is funny in of itself, I'd have to say Stephen Hawking (Homer: "Larry Flynt is right!"), Jasper Johns ("Yoink!") and for Lord's sake THOMAS RUGGLES PYNCHON. ("Say that Thomas Pynchon loved her book about as much he loves being photographed."). You can't get much better evidence that the Springfield gang have carved their niche in pop history. All they'd need now would be Salinger, bin Laden, and the secretly-still-alive Andy Kaufman to soldify their cred further. Or have they all been on already?

Richard Kirkwood, Jersey City, NJ

The performance of Jerry Lewis as professor Frink's dad was unforgettable; he imitated Frink so well. Really funny.
And of course Pierce Brosnan's as UltraHouse3000 also was one of the best (Yum-yum-yum).

Estel, Amsterdam, Netherlands

What no Kirk Dogulas or James Woods!!!1 Both fantastic cameos, though Steve Martin and Mark Hamill are both dam fine choices though, and as for Steve Martin. It was his best thing he had done in ages. As for the bands, White Stripes, Metallica, they where kind of blink and you'll miss them cameos, so get rid of them, and put Kirk Dogulas and James Woods in instead.

JBD, Sittingbourne,

How could you forget the episode with Ringo Starr, who Marge had a teenage crush on and painted his protrait?

Sarah Watson, Derbyshire, England

Gervais and Cowell?
Embarrassing.
You should both be ashamed of yourselves.

BJK, London,

"I still like him better than Steinbrenner"

Tim, Timmons,

The best James Woods line in his cameo was when Jimbo bought something off of him and was about to walk away:

Woods: "Excuse me, but did you believe that? Did you believe I was really a clerk?"

Jimbo: "Actually, it sounded kind of labored. You've got to live in the moment."

Best cameo ever. But how come no one has mentioned Mel Gibson and his remake of "Mr Smith goes to Washington"? I thought that was hilarious too!

Mike, Wilmington, OH

The fact that Stephen Hawking isn't on this list is absolute blasphemy. "Your utopia is more of a fruitopia." Genius.

lc, Albany, NY

Some much better cameos than a few of the 33 listed in this article. One that jumps to mind is Rodney Dangerfield as Mr. Burn's long lost, and Homeresque stupid, son Larry in the episode "Burns, Baby Burns". The bit where Mr.Burns tries to use his influence to get Larry into Yale is superb. After he took the entrance exam the college representatives go into Burn's office with the results and he asks them how larry did to which one of them responds; "Let's just say he spelt Yale with a 6". Priceless.

Marcus, Dublin,

James Woods should be near the top of the list:
Robber: Don't try any funny stuff!
James Woods: I assure you if I tried any funny stuff you would be in stitches (Paraphrased)

Classic as many of the guest stars are.

Jason, Seattle,

The episode which sees Richard Dean Anderson (aka McGyver) escaping from Patty and Selma's clutches using one of their bras to "zip-line" out of the building is priceless.

Tom Bates, Ilford,

who was the star who played Frank Grimes or 'grimey' in that episode in which he ends up elerocuting himself. Its one of my favorites i think its an american actor whos been phebe's boyfriend in Friends.

gresh, wem,

The George Bush Senior Episode. Homer as a neighbour and George ready to spar. Where would he retire?

Robert Adam, Victoria BC, Canada

My fave is Barry White correcting Mayor Quinby's introduction to Springfield on Snake Whacking Day: "My name is Barry!"
Quinby: "The card says Larry"
Barry: "I think I know my own name!"

glenner, san francisco, usa

from “Homer's Barbershop Quartet”

Barney Gumble: David Crosby, you're my hero!

David Crosby: Oh! You like my music?

Barney Gumble: You're a musician?

Genius.

Colin Maginnis, Edinburgh,

Homer in a fist fight with Ron Howard on Springfield Squares tv show. Classic!

Antti H, helsinki, finland

I really liked the one with Richard Dean Anderson in it.

Kristen, Bartlett, TN USA

Are we forgetting Mulder and Scully? David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson were at the peak of their X-Files fame then.

That episode was fantastic! Best bit being Moe and the whale.

Chrissie, Sydney,

I liked the Ramones cameo the best. Mr. Burns says......"ahhhh these minstrels are just what I need to soothe my jagged nerves." And of course anyone who knows the Ramones knows that Monty is in for a big surprise and it probably WON'T be soothing. Of course the Ramones put in a twisted Happy Birthday song for him after insulting not only Monty but the entire town, too! Then to top it off, Monty completely mistakes who they are and says to Smithers, "Have the Rolling Stones killed!!!" Smithers replies, 'But sir, those aren't ---" and Monty says, "JUST DO IT!!!" ..........................just hilarious!!!

The cool thing about having the Ramones on was they were rarely seen after they broke up and of course with three of their four members now deceased, they won't be heard from again. For me, this was a final swan song for them, so that makes the Ramones cameo extra special!!

Jim Clancy, Cottage Grove, USA / MN

what about the backstreet boys when bart joins a boy band? they dance on every entrance. great.

gary, belfast,

My fav was Weird Al!! His awesome song about Homer and Marge was wicked! Heeeee!

Apathygrrl, Halifax,

How about Danny DeVito as Homer's brother. He was a classic!! And no one seems to have mentioned the show's longest running cameo where Kelsey Grammar is the voice of Sideshow Bob. Superb.

Sanjay Mazumder, Palmers Green, London, UK

Barry White in Snake Whacking Day is my bestest favourite - his resonant voice causing reverberations around Springfield that bring out the snakes! Awesome.

And Stephen Hawking. But so much quality to choose from - it's like choosing your favourite child!

Work Avoider, London, UK

My personal favourite is definitely the perfect X-Files spoof, narrated by Leonard Nimoy and with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson guest-starring.

Best moment:

After running a barrage of tests, Scully puts Homer on a treadmill.

Mulder: Gee, Scully, what's the point of this test?
Scully: No point, I just thought he could stand to lose a little weight.
Mulder: That jiggling is almost hypnotic...
Scully: Yes... it's like a lava lamp...

Beautiful!

Katie F., Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Tom Petty was also in the "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" episode. Well, and so was Brian Setzer, but he's hardly worth mentioning...

Dave, Fredericksburg,

The funniest cameo is Albert Brooks as Hank Scorpio. That episode has some of the best moments ever in a Simpsons episode, including one that was showed once, then never aired again. Homer asks Hank for sugar, and he reaches in his pocket and pours loose sugar in his cup. "Sorry about the pockets Homer...want some cream also?" Homer slowly walks backwars saying "no thank you". Classic.

Steve Miller, Hoboken, United States/NJ

Any time the late Phil Hartman was on the show as Troy McClure!

Michael Caplan, Chicago, USA

Michelle Pfiffer as Mindy, the brazen minx who starts working at the power plant. Every line is a classic. Seriously, every line.

Rob, Hobart, Australia

Macgyver.

Sue B, Pontypridd, Wales

It has to be Rodney Dangerfield as Mr. Burns' son Larry. The interaction between Larry Burns and Homer is priceless.

Michael Foulke, Los Angeles, CA

Richard Dean Anderson-- He gets lost on his way to the Stargate convention and ends up being kidnapped by patty and Selma because they are in love with MacGyver. He ends up escaping using MacGyver like tricks and keeps coming back to do it again. He gets so obbsessed with being MacGyver that Patty and Selma get sick of him. Priceless.

Matthew Gibson, Henderson, United States/ Tennessee

Adam West as himself in "Mr. Plow", when he's doing the Bat-dance and Homer slowly draws the kids away. "West.....pure West".

Brandon, Minneapolis,

Learn your facts, Walk this way was recorded in 1976 long before the RUN DMC COVER.

eric, tinsletown,

Rodney Dangerfield as Larry Burns, Mr. Burns son. Rodney was a really funny guy and I which I did the math on this and when Rodney did the voice he was about 74 years old. Burns had him while he was at Yale which puts him in his mid-ninties and that was all in 1996. I am guess now he is somewhere between being 100 and 110 years old!

Peter Q, New York City,

In addition to the ones above, I thought some episodes with memorable cameos include the episode featuring Buzz Aldrin and James Taylor, as well as the episode with Sting.

Personally, for future episodes, I'd like to see them feature the following: Steven Jobs, Karl Lagerfeld, Suzy Menkes, Rudy Giuliani, Daniel Liebskind, Joni Mitchell, Oprah Winfrey, David Hockney, MIssy "Misdemeanour" Elliot, Sister Wendy, Eartha Kitt, Dr. Jane Goodall, Olivia Newton John, Dave Chapelle, Penelope Cruz -- and if Thomas Pynchon can do an episode, how about Harper Lee?

John, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Sorry, you're all wrong. Richard Dean Anderson finding his MacGyver character again after being abducted bt Selma and Patty. Absolute genius.

Mac, 's-Hertogenbosch,

WHAT? No James Woods? C'mon...not only does he play himself, but also he's researching for a role as a tightly wound convenience store clerk.... too many good lines in this episode to count..."You be you, and I’ll be me....i'm me?...."

Adam, Oakville, Canada

Thomas Pynchon, cmon he wears a paper bag with a question mark on his head, two episodes of the simpsons were his only appearances really anywhere

Matthew, Philadelphia,

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as their characters Mulder and Scully from "The X-Files". Mulder pulls out his wallet to show his license, in which his photo ID is of him in his underwear. Also, Scully puts Homer on a treadmill and says his fat is "hypnotic" and Mulder asks what the point of the test is, to which Scully responds there is none, she just thought it wouldn't hurt for Homer to get some exercise.

fluffybunnywhiskers!, Yorktown Heights, NY

I have always had a soft spot for Conan O'Briens cameo myself. "Only I may dance." Classic. Which also makes him the first guest star to be credited with writing an episode, albeit not the one he was in.

Tony, Pottsville, PA

Albert Brooks needs to make this list three times: as Jacque the Bowler ("It's not quite breakfast, it's not quite lunch, but you get a slice of canteloupe at the end!"), as Brad Goodman ("I loved her in that...thing...I saw her in"), and as Hank Scorpio ("Do you like these shoes? Then, neither do I! Get the heck outta here! Ever see a man say goodbye to a shoe?") And Albert wasn't just handed funny lines, he improvised a great deal of them.

Julie, Chicago,

Penny Marhsall anyone? From the first season.... I loved her as Mrs. Botz!!!!

Dane Jerabek, New York City,

I thought the episode with David Hyde Pierce ("Brother from Another Show", I believe) was incredible. Moreover, John Waters in "Homer's Phobia" and Pierce Brosnan as the amorous and homicidal UltraHouse deserve to be on the list.

Yasmin S., Sacramento, California

I know Aerosmith's just the USA's answer to GB's Stones, but to think "Walk This Way" is merely a RUN D.M.C. combo piece from '86 is a-dicalus. Orginally (and done much better) on 1975's landmark Toys in the Attic album. Of course, that's just nitpickin', innit?

Fave cameo, out of far too many from which to choose, I'll kick it back to the near-beginning: Penny Marshall as psycho babysitter Mrs. Botz in "Some Enchanted Evening."

Eric Porvaznik, Los Angeles, CA/USA

You missed Harvey Fierstein playing Carl, Homer's secretary in the episode where he got his hair back. Not only was this one of the best episodes ever, but Fierstein was also the first guest star to use his REAL NAME! (Hoffman and Jackson were earlier, but they both used aliases) Fierstein made it okay to do a cameo--Without him, this list would have stopped at about 10!

Jeff, Orange, Californa

My Favorite has to be Thomas Pynchon, not only one of my favorite authors, but possibly the world's most notorious recluse. It speaks to the genius of the Simpson's that a man who won't even make an appearence to promote himself would make two guest spots on their show.

Chris, Milwaukee,

For my money the greatest cameos came from Homer at Bat. The Simpsons is the only place where you could get Jose Canseco, Ken Griffey Jr., Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Steve Sax, Ozzie Smith, Mike Scioscia, and Darryl Strawberry together on one team without some kind of coke and steroid-fueled brawl breaking out. I realize that baseball players may not have the same appeal in the UK, but who didn't laugh at Barney's argument with Wade Boggs over whether the greatest PM of all time was Lord Palmerston or Pitt the Elder.

Brendan Payne, New York, US

Can anybody think of the worst simpsons cameo?

One that comes glaringly to my mind is Micheal Keaton as ex-con Jack Crowley. Maybe it was just a bad episode.

James, Beverly Hills , CA

'Walk this Way' was a hit for Aerosmith long before they rerecorded it with Run DMC.

Nic, Los angeles, CA.

David Byrne's appearance on the episode 'Dude, where's my ranch ?' !!

N'Sync's appearance was suprisingly amusing also - word !

Denny, Melbourne,

I always liked the episode "Homer at the Bat" with all the baseball players. Ken Griffey Jr. hooked on Nerve and Brain Tonic, Roger Clemens thinks he's a chicken, Steve Sax is arrested for every unsolved murder in NYC, Don Mattingly gets kicked off the team for his "sideburns" and Strawberry the kiss up.

Mike, St. Louis, MO

"Ahh, a solar eclipse, the cosmic ballet goes on." No Leonard Nemoy? Luke Perry? Cypress Hill? Peter Frampton? 3 time soapbox derby champion Ronny Beck? Darryl Strawberry or Jose Canseco?

Stephen, Orlando, Florida

How could you have forgotten John Waters' appearance on the episode when Homer thinks that Bart is gay?

Mark Swift, Montreal,

In Tennis the Menace, the tennis court is not built at the Springfield Retirement Castle, it's put in the Simpsons' back yard after Homer decided not to buy a burial plot for his father.

Marrett Ceo, Leesburg/VA, USA

Tony Blair, episode, because, it is actually showing him as he is on and behind the show, attention seeking and low enough to put himself on the show. How sad, no other leader has done so, what does this say about him in history.

Peter Hagan, Liverpool, England

How could you have missed Leonard Nimoy ('Anyone wanna swap seats?'), Ron Howard, and Linda Ronstadt? (Let alone Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin)...

David, Sydney, Australia

Regarinding Dave in Bristol's comment about Barry White not being in the Krusty Gets Kancelled episode, he was - he was on The Springfield Squares ("Come up to my square - it's safe and it's sexy, ooh baby.")

Craig, Bedford, Canada

Barry White was in the Whacking Day episode, not Krusty Gets Kancelled. Bette Midler however, was.

Dave, Bristol,

For my money, the best Simpsons cameo is Elizabeth Taylor, who provides the voice for little Maggie's first (and only) word in the whole history of the show, when Homer kisses her goodnight and leaves the room, and she she takes her dummy out of her mouth and says the word "Daddy".

Roland, Perth, Australia

John Waters was integral to the script rather than some of these regrettable pointless cameoes thrown in now. Dustin Hoffman as well. Ahh, back when it was great. Get that movie out and can it. And delete the last five seasons. But never forget how great it was. I have lasting friendships based upon mutual love of the Simpsons.

Al , Brighton,

my favourite has to be johnny cash as the Coyote in El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer), because its my favourite episode and the best casting of a spirit guide ever, but i just thought i should mention lucy lawless's brilliant cameo as both xena and herself, where she flies but as lucy not as xena!

Beth Steiner, Bristol,

George Harrison?
When the 'B Sharps' (??? Homer's barbershop band) play on the rooftop?
Brilliant.

Ali, Plymouth,

Lots of great ones missed off the list!
What about the Ron Howard episode?
Or James Woods? ("Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to fight aliens on a far away planet")
Or Albert Brooks as Homer's boss/supervillain Hank Zodiac? ("By the way, Homer, what's your least favourite country, Italy or France?...Haha! Nobody ever says Italy").
Or John Waters as the overtly gay, John?
The list is endless!

Chris Hallam, Exeter, England

Rupert Murdoch - the irony of making jibes at Murdoch and his media empire probably made him a few more millions - this just appealed to my sense of humour!

Gill Campbell, BIRMINGHAM, UK

The majority of cameo's are hilarious, but my favourite was Ricky Gervais, not only was the cameo (well sort of) humorous but to be given the first honour of being a guest writer - well what can I say - Come on Ricky!

Tanya Vaughan, Birmingham, West Midlands

Difficult one but have to go with U2. The potato man line to get in is absolutely classic.

Colm Diamond, cork, Ireland

It has to be 50 Cent, in the back of the stretch Hummer with his PR. After Bart turns down the chance to go on a world tour with him because he has school the next day, Fiddy commends him for his attitude. Upon finding out that his encouragement will not be considered part of his community service, he appears visibly upset.

"Aight - Take me to the park we'll pick up some dog poop...."

Kobi Annobil, Woking, Surrey

It has to be 50 Cent, in the back of the stretch Hummer with his PR. After Bart turns down the chance to go on a world tour with him because he has school the next day, Fiddy commends him for his attitude. Upon finding out that his encouragement will not be considered part of his community service, he appears visibly upset.

"Aight - Take me to the park we'll pick up some dog poop...."

Kobi Annobil, Woking, Surrey

James Earl Jones as the narrator reading Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven is brilliant - it's different from the more recognisable Simpsons stuff but still really funny, and the deep Darth Vader voice is perfect for it.

Al, London, UK

Am I alone in thinking that the more cameos an episode has the poorer it tends to be?

My favourite appearance is by the sex and the city girls. Not a cameo but an impersonation. Brilliant though!

Selma: Let's catch the tail end of "Nookie in New York."
Marge: "Nookie in New York?"
Patty: It's a cable show about four single women who act like gay men.
Marge: That sounds great! -- Fabulous, even,

They turn on the show. Four women sit around a table in a restaurant.

Miranda: If I'm not having sex by the end of this goat-cheese quesadilla, I'm going to scream.
Charlotte: I also enjoy sex.
Samantha: Since this morning, I've had sex with a New York Knick, two subway cops, and a guy who works on Wall Street.
Charlotte: Broker?
Carrie: Nah. She's just really sore. [they all laugh]

[back in the Bouviers' apartment]
Patty: This is so like our lives.
Selma: [grunts approval] It's like they hid a camera in our apartment.

Ross, London, UK

My favorite cameo has to be U2 in 'Trash of the Titans'. Not only were they brilliant in this episode but it was also the 200th episode!

Rhys Smith, Plymouth, England

Beverly D'angelo as Lurleen Lumpkin is my favourite, but it's a close run thing with Ray Romano as Ray Magini, Homer's (imaginary) roofing friend, which included the classic "I've just come down with a case of shingles" line.....

Nelson Muntz, Swindon, England

TV Guide in the US recently had a much better list. This one is far too overloaded with celebrities playing them selves which is usually their most boring use.

My top five.

John Waters as the King of Kitchy Knick Knacks

Harvey Feirstein as the world's best secretary in the episode Homer grows hair and becomes an executive.

Pierce Brosnan as UltraHouse3000 - "This is Constable Wiggums. Please remove your knickers and wait in the bath."

Meryl Streep as Rev Lovejoy's evil daughter who Bart has a crush on.

Dustin Hoffman as the wonderful Mr. Bergstrom

Stephanie, USA,

I'd like to see Conrad Black & his wife spending Duff beers profits on extravagent parties, private jets & luxury homes. Homer would be the voice of the moral minority by boycotting the purchase fo Duff beef until the Black's are arrested & sent to trial - jury to include Mo and Sideshow Bob

Andy Stent, Thornton Le Dale, UK

Pretty good list this. Have thought of 2 I like that dont seem to be on here. First is when Bart appears on the Conan O'Brian show. I think that he produced the show, or had something to do with it, so it may not count. However I do like the line "Sit perfectly still only I may dance".
The other is from Deep Space Homer when Buzz Aldren appeared...."Second comes right after first". Think that is a very funny line

JJ Penney, Cambridge,

From the episode where Homer becomes a modern artist, the best cameo has to be Jasper Johns as a kleptomaniac.

Alex, Glendale, California, U.S

Where is Albert Brooks as Scorpio?! Surely, that deserves to be in the top 3.

Usman Rafiq, Birmingham, UK

Andre Agassi in the tennis episode has to be the greatest -
AA: "Hi, I'm Andre Agassi".
Homer: "The wrestler?"
Genius.

Alun Davies, London, UK

I'd like to pay homage to the fantastic female guest stars!

Meryl Streep's delivery was breathily perfect as Jessica Lovejoy, the evil object of Bart's desire: "No one will believe you. I'm the sweet, innocent minister's daughter ... and you're just yellow trash.'

Or Beverly D'Angelo as Lurleen Lumpkin Homer's country music protege:
Lurleen: "Homer, you're as sweet as you are handsome."
Homer: "HEY! Oh, you meant it as a compliment."

Other memorable moments - Kathleen Turner in fabulously gravelly-voiced form as the faded belle and creator of Malibu Stacy, Winona Ryder as Lisa's academic rival, Linda Ronstadt singing the jingle to Barney's 'Plow King' TV ad ... I could go on!!

As for the boys, I have to give kudos to Jon Lovitz - from highly strung theatre director to mega-burping cinema critic, he's always fantastic.

Angela, London,

Stephen Hawking wins hands down!

Emma, Cambridge, UK

The best of all was surely the one featuring Kim Jong-Il as Sideshow Kim, although that was never shown on network TV.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

I like Duff Man personally. "Are you ready to get Duffed!" Hilarious!

Todd, Beavercreek, USA/OH

How could they miss Thomas Pynchon? First off, it's amazing that they got the actual reclusive writer to come out of hiding and lend his voice to the show. Then they put a paper bag over his character's head and have him appear as a fame-hungry recluse. Absolutely brilliant.

Dave Doe, oneonta , ny

Prof. Stephen Hawking was one to remember

Billy McDowell, Barrow in Furness, England

In a true cameo, George Harrison riding up in a limo and seeing the B-Sharps doing their rooftop concert, saying "It's been done" and riding off.

James Lachowsky, Swindon, Wiltshire

what about the episode where former president george h.w. bush and gerald ford move in next door to the simpson...

or jimmy carter in the tomacco/dueling glove episode...

johnny cash as the coyote is also pretty good.

jason, london,

Why is there no accommodation or transport offered with this prize? We don't all live in London. Tickets alone is not very generous.

Unff, Boro,

what about Pierce Brosnan and Matthew Perry in House Of Whacks of the epesode Treehouse Of Horror XII season 13 or You Kent Always Say What You Want, season 18 staring Ludacris as Luda-Crest OR paris Hilton in the season 18 episode, Homerazi

mark scantlebury, london,

Also Jeff Goldblum as Troy McClure's agent, McArthur Parker:

Parker: Okay. Now listen, let's talk baby names. You can't use Montana, Dakota or Florida, they're taken...
Troy: Hmm... Oregon?
Parker: Oh, Pacific North-West, very hot.

John Millichap, Stafford, UK

Leonard Nimoy in Marge vs the Monorail: "The cosmic ballet goes on."

John Millichap, Stafford, UK

How could you possibly leave out the James Woods cameo?! It was arguably the funniest ever in The Simpsons. It just pips the Adam West cameo for me.

Dean Clay, North Shields, Tyne & Wear

my favourite is barry white in the whacking day episode, just for the bit when he says "i lurv the sexy slither of a lady snake". the frasier rip-off is brilliantly funny an dis one of the best because he doesn't play himself. there's also a great cameo from tom clancy in one episode in a bit about recluse novelists

eamon brennan, baldock,

It is a hard choice although I guess no cameo can beat Aerosmith in the Flaming Moe´s episode.

Paul, London, UK

How about Danny DeVito as Uncie Herb? Homer finds his long lost brother is a multi-millionaire car maker and Herb asks Homer to design him a car, which is so bad it bankrupts the company.

The pay off line is something like "he had everything he ever wanted, until he found out he was a Simpson".

That's probably wrong but you get the idea.

Chris Taylor, Worthing, England

The best cameo was that of the band NRBQ, who appeared on the episode "Take My Wife, Sleaze" that originally aired on 28, November 1999

Jenny, Harmony, RI, US

Yes, it is a shark jumping thing, biting thing as well. But when Thomas Pynchon shows up, the Simpsons are the best. Weird. Very strange. Just who is this Pynchon character, eh? Heh, heh. The film should be great, with or without the great author appearing in it.

William, Shell City, USA

What about Kelsey Grammer, and in one special episode, David Pierce too!!!!

Nick, Edinburgh,

There are doubtless many more, and though the list is good, I'd say many of the recent ones were poorly added in, i.e. just for the sake of it, with no interesting reason (Blair, Metallica...)

I'd enter another 3 cameos; Steve Allen, in season 4 I believe, when Bart becomes all good an trusting at school. Hearing Allen say 'Aye Carumba!' in Bart's daydream is hilarious. He's also credited elsewhere as the inventor of the 'Pog'. Great stuff.

Also around that time, Spinal Tap did a great cameo causing a riot, naturally, in Springfield.

And a few years later, David Hyde Pierce as Sideshow Bob's brother, Cecil. As a Frasier rip-off, the delivery was effortless, and highly amusing.

Ian, Wrexham,

when celebrities started to appear "as themself" was the moment the simpsons jumped the shark

par, st kilda,

The best of the best in my book has always been John Waters as the kitschy camp store owner who teaches Bart and Homer to live gay and like it. The episode reaches comic nirvana when Bart and Homer visit a gay steel mill ("Everybody Dance Now!)

Bob Wright, Atlanta, Geogia, USA

Adam West as Batman

Stephen Goldwyn, London, United Kingdom

My favorite guest on the Simpsons was Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer!!

Cherlyn Nieboer, Kalamazoo, USA/MI

It has to be Spinal Tap in "The Otto Show" in the third series. The fact that one of the "guests" is actually Harry Shearer just serves to add to the charm of this cameo. This must be the only 'genuine' guest appearance that is actually by one of the regular voiceovers in another guise.

Some of the dialogue is fantastic - such as "Here you are, among the top one hundred and five concert acts today. What's your secret, guys?" Although my favourite has to be "We're very big in Bulgaria. And what-his-name, the other -garia...". This really could have been a conversation between Rob Reiner's Marti DiBergi and the rest of the band straight out of the film.

The scenario and dialogue seems so complementary to the film and it's cult status, fitting in so well with Rob Reiner's mockumentary, and that is perhaps why it is the best cameo: because it is a parody of a parody. And an excellent one at that.

Paul Harris, Harrow, UK

It would have to be Tom Baker in a non-speaking role as the Doctor. He plays a hero of TV called by Mayor Quimby in council with the Mexican 'bee guy', Krusty and Ken Brockman to talk about the quality of TV in Springfield!

raj awasti, London, UK

Barry White!

Snake wacking day!

that ones awesome.

Stuart King, Cheltenham, England

Personnaly, I think Tony Blair was the best guest star in The Simpsons. I think this as being a Brit myself it was great to see all the notable landmarks and attractoions, such as the London Eye that make England what is it is.For all of the above reasons, I think that Tony Blair is the best ever guest star in The Simpsons.

Oliver Phillips, London, England