10 Strange TV Appearances by Famous Actors and Directors

Bruce Willis on "That '70s Show"
Season 8, Episode 4

While it wouldn't be all that strange to see Bruce Willis guest star on a TV sitcom regardless of the fact that he is such a huge movie star (he had already done a multi-episode stint on "Friends"), it's weird because by the time this particular episode of "That '70s Show" hit the airwaves, Ashton Kutcher was married to Willis' ex-wife. Sure, the two had patched things up and actually became friends by the time this role came around, but it still had to be pretty awkward. We're not just talking about for them, either. Seeing the two onscreen together knowing their history was just strange.Surprisingly, Willis doesn't even phone it in, either. He's genuinely funny in his one and only scene.

Quentin Tarantino on "Alias"
Season 1, Episode 12; Season 1, Episode 13; Season 3, Episode 11; Season 3, Episode 13

It's not as if Quentin Tarantino is a stranger to cameo appearances. In fact, he's in just about every one of the films he's directed, and even several that he didn't. He has also already guested on a few obscure shows in the past, including "The Golden Girls" and "All-American Girl" by the time his "Alias" stint rolled around, but only the latter was after becoming a well-established director. What separates "Alias" from those, though, is that he wasn't just making a brief cameo, but starring in a two episode arc in the show's first season that turned into two more appearances down the road. So why'd he do it? Apparently, he was just a big fan of the show, and requested he get to be on it. Imagine that.

Johnny Depp on "The Fast Show"
Season 3, Episode 8

It's truly amazing what fans will do for TV shows they love. Apparently, that even includes super rich and famous fans like Johnny Depp. Depp was a huge fan of the sketch series, "The Fast Show," which aired in the mid-90s for 3 seasons in the UK. He was even the show's final guest star, participating in a sketch that, quite honestly, if you don't like or understand British humor, you're likely to hate. Be that as it may, Depp even expressed interest in returning to the series when it was revived in 2011. As far as how he got his initial role on the series, Depp said "When it was mentioned as a possibility, I actively pursued it. I went after [Paul] Whitehouse. I stalked him. I was sitting in a tree outside his bedroom window with a funny mask on and that's how I got the job." (digital spy)

James Franco on "General Hospital"
54 Episodes (2009-2012)

There's no doubt that James Franco is a bit of an odd duck, so it makes sense that he would be on this list. It was initially Franco that sought out a role on the daytime soap opera so he could use the footage in his co-directed short, "Francophrenia (Or Don't Kill Me, I Know Where the Baby Is)." Franco insisted his character be an artist, and that he be crazy. The "General Hospital" writing staff created the super original character of "Franco" for him, and as you can see from this clip, it's weird. And it was never not weird, with Franco's character seemingly even dying again in true soap opera fashion. The role was permanently recast in 2013 after the actor left for good. Unless...it was just another elaborate fake out (cue suspenseful soap opera music).

Kevin Smith & Jason Mewes on "Degrassi: The Next Generation"
Season 4, Episode 20; Season 4, Episode 21; Season 4, Episode 22; Season 5, Episode 11; Season 5, Episode 12

Much like Tarantino, Kevin Smith was a fan of the Canadian series. However, in this case, Smith was a fan of the original 1980s incarnations of the series, which were titled "Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High." In any case, Smith starred in five episodes (along with the TV movie, "Degrassi Goes Hollywood"), and his good buddy Jason Mewes came along for the ride. The two played fictionalized versions of themselves shooting the fake film, "Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh!" While all of that sounds like a a legitimate reason for them to be there, it doesn't make them blend in any better on the series, as they stick out like sore thumbs, especially to those who don't have a clue what "Degrassi" is.

Sir Ian McKellen on "Coronation Street"
10 Episodes (2005)

Of course, casting James Franco on "General Hospital" is a bit odd, but what about when the same thing was done with Ian McKellan and the British soap, "Coronation Street?" Well, we'll tell you what about: he was brilliant. According to many a critic of the series, he was, perhaps, a bit too brilliant. But, it was a lifelong dream of the actor's to work on the long-running series, so obviously they weren't going to say no. Still, this was at the height of the great thespian's career, having just finished the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy two years prior. How'd he even have time for such a venture?

George Lucas on "The O.C."
Season 2, Episode 23 "The O.Sea"

Who would have thought the best way to get celebrities to make weird guest appearances would be through their daughters. Not only was that the case when it came to Larry David, but apparently a similar situation lead to this George Lucas cameo. As the story goes, "The O.C." series creator, Josh Schwartz, wrote a passionate letter to Lucas requesting he guest star as himself on the series. Fortunately for Schwartz, Lucas' daughter was a huge fan of the show and convinced him to take the role. Surely the fact that "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" was coming out a week after the episode aired had nothing to do with it, though. (Apologies for the Spanish version, but that's all that is available online.)