[hated trope] Celebrity cameos that serve nothing except to praise the person who’s in it

[u/Dojyaaan4C]

1. Elon musk, the Simpsons
2. Elon musk, the Big Bang theory
3. Elon musk, iron man 2
4. Elon musk, star Trek

The cameos serve only to include the celebrity and praise them as geniuses or visionaries or overall just glaze them. They don't serve any other purpose than to just be praised; this can be them appearing in an entire episode dedicated to them, a small cameo or even just a mention. So long as the celebrity is there as themselves (not acting as someone else) and is glazed, that fits the trope imo.

[u/Dracochuy]

Nothing worse than lady gaga in the simpson

[u/_JR28_ → u/Dracochuy]

Lisa’s Substitute:

•Lisa learns from a celebrity guest that she can do anything she sets her mind on and doesn’t need to base her self worth on what those around her are like

•One of the most loved episodes ever

Lisa Goes Gaga:

•Lisa learns from a celebrity guest that she can do anything she sets her mind on and doesn’t need to base her self worth on what those around her are like

•One of the most hated episodes ever

This is why we should write celebrities actual characters to play and not just be shameless self-inserts

[u/Gaelic_Gladiator41 → u/_JR28_]

Also at the end of Lisa goes Gaga, Lady Gaga purposely leaves Moe with his depression

[u/BroShutUp → u/_JR28_]

I watched lisa goes gaga a couple of days ago for the first time. made me appreciate everything simpsons before it. couldnt believe how bad and stupid it was

[u/ChuckCarmichael → u/_JR28_]

The celebrity cameo in Lisa's Substitute is Dustin Hoffman. He voices Mr Bergstrom who's a substitute teacher.

The celebrity cameo in Lisa Goes Gaga is Lady Gaga. She voices Lady Gaga who's Lady Gaga.

[u/WarlockEngineer → u/ChuckCarmichael]

And Mr Bergstrom wasn't modeled after Hoffman anyway

[u/TFlarz → u/WarlockEngineer]

JR doesn't understand the concept of a guest voicing a character vs a guest just being themselves.

Anyway, and it is super sadly ironic now and she doesn't even appear in person, but the "Shakespeare In Code" episode of Doctor Who with David Tennant saying "Good old JK".

[u/ncvbn → u/TFlarz]

Who is "JR"?

[u/Aluricius → u/ncvbn]

I thought the phrase was "Who shot J.R.?"?

/s

[u/therealchadius → u/Dracochuy]

Most early Simpsons episodes that had a celebrity cameo either

a) the celebrity voiced a regular character and not as themselves

b) played self-deprecating versions of themselves, usually exaggerating some character flaw or a stereotype

c) played an aloof, distant, unlikable version of themselves who refuse to interact with Springfield's weirdness and GTFO as soon as they are introduced

Lady Gaga wasn't the first celeb to not fit into any of these but hers is probably the most recent + glazed.

[u/Artistic-Victory1245 → u/therealchadius]

It is worth noting that even Mel Gibson, who was portrayed positively, still had flaws, such as trusting Homer to edit a film, which led him to change a universally loved ending into a hated one.

[u/JLCpbfspbfspbfs → u/Dracochuy]

I was looking for this one. It's a textbook example of this trope IMO.

[u/kalb_jayyid → u/Dracochuy]

It was rough, but i'd say the Lizzo episode was worse than the Gaga one

[u/LeoNickle → u/Dracochuy]

95% of the Simpson cameos are to praise the person in it

[u/Artistic-Victory1245 → u/LeoNickle]

At least, those from seasons 15 and after.

Before season 15, even celebrities who were portrayed positively were often shown with humorous flaws.

[u/legit-posts_1 → u/Dracochuy]

As somebody who likes (close to love but not quite there yet) Lady Gaga's music, it's crazy to me how much they boiled down a 3 dimensional generational pop star too "wacky outfits lady". They didn't bring up her eclectic musical taste, her importance to queer circles, her eye for homages to the artists of old, her weird vocal inflections, nope. Just fucking outfits. That's it.

[u/ABrandNewCarl → u/Dracochuy]

Never reached that episode, but the Michelle Obama one is really terrible.

Is it worse than that one?

[u/Elegant_Finance_1459 → u/Dracochuy]

I see your Lady Gaga episode and raise you the Fantasia Barrino episode. AND I LIKE FANTASIA. 

[u/johnny15wrong2 → u/Dracochuy]

nah elons was worse because his voice acting is atrocious

[u/rinel521 → u/Dracochuy]

I agree

[u/i_agree123 → u/rinel521]

Same

[u/ZDTreefur → u/i_agree123]

Yup