History Main / PoliticianGuestStar

!!Examples

* On ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'''s Season 5 premiere "Ms. Knope Goes To Washington" features Senators Olympia Snowe, Barbara Boxer, and John [=McCain=]. "Leslie vs. April" beats that by having Vice President of the United States Joe Biden. Newt Gingrich briefly appears in "Two Parties". Michelle Obama shows up in the season six finale to briefly name-drop her youth activity and diet programs. Season 7's "Ms. Ludgate-Dwyer Goes to Washington" has Senator Boxer show up again along with Madeleine Albright.

* Massachusetts Congressman and Speaker of the House Tip O'Niell once ducked into ''Series/Cheers'' to get away from a woman on the street who was bothering him (turns out it was Diane). The rest of the bar recognized him and goaded Norm (who was in the bathroom) to share his opinion of that "Do Nothing Congress" which O'Niell found amusing. Was a big factor in the show getting noticed by the general public at the time.

* On ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'''s Season 5 premiere "Ms. Knope Goes To Washington" features Senators Olympia Snowe, Barbara Boxer, and John [=McCain=]. "Leslie vs. April" beats that by having Vice President of the United States Joe Biden. Michelle Obama shows up in the season six finale to briefly name-drop her youth activity and diet programs. Season 7's "Ms. Ludgate-Dwyer Goes to Washington" has Senator Boxer show up again along with Madeleine Albright.

* ''{{Film/Contact}}'' featured then-president Bill Clinton through careful manipulation of news footage. Needless to say, the White House was not impressed.

This is going to be a special episode. This is going to be a {{Pilot}}, PilotMovie, GrandFinale, OriginsEpisode, ReunionShow, or maybe even a VerySpecialEpisode. Or regular episode, in which we want something that will make it special. We need a guest star, but not [[SpecialGuest any guest star]]. And not another episode where [[CelebrityStar Metallica's in town]]. We need someone real big, like, like...like the president of the United States! Or Russia! Or the British prime minister! Maybe even a member of Royal Family! Or the Pope! No matter — he just needs to be well-recognized political or religious leader. If he's popular, his face itself will earn thousands. And if for some reason people don't like him, we‘ll just chip with him, and they‘ll love us. It doesn't matter, if [[CelebrityStar the whole story revolves around about him]], or [[SpecialGuest he makes only a short appearance]], [[InvisiblePresident if at all]] — it ''will'' work perfectly.

* One 2008 episode of ''Wrestling/{{WWE}} [[Wrestling/WWERaw Raw]]'' featured campaign speeches from UsefulNotes/BarackObama, Hillary Clinton, and John [=McCain=]. Later in that same show, Obama and Clinton impersonators went head-to-head in a wrestling match .

* Pictured above: UsefulNotes/BarackObama invited the ''Series/MythBusters'' to the White House library to request they retest the "Archimedes Death Ray".

* UsefulNotes/TonyBlair appeared on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' once. Like, the actual Tony Blair. Details [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Regina_Monologues#Production here]]. Blair also appeared as himself in a Catherine Tate sketch for Red Nose Day, meeting her sixteen-year-old schoolgirl chav, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfkjvagVsRI Lauren Cooper.]]

* UsefulNotes/TonyBlair appeared on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' once. Like, the actual Tony Blair. Details [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Regina_Monologues#Production here]]. Blair also appeared as himself in a Catherine Tate sketch for Red Nose Day, meeting her sixteen-year-old schoolgirl chav, Lauren Cooper: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfkjvagVsRI]].

* Mayor Bloomberg has also appeared in ''Series/CurbYourEnthusiasm'' to ban Creator/LarryDavid out of New York City.

* This trope is OlderThanCable ... UsefulNotes/RichardNixon once made a cameo appearance on ''Series/RowanAndMartinsLaughIn.''

* The UsefulNotes/{{Philippines}} takes this UpToEleven- a lot of politicians there weren't just ''guest stars'', they were often full-fledged, full-time celebrities- actors, singers, basketball players and other athletes, newscasters, and various other media personalities- leveraging their media popularity to handily win at elections. Possibly only the most prominent example was former Philippine President Joseph Ejercito "Erap" Estrada, action star who became mayor of San Juan city for several terms (and went back to being mayor, this time of UsefulNotes/{{Manila}}, after his presidency expired- via impeachment).

This is going to be a special episode. This is going to be a {{Pilot}}, PilotMovie, GrandFinale, OriginsEpisode, ReunionShow, or maybe even a VerySpecialEpisode. Or regular episode, in which we want something that will make it special. We need a guest star, but not [[SpecialGuest any guest star]]. And not another episode where [[CelebrityStar Metallica's in town]]. We need someone real big, like, like...like president of the United States! Or Russia! Or British prime minister! Maybe even a member of Royal Family! Or Pope! No matter - he just needs to be well-recognized political or religious leader. If he's popular, his face itself will earn thousands. And if for some reason people don't like him, we will just chip with him, and they will love us. It doesn't matter, if [[CelebrityStar the whole story will go round about him]], or [[SpecialGuest he will make only short appearance]], [[InvisiblePresident if at all]] - it will work perfectly.

* UsefulNotes/TonyBlair appeared on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' once. Like, the actual Tony Blair. Details [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Regina_Monologues#Production here]].
** Tony Blair also appeared as himself in a Catherine Tate sketch for Red Nose, meeting her sixteen-year-old schoolgirl chav, Lauren Cooper: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfkjvagVsRI]]. Can I just add he was actually the ''Prime Minister of Britain'' at the time.
* The possible UrExample is the UK Prime Minister UsefulNotes/HaroldWilson appearing with smash-hit comedians Creator/MorecambeAndWise, who regularly commanded audiences in the high twenty milions. He figured this sort of TV exposure showing him as a generous-spirited man with a sense of humour, who could go with jokes at his expense, was something that would not do his career any harm.

** And Gore has hosted a season 28 Christmas episode of ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', and cameoed on a season 35 episode where he outlines his plans to act crazy (such as taping toy guns to trees and planting the trees outside a politician's house so when he walks outside, he'll think the trees have come to get their revenge) so people will take his environmental views seriously.
*** Of course, ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' has had a lot of politicians (and political hopefuls) host and/or cameo in its 30+ years on the air, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Live_hosts#Political_figures as you can see here,]] but does anyone remember Barack Obama cameoing on the Brian Williams episode from season 33 (a full year before Obama would become President)?
* Canadian politicians frequently make the rounds on ''Series/ThisHourHas22Minutes'' and ''The Rick Mercer Report''.
** American politicians would sometimes show up. Most memorably was then presidential hopeful UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush being asked by Rick Mercer what he thought of Canadian Prime Minister "Jean Poutine".

* ''Series/TopGear'' has had Mayor of London UsefulNotes/BorisJohnson as a guest.
** Then-Prime Minister UsefulNotes/DavidCameron also had a brief cameo at the start of the India special (that consisted of him telling the presenters not to go to India).
* Johnson has also made four appearances as the host of ''Series/HaveIGotNewsForYou''. Charles Kennedy has clocked up ''nine'' episodes, one as host. Many other politicians have also featured on the programme.

* A few of these appeared on ''Series/TheLateShow1992'', as part of an AlmostFamousName running gag. For example, former Victorian state premier Joan Kirner was "accidentally" hired by Mick instead of Music/JoanJett, singing "I Love Rock and Roll". She was accompanied by her Health Minister David White on the guitar. Another episode had former Immigration Minister Al Grassby booked instead of David Crosby (along with Lucky Grills, Christopher "[[Series/HeyDad Nudge]]" Truswell and Gwen Plumb.

* This trope is Older than Cable ... UsefulNotes/RichardNixon once made a cameo appearance on ''Series/RowanAndMartinsLaughIn.''

* ''Series/TheGames'' had [[NamesTheSame John Howard (the actor) pretending to be John Howard (the Prime Minister)]].

* A few of these appeared on ''Series/TheLateShow1992'', as part of an AlmostFamousName running gag. For example, former Victorian state premier Joan Kirner appeared (Australian version) was "accidentally" hired by Mick instead of Music/JoanJett, singing "I Love Rock and Roll". She was accompanied by her Health Minister David White on the guitar. Another episode had former Immigration Minister Al Grassby booked instead of David Crosby (along with Lucky Grills, Christopher "[[Series/HeyDad Nudge]]" Truswell and Gwen Plumb.

* Former Victorian state premier Joan Kirner appeared on the ''The Late Show'' (Australian version), singing The Arrows's "I Love Rock and Roll".

* In Australia's ''The Late Show'', Mick Molloy booked former Victorian premier Joan Kirner (instead of Music/JoanJett) to sing "I Love Rock & Roll". Health Minister David White also appeared, playing the guitar.

* The UsefulNotes/{{Philippines}} takes this UpToEleven�a lot of politicians there weren't just ''guest stars'', they were often full-fledged, full-time celebrities�actors, singers, basketball players and other athletes, newscasters, and various other media personalities�leveraging their media popularity to handily win at elections. Possibly only the most prominent example was former Philippine President Joseph Ejercito "Erap" Estrada, action star who became mayor of San Juan city for several terms (and went back to being mayor, this time of UsefulNotes/{{Manila}}, after his presidency expired�via impeachment).

* UsefulNotes/BillClinton had a cameo appearance in the film FirstKid, asking the (in-film) current president if he's seen his missing saxophone.

* UsefulNotes/BarackObama got a special, short story in ''[[SpiderMan The Amazing Spider-Man]]''. And thanks to FollowTheLeader effect it was followed by his appearances in ''Thunderbolts'', ''Secret Warriors'', ''ComicBook/TheSavageDragon'', ''Youngblood'', opening of [[WesternAnimation/TheSuperheroSquadShow The Superhero Squad]], and even making him main character in ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' parody comics, and sequel of some AfterTheEnd comic.

** Obama appeared as a playable 'character' (actually a skin) in the add-on to ''{{Mercenaries}} 2: World in Flames'', although he wasn't actually President yet at the time. Sarah Palin was also playable. Sadly, he's ''only'' playable in the add-on missions, and all of them are vehicle-based, meaning you only really get to see him in the hub area, and can't take the POTUS on a mass Venezuelan killing-spree. Now that ''would'' have got Chavez pissed off.

* UsefulNotes/BarackObama got a special, short story in ''[[SpiderMan The Amazing Spider-Man]]''. And thankt to FollowTheLeader effect it was followed by his appearances in ''Thunderbolts'', ''Secret Warriors'', ''ComicBook/TheSavageDragon'', ''Youngblood'', opening of [[WesternAnimation/TheSuperheroSquadShow The Superhero Squad]], and even making him main character in ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' parody comics, and sequel of some AfterTheEnd comic.

* UsefulNotes/AlGore appeared on the [[ExecutiveMeddling network-mandated]] [[GreenAesop green episode]] of ''Series/ThirtyRock''. They had fun with it:

* British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher performed a [[SelfInsertFic sketch she wrote herself]] with the cast of the sitcom ''Series/YesMinister'', where she played funnily enough, herself as Prime Minister.

* This trope is Older than Cable ... Richard Nixon once made a cameo appearance on ''Series/RowanAndMartinsLaughIn.''
* Bill Clinton had a cameo appearance in the film FirstKid, asking the (in-film) current president if he's seen his missing saxophone.

This is going to be special episode. This is going to be a {{Pilot}}, PilotMovie, GrandFinale, OriginsEpisode, ReunionShow, or maybe even a VerySpecialEpisode. Or regular episode, in which we want something that will make it special. We need a guest star, but not [[SpecialGuest any guest star]]. And not another episode where [[CelebrityStar Metallica's in town]]. We need someone real big, like, like...like president of the United States! Or Russia! Or British prime minister! Maybe even a member of Royal Family! Or Pope! No matter - he just needs to be well-recognized political or religious leader. If he's popular, his face itself will earn thousands. And if for some reason people don't like him, we will just chip with him, and they will love us. It doesn't matter, if [[CelebrityStar the whole story will go round about him]], or [[SpecialGuest he will make only short appearance]], [[InvisiblePresident if at all]] - it will work perfectly.

* UsefulNotes/TonyBlair appeared on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons once. Like, the actual Tony Blair. Details [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Regina_Monologues#Production here]].

* Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy is well-known to be a big fan of Batman and made quite a few [[TheCameo cameos]]. PromotedFanboy, anyone?

[[folder: The actual politician, in person ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/CartoonAllStarsToTheRescue'' has a preface from George Bush Sr. Few kids who were watching it knew who he is, but still. Airings in other nations included similar forewords from the heads of government of those states.
* Barack Obama invited the ''Series/MythBusters'' to the White House library to request they retest "Archimedes Death Ray"
* Tony Blair appeared on the Simpsons once. Like, the actual Tony Blair. Details [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Regina_Monologues#Production here.]]
* Tony Blair also appeared as himself in a Catherine Tate sketch for Red Nose, meeting her sixteen-year-old schoolgirl chav, Lauren Cooper: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfkjvagVsRI]]. Can I just add he was actually the ''Prime Minister of Britain'' at the time.
** The possible UrExample is the then-Prime Minister Sir UsefulNotes/HaroldWilson appearing with smash-hit comedians Creator/MorecambeAndWise, who regularly commanded audiences in the high twenty milions. He figured this sort of TV exposure showing him as a generous-spirited man with a sense of humour, who could go with jokes at his expense, was something that would not do his career any harm.

* Al Gore appeared on the [[ExecutiveMeddling network-mandated]] [[GreenAesop green episode]] of ''Series/ThirtyRock''. They had fun with it:

** He also makes quite a few appearances in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', owing to his daughter having worked for the show.

** American politicians would sometimes show up. Most memorably was then presidential hopeful George W. Bush being asked by Rick Mercer what he thought of Canadian Prime Minister "Jean Poutine".

[[folder: Just the politician's likeness ]]

* When legendary British disc jockey and talk-show host Creators/TerryWogan retired from his long-running breakfast show, one of the many heartwarming farewell messages he received on the day of his final show was from Gordon Brown, the current British Prime Minister.