Many writers are fanboys, just like us. Therefore, it is not unreasonable for them to want to throw in some reference to one of their favorite works. Sometimes, however, said element is a bit more blatant, and a lot more physical. This is the idea behind a Cameo {{Prop}}. It originally has nothing to do with the work of fiction or the series it is appearing in, but, usually, for sake of novelty, someone throws it in.

Let's say an episode of a show involves Bob going to an auction and winning the Ruby Slippers worn by Creator/JudyGarland when filming ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''. The rest of the episode might involve Bob wearing them (much to everyone's amusement), and even reenacting scenes from the movie. Almost always, he'll end up losing them in the end.

A cameo prop is specific: Having a [[TheRedStapler Red Stapler]] or (especially) AluminumChristmasTrees does not make it a cameo prop. Here's some examples to help make the difference clear. PropRecycling is a variation when a specific prop from another work is used, but it's not ''supposed'' to be a reference.

* '''Example A:''' A DMC [=DeLorean=] appearing in a ''Film/DieHard'' movie. This model of car is famous for being that of the car from ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'', however this is an ordinary [=DeLorean=]. '''Not a Cameo Prop.'''
* '''Example B:''' The [=DeLorean=] from ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' appearing in a ''Film/DieHard'' movie, complete with all the gear on the back, flux capacitor between seats, time gauge, everything. '''A Cameo Prop.'''

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!!Examples:

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[[folder:Comic Books]]
* The ''Franchise/StarTrek''[=/=]''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' crossover miniseries includes a scene where the villain informs the heroes that they are ''not'' the first time travelers to attempt to thwart his schemes. He shows them a huge room with at least 20 different impounded time travel devices, including [[Series/StargateSG1 a Stargate]], [[Franchise/BackToTheFuture a modified DeLorean]], and even a ''Film/HotTubTimeMachine''. %%The full two-page spread can be seen [[http://smg.photobucket.com/user/majingojira/media/CrossoverTimeMachinesLabaled-StarTrekandtheLegionofSuperHeroes5.jpg.html here]].
* In one ''ComicBook/JonSableFreelance'' story, The Maltese Falcon (the actual prop used in [[Film/TheMalteseFalcon1941 the 1941 film]]) is a literal example, and the MacGuffin.
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[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In [[http://sidisney.deviantart.com/art/Hatbox-Fort-623553681 this piece of Haunted Mansion fan art]] (which is part of the ''Fanfic/HauntedMansionAndTheHatboxGhost'' FanVerse), some of the numerous hatboxes are identical to Hattie's main hatbox in other people's fan art.
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[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/InspectorGadget1999'', when the character receives his trademark outfit. In [[WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget the cartoon]], the outfit was a ShoutOut at best. In the movie, however, he directly identifies it as the Gadget Suit from ''Series/GetSmart''. Also a GeniusBonus -- Creator/DonAdams played Maxwell Smart in ''Series/GetSmart'' and voiced the title character of ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget''
* ''Film/EvilDead2'' famously has the [[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger glove]] hanging from a wall.
* ''Film/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy2005'': The film version has a scene where one of the background characters is wearing the Marvin costume from [[Series/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1981 the television version]]. In addition, a box of Starbix breakfast cereal (seen only in the animated Guide entries in the television version) appears as a physical prop in the movie (albeit with an updated design).
* Franchise/RoboCop's trademark Auto 9 pistol appears in ''Film/SinCity'', as it did during the same part in the comics.
* ''Film/LooneyTunesBackInAction'' features several famous movie and TV aliens in Area 52, including two [[Series/DoctorWho Daleks]] and the infamous [[Film/RobotMonster Ro-man]].
* ''Film/{{Gremlins}}''. In a scene at a science fiction convention, Robby the Robot (from ''Film/ForbiddenPlanet'') and the time machine from the 1960 film version of ''[[Film/TheTimeMachine1960 The Time Machine]]'' appear. They both act the way they do in the films: Robby talks as he did in ''Forbidden Planet'' and the time machine can actually go through time.
* [[Film/ForbiddenPlanet Robbie the Robot]] has appeared in a bunch of stuff. He's even got his own Website/{{IMDB}} page.
* The pod from ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey'' is visible in the junkyard scene in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace''.
* The laboratory equipment from 1931's ''Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}}'', designed by Kenneth Strickfaden, was reused decades later in two ways:
** In Mel Brooks' ''Film/YoungFrankenstein'', the props were used in the same way as in the 1931 film. Prior to that, it was seen in an episode of ''Series/TheMunsters'' and in several less memorable films, including ''Film/{{Blackenstein}}'' and ''Film/DraculaVsFrankenstein''.
** Strickfaden's equipment even made ''audio'' cameos -- in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' and later Lucasfilm productions, after sound designer Creator/BenBurtt met Strickfaden and made audio recordings of his equipment in use. One particularly notable example is ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', where it provides some of the sounds of Nazi equipment malfunctioning under the influence of TheArkOfTheCovenant.
* In ''Film/{{Predator 2}}'', one of the trophies aboard the Predator's ship is an Franchise/{{Alien}} skull. That the two species inhabit the same universe would [[Film/AVPAlienVsPredator later become canon]].
* Captain America's shield (or at least one of them) appears in ''Film/IronMan2''.
* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': Eddie has Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1941}} in his office, and Jessica's car is the same one Evelyn drove in ''Film/{{Chinatown}}''.
* ''Film/TheCrow1994'': Top Dollar's sword of choice, the ornate rapier he uses to kill Gideon and fight Eric, is the Six-Fingered Sword from ''Film/ThePrincessBride''.
* In ''Film/SherlockHolmesInNewYork'', Professor Moriarty has Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1941}} sitting on his desk.
* While filming ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'', the wardrobe department had a difficult time finding the right look for Frank Morgan's "Professor Marvel." So, they went to a thrift store and bought an old, shabby frock coat for him to wear. When Morgan went to put it on, he noticed the name tag of its previous owner: Creator/LFrankBaum, the author of the book.
* ''Film/OfficeSpace'': Crossed over with ActorAllusion; the fraternity ring Bill Lumbergh wears is the Earthforce Academy ring Creator/GaryCole wore when playing Matthew Gideon in ''Series/{{Crusade}}''.
* In ''Film/SpyKids2IslandOfLostDreams'', one of the gold items Carmen picks and tosses away in the treasure chamber is the small gold idol from ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk''.
* ''Film/{{Undefeatable}}'': The spiky-knuckled knife used by BigBad Stingray in the final battle is the one used by the Night Slasher from ''Film/{{Cobra}}''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* An episode of ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow'' focused on Drew winning the Batmobile from ''Film/BatmanForever''. At one point, Louis and Oswald are arrested for stealing the car, dressed as [[Series/Batman1966 Adam West-style Batman and Burt Ward-style Robin]].
* Creator/NathanFillion took the catalyzer from ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' and put it on the ''Series/{{Castle|2009}}'' set.
* Another ''Firefly'' example; Zoe's gun is the Mare's Leg from ''Series/WantedDeadOrAlive''.
* ''Series/BabylonFive'' had an unintentional example: They needed a space suit for the episode "Babylon Squared", and went to buy one from a prop company they dealt with. The only spacesuit available was the one from ''Film/TwoThousandTenTheYearWeMakeContact''.
* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'':
** One early episode had the guys buying an original prop time machine from ''Film/TheTimeMachine1960''.
** In a later episode, the guys found a prop ring from ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' and fought over who got to keep it.
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[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''[[VideoGame/AdventureTime Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!!]]'', one treasure chest of ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStarUltra'' can be seen recycled for this game's treasure chests, as pixel artist [[https://twitter.com/birabutobakery/status/1429959330435158017?s=20 Shiho Tsutsuji collaborated in both games.]]
* ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever'' contains a lot of these, usually as part of TakeThat jabs at other shooters. For instance, at one level you find Master Chief's PowerArmor from ''Franchise/{{Halo}}''; in others, you discover ''Franchise/DeadSpace'' SpaceMarine helmets (there is an achievement for finding all of them).
* ''VideoGame/StreetFighter6'': [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Rebellion]] is among the relics stored in the trophy room of the Suval'Hal Arena in Nayshall.
* In the original ''VideoGame/TombRaiderI'' game, TheArkOfTheCovenant from ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'' can be seen in Lara's mansion. This was of course removed from the remake, ''VideoGame/TombRaiderAnniversary''.
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[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In the "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E4TreehouseOfHorrorX Treehouse of Horror X]]" segment "Enter the Collector", supervillain "The Collector" (Comic Book Guy) has the only working [[Franchise/StarTrek phaser]] ever produced - they made it to keep Creator/WilliamShatner from making another album.
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[[folder:Real Life]]
* In RealLife, nearly any time Creator/DavidHasselhoff appears in something just to show off, he'll be accompanied by [[Series/KnightRider K.I.T.T]]. K.I.T.T itself has often shown up in various works of fiction, mostly for RuleOfCool.
[[/folder]]

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