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* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Bonkers}}'' dealt with a kidnapped WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, who spent the entire episode locked in a box and was referred to only as "the Mouse". This was especially unusual since we clearly hear his voice, and the show being produced by Disney seems to make this unnecessary. Though this may have to do with an old rule that the Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto Goofy and Donald) weren't really permitted to have televised appearances barring special circumstances.

to:

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Bonkers}}'' dealt with a kidnapped WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, who spent the entire episode locked in a box and was referred to only as "the Mouse". This was especially unusual since we clearly hear his voice, and the show being produced by Disney seems to make this unnecessary. Though this may have to do with an old rule that the Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto Pluto, Goofy and Donald) weren't really permitted to have televised appearances barring special circumstances.
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Updating Link


* ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' featured a brief cameo of Franchise/SpiderMan during the Phoenix Saga. However, all we see of him is his arm and a shadow on a wall.

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* ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' featured a brief cameo of Franchise/SpiderMan ComicBook/SpiderMan during the Phoenix Saga. However, all we see of him is his arm and a shadow on a wall.

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* In ''Film/MonkeyBusiness'', the Creator/MarxBrothers, stowed away on a cruise liner, need a way to sneak off. Zeppo reveals that he ran into Creator/MauriceChevalier -- and stole his passport.



* In ''Film/MonkeyBusiness'', the Creator/MarxBrothers, stowed away on a cruise liner, need a way to sneak off. Zeppo reveals that he ran into Creator/MauriceChevalier -- and stole his passport.



* For obvious reasons this doesn't happen very often in books, but there is at least one example: in the Literature/ThursdayNext book ''First Among Sequels'' the two chapters before a big meeting are filled with people discussing a rumor that Franchise/HarryPotter may put in an appearance. Once the meeting starts, the first announcement is that Harry couldn't make it due to [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall copyright issues]].

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* For obvious reasons this doesn't happen very often in books, but there is at least one example: in the Literature/ThursdayNext ''Literature/ThursdayNext'' book ''First Among Sequels'' the two chapters before a big meeting are filled with people discussing a rumor that Franchise/HarryPotter may put in an appearance. Once the meeting starts, the first announcement is that Harry couldn't make it due to [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall copyright issues]].



* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' had at least two fake cameos, by Uma Thurman and John Kennedy Jr., not to mention the innumerable back-of-the-head 'appearances' by George Steinbrenner.
* ''The Single Guy'' had an episode where Sam unearthed an old recording which, ridiculous and bad as it was, he thought was a lost Beatles track. At the end of the episode the tape was bought back by Paul [=McCartney=] himself -- which is to say, a faceless man in the back of a car, doing a bad Paul [=McCartney=] impression.
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' special ''The End of Time'', President Obama is shown giving a speech, but only the back of his head is shown. [[ItMakesSenseInContext Then he turns into the Master.]]
* ''Series/JustShootMe'':
** Maya and Finch attend a party where Robert [=DeNiro=] spills a drink on Maya and Finch gets his photo taken with Madonna, yet strangely enough the only people we see there are total nobodies.
** In another episode, Nina was covering an awards show on TV. She announced various arrivals such as Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, but the camera only cut away from her when she announced the name of the actor who would become important to the plot and who only existed in-universe.



* On ''Series/MadAboutYou'' Paul gets magician David Copperfield's suit by mistake. He later returns it to him -- or rather, a stand-in seen only from behind.
* Ex-president Gerald Ford's appearance on ''Series/That70sShow''.
* One episode of the short-lived live-action ''Series/TheTick2001'' series featured Jimmy Carter. His face was never seen, though we did get to see the back of his head.
* Being a famous popstar, Series/HannahMontana will frequently reference other celebrities that she knows. Most of them are never actually shown, but there have been exceptions.
* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' recently had a flashback to when the gang met Music/SlashMusician...who is never seen except for a glimpse of black hair and his hat.

to:

* On ''Series/MadAboutYou'' Paul gets magician David Copperfield's suit by mistake. He later returns it to him -- or rather, a stand-in seen only from behind.
* Ex-president Gerald Ford's appearance on ''Series/That70sShow''.
* One
In the ''Series/{{Atlanta}}'' episode of the short-lived live-action ''Series/TheTick2001'' series featured Jimmy Carter. His face was never seen, though we did get "Champagne Papi", where Van and her friends go to see the back a New Year's Eve party hosted by Music/{{Drake}} at one of his head.
* Being a famous popstar, Series/HannahMontana will frequently reference other celebrities that she knows. Most of them are
mansions (and the episode is even titled after Drake's Instagram handle). We never actually shown, but there have been exceptions.
* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' recently had a flashback to when
see him and Van finds out he's not even there; he's supposedly on tour and it's implied that the gang met Music/SlashMusician...who is never seen except for a glimpse of black hair and his hat.house they're in might not even be his.



* Lampshaded on ''Series/TheCheapShow,'' a syndicated game show from the late 70s. There were three celebrity guest podiums, and one of them was a guaranteed no-show.
* In ''Series/{{Community}}'', Joe Biden is doing a tour of Colorado community colleges. Only the back of his head is ever seen.
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' special "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E17E18TheEndOfTime The End of Time]]", President Obama is shown giving a speech, but only the back of his head is shown. [[ItMakesSenseInContext Then he turns into the Master.]]
* Being a famous popstar, ''Series/HannahMontana'' will frequently reference other celebrities that she knows. Most of them are never actually shown, but there have been exceptions.



* On ''Series/MurphyBrown'' Frank was going to be on ''Late Night with Creator/DavidLetterman'' but he got bumped. He came in to the studio and waved. They used the footage of actor Joe Regalbuto actually doing that from a time when he was bumped on the real ''Late Show'', but just his shot with Dave saying "sorry" heard in the background. This was the first "appearance" of David Letterman on CBS very shortly after he had signed the contract to move his show there from NBC.

to:

* On ''Series/MurphyBrown'' Frank was going ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' had a flashback to be on ''Late Night with Creator/DavidLetterman'' but he got bumped. He came in to the studio and waved. They used the footage of actor Joe Regalbuto actually doing that from a time when he was bumped on the real ''Late Show'', but just gang met Music/SlashMusician...who is never seen except for a glimpse of black hair and his shot with Dave saying "sorry" heard in the background. This was hat.
* In
the first "appearance" episode of ''Series/KnowingMeKnowingYouWithAlanPartridge'', Alan promised an appearance by Roger Moore - who, of course, didn't show up. This had repercussions, as Alan angrily insulted him on air the next week's show (calling him a "towel thief")... and the week after ''that'', following a (fictional) injunction by Moore's lawyers, was forced to apologise on air.
* ''Series/JustShootMe'':
** Maya and Finch attend a party where Robert [=DeNiro=] spills a drink on Maya and Finch gets his photo taken with Madonna, yet strangely enough the only people we see there are total nobodies.
** In another episode, Nina was covering an awards show on TV. She announced various arrivals such as Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, but the camera only cut away from her when she announced the name of the actor who would become important to the plot and who only existed in-universe.
* ''The Late Show with Creator/DavidLetterman'': as the United States was transitioning from classic 4:3 aspect ratio for TV to the now-common widescreen, Dave had a recurring sketch involving a celebrity cameo who could only be seen by those with widescreen [=TVs=], the rest just see the celebrity's hand as he shakes Dave's hand.
* On ''Series/MadAboutYou'' Paul gets magician
David Letterman on CBS very shortly after he had signed the contract Copperfield's suit by mistake. He later returns it to move his show there him -- or rather, a stand-in seen only from NBC.behind.



* In ''Series/{{Community}}'', Joe Biden is doing a tour of Colorado community colleges. Only the back of his head is ever seen.

to:

* In ''Series/{{Community}}'', On ''Series/MurphyBrown'' Frank was going to be on ''Late Night with Creator/DavidLetterman'' but he got bumped. He came in to the studio and waved. They used the footage of actor Joe Biden Regalbuto actually doing that from a time when he was bumped on the real ''Late Show'', but just his shot with Dave saying "sorry" heard in the background. This was the first "appearance" of David Letterman on CBS very shortly after he had signed the contract to move his show there from NBC.
* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' had at least two fake cameos, by Uma Thurman and John Kennedy Jr., not to mention the innumerable back-of-the-head 'appearances' by George Steinbrenner.
* ''Series/TheSingleGuy'' had an episode where Sam unearthed an old recording which, ridiculous and bad as it was, he thought was a lost Beatles track. At the end of the episode the tape was bought back by Paul [=McCartney=] himself -- which
is to say, a faceless man in the back of a car, doing a tour bad Paul [=McCartney=] impression.
* Ex-president Gerald Ford's appearance on ''Series/That70sShow''.
* One episode
of Colorado community colleges. Only the short-lived live-action ''Series/TheTick2001'' series featured Jimmy Carter. His face was never seen, though we did get to see the back of his head is ever seen.head.



* ''The Late Show with Creator/DavidLetterman'': as the United States was transitioning from classic 4:3 aspect ratio for TV to the now-common widescreen, Dave had a recurring sketch involving a celebrity cameo who could only be seen by those with widescreen [=TVs=], the rest just see the celebrity's hand as he shakes Dave's hand.
* In the first episode of ''Series/KnowingMeKnowingYouWithAlanPartridge'', Alan promised an appearance by Roger Moore - who, of course, didn't show up. This had repercussions, as Alan angrily insulted him on air the next week's show (calling him a "towel thief")... and the week after ''that'', following a (fictional) injunction by Moore's lawyers, was forced to apologise on air.
* Lampshaded on ''The Cheap Show,'' a syndicated game show from the late 70s. There were three celebrity guest podiums, and one of them was a guaranteed no-show.
* In the ''Series/{{Atlanta}}'' episode "Champagne Papi", where Van and her friends go to a New Year's Eve party hosted by Music/{{Drake}} at one of his mansions (and the episode is even titled after Drake's Instagram handle). We never see him and Van finds out he's not even there; he's supposedly on tour and it's implied that the house they're in might not even be his.



[[folder: Music ]]
* At the end of M.C. Hammer's "Too Legit to Quit" video, a producer turns to someone off-screen and asks what they think of the video. [[Music/MichaelJackson A white-gloved hand]] raises up and performs the hands signs for "Too legit to quit."

to:

[[folder: Music ]]
[[folder:Music]]
* At the end of M.C. Hammer's Music/MCHammer's "Too Legit to Quit" video, a producer turns to someone off-screen and asks what they think of the video. [[Music/MichaelJackson A white-gloved hand]] raises up and performs the hands signs for "Too legit to quit."



[[folder: Radio ]]
* One notorious segment on the radio show ''Radio/ImSorryIHaventAClue'' had the host repeatedly mention that they had a celebrity guest, who would be playing Mornington Crescent with the rest of the panel. When the game in question rolled around, one of the regulars won on their first turn by saying "Mornington Crescent". For some reason, listeners accused the show of mistreating Alec Guinness, even though the "celebrity" never spoke and was never named (and likely didn't exist).

to:

[[folder: Radio ]]
[[folder:Radio]]
* One notorious segment on the radio show ''Radio/ImSorryIHaventAClue'' had the host repeatedly mention that they had a celebrity guest, who would be playing Mornington Crescent with the rest of the panel. When the game in question rolled around, one of the regulars won on their first turn by saying "Mornington Crescent". For some reason, listeners accused the show of mistreating Alec Guinness, Creator/AlecGuinness, even though the "celebrity" never spoke and was never named (and likely didn't exist).



[[folder: Western Animation ]]

to:

[[folder: Western Animation ]][[folder:Western Animation]]
* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Bonkers}}'' dealt with a kidnapped WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, who spent the entire episode locked in a box and was referred to only as "the Mouse". This was especially unusual since we clearly hear his voice, and the show being produced by Disney seems to make this unnecessary. Though this may have to do with an old rule that the Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto Goofy and Donald) weren't really permitted to have televised appearances barring special circumstances.



* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Bonkers}}'' dealt with a kidnapped WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, who spent the entire episode locked in a box and was referred to only as "the Mouse". This was especially unusual since we clearly hear his voice, and the show being produced by Disney seems to make this unnecessary. Though this may have to do with an old rule that the Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto Goofy and Donald) weren't really permitted to have televised appearances barring special circumstances.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Bonkers}}'' dealt with a kidnapped WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, who spent the entire episode locked in a box and was referred to only as "the Mouse". This was especially unusual since we clearly hear his voice, and the show being produced by Disney seems to make this unnecessary.

to:

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Bonkers}}'' dealt with a kidnapped WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, who spent the entire episode locked in a box and was referred to only as "the Mouse". This was especially unusual since we clearly hear his voice, and the show being produced by Disney seems to make this unnecessary. Though this may have to do with an old rule that the Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto Goofy and Donald) weren't really permitted to have televised appearances barring special circumstances.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' recently had a flashback to when the gang met Music/{{Slash}}...who is never seen except for a glimpse of black hair and his hat.

to:

* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' recently had a flashback to when the gang met Music/{{Slash}}...Music/SlashMusician...who is never seen except for a glimpse of black hair and his hat.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' recently had a flashback to when the gang met Slash...who is never seen except for a glimpse of black hair and his hat.

to:

* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' recently had a flashback to when the gang met Slash...Music/{{Slash}}...who is never seen except for a glimpse of black hair and his hat.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
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Added DiffLines:

* Has happened a time or two on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** At the end of "Bart The Murderer", Bart is given his own VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory TV movie titled ''Blood on the Blackboard: The Bart Simpson Story''. While his Creator/NeilPatrickHarris and Fat Tony's Creator/JoeMantegna are seen, the only "appearances" of Principal Skinner's Creator/RichardChamberlain are the back of his head for a split second and a SpitefulSpit in movie Bart's face.
** In "Mr. Plow" as Bart and Lisa watch ''Carnival of the Stars'', we "see" Creator/AngelaLansbury appearing as a pair of feet walking over hot coals and the offscreen banter between Creator/AlanThicke and Creator/RicardoMontalban with the former throwing knives at the latter.
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* [[WesternAnimation/XMen The 1990s X-Men cartoon]] featured a brief cameo of Franchise/SpiderMan during the Phoenix Saga. However, all we see of him is his arm and a shadow on a wall.

to:

* [[WesternAnimation/XMen The 1990s X-Men cartoon]] ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' featured a brief cameo of Franchise/SpiderMan during the Phoenix Saga. However, all we see of him is his arm and a shadow on a wall.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
dewicked trope


* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' recently had a flashback to when the gang met Slash...who is never seen except for a glimpse of black hair and his CoolHat.

to:

* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' recently had a flashback to when the gang met Slash...who is never seen except for a glimpse of black hair and his CoolHat.hat.

Added: 714

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indentation & verb tense, per policy


* Subverted in ''Series/TheBigBangTheory''. The guys are psyched that Creator/StanLee is coming to town. They talk constantly about him and his visit. Cut to us hearing about the aftermath of their experience with him. But then, during TheStinger, guess who makes an appearance?
** The same subversion happened in a later episode with Creator/StephenHawking. Hawking as a recurring character plays it straight.
* Happened on a few episodes of ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'', most notably when then-President George H. W. Bush came to Miami and the ladies were chosen as the household he would actually visit. Each of the four women got to shake his hand through the open front door (his arm being the only part seen) while an impersonator provided his voice.

to:

* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'':
**
Subverted in ''Series/TheBigBangTheory''. The when the guys are psyched that Creator/StanLee is coming to town. They talk constantly about him and his visit. Cut to us hearing about the aftermath of their experience with him. But then, during TheStinger, guess who makes an appearance?
** The same subversion happened happens in a later episode with Creator/StephenHawking. Hawking as a recurring character plays it straight.
* Happened on a few episodes of ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'', most ''Series/TheGoldenGirls''.
** Most
notably when then-President George H. W. Bush came comes to Miami and the ladies were are chosen as the household he would actually visit. Each of the four women got get to shake his hand through the open front door (his arm being the only part seen) while an impersonator provided provides his voice.



* A long-running gag on ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'' involved Mary's inability to throw a good party. In one late-season episode, she is promised an appearance by Johnny Carson at her latest party. After the usual run of disasters, the apartment plunges into total blackout - which is, of course, when Johnny Carson appears--or at least his voice!
** Played with and then subverted in the Washington, D.C.-set episode where Lou claims to have palled around with a number of important people before Mary showed up, including President Ford (who even left his pipe behind, though Mary doesn't believe it). We assume we won't see President Ford, and we don't--but then Betty Ford phones up, shown on camera and everything.

to:

* ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'':
**
A long-running gag on ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'' involved involves Mary's inability to throw a good party. In one late-season episode, she is promised an appearance by Johnny Carson at her latest party. After the usual run of disasters, the apartment plunges into total blackout - which is, of course, when Johnny Carson appears--or at least his voice!
** Played with and then subverted in the Washington, D.C.-set episode where Lou claims to have palled around with a number of important people before Mary showed shows up, including President Ford (who even left his pipe behind, though Mary doesn't believe it). We assume we won't see President Ford, and we don't--but then Betty Ford phones up, shown on camera and everything.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* In the ''Series/{{Atlanta}}'' episode "Champagne Papi", where Van and her friends go to a New Year's Eve party hosted by Music/{{Drake}} at one of his mansions (and the episode is even titled after Drake's Instagram handle). We never see him and Van finds out he's not even there; he's supposedly on tour and it's implied that the house they're in might not even be his.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* In the film ''Garbo Talks'' a man tries to find notoriously ReclusiveArtist Greta Garbo and have her visit his mother, who is a big fan and is dying. Near the end of the film he finds and talks to the back of a stand-in's head.

to:

* In the film ''Garbo Talks'' ''Film/GarboTalks'' a man tries to find notoriously ReclusiveArtist Greta Garbo and have her visit his mother, who is a big fan and is dying. Near the end of the film he finds and talks to the back of a stand-in's head.

Added: 573

Changed: 11

Removed: 523

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None


[[folder: Film ]]

to:

[[folder: Film ]][[folder:Film - Animated]]
* Done in the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective''. The titular detective, Basil, naturally happens to live right under [[Franchise/SherlockHolmes 221B, Baker Street]]. In an early scene, we hear Sherlock and Watson, talking just off-screen. This particular Sherlock also happens to be the one played by Creator/BasilRathbone, one of the most popular movie portrayals of the character and Basil's namesake. The dialogue used for Sherlock is an actual recording of the late Mr. Rathbone reading aloud in-character.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]



* Done in the beginning of ''Disney/TheGreatMouseDetective''. The titular detective, Basil, naturally happens to live right under [[Franchise/SherlockHolmes 221B, Baker Street]]. In an early scene, we hear Sherlock and Watson, talking just off-screen. This particular Sherlock also happens to be the one played by Creator/BasilRathbone, one of the most popular movie portrayals of the character and Basil's namesake. The dialogue used for Sherlock is an actual recording of the late Mr. Rathbone reading aloud in-character.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''TheSingleGuy'' had an episode where Sam unearthed an old recording which, ridiculous and bad as it was, he thought was a lost Beatles track. At the end of the episode the tape was bought back by Paul [=McCartney=] himself -- which is to say, a faceless man in the back of a car, doing a bad Paul [=McCartney=] impression.

to:

* ''TheSingleGuy'' ''The Single Guy'' had an episode where Sam unearthed an old recording which, ridiculous and bad as it was, he thought was a lost Beatles track. At the end of the episode the tape was bought back by Paul [=McCartney=] himself -- which is to say, a faceless man in the back of a car, doing a bad Paul [=McCartney=] impression.

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