Line #78 OneSceneWonder/LiveActionTV


1	!! Shows with their own pages
2	[[index]]
3	* ''OneSceneWonder/TheSopranos''
4	[[/index]]
5	----
6	* In the ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' episode "Suicide Squad", ComicBook/HarleyQuinn makes a five-second cameo, with a line supplied by Creator/TaraStrong herself. It is probably the most memorable part of the whole episode.
7	* ''Series/AvatarTheLastAirbender2024''
8	** The random shopkeep lady who intervenes in Zuko and Aang's fight in Omashu and [[BadassBystander briefly slaps Zuko around for trying to attack a child]] has proven to be very memorable during the five seconds she appears on screen.
9	** Avatar Kyoshi only has two scenes, but she makes them count: first with her stern talk to Aang that makes him take his responsibilities as the Avatar much more seriously, and then after she absolutely curb-stomps the Fire Nation soldiers, showing what exactly the Avatar is capable of when at full power and quickly becoming one of the show's most talked-about scenes, as well as what is arguably its SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfAwesome.
10	* "Sebastian" on ''Series/BabylonFive'' -- only in one episode, arguably the most memorable character in the whole series. Even if he's remembered, not as a hero, not as a messenger, not even as Sebastian... [[spoiler:but only as "[[UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper Jack]]".]]
11	** To an extent, Bester as well. His first appearance was the standard "corrupt Earth official who comes to make Sinclair's life hell" that typified many Season 1 episode villains but Creator/WalterKoenig infused the role with so much fun energy and serious emotion you looked forward to those times he came back to plague the main cast. Notably, he was one of the few series villains who could regularly show up, [[MagnificentBastard have a hostile face-to-face dialogue with the protagonists, accomplish his goals and walk away scot-free at the end of the episode.]]
12	** Morden in his early appearances. He just oozes intrigue and menace, and he's only on screen for about five minutes.
13	* A fourth season episode of ''Series/{{Barry}}'' has Creator/BillBurr make a VoiceOnlyCameo as Pastor Nick St. Angelo, a hockey player turned fire-and-brimstone preacher and podcast host who argues that murder is not a sin in the eyes of God and in fact totally justified.
14	--> '''Pastor Nick St. Angelo:''' Now the Bible is full of righteous and justified killings. Most of them are my favorite part of the book.
15	* In the new ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica\|2003}}'' series, none of the MauveShirt Viper/Raptor pilots are more memorable then the "Tattooed Pilot" whose actually more of an extra since he plays no vital role and has only one speaking line in the entire series.
16	** Racetrack has a bit of a following too, despite never having actually had her own storyline, she's probably survived more raptor mishaps than Athena and Boomer put together, especially in later seasons.
17	* ''Series/{{Blackadder}}''
18	** [[TheAce Lord Flashheart]], especially in "[[Recap/BlackadderS2E1Bells Bells]]", where he appears out of nowhere, goes through his monologue, and disappears again in less than two minutes of screen time, and totally runs away with the episode. [[spoiler:And the girl. "Woof!"]]
19	*** [[WordOfGod In an interview]], Creator/RikMayall said he only agreed to play Flashheart if he got more laughs than the main character in that episode.
20	** Creator/PeterCook as Richard III in the first ever episode, "[[Recap/BlackadderS1E1TheForetelling The Foretelling]]".
21	** Creator/StephenFry too, in "[[Recap/BlackadderS3E6DuelAndDuality Duel and Duality]]" as Wellington, to the point that his mannerisms were carried over to General Melchet's character in ''Blackadder Goes Forth''.
22	--->"The men had a whip-round and got you this... well, what I mean is that I had the men roundly whipped until they got you this. It's a cigarillo case engraved with the regimental crest of two crossed dead Frenchmen, emblazoned on a mound-of-dead-Frenchmen motif."
23	** Creator/TomBaker as Captain Rum in "[[Recap/BlackadderS2E3Potato Potato]]". "Arr..." (Although in the last two cases it's more of a One Episode Wonder.)
24	** Denis Lill as Sir Talbot Buxomley in "[[Recap/BlackadderS3E1DishAndDishonesty Dish and Dishonesty]]". He appears for about two minutes and dies at the end of his scene. But he is absolutely unforgettable.
25	* Creator/DannyTrejo on ''Series/BreakingBad'' as Tortuga, the cartel snitch. Technically in for two scenes, the second one being somewhat more memorable.
26	** The junkyard owner who saves Walt and Jesse from discovery by Hank in the third season and the arms dealer who sells Walt his gun in the fourth season also count.
27	** The everybro waiter who just wants everyone to enjoy the table guacamole and has no idea what's going on accentuates how there's is still an ordinary world that is now outside the Whites' frame-of-reference.
28	** Mike was originally intended as a one scene wonder, but Creator/JonathanBanks pulled it off well enough that he became an AscendedExtra, and eventually the {{Deuteragonist}} of the sequel, ''Series/BetterCallSaul''.
29	* The ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' episode "[[{{Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS7E7ConversationsWithDeadPeople}} Conversations With Dead People]]" features a very entertaining WarriorTherapist vampire who died at the very end of the episode. According to the DVDCommentary for the episode, Jonathan M. Woodward's performance as said vampire was such a scene stealer that he subsequently landed larger roles on ''Series/{{Angel}}'' and ''Series/{{Firefly}}''.
30	** Then there's producer David Fury's 15-second appearance in the musical episode "[[{{Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E7OnceMoreWithFeeling}} Once More, With Feeling]]", singing about the dry cleaner.
31	---> "They got the mustard... ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut!"
32	** And then there was the Cheese Man from "[[{{Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E22Restless}} Restless]]".
33	* The ''Series/{{Castle\|2009}}'' episode "Overkill" somehow manages to have ''two'' One Scene Wonders within ten minutes of each other, in the form of Stephen Full as Benny, a charmingly sleazy and hungover motel clerk, and Jennifer Hall as Rebecca, a weepy lab technician whose 'cry-talk' Beckett has to decipher.
34	** Drug dealer Vulcan Simmons appears in a three-minute scene in episode 3-13 "Knockdown" and isn't even guilty of the crime they believe he committed. He still manages to establish himself as a monster just by talking. [[OneSceneWonder See here]]. He'd be brought back in Season 6 [[spoiler:and killed off in that season]].
35	* When ''Series/TheColbertReport'' had [[ThePowerOfRock a guitar solo challenge]] between Creator/StephenColbert and Chris Funk of Music/TheDecemberists, there were guest stars galore. However none of them could compare to the brief appearance via satellite by none other than Dr. Henry Kissinger.
36	-->'''Stephen Colbert''': Dr. Kissinger, what time is it?\
37	'''Henry Kissinger''': Stephen, [[RockMeAsmodeus it is time to rock]].
38	** Colbert said in an interview that they also wanted to [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] the absurdity of having gotten Henry Kissinger to oversee a guitar-playing contest by having him say, "Where are my pancakes? I was promised pancakes." But he wouldn't, and according to Colbert, somewhere there exist several minutes of footage of him begging Kissinger to say the pancake line.
39	** Kissinger got another one in the [[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12u56m_stephen-colbert-invite-hugh-laurie-et-matt-damon-a-danser-sur-get-lucky-des-daft-punk_news "Get Lucky" music video]], with just one word. [[spoiler: "Security!"]]
40	** John Legend and his nutmeg song in the Christmas special.
41	** ''Series/TheDailyShow'' had a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome involving [[http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-november-19-2009/gaywatch---peter-vadala---william-phillips Mick Foley]] defending a kid who supports gay rights.
42	* Try to find a season of ''Series/CriminalMinds'' that doesn't have at least one of these. The woman at the convenience store that grabs a shotgun in "Identity" is an example. The single-episode characters are usually so interesting that even the main actors have said in interviews that they wish they could guest star on their own show.
43	** The concept has carried over to SpinOff series ''Series/CriminalMindsBeyondBorders'', usually in the form of the local authorities that the IRT is coordinating with. [=S1E7=], "Citizens of the World", features a [[UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}} local]] policeman whose answer to everything is to beat someone up.
44	* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
45	** During the 1970s, Vega Nexos, a weird-looking alien killed off about five minutes into [[Recap/DoctorWhoS11E4TheMonsterOfPeladon "The Monster of Peladon"]], received disproportionate fame in the fandom thanks to being added to make up the numbers to a series of breakfast cereal trading cards.
46	** Cyril Luckham (the White Guardian) of the "Key to Time" storyline. He does nothing but sit in a chair and set up the plot for the season in the first five minutes of "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS16E1TheRibosOperation The Ribos Operation]]", but eerily sticks in your mind.
47	--->'''The Doctor:''' You mean nothing will happen to me?\
48	'''White Guardian:''' Nothing at all. Ever.
49	** Creator/JohnCleese and Eleanor Bron's cameo in fan-favorite "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS17E2CityOfDeath City of Death]]" lasts for all of 30 seconds, but it's [[https://youtu.be/-EPLY9XG5nU exquisite]].
50	** The Raston Robot Warrior in "[[Recap/DoctorWho20thASTheFiveDoctors The Five Doctors]]", which makes the most of its screen-time by slaughtering a horde of Cybermen. (It's even better for those who regard the eighties Cybermen as an AudienceAlienatingEra.)
51	** The Special Weapons Dalek only makes a brief appearance in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS25E1RemembranceOfTheDaleks Remembrance of the Daleks]]" and a few small cameos in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E1AsylumOfTheDaleks Asylum of the Daleks]]" and "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E2TheWitchsFamiliar The Witch's Familiar]]". It has a huge fan base clamoring for a return.
52	** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E3SchoolReunion "School Reunion"]] has Creator/AnthonyStewartHead as the episode's one-shot villain, Mr Finch, delightfully switching between being a SoftSpokenSadist and ChewingTheScenery as the scene requires, and being an absolutely ''masterful'' ManipulativeBastard, who very nearly tempts the Doctor into joining him with what is either a brilliant sales-pitch born of genuine respect for the Doctor, or superbly playing on his ego. If it wasn't for Sarah-Jane Smith, he would have succeeded.
53	** "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E11Utopia Utopia]]" in the new series gets ''two'' of these. First is Creator/DerekJacobi's wonderful performance as Professor Yana, surpassed by Derek Jacobi again in his two-minute-long appearance as the Master.
54	** Creator/PeterCapaldi (or more accurately, his [[DeathGlare eyes]]) as the Twelfth Doctor in "[[Recap/DoctorWho50thASTheDayOfTheDoctor The Day of the Doctor]]".
55	** Creator/TomBaker as the Curator from that same episode.
56	* InUniverse example in ''Series/DrakeAndJosh''. In the episode "Theater Thug", while Josh portrays the eponymous character during a film at the movie theater, Drake portrays a typical bystander with just one line ("Whoa! Just take it easy, man!"), which gets him popular with the other girls just for that one line.
57	* ''Series/{{Extras}}'':
58	** The Creator/RobertDeNiro episode qualifies as this, since the sheer amazingness of having [=De Niro=] as one of the celebrity characters is lampshaded with a lot of gushing about how amazing it is that Andy is going to meet Creator/RobertDeNiro, and then subverted when he decides not to. In the end he's only in the show for a minute, and spends that minute being inordinately amused by a novelty pornographic pen. Needless to say, it's one of the most memorable guest spots of the series.
59	** The Music/GeorgeMichael scene from the Christmas special probably also qualifies. Although Michael is probably the biggest name in that show, he just wanders unexpectedly into the scene without any fanfare and not in his capacity as a celebrity, to deliver a hilarious performance centering on his own reputation for getting arrested for having sex in public places, which is simultaneously played straight (he drops by the "queer bench" in the park to ask if there's "any action") and subverted (he does this during his lunch break while on community service, which he's been sentenced to for... helping a fellow celebrity illegally dispose of a fridge-freezer).
60	** Creator/PatrickStewart appears for a single scene, in which he explains a screenplay he's writing wherein he plays a [[Film/XMenFilmSeries Professor Xavier]]-type character who uses his powers to make women's clothes fall off.
61	** Dame Creator/DianaRigg who is in two scenes. In the first she gets a condom flicked onto her head while she's eating soup, and instructs the perpetrator (Creator/DanielRadcliffe!) on how to politely ask for it back again. In the second she wearily tells him to go away because [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments he's been trying to hit on her all day]].
62	* [[CrazyIsCool Jubal Early]] in ''Series/{{Firefly}}'', who only appeared in [[Recap/FireflyE14ObjectsInSpace the last episode]] yet was perhaps the greatest part of an already great series.
63	* Two of the most acclaimed moments in S2 of ''Series/{{Fleabag}}'' revolved around these: Creator/FionaShaw as a counsellor and Creator/KristinScottThomas as the recipient of a Women In Business award with whom the title character forms a strong though transient connection.
64	* Series/{{Frasier}}:
65	** Creator/JohnGlover make a guest appearance as a high-powered executive at the radio station. And [[LargeHam It]]. [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments Is]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjWipjKclBY Glorious]]. The scene managed to earn Glover an Emmy nomination.
66	** Creator/PatrickStewart puts in a [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LargeHam magnificently show-stealing turn]] as a one-off character in a [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/FrasierS11E03TheDoctorIsOut final season episode]].
67	* Both ''Series/{{Friends}}'' and, more recently, ''Series/{{Skins}}'' make a habit of doing this for the main characters' parents. Chandler's dad steals most of his scenes, Joey's mum likewise for her single appearance, and perhaps the most memorable scene that had Creator/HughLaurie lecturing Rachel on the plane to Britain; meanwhile ''Skins'' had cameos from Harry Enfield, Creator/BillBailey, Creator/PeterCapaldi, Creator/ArabellaWeir, Creator/JosieLawrence...
68	* In the season one finale of ''Series/{{Fringe}}'' the fact that Olivia was in a parallel universe where the Twin Towers are still standing was heavily overshadowed by the fact that she'd just met the mysterious William Bell, played by Creator/LeonardNimoy.
69	** Nimoy as William Bell deserves some sort of minimalist record for this. He had two lines in the Season 1 finale, then showed up for less than a minute in a fragmented flashback to the same scene four episodes later, and then had another one-line cameo in the mid-season cliffhanger. Then, the character was conspicuously absent in the WholeEpisodeFlashback "Peter", with a lame excuse about being away on business, and then Nimoy retired from acting after filming one more appearance for season 2 [[spoiler:though he does reappear again briefly in the final episode of season four]].
70	* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': David Rintour shows up for all of five seconds, in a flashback as the Mad King, but he ''owns'' those five seconds, as he utters the three most iconic words in the ''Game Of Thrones'' backstory:
71	-->"Burn them all! BURN THEM ALL!"
72	* Pretty much any show where Creator/SummerGlau ends up being cast as a bit character ends up with her stealing the spotlight in her scenes. A good example is the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "[[{{Recap/AngelS03E13WaitingInTheWings}} Waiting in the Wings]]".
73	** She appears AsHerself on a train in ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', where the characters come up and try to hit on her one at a time. Her reactions to their awkward advances are hilarious.
74	** In the ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'' episode "The Left Hand" (2x06), there is supposedly some ''other'' plot involving Echo and Senator Perrin, but it's hard to pay attention to that when you've got Creator/SummerGlau and Creator/FranKranz on the same screen together.
75	* On ''Series/{{Glee}}'', one of the most memorable one-scene wonders is Cameo, an unruly student from a flashback to Holly's past that explained why she became a free spirit.
76	-->'''Cameo:''' Tricks? You some kind of magician substitute? I'm a Christian, and that devil magic stuff OFFENDS ME!! (charges Holly and punches her lights out)
77	-->'''Holly:''' ''(in the present)'' I woke up to an empty classroom. And worse, they took my Air Jordans!
78	* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'':
79	** Creator/SethGreen and Creator/BreckinMeyer in as a pair of comic book store employees who have the "best day ever" when they briefly get to help one of their favorite characters.
80	** Creator/JohnGlover as [[spoiler:Samson Gray, Sylar's real father]].
81	** Creator/ChristopherEccleston's memorable turn as Claude Rains began as an EnsembleDarkHorse, but since he never returned and was only in 5-ish out of nearly 60 episodes, he has evolved into a much-loved OneSceneWonder.
82	*** One of the first words spoken by him in the show is a brilliant ShoutOut to his stint as [[Series/DoctorWho the Doctor]].
83	-->'''Claude:''' Fantastic!
84	* ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' features a lot of memorable characters played by great actors who pop up for a single episode.
85	** Creator/SteveHarris appears for two scenes in the pilot as a murderer who [[BlatantLies comes up with an obviously false alibi]] that Munch automatically sees through, [[BadLiar and then somehow comes up with an even more blatant lie]] when Munch interrogates him again.
86	** Gwen Verdon turns in a darkly comedic performance as an elderly woman who killed her abusive husband in "Ghost of a Chance" that netted her an Emmy nomination, which is all the more impressive since she only appears in three scenes.
87	** Creator/LuisGuzman as an eccentric cabinetmaker in "Son of a Gun". He's only around for one scene and kills himself shortly thereafter, but he makes a pretty good impression in his screentime.
88	** While she's TheGhost for most of her storyline, Calpurnia Church finally appears in person in "Son of a Gun" for a single scene. Mary Jefferson turns in a performance that's both vulnerable and creepy at the same time, nailing her performance as the frail old serial killer.
89	** Creator/PaulSchulze turns up in the same episode as a creepily amiable and icy "agent for hitmen".
90	** Dan Moran turns in a memorably eccentric performance as a fundamentalist abusive father in "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes".
91	** Lloyd Goodman only turns up in two scenes in "Bop Gun" as a regretful murderer, but they're some of the biggest {{Tearjerker}}s in the entire show.
92	** Creator/RobinWilliams turns in a brilliantly against type performance in "Bop Gun" as a grieving father whose wife's murder becomes the subject of a high-profile murder investigation.
93	** Creator/VincentDOnofrio's Emmy-nominated guest appearance in "Subway" as a man pinned between a train and a subway platform, doomed to die a painful death. He manages to make the character both a massive {{Jerkass}} and a Woobie of epic proportions.
94	* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'' has none other than a nearly-unrecognizable '''Creator/GuillermoDelToro''' buried under heavy makeup as the ranting, deranged Pappy [=McPoyle=], [[ChewingTheScenery screaming at the top of his lungs]] about [[EatsBabies eating his own children]] and having a complete mental breakdown in court. It truly must be seen to be believed.
95	* ''Series/JamAndJerusalem'': Creator/TimVine as a local politician who has NoIndoorVoice.
96	* Not exactly a One ''Scene'' Wonder, but in the fourth series of ''Series/JonathanCreek'' Creator/AdrianEdmondson turns up about once an episode and manages to steal every scene he's in as Carla's clueless, pretentious but strangely lovable producer/husband Brendan.
97	** Strangely lovable because he's so incredibly easygoing, not even blinking when Carla makes out with Jonathan (with full-on tongue action) right in front of him. Perhaps his best moment was admitting he'd once been married to a man in the US. But it was only a marriage of convenience! And they never had [[spoiler:a co-production deal]], because that would just be ''wrong.''
98	%%** Also from ''Series/JonathanCreek'' is one of Adam Klaus' [[GirlOfTheWeek girlfriends]], who sweetly kisses him, gives him a kimono, and waves goodbye as she gets out of the car. That's it. She doesn't get a name, or a single line. However, the whole cameo becomes HilariousInHindsight considering the Chinese calligraphy on the kimono reads: "I am full of shit." Adam wears it around the theatre all day long before a theatre critic who speaks fluent Chinese tells him what it says and that the girl who give it to him definitely has his measure. %%Possible cultural confusion -- kimonos are JAPANESE.%%
99	* Adam Arkin as Theo Tonin, TheDon of the Detroit Mob in ''Series/{{Justified}}''. [[OffstageVillainy Reputed]] to talk to a severed human ear when he's angry.
100	* Creator/BrianCox as Vesper Abaddon in ''Series/{{Kings}}''. A deposed tyrant, he has two scenes where he tries to make his captor, Silas, as vile as he is, and another where he speaks to TheHero, David, before he is to be executed. Scary as hell, incredibly complex, and has only a few minutes screentime.
101	* ''Series/TheLastOfUs2023'':
102	** Dr. Neuman, portrayed by Creator/JohnHannah, appears in the premiere for an original three minute scene as a mycologist on a talk show in the DistantPrologue. In those three minutes, he proceeds to give an utterly chilling breakdown as to why a fungal outbreak, like the one viewers are soon going to see, would be so terrifying and immediately sets the tone of dread for [[JustBeforeTheEnd the first half of the episode]] and the overall mood for the show.
103	** The Indonesian mycology professor Ratna and the Indonesian general Agus Hidayat (portrayed by renowned Indonesian performers, Christine Hakim and Yayu A.W. Unru, respectively) who show up in the prologue of the second episode set just before the outbreak have left a lasting impression on fans for showing the terror of the fungal outbreak as explained by Dr. Neuman, to the point that they have to resort to crossing a GodzillaThreshold to contain the infection, [[SenselessSacrifice which by that point was way too late]], [[ForegoneConclusion and that the end of human civilization cannot be avoided.]] [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Needless to say, Indonesian audiences went wild on the scene.]]
104	* A 1994 episode of ''The Late Show With Creator/DavidLetterman'' had Dave ask "Johnny Carson" to deliver the Top Ten list. Larry "Bud" Melman delivered it posing as him. Then Dave said there was something wrong and this wasn't the list and called for "Johnny" again ... and out steps the ''real'' Creator/JohnnyCarson, to nearly three minutes of continuous standing ovation. He sat in Dave's chair, and left without saying a word. This turned out to be Johnny's last television appearance.
105	* In the third-season ''Series/LoisAndClark'' episode "Double Jeopardy", there's a seemingly throwaway scene where Luthor makes a back-alley deal with a rogue government agent. It's amazing.
106	* Whenever Charles Widmore is in an episode of ''Series/{{Lost}}'', he usually only has one scene, but that scene is always a killer.
107	** "The fact that she never received your sentiments is good for her, because as far as she's concerned you've forsaken her. And that's the way it's going to stay."
108	** "You creep into my bedroom in the dead of night, like a rat, and have the audacity to pretend that you're the victim?"
109	** "Walk with me, Desmond." (Cut to Desmond standing around awkwardly while Widmore uses a urinal)
110	** "One sip of [[=McCutcheon=] whiskey] is worth more than you can make in a month. What you are not, Mr. Hume, is worthy of drinking my whiskey. How can you ever be worthy of marrying my daughter?"
111	** His daughter Penny also qualifies. She shows up even less often than her dad, rarely has more than one or two scenes, but they're always important, and [[ThePowerOfLove the intensity of her love for Desmond]] always shines through, so much so that she and Des are among the most [[EnsembleDarkHorse popular couples]] in the entire show, despite their limited screen time together.
112	*** [[WhamLine "What boat?"]]
113	*** [[IWillWaitForYou Her Christmas Eve phone conversation with Desmond]] at the end of ''The Constant'' is one of '''the''' [[TearJerker most]] [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments popular scenes]] in ''the entire series!''
114	*** Her reunion with Des in the fourth season finale (her only scene in that two hour episode making it a literal example) [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments is a ray of hope and happiness]] in an otherwise [[CrapsackWorld grim episode.]]
115	* On ''Series/TheMaskedSinger'', several contestants who only last a single episode are more known than others either due to their SoBadItsGood performances, their [[UnexpectedCharacter shocking reveals]], or in one instance, a WardrobeMalfunction. So far, these include: Robot, Bear, Gremlin, Lips, Snail, Bulldog, Beach Ball, [=McTerrier=], Jack in the Box, Knight, Scarecrow, Gnome, Rock Lobster, Book, and Afghan Hound.
116	* ''Series/{{Merlin\|2008}}'' had the FisherKing, an ageless old king who has waited years for Merlin to arrive and release him from his eternal life. The actor (Creator/DonaldSumpter from ''Series/GameOfThrones'') infuses the character with so much gravitas and poignancy that he turns a single scene into a bona-fide tear-jerker. The lighting and music only adds to the epic nature of the scene.
117	* In ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', King Sphinx, a MonsterOfTheWeek, only appeared in one episode, and was never seen again in the franchise. Despite this, he was a favorite character in merchadise related to the show, such as toys, coloring books, posters, and sticker albums. (Supposedly, the character was ''supposed'' to make a return appearance, or possibly more than one, but WordOfGod claims that the monster suit had been damaged too much to be used again.)
118	** King Sphinx likely was given marketing prominence due to appearing in one of the original pilots, which is where many of the American products drew from (such as the outfits worn by the Ranger teens, used almost exclusively in the coloring books).
119	* A minor controversy erupted when the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences served up an extreme version of this in 2006, nominating Ellen Burstyn for an Emmy for her 14-second, 38-word cameo in the TV movie ''Film/MrsHarris''.
120	* Creator/JimHenson showing up in anything done with ''Franchise/TheMuppets'' is always special.
121	* In "Valentine's Day", a second-season episode of ''Series/TheOfficeUS'', Conan O'Brien appears in the background at Rockefeller Centre, as Michael is wandering around the streets of New York. Even funnier because Michael is watching a tall woman with glasses he thinks is Tina Fey.
122	* The BlindSeer from ''Series/OnceUponATime'', first appearing as a little girl and then a young woman over the course of a single episode. It's not only her stitched-up eyes or the fact that she has ''eye balls'' on the palms of her hands, but that she tells Rumplestiltskin a SelfFulfillingProphecy that pretty much kick-starts the plot of the ''entire show''.
123	** Zelena's adoptive mother is one simply because she is a loving, and above all normal, person. This helps make Zelena's backstory very realistic.
124	* ''Series/{{Power}}'' episode "Happy Birthday" features an appearance of rapper Music/KendrickLamar playing a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} homeless drug abuser named "Laces". Despite this being his first-ever acting gig, Lamar easily became one of the most memorable guest-stars on the show for his hilariously pitch-perfect performance, with many critics and viewers alike wondering how this world-renowned rapper managed to disappear completely into the role.
125	* ''Series/RedDwarf'':
126	** Mr. Flibble, a ''penguin hand-puppet'', visibly played and voiced by Creator/ChrisBarrie during the last scenes of "[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonVQuarantine Quarantine]]", never to be seen or even mentioned in the show again... but he's one of the most popular supporting characters, almost to the point that you could consider him the show's mascot, and he's got [[http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/features/interviews/mr-flibble/ his own section]] on the show's official website, where he acts as an interview host.
127	** Lister's friend Petersen, who has appeared in only two episodes ("[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonITheEnd The End]]" and "[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonIIStasisLeak Stasis Leak]]") plus a few flashbacks in the first two series is nevertheless one of the most liked characters in the series. The fact he wasn't able to be brought back for Series VIII is a serious WhatCouldHaveBeen for most fans. Him being played by a pre-fame Creator/MarkWilliams is a factor in this.
128	* For about five minutes, ''Series/{{Riverdale}}'' stopped being an ComicBook/ArchieComics show and suddenly became a [[AmbiguouslyEvil Farmer]] [[ScaryBlackMan McGinty]] show. That's what happens when you give Creator/TonyTodd a sinister walk-on role, let him creep everyone out with chilling calm, and then leave.
129	* ''Series/RobinOfSherwood'': Every fan talks about John Rhys-Davies' performance as King Richard. He was in exactly one episode: "The King's Fool".
130	* Ian [=McNiece=] as the [[KentBrockmanNews Forum news reader]] in ''Series/{{Rome}}'' is just ''[[HamAndCheese grand.]]''
131	* Anyone who comes without previous warning in ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''. In an episode hosted by Creator/RoseanneBarr, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqPiJ0L7YmY Coffee Talk with Linda Richman]]", there was a sketch which frequently discussed Creator/BarbraStreisand, and already had a guest appearance by {{Music/Madonna}}... then Babs herself appeared!
132	** One skit had an interview with Wilson the volleyball from ''Film/CastAway'' When the skit ended, Wilson said his ride was here and Creator/TomHanks casually walked onto the set. He didn't say anything, he just walked onset, stood there for two minutes waiting for the cheering to die down, picked up Wilson, and left. ''That'' is a One Scene Wonder.
133	** Another Tom Hanks example was his surprise appearance (AsHimself) on ''Celebrity Series/{{Jeopardy}}''. He wasn't hosting that night (Creator/WillFerrell was), but he came on to be one of the contestants. To say he blew the scene out of the water might have been an understatement. From getting his hand stuck in a pickle jar to suffocating in a plastic bag to banging his head off of the podium and ''breaking it'', let's just say SNL might need a new ''Jeopardy'' set; Tom Hanks is all done chewing it to bits.
134	** Creator/SteveMartin has made it a habit of just dropping in with no warning, often sending himself up as a major egotistical star and the crowd goes nuts every time. Once, Martin just showed up in the middle of "Weekend Update," saying he wasn't there to plug a movie or anything. "I just felt like a cameo."
135	** It is also a virtual certainty that if the show has any recurring feature that pokes fun at a specific actor or political figure the person being mocked will eventually show up in the middle of the feature and completely steal the scene. For example, one open had Creator/TinaFey as UsefulNotes/SarahPalin doing a press conference. In the middle of it, cut to backstage, where Lorne Michaels is talking to the ''real'' Sarah Palin about the skit...and then Creator/AlecBaldwin comes up and mistakes Palin for Fey.
136	*** Prior to Palin's appearance, the most memorable example was probably the time Janet Reno showed up unannounced to take over a "Janet Reno Dance Party" sketch from Creator/WillFerrell doing a Reno impersonation.
137	** For most of 1995-96, a recurring sketch would be "The Creator/JoePesci Show" with Jim Breuer as a Pesci who would talk like his movie characters, get nuts, and hit guys with a bat. Colin Quinn played Creator/RobertDeNiro as if it was still the 1970's and talk in "one-word sentences." It all ended with the real Pesci and [=DeNiro=] coming on to beat the two up.
138	** Jimmy Fallon would host the show in 2014, with musical guest Music/JustinTimberlake; the two naturally would participate in a ''[[Music/TheBeeGees Barry Gibb]] Talk Show'' sketch. At the ending theme of the sketch, the real Barry Gibb would sing the falsetto parts on the "Nights On Broadway"-soundalike theme song alongside Fallon and Timberlake.
139	** Not exactly a one ''scene'' wonder, but Creator/ChristopherWalken probably does deserve credit for managing to completely steal the show every time he hosts.
140	** When the real David Patterson appeared alongside Fred Armisen's impersonation. He criticizes the show for making fun of the blind...then proceeds to act the same as Armisen did
141	** The ''What Up With That'' faux-talk show/musical variety that Kenan Thompson hosts frequently has two special guests cameos of real celebrities playing themselves as if they were on a normal talk show. Those cameos are played straight and frequently steal the scene (though Creator/JasonSudeikis often steals it back). Cameos include UsefulNotes/AlGore, Creator/MikeTyson, Creator/MorganFreeman, Creator/RobinWilliams, Creator/BillOReilly, and Creator/SamuelLJackson, who used profanity on the live show.
142	*** OnceAnEpisode, one of the impersonated celebrities on ''What's Up With That'' is Music/FleetwoodMac guitarist Lindsay Buckingham, as played by Bill Hader. During one WUWT sketch, ''the real'' Lindsay Buckingham shows up in the end singing the theme song with the sketch participants and Hader!Lindsay, and play guitar.
143	* Susan's parents in ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' are far more interesting than they have any right to be. Her father because of his affair with [[GeniusBonus John Cheever]], and his mother because of her [[DeadpanSnarker downbeat caustic attitude]] during her first appearance. ("If I had a nickel for every one (of the books in the library) he's actually read... I'd be broke.")
144	** Mr Bookman, the library cop from "The Library".
145	* Mike Stamford in ''{{Series/Sherlock}}''. [[BadassAdorable Molly]] was supposed to be in one episode but England loved her so much, they expanded her role.
146	* David Rees Snell, who played AscendedExtra Ronnie Gardocki on ''Series/TheShield'', played season four BigBad Leon Drake, an evil [[Franchise/GIJoe Cobra Commander]]-type terrorist who was the BigBad for the fourth and final season of ''Series/TheUnit''. Despite appearing in only seven episodes (with most of those episodes featuring him in one or two scenes, barking orders to his army of minions from his secret lair), David Snell's role is largely the only notable thing about the show in the eyes of fans of Shawn Ryan's other, more famous show ''The Shield''.
147	** David Rees Snell pulled this off again with his role as the mysterious Navy Seal named Hopper in "Last Resort".
148	* ''Series/SonsOfAnarchy'' pulls this off a few times:
149	** In episode 2x12, despite featuring major advancement on most of the season's main storylines and one character's SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome, most of the online chatter about the episode centered around former ''Series/TheShield'' star Kenny Johnson's surprise cameo as an out-of-town member of the Sons of Anarchy biker gang summoned to help participate in a planned rumble with a rival Aryan gang.
150	** Another ''Series/TheShield'' cast member Creator/WaltonGoggins comes in later and steals the show as a transgender prostitute.
151	** Then there's the scene where Creator/StephenKing comes in to dispose of a body and outshines everyone with only a few lines of dialogue.
152	* There are a few examples during ''Series/SquidGame'':
153	** The first chapter of the series in the [[{{Recap/SquidGameS1E1RedLightGreenLight}} first game]], with players 324 and player 250. They were just in that episode, but with the death of 324 by losing the first game, we as an audience start to know where the show is actually going with.
154	** Although Ali (Player 199) becomes a recurrent cast member, his introduction was almost at the end of the first episode, by grabbing the main character just before falling., causing a major impact on the audience, to the point that they were cheering more on Ali to make it alive in the game.
155	** The married couple (Players 69 and 70), even when they appeared briefly during chapters 4 and 6 [[spoiler:(And only the husband in chapter 7)]], the audience will always remember them by how tragic they as a concept are, especially during chapter 6, when both have to play Marbles, [[spoiler: and only one of them comes out alive, leading it later to the partner's suicide.]]
156	** The Math Teacher in Chapter 7 (Player 62), who realized that it was impossible with all of the possibilities handed to pass the glass bridge, so he took a leap of faith, [[spoiler: only to get 3 steps right before falling]], giving the audience a moment to think in the fact that it was an almost impossible game.
157	** In the same chapter, we have the Glass Worker, which had a little advantage by guessing which glass step was which, also leading the rest of the cast to the end of the bridge. By making the VIP's to take the decision to take away the light, it shows the Audience that life wasn't fair, if it was for enjoyment for them, hiding in with the word "Equal"
158	* ''Series/StrangerThings'' Season 4 has Hawkins High cheerleader Chrissy Cunningham, who may as well be the TropeCodifier for this in more recent TV history, as never before in the show has a character whom only had a single episode with only a few minutes worth of screentime, gotten such adoration and love from fans (even Barbara by comparison at least had two episodes). Chrissy’s beautiful and adorably sweet personality seen in her scene with Eddie as well as her sympathetically severe personal troubles with an abusive mother and eating disorder, very quickly endeared her to people [[spoiler:despite the fact she’s killed by BigBad Vecna by the end of the first episode. Many [[WhatCouldHaveBeen wanted her to stay alive, become Eddie’s girlfriend and join the main cast, as she’d make a good foil to Nancy and Robin]]. Even the Duffer Brothers themselves who have always been committed to killing off secondary characters, [[https://www.screenspy.com/the-duffer-brothers-regretted-killing-off-chrissy-in-stranger-things/ explicitly regretted killing Chrissy]] after seeing how good her actor Grace Van Dien was in her scene with Joseph Quinn (Eddie) which they had filmed after her death where it was too late to change anything.]]
159	* Several examples in ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': Lt. Riley, who appeared in only two episodes; [[GrandeDame T'Pau]] and [[ChildhoodMarriagePromise T'Pring]] from "[[{{Recap/StarTrekS2E1AmokTime}} Amok Time]]"; [[FollowInMyFootsteps Sarek]] and [[AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents Amanda]] in "[[{{Recap/StarTrekS2E10JourneyToBabel}} Journey to Babel]]"; the Romulan Commanders in "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E14BalanceOfTerror Balance of Terror]]" and "[[{{Recap/StarTrekS3E2TheEnterpriseIncident}} The Enterprise Incident]]"; Baalok from "[[{{Recap/StarTrekS1E10TheCorbomiteManeuver}} The Corbomite Maneuver]]"; the [[Recap/StarTrekS1E17TheSquireOfGothos Squire of Gothos]]; the [[SiliconBasedLife Horta]]. But above all there’s Khan Noonien Singh from “[[Recap/StarTrekS1E22SpaceSeed Space Seed]]”, although he became a BreakoutVillain.
160	* A few examples in ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Sonya Gomez, the famously bumbling junior engineer; Nick Locarno in "The[[{{Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E19TheFirstDuty}} The First Duty]]" (so much so that they wanted to use that character in ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'', but had to settle for just the actor); Robin Lefler (due to the fact that she was played by ''[[Creator/AshleyJudd Ashley fricking' Judd]]''); Commander Shelby in "[[{{Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E26S4E1TheBestOfBothWorlds}} The Best of Both Worlds]]"; [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E10ChainOfCommand Captain Jellico and Gul Madred]] (played by Creator/RonnyCox and Creator/DavidWarner, respectively); etc.
161	** Creator/StephenHawking's appearance as his holographic self in the pre-credits scene of "[[{{Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E24S7E1Descent}} Descent]]". Not only was Stephen the first, and, thus far, the only person to appear AsHimself in a Trek production, but [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments he]] [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome wins]] his game of poker against Data and fellow holograms UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein and Sir Isaac Newton.
162	* In ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', there was the Klingon chef who owned a restaurant on [=DS=]9, and also played Klingon folks songs to customers on the accordion. (Actually appeared in two episodes, "[[{{Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS02E06Melora}} Melora]]" and "[[{{Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS02E17PlayingGod}} Playing God]]"; novels claim his name is Kaga, possibly meant as {{Homage}} to Chairman Kaga from ''Series/IronChef'', which debuted the same month as "Melora".)
163	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' has a lot of these, and the show ran for so long, some of them returned years later.
164	** Sara, an early-season GirlOfTheWeek, often shows up in fanfics as Sam's LoveInterest. She did come back much later, but it was BackForTheDead.
165	** Jimmy, Castiel's vessel, features heavily in only one episode in Season 4 and has a short cameo in Season 10, but he also features in lots of fanfics.
166	** Pamela Barnes, the psychic and BlindSeer, makes a few brief appearances in Season 4 but remains a fan favorite due to her truth-telling and flirtatious nature. She returned for one more episode, in Dean's MentalWorld, in Season 15.
167	** [[spoiler: The fourth Horseman, Death]], played by Julian Richings, who manages to exude pure awesome simply by being there, despite roughly six minutes of screen time.
168	** Surprisingly, Creator/ParisHilton, who plays a shapeshifting demon that takes on her form. Said demon [[SelfDeprecation doesn't think too highly of her]].
169	** The Empty, as played by scenery-chewing Creator/MishaCollins, made a huge impression in part because, well WhatTheHellIsThatAccent.
170	* [[ViolentGlaswegian Jamie MacDonald]] is only in a handful of scenes in ''Series/TheThickOfIt'' (he doesn't even get his last name until TheMovie) but manages to be one of the most memorable characters in a show full of memorable characters.
171	** From the same series you also have Cal "[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast The Fucker]]" Richards, who is only in half an episode but gets some of the best lines of the whole series.
172	* ''Series/TheThinBlueLine'': BRIGADIER BLASTER SUMP, DAMN YOU! (It's helped by the fact he's played by Creator/StephenFry).
173	* ''Series/TinkerTailorSoldierSpy'' and its sequel ''Smiley's People'':
174	** Creator/PatrickStewart as the BigBad. These being spy shows, the Russian superspy [[TheVoiceless who refuses to talk]] only appears in one scene of each, but he makes an impression.
175	** ''Smiley's People'' also features a memorable role from Creator/MichaelGough, better known as [[Film/Batman1989 Alfred Pennyworth]], who plays an Estonian refugee.
176	* ''Series/TheTudors'': Creator/PeterOToole as Pope Paul III only appears in some episodes, never interacts directly with the main cast (being as he is in ''Rome'' all the time), and completely steals the show.
177	** Also Christina of Milan and [[TheHeretic Anne Askew]].
178	* Creator/AlysonHannigan as Trina Echolls on ''Series/VeronicaMars'' might qualify. She shows up completely unexpectedly and completely dominates the intro scene with herself, Creator/KristenBell and Jason Dohring.
179	** And in a later episode she reunites with her ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' co-star Creator/CharismaCarpenter (Cordelia) playing Kendall Casablancas. Trina runs into Kendall after she just spent a night with Trina's brother Logan and they have a fun, catty conversation.
180	* Comedy actor Guillermo Francella ([[DyeingForYourArt without his trademark moustache]]) played the until then unseen BigBad of Argentine [[SoapOpera telenovela]] ''Vidas Robadas'': he appeared in three scenes in the last two episodes, and completely owned the show. To picture the impact of TheReveal, imagine: the MagnificentBastard head of a human trafficking net is finally seen on camera - and it's a completely serious and creepy-looking, say, ''Adam Sandler''.
181	* Creator/AlysonHannigan again in ''Series/That70sShow'', where she plays a cop [[LoveTriangle for whom Kelso and Fez immediately declare their love.]]
182	* President Bartlett was originally supposed to be a OneSceneWonder on ''Series/TheWestWing''; the show was meant to focus on the senior staff, with the President appearing maybe once a month or so to emphasize the distance between the man at the top and the people working for him out of the spotlight. But Creator/MartinSheen's performance was made of too much awesome, and on top of this it was decided that it would be silly to have a series set among the senior staff of the White House where the audience never saw the President, and so he got promoted to a member of the main cast.
183	** His appearance in the pilot (which was presumably filmed with the above intent) definitely counts, however; he only shows up at the very end, but when your first appearance involves bursting into a tense meeting between White House staff and religious leaders proclaiming "[[ItMakesSenseInContext I am the Lord thy God, thou shall have no other gods before Me. Boy, those were the days!]]" people are gonna remember it.
184	** Roger Rees as Lord John Marbury isn't quite a OneSceneWonder -- he was in five episodes over six years -- but you can't deny that he was disproportionately memorable in his few scenes as the LoveableRogue.
185	* Brother Mouzone in ''Series/TheWire'' only appeared in six episodes, most of them for just a few minutes, or seconds in the case of his introduction. An erudite, soft spoken, Harpers magazine reading, suit and bow tie wearing gentleman... who also happens to be one of the most feared and respected hitmen on the east coast, and whose popularity rivals some regulars.
186	* ''Series/TheXFiles'':
187	** Maggie Scully (Scully's mom) has a surprisingly large fanbase, despite only appearing quite briefly in a handful of episodes. It probably has something to do with the fact that she's such a nice, reasonable, ''normal'' person, especially when you compare her to Mulder's family. And of course, she has to [[TheWoobie put up with a lot]] in the show, including her husband [[spoiler:dying of a heart attack]], her daughter [[spoiler:being abducted by aliens and presumed dead]], her ''other'' daughter [[spoiler:being shot dead]], and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking her son being a total douche]].
188	** Cassandra Spencer, played memorably by Creator/VeronicaCartwright, is so central to the show's mythos, it's hard to believe she's only in 4 episodes.
189	** Creator/PeterBoyle as the one-off character Clyde Bruckman, in the episode "[[Recap/TheXFilesS03E04ClydeBruckmansFinalRepose Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose]]". One episode. Not an important episode. Not a character important to the myth arc. But he's one of the most memorable characters in the whole show, partly because it was one of the most highly-acclaimed episodes ever, and because...well... it's Peter Boyle.
190	* ''Series/TheExpanse'' has many memorable scenes, several featuring one-shot characters:
191	** "CQB": Martian Lt. Lopez (Greg Bryk) appears in two episodes. He's intense yet impersonal in the first, but in the second he exemplifies the ideal of a Martian military true believer in just a few minutes of screen time. Sharp and professional, he also aggressively proclaims the Martian dedication to their all-consuming mission of creating a livable planet, and keeps no secret of his contempt for the aimless wastefulness of Earthers. When helping the protagonists escape turns out to benefit Martian objectives, he and his squad [[spoiler:give their lives to get them away safely. His last words,]] with no sarcasm or bitterness, only hope: "It would've been nice to see an ocean on Mars."
192	** "The Monster and the Rocket": One of the most emotional scenes in the entire series features Champa (Gugan Deep Singh), a strong enforcer type initially desperate to escape the dying Ganymede space station along with a mob of other abandoned Belters.[[note]]Belters are generally working class asteroid belt residents, accustomed to being exploited by Earth or Mars. This typically gives them a cynical and often brutal outlook.[[/note]] Protagonist Naomi convinces Champa to control the mob and limit the evacuation to the 52 people the ship can carry. He gives an impromptu speech to muster the pride and grit of all the Belters present, then guards the door while children and young men and women are allowed to board. At the end [[spoiler:he turns down the seat Naomi bribed him with, telling her "you're not finished yet" as he pushes her into the ship. He watches stoically through the airlock window as Naomi tearfully nods and leaves with the rest of the survivors.]]
193	** Manéo Jung-Espinoza in "Delta-V" is the first human to fly into the Ring. Having been jilted by his girlfriend, he determines to do something massive that everyone will remember him by. His incredibly gruesome death, to the tune of a Belta language cover of "Highway Star" as he flies into the Ring only to be gruesomely deconstructed with his head ''exploding'' as he hits the "speed limit" of the ring is simultaneously heart-wrenching, darkly funny and shows a noble expression of human determination.

Context OneSceneWonder / LiveActionTV