How I Met Your Mother is known for giving us some pretty spectacular cameos. While it has been defined as one of the best pieces of comedy in any medium, be it comics, animation or in this case the sitcom, it also stood out because of its cameos.
While other sitcoms have some pretty great cameos, the level and range of celebrities that appeared on the show was truly astounding. We’re taking a look at 10 of the best and most recognizable celebrity appearances on the show.
BRITNEY SPEARS
The incredibly famous singer and pop artist Britney Spears was such a fan of the show that she actually managed to appear in two episodes of it, much to the surprise of fans who didn’t expect to see such a famous face.
Not only does she have an interest in Ted in the show, but she then her character ends up sleeping with Barney. She returns a little later to try to put off other women from getting with Barney. It’s a hilarious and substantial role that was certainly memorable.
KYLE MACLACHLAN
Kyle MacLachlan is know as a character actor. The legend of Twin Peaks fame actually appeared in the show a few times himself. He got to put his acting talents to the test portraying a man who thought he was in charge of a ship.
The Captain, as he was known, even had a nautically-themed house and must have been one of the oddest characters that the actor had ever played. He’s actually one of the few actors on this list memorable for his character rather than his actual appearances.
KATY PERRY
Katy Perry seems like an even stranger person to show up on a sitcom, and yet it happened. The famous singer and pop icon has actually sat in the famous pub that the characters love to hang out in.
Katy Perry plays a character called Honey who goes on a date with Ted before Barney falls for her. Of course, this leads to the two getting together, though ironically it ends with Barney crying about not knowing who his father is.
BRYAN CRANSTON
Bryan Cranston is another star who returned to the series a couple of times. He played a character that’s very different from some of the other roles he’s played over the years. Cranston actually portrays Ted’s architect boss.
Cranston’s character is a pretty difficult boss to please and Ted has a number of problems with him. Cranston portrays the arrogance and confidence of the man so well and we just love to hate him. It’s nowhere near as terrifying as Walter White of course, though.
BOB BARKER
Bob Barker plays an interesting role in the show in relation to Barney. The character firmly believes that Bob Barker is actually his father due to the fact that he never had a father figure growing up. It’s a touching moment when they finally meet.
However, when Bob Barker does meet Barney he, of course, doesn’t treat him as a son. It’s a difficult moment for the character to deal with but it’s a fun cameo that actually plays into the narrative really well and takes advantage of a celebrity appearance.
NICOLE SCHERZINGER
Nicole Scherzinger is an incredibly talented singer from the Pussycat Dolls. However, it turns out she also has some acting abilities after appearing in the famous sitcom. She actually plays a bizarre character called Jessica Glitter.
Robin, of course, has a show biz past with appearances on a kids TV show and a number of pop hits. Her best friend ever is known as Jessica Glitter. The two have a falling out eventually, as Robin realizes who her true friends are.
HEIDI KLUM
The star of Project Runway who has appeared on so many runways herself, across the world, actually appears as just plain Heidi Klum, supermodel, on the show. Coincidentally she also turns up at a fashion show that the group goes to.
She convinces Barney to go back and confront someone he has left behind. It’s a pretty good performance, although perhaps not as memorable as the others on this list. She does at least play a part in the plot though.
TIM GUNN
Tim Gunn, also of Project Runway fame, has also appeared on the show much to the surprise of the huge audience that the sitcom had built up over the years. This was once again a strange meeting of television worlds.
Tim Gunn is a very talented member of the fashion industry. It was therefore not surprising when Barney turned to him above everyone else to fix his suit so that he could go off and impress a girl. It’s a fun appearance for him.
JENNIFER LOPEZ
Once again one of the guest stars actually plays a love interest for Barney. There’s an added catch here, though. The incredibly talented Jennifer Lopez actually plays someone who has talents elsewhere.
She plays a relationship expert who Barney is trying to woo. Of course, due to her intelligence and skills she’s always one step ahead of Barney at all times. This makes it even more difficult for him and it’s an interesting relationship to watch.
KATIE HOLMES
Katie Holmes is one of the many women that Ted falls in love with across the course of the series, in this case on Halloween night. Dressed as a “sexy pumpkin,” he found it very difficult to find her again until another Halloween when they came across one another once more.
She appears a few times throughout the series as a recurring joke and a character that reminds Ted that love can happen at any time in any way. The ironic thing is that it happened not so far from his own apartment where so much has happened since.
