While The Simpsons season 34 featured a lot of celebrity guest roles, not all of these cameos were as successful as each other. The Simpsons has mixed fortunes when it comes to guest stars. Some of the show’s most hated episodes center around A-list cameos, like Elon Mask and Lady Gaga’s much-derided appearances in The Simpsons. However, celebrity guest stars have not always been a bad thing for The Simpsons. Some of the show’s best outings also relied on cameos.

For example, the classic episode of The Simpsons featuring Hank Scorpio relied on an inspired performance from guest star Albert Brooks. Despite this, The Simpsons season 8, episode 2, “You Only Move Twice,” is considered one of the show’s funniest episodes ever. As such, it is clear that while guest stars alone don’t make or break an episode of The Simpsons, they can make a big difference. This is further evidenced by a look back on the many guest stars of The Simpsons season 34.

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11 Will Forte As King Toot

Will Forte as King Toot in The Simpsons Season 34

In The Simpsons season 34, episode 11, “Top Goon,” Moe mentors the equally pugnacious Nelson to success as an ice hockey enforcer. While Moe helping Nelson seems to come from the good of his heart, it is motivated by his intense hatred of his neighboring store owner/rival, King Toot. Toot, played by Will Forte, is a disappointingly bland antagonist with none of Forte’s usual flair. As such, viewers won’t be too heartbroken when The Simpsons villain Fat Tony takes over as the episode’s antagonist.

10 Simu Liu Aș Hubert Wong

Simu Liu as Hubert Wong in in The Simpsons Season 34

Shortly before “Top Goon” depicted Nelson’s rise to ice hockey success, The Simpsons season 34, episode 9, “When Nelson Met Lisa,” also focused on the misunderstood bully. In this future-set outing, Lisa and Nelson’s potential romance is jeopardized by Simu Liu’s adult version of Hubert Wong. While Wong has been a background character for decades, this is his biggest role so far. Unfortunately, “When Nelson Met Lisa” fails to inject any character into the one-note villain, making Liu’s role a letdown.

9 Fred Armisen As Terrence

Homer and Marge reunited in The Simpsons season 43, episode 17

In The Simpsons season 34, episode 17, “Pin Gal,” Fred Armisen returns as Terrence, a Springfield hipster. In another case of The Simpsons addressing real-life trends long after their sell-by date, this episode’s reliance on outdated hipster jokes makes this character feel fairly stale. Armisen doesn’t do anything new with his well-worn hipster persona, and Terrence’s latest appearance is essentially an excuse to set up another, better cameo later in the episode.

8 Aubrey Plaza As Amber Duffman

Aubrey Plaza as Amber Duffman in The Simpsons Season 34

While Aubrey Plaza’s performance as Amber Duffman is pretty strong, the same cannot be said for the surrounding episode. The Simpsons season 34, episode 7, “From Beer to Paternity,” is a great tile in search of a good story. Unfortunately, an overly familiar plot about Homer failing to care about Lisa’s interests makes this episode a lesser outing, and Plaza’s performance alone can’t elevate the episode. However, the star remains as likable as ever as Duffman’s distant daughter.

7 Anna Faris As Ashley The Hacker

Anna Faris as Ashley the hacker in in The Simpsons Season 34

In The Simpsons season 34, episode 3, “Lisa the Boy Scout,” a pair of faceless hackers take over the show’s broadcast. The pair then air numerous "deleted" scenes that fill in bits of lore from earlier seasons of The Simpsons, as well as some unused plot twists so bad they threatened to ruin the show entirely. This meta-premise allowed The Simpsons to make fun of itself in this episode, and Anna Faris was perfect casting as one of the well-meaning, idealistic hackers.

6 Jade Novah As Ashlee Starling And Echo

Homer talks to Echo in The Simpsons season 34 episode 18

Musician Jade Novah pulled double duty in The Simpsons season 34, episode 18, “Fan-ily Feud,” playing both the pop star Ashlee Starling and Starling’s rival Echo. Novah put in a pair of charming performances as both characters and managed to differentiate Ashlee from Echo instantly. This was no small achievement with such limited screen time, and it ensured that Novah made an impression even in an overstuffed episode.

5 Rob Lowe As Cousin Peter

Rob Lowe as Cousin Peter in The Simpsons Season 34

In The Simpsons season 34, episode 20, “The Very Hungry Caterpillars,” the show finally addressed the biggest news story of the last decade—in its own unique way. In Springfield, lockdowns and quarantines were caused by an invasion of caterpillars rather than the COVID-19 pandemic. However, otherwise, the details were pretty similar. Rob Lowe turned his sleazy charm up to the max as Skinner’s duplicitous Cousin Peter, a con artist looking to scam Agnes out of her fortune through flattery. Luckily for Skinner, Peter’s attempts end in disaster for him.

4 Albert Brooks As Jacques

Marge and Jacques in Simpsons

While “Pin Gal” didn’t need Terrence, it did need Albert Brooks as Jacques. The Simpsons season 34 solved a series mystery when "Pin Gal" explained what happened to this season 1 character who tried to steal Marge from Homer. As slimy as ever, Jacques is one of the best returning guest stars in season 34. Jacques spends most of the episode trying to woo Marge decades after his first failed attempt. While the plot might be familiar, watching the lothario try and fail to win over Marge never grows old.

3 John Roberts As Linda Belcher

Linda Belcher in The Simpsons Season 34

In The Simpsons season 34, episode 6, “Treehouse of Horror XXXIII,” the Simpson family wakes up in a Westworld-esque theme park celebrating the show. While the family eventually escapes their environs, they soon see that they are surrounded by amusement parks dedicated to their many imitators and competitors. This is revealed via an ingenious cameo from Bob’s Burgers heroine Linda Belcher, played with typical relish by series star John Roberts.

2 Lizzo As Goobie Woo (& Herself)

Goobie Woo and Homer in The Simpsons

In The Simpsons season 34 finale “Homer’s Adventures Through The Windshield,” time slows down for Homer as he is guided through an out-of-body experience. This being The Simpsons, Homer is guided by Goobie Woo, Maggie’s Happy Little Elf doll. Goobie Woo’s voice is provided by musician Lizzo, whose impressive comic timing makes this ambitious episode a funny, freewheeling affair. “Homer’s Adventures Through The Windshield” even finds time for a song from Goobie Woo, as well as a short scene of Lizzo playing herself, voicing the character.

1 Melissa McCarthy As Calvin

Homer angry at Calvin in The Simpsons Season 34 Episode 9

In The Simpsons season 34, episode 8, “Step Brother from the Same Planet,” Grampa starts dating a fellow senior citizen named Blythe. While Blythe is voiced by comedy legend Carol Kane, her role is regrettably small. However, this is mostly so that the episode can provide more screen time to Clavin, her seemingly perfect son, who becomes Homer’s pre-pubescent enemy. Voiced by Melissa McCarthy, Calvin is a hilarious creation and The Simpsons season 34’s best new character, even if he is unlikely to appear again.