The Simpsons: 15 Celebrity Appearances You Might Have Missed

15. Neil Patrick Harris

Episode: Bart The Murderer (Season 3) Barney Stinson himself showed up in Springfield during Season 3, almost 14 years before he donned his fancy suits and shot to fame in How I Met Your Mother. When Bart is framed for 'murdering' Principal Skinner, Harris voices a vague representation of Bart during a dramatic TV reconstruction. "Shut up, where do you want it, Skinner?" Somewhere off-screen, 'Skinner' spits at 'Bart' and Harris replies with "not smart..." before pulling the trigger numerous times. This is a classic example of a celebrity being drafted in for a brief appearance, a quick laugh, and then being shepherded out of the studio: 9 seconds of screen time, 10 words. Done.