Warning: Spoilers for Rick and Morty season 6, episode 7.
While both Rick and Morty season 6 has proven that the show can avoid both these fates. It is tricky for animated sitcoms to justify high-profile cameos, whether they are appearances from real-life celebrities or satirical depictions of famous cultural figures. Often, A-list celebrity guest roles can be unnecessary and pointless, while appearances from famous public figures can seem like a desperate attempt to shock or offend.
Although The Simpsons season 34 fixed its celebrity cameo problem by casting guest stars as original characters instead of themselves, the long-running series is still infamous for getting major stars like Elon Musk and Lady Gaga to play themselves for little reason in previous episodes. Meanwhile, in South Park, the only purpose of a character like Jesus, Santa Claus, or the prophet Muhammad appearing is to make the edgiest joke possible. In contrast, the gags featured in Rick and Morty season 6, episode 7, “Full Meta Jackrick" relied on references that were so heavily meta and self-aware that the Adult Swim hit avoided both these traps despite featuring a cameo from Jesus himself.
Why Rick & Morty Could Never Repeat The Simpsons' Most Hated Cameos
Rick and Morty is too meta, fast-paced, and ambitious to use celebrity cameos the way that The Simpsons did in its most reviled outings. Even the show’s Jesus cameo was just a small part of a Rick and Morty episode that deconstructed its credits, the show's style, and the narrative of season 6 so far. It would logically seem that this endlessly subversive, freewheeling writing style would prevent celebrity cameos from ever happening on Rick and Morty but, instead, the show’s constant barrage of jokes and twists means that Rick and Morty can pull these cameos off with more ease.
This is epitomized by Elon Musk’s appearances on both shows. In The Simpsons season 26, episode 12 “The Musk Who Fell To Earth,” the show devoted an entire uncomfortable episode to fawning over the controversial public figure, pointedly avoiding any mention of his many scandals. In contrast, in Rick and Morty season 4, episode 3 “One Crew Over the CrewCoo’s Morty,” the show made a pun about Musk’s name and moved on. Rick and Morty cares more about its characters and their stories than whatever celebrity the creators convinced to appear in the series, resulting in the show successfully integrating even cameos from wooden non-actors.
Rick & Morty Can Still Pull Off Celebrity Cameos (& Still Does)
While South Park is less reliant on guest roles and celebrity cameos than The Simpsons, it's still flawed in a way that Rick and Morty manages to dodge. Rick and Morty can pull off appearances by everyone from real-life celebrities like Musk to more potentially offensive roles for public figures like Jesus because the show’s primary purpose has never been offending or shocking viewers. Rick and Morty mocked South Park’s edgy origins with their Jesus cameo precisely to underline the fact that the Adult Swim hit is less invested in shock humor. As a result, Rick and Morty successfully stages cameos that South Park and The Simpsons can’t pull off.
New episodes of Rick and Morty season 6 air Sundays on Adult Swim.