
Before the Internet, it could be tough to drum up promotion, even for a hit show, which mean networks often had to come up with decidedly unorthodox means to hype their product. One of the methods many shows—cult favorites and big hits alike—turned to was the novelty album. These albums were usually recorded by one of the series’ stars as themselves, occasionally hoping to launch a recording career to supplement their acting work, but every so often, an album was recorded in character, as though the characters from the show were unexpectedly offered a record deal. Here are 13 examples of TV characters stepping into the recording studio.