E.T. made a cameo appearance in The Phantom Menace

E.T. clearly phoned home

Three E.T. can be found in The Phantom Menace!
George Lucas and Steven Spielberg share a special friendship, indeed Speilberg has directed all four of the Lucas produced Indiana Jones films and Lucas even tried to get him to direct Return of the Jedi.

So was it a surprise for any one to see three E.T. Chancellors cameo in The Phantom Menace?

Probably not

That's them at the bottom left of the picture.

It was a nice little nod for George Lucas to put in and a pretty sweet easter egg.

I think I also saw one in Attack of the Clones too...