One year, at a white elephant party, I was amazed at home much of a fight broke out over a "signed" Neal Diamond photo. I really think that people believed that it was real. I would find a different "star" to use if I did the same thing though. Or maybe take a photo of a friend and have it put on the side of a cup....
Other gifts: A souvenier spoon rack full of plastic spoons. At a large party, someone snuck in a $50. bill! George Foreman grill.
At the parties around here, the stranger the better. Some people just can't stand not adding in something brand new though.