Thanks all for the tips. I turned off all the circuit breakers and got it out with needle-nose pliers. That thing was tough! The new bulb works fine too.

You were more successful that I've been. I had l bulb do this in 2 ceiling fixtures. I tried the potato fix and just got potato stuck in the base. Then I tried the pliers and the base just crumbled on me. I guess I will have to call an electrician to fix them. I've had a lot of problems with bulbs blowing lately. I was buying Phillips brand at dollar store so they may be seconds. Very annoying. I'm going to start replacing all the bulbs in my house with the LED ones (not the curly ones...hate those.) but they are expensive so will have to do it slowly.

Hi
This has just happened to me and tried the pliers but it bent the end out of shape. I tried an old toothbrush head pushed in and it seemed to grip it and it came out. Thought I'd share if it can help someone else. Thanks for the tips :)

We had a light bulb break-off in our kitchen chandelier, and hubby took a pair of needle-nose pliers, bent the metal base of the bulb inward, then unscrewed it using the same pliers.

some pliers have a rubber coating on the handles. always wondered why. [perhaps for this.

Replace with LED....wasn't there something posted here somewhere a while back about the danger to ones eyes from those?

This is what I have done -- had the light go out on the refrigerator. killed the circuit breaker (cause I could not move the thing), used needle nose to bend the base inward and unscrewed it using the pliers.. Have also done this on a lamp.

My stove light went out about 6/8 months ago & the same thing happened to me. DH said he would get the bulb base out & ...I'm still waiting! :)