By Thomas Willett
Marge Simpson: “We’re all aware of Grandpa’s problems, but compared to Mr. Burns, he’s Judge freaking Reinhold.”
Jacqueline Bouvier: “I don’t know who that is”
The Simpsons - “Lady Bouvier’s Lover”
To become different from what we are, we must have some awareness of what we are.
-Eric Hoffer
Great art speaks a language which every intelligent person can understand. The people who call themselves modernists today speak a different language.
-Marshall McLuhan
My normal Monday nights have recently consisted of a few things, which include watching Breaking Bad reruns and the new episodes of 2 Broke Girls and Bored to Death. It was in the former’s 8:30 CBS timeslot that I noticed something very peculiar and distracting. In truth, the show has suffered from a mix of crass vagina jokes and poor racial stereotypes, but it has gotten better as they’ve developed the leads Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs. However, it was in a small exchange that something distracting happened. When Behrs tells Dennings that the guy she likes is at her work, she enthusiastically states “The fat guy from Teen Mom?” When Behrs denies this, Dennings replies “The skinny guy from Teen Mom?”
Maybe I am from a different culture, but this simple joke was distracting enough to get me thinking on the validity of pop culture references in TV shows. There were three other jokes that I felt worked better (one about a couple named Johnny and Cash, one about someone dating singer Adele, one about Behrs singing like the “White Mariah (Carey)”), but as someone who has been watching since the first episode through episode nine titled “And the Really Petty Cash,” I found myself mostly wondering how Teen Mom was a valid reference for Dennings character, who has been established as a low income woman. She never showed signs of being into trashy reality shows, and the joke made me question if there’s an actual trait in saying this, or if it was a simple joke.
It spawned further curios as the night grew on. I looked back at Beavis and Butt-head’s recent episode “Holy Cornholio,” which also featured a Teen Mom reference. Their approach was to take a clip about a visit to the doctor and riff on it being about a breast enhancement surgery. I still argue that Mike Judge’s most successful duo sadly don’t fit into today’s modern world, as some jokes just feel like what old people say anyways.
It got me thinking that of all the shows I watch weekly, majority of them are codependent on at least one pop culture reference an episode. There is a varying degree to their success, but with 2 Broke Girls’ one joke that officially will date it, I feel the need to evaluate on why these references are significant. In fact, I’ll focus on 10 comedies from the week of November 9 to November 16. I feel with this restraint, it will at least give it more of a cemented, current feel.
I will not even pretend that I am not a fan of pop culture references. I came into fruition the same way most fanatics did, through Kevin Smith’s Clerks. One of the scenes that has lasted with me is early on when a Chewlies Gum representative (Scott Schiaffo) tries to convince customers to stop smoking and chew gum. The slight of hand goes on as he uses pictures of black lungs to convince young people to buy gum instead, resulting in cashier Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran) to get pelted with cigarettes and be called a “cancer merchant.” He’s eventually exposed as a sales representative and forced to leave.
It’s true, this isn’t so much a reference on an existing name, but within that scene, it exposed the structure that would come to define what I look for in a pop culture reference. I want it to be effective to the scene and important to the character in some way. Since the guy was a sales representative, the excessive Chewlies Gum references was fitting. Also, having minor characters drop references after meeting the guy helped to establish the crowd that goes to the Quick Stop. Basically, I want it to fulfill the dynamics of their universe.
Cultural references have been around forever. True, they haven’t always been pinned by music and movies. It’s been heavily used as satire by the likes of Mark Twain and vaudeville acts. I argue that pop culture references in society are important to help develop what is significant to the time. If no one referenced the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, would it still be viewed as that event 73 million people watched? References help to make parts of our culture have a personal impact. It’s no different than discussing politics. It affects us in a deep, personal way.
It’s true, sometimes it can become excessive and pointless. Just like using profanity, there’s an art to balance, and I feel that up until 2001, director Kevin Smith managed to invigorate references into a mainstream thing. I feel that not only can they be symbolic of their time, but they can also help to better understand bigger pictures. In Chasing Amy, one of the ways the characters explore homosexuality in the media is by turning to Archie comics as proof that character Jughead was gay. Along with this being my favorite movie, I feel that it also helped to solidify the significance of pop culture references to simplify complex issues presented to us.
Which brings us back to 2 Broke Girls and the Teen Mom reference. Dennings was never obsessed with that show, nor anything of that nature in the previous 8 episodes. It also doesn’t reflect her as a character and if anything, makes it more confusing and distracting. It’s true, I do consider writer Michael Patrick King to be out of touch, but most of the times the references simply just feel tongue-in-cheek. It was usually the vagina jokes (which have thankfully simmered) that ruined a plausible episode.
I decided to look at 10 shows from the past week and explore how effective their use of references was and if it fits with the overall tone and characters of the show. I will rate on a 1-5 scale with 5 being the most effective to the plot, and 1 being distracting. Note, I am not focusing on one joke, but the overall use as a whole. As to not look too conspicuous, I will also go in chronological time slot order.
1. Community – “Studies in Modern Movement”
I believe that Community is one of the best shows on TV and that season 2 deserved some Emmy love. However, this recent season has left me in a weird state. I still enjoy it for being weird, but this feels like a very experimental season, with alternate timelines and bizarre Halloween stories.While the cultural references haven’t really been integral to the story, they’ve helped to define Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed (Danny Pudi). However, this episode will best be remembered for its weird rendition of Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose.” I personally wasn’t a big fan of it and this episode kind of fell apart when it turned into an extended music video sequence. I felt that it fit with the tone of this season, but I hope that this show regains the structure I love before it gets rudely axed for 30 Rock in January.
Score: 3
2. The Big Bang Theory – “The Ornithophobia Diffusion”
Of all the comedies on CBS right now, this is the least frustrating. True, I am against the feel of most of the show’s desire to end with a punchline, but it does it well enough to be enjoyable. This week, they continue their prototype nerd comedy with rants on the new Star Wars blu-ray set, an analysis on Jennifer Aniston movies, and Sheldon’s (Jim Parsons) psychological disconnect from society through bizarre demands and very wordy language. While it has that occasional flow and snag that I don’t like about CBS, I cannot argue that it does this type of writing very well, and this week is no different in establishing the more popular references in what is considered nerd culture.
Score: 4
3. Parks and Recreation – “The Treaty”
When I think of Parks and Recreation, there are numerous things I love about it, notably hearing April (Aubrey Plaza) doing those cynical rants and the wonderfully unique characters. While there’s definitely some pop culture references thrown in (remember Adam Scott in that Batman costume a few episodes ago?), the story’s biggest features are based on its characters. This week, it’s about a Model U.N. Not a lot of pop culture references, but there are shout outs to Braveheart and sharks. Both are used symbolically in their scenes and because of their sparing use help to be seen more as character traits than random references.
Score: 4
4. Beavis and Butt-Head – “Holy Cornholio”/”Drones”
Arguments about quality aside, this show is nothing but pop culture references. The double dose this week means there were more chances for them to just make fun of everything. Pop culture is so a part of their lives that even if they’re just riffing on Deadmau5 or Grand Theft Auto, it’s to be expected. They still have some charm in them, but it kind of feels that they are still representative of a generation that has surpassed them. Good for laughs, bad for substance.
Score: 5
5. The League – “Yobogoya!”/”Carmenjello”
This show’s existence is mostly to fill out time on FX until It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia comes on. With that said, the story of a bunch of guys participating in a football fantasy league does produce some quality laughs from time to time. This week is one of the weaker ones, even though both feature the awkward social cues, the made up rules, and the loopy competitive nature that has come to define these characters. The references are rarely outside of sports or sex, which is very fitting. However, both were mostly lacking this week and left the guys to determine if calling a guy Carmen or Jello was racist.
Score: 2
6. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – “The Gang Gets Trapped”
While I feel that this season is a vast improvement over the last, this recent episode is one of the weaker ones. The plot is essentially an Indiana Jones style heist movie of a vase from somebody’s house. The use of outdated references and music cues has defined this show’s appeal. While it was a slow, boring episode with a few moments of great madness, most of the visual references, including whips and hats, were integral and helped establish a tone.
Score: 3
7. The Simpsons – “The Food Wife”
While the Simpsons are usually packed with references, this one was PACKED with references. From the opening sequence, a parody of Comic Con, there are about 20 fake video games parodying famous properties followed by a fake video game sequence of Homer (Dan Castelanetta) trying to get to a panel. It evolves into a story about Marge (Julie Kavner), Lisa (Yeardley Smith), and Bart (Nancy Cartwright) starting a food blog, which leads them to meet some of the most famous chefs, including a dream sequence featuring both the real Gordon Ramsey and Dom Deluise bouncing on his butt like a yoga ball. It also features possibly the first ever Tim and Eric song I’ve ever enjoyed. After a horrendous “Treehouse of Horror” and a subpar episode with Jane Lynch, I am safely saying that nowadays the Simpsons best episodes are niche topic episodes, and this one doesn’t disappoint, down to Chief Wiggum (Hank Azaria) breaking up a meth lab by saying “Put your hands up, breaking baddies.” This is proof that there’s still something to get out of this show, even if they’re just updating certain premises.
Score: 5
8. 2 Broke Girls – “And the Really Petty Cash”
Despite two promising leads, this show can be a frustrating one to watch. It was prematurely billed as this generation’s Laverne and Shirley by promotional departments, but it has ways to go before achieving that. It hasn’t hit a consistent tone for more than five minutes and hasn’t introduced lingo like vodeodo yet. It’s trying to find its voice, and it’s gone through so many tropes to get to its improving quality, which I commend. However, going back to that Teen Mom reference, it still feels awkward and I don’t think that pop culture references are its brightest features. Commenting on hoarders and Goodwill stores seem more in line. Maybe by season 2 it will find its tone, but for now it’s kind of a mess with a lead, Kat Dennings, that I find impossible to stay mad at.
Score: 1
9. Bored to Death – “Two Large Pearls and a Bar of Gold”
Easily my favorite show on TV the past few years, and it’s mostly for its bizarre premises and shout outs to classic literature and the frustrations of being a writer and a competent detective. This season’s first episode featured Safety Last (however, the best reference to this movie lies in Futurama’s “Xmas Story”), which should give you some perspective of their obscurity. This week they were sparing, with exception to a great line by Zach Galifianakis about how Picasso lived with two women to justify his affair with an older woman. These are the small moments that make this show unique and so great. While it’s not quite as great as last week’s episode with Jason Schwartzman and Ted Danson taking down John Hodgeman, this doesn’t hurt its place as one of the best shows on TV.
Score: 3
10. New Girl – “Thanksgiving”
I still consider this to be my favorite show from the new batch, and while I feel that it hasn’t performed well since the World Series of Baseball, this week’s episode is a refreshing improvement. Even if it’s just charming takes on old sitcom tropes, Zooey Deschannel’s awkward vibe definitely helps this show maintain some ground. Like Parks and Recreation, the story is more reliant on characters. The references are sparse, relying on only a reference to a Thanksgiving song, Prince, and Air Bud 2. They weren’t impressively placed, but they helped to establish character’s interests well enough to give the supporting cast some identity.
Score: 3
Overall, pop culture references seem to be standard to a show’s productivity. It’s impossible to find one amongst these that is independent of this trend. Some do it very well (Beavis and Butt-head) others not so much (2 Broke Girls). I think it also reflects that our society is just as much a mirror of our interests as it is of us as an individual. If you remove some of these references, you lose the character. We all have interests, and pop culture defines and unites us in that way. The only trick is to now find a way to do it while seeming tasteful and integral to the story.
What are your thoughts on pop culture? Are the excessive rants and shout outs to music and movies just another form of how creativity is dead, or has it improved satire to make the stories more realistic? Will referencing something popular represent the time, or will it just become dated in 5 years?
You can read Thom’s blog every Wednesday and hear him on Nerd’s Eye view every Tuesday and Thursday at nevpodcast.com. You can also read his movie reviews at cinemabeach.com. Send us email at nevpodcast@gmail.com.
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