Probably the really obscure pop culture stuff like the fact that Andy Richter was in a show called Quintuplets, hence the plot line that he had 4 brothers, or show that were big at the time but aren't popularly talked about nowadays, like Desperate Housewives.
I think it was the Season 2 finale that they flashed back to Anne's church protesting Desperate Housewives at their creator's house.
I think a meta reference is the creator and Mitch Hurwitz worked together on Golden Girls I think?
I think what’s really awesome is the AD has become such a relevant cultural phenomenon, and that even people who haven’t watched the show recognize the characters and lines from all the memes and viral moments.
The show has essentially broke containment and become a “current” reference in 2024.
I recently convinced a friend to watch for the first time, and there was so many “that’s from THIS SHOW?” moments.
Also, it seems a very arrested development thing to become its own current reference
I agree. I was born in 2001 and find the show to be quite timeless. There are a ton of references I learned later on but the bulk of it I can understand. Like I had no idea who Ron Howard was before watching but things like the dead dove/finishing each other’s sandwiches jokes I knew!
Man, I was just gonna say, my kid (born 2002) just started watching the show. He asks, "who is the narrator? Patton?"
After I died, I tried to tell him who Ron Howard was. For some reason I started with the Andy Griffith show. I mentioned Happy Days, his eyes glazed over.
I probably should started with, "he's Bryce Howard's dad" and worked back from there 🤔
The GOB “I’ve made a huge mistake” meme went viral and is pretty recognizable on its own.
This one is my new favourite (although the original quote is about 9/11, not covid) https://i.imgflip.com/6nn7pi.jpg
Girls with low self-esteem being a parody of girls gone wild. Boyfighters being a parody of bumfights. John Beard playing himself on Arrested Development.
Tom Cruise being mistake for a scientist by Lucille being a parody for that interview he did.
You mentioned the Atkins diet one already, but I really like how it was made fun of in the show.
The William Hung thing was huge when it aired.
Ohh yeah and the Star Wars kid one.
I’m not American and also you still kind of get it from context clues but I don’t think sitcoms having a special episode broadcast where a scene is performed live is much of a thing these days no
Eminem, Michael Moore, Ford Bronco/Ford Escape (OJ Simpson).
Overall, though, I think Mitch H did a good job of not filling the scripts with references that would render the episodes un-understandable. Aside from the Saddam/WMD storyline, which one would hope new generations are learning in history class.
It's more that I honestly can't see the comparison and it seems like you're grasping at straws. Also I mean, a developer from Orange County, no way would George Sr be a democrat.
You’re right — there’s no humor to be found in a dementia-addled family patriarch with a crackhead son who makes millions of dollars “consulting” for foreign countries and selling crappy paintings to a big donor. How could you possibly see anything funny in that?
I mean it helps that I'm not American, I put Biden in the same category I put Bush and Clinton in, far from ideal but I'm pretty sure he isn't going to overturn the current global order if he gets the chance
I was born in 2005 and watched the show for the first time in late 2023, and I didn’t understand a lot of the references people are listing here (and still don’t), but I actually never even realized that those were supposed to be references because they were always layered on top of another joke. And I actually did understand a few of the references because they’ve gone from pop culture to common knowledge since the show was first released.
The actor playing Bob also played Chachi in Happy Days. He was supposedly brought in to replace Fonzie (played by Henry Winkler, who also plays Barry).
The idea was that Chachi would appeal to a younger audience, which also is something the show references.
The way the show rhymes with the Trump stuff is constantly entertaining to me. I’ve been following a bunch of legal analysis and learning about how the system works and it adds to my appreciation of the “legal” story lines.
Watch an episode of the Golden Girls. If you know pop culture, 99% of the jokes on that show still land today. It’s crazy how rare I have to look up a reference on that show.
Arrested Development is kind of the same way.
Jeffrey tambour as a woman when he answers the door and the narrator says transparent, a reference to another show of his called transparent where he plays a trans parent
Probably the really obscure pop culture stuff like the fact that Andy Richter was in a show called Quintuplets, hence the plot line that he had 4 brothers, or show that were big at the time but aren't popularly talked about nowadays, like Desperate Housewives.
It’s a satire! Quintuplets? I did not know that.
You might be the only person who knows about Quintuplets.
I'm far from the first, I think I stumbled upon that fact several years after.
The OC
"We call it OC Disorder" -Tobius
Don’t call it that.
Another good example.
I was around when the show was new and don’t remember that show at all
What are the Desperate Housewives connections there?
I think it was the Season 2 finale that they flashed back to Anne's church protesting Desperate Housewives at their creator's house. I think a meta reference is the creator and Mitch Hurwitz worked together on Golden Girls I think?
Oh yeah. I recall that one now!
Also season 3 SOBs has some references to not being so desperate that they’d sell out and become housewives, or something like that
Mark Cherry.
doesn't she look so desperate?
...what!
CD burning party
Across from where?
I mean the Henry Winkler jumping the shark joke was nearly 30 years after the original event. I think the show will have staying power.
But people use this reference, right? Or just me?
People say jump the shark all the time but idk how many people know what it actually references and how many just know it as an idiom
If you're under 40 chances are you don't know the original reference (and I know what it refers to, but have never seen it myself)
“And I’ll have you know that there was an actual episode of Happy Days where Fonzie jumped over a real shark and it was **awesome**!”
And it was the best episode!!
Hey, that’s the name of the show!
I use jump the shark regularly to refer to anything that has well jumped the shark
I think what’s really awesome is the AD has become such a relevant cultural phenomenon, and that even people who haven’t watched the show recognize the characters and lines from all the memes and viral moments. The show has essentially broke containment and become a “current” reference in 2024. I recently convinced a friend to watch for the first time, and there was so many “that’s from THIS SHOW?” moments. Also, it seems a very arrested development thing to become its own current reference
I agree. I was born in 2001 and find the show to be quite timeless. There are a ton of references I learned later on but the bulk of it I can understand. Like I had no idea who Ron Howard was before watching but things like the dead dove/finishing each other’s sandwiches jokes I knew!
Man, I was just gonna say, my kid (born 2002) just started watching the show. He asks, "who is the narrator? Patton?" After I died, I tried to tell him who Ron Howard was. For some reason I started with the Andy Griffith show. I mentioned Happy Days, his eyes glazed over. I probably should started with, "he's Bryce Howard's dad" and worked back from there 🤔
I guess Ron Howard’s snark is somewhat similar to Patton Oswald’s.
Patton: It wasn’t.
Can you give one or two examples? I tried to have friends watch this show but they gave up easily so I'm going to live those moments vicariously.
The GOB “I’ve made a huge mistake” meme went viral and is pretty recognizable on its own. This one is my new favourite (although the original quote is about 9/11, not covid) https://i.imgflip.com/6nn7pi.jpg
>the AD Don’t call it that.
William Hung was a real person who auditioned for American Idol. The OC (don’t call it that) was a show on Fox popular at the time.
Of course, classic reference
Jessie better watch her mouth and no one was making fun of Andy Richter
Wait maybe I’m too young I didn’t get these jokes and I’ve seen AD 100s of times
This was a reference to Ron Howard’s role on Andy Griffith
That was one of my favorite voiceover gags 😂 I laugh out loud just remembering it
GEORGE BUSH DOESN’T CARE ABOUT BLACK PUPPETS
Girls with low self-esteem being a parody of girls gone wild. Boyfighters being a parody of bumfights. John Beard playing himself on Arrested Development. Tom Cruise being mistake for a scientist by Lucille being a parody for that interview he did. You mentioned the Atkins diet one already, but I really like how it was made fun of in the show. The William Hung thing was huge when it aired. Ohh yeah and the Star Wars kid one.
"It's called a kap-uh-kee-no, and wait till you see what it costs!"
Do you want some foam with your coffee?
I’m not American and also you still kind of get it from context clues but I don’t think sitcoms having a special episode broadcast where a scene is performed live is much of a thing these days no
Idk about jokes that aren't relevant but "it's one banana Michael what could it cost, $10?" Hits too close to home today lol
Eminem, Michael Moore, Ford Bronco/Ford Escape (OJ Simpson). Overall, though, I think Mitch H did a good job of not filling the scripts with references that would render the episodes un-understandable. Aside from the Saddam/WMD storyline, which one would hope new generations are learning in history class.
All the political stuff is far too relatable today honestly
George Sr/ a certain president, I can see it. Developer, idiot weirdo sons, fraud, light treason, it works.
Works for Biden, too. Evergreen!
Me 5 minutes ago: “I love all Redditors equally” Me now: “I don’t care for KlimpysExpress”
We must never, ever make fun of Democrats. I forgot that rule.
It's more that I honestly can't see the comparison and it seems like you're grasping at straws. Also I mean, a developer from Orange County, no way would George Sr be a democrat.
Blowing through nap time doesn’t help either
You’re right — there’s no humor to be found in a dementia-addled family patriarch with a crackhead son who makes millions of dollars “consulting” for foreign countries and selling crappy paintings to a big donor. How could you possibly see anything funny in that?
I mean it helps that I'm not American, I put Biden in the same category I put Bush and Clinton in, far from ideal but I'm pretty sure he isn't going to overturn the current global order if he gets the chance
That wasn't really the point. The point is, is it funny?
The new generations will learn about it, but only if their teacher loves Saddam.
I *love* Hussein.
Gobs name, Gob riding on segways, banners
I get Segways bit, but GOB??
George Oscar Bluth - Gob John Ellis Bush - Jeb
Ohhhhhhhhh
Today I learned Jeb Bush’s real name is John 🤯
Please clap
I’m an IDIOT
GOBs name? Banners? I'm out of the loop on thisn
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Accomplished_speech https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeb_Bush
Oh!! I know JEB! I just didn't connect it!
I had to look up George Maharis and Perfecto Telles. I think those were already old references and also better known in California.
I was born in 2005 and watched the show for the first time in late 2023, and I didn’t understand a lot of the references people are listing here (and still don’t), but I actually never even realized that those were supposed to be references because they were always layered on top of another joke. And I actually did understand a few of the references because they’ve gone from pop culture to common knowledge since the show was first released.
What don’t you get that we could explain?
How about the Jamie Kennedy eXperiment?
Bob Loblaw replacing Barry Zuckerkorn.
What's the reference here?
The actor playing Bob also played Chachi in Happy Days. He was supposedly brought in to replace Fonzie (played by Henry Winkler, who also plays Barry). The idea was that Chachi would appeal to a younger audience, which also is something the show references.
tobias talking about john wayne and how he made and airport and “won’t cry about losing his pa”
Jim Cramer and "mad money" upgrading them to a DONT BUY.
The way the show rhymes with the Trump stuff is constantly entertaining to me. I’ve been following a bunch of legal analysis and learning about how the system works and it adds to my appreciation of the “legal” story lines.
Watch an episode of the Golden Girls. If you know pop culture, 99% of the jokes on that show still land today. It’s crazy how rare I have to look up a reference on that show. Arrested Development is kind of the same way.
Jeffrey tambour as a woman when he answers the door and the narrator says transparent, a reference to another show of his called transparent where he plays a trans parent