List of references to Heroes

List of references to Heroes
MadTV parodies Heroes

As Heroes grows in popularity and becomes a part of pop culture, many other media make reference to Heroes.

References to Heroes

2P START!

In the Superfreak issue of the webcomic 2P START! (released June 6, 2007) Ray is concentrating on his computer. Tim comes in and jokes that he is Micah and can talk to computers. Then Tim guesses what he's doing and Ray says "You just read my mind! Like Matt Parkman!"

30 Rock

In the October 4, 2007, second season premiere (SeinfeldVision), NBC executive Jack Donaghy attempts to boost ratings by digitally inserting Jerry Seinfeld into promotional spots for current shows. One such advertisement features a scene from Better Halves. Jerry, in the role of Peter Petrelli, relays a message to Ando over the phone: "Save the cheerleader, save the world." When Ando repeats the message, an irritated Jerry says, "Yeah, that's what I said!"

In the November 12, 2007, episode (Greenzo), Kenneth is throwing a small party. Rumors about the party spin out of control, culminating with Frank's claim that "the girl from Heroes is gonna take a shower."

The Batman

In the February 10, 2007, episode Seconds, Francis Gray discovers in jail that he can manipulate time. While in jail, he uses his power several times, squinting with concentration; one example involves making a clock go back one second. Additionally, at the end of the episode, the name of his clock-making company is shown as "Gray & Son Repair".

Bionic Woman

In episode Do Not Disturb (November 28, 2007), Jaime Sommers and her sister are sitting in the bed eating ice cream, and watching TV. They hear and see the segment from Genesis when Hiro stands up and shouts "Yatta!" from his Yamagato Industries cubicle, and runs down the office celebrating his first successful attempt at bending time.

Cable & Deadpool

In Issue #39 (Mistaken Identities, June 2007) of the Marvel comic book Cable & Deadpool, Deadpool stabs T-Ray with a katana. Before he does so, he says that his "katana was forged by the same guy who made the one on Heroes." Incidentally, Issue #39 was colored by Chris Sotomayor, and numerous issues prior to #39 were drawn by Staz Johnson.

Chuck

Commercials for the premiere of NBC's Chuck (which debuted directly before Four Months Later... on September 24, 2007) teased, "Save the Geek, Save the World".

The "Nerd Herd" reviews the Heroes DVD.

Ctrl+Alt+Del

In the It's on My Mind issue of the webcomic Ctrl+Alt+Del (released May 14, 2007), Ethan asks Lucas if he is familiar with Sylar's habit of absorbing powers by taking their brains. Ethan, excited that Lucas is skilled at Halo, takes out a saw. Lucas balks, explaining that Sylar's victims usually end up dead.

The Daily Show with John Stewart

An episode of The Daily Show aired a featurette lampooning Heroes.

Epic Movie

A promo for Epic Movie (starring Jayma Mays and released January 26, 2007) poked fun at the success of Heroes.

ER

In episode Crisis of Conscience (February 15, 2007), Dr. Dubenko says, "Save the cheerleader, save the world," after he attends to a cheerleader.

Family Guy

A commercial for episode Chick Cancer (November 26, 2006) showed quick cuts of Stewie Griffin wearing a cheerleader outfit, then talking to a tied up cheerleader, interspersed with title cards that read "Save the Baby, Save the Planet".

Jeopardy!

In the February 13, 2007, episode, the $600 answer in the first round under the category TV is So Dramatic was, "Save Hayden Panettiere, who plays an indestructible cheerleader on this NBC drama, save the world." In the May 3, 2007, episode, the $800 answer in the second round under the category Famous Young Women was, "On this show an Internet stripper has unnatural abilities that would appeal to a genetics professor." Both answers, of course, were "What is Heroes?"

Joe Dirt

When Joe Dirt was broadcast on Comedy Central (December 2006), promotions read "Save the mullet, save the world".

Kyle XY

During episode Lockdown (August 27, 2007), an exasperated Hillary exclaims, "Oh, for the love of Peter Petrelli!"

Late Show with David Letterman

The May 15, 2007, Top Ten List was presented by Masi Oka:
Top Ten Surprises In The Heroes Season Finale
10. One of us gets whacked by Tony Soprano
9. Show's slogan changed to "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World, Save 15% on Your Car Insurance by Switching to Geico"
8. Judges go nuts after the pulse-pounding rumba I do with Billy Ray Cyrus
7. We use our powers to lower gas prices, am I right, people?
6. Devote entire show to figuring out what the hell is happening on Lost
5. The telepathic cop wins a new car after reading Pat Sajak's mind on Wheel Of Fortune
4. New hero has the ability to reduce acid reflux
3. I beat the crap out of Spider-Man
2. The invisible man gets caught sneaking into dressing rooms at J.C. Penney
1. I use my teleporting powers to bust Paris Hilton out of the slammer

Meet the Spartans

Near the beginning, King Leonidas consults the Oracle (an Ugly Betty parody), with a councilor translating. Among some nonsensical things she says, one of her warnings is "Save the cheerleader, save the world", to which Leonidas replies, "I'm sorry, I'm not a fan of Heroes". This film is known for its excessive use of pop culture references.

My Name is Earl

During episode Foreign Exchange Student (February 1, 2007), in a flashback scene in a classroom, a chalkboard can be seen in the background. Writing on this board reads "Screw the cheerleader, destroy the world."

MadTV

Heroes was mentioned in an episode in which the audience does not know what is going on, and the narrator asks, "Who is the guy with the glasses?" Also, in episode #1212 (February 3, 2007), in the segment 24 with Bobby Lee, 24's Mary Lynn Rajskub mistakes Bobby for the Asian actor Masi Oka from Heroes. And in episode #1220 (April 28, 2007), a full sketch was also performed, parodying Hiro, Ando, Niki, Mr. Bennet, Mohinder, Peter, Nathan and Claire.

The Office

During episode The Negotiation (April 5, 2007), Dwight says, "You know who's a real hero? Hiro, from Heroes. That's a hero."

One Life to Live

Christian Vega's studio apartment prominently features an in-progess painting, which just so happens to be the exact same as Isaac's unfinished painting of Sylar, A Long Shadow. Incidentally, Hayden Panettiere once had a small role on One Life to Live. Additionally, some find great parallels between One Life to Live's Niki/Viki storyline and Heroes's Niki/Jessica storyline.

One Tree Hill

A promo for episode Prom Night at Hater High (February 21, 2007) focused on a list Haley asks Nathan to make of all the girls he's ever been with. The promo ends with the tag, "Are you on the list?"

Scrubs

On a website designed by the Scrubs creators, Rate Your Doc has a section for Franklyn (played by Masi Oka). His description says that he is heroic, once saved a cheerleader, does things in a timely manner, wishes to travel back to feudal Japan to meet his ancestors, and looks strangely like Hiro Nakamura.

Shaq's Big Challenge

In episode four (17 July 2007) of Shaq's Big Challenge, contestents had to lose 20 pounds in order to see a Miami Heat game. An announcer, over images of Miami Heat cheerleaders, said "Lose the weight, see the cheerleaders".

The Simpsons

Promotions for syndicated Simpsons episodes featured the tagline "Save the Beerdrinker, Save the World," touting the promise that "unlikely chumps combine special abilities." In true Simpsons fashion, the 30-second spot featured a large number of quick references, including Wiggum (a cop), Quimby (a politician), Apu (an Indian), Cletus wearing a wifebeater, Marge side-by-side in dissimilar poses (and later holding a gun), Lisa as a cheerleader, Ralph as a football player, Mrs. Krabappel as a fortune teller, Willie having his thoughts read, Homer's face melting, an explosion, a donut in place of an O, and Homer facing a dinosaur.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

In episode The Harriet Dinner: Part I (January 29, 2007), guest starring Masi Oka, featured a sketch in which a woman dressed as a cheerleader leans up against Masi Oka and says, "Save me, save the world".

Ugly Betty

November 2006 promotions for Ugly Betty read "Love the ugly, love the world".