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."
In the November 13, 2008, episode (The One with the Cast of 'Night Court'), guest star Harry Anderson asks Liz Lemon if she is with network, then pitches his idea to her that Heroes could have a new hero with the superpower of doing close-up magic.
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.
In a Chuck interactive game, the user can browse the title character's inbox. An e-mail, titled "more than paper... much more", is from Primatech Paper.
The Colbert Report
In the July 29, 2008 episode, Stephen Colbert interviews Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who is running for the 14th District of Manhattan. He notes that Nathan Petrelli of Heroes also ran for her district, and he could fly. Then, he asks if she had any superpowers, and bets she wishes she had x-ray vision right now.
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 Jon 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."
In the November 17, 2008, episode, one answer in the first round under the category "Kids Rule TV" was "Noah Gray-Cabey plays Micah Sanders, a person with the ability to control machines with his touch, in this series."
The correct question for each, of course, was "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-progress 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?" This is the same marketing tagline NBC used to promote Heroes in January, 2007.
Robot Chicken
The November 4, 2007 episode Losin' the Wobble features a sequence entitled It's the Law, Asshole! in which police brutally bludgeon smart-alecks. In one scene, two men are seen at a water cooler. One comments that Heroes is better than Lost because it answers questions. He is immediately pummeled by the police force.
On the September 14, 2008 episode Bionic Cow, Robot Chicken spoofed Heroes in a segment called Uncle Glen. Uncle Glen entertains his nephew and niece by pretending he has a war injury--he slides the thumb of one hand back and forth making it look like the thumb of his other hand is detached. Glen goes to get a beer from the refrigerator, and when he closes the door, Sylar is standing in his kitchen. Sylar (voiced by guest star Zachary Quinto) says, "Removing your finger--that's a good power, Uncle Glen. I must have it." Sylar then telekinetically slices Glen's head open as a clock ticks in the background. The Heroes eclipse title card plays, and the title "Chapter Fifty-Seven: 'Uncle Glen'" is displayed on the wall. The family searches for Uncle Glen as Sylar stands outside the home practicing his new finger trick power. When Uncle Glen can't be found, it is concluded that Glen "must be having one of his explosive diarrhea attacks again." Suddenly Sylar is struck with explosive diarrhea. He says, "Every once in awhile, this power backfires." Additionally, several of Isaac's paintings appear on the walls of the home: Mohinder scattering his father's ashes, Sylar standing over Jackie's body, and Claire being chased through Union Wells.
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 Sarah Paulson's character 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".
Gallery
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In an issue of SP START... -
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Francis Gray from The Batman tries to manipulate time. -
Francis works in Gray & Son Repair, a clock repairing company. -
The Kensei sword was referenced on Cable & Deadpool. -
At the end of the "Save the Geek, Save the World" ad, the logo of Chuck overlaps with Heroes'. -
Primatech Paper sends an e-mail to Chuck Bartowski, the title character of Chuck. -
The Nerd Herd from Chuck reviews the Heroes DVD. -
Sylar is referenced in Ctrl+Alt+Del. -
Dr. Dubenko from ER says, "Save the cheerleader, save the world." -
The profile page for Franklyn from Scrubs references the character of Hiro. -
Masi Oka appears on Late Show with David Letterman. -
Sylar appears in an episode of Robot Chicken... -
...after the teaser, the title page for Heroes was shown... -
...followed by the episode title. -
In another episode of Robot Chicken, a man is beaten for saying Heroes is better than Lost. -
Stephen Colbert tells Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney about Congressman Nathan Petrelli and his ability to fly in The Colbert Report.
