List of references to Heroes
As Heroes grows in popularity and becomes a part of pop culture, many other media make reference to Heroes.
References to Heroes
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 NBC's Chuck (which debuted directly before Four Months Later) teased, "Save the Geek, Save the World".
Ctrl+Alt+Del
In the It's on My Mind issue of the webcomic Ctrl+Alt+Del, 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) poked fun at the success of Heroes.
ER
In the 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 an episode of Family Guy 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!
On 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." On 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?"
Kyle XY
During 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
My Name is Earl
During the episode Foreign Exchange Student, 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."
The Office
During 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 the 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?"
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
An episode of Studio 60, 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".