Plenty ofclassic TV showsrefer to past events, but some no longer work with a modern audience. Classic titles are generally some ofthe best TV shows of all time, and it’s easy to rewatch them several times, regardless of their original air dates. However, a lot of these references are products of their time, and so younger generations of viewers fail to pick up on them.
The world of film is no different. There are multiplereferences from ‘00s movies that don’t work today, and this is the same for titles from past decades, too. Whether it’s a gag or just an offhand comment, these references are no longer relevant in the present day, so modern audiences don’t fully appreciate them.
10Kelly Explains How Netflix Works
The Office - Season 3, Episode 20: “Safety Training”
Kelly trying to explain how Netflix works to Ryan in “Safety Training,” one ofthe funniest episodes ofThe Office, is utterly hilarious. When the workers of Dunder Mifflin Scranton place bets over mundane actions, Ryan tricks Kelly into outlining the Netflix postage process, something that is outdated nowadays.
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In the years before streaming, Netflix would send DVDs to people’s homes,but in the present day, viewers can watch a wide range of TV shows and movies from their devices. This moment is actually quite fascinating.
The Office
Cast
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
Most ofThe Office’saudience probably remember the early days of Netflix’s service, but younger generations are likely unfamiliar with the feeling of waiting for the latest films to arrive in your mailbox. The brilliant sitcom has become even more prominent in recent years, ironically because of Netflix, but this joke probably goes over the heads of younger viewers.
9Bugs Bunny’s Carrot Bit
Looney Tunes/The Bugs Bunny Show
Throughout the entireLooney Tunesfranchise, the iconic Bugs Bunny is known for chomping down on a bright orange carrot.Bugs is technically introduced in the 1938 short filmPorky’s Hare Hunt, and he has become a recognizable character in the animated franchise, especially because of theLooney TunesTV seriesThe Bugs Bunny Show. In several ofthe funniest Bugs Bunny cartoons, the titular character is eating a carrot. However, many are unaware that this is actually a reference to Clark Gable in the 1934 movieIt Happened One Night.
Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run
Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run follows Lola Bunny as she inadvertently creates a perfume that turns people invisible, leading to a frantic chase across the city. Teamed with cab driver Bugs Bunny, they evade both the FBI and a mysterious group intent on capturing the formula.
Interestingly,the character of Bugs Bunny is inspired by Clark Gable andIt Happened One Night.The carrot reference is a specific nod to one scene inIt Happened One Night, in which Gable’s character is chewing on the vegetable and speaking quickly. Gable’s rapid speech pattern is also something implemented in Bugs’ character design. Although this reference originates from a short film, Bugs Bunny’s legendary stance is still used to this day. Sadly, the carrot gag won’t be seen in the upcoming title,The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, as Bugs is notably missing.
8Mitt Romney Jokes
30 Rock
Many consider30 Rockas one ofthe most meta TV shows ever, especially because the show references real-life events from the time of its airing.However, the jokes that30 Rockmakes about politician Mitt Romney are now outdated. There are nods to Romney throughout the show, but especially in season 7, which is set during Barack Obama’s campaign for his second Presidential term, so there are a lot of references to his opponent.
Tina Fey’s absurdist comedy series follows Liz Lemon, the head writer of a fictional live sketch comedy show operating out of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, which is where the show derives its name. Loosely based on Fey’s experiences as a writer on Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock ran for seven seasons with a supporting cast that included Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer.
For example, Jack Donaghy tries to get celebrities to support the Republican Party and Romney at a fundraiser in the episode “Unwindulax.”While Presidential campaigns are memorable, younger viewers tend to remember the winners over those who lose.Many know who Obama is, but unless they were actively political in 2012, they don’t know who Romney is. A lot of the pop culture references are timeless, likeCarrie Fisher’s30 Rockcameoor Jenna talking about discussingLostwith J.J. Abrams, but the show’s nods to Mitt Romney only really work with the correct understanding.
7Hootie & The Blowfish
Friends - Season 2, Episode 5: “The One With Five Steaks And An Eggplant”
In theFriendsseason 2 episode “The One With Five Steaks and an Eggplant,” Chandler purchases tickets for the entire group to see Hootie & the Blowfish for Ross’ birthday. While it generally focuses on the unfairness of the way the group pays for celebrations, with half making a lot more money than the rest,this episode highlights just how much popular music has changed since the mid-nineties, too.Hootie & the Blowfish are a Grammy Award-winning rock band from the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Friends
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
Although the band isn’t completely unknown nowadays, Hootie & the Blowfish aren’t as prominent as they once were.TheFriendsepisode doesn’t even explain who they are, and it assumes that audiences are familiar with the band. While this makes sense in the context of the episode’s original release, it doesn’t now. Although Hootie & the Blowfish have made a return to music in recent years, newer audiences are left scratching their heads at the reference, which is why thisFriendsstoryline would never work in the modern day.
6Mickey Using Jackie’s Phone Line To Get On The Internet
Doctor Who - Christmas 2006: “The Christmas Invasion”
WhileDoctor Who’s best companionsnowadays have access to the internet everywhere they go, at least while on Earth, it hasn’t always been this way. In theDoctor WhoChristmas special“The Christmas Invasion,” the newly regenerated Tenth Doctor collapses, which leaves Rose and Mickey to decipher his “Pilot fish” hint by themselves. In order to use his laptop, Mickey has to borrow Jackie’s phone line to connect to the internet.Before the days of Wi-Fi, people would have to sacrifice incoming phone calls to access the web.
Doctor Who
An alien from the planet Gallifrey travels through time and space to explore, solve problems and fight injustice while also making friends with human beings. His spaceship, called TARDIS, resembles a police box, but it is much more than it appears to be.
What’s even better about this brilliant, yet outdated reference, is Jackie’s response of “Keep a count of it.” Using a phone line to get online is something many modern audiences wouldn’t understand, let alone how much it cost. As Jackie’s comment indirectly explains, using the internet via a phone line was expensive, althoughthis is no longer an issue, as there is generally a set price for Wi-Fi servicesand we are no longer charged for the time we spend online.
5Abed’s Recreation Of My Dinner With Andre
Community - Season 2, Episode 9: “Critical Film Studies”
Community’s film spoofsare brilliantly funny. Abed’s obsession with popular culture, especially movies, is one of the best things about the character, and he plays out some amazing titles throughout the show. However, many modern audiences fail to understand his reenactment of the 1981 filmMy Dinner with Andre.While movie buffs are familiar with the André Gregory and Wallace Shawn comedy-drama, the average viewer has probably never heard of it.
Community
Community is a comedic television series that chronicles the lives of diverse students at Greendale Community College, a fictional and notoriously underperforming educational institution in Colorado. Released in 2009, the show explores the quirky interactions and relationships among the eclectic group navigating their academic and personal challenges.
In fact, it isn’t until later on in “Critical Film Studies,” one ofthe best episodes ofCommunity, that Abed’s plan to recreate the events of the film is made apparent.ThePulp Fictionreferences that are set up at Abed’s birthday party are very clear, but becauseMy Dinner with Andreisn’t as prominent, modern audiences are generally confused. Even though this reference is more obscure than others made throughoutCommunity, it’s still an ingenious one.
4Dee Reynolds As Mr. Covington
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia - Season 9, Episode 6: “The Gang Saves The Day”
When the gang is caught up in an armed robbery in theIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaseason 9 episode “The Gang Saves the Day,”they each daydream about what could happen to them next. Dee’s daydream is incredibly strange, and she imagines herself going into witness protection, where she takes on the persona of British butler Mr. Covington. There are severalhilarious alter egos inIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but Mr. Covington is one of the most ridiculous.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a television series that premiered in 2005, chronicling the chaotic lives of four self-involved friends running an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Their misguided decisions and skewed perspectives often result in amusing and uncomfortable situations, complicating their professional and personal relationships.
The reference to the ‘80s sitcomMr. Belvederein one ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s best episodesis enjoyable, even for those who don’t understand it, but it’s still outdated. Like Mr. Covington, the titular character inMr. Belvedereis an uptight English butler who looks after a local American family.WhileMr. Belvederewas relatively popular during its original run, it has now been forgotten by many,and most modern audiences are unfamiliar with the show.
3Barney Fights His Canadian Self
How I Met Your Mother - Season 7, Episode 8: “The Slutty Pumpkin Returns”
In theHow I Met Your MotherHalloween episode“The Slutty Pumpkin Returns,” Robin reveals Barney is one quarter Canadian.This storyline is hilarious, as Barney is frequently vocal about how little he thinks of Canada, and this starts to mess with his mind. At the end of the episode, Barney returns to his apartment in an Apollo Creed costume. However, his Canadian counterpart splits apart from him, and the American version of Barney throws a punch.
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is a television series that follows a father telling his children about his past. Released in 2005, it explores his experiences and adventures with four close friends, leading up to meeting their mother, as depicted through a series of flashbacks.
Many modern audiences are unaware that this is a reference toSuperman III.This scene is a direct parallel to Superman’s fight against Clark Kent,which is a classic moment from the 1983 film. Barney sees his Canadian self as the corrupted version of himself, much like how, inSuperman III, the titular superhero is the nefarious alternate of Clark Kent. This reference isn’t apparent to those who aren’t superhero fanatics, but it’s still a funny scene, regardless.
2"Are You A Felix Or An Oscar?”
While chatting over dinner in theMad Menseason 4 episode “The Summer Man,”Don Draper’s romancewith Bethany is put to the test when she asks him, “Are you a Felix or an Oscar?”This question is a reference to the comedy playThe Odd Couplefrom 1965, which is the same year thatMad Menseason 4 is set. While the reference makes sense in the context of the events of the show, it is quite out-of-place today.
Mad Men
Mad Men is a drama series set in 1960s New York, focusing on the lives of competitive men and women working in Madison Avenue’s advertising industry. The show explores the social mores and cultural dynamics of the era while delving into the personal and professional challenges faced by its characters.
The two main characters inThe Odd Coupleare named Felix and Oscar, and both represent two particular archetypes.Felix is a neat freak and is quite obsessive, whereas Oscar is a complete slob and is laid back.Unless audiences are familiar withThe Odd Couple, they wouldn’t understand that Bethany is really asking Don which personality he aligns with the most. These character dynamics are common now, like with Sheldon and Penny inThe Big Bang Theory, but younger viewers probably don’t make this association with the names Felix and Oscar.
1Stealing An Ashtray From Buckingham Palace
Sherlock - Season 2, Episode 1: “A Scandal In Belgravia”
The subtle reference to a stolen ashtray from Buckingham Palace in theSherlockepisode “A Scandal in Belgravia”is one that many North American audiences don’t understand. However, younger British viewers won’t get it, either. When Sherlock and John are brought to Buckingham Palace by Mycroft to assist with an investigation, they make a joke about stealing an ashtray from the home of Queen Elizabeth II, one of the UK’s most notable tourist attractions and the monarchy’s most important building.
Sherlock
In this incarnation of Sherlock from creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman assume the roles of Sherlock and Watson as they establish their partnership and begin solving strange mysteries throughout the U.K. and beyond. Set in a more 2010’s modern setting, Sherlock’s eccentric and complex nature is accentuated as he solves seemingly supernatural crimes with unparalleled intellect while struggling to connect with others on a human level. Meanwhile, Watson blogs the stories summarizing their cases while building a strained but caring friendship with his new partner.
This is a reference to British TV presenter Denise Van Outen,who has famously admitted to leaving the palace in 1998 with an ashtray and tissue box holder (viaBBC News.) In Van Outen’s book,A Bit Of Me: From Basildon To Broadway And Backshe discusses her apology to the Queen and the fallout of the events, but this scandal has been long forgotten since.
