On The Nanny, C.C. Babcock came into Maxwell’s office one day talking about how she had watched a rerun of “Seinfeld” when Julian Louis Dryfess must have been “I don’t know–about 27 mouths pregnant” and how they had her holding pillows, standing behine things, etc. to hide her huge stomach. All the while, she is wearing a huge coat and carrying a huge bag. When she turns to go out, she switches the bag to her other arm, but her “baby bump” is clearly visible. She then stops on the way out, picks up a huge plant, faces front holding it way out in front of her stomach and says “This needs watering.”
Later, she comes in and says “I just got this back from the framers. Where do you want to hang it?” It’s a poster for the real musical show of “BABY,” being used to conceal her obvious pregnancy.
There was an episode of Lois & Clark where Jimmy and Perry are talking. Their conversation is something like “Do you ever feel like we are just here to further along the story of Lois & Clark?” “Yeah it’s like we are supporting characters in a TV show about them or something.” “We should go out and get our own lives.”
What about when The Family Guy was brought back? Peter reads off a list of shows that would have to be cancelled before they cold come back on the air.
Self referential humor was pratically the theme of Gary show. He was always speaking to the audience for his gags. When he strips off his clothes in a party due to hypnosis, he’s wearing a big black dot under his pants and says, “I’m glad I got the dot back from the cleaners.” At the end of one episode,he goes to play basketball with the neighbor and his son, who are appearing for the first time n the episode. The kid sarcastically says, “Thanks for the big part this week, Uncle Gary.”
Not exactly the same thing, but similar. In one of the Star Trek TNG episodes (and I can’t remember which one) Q is tormenting Cmdr. Riker, and Riker says something to Q, whereupon Q replies, “I liked you better before the beard.”
Triple reference, actually. In the Twilight Zone movie, Terror at 30000 Feet was one of the four stories. It was Lithgow who played the nervous flyer.
There are far too many Simpsons references to contain in one thread, but one from early on still strikes me as funny. It was Thanksgiving, and Homer was watching the parade on TV. He was mentioning some great floats featuring cartoon characters, such as Bullwinkle. Bart says something about how they should at least feature characters from the last fifty years. Homer replies that they can’t just use any fad character. As he says this, the TV showed a Bart float. IIRC, there was actually a Bart float in the real parade that year.
One of the early episodes had Bart and Homer trapped by an angry mob. Bart pleaded for the chance to explain their side of the story. An angry crowd member (Krusty, I think) asked how long it would take. Bart replied that it would take 22 minutes.
Seinfeld had more. In one episode, George (I think) made some reference to Jerry breaking up with someone. Jerry replied that he’d just find someone else next week.
I knew there was something I could contribute! On Firefly, at one point the crew is speculating about the possibility that one of the characters is a mind-reader.
Wash: Telepathy? But that would be, like, science fiction!
Zoe: We live on a spaceship, dear.
Self-reference happens less often in movies, but it happens.
In one Star Trek movie, the crew time travels to the past. They explain who and what they are to a past character (James Cromwell). He says “So you are astronauts, on some sort of star trek?”
In Top Secret!, Nick explains his situation to Hillary. She replies “I know. It just sounds like some bad movie.” Then they both look at the camera.
It gets better. I honestly forget which episode it was, but can probably scour my reviews in the Ultimate MST thread to figure it out - but - Joel and the Bots observe a rocket-launch on the screen (One of the third season Gamera episodes, maybe?) and it so resembles the launch sequence from the MST credits that Tom and Crow start taunting Joel about his predicament by singing the MST3K theme song.
Speaking of movies, in Firiday the 13th part VI, the caretaker at the cemetary is filling in Jason’s grave, which he assumes some kids have dug up as a prank. He looks right at the camera and says, “Some folks have a strange idea of entertainment.”
I would’ve said the opposite, and had precisely those cases in mind, but I didn’t want to dragf movies into a discussion of TV shows. There are lots of movies that trefer to themselves as movies, even if you discount the Kentucky Fried gang and Mel Brooks.
The Nanny did that a few times, the pregnancy thing mentioned earlier as well as having the character Fran Fine meet Fran Drescher who stars in her own show. The lines of the opening song were recited a few different times, usually Fran talking about her life with someone.
There was an episode of Absolutely Fabulous where Edina and Patsy are trying to recall an actress’ last name, and Patsy says “Lumley?” (Joanna Lumley plays Patsy in the series for those that don’t know). There was also an episode that talks about Patsy having a role as a Bond girl, a seeming nod to the fact that Joanna was in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Cary Grant refers to a character hiding in a rolltop desk as “Mock Turtle.” Grant played the Mock Turtle in Paramount’s Alice in Wonderland.
In order to describe what Hildy Johnson’s fiancee looks like, he says, “He’s like that movie actor . . . Ralph Bellamy.” Bellamy played the role.
In answer to a threat, Grant says, “The last person to say that to me was Archie Leach.” Archibald Leach was Grant’s real name.
Hope/Crosby Road Pictures
Often referred to the fact that they were in a movie.
Once spotted a mountain that looked exactly like the Paramount logo.
My Favorite Brunette
Bing Crosby turns up in this Bob Hope movie as a reference to the Road pictures.
Groucho Marx
In At the Circus, Eve Arden drops a key down her cleavage. Groucho turns to the camera and says, “There must be some way to get that back without offending the Hayes Office” (the Hays Office were the official movie censors).
In one film, Chico starts to play the piano. Groucho turns to the camera and says “I have to stay here, but there’s no reason you can’t go into the lobby until this all blows over.”
Caprice
In the film, Doris Day is running from crooks and hides in a movie theater, which is showing Caprice with Doris Day.
Gold Diggers of 1933
Ruby Keeler auditions for a dance director, who says he can’t use her. The dance director was played by Busby Berkeley, who choreographed many films with Keeler.
The King of Comedy
When it’s announced the Jerry Langford isn’t going to be on his TV show, Tony Randall, his guest star, turns to the TV director and says, “You’re the director. Tell me what to do.” The TV director was played by film director Martin Scorsese.
I think that second quote is from Animal Crackers. In the same movie, Groucho and Chico have that great exchange about Chico looking like himself. It ends with Groucho saying, “Well, if you do, it’s a tough break for both of you. [pause, then turn to camera.] Well, all the jokes can’t be good. You’ve got to expect that once in a while.”