This week Comedy Central’s “Broad City” parodied the climactic restaurant scene from “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and Ilana’s hilarious uncovering of Abbi’s double life unraveled almost identically to Robin Williams’ big reveal as a cross-dressing babysitter in the 1993 film.
“Broad City” leaves no stone unturned in the scene scripting Ilana’s big meltdown word for word from Sally Field’s original freakout. Mara Wilson, Williams’ onscreen daughter in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” even appears in the episode as Abbi and Ilana’s waitress.
This homage aired just weeks after the series spoofed the final performance from “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” featuring a cameo from none other than Whoopi Goldberg herself.
These parodies are reminiscent of other classic homages throughout the years. Here are 11 other unforgettable film and television parodies.
“Boy Meets World”
Much of Season 5 of “Boy Meets World” hinged on the coupling, breakup, and reunion of Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel). The “And Then There was Shawn” Halloween special aired at the height of the popular couple’s split. The episode parodies popular ’90s slasher films of its time including “Scream” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” A cloaked figure resembling Ghostface from the “Scream” films torments the detention-bound teens. Jennifer Love Hewitt, star of “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” cameos in the episode.
“The Carol Burnett Show”
“The Carol Burnett Show” is practically synonymous with film parodies. Burnett spoofed some of Hollywood’s biggest classics including “Mildred Pierce,” “The Little Foxes,” and “Showboat.” Perhaps most memorable is Burnett’s take on “Gone With the Wind” in the variety show’s 10th season. Burnett appears in “Went With the Wind!” as Starlet O’Hara, a notable riff on the character Scarlett O’Hara from the 1939 film—as are all the names in the skit. Harvey Korman plays Captain Ratt Butler (Rhett Butler in the film), Dinah Shore is Melody (Melanie Hamilton), Vicki Lawrence is Sissy (Prissy), and Tim Conway is Brashly (Ashley Wilkes).
“Community”
“Community” is no stranger to film parodies. The comedy paid homage to dozens of movies and television shows throughout its six-season run including “Dead Poets’ Society,” “Pulp Fiction,” and “My Dinner with Andre.” “Modern Warfare” paved the way for those parodies in Season 1. The episode features an extreme paintball competition with references to several classic action films such as “The Terminator,” “Die Hard,” “The Matrix,” “Rambo,” and “The Fifth Element,” among others. “Modern Warfare” culminates with a classic riff off “Scarface.”
“Dawson’s Creek”
The legacy of John Hughes’ teenage coming-of-age film “The Breakfast Club” is evident given its continued reference in pop culture. The film is countlessly referred to in both film and television, including on “Cougar Town,” “Community,” “The Goldbergs,” “The Vampire Diaries,” and “Psych.” The film is also spoofed in the aptly-titled “Dawson’s Creek” episode “Detention.” Movie buff Dawson (James van der Beek) goes as far as referencing the film’s title when he’s stuck in detention alongside his friends Pacey (Joshua Jackson), Joey (Katie Holmes), and Jen (Michelle Williams). Deep truths are revealed when the gang play a game of Truth or Dare, much like in the 1985 film.
“Felicity”
Lamont Johnson directed “The Twilight Zone” tribute “Help for the Lovelorn” from Season 2 of “Felicity.” Johnson helmed several episodes of the eerie “Twilight Zone” back in the 1960s. “Help for the Lovelorn” is filmed in black-and-white and includes music cues similar to those found on the original anthology series. In the episode, Felicity (Keri Russell) tries mending her broken heart by entering the Clinic, but things are not what they seem and strange things happen once she checks in. Several shows have scared up homages to the Rod Serling classic throughout the years, but “Felicity” might just be the spookiest of them all.
“The Office”
“The Office” referencing “The Devil Wears Prada” might be one of the most literal on this list. Season 4’s “Money” takes place after Michael Scott (Steve Carell) watches the comedy and begins mimicking powerful magazine fashion editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). In turn, Michael treats Dunder-Mifflin secretary Pam (Jenna Fischer) like Miranda’s assistant Andrea (Anne Hathaway). Michael’s absurd requests, such as asking Pam to get Armani on the phone and telling her she’s “not going to Paris,” are lifted right out of the 2006 film.
“Scream Queens”
“Scream Queens” is the perfect outlet to pay tribute to classic horror films, and there’s no better person to spoof Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” than Jamie Lee Curtis. Curtis is one of cinema’s defining scream queens as the lead of the original “Halloween,” as well as “The Fog” and “Prom Night.” Curtis also happens to be Janet Leigh’s daughter, the iconic star of Hitchcock’s classic. “Scream Queens” references “The Silence of the Lambs,” “Heathers,” and “The Shining,” among other horror films in its first season. However there is nothing like seeing Curtis step into her mother’s shoes and immortalize one of film’s most famous scenes in the Season 1 episode “Mommie Dearest.”
“The Simpsons”
The animated series hits the pop culture nerve in almost every episode, and has spoofed everything from “The Graduate” to “Citizen Kane” over the course of its run. However the sitcom’s take on 1962’s “Cape Fear” and its 1991 remake might be one of the most spellbinding (and dramatic) of them all. Sideshow Bob plans to murder Bart upon his release from prison in Season 5’s “Cape Feare.” This harkens back to Max Cady’s prison discharge in “Cape Fear” and his unrelenting revenge plot against one family. “The Simpsons’ ” deft spoofs are one of the many reasons the show is still flourishing almost 30 years later.
“South Park”
While not an outright parody, “South Park” references Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” and “Braveheart” in the provocative Season 8 episode “The Passion of the Jew.” The episode is an indictment on Gibson and his controversial remarks. Some of the characters are so deeply passionate and moved over “The Passion of the Christ,” while others, namely Kenny and Stan, request reimbursement after having to sit through the film. Cartman is so fanatical about his support he even dresses up as Hitler to drive people to see it.
“30 Rock”
The 1984 film “Amadeus” is not the most obvious choice for a parody, but “30 Rock” manages a hilarious spoof of the period drama to great comedic effect in the Season 2 episode “Succession.” Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) decides to produce the world’s first pornographic video game with the help of Frank (Judah Friedlander). Tracy acts as Mozart to Frank’s Salieri. Music from Mozart is used to score most of “Succession” drawing further parallels to the Milos Forman film.
“The X-Files”
“The Post-Modern Prometheus” is one of the most acclaimed episodes from “The X-Files,” earning six Emmy nominations and a win for outstanding art direction. Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and the corresponding 1931 James Whale film inspire the stand-alone episode from the show’s fifth season. Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate a mysterious creature nicknamed “The Great Mutato” rumored to have impregnated a middle-aged woman. “The Great Mutato” is the creation of a doctor similar to Frankenstein. The black-and-white episode perfectly emulates the old monster movies from the 1930s and ’40s.
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