Attention, Potterphiles: EW needs your help. We’re looking for examples of Harry Potter’s influence on pop culture. That is, we’re seeking references to the boy wizard and his world that have cropped up outside the Potter books and films themselves. Example: the time on Friends that Ross wished he had an invisibility cloak like Harry’s, or the allusion in Love Actually, where British prime minister Hugh Grant includes Harry Potter on a list of things that have made England great (also on his list: Shakespeare, the Beatles, and David Beckham’s legs).
Spoofs count, too, like Daniel Radcliffe’s self-parodying guest spot on Extras or J.K. Rowling’s incisive cameo on The Simpsons, as well as the more extensive Potter parody from one of The Simpsons‘ Halloween specials. What other citations can you think of? As a reward for your suggestions, you get to watch the clip below of the famous Saturday Night Live Hogwarts sketch, featuring a certain unlikely SNL-er as Harry and Lindsay Lohan as a distractingly voluptuous Hermione. Oh, and we’ll also award 50 points to Gryffindor.
Last week’s episode of Doctor Who had a reference. The Doctor and Martha went back and met Shakespeare, and at the end when trying to create a rhyme to banish the witches (Hey, it’s Doctor Who) Martha filled in the last word with “Expelliarmus”. The Doctor then commented “Good old J.K.”
The Lord of the Rings episode of South Park mentions Harry Potter. I’d write down the exchange, but I don’t think the website would let me get away with it.
Naturally, I must bring my favorite series ever, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” into this: at some point in the series after “Dark Willow” has been restrained, Willow compares former Watcher (and somewhat uptight older British guy) Giles as Dumbledore.
Of course, it makes perfect sense, as “Buffy” creator Joss Whedon (and my friendly neigborhood hero) is purported to be a big “Potter” fan.
Whoops…I meant “compares Giles *to* Dumbledore.”
Also from Buffy…there is an episode in season five, I believe it is the second one, where Dawn makes a reference to Hogwarts.
Anyone who does not want to know what potentially happens in Deathly Hallows probably SHOULDN’T click on the link to the extended simpsons parody of HP because someone posted page by page spoilers. Regardless of truthiness, with all the spoilery things floating around I would rather not have seen this. so, do watch the video, but don’t read the comments section on the youtube page.
In the Office episode “The Fire” (season 2), Dwight chooses between 2 Harry Potter books as ones he would take if stranded on a desert island.
American Idol’s Blake Lewis’s friend (remember those infamous partying photos posted on perezhilton.com?) — and his “Harry Potter Rap.” Look closely: Blake is Harry Potter himself.
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=4932845
From The Office episode Beach Games:
Dwight: We will be called Gryffindor.
Jim: Really? Not Slytherin?
Dwight: Slytherin are the bad guys, Jim.
Jim: I know. Okay, we will be Voldemort.
Dwight: He who must not be named? I wouldn’t do that.
Jim: Vol-de-mort, Vol-de-mort …
What about Miranda Priestly’s seemingly impossible request for Andy to secure the as-yet-unpublished HP manuscript in The Devil Wears Prada?
Someone already mentioned the Beach games episode of The Office, but in the episode “The Convict” of The Office, Michael tells everyone that in prison there are Dementors. Karen then asks “Dementors? Like in Harry Potter?” It’s great…only three more days!!!
I’m double posting, but my favorite spoof (besides the SNL one here) is a law revue that is posted on youtube. The first minute is kind of slow…just J.K Rowling and Harry Potter talking, but then Harry launches into a fantastic song with Dumbledore. It’s slightly inappropriate…but hilarious. Here’s the address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFz2uRIDnpk
Harry Potter features in Stephen King’s Dark Tower books towards the end of the series, resulting in a pop culture chemical reaction that actually singed my eyebrows off as I read it.
In the Dixie Chicks documentary movie, “Shut up and Sing”, Natalie Maines’ son dresses up as Harry Potter for Halloween.
What about wizard rock? Harry and the Potters, the Remus Lupins, and the Whomping Willows plus tons more bands are all making music devoted to the boy wizard.