History HilariousInHindsight / LiveActionTV

* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'':
%%* [[http://www.hulu.com/watch/20078/how-i-met-your-mother-the-slutty-pumpkin-story episode]] is even funnier in light of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=T5q_3jj7n_0#t=25s these]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJRB_-ktfDA&feature=player_detailpage#t=274s comments]] received by Sonny and Cher's son Chaz on "Dancing With the Stars".
** In one episode:
--->'''Lily''': No, friends make each other feel good. They build each other up and support them. That's what being a good friend is about.\\
'''Barney''' : Yeah, if you're a [[WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs SMURF]].
** One of Barney's most notable traits is his tendency to [[RootingForTheEmpire root for the villains in movies]], with one of the most notable and recurring examples being Johnny Lawrence and Cobra Kai in ''Film/TheKarateKid1984''. Years after ''HIMYM'' ended, Website/YouTube Red released ''Series/CobraKai'', a series that depicts Johnny as the protagonist trying to teach bullied kids karate with ''Karate Kid'' hero Daniel [=LaRusso=] trying to thwart him, making it seem as though Barney was onto something all along.

** In the episode "Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space'", Wrestling/JesseVentura plays a [[TheMenInBlack Man In Black]]. Not long ago, he hosted his own show on UsefulNotes/ConspiracyTheories.

** In the season 5 episode 19 "[[Recap/AngelS05E19TimeBomb Time Bomb]]", Illyria has this to say to Angel regarding vampires: "Do you know what you were when I was young? You were the muck at our feet. We called you the ooze that eats itself. You were pretty at night. [[Literature/{{Twilight}} You sparkled, and you stank. You still stink of it!"]]

** A man named [[Literature/{{Twilight}} Edward Cullen]] has a much younger girlfriend (they're neither sparkly nor [[LampshadedDoubleEntendre living]] happily ever after).

** A very young Creator/DakotaFanning guest stars in an early episode as a little girl who [[Literature/{{Twilight}} loves to bite Reese.]]

* In an episode of ''Series/{{Moonlight}}'', Josef knocks on Mick's freezer, waking him up. Mick's response? "Don't tell me, it's Literature/{{Twilight}}."

** The focus of the episode "[[{{Recap/StarTrekS2E13Obsession}} Obsession]]" is Kirk trying to hunt down an evil [[Literature/{{Twilight}} sweet-smelling sparkling vampiric entity]].

* An advert for the first season of ''Series/RobotWars'' narrated by Norman Lovett (Holly in ''Series/RedDwarf'') becomes pretty amusing when you take into account that Creator/CraigCharles took over as presenter in season 2.

* In the 2012 ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' episode "[[Recap/SherlockS02E02TheHoundsOfBaskerville The Hounds of Baskerville]]", reference is made to Sherlock losing a game of TabletopGame/{{Clue}}do because he insists that Dr Black committed suicide. Later that year, after "[[Recap/SherlockS02E03TheReichenbachFall The Reichenbach Fall]]" was broadcast, a ''Sherlock'' themed version of Cluedo was released in which the victim was Jim Moriarty - who in the series definitely ''did'' commit suicide.

'''Exador::''' Mars? Mercury? Pluto?\\

* A recurring bit in the first season of ''Series/TheGoodPlace'' is Jacksonville native Jason's undying love of his Jaguars, historically one of the worst teams in the NFL. The second season (airing in 2017) has Michael points blank telling Jason the Jaguars "will never get to the Super Bowl." As it happened, the Jaguars went 10-6 that year and just one call away from the AFC Championship. In season 3, a cosmic judge shocks Michael by saying that, among other effects of sending people back from the afterlife is that "The Jacksonville Jaguars are ''good''! They're going to make the playoffs!"

** ''SCTV'' had a commercial parody advertising an album called ''Stairways To Heaven'', with various unlikely performers covering "Stairway To Heaven" ("30 great artists, one great song"). A decade later there was an actual ''Stairways To Heaven'' album built around the same idea (with covers done InTheStyleOf other artists).

* A recurring gag from the ''Series/AlloAllo'' has René (played by Creator/GordenKaye) showing disgust when he realizes that Lt. Gruber (played by Guy Siner) is hitting on him. The kicker? Kaye is homosexual. Siner is not.

* A recurring gag from the ''Series/AlloAllo'' has René (played by Gorden Kaye) showing disgust when he realizes that Lt. Gruber (played by Guy Siner) is hitting on him. The kicker? Kaye is homosexual. Siner is not.

* Detractors often accused Pope Benedict XVI of (among other things) Nazi sympathies (it doesn't help that, accusations of Naziism aside, he was part of the Hitler Youth during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII). Shortly after the Pope's resignation at the end of February 2013, it was announced that [[Film/Downfall2004 the Führer himself]] [[ItMakesSenseInContext would be TV Land's next Pope]] for a Showtime series called ''The Vatican''. In Pope Benedict's defence, it was, if not compulsory, at least advisory, to be a member of the Hitler Youth at that time.

* The protagonist of the 1993 TV movie ''Kiss of a Killer'' is played by Creator/AnnetteOToole, with her mother being played by Creator/EvaMarieSaint. Both would go on to play Martha Kent on ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and in ''Film/SupermanReturns'', respectively. (Bonus points go to the teleplay being written by a David Warfield, the [[NamesTheSame same name]] as Sam Wanamaker’s tabloid magnate character in ''Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace''.)

* ''[[Series/MadTV1995 MADtv]]'': The "Lida and Melina" sketches feature the misadventures of a pair of ghetto Latinas. In one sketch they go to a park where a group of handsome men are lifting weights, and the girls try to land one, only to realize [[GymBunny they're all gay]]. In a later episode from 1999, they meet Music/RickyMartin after breaking into his hotel room and fangirl all over him. Martin came out as gay in 2010. The girls just can't catch a break.

* The protagonist of the 1993 TV movie ''Kiss of a Killer'' is played by Creator/AnnetteOToole, with her mother being played by Creator/EvaMarieSaint. Both would go on to play Martha Kent on ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and ''Film/SupermanReturns'', respectively. (Bonus points for the teleplay being written by a David Warfield, the [[NamesTheSame same name]] as Creator/SamWanamaker’s tabloid magnate character in ''Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace''.)

** Early on in a December 23rd, 1994 interview with Jay Leno to promote ''Film/DumbAndDumber'', Creator/JimCarrey joked that his next movie would show off his "sensitive side, the serious side" and be called ''Me with Cancer'', with Leno responding "If you can get laughs with that, you're the king." Almost exactly five years later the {{Dramedy}} {{Biopic}} ''Film/ManOnTheMoon'' was released; in that film Carrey plays Creator/AndyKaufman, who died of a rare form of lung cancer -- and there is GallowsHumor in the depiction.

* In the second ''Series/AdamTwelve'' episode, "Log 141", a suspected burglar replies to Officer Reed's questioning about the car with the stolen TV in it by saying, "Oh, was there a TV in the back seat? Gee, what won't they think of next? A TV in the back seat!" TechnologyMarchesOn, indeed!

** The message of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' season 5's episode "[[Recap/AngelS05E20TheGirlInQuestion The Girl in Question]]" rapidly becomes non-serious when additional information is provided by ''ComicBook/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' Season 8. To explain: in "The Girl in Question," Angel and Spike go to Italy to try and find Buffy (well, to stop a demon war, but that's just an excuse). Each one says they love her; but when they talk with Andrew, they find she's in a relationship with the Immortal, their nemesis. Sort of. Anyway, it all ends with them bonding (again, sort of) over the fact that neither will be with Buffy, who has moved on. In ''Buffy Season 8'', it's revealed that [[spoiler:the Buffy involved with the Immortal is a double used so people won't know where the real Buffy is (in Scotland), and Andrew made up her relationship with the Immortal as a practical joke on Angel and Spike]].
** In the first [[Recap/AngelS01E01CityOf episode]] of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' Angel runs into Cordelia at a party. After a brief conversation that ends with Cordelia saying that she has to talk to people who actually are someone, Angel comments "Nice to see that she's grown as a person." Funny at the time, but ironic in light of the vast amount of CharacterDevelopment she would undergo over the course of the series.

** In ''Series/{{Angel}}'', season 5 episode 19 "[[Recap/AngelS05E19TimeBomb Time Bomb]]", Illyria has this to say to Angel regarding vampires: "Do you know what you were when I was young? You were the muck at our feet. We called you the ooze that eats itself. You were pretty at night. [[Literature/{{Twilight}} You sparkled, and you stank. You still stink of it!"]]

** Creator/RachelSkarsten, who played an InNameOnly version of ComicBook/BlackCanary and protege to Oracle and Huntress, went on to play Alice in ''Series/Batwoman2019'', who'd be the enemy of another member of the Bat Family.
** ComicBook/HarleyQuinn is the BigBad of the series. In the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, [[Film/BirdsOfPrey2020 Harley would end up helping found its version of the team]].

* In an episode of ''Series/EverybodyHatesChris'', Greg reveals that he cosplays in his sleep. He chooses a different character for each night. One of which is Comicbook/{{Robin}}. A few years later, his actor, Vincent Martella, would do the voice of the teenage Jason Todd in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanUnderTheRedHood''. The show took place when Jason Todd was still Robin.

* In the AlternateUniverse of ''Series/{{Fringe}}'', one of the differences is that Creator/DCComics publishes ''[[Franchise/GreenLantern Red Lantern]] and [[ComicBook/GreenArrow Red Arrow]]'' (who apart from the colour scheme are identical to their mainstream counterparts). It has not yet been revealed what the AU versions of Atrocitus's Anger Corps and Roy Harper's third identity are.

* ''Series/MadTV'': The "Lida and Melina" sketches feature the misadventures of a pair of ghetto Latinas. In one sketch they go to a park where a group of handsome men are lifting weights, and the girls try to land one, only to realize [[GymBunny they're all gay]]. In a later episode from 1999, they meet Music/RickyMartin after breaking into his hotel room and fangirl all over him. Martin came out as gay in 2010. The girls just can't catch a break.

** After ''Better Call Saul'', the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxMS59sxwxs Law School sketch]] is funnier because the professor is played by Michael [=McKean=], who plays Jimmy's older brother Chuck [=McGill=] in that show.

* Detractors often accused Pope Benedict XVI of (among other things) Nazi sympathies (it doesn't help that, accusations of Naziism aside, he was part of the Hitler Youth during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII). Shortly after the Pope's resignation at the end of February 2013, it was announced that [[Film/{{Downfall}} the Führer himself]] [[ItMakesSenseInContext would be TV Land's next Pope]] for a Showtime series called ''The Vatican''. In Pope Benedict's defence, it was, if not compulsory, at least advisory, to be a member of the Hitler Youth at that time.

* In the teaser for ''Series/{{Psych}}'''s season 2, Shawn and his black best friend Gus, who run the eponymous PhonyPsychic detective agency, recreate portions of the "Ebony and Ivory" video, including the line "Stick together in per-fect har-mony". The actual trailer for the season promptly revealed that [[spoiler:Gus is leaving Psych]]. That situation [[StatusQuoIsGod lasted for only one episode]] and culminated in Shawn blackmailing Gus' boss.
** Though the line is actually "Ebony and ivory sit together in perfect harmony on my piano keyboard; oh lord, why don't we?", which makes perfect sense if you've ever seen Gus and Shawn work together.

* In Series/ThePrisoner1967 episode [[Recap/ThePrisonerE2TheChimesOfBigBen "The Chimes Of Big Ben"]], Number Two dreams of seeing the village as a OneWorldOrder, to which Number Six [[SarcasmMode sarcastically]] tells him that he could be the first man on the moon. [[UsefulNotes/NeilArmstrong Guess who]] beats him to the punch 21 months later on July 20, 1969...

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''

* A 1996 3 part documentary, ''Triumph of the Nerds'', looked at the rise of the personal computer, and the people involved in it, spending a lot of time on Apple and Microsoft. The final episode ended set at the launch celebration of the latest Windows iteration and discussed the triumph of software over hardware. In doing so, they were talking about how Apple was fading away, and had even fired Steve Jobs. Shortly after this aired, Jobs returned to Apple with a few new ideas (iMac, iPod, etc), and while they never have knocked over Microsoft, they are far from a failed idea now.

* An episode of ''Series/{{Taxi}}'' has Jim talking to a tv executive about how ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'' was his favorite show. Several years later Christopher Lloyd is in ''Film/{{Star Trek III|The Search for Spock}}''.

* In the 1950s, there was a TV show (which was later spun off into a comic book, radio show, and children's book series, among other things) called ''Tom Corbett, Space Cadet''. In 2010, [[http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/governor_pa_gov/20650 someone sharing that name was elected governor of Pennsylvania.]]

** The winner was Creator/AudraMcDonald for ''Theater/{{Ragtime}}'', who Hines might not have known had already won two Tonys and definitely didn't know that she'd go on to win another three, making her the first actress to win Tonys in every acting category. So, not only did she become a legend, she was kind of a legend already.

* The otherwise obscure [[TheFifties 50's]] Western series ''Trackdown'' went viral after the 2016 US Presidential election because of its thirtieth episode, "The End of the World." In the episode, a con artist named Walter ''[[Creator/DonaldTrump Trump]]'' arrives in town, claiming the world is ending and he can save the townsfolk by ''building a wall''. This may count as HarsherInHindsight, depending on your political preferences.

* In ''Series/TheMiddle'' first season episode "The Neighbor", Sue and Carly try to beat the Glossners in a fight after the latter challenges by a dance-off, not knowing what a fight really entails. Creator/EdenSher, who plays Sue, went on to voice Star Butterfly, the title character of ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'', who has no such problems in knowing how to fight and can be excessive at times, especially in the episode "School Spirit", where she had... [[KnightTemplar the exact opposite problem when it came to football]], initially thinking it was a blood sport, donning battle armor, thinking a trophy case is a memorial, and ''mining and laying traps in a football field''.

** In the episode "Secret Boyfriend" Malcolm is secretly dating a beautiful and brilliant schoolmate who pretends to be a ditz; DropInCharacter Jessica derisively calls her "cheerleader scum!" Jessica's played by Creator/HaydenPanettiere, who starred in the third ''Film/BringItOn'' film in 2006 as a cheerleader, and in 2009's ''Film/ILoveYouBethCooper'' as a cheerleader. Oh, and this episode first aired in November 2005, about ten months before her StarMakingRole on ''Series/{{Heroes}}''... as TheCheerleader.

* In Series/ThePrisoner1967 episode [[Recap/ThePrisonerE2TheChimesOfBigBen "The Chimes Of Big Ben"]], Number Two dreams of seeing the village as a OneWorldOrder, to which Number Six [[SarcasmMode sarcastically]] tells him that he could be the first man on the moon. [[UsefulNotes/NeilArmstrong Guess who]] beats him to the punch 21½ months later on July 20, 1969...