The Princess Bride: The hat that Marty DiBergi wore in the movie is hanging in The Grandson's bedroom.note This was done at the request of Mark Knopfler, who agreed to write the score for the movie if Rob Reiner included the hat in the movie.
Harry Potter: J. K. Rowling admitted in an interview the fact Hogwarts goes through so many Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers was an Homage to Spinal Tap in how they went through so many drummers.
In the Joel Suzuki novel Legend of the Loudstone, Joel thinks that two guards' voices sound just like David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel.
Derek Leech, the evil corporate mogul and villain of numerous stories by Kim Newman, is at one point mentioned to have added Polymer Records to his portfolio.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: In the fifth season episode "Real Me", when Buffy sees the owner of the magic shop has been killed, she comments, "Most magic shop owners in Sunnydale have the life expectancy of a Spinal Tap drummer."
Friends: In the season two episode "The One Where Heckles Dies", Phoebe claims an ex-boyfriend dumped her because she fell asleep during the movie.
Veronica Mars: In the first season episode "Silence of the Lamb", Keith and Sheriff Lamb go to a music store to get clues about a serial killer known as the E-String Strangler. As soon as they walk into the store, Keith yells out, "Hello, Cleveland!" Sheriff Lamb doesn't get the reference, and Keith notes it explains a lot.
The Powerpuff Girls: In the first half of the first season episode "Bubblevicious/The Bare Facts", Bubbles rotates the dial in the Professor's laboratory until it reaches 11 so she can become hardcore.
South Park: In the season three episode "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub'', the name of the reporter is Derek Smalls.
