In recent years, the bond between TV and video games has grown much stronger. There have been hugely successful TV video game adaptations, like Fallout and The Last of Us, and TV shows like The Walking Dead have gotten critically acclaimed video game spinoffs. Even though there used to be more distance between TV and games, they’ve been connected for a long time.
Many TV shows have showcased video games in some way or another. Retro game Frogger played a key role in an episode of Seinfeld, and games like Mario Kart 64 have even appeared in shows like The Sopranos. These surprise video game appearances on TV shows haven’t always felt completely natural, but they’re definitely fun to look back at.
10 ALF Is a Space Invader
Game — Space Invaders (March 10, 1980)
- Show Air Date — Sept. 22, 1986–March 24, 1990
ALF is a science-fiction sitcom co-created by Paul Fusco, who also voices and performs the titular alien character. The show follows ALF, whose real name is Gordon Shumway, after he crash-lands on Earth and is taken in by the baffled but ultimately caring Tanner family. Adding to the tension is the fact that the U.S. military, specifically the Alien Task Force, is actively hunting him.
In the episode Border Song, which aired on Feb. 16, 1987, ALF is seen playing Space Invaders on the Atari 2600, which is an obvious choice for a show about aliens. This leads to a corny joke about ALF being a bum that, according to his adoptive father Willie, only ever eats and digs holes in the background. It’s a shame that the game was only used for a cheap joke.
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9 Sonic R Is Too Much of a Baby’s Game for Malcolm
Game — Sonic R (Nov. 18, 1997)
- Show Air Date — Jan. 9, 2000-May 14, 2006
Malcolm in the Middle is a sitcom created by Linwood Boomer, known for his acting appearance in the historical drama Little House on the Prairie, for the Fox television network. It’s about the everyday follies of the Wilkerson family, whose middle child, Malcolm, narrates all that is happening. The show also places focus on Malcolm’s extended family and friends from his school.
In the episode Dinner Out, which aired on Nov. 15, 2000, Malcolm is hanging out and playing video games with his friend Stevie Kenarban. One of the games that Stevie brings along is Sonic R, a Sega Saturn racing spin-off title in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise. Humorously, Malcolm complains that he would’ve liked the game more if he were much younger.
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8 Dexter Is Winning in Halo 3
Game — Halo 3 (Sept. 25, 2007)
- Show Air Date — Oct. 1, 2006-Sept. 22, 2013
Dexter is a crime drama based on the 2004 crime thriller novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. The premise is that Dexter Morgan, a blood-spatter analyst by day, is also a serial killer by night, or whenever it best suits him, at least. Dexter struggles to juggle between his duties, his girlfriend, and eventually, his children.
Whenever Dexter isn’t out doing forensic work, spending time with his girlfriend or out killing people, he finds other productive ways to blow off some steam. In the episode Go Your Own Way, which aired on Nov. 30, 2008, Dexter is shown playing Halo 3 on a colleague’s computer. This is a rather curious choice, considering that Halo 3 did not see a Windows release until 2020.
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7 Sonic the Hedgehog Is Breaking Bad
Game — Sonic the Hedgehog (Nov. 14, 2006)
- Show Air Date — Jan. 20, 2008-Sept. 29, 2013
Breaking Bad is a crime drama created by Vince Gilligan for AMC. The series centers on the operations of a methamphetamine business run by Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with cancer, and Jesse Pinkman, his former student. As the two expand their operation, they form ties with other criminal groups while facing increasingly dangerous and unpredictable threats.
It might’ve been one of the grittiest shows to ever air on cable television, but Breaking Bad isn’t all doom and gloom. There are moments of unexpected warmth scattered throughout. In the episode «Crawl Space,» which aired on Sept. 25, 2011, Jesse plays Sonic the Hedgehog, specifically Sonic ’06, with one of his friend’s children. It’s a rare, gentle break in a show otherwise defined by tension and darkness.
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6 The Walking Dead Takes on Yars’ Revenge
Game — Yars' Revenge (Circa May 1982)
- Show Air Date — Oct. 31, 2010-Nov. 20, 2022
The Walking Dead is a post-apocalyptic horror drama based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The television adaptation was developed by Frank Darabont for AMC. As its title and genre suggest, the series follows the aftermath of a global zombie pandemic, with a group of survivors trying to stay alive in a world overrun by the undead.
While the show is known for intense zombie action, it also features quieter, more character-driven moments. One such moment appears in the episode «Hostiles and Calamities,» which aired on Feb. 26, 2017. In it, Eugene Porter is seen playing Yars’ Revenge on an Atari 2600. This scene subtly highlights his intelligence and analytical thinking, which are qualities well-matched to the complexity of the game itself.
5 Seinfeld's George Costanza Is Playing Frogger
Game — Frogger (Circa Sept. 1981)
- Show Air Date — July 5, 1989-May 14, 1998
Seinfeld is a landmark sitcom created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld for NBC. More of a slice-of-life comedy than a traditional narrative-driven show, it follows the daily mishaps and absurd situations faced by Jerry Seinfeld and his eccentric circle of friends: George Costanza, Elaine Benes, and Cosmo Kramer. Much of the show’s humor stems from the group’s consistent inability to succeed at anything in meaningful or lasting ways.
One prime example is the episode «The Frogger,» which aired on April 23, 1998. In it, George becomes obsessed with preserving his high score on the classic Konami and Sega arcade game Frogger. This leads him to attempt stealing the entire arcade cabinet, culminating in a memorable and hilarious homage to the game itself as he tries to guide the cabinet across a busy street, mirroring the gameplay in the most literal way.
4 Ms. Pac-Man Visits the Cast of Friends
Game — Ms. Pac-Man (Feb. 3, 1982)
- Show Air Date — Sept. 22, 1994-May 6, 2004
Friends is a sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman for NBC. The series follows the daily lives of six close-knit friends: Rachel Green, Monica Geller, Phoebe Buffay, Joey Tribbiani, Chandler Bing, and Ross Geller. While they all have their own quirks and occasional conflicts, they help each other get through the ups and downs of life.
One notable example of this occurs in the episode «The One Where Joey Dates Rachel,» which aired on January 10, 2002. In this episode, Phoebe gets a Ms. Pac-Man arcade machine for friends Monica and Chandler. Little is shown of the game itself, but Ms. Pac-Man becomes a focal point in the episode, as the gang gets addicted to it and angry at each other over whether the game is actually good.
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3 House Has Metroid Fever
Game — Metroid: Zero Mission (Feb. 9, 2004)
- Show Air Date — Nov. 16, 2004-May 21, 2012
House, also known as House, M.D., is a Fox medical drama created by David Shore, also known for equally gritty television shows like ABC’s NYPD Blue. House concerns the medical work of Dr. Gregory House, a sardonic infectious definition disease specialist whose seemingly unorthodox and unethical practices do nonetheless work to the benefit of both his baffled medical staff and especially his equally confused patients.
Dr. House can show himself to be unserious in his line of work, befitting his own personality and brand of medical practice. An example is the episode Occam’s Razor, which aired on Nov. 30, 2004; here, Dr. House is seen playing Metroid: Zero Mission on his Game Boy Advance SP. Inaccurate sound effects aside, it is darkly humorous to see the good doctor seemingly cares more about his game than his patients.
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2 South Park Plays World of Warcraft
Game — World of Warcraft (Nov. 23, 2004)
- Show Air Date — Aug. 13, 1997-present
South Park is an animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone that has been on Comedy Central for nearly thirty years. South Park is a seemingly innocuous family show that takes a dark turn as the main characters, mainly young school children, have to take on all sorts of weirdness that happens around town. This includes rogue turkeys, brainwashing pedophile cults and Barbra Streisand.
South Park is well known for lampooning all sorts of pop culture, the most famous example being in the episode Make Love, Not Warcraft, which aired on Oct. 4, 2006. Much of the episode sees the four main characters — Eric Cartman, Kyle Broflovski, Stan Marsh and Kenny McCormick — attempting to one-up an older World of Warcraft player. It is an entertaining episode that makes good use of the machinima style of filming.
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1 The Sopranos Go Mario Karting
Game — Mario Kart 64 (Feb. 10, 1997)
- Show Air Date — Jan. 10, 1999-June 10, 2007
The Sopranos is a crime drama created by David Chase for HBO. The show chronicles the lives of members of the New Jersey Mafia, with the main focus being on de facto mob boss Tony Soprano. As it turns out, it is rather hard to juggle between mob duties and family matters, and it is especially hard to make sure they do not clash together.
In the episode Meadowlands, which aired on Jan. 31, 1999, the usually hard-boiled mob boss catches his son, A.J. Soprano, playing Mario Kart 64 late on a school night. Instead of reprimanding him, Tony joins his son in a multiplayer match and even manages to win at a higher ranking than A.J. It is a surprisingly sweet and endearing scene that shows a human side to the cruel mafioso.
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