Jump to content

Miniatures in popular culture


gwangi32
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Reaper User
My wife and I were watching "Dead Zone" the series on USA on Sunday and lo there were some Bretonnian Miniatures.  I know because I have identical ones.  It was neat and led me to wonder about other appearances of miniatures on TV or in the movies.  There was a Columbo Movie that had Tin Soldiers, Civil War style.  And that's all I can remember.  How about you all?

 

???

The first instance of miniatures gaming I can recall was in ET. Just prior to Elliot going out to investigate the noise, the kids, who were obviously having a sleep-over, were playing AD&D complete with terrain.

 

Also let's not forget the X-files where the Lone Gunman's Langley was playing D&D for $$'s. The funny thing was a gamer chum of mine was watching with us and we both traded shots when Langley called to the heavens "come on natural 20". We were really laughing it up when my wife asked what was so funny. My pal and I were highly entertained by the *inaccuriacies* of the show. I explained the minis Langley was using weren't even in production at the time of the flashback episode while a buddy of mine pointed out they were using MERP character sheets. I guess you had to be there. :D

 

Then there was the infamous Jesse episode on NBC a few years back. Gamers all around the country were up in arms over the less-than favorable portrayal on the ill-fated sitcom. Personally I thought it was hillarious.

 

Then there's a really obscure one that I'm dying to catch hopefully one day. Those of you familiar with the Blind Date show on FOX may have caught an episode in which an attractive male gamer decided to share his love of roleplaying games with his prospective blind date. Needless to say she didn't take it so well especially since the two actually went into a game shop and played D&D 3e as part of their date. Man! I'd give my eyeteeth to see that episode again. I keep watching the show just in the off chance they run it again, well not only. I watch it for the Dates from #### too.  :p

 

Somebody mentioned the Harry Potter Sorceror's/Philosopher's Stone film. Yup those were minis alright but they're not Reaper or GW, truth be told they're a pre-painted 54 mm collectable available at Toys R Us and other outlets. Don't remember the manufacturer, sorry.

 

Another memory I have is of the movie Cloak & Dagger starring Dabney Coleman in dual roles. The kid in the movie is a huge fan of a Top Secret SI type game. They use old Grenadier spy minis and everything. A great Home Alone type movie with spies and secret agent type stuff.

 

Take care gang,

 

>>ReaperWolf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 68
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Wow, that's alot of stuff.  

 

But, it reminded me that there was an episode of Dexter's Laboratory that had him and some friends playing "D&D" and there were miniatures in the episode.  It was hilarious from my (gamer) point of view.  I laughed harder than my son did.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Reaper User
Wow, that's alot of stuff.  

 

But, it reminded me that there was an episode of Dexter's Laboratory that had him and some friends playing "D&D" and there were miniatures in the episode.  It was hilarious from my (gamer) point of view.  I laughed harder than my son did.

Ah yes the D&Dee Dee episode where Dexter proclaims he will play Gygax 27th level Warrior-Mage with soul-sucking sword but when Dee Dee takes over GM'ing he ends up playing Hodo the Furry-Footed burrower. Poor Hodo, armed only with a mandolin and his trusty ability to dig holes.

 

A true masterpiece of animation.  :laugh:

 

Take care all!

 

>>ReaperWolf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Reaper User

This just in!

 

<<insert sound of frantic teletype machine>>

 

Tonight on the WB's Angel, Lorne (that's the green-skinned demonic lounge singer), referenced D&D saying he had to wear a Dungeons & Dragons type cape to complete a certain ceremony.

 

Good, make that great, stuff.

 

>>ReaperWolf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I remember that Jesse show, ReaperWolf.  I actually thought it was pretty darned funny too.  They were all wearing these ridiculous hats...

 

A Blind Date that would up playing D&D?  What was he thinking?

 

Don't know if anyone tunes into the Jim Rome show, a nationally syndicated sports talk show, but he brings it up from time to time to make fun of things.  He's usually pretty funny about it.  If you know the show, then you know there are certain things he absolutely "goes after" in a derogatory sort of way, but he usually treats D&D less so.  He uses it mostly to reference the "non-athlete" in his various editorials.  He's usually pretty good-natured about it & it draws a laugh from this former athlete/current gamer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Reaper User
There's an end scene of That 70's Show with Howard Hesseman (Johnny Fever from WKRP in Cincinnatti) and Alice Cooper playing D&D.

What!!! :oops:

 

For the love of Pete! I canna believe I missed that episode! Good thing it's syndicated, I'll keep my eyes peeled. Thanks.

 

Actually that's not the first time D&D was mentioned on T70'sS. In one episode Donna, Foreman's on-again off-again girlfriend, was working at a local radio station. Her boss was played by the guy who played Revenge of the Nerd's Dudley Dawson aka Bugger. At the end of the episode he invited them to join his game group. Needless to say Eric and Donna had other plans.

 

Also, Saturday Night Live used to make fun of gamers all the time. Apparently one or more of the cast members are gamers. Anywho, I remember one episode with Emilio Estivez as the host. The sketch centered around a Jeopardy-like high school game show called Geek? Nerd? or Dweeb? Estivez played a leather-clad sporto with a checkered past-he was treasurer of his old school's D&D club. There was a picture from the yearbook and everything!! Oh it is to laugh! :D

 

Well I say be proud of your hobby, gamers of the world unite! Lift your dice bag on high and shout "come on natural 20!!".

 

This message brought to you by the letter Q and the number 7.

 

>>ReaperWolf

Who's medication needs tweaking

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Reaper User
I can't remember if they specifically used miniatures... but wasn't there a movie with Tom Hanks called "Mazes & Monsters" a loooong time ago? I think it was anti-D&D, though.  :(

Ahh yes, the infamous CBS propogandist nod to the dangers of roleplaying. The game Hanks & others were playing was called Mazes & Monsters. Although D&D wasn't specifically mentioned it doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize the D&D/M&M connection. Concerned moms & dads were all up in arms deathly afraid their kids were gonna go outa their minds and kill themselves or others.

 

The minis system they used looked pretty abstract, utilizing a "you are here" methodology as opposed to terrain layouts rendered to scale. The minis they used in M&M were actually made of cardboard and painted, there's even a scene in which several of the characters were working on their character figs.

 

>>ReaperWolf

Who's fuzzyness knows no boundz. :p

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's an end scene of That 70's Show with Howard Hesseman (Johnny Fever from WKRP in Cincinnatti) and Alice Cooper playing D&D.

What!!! :oops:

 

For the love of Pete! I canna believe I missed that episode! Good thing it's syndicated, I'll keep my eyes peeled. Thanks.

 

Actually that's not the first time D&D was mentioned on T70'sS. In one episode Donna, Foreman's on-again off-again girlfriend, was working at a local radio station. Her boss was played by the guy who played Revenge of the Nerd's Dudley Dawson aka Bugger. At the end of the episode he invited them to join his game group. Needless to say Eric and Donna had other plans.

 

>>ReaperWolf

Who's medication needs tweaking

That was the episode. You need to make certain to watch the WHOLE show, as it's the very last scene of the show.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Reaper User
There was also a fair amount of mini's in the Sixth Sense, I believe.

 

I can't remember if they were minis or green army men, it's been awhile since I've seen it

Pre-painted collectable minis available from K-Bee Toy & Hobby and Toys R Us as well as other specialty yuppy toy stores.

 

>>ReaperWolf

Who visits toy stores as often as he can.  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...