Show Within a Show: Difference between revisions

* The ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 00]]'' movie, ''[[Gundam 00: Awakening of the Trailblazer|Gundam 00 a Wakening of The Trailblazer]]'', features a film based on the publicly-known exploits of Celestial Being in years past. As is par for the course, it is grossly inaccurate and features a number of anime and Hollywood cliches.

* In what is likely a [[Shout-Out]] to ''[[Lucky Star]]'', a few episodes of ''[[Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei]]'' have the characters taking comments from viewers and behaving like actors/tv presenters. In one instance, it's referred to as "Zetsubou Channel".

* One of the extras from [[Black Butler]] involves the cast putting on a production of Hamlet as a charity event for children. At least that is the play they intended to perform.

* ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]'' has HeroTV, a combination news-[[Reality TV]] show that focuses on the exploits of Sternbild's various corporate-sponsored [[superhero]]es.

* ''FYI'' within ''[[Murphy Brown]]''.

* ''The Alan Brady Show'' within ''[[The Dick Van Dyke Show]]''.

* ''The WJM Six O'Clock News'' (and also ''The Happy Homemaker'') within ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''.

* ''Vermont Today'' within ''[[Newhart]]''.

* Ricky Ricardo's band stage shows in ''[[I Love Lucy]]''.

* ''Silverstone'' within ''[[The Famous Jett Jackson]]''.

* ''Coming Attractions'' on ''[[The Critic]]''.

* ''TGS with Tracy Jordan'' (originally ''The Girlie Show'') within ''[[30 Rock|Thirty Rock]]''.

* ''[[The Drowsy Chaperone]]''. The [[The Narrator|Man in Chair]] does a significant amount of [[Lampshade Hanging]], though.

* ''Me and Juliet'': the show within a show is also called ''Me and Juliet''.

* The abysmally bad ''[[Springtime for Hitler]]'' is the entire foundation of ''[[The Producers]]''.

* ''Noises Off'' is a 3-act play about a traveling production of a British comedy called ''Nothing On''. Each act is the same show at different points in the show's run. This type of show is also known as a ''backstage comedy''.

* ''[[Ladies versus Butlers!]]'' has ''Magical Diva'', a [[Magical Girl]] who solves problems with violence and her trusty hammer.

* Most of the ''real'' kids in ''[[Detective Conan]]'' are fans of ''Kamen Yaiba'', a [[Lawyer-Friendly Cameo]] version of ''[[Kamen Rider]]'' (which takes the name "[[Yaiba]]" from another of the Conan mangaka's works). A number of times, Conan & company solve mysteries at sets, stunt shows, production offices, or production studios associated with the franchise (and in one case at a costume party where cosplayers showed up in intricate Kamen Yaiba outfits).

 

=== Comics ===

* The plot of the film ''[[Galaxy Quest]]'' involves certain "fans" of the show, namely a race of aliens who erroneously believe the show is real and worship the characters as heroes. Incidentally, the actions of said aliens are also what cause the film to fall under the other three types of this trope.

** The film also has a couple of traditional fanboy types. {{spoiler|They later turn out to be [[Chekhov's Gunman|Chekhov's Gunmen]]}}

 

=== Literature ===

* ''[[Girly]]'' features ''Action Up The Butt'', which is what happens when you take the concept of Highlander (where killing someone gives you their power), make all the characters 19th century authors (with Sir Walter Scott as the main character), then give them all guns. It was [[Too Good to Last]], though; it was cancelled after the second season.

{{quote|'''[[Mark Twain]]:''' So, you've heard those rumours about me, have you?

'''[[Mark Twain]]:''' That's always been your problem, Sir Walter Scott. You never wanted to believe anything. And now, there will be rumours about you. Specifically, your death. [[Pre-Ass-Kicking One-Liner|And they will NOT be exaggerated!]] }}

 

* ''The Misadventures of Mighty Plumber'' in ''[[Super Mario Bros Super Show|The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]''.

* Sheen Estevez from ''[[The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron]]'' is a huge fan of ''Ultralord''.

* ''Mysterious Mysteries of Strange Mystery'' from ''[[Invader Zim]]''. And the ''Angry Monkey Show''.

* In one episode of ''[[Sushi Pack]]'', the Pack members get to go backstage and meet the contestants of their favorite reality show, ''The World's Mightiest Heroes''. Too bad the heroes are all [[Smug Super]]s...

=== Anime & Manga ===

* In ''[[Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei|(Zoku) Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei]]'' episode 3, we see Harumi undergo the process of [[Doujinshi|drawing her]] [[Yaoi Fangirl|yaoi doujin]] one summer night while listening to a [[Radio Drama|radio show]] with the other characters talking about [[Older Than They Look|acting their age]]. These are two separate stories, though they occasionally overlap with cut shots and her comments. Note that the radio show is the actual adaptation of the manga chapter, while the [[Day in the Life|night in the life]] of Harumi is anime-specific.

** Dedede took a shot at adding anime to his channel. Shows made include ''Dedede Of The Stars'', an anime where Dedede trades roles with Kirby, but which fell victim to [[QUALITY]] animation and odd dubbing (While [[Rule of Cool|Meta Knight]] was the narrator, he found the script too ridiculous to finish) and ''Fumu-Tan of the Stars'' which was made by some of Fumu's unwanted fans featuring an [[Fan Service|aged-up]] Fumu. She was not pleased.

* ''[[Chobits]]'' -- ''A City Without People'', drawn by {{spoiler|Chi's original creator}}. It [[Hangs a Lampshade]] on the problems Persocoms are causing and drops hints on Chi's nature and eventual internal struggle.

 

=== Films - Animation ===

** Co-hero Buzz Lightyear has [[Buzz Lightyear of Star Command|his own show]] that was [[Defictionalization|defictionalized.]]

** Woody, Jessie, Stinky Pete, and Bullseye from ''Toy Story 2'' are all toys based on the main characters of ''Woody's Round Up''.

* The ''[[Arthur]]'' episode "the Contest" (the one with the ''[[South Park]]'' and ''[[Dr. Katz]]'' parodies), had the kids watching ''Andy and friends'' which starred a crudely drawn rat [[Expy]] of Arthur.

{{quote|'''Muffy:''' ''(regarding Andy)'' Why does he always call for his mother? It's like she's his slave.

'''Arthur:''' Andy's not a mouse, he's... [[Cartoon Creature|I'm not sure.]] }}

* In ''[[South Park]]'', the ''Terrance and Phillip'' show revolves around vulgar potty humor -- something ''South Park'''s detractors often fault it for.