More Mainstream D&D References Now!

[IronWolf]

One of the local morning shows on the radio often ends up talking about the "freaks" that play dungeons and dragons... and "freaks" is really one of the kindest terms that the main radio guy says. It's really a shame - people will call and attempt to explain the game and he gets his jollies by twisting everything they say around and turning it into an insult.

Of course, I don't know of many morning radio shows that aren't making fun of something or other. Even mainstream things.

 

[VirgilCaine]

As for a negative reference, I saw a "makeover" show the other day that made over a teen who played D&D so that he could "find a girlfriend". That made a big deal about how he played D&D and how he was "never going to find the right girl that way."

DM

Yeah, and getting drunk and deaf in clubs hooks you up with SUCH a healthy crowd.

 

[Telsar]

The "Lone Gunmen" in the X-Files, who also had a few episodes of their own show, were shown playing D&D occasionally.

As I recall, the first LG appearance had one of their members wagering cash on the results of a die roll in their D&D game. Made me think the writers couldn't imagine dice being used for anything other than gambling. Anyone in real-life ever bet real-life money on a RPG die roll?

 

[francisca]

Frankly, I could not care less about whether there are more or less references in the pile of crap we call the mainstream media. Nor do I care whether it is potrayed in a positve or negative light.

And for future reference, when this turns into a "we need good press to preserve the future of our hobby" thread, I've recruited 4 brand new players and brought 3 others back to the game in the last 4 years. I've done my part, despite the current treatment of the hobby by the mainstream media.

 

[Lord Foul]

As for a negative reference, I saw a "makeover" show the other day that made over a teen who played D&D so that he could "find a girlfriend". That made a big deal about how he played D&D and how he was "never going to find the right girl that way."
DM

Same thing happened to me. Two weeks ago on friday night, my wife and I are sitting on the couch. She watches make over shows all night while I sit and catch up on my reading. All of the sudden I hear the male host describe the woman being made over as looking like a 13 year old boy on his way to play Dungeons and Dragons. I put down my book and just thought to myself, "It doesn't get any lower than this. My hobby has just been put down by a man wearing a pink, fuzzy sweater."

 

[wingsandsword]

That made a big deal about how he played D&D and how he was "never going to find the right girl that way."

The "right" girl. Rather telling. Finding a person with the same interests woudn't be right, because they've already judged D&D to be "uncool". So, they want this person to pretend to be someone he isn't, give up hobbies he likes for ones he doesn't, and find somebody that he has nothing in common with, because the host of the show is telling this kid that he's uncool and will never find a girlfriend unless he gives up being individual and acts like everybody else.

Now that's a recipe for happiness. . . yeah right.

D&D is a niche hobby. Most people will never be gamers, most people will probably never understand gaming, and it will be the butt of jokes even in the best of times. D&D has become a lot more socially acceptable than it once was, but we'll never be mainstream, and that's probably a good thing.

 

[babomb]

There was an episode of Buffy where they played D&D. There was also a GE commercial that had a 3.0 PHB in it. It was portrayed as geeky, but I don't think that's necessarily an insult.

The most common references I see to D&D are the "never get laid" variety. Jay Leno makes one every now and then. I also remember my college newspaper once had an article about sex that said there are two kinds of virgins: by choice (for moral/religious reasons) and by circumstance ("like those guys you see playing Dungeons and Dragons in the lounge on Saturday mornings").

 

[Welverin]

Ah, the good old Vice Presidential Action Rangers!

There are also several episodes of "Futurama" that feature D&D references, including one with Gary Gygax and Al Gore and another that features a beholder.

I wouldn't say the beholder was featured, seeing as how the characters just ran by it.

There was also a rust monster in one episode.

 

[Mark Hope]

The X-Files also has the great quote from the episode Jose Chung's From Outer Space:
"Well, hey, I didn't spend all those years playing Dungeons and Dragons and not learn a little something about courage."

And I'm sure I recall seeing an episode of Beavis & Butthead where they play D&D. Probably not a good thing, though...

The ET appearance of the game is fleshed out further in the novelisation of the movie (at one point, Elliot tries to devise ET's stats and makes him a 1st-level magic-user with Intelligence 21 or something whacko like that).

 

[Tonguez]

Anyone remember Big Wolf on Campus

the main supporting character 'Merton' is a goth-geek and President of the Goth Fantasy Guild whose playing of a fantasy RPG not-unlike-DnD is a big part of his character (and even the basis of an entire episode).
That show had potential....