Some TV broadcasts become so popular that they transcend the very medium of TV. You might find characters and themes from them in other types of media, or even referenced in art, fashion and video games. When they do so, they have become a part of the wider cultural landscape, something bigger than what they were on the small screen.
While television might have fallen a little from its heyday in the late 90s and early 00s due to the fragmentation of the audience from streaming platforms, TV broadcasts, both on streaming platforms and elsewhere, can still become something much more than what they are. The cultural impact of the most popular TV shows and broadcasts can become something that permeates a wide swathe of the cultural landscape in which we live. These broadcasts can touch everything from fashion to gaming, to art, to the way we speak. The influence of the most popular broadcasts can be incredibly wide and shape our lives in a myriad of ways.
Let’s take a closer look at how and why some shows and broadcasts become so popular, how this influence can spread and where they can most easily be seen to influence wider culture.
Becoming a Cultural Icon
When we say that a TV show is or has become a cultural icon, we’re sure you know what we mean. People quote it on an almost daily basis; catch-phrases or mannerisms from the show make it into the common parlance of thousands, and people adopt fashion styles that the characters use. A number of things can cause a show to reach this level of cultural impact, characters that people relate to, world-building that feels more real than reality or simply storylines that keep people on the edge of their seats. Other types of broadcasts can become culturally iconic as well, such as famous boxing matches or UFC fights.
Some of the best modern examples of culturally iconic shows are Stranger Things, Breaking Bad and even The Simpsons. Images and symbols from these shows are instantly recognisable and carry weights of meaning with them. If you see the iconic pink iced doughnut that Homer loves so much, and you’re a fan of The Simpsons, you can almost hear him drool in your mind. Even people who have never seen an episode might equate a certain image or phrase with a certain show. When shows become this recognisable, they are becoming, or have become, a cultural icon.
Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
When a TV show or a sporting event is being referenced in other pieces of media, that is a sure sign that it has permeated the culture and become something bigger than itself. Other TV shows, movies, even video games and pop-culture art can reference popular broadcasts, appealing to the cultural cache that it holds.
Other Shows
The very first type of other media that TV broadcasts, which are becoming cultural icons, are likely to be referenced in, is in other shows. Sitcoms, cartoons and other shows that have large season runs are very fond of referencing broadcasts that are influencing the writers. Some shows that are themselves culturally relevant, such as The Simpsons, reference other media and draw inspiration from its storylines very often.
In Film
Films are less likely to directly reference the goings-on in TV shows; that street typically moves in the other direction, but they do borrow heavily from themes and storytelling styles. An excellent example of this is The X-Files, which has seen many films borrow from its iconic style. Some parody films do reach into the ouvre of TV shows and hold up a funhouse mirror to culturally relevant shows.
In Gaming
There are a couple of ways that TV broadcasts can show their relevance in the world of gaming. Some games have direct tie-ins to culturally relevant TV shows or broadcast events, such as Fortnite and The Simpsons recently. More commonly, games reference characters, personalities, storylines and moments from TV broadcasts by incorporating those moments into their own storylines, re-enacting them in the digital playground of gaming.
Another common way for games to reference TV is through hidden easter eggs and the imagery of characters. Even in slot games like you might find at an online casino, you can find the influence of popular TV broadcasts, where the symbols on the reels might feature prominent characters, personalities, or images from culturally iconic shows.
The Unscripted Drama of Sport
While fictional TV relies on writers, sport offers a raw, unscripted drama that creates a deeper, more visceral cultural imprint. You can see this influence clearly on the high street, where Air Jordans have transcended their basketball roots to become a staple of global fashion. It is even more evident in the local park back in the day, where children weren’t just kicking a ball around; they were re-enacting the FA Cup final, screaming “Gerrard!” as they struck a volley. The broadcast creates a shared language and a set of heroes that bleeds into our daily lives.
This influence is so pervasive that it eventually leads to a funny quirk regarding the commercial side of the game. We become so attached to the spectacle that the brands involved gain a sort of cultural tenure by association. A fan might hold a lingering affection for Samsung phones simply because they define Chelsea’s golden era, or they might get misty-eyed at a Newcastle Brown Ale logo because it reminds them of the entertainers of the 90s. This same halo effect happens today. You might find yourself checking out offers from NetBet Ireland after a UFC event, not because you were sold to, but because the brand has become a familiar piece of the broadcast furniture, just another part of the wider culture that surrounds the sport you love.
Final Thoughts
Just like anything else, when TV shows reach a certain level of cultural relevance, they transcend the simple facts of what they are and become something more. They become a cultural touchstone, an iconic and eternal part of what many people consider to be part of their identity. When this happens, their influence is likely to be felt all across the broader cultural landscape, in all sorts of expected and unexpected places.