History CelebrityParadox / LiveActionTV

* ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'': In the episode "Shaggy Dog, City Goat", Detective Munch says that the victim in his case resembled Creator/JohnWaters and Creator/SteveBuscemi, both of whom have played acting roles in the series (Waters as a barman in "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and a murder suspect in "Law & Disorder", Buscemi as a suspect in "End Game"). To make it even more extreme, Munch is strongly implied to have personally murdered Buscemi's character.

[[quoteright:1000:[[Series/ICarly https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mixcollage_04_feb_2024_05_30_am_5829_0.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:Carly watches her actress Miranda Cosgrove play Megan on Drake & Josh]]

** In season 2's "House Arrest", when Tony is reminded by his lawyer about the Matt Bevilaqua murder, he says, "I told you, I was home alone", to which Mink replies "You and Creator/MacaulayCulkin", a clear reference to ''Film/HomeAlone1''. Tony doesn't comment on the fact that [[Creator/JohnHeard Vin Makazian]], his corrupt police contact in season 1, resembles Peter [=McCallister=].

** No-one also seems to notice that Frankie Valli, who plays Lupertazzi capo Rusty Millio in the 5th and 6th seasons of the show, was mentioned earlier in the season 4 episode "Christopher" as someone who the owner of a casino Tony visits wants to play at the casino as payment. Also makes you wonder who the frontman of The Four Season's was in ''The Sopranos'' universe.

*** He ''also'' compares himself to [[Franchise/StarWars Yoda]]. By the way, the number of actors who've been in both ''Doctor Who'' and ''Franchise/StarWars'' is well over twenty people, including [[Creator/DavidTennant no]] [[Creator/TomBaker less than]] [[Creator/PeterCushing three Doctors]] ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and]] Creator/PeterCushing) (including the one who ''said that line'').

** In the Series 7 finale, [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E13TheNameOfTheDoctor "The Name of the Doctor"]], the Eleventh Doctor meets [[spoiler:another incarnation of himself]], played by John Hurt. However, the Doctor and [[Series/{{Torchwood}} Toshiko Sato]] have mentioned Creator/JohnHurt before, so he obviously exists. Maybe he just looks different?

*** In what would also count as an in-universe paradox, if all of Superman's media appearances exist, then that would include the video game ''VideoGame/LegoDimensions'' — in which the Twelfth Doctor himself is also a playable character along with Clara and Missy. Is your head starting to hurt yet?

** The original series story [[Recap/DoctorWhoS25E1RemembranceOfTheDaleks "Remembrance of the Daleks"]] is set a few weeks after the TV show actually launched (23rd November, 1963). Ace, the companion, turns on a TV, and the announcer is briefly heard saying, "This is BBC Television, the time is quarter past five, and Saturday viewing continues with an adventure in the new science fiction series, Do-" before it is cut off.

** In ''Doctor Who'', the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' books exist and have been made into movies. The film adaptation of ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'' features Creator/DavidTennant (the Tenth Doctor) as Barty Crouch, Jr. The Doctor's a fan of the series, so you'd think he'd notice the resemblance:

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E7TheIdiotsLantern "The Idiot's Lantern"]], the Doctor refers to Music/KylieMinogue, who appears in [[ChristmasEpisode the Christmas special]] [[Recap/DoctorWho2007CSVoyageOfTheDamned "Voyage of the Damned"]] as Astrid Peth opposite the Tenth Doctor. He didn't seem to notice.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E12ArmyOfGhosts "Army of Ghosts"]], ''Series/EastEnders'' exists as a fictional television series. The character of Peggy Mitchell bars a ghost she presumes to be Den Watts from The Queen Vic. In the real ''[=EastEnders=]'', Watts was killed by his wife Chrissie, who is played by Tracy-Ann Oberman, who appears in "Army of Ghosts" as Yvonne Hartman.

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E6TheLazarusExperiment "The Lazarus Experiment"]], while wearing a tux, the Doctor acts annoyed at Martha comparing him to James Bond. Creator/TimothyDalton, the fourth Bond, appeared in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E17E18TheEndOfTime "The End of Time"]] as the Narrator, [[spoiler:Rassilon, Lord President of the Time Lords]].

** In a bonus scene made for the series 5 DVD release, the Doctor calls himself "Space Gandalf", which is only nearly accurate. But the Seventh Doctor, Creator/SylvesterMcCoy, plays the wizard Radagast in ''Film/TheHobbit'' films.
*** He ''also'' compares himself to [[Franchise/StarWars Yoda]]. By the way, the number of actors who've been in both ''Doctor Who'' and ''Franchise/StarWars'' is well over twenty people, including [[Creator/DavidTennant no]] [[Creator/TomBaker less]] [[Creator/TomBaker than]] [[Creator/PeterCushing four]] [[Creator/MattSmith Doctors]] ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and]] Creator/PeterCushing) (including the one who ''said that line'').

*** Speaking of which, in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E6TheBellsOfSaintJohn "The Bells of Saint John"]], the people at the office in the Shard at one point spend all night searching for the TARDIS over all the cameras in London (the Doctor had jumped ahead to the following morning to tire them out), and it is mentioned that there was an "embarrassment" involving confusion with the police box located outside the Earl's Court Tube station... which, in RealLife, is a replica installed in 1998 because American tourists who'd seen [[Recap/DoctorWhoTVMTheTVMovie the TV movie]] were disappointed by the lack of police boxes in Britain!

** [[Recap/DoctorWho2016CSTheReturnOfDoctorMysterio "The Return of Doctor Mysterio"]] references both DC and Marvel Comics, including direct mentions of both ComicBook/{{Superman}} and ComicBook/SpiderMan. Assuming all their film and TV adaptations exist in the Whoniverse, that would include ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'' duology with Creator/AndrewGarfield[[note]]Frank from "Daleks in Manhattan" / "Evolution of the Daleks"[[/note]]; ''Series/Supergirl2015'', which is part of the Series/{{Arrowverse}} which has featured Creator/JohnBarrowman[[note]]Captain Jack Harkness[[/note]], Creator/ColinSalmon[[note]][[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E8SilenceInTheLibrary Dr.]] [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E9ForestOfTheDead Moon]][[/note]], Creator/AlexKingston[[note]]River Song[[/note]], Creator/RussellTovey[[note]][[Recap/DoctorWho2007CSVoyageOfTheDamned Alonso Frame]][[/note]] and Creator/ArthurDarvill[[note]]Rory Williams[[/note]]; and Spidey's [[Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar film]] [[Film/SpiderManHomecoming appearances]] in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, a franchise which has not only had Creator/KarenGillan[[note]]Amy Pond[[/note]], but two of the Doctor's [[Creator/ChristopherEccleston previous]] [[Creator/DavidTennant incarnations]] as well!
*** In what would also count as an in-universe paradox, if all of Superman's media appearances exist, then that would include the video game ''VideoGame/LegoDimensions'' — in which the Twelfth Doctor himself is also a playable character. Is your head starting to hurt yet?

** In the novel ''Mr. Monk Is Open for Business'', there's a reference that makes it clear that ''Series/BreakingBad'' exists in the ''Monk'' universe, when Natalie compares hers and Monk's client Henry Pickler to Walter White. There are at least [[http://www.imdb.com/search/name?roles=tt0903747,tt0312172 seventeen actors]] who appeared in supporting roles on both shows, most notably Creator/JimBeaver, Creator/ChristopherCousins, Creator/DannyTrejo, DJQualls, Tom Kiesche, and Michael Shamus Wiles.

* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'': References to ''Series/Seinfeld'' are frequently made whilst riffing the movies. Creator/JerrySeinfeld himself cameos in the revival series as a character named Freak Masterstroke during Season 11.

* "Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000": References to "Series/Seinfeld" are constantly made whilst riffing the movies. Creator/JerrySeinfeld himself cameos in the revival series as a character named Freak Masterstroke during Season 11.

* "Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000: References to "Series/Seinfeld" are constantly made whilst riffing the movies. Creator/JerrySeinfeld himself cameos in the revival series as a character named Freak Masterstroke during Season 11.

** “Send in the Clones” is also set in the above version of our world of the late 20th century, which boasts its own XWP series. An evil scientist[[spoiler:, a modern incarnation of Alti,]] clones the historical Xena and Gabrielle and, with the help of some hardcore fans of the in-verse series, shows the clones clips of the show to “stimulate their latent memories.” It works and so the clones essentially ''are'' the historical Xena and Gabrielle; they have their own memories of their lives rather than just memories of what they’ve been shown—and as a result, they have some problems with the series, as evidenced by this exchange: “They have taken liberties with my scrolls.” “Yeah, and what are they tryin’ to say about our relationship anyway?” ([[{{HoYay}} Les Yay]]! Also a nod to the fans who've been debating that very question for six seasons, with a touch of SelfDeprecation acknowledging the PTB's insistence on ambiguity.) Indeed, it appears the in-verse series they’re watching is not quite the same series we know; ''our'' series is more accurate. Yet Clone Xena finds one positive thing to say about the in-verse series; after watching clips of the fictional Xena (Lucy Lawless), Clone Xena (Lucy Lawless) comments with a leer . . .

** During an interrogation in the ''Series/LawAndOrder'' season 12 episode “For Love or Money,” Lenny Briscoe says “It’s ''Series/TheSopranos''. Makes them think they can get away with everything.” Plenty of Sopranos actors guest-starred on Law & Order, including Christopher as a detective who subbed for an absent Green for several episodes. One would think Lenny would have at least noticed Carmela Soprano’s resemblance to recurring defense attorney Sally Bell.

** In at least one episode, Christopher mentions Creator/QuentinTarantino. Tarantino wrote ''Film/TrueRomance'', which features Creator/JamesGandolfini - Tony Soprano.
** ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}'' is also mentioned at least once. ''Goodfellas'' stars Creator/FrankVincent and Creator/LorraineBracco, who play Phil Leotardo and Dr. Melfi, respectively. Creator/MichaelImperioli, who plays Christopher, also has a minor role as the poor busboy who gets blown away by Joe Pesci, Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts) plays Tony Stacks, and Creator/VincentPastore, who plays Big Pussy, is briefly onscreen. Other '''Goodfellas''' cast members appearing on '''The Sopranos''' include Creator/SuzanneShepherd, Frank Pellegrino, Tony Darrow, Paul Herman, Frank Adonis, Chuck Low, and Creator/TobinBell.
*** Creator/RayLiotta, who played Henry Hill in ''Goodfellas'' and whom chase initially wanted in the role of Tony Soprano, plays Christopher's father and uncle in the {{prequel}} movie ''Film/TheManySaintsOfNewark''.

** No-one also seems to notice that Frankie Valli, who plays Lupertazzi capo Rusty Millio in the 5th and 6th seasons of the show, was mentioned earlier in the season 4 episode "Christopher" as someone who the owner of a casino Tony visits wants to play at the casino as payment. Also makes you wonder who the frontman of The Four Season's was in The Soprano universe.

** AJ hands ''Film/TheMatrix'' on DVD to Carmella as a birthday present. Both her and Tony don't react to the cover, which features Creator/JoePantoliano as Cypher. [[note]]In fairness, Cypher and Ralph look vastly different.[[/note]]

* ''Series/{{Castle}}'':

** In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS2E56Static Static]]", Vinnie mentions listening to Ed Wynn on the radio in 1940. Wynn previously played Louis J. Bookman in "[[Recap/TheTwilightZone1959S1E2OneForTheAngels One for the Angels]]" and would later play Sam Forstmann in "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS5E132NinetyYearsWithoutSlumbering Ninety Years Without Slumbering]]".
** In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS4E117TheIncredibleWorldOfHoraceFord The Incredible World of Horace Ford]]", Jackie Cooper's name can be seen on the ''O'Shaughnessy's Boys'' film poster in 1935. Cooper later played Jonathan West in "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS5E148CaesarAndMe Caesar and Me]]".
* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1985'': In "The Road Less Traveled", Jeff and Denise [=McDowell=] watch ''Film/TheThingFromAnotherWorld'' on television. Its star Kenneth Tobey, who previously played Sheriff Haskin in "A Day in Beaumont", is seen in the featured clip.

* In ''Series/Dracula2020'', Dracula uses a Franchise/{{Dracula}} emoji in a text he sends to Lucy.

** [[Recap/DoctorWho2016CSTheReturnOfDoctorMysterio "The Return of Doctor Mysterio"]] references both DC and Marvel Comics, including direct mentions of both Franchise/{{Superman}} and Franchise/SpiderMan. Assuming all their film and TV adaptations exist in the Whoniverse, that would include ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'' duology with Creator/AndrewGarfield[[note]]Frank from "Daleks in Manhattan" / "Evolution of the Daleks"[[/note]]; ''Series/Supergirl2015'', which is part of the Series/{{Arrowverse}} which has featured Creator/JohnBarrowman[[note]]Captain Jack Harkness[[/note]], Creator/ColinSalmon[[note]][[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E8SilenceInTheLibrary Dr.]] [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E9ForestOfTheDead Moon]][[/note]], Creator/AlexKingston[[note]]River Song[[/note]], Creator/RussellTovey[[note]][[Recap/DoctorWho2007CSVoyageOfTheDamned Alonso Frame]][[/note]] and Creator/ArthurDarvill[[note]]Rory Williams[[/note]]; and Spidey's [[Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar film]] [[Film/SpiderManHomecoming appearances]] in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, a franchise which has not only had Creator/KarenGillan[[note]]Amy Pond[[/note]], but two of the Doctor's [[Creator/ChristopherEccleston previous]] [[Creator/DavidTennant incarnations]] as well!

** An odd corollary to the fact that Creator/DCComics don't exist in the ''Smallville'' universe is the fact that, apparently, Creator/MarvelComics don't exist either. (It's never directly stated that they don't, for obvious reasons, but the fact that characters are constantly discussing superheroes and super powers and frequently talk about comic books and make pop culture references while describing super-powered mutants without ever once mentioning the ComicBook/XMen, Franchise/SpiderMan, etc., would seem to imply that they don't exist, even as fictional characters.)
*** Odder still, in the Marvel continuity both Marvel Comics ''and'' DC Comics exist. It's sometimes mentioned that the Marvel books feature retellings of the heroes' "real-life" exploits ([[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Steve Rogers]] even draws his), to the point where Comicbook/SheHulk has used them as evidence in court. How the Marvel continuity's DC comics stack up is more of a mystery. (An ''[[ComicBook/TheUnbeatableSquirrelGirl Unbeatable Squirrel Girl]]'' novel of unknown canonicity implies that Batman and Superman are completely fictional characters.)
*** According to ''Comicbook/TheMultiversity'', DC Comics exist in Franchise/TheDCU... but at least part of their output is comics about "fictional" superheroes, who actually exist on [[AlternateUniverse alternate Earths]] in TheMultiverse. Marvel Comics' [[FictionalCounterpart DC equivalent]] is Major Comics, who produce analogues of Marvel's characters (with said characters actually being inspired by the heroes of Earth-7 and Earth-8).

** In the episode "Homecoming," Charlie's girlfriend mentions that her father is buying a paper company in Slough. This is an Easter Egg reference to the [[Series/TheOfficeUK British version]] of ''The Office'', which exists in the same universe as [[Series/TheOfficeUS its American counterpart]]...in which Dwight is a fan of ''Lost'' and repeatedly mentions it by name.

* In ''Series/That70sShow'', characters are shown to be watching ''Series/TheBradyBunch''. Later, Christopher Knight and Barry Williams appear not as themselves, but as a gay couple. To be fair, it would be hard for them to appear as themselves since they are kind of too old for the part. Granted, that didn't stop [[Series/ThePartridgeFamily Shirley Jones]], Creator/{{Charo}}, and [[Series/{{MASH}} Jamie Farr]] but those were in fantasies.

* ''Series/{{Degrassi}}'':

** Here's a paradox capable of destroying the universe (or at least [[Film/BackToTheFuture our own galaxy]]): Jaleel White appeared in an episode as [[Series/FamilyMatters Steve Urkel]], where he met Uncle Jesse (played by John Stamos). White also appeared on ''Series/StepByStep'' as Urkel, where he met Carol (played by Suzanne Somers). But ''then'' John Stamos appears on ''Step by Step'' as ''himself'', where he meets Carol, and he mentions ''Full House''! That means that in the ''Step by Step'' universe, Urkel is both a fictional character (having appeared on ''Full House'') AND a real person, having appeared in person before their very eyes. Try getting your head around that.

** In "Val's Boyfriend", C.C. Babcock briefly quits her partnership with Maxwell Sheffield, and afterwards claims she's signing composer Music/MarvinHamlisch onto a new play she's producing herself. Later, she's told that Maxwell is interested in signing him onto a play, so she sets aside her differences with Maxwell to work together. Later, Fran reveals that she actually got her former high school music teacher, played by the real Marvin Hamlisch, to pretend he's Hamlisch.

** Johnny's favorite film is ''Film/IronEagle''. Tommy, Johnny's friend who [[RealLifeWritesThePlot died]] in season 2 was played by the [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim late]] Rob Garrison, whose early credits include that film.

** Johnny's favorite film is ''Film/IronEagle''. Tommy, Johnny's friend who [[RealLifeWriteThePlot died]] in season 2 was played by the [[TheCharacterDiedWithHim late]] Rob Garrison, whose early credits include that film.