List of references to Dark Shadows

Since its debut in 1966, Dark Shadows has become part of American pop culture. References have been made in TV shows, movies, music and other material since the original series was released.
===Film===
*CrissCross (1992): A period drama set in 1969. While a group of people are watching the historic Apollo 11 liftoff, someone says that they want to watch Dark Shadows instead.
*Love Bites (1993): Written & directed by Dark Shadows writer Malcolm Marmorstein, the character of Zachary Simms is a parody of Barnabas Collins.
*Now and Then (1995): There is a poster of Barnabas on the wall of one of the girl's rooms.
*Trilogy of Terror II (1996): In this Dan Curtis TV movie, one of the security guards talk about his childhood obsession with Dark Shadows.
*Frankenstein and Me (1997): A family film set in the late 60's, the show's famous opening is shown on the family television.
*Running with Scissors (2005): Agnes and Augusten watch Dark Shadows, while chatting and eating dog food.
*Voodoo Dollz (2008): In this TV movie, the school is called the Collinsport School for Girls.
*Fright Night (2011): Upon see the main character's room covered in crosses, his mother remarks "It's like that show... Dark Shadows."
*Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood (2019): A poster for the show featuring Barnabas is on a bus stop billboard in the background. Director Quentin Tarantino is a Dark Shadows fan and has been known to carry a silver wolf's head cane like the one Barnabas carries in the series.
===Television===
*Comedy Tonight (1970): One of the comedy sketches was entitled 'Strangest Shadows' and was a parody of Dark Shadows. The show featured Dark Shadows cast member Jerry Lacy as "kindly old vampire, Count Drago" and Madeline Kahn as Tanya Gould, "a witch he does not know to be his own sister-in-law." 
*Seinfeld (1989): In the 1996 episode entitled The Wig Master, Kramer receives a cane that is identical to the Wolf's-head cane, but the handle is gold instead of silver. Later in the episode, Kramer is arrested for looking like a "pmip."
*The King of Queens (1998): In the 2003 episode 'Cowardly Lyin'', Denise mentions that Spence Olchin is going to a Dark Shadows convention. Later, Spence is seen cosplaying as Barnabas.
*Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (1988): In a 1992 episode where Giant Gila Monster was featured, Joel references Barnabas Collins. In a 1997 episode featuring Devil Doll, Mike says, "later, on the set of 'Dark Shadows'"
*Angel (1999): In the 2003 episode Release, the character Gunn says, "All I'm saying is, he tries dancing in here and pulling a Dark Shadows again..." 
*WWE: Pro-wrestling manger James Mitchell carries an exact replica of Barnabas' Wolf's-head cane.
*Passions (1999): A daytime serial which itself employed many supernatural and science fiction storylines, Passions featured a witch named Tabitha Lenox who briefly dated Barnabas. In an episode of the soap opera, Tabitha is asked whether she's sneaking back from a date with Barnabas Collins. She gripes that, "300 years later and poor Barnabas is still mourning the loss of his beloved Josette. I'd have told him to get a life, but since he's technically dead already..."
*Gilmore Girls (2000): In the 2005 episode "Come Home", Sookie sneaks into one of the inn's empty rooms to watch Dark Shadows.
*Ben 10 (2005): There are several Dark Shadows references in the 2014 episode 'From Hedorium to Eternity'. Most prominent of these is the character Thaddeus J. Collins, who is clearly designed to resemble Jonathan Frid's Barnabas Collins.
* Supernatural (2005): In the 2020 episode 'Last Holiday', two unnamed vampires are drinking human blood from blood bags and watching a scene from Dark Shadows' 1795 storyline wherein Barnabas speaks with Ben Stokes. One of the vampires complains about how the vampires on the show get to live in mansions, in contrast to their own squalid nest.
*Outlander (2014): In the 2017 episode 'Freedom & Whisky' Roger watches a 1968 Dark Shadows scene between Barnabas and Dr. Julia Hoffman. Brianna pokes fun at Roger, asking what his colleagues at Oxford would say. He replies that "those troglodytes wouldn't understand the travails of the house of Collins."
*Dead End: Paranormal Park (2022): This animated series features a famous celebrity named Pauline Phoenix who once starred in a black and white TV show called Dead End. According to the show's creator Hamish Steele, "Norma is watching an episode of "Dead End", the show within the show with the same name (sorry!) which is mostly based on Dark Shadows"
===Comics===
* Fantastic Four #94 (January 1970) - As the Fantastic Four approach a spooky-looking gothic mansion, the Thing asks: "Who's gonna open the door... Barnabas or Quasimodo?" 
* Marvel Two-in-One #49 (March 1979) - Marvel Comics: Doctor Strange and the Thing visit "Crawlinsport" on the New England coast and stay at the "Crawlinswood motel" where mysterious, occult happenings transpire.
* Red Tornado #4 (October 1985) - DC Comics: Collinsport, Maine is mentioned, with the caption reading: "In Collinsport, Maine all the traffic lights turn amber." At the end of the story, Red Tornado considers changing his name to "Barney Collins". 
===Literature===
* The Hollow Crown Affair (1969): In this The Man from U.N.C.L.E. novel by David McDaniel, a mission brings Solo and Kuryakin to Collinsport, Maine. Sheriff Patterson appears, and on a tree is spotted a carving that reads “Barnabas loves Josette”, likely there since the 1700s. 
*The Quest of Frankenstein (2015): Barnabas Collins appears as a character in Frank Schildiner's novel.
===Theatre===
=== Video games ===
* You Don't Know Jack: Television (1997): The series is mentioned in one of the questions.
* Gray Matter (2010): Dr. Styles was compared to a patron of a Dark Shadows convention.
=== Music ===
* Book of Love - "Lullaby" (1988 album) - "Witchcraft" (song) - The song "Witchcraft" by synthpop band Book of Love features lyrics about various different witches, including Angelique. The melody from Josette's music box plays briefly beneath the lyrics: "Anusin, atelin amulet - Angelique takes Barnabas from Josette."
* The Damned - "Grave Disorder" (2001 album) - "Til the End of Time" (song) - The song "Til the End of Time" by British punk band the Damned features a sample of Lara Parker's Angelique dialogue. The song itself features lyrics which are very evocative of Dark Shadows. Lead singer Dave Vanian is a fan of the show and has been known to mention Barnabas Collins during live performances.
Category:Lists