Cultural References

Cultural references are a major theme in ***MISSION TO ZYXX***. These references function to undergrid the show's humor, allowing the listener a key point of entry into the show's rhythm and comedy through commonly understood terms, objects, or music lyrics. Such references can be difficult for international fans to understand, particular references to branded products available only in the US, but this in no way detracts from the content of the joke in question.

## Dave Matthews Band lyrics

One major source of pop cultural content comes from lyrics to songs by Dave Mattews Band (DMB), which in the Zyxx universe form the sacred texts of the followers of the Space.

* Episode 115: Old Derf, voiced by Justin Tyler, exemplifies the power guests have to shape show canon. After revealing the prophesy naming Pleck "The Chosen One" of the Space, Old Derf sings a few bars of "The Space Between," a song released by Dave Matthews Band in 2001 on the album *Everyday*. Thereafter, Dave Matthews Band lyrics are sprinkled throughout the show, particularly in relation to the sacred texts of the Zima Warriors.
* Episode 220: The title of this episode, "Crush Into Me," is a reference to the song "Crash Into Me," DMB first big hit. (*Crash*, 1996).
* Episode 318: After AJ-2884 closes the portal created by Kajj Malice, C-53 and Pleck are astounded. When they ask AJ how he managed this feat, re responds, "I looked for the space between his heart and mine, and it was a space I filled with time." This is a close approximation of lyrics from "The Space Between:" *The space between your heart and mine / Is the space we'll fill with time.*
* Episode 501: As the Bargarean Jade is crashing into the unidentified planet, AJ says, "Hey, crew? I'm caught in some wires. Tied up and twisted. The way I *don't* like to be." This is followed by C-53 exclaiming, "AJ, you're crashing into me!" This is a clear reference to DMB Crash into Me which includes the lyrics, "tied up and twisted, the way I'd like to be."

## Pop and Rock Music

References to specific songs, mostly released in the 1990s, pepper the language of **Mission to Zyxx**. Characters played by Jeremy Bent and Winston Noel are most likely to use these references. Format for songs mentioned below: (Artist, "Song Title," *Album*, Year).

### Season 1

* L01: The first Phil the crew encounters on PhilCon, voiced by Winston Noel, is stuck inside a cage. "Despite all my rage, I'm still just a Phil in a cage," he tells them. (Smashing Pumpkins, "Bullet with Butterfly Wings," *Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness*, 1995).
* L01: Seth Lind as a newborn Phil sings a birth song duet with a newborn Connie, paraphrasing R. Kelly (R. Kelly, "I Believe I can Fly," *R.*, 1996).
* L01: The inhabitants throw off the despotic rule of glam robot Bruce when they realize, alongside Dar, that they are beautiful, "in every single way." (Christina Aguilera, "Beautiful," *Stripped*, 2002).
* Episode 117: Councillor Rachel Arcuri, a member of the Council of Seven, is part of the Beatleman species. Councillor Chandler Trink comments that he is the only remaining representative of "the four famous Beatlemen," having hunted down and killed the other three. "Help! They cried. Help!" (The Beatles, "Help!" *Help!*, 1965)

### Season 2

* Episode 220: Councillor Rachel Arcuri paints his planet crusher yellow. in reference to his partner Joko Bono and their son, he tells the other councillors, "We all live in a yellow planet crusher." (The Beatles, "Yellow Submarine," *Revolver,* 1966).

### Season 3

* Episode 301: As the C.L.I.N.T.s from strike teams 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 dive from high-altitude, they call out, "I'm free! Free fall," and "I'm free! Free falling!" a reference to the Tom Petty song of the same name (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Free fallin'," *Full Moon Fever*, 1989). Petty passed away shortly before the release of this episode.
* Episode 306: At the end of this episode, Marf, a hoarder, starts singing a song from the animated film *The Little Mermaid* (1989) until she's interrupted by a shopper in her store. (Jodi Benson, "Part of their World," Disney's The Little Mermaid (Soundtrack), 1997)
* Episode 312: In a sermon in her mobile church, Goerlich, a priestess of Rodd on AR-2826, says that there "ain't no mountain high enough" to prevent her congregants from knowing Rodd. (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," *United*, 1967).
* Episode 316: Nermut lights his conspiracy wall on fire with his cigarillio at the end of this episode. In the background, "Lookin' Out My Backdoor" is audible. This is a reference to the film *The Big Lebowski* (1998), specifically to a scene where the Dude drops a lit joint on his lap while driving. The same song plays in that scene. (Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Lookin' Out My Backdoor," *Cosmo's Factory*, 1970).
* Episode 319: Jeremy Bent as Bargie's defense lawyer Quaid Blizmo, quotes lines from the Counting Crows, "When everybody loves me, I want to be just about as happy as I can be," (Counting Crows, "Mr. Jones," *August and Everything After*, 1993) in his closing argument.
* Episode 320: Pleck is belittled by Gunthar Ballwheat during their confrontation. He points out the similarities between Pleck and his crew to the Council of Seven, from which Ballwheat was effectively ostracized. "You're life's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.!" he yells at Pleck. Subsequently, AJ yells to Pleck, "Papa! I'll be here for you!" These are both references to the theme song for the TV show "Friends." (The Rembrandts, "I'll Be There For You," *L.P.*, 1995)

### Season 4

* Episode 4xx: In the opening crawl narration for this episode, the Allwheat is described as a "black hole sun." (Soundgarden, "Black Hole Sun," *Superunknown*, 1994).

## Film and Television

* Episode 117: The members of the Council of Seven all have names that mimic characters on the popular TV show "Friends." Even the title of this episode, "The One with the Council of Seven," is a reference to Friends' episodes, the names of which all begin, "The One with..."
* Episode 306: At the end of this episode, Marf, a hoarder, starts singing a song from the animated film *The Little Mermaid* (1989) until she's interrupted by a shopper in her store. (Jodi Benson, "Part of their World," Disney's The Little Mermaid (Soundtrack), 1997)
* Episode 312: Goerlich, a priestess of Rodd, is known for her unique sermons. She ministers to her flock on AR-2826, a planet-wide park known for it's spectacular view. Her congregants comments: "I like her opinion... on the view," "I don't feel Hassel-backed," "She brings me Joy... Behar," are all references to the daytime American TV show "The View."
* Episode 316: Nermut lights his conspiracy wall on fire with his cigarillio at the end of this episode. In the background, "Lookin' Out My Backdoor" is audible. This is a reference to the film *The Big Lebowski* (1998), specifically to a scene where the Dude drops a lit joint on his lap while driving. The same song plays in that scene. (Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Lookin' Out My Backdoor," *Cosmo's Factory*, 1970).
* Episode 320: Pleck is belittled by Gunthar Ballwheat during their confrontation. He points out the similarities between Plack and his crew to the Council of Seven, from which Ballwheat was effectively ostracized. "You're life's a joke, you're broke, your love live's D.O.A.!" he yells at Pleck. Subsequently, AJ yells to Pleck, "Papa! I'll be here for you!" These are both references to the theme song for the TV show "Friends." (The Rembrandts, "I'll Be There For You," *L.P.*, 1995)
* Episode 501: As the People of Bargarea prepare to mount an offensive against The Others, C-53 comments that he's "in" by virtue of being strapped to AJ. AJ responds that C is "a brave little toaster" which is probably a reference 1987 cult animated film The Brave Little Toaster about a group of sentient appliances embarking on an Incredible Journey.

## Branded products

* Episode 101: In the very first full-length episode of **Mission to Zyxx**, Dar refers to the Grand Kula's daughter as the "Kulata," setting up the blackout joke, "Look at that frozen Kulata." The homophonic "Coolatta" is the name of a popular frozen coffee shushy sold by Dunkin Donuts, an American donut chain.
* Episode 202: Dar is goaded into participating in a hot dog eating contest by Garreth, the translator for Terrick Kasteby. Terrick speaks the native tongue of the Flarn species: Weird. The term for "hot dog" in Weird is "Oscar Meyer." This is the brand name of a popular hot dog and lunch meat purveyor in the US.
* Episode 501: As the crew prepare to ride the native blizzards (the opposite of a lird) into battle, Dar (in particular) references the thickness (or thiccness) of the blizzard and holds one upside down to demonstrate that it doesn't move. This is a reference to a "concrete" shake from US fast food outlet Dairy Queen which is so thick that if you hold the cup upside down, the shake will not fall out of the cup. Trivia: Dairy Queen bought Orange Julius in 1987.