Teletubbies in Popular Culture

Teletubbies have been referenced a lot in popular culture.

In the webstrip Sluggy Freelance dated 9 March 1999, the characters Torg and Riff discuss the fact that "Drinky Winky" from the "Teletubbles" is "an abusive drunk because of the bottle of booze he carries," says Torg reading from a newspaper. Riff counters saying "That's not a bottle of booze! It's his magic bottle that makes his problems go away! ... Never mind." Torg goes on reading, "The abusive side of Drinky Winky is demonstrated by..." to which Riff argues "Tipsy and Hoe had it coming!"
In 1998, Tom Fulp of Newgrounds created a spoof of Teletubbies called "Teletubby Fun Land" which resulted in a lawsuit from the BBC. This resulted in a boost of notoriety and media publicity exposure, and the video was renamed "Telebubby Fun Land".
In 1999, the characters inspired a dancehall reggae riddim of the same name.
In The Simpsons episode "Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder," Homer dresses up like a Teletubby to entertain Maggie, remarking "...and I'm all man, in case you heard otherwise" in reference to claims by Jerry Falwell. In the episode "Missionary: Impossible," the Teletubbies are among the PBS characters and personalities that are chasing Homer after he defaulted on his $10,000 pledge. In the episode "Wild Barts Can't Be Broken", Milhouse watches the Teletubbies and also wears Teletubbies underwear. In the episode "Days of Wine and D'ohses", Bart and Lisa are watching Teletubbies (Tinky Winky is renamed Ga Ga). In the couch gag for the episode "Lisa the Treehugger", the Simpsons dress up like the Teletubbies (Homer as Tinky Winky, Marge as Dipsy, Bart as Laa-Laa and Lisa as Po). In the episode "Blame it on Lisa", Bart becomes preoccupied in Brazil with a parody show called "Teleboobies". In the episode "Large Marge", while watching a clean version of Krusty the Clown, Milhouse comments, "Teletubbies get away with more than this." In the episode "Pray Anything", a Dipsy plushie appears in the crane game. In the episode "Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington", a Po plushie falls from Maggie's shelf. In the episode "Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays", the Teletubbies appear at the Roofi (a parody of Canadian children's singer Raffi) concert.
- In The Lisa Book, part of The Simpsons Library of Wisdom, Lisa owns a DVD entitled "Who Feeds Ya, Baby?" which is a parody of Teletubbies. In the comic book story Brit Simpson, Bart says that England was created when Sherlock Holmes and King Arthur fought against Monty Python and the Teletubbies.
In the Audrey and Friends pilot/Christmas special, the Teletubbies appeared on Mr. Edgar's mug. Mr. Edgar also shares the same "Eh-oh!" catchphrase as the Teletubbies themselves.
In The Fairly OddParents episode "Imaginary Gary," TV Tubbies, based on the Teletubbies, were stored inside Timmy's mind. One of each TV Tubbie was also used to block Cosmo and Wanda's ears to stop them from hearing Timmy.
In Codename: Kids Next Door, the "Rainbow Monkeys" are a parody of Teletubbies and Care Bears.
In the VeggieTales episode "Gideon: Tuba Warrior," Bob the Tomato, while singing a Silly Song, is accompanied by a band called the Wiggly Turtle Toobies, which spoofs both The Wiggles and Teletubbies.
In 2007, a Jeep commercial featured Jeeps driving through famous scenes in history and popular culture, including an Elvis Presley film, a Godzilla film, the moon landing, Woodstock, a Road Runner cartoon, a Jane Goodall documentary, Devo's "Whip It" music video, at the fall of the Berlin Wall, an episode of Lost, and in Teletubbyland with Laa-Laa and Po.
In the Chuck E. Cheese's showtapes, A kid rides the kiddie ride.
In September 2007, in a hazing ritual for the Boston Red Sox, pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka and his translator, Masa Hoshino, dressed as Dipsy and Tinky Winky, respectively.
In the 2007 episode of Doctor Who, "The Sound of Drums", The Doctor's nemesis, The Master, watches television and upon encountering the Teletubbies, marvels at the evolution that has given them televisions in their chests. Coincidentally John Schwab, Rudolph Walker, Jeremiah Krage, Nick Chee Ping Kellington, Jim Broadbent and David Walliams appeared in Doctor Who.
In the June 6, 2007, second season, eleventh episode of The Chaser's War on Everything, the possibility of Tinky Winky being homosexual was parodied when the Chaser's tested the Peel Hotel (in Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)'s gaydar (the hotel's Peel dancebar was given the right to ban heterosexual patrons) with a Tinky Winky costumed figure that acted in a stereotypical homosexual fashion. The controversy surrounding this possibility was further satirised with the Tinky Winky figure visiting a Polish Club (Poland having been dealing with a scandal surrounding Tinky Winky being possibly homosexual and thus corrupting children).
In the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars, Bruno Tonioli said the he didn't know if Steve Wozniak's dance was "hilarious or delirious," "it was like watching a Teletubby go mad at a gay pride parade!"
In an episode of Absolutely Fabulous, Bubble can be seen wearing a dress with all four Teletubbies on it. She also speaks in a way similar to Teletubbies throughout the episode. Coincidentally, Jane Horrocks, who plays Bubble, voices the Tubby Phone in the 2015 series.
An online video on YouTube shows all four Teletubbies dancing to a song by Matisyahu.
The Arthur episodes "That's a Baby Show!", "The Secret Life of Dogs and Babies", and "The Squirrels" feature Teletubbies parodies: "Love Ducks", "Vidiboobies", and "Silly Squirrels", respectively. In the episode "The Contest", Muffy is seen wearing a Dipsy costume, and a Beavis and Butthead-esque Arthur and Buster call her "the fifth Teletubby".
In the Family Guy episode "A Hero Sits Next Door", Stewie watches the Teletubbies (although Laa Laa is pink and the others have different antennas).
In 2012, during a full 2nd and 3rd season of tvN's Saturday Night Live Korea, South Korean live comic variety show which inspired by its then-creative director Jang Jin, parodied this programme as "Yeouido Teletubbies("여의도 텔레토비) to portrait 2012 presidential election campaign, by imitating Teletubbies' characters. Each week on Weekend Update(Korean edition) segment, this experimental skit was popular, by reviewing on several social networking sites and online bulletin boards and video clips, such as Youtube. Both the popularity of SNL Korea's 'Crew', Kim Seul-gie and Kim Min-kyo, who acted major candidates respectably, had skyrocketed.
In the Malcolm in the Middle episode "Shame", Kevin bawls, "I want my Teletubby!"
In the Grounded for Life episode "The Letter(s)", Jimmy laughs at the Teletubbies (as he said, "Dipsy tripped over Po and landed in the flower garden.").
In episode 407 of the American version of Queer as Folk, Brian says, "Well, you don't want [Michael] to watch Teletubbies, do you? It might make him gay."
The Nostalgia Critic has also criticized Teletubbies. In his review of "A Troll in Central Park", he says that Teletubbies is one of the things that are more butch than the song "Absolutely Green." Also, in his review of "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl", when the main characters first arrive on Planet Drool, Critic comments that Planet Drool looks like someone melted the Teletubbies and that he would like it more if that was the case.
Similarly, Obscurus Lupa Presents has featured references to Teletubbies.
The Cinema Snob has also mentioned Teletubbies, saying that The Oogieloves was originally going to be a Teletubbies movie.
The Danish late-night talk show den 11. time features a parody of Teletubbies called "Nazitübbies".
In late 2013, people dressed as Tinky Winky and Laa Laa appeared in a promo for the SEC ESPN Network.
In a Get Fuzzy strip when Bucky talks about how tough he thinks Barney and various other children's TV characters are, Rob asks him about the Teletubbies, to which Bucky responds, "You can't handle the truth about the Teletubbies." A different strip has Bucky coming up with Communist parodies of children's TV shows, including "Telecommies". Yet another strip has Bucky watching Teletubbies, and a Halloween storyline has Rob forcing Bucky to wear a Dipsy cotume, because Bucky refused to pick out his own costume.
In the South Park episode "Ike's Wee Wee", when Mr. Garrison gets high, he watches Teletubbies.
In The Thick of It special "Spinners and Losers", Glenn Cullen cusses Tinky Winky.
In the musical We Will Rock You, Khashoggi asks, "Who are Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa Laa and Po and why do they say 'eh oh'?"
In September 1997, Tony Banks described Michael Portillo as "like Pol Pot presenting the Teletubbies."
The Kim Possible episode "Dimension Twist" features a show called "Puppet Pals", which appears to be a parody of Teletubbies.
Robot Chicken has featured two skits parodying Teletubbies, entitled "Teletubby Smokes" and "Mighty Tubby Power Rangers". The episode "Toyz in the Hood" features a guy dressed as a Teletubby. Teletubbies were also parodied in the episode "Cake Pillow", and also the June 2018 episode titled "Gimme That Chocolate Milk".
Teletubbies have also been parodied on MADtv, in a skit in which "Jack the Chronically Hyper UPS Guy" rents some Teletubbies tapes for a stag party. The Teletubbies also appeared in "CLOPS V", along with Furby and the California Raisins.
In an episode of Saturday Night Live, Rick Ross dressed up like a Teletubby. A picture of the Teletubbies also appeared on "Weekend Update". In yet another episode, Bill Brasky's buddies mention the Teletubbies. Yet another episode spoofs Teletubbies in the "Hip Hop Classics" sketch.
In the American release of Spice World, a line about photos of Diana in the gym was changed to a Teletubbies joke.
Teletubbies were also referenced in Have I Got News for You: The Official Pirate Video, as well as "The Best of the Guest Presenters" and in season 30, episode 7. In season 39, episode 3, Gordon Brown's face replaces that of the Sun Baby. In season 49, episode 1, Ian Hislop says that the show is being revived.
In The Vicar of Dibley episode "Love and Marriage", the bridesmaids dress up as Teletubbies.
Tinky Winky can be seen in the ER episode "Nobody Doesn't Like Amanda Lee". In the episode "Greene with Envy", Teletubbies toys can be seen.
In season 1, episode 3 of the BBC sitcom Big Train, a character watches Teletubbies and sings along to the theme song.
Teletubbies have also been referenced in Shriek if You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th.
In the Will and Grace episode "Grace, Replaced", Will says, "And they said Tinky Winky was the only gay Teletubby."
In the Sports Night episode "Ten Wickets", Casey makes a comment about Jerry Falwell's Tinky Winky controversy.
In season 3, episode 2 of The Adam and Joe Show, Dipsy is the stenographer in the courtroom scene (he just writes "eh oh" over and over).
In Boob, a Teletubby costume can be seen.
In The Haunting, Luke says that the Teletubbies freak him out.
Teletubbies have been referenced in Rick and Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, in reference to the infamous Tinky Winky controversy.
In the Oz episode "Cruel and Unusual Punishment", the characters discuss Teletubbies.
Teletubbies have also been referenced in The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything, a humorous review of British history.
In an episode of EastEnders, Jamie says Sonia is a really nice girl, to which Martin mockingly replies, "Yeah, if you're into Teletubbies." Coincidentally, Pui Fan Lee appeared in the show in 2019.
Teletubbies have also been referenced in The Bogus Witch Project.
In Cruel Intentions 2, Katherine refers to a group of characters as the Teletubbies.
In Unbreakable, Elijah asks a customer in his store, "Do you see any Teletubbies in here?"
In Battle Royale, Teletubbies posters can be seen in the city.
Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years features frequent references to Teletubbies plush toys.
In the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Blood Ties", Spike references Teletubbies in conversation with Dawn.
In the pilot episode of The Lone Gunmen, the Teletubbies appear on the front page of the titular magazine.
In Old Master Q 2001, a Dipsy mask can be seen on a mannequin.
In the Relic Hunter episode "The Executioner's Mask", Claudia says, "You look like a Teletubby."
In Death to Smoochy, Randolph says, "Die, you illegitimate Teletubby!"
In Supersize Me, one of the paintings is of Tinky Winky.
Teletubbies were referenced by Tina in the Het glazen huis episode "Hoog spel".
Clips from Teletubbies are featured in The 100 Greatest Christmas Moments.
In the Gilmore Girls episode "Scene in a Mall", Christine talks about how Mrs. Kim makes the guy from the Joy Division look like a Teletubby. In the episode "The Prodigal Daughter Returns", Lorelai says that Sookie and Jackson are glad to watch any show that doesn't feature Laa Laa playing guitar. In the episode "Come Home", Gigi watches Teletubbies.
Teletubbies were referenced by Chode in the Tripping the Rift episode "Emasculating Chode".
Teletubbies have also been referenced in Hellboy: The Seeds of Creation.
In The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Tibby mentions to a little girl that the latter has Teletubbies on her iPod.
There is an Ultimate Revenge episode entitled "Teletubby".
In Strongbad_email.exe: Disc Four, Homsar asks the kids if they want to hear [a song] 50 times more. This is a reference to the Teletubbies always wanting to see things again and again.
Teletubbies have also been referenced in Three Men in a Boat: Part One.
In season 22, episode 88 of Jeopardy!, Tinky Winky was referenced in a clue in a category of purple things.
In Fast Food Nation, Teletubbies are mentioned in the boardroom when trying to get product tie-ins.
In Special Needs, the show is referred to as "Telegrubbies".
In the Drawn Together episode "Wooldor Sockbat's Giggle-Wiggle Funny Tickle Non-traditional Progressive Multicultural Roundtable", Wooldor proclaims that his kids' TV show is "Tinky Winky times ten!"
In Married in America 2, a character says that he used to watch Barney, Sesame Street and Teletubbies with his kids.
Teletubbies were referenced by Martina in the Una familia de diez episode "TV por cable".
Teletubbies have also been openly referenced in the Keyzer & de Boer advocaten episode "Moniek K."
Suburban Girl features a reference to Teletubbies books.
In the Neues aus der Anstalt episode "Große Erfolge", it is referenced that some people claimed to have found out that the Teletubbies are gay.
In the BroTown episode "Sons for the Return Homo", Mack says, "The Teletubbies could have beat us in a rumble!"
In the Comedy Central Presents episode "My First Time", one of the topics for Mike Birbiglia's first stand-up was Teletubbies.
In H-X3c, a Po plushie can be seen.
In Sexykiller, morirás por ella, Alex says that Glen wears "more cute colors than all the Teletubbies put together".
In the Futurama direct-to-video special "Bender's Game", Leegola and Hermaphrodite ride through Teletubbyland.
Teletubbies are referenced in season 5, episode 5 of Screenwipe, which focuses on kids' TV.
Teletubbies have also been referenced in Motherhood.
In season 7, episode 139 of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Teletubbies were the subject of a $16,000 question. In season 8, episode 87, they were included in a $10,000 question. In season 8, episode 146, they were included in a $12,500 question.
In the Board James episode "Dragon Strike", James sees Po outside his window.
The Teletubbies appeared in The Official BBC Children in Need Medley along with many other children's characters. Coincidentally, Fearne Cotton and Rochelle Humes present the show.
In the Nurse Jackie episode "Bleeding", Jackie mentions the Teletubbies.
In the 30 Rock episode "I Do Do", Nancy uses the phrase "tickle each other like Teletubbies" as a euphemism. In the episode "Aunt Phatso vs Jack Donaghy", Tracy mentions that Jack cancelled his kids' TV show, "Uncle Tracy's Black Teletubbies Ripoff".
In The Café episode "Fragile, Handle with Care", Stan says that talking to Chloe and Kieran is like talking to the Teletubbies.
In Star Wars Uncut: Director's Cut, two guys are seen dressed up as Dipsy.
In an episode of Natholdet med Anders Breinholt, Teletubbies are discussed with guest star Jarl Friis-Mikkelsen.
In American Reunion, Kara recalls watching Teletubbies when Jim was her babysitter.
In the Miranda episode "A Brief Encounter", Charlie says he's feeling "Dipsy, Laa Laa and Po".
In Escape from Planet Earth, Tinky Winky's name is featured in the graffiti.
In the Family Tree episode "Treading the Boards", Tom compares the Mikado to the Teletubbies.
In an episode of In Depth, guest star Ben Shapiro mentions Teletubbies as an example of how homosexuality is presented to children.
In the Tosh.0 episode "Juggalo Kid", Teletubby costumes are seen.
In the RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race episode "It Takes Two", Team Latrilla's runway look has Teletubby antennas.
In season 1, episode 1 of Ambush, Pini is given a Teletubby costume.
In season 11, episode 2 of Eretz Nehederet, Alma says Channel 10 sent Tinky Winky to cover the storm.
Teletubbies have also been referenced in the Cougar Town episode "Hard on Me".
Teletubbies are discussed in season 8, episode 57 of Chelsea Lately, which focuses on the large number of creepy families in America.
Clips from Teletubbies are featured in The 100 Greatest Kids TV Shows.
Teletubbies are number 23 in the countdown of the similarly-themed The 50 Greatest Kids Shows.
In State of the Union, the Sun Baby's face is replaced with that of George W. Bush.
Teletubbies are also featured in Iris.
In the Six Feet Under episode "Someone Else's Eyes", Nikolai watches Teletubbies.
Footage from Teletubbies was edited into an 1998-themed episode of I Love the '90s.
A clip from Teletubbies is featured in Eleva20ren.
A brief clip from Teletubbies is also featured in Beginners.
In the Brows Held High episode "W the Movie", the Sun Baby is referred to as God.
In the Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain episode "My Fair Brainy", Pinky and Elmyra watch "Telechubbies", a parody of Teletubbies. In the episode "Better Living Through Cheese", Pinky says, "What if the Teletubbies don't fight fair?"
Teletubbies are also parodied in Alivaltiosihteerin vappu.
In Maybe Baby, a parody of Teletubbies is featured entitled "Furblobs".
In the King of the Hill episode "DaleTech", when Cotton is depressed he watches Teletubbies.
In Fascisti su Marte, Barbagli hallucinates the Teletubbies.
In the Conan episode "No Time for Tetherball", someone dressed up as Tinky Winky shows up onstage during a spoof of the Spiderman Broadway musical.
Teletubbies are mentioned in the Mitch Benn song "I'm Proud of the BBC".
Wumo has parodied Teletubbies several times. One strip shows a Teletubby head mounted on the wall, another strip depicts the Teletubbies taking LSD before filming, while yet another depicts them as smoking garbagemen. Yet another strip depicts the Teletubbies being murdered.
Season 1, episode 6 of The PoseidonGodofWater20 Show features a Laa Laa doll. A new character in season 16 is a spoof of Po.
In the first Dear Dumb Diary book, "Let's Pretend This Never Happened", "the yellow Teletubby" (Laa Laa) is on Jamie's list of people she doesn't care about.
In the Judging Amy Episode "Motion Sickness", a Dipsy plush can be seen with some Sesame Street toys.
In The Unit episode "Hug Me", Slutzki says that he and the other characters will look like Teletubbies in their overalls.
A Teletubby was featured in a "Local News Roulette" segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Teletubbies were parodied in an American Horror Story X video.
In a The Dinette Set strip in which Burl and Joy are about to go on a cruise, a sign is seen in the background listing the available cruises, which include Disney, Warner Bros., Sesame Street and Teletubbies.
In a Big Nate strip where Nate tries to think like a tiger, at one point he imagines Po. Two strips feature Nate and Francis watching Teletubbies.
In the Ashens episode "A Lovely Baby", a Teletubby sticker is seen.
In an episode of Mike & Mike which aired on December 16, 2016, Teletubbies were mentioned by Mike Greenberg.
In the TV movie Peter Pan Gone Wrong, the pirate ship crashes through Teletubbyland at the BBC.
Teletubbies are also referenced in a Mixxxer Show episode guest starring Sára Sandeva.
The Sun Baby makes an appearance in The Boss Baby.
Characters that resemble Teletubbies made an appearance in The X-Files Season 11 Episode 8.
In the The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs episode "Granny/Founders", the babies watch a parody of both Barney and Teletubbies. The credits also features "Doggie Bye-Bye" (a reference to Tubby Bye-Bye), which features a female voice saying "Doggie Bye-Bye" to Mitzy, Ralph and Angus, in which they say "bye" in their own way similar to what the Teletubbies do.
Les Kassos features a parody of Teletubbies entitled "Téléboubizes".
In The Babysitter episode "Killer Queen", John says Melanie is a Teletubby.
In the non-canon Battle for Dream Island short "If Among Us Was a BFDI Challenge", Lollipop asks Four why he is wearing "a hide unethically scraped off the body of an innocent Teletubby". This is a reference to the design of the crewmates in Among Us, which fans have compared to headless, armless Teletubbies.
Teletubbies appear as passengers in the Nitrome game Skywire VIP Extended.
The hillside behind the university featured in the 2011 Korean drama series Heartstrings bears a resemblance to the hills in Teletubby Land. Additionally, one of Gyu-won's friends refer to the area as a Teletubby hill when discussing how she was looking for Shin's necklace in the episode Like This...Will Be Forgotten.
In the 2023 movie The Outlaws, Teletubbies figures can be seen.
In Episode 10 of 2015 Korean drama series Sassy, Go Go, the final video message sent to Soo-ah involves Yeon-doo flipping pages containing drawings. One of them shows Dong-jae dressed up as Tinky Winky.

Teletubbies in Popular Culture

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