Just another article published by Castle Co-Op, a website dedicated to Film, TV, Music and Culture – published 26-11-2011

The term Meta can be defined as characteristic or metaphorical layers of abstraction or being self-referential. Very confusing, but the classic examples of such in comedy comes from the series of Mel Brooks films that constantly intertwine jokes and dialogues, create instances where characters are aware of the presences as fictional characters and basically does what it can to break the fourth wall (Blazing Saddles, History of the World, Part I, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Young Frankenstein etc.). In television, comedy’s seems to be the only genre in which Metareferencing is made and while television dramas may employ this technique as well, no example comes to mind. Sitcoms such as 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother and Scrubs frequently use this directorial trademark as a means of humour and entertainment for savvy fans of the series.

The predominant television series that comes to mind with regards to Metareferencing is the brilliant sitcom Community. The show is presented to audiences through a veritable cavalcade of concept episodes, innovative writing, meta-humour and heavy pop culture references. Despite this, the executives over at NBC (not you Jack Donaghy) have really ‘Britta’d’ (to make a huge mistake in line with the character Britta from Community) the situation by placing it on a midseason hiatus. Now this necessarily may not place an ominous questions mark over renewal for a fourth season – but it did get me to revisit our favourite Spanish/Anthropology/Biology Study Group at Greendale Community College; watching seasons 1 and 2 and thinking about my own favourite Metareferences from other television shows.

From 30 Rock; this particular series is a goldmine of meta-humour, referencing and lovingly breaking the fourth wall. The basis of Meta here derives from the relations creator Tina Fey has within the industry as well as prior contacts at SNL (Saturday Night Live). Formers writers such as Donald Glover (Community) and Hannibal Buress (Stand-Up Comedian) have been seen on screen as the ‘gay-kid’ (Season 3, Episode 23: ‘Kidney Now’) and the resident ‘homeless-guy’ (Season 5, Episode 16: ‘TGS Hates Women’) respectively. Even after Matt Damon’s story arc as a guest star concluded in Season 5, the writers for the show boldly makes reference to his film Invictus, asking “… who was the white-guy in that?” (Season 5, Episode 22: ‘Everything Sunny All the Time Always’).

This brand of humour was epitomised during the unprecedented live performances from the series’ fifth season (‘Live Show – East/West Coast’). From the outset of the episode they were announcing a live cold open, during the live cold open, Tracy Morgan/Jordan avidly displaying ‘breaking’ on a live set as well as Julia Louis Dreyfus’ guest appearance as Liz Lemon during a Liz Lemon flash-back.

From Community; as previously mentioned there are a plethora of Metareferences, genre parodies and spoofs that permeates episode to episode. For examples the infamous Paintball episode in season 1; I challenge anyone to try and spot each Action Movie references.  From Jeff Winger striping down to a white tank top and no shoes courtesy of Die Hard, Abed sporting a nifty pair of goggles similar to The Chronicles of Riddick to the deceptive role Troy adopts during the episode – who was simple told to embody every “black-guy” from every 80’s action movie by creator Dan Harmon.

However the most Meta reference from the series thus far has to be the Mad Men/Community crossover, playing off Alison Brie’s reprising role as Trudy Campbell on Mad Men and Annie Edison in Community. In Season 1, Episode 17: ‘Physical Education’ we have the study group rally together trying to teach Abed how to approach women. To their surprise Abed reveals his prowess and channels Don Draper in order to seduce Annie.

From Futurama; the other Matt Groening and David X. Cohen animated creation besides our favourite yellow, four-fingered family. This series utilises Meta-humour quite well to parody more recent events into the year 3000. One of the best Metareferences from the series comes from Season 6, Episode 12: ‘Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences,’ which could only be described as a nerd’s wet dream.

The team from Planet Express visit the 3010 Comic-Con and attend the showing of Matt Groenings’ newest project, a “TV series set in the year 4000 and we call it ‘Futueralla’” as stated by David X. Cohen’s head-in-a-jar. This one joke is Meta on a number of levels as there was the classic cancellation joke at the expense of the Fox Network, as well as a great reference to the non-existence of a Simpsons Movie sequel. On another level, the ballroom depicted in the show was the actual ballroom used by the Futurama team to reveal that very clip at the 2010 Comic-Con, truly raising the bar on how Meta a Metareference can be.

From Boston Legal; another instance of fourth wall and Metreferencing is rife throughout the series, very much akin to David E. Kelly’s other works such as Ally McBeal. Star James Spader frequently acknowledging their status as fictional characters on a TV series, quoting that he hadn’t seen Denny Crane much during that episode whilst claiming how their courtroom antics would make for good television. These Meta one-liners work especially well when coupled with some obligatory nods to William Shatner’s time as James T. Kirk, Captain of the USS Enterprise.

Throughout the series the one reference that truly stands out is John Larroquette’s character Carl Sack addressing the court on behest of Catherine Piper played by the great Betty White (Season 5, Episode 11: ‘Juiced’). During closing arguments on an ageism case, Sack is trying to provide an example of a television show that features actors over the age of 50, but cautiously looks directly at the camera and refrains from uttering his next words in fear of breaking the fourth wall.

Carl Sack: “You know the only show unafraid to have its stars over 50 is “ Bos …(ton Legal) … “ Gee I can’t say it”

– Gestures toward the camera and the audience–

Carl Sack: “It would, um, break the wall”

From Castle; lead actor Nathan Fillion has definitely makes clear his love and affection for his role as Malcolm Reynolds in Joss Whedon’s inspired series Firefly. Even after the series cancellation, Fillion’s desire to once again don the iconic brown coat has been picked up by the writers of Castle. The shows cancellation was indeed a tragic loss to all involved with the Firefly Project, brutally axed by Fox after airing 11 out of 14 episodes only to be replaced by James Cameron’s cyber-punk dystopian drama Dark Angel, which ironically was then subsequently cancelled after two seasons. Firefly did have some redemption in the form of a feature length film Serenity to somewhat bookend the series, but Fillion remained absolute that the series would return.

However in his new role as writer Richard Castle, there have been some direct Metareferences within the show that allude to Firefly that any fan could easily indentify. The appropriated use of Jayne’s classic line from Firefly, “I was aiming for his head” (Firefly: ‘Train Job’/Castle: Season 2, Episode 18: ‘Boom’), an eerie call back to River’s maddening rhyme “two by two, hands of blue” (Firefly: ‘The Train Job’/Castle: Season 2, Episode 4: ‘Fool Me Once’) to Castle speaking in Mandarin to the bewilderment of his partner Detective Kate Beckett, claiming he learnt the language on a “TV show [he] used to love” (Castle: Season 3, Episode 9: ‘Close Encounters of the Murderous Kind’). However the ultimate Metareference I can think of was Season 2, Halloween Episode “Vampire Weekend” that received an unashamedly hilarious Firefly reference as well as a sneaky Joss Whedon and Buffy: The Vampire Slayer reference to boot. The video says it all, and I do believe that is the same prop pistol from Firefly.

To me, this is simply the greatest Metareference that by pure happenstance coincides with one of my favourite television series. Not only has the clever costume design pay homage to Malcolm Reynolds, but the witty banter between Castle and daughter Alexis completes the Meta scene. The music that underscores Castle’s entrance, while not Greg Edmundson, did feature a slide guitar that was a staple to the Firefly soundtrack. The ‘5 years ago’ quip was in reference to the feature film Serenity that was released in 2005 and even the ever faithful Fillion was told to ‘move on,’ but alas, no true Firefly fan can oblige.

With the proliferation of Metareferencing bombarding our screens, it begs the question; how much Meta is too much Meta? Or as Jeff Winger says “Abed, stop being Meta. Why do you always have to take whatever happens to us and shove it up its own ass?” (Community: Season 2, Episode 22: ‘Paradigms of Human Memory’) While not the cornerstone of sitcoms, I do hope Metareferencing continues as I love this kind of humour that gives back to the fans of the show with these little shiny nuggets of comedy gold.