10 TV Scenes That Became More Famous Than Their Own Shows

Occasionally a TV scene has such an impact on popular culture that it managed to overtake the show it was from and become even more famous than its source material. This can occur because a memorable line gets imbued into popular culture, a classic moment gets parodied across many other TV shows, or, in some cases, the scene took a life of its own and became a viral sensation online. Through sheer coincidence or carefully mapped-out planning, certain scenes from TV series can outshine everything else that occurred in the show.

Certain famous scenes came from highly popular series but still managed to overtake the show when it came to how widespread recognition. Over time, memorable turns of phrases or expressions from TV scenes can find their way into the common lexicon and audiences end up repeating them without even being aware of the show that they were originally from. From beloved sitcoms to fantasy dramas, there have been plenty of TV scenes that became even more famous than the show that they were from.

10
Winter Is Coming

Game of Thrones (2011 – 2019): Season 1, Episode 1, “Winter Is Coming”

Few people are unaware of the expression “Winter is coming”, so much so that for some viewers it was even detached from its source material in Game of Thrones. As the title of the fantasy series’ very first episode, this iconic phrase came to represent the very essence of the George R. R. Martin adaptation after it was first uttered by Ned Stark in the pilot. While the phrase was a symbol of the hard times ahead, it turned into a motto for the whole show that’s recognizable by even those who have never watched Game of Thrones.

9
The Dream Scene

Dallas (1978 – 1991): Season 9, Episode 31, “Blast From the Past”

The 1980s soap opera Dallas has been remembered for containing one of the most blatant examples of retconning ever committed to the small screen through its infamous dream scene. This was the moment in the Season 9 finale when Pam awoke to her previously deceased husband Bobbie Ewing alive and well and learned that everything that occurred across the entire season had been a dream. This absurd development broke all the rules of television narratives and became such a famous moment that it’s been parodied in everything from Family Guy to Rosanne.

8
Going Over The Top

Blackadder (1983 – 1989): Season 4, Episode 6, “Goodbyeee”

The final scene of the satirical British sitcom Blackadder Goes Forth gained such a high level of critical acclaim that it became even more famous than the series itself. As a poignant ending to a comedy that was so full of levity, the moment when the main characters went “over the top” and met a brutal death during World War I acted as a powerful anti-war message. With the use of gallows humor to showcase the true human cost of conflict, in its final moments, Blackadder Goes Fourth became a scathing critique of the horrors of war.

7
“We Were On a Break”

Friends (1994 – 2004): Season 3, Episode 15, “The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break”

During the time it was on the air Friends was the world’s biggest sitcom and viewers were seriously invested in the on-again off-again romance of Ross Geller and Rachel Green. The “we are were on a break!” debate divided viewers, as the couple quarreled about whether Ross’s infidelity with the “girl from the Xerox place” was justified or if it was considered cheating. This moment was so iconic it became one of the most memorable moments in Friends, and there are plenty of people who have given their two cents on the issue without ever seeing a single episode.

6
“I Am The One Who Knocks”

Breaking Bad (2008 – 2013): Season 4, Episode 6, “Cornered”

Breaking Bad was full of memorable lines and legendary moments, but none more so than Walter White’s speech to his long-suffering wife Skyler that he was “the one who knocks.” Walt’s impassioned declaration that he was “the danger” became such an iconic moment that it has been plastered across Breaking Bad memorabilia and even transcended its source material. While Breaking Bad held an important place in popular culture and stood as one of the most important television shows of the 21st century, this scene has taken on a life of its own in terms of memes, parodies, and overall recognition.

5
The Twilight Zone Monologues

The Twilight Zone (1959 – 1964)

Even those who have never seen an episode of the science fiction anthology series The Twilight Zone will still have some familiarity the Rod Serling’s iconic introductions at the beginning of every episode. The inspiration for so many shows that came after it, the series creator Serling began each episode by addressing the audience directly and explaining what to expect. The memorable focal inflection and eerie way that Serling presented the series would be parodied in countless future series such as Johnny Bravo, The Simpsons, and Community.

4
“How Come He Don’t Want Me, Man?”

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990 – 1996): Season 4, Episode 24, “Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse”

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air helped transform Will Smith from an up-and-coming hip-hop artist into one of the most recognizable actors on the planet and nowhere was his potential more apparent than in the “how come he don’t want me, man?” scene. This was where Will’s father, once again, ran out on him and he had an emotional outburst with Uncle Phil about his difficult childhood and the emotional gap his father’s absence had left in his life. The scene was so powerful and resonant that it became the single most referenced aspect of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

3
Jumping The Shark

Happy Days (1974 – 1984): Season 5, Episode 3, “Hollywood: Part 3”

The term “jumping the shark” became so synonymous with the moment a TV series went downhill that many may not be aware of its origins as a scene in Happy Days. This infamous scene featured Fonzie jumping over a live shark on a pair of water skis and has been widely viewed as the point that the popular sitcom had run out of new and exciting ideas. The term has entered widespread usage in popular culture and there are surely lots of people who point to other “shark jumping” moments on TV series without ever having seen Fonzie’s famous stunt.

2
Chrissy Wake Up

Stranger Things (2016- Present): Season 4, Episode 1, “Chapter One: The Hellfire Club”

In today’s TikTok era scenes from television shows can take on new meaning due to the audience’s interactions and this was definitely the case for Eddie Munson’s scene in Stranger Things when he discovered his friend Chrissy killed by a creature from The Upside Down. An eerie and spooky scene, Eddie’s discovery of Chrissy’s body became a TikTok sensation when it was re-edited as a viral song called “Chrissy, Wake Up.” As a serious catchy tune, viewers could not get Eddie and Chrissy’s viral TikTok song out of their heads, and it became even more famous than the scene itself.

1
Wednesday’s Dance

Wednesday (2022 – Present): Season 1, Episode 4, “Woe What a Night”

Although Wednesday was one of the most watched shows in Netflix history, it still had one scene that held the honor of being even more recognizable than the show itself. This was the moment when Wednesday Addams’ danced, in her signature style, to The Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck” in a memorable moment in the show. However, the scene became even more famous due to countless audience recreations on TikTok with stars like Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Kim Kardashian even getting involved. The dance began trending so heavily that it eclipsed Wednesday in popularity and became a major pop culture phenomenon.