Joe Queenan identified in his classic book, America: Red Lobster, White Trash and the Blue Lagoon, the modern trend of really bad books (eg anything by Tom Clancy) quoting better books (eg anything by William Shakespeare) in their opening pages as a way to make themselves seem better by association.
I'm sure there's an equivalent phenomenon in television, so does it say something about Knight Rider's quality levels that it's outright quoting Torchwood (and Heroes) in the opening minutes of its Halloween episode?
November 10, 2008 | Reply
Well, you already know how this all played out for me, I guess. Even posted my rant about how they played it out. And just now finished an episode of 'Crime Traveller' - not a great show, but still! - which handled a 'Doctor Who' reference perfectly. At least that writer knew to trust his audience to get it.