Cultural References
The Law & Order episode "Subterranean Homeboy Blues" is based on the Goetz case.
He is frequently referenced in rap music, including by Big L on Da Graveyard and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA on Clan in da Front among many others. Bill Stephney of Def Jam Records mentions Goetz in an explanation of Public Enemy's namesake: "We're all public enemies. Howard Beach. Bernhard Goetz. Michael Stewart. The Black man is definitely the public enemy." The British progressive rock band Pallas released the song "The executioner (Bernie Goetz a gun)" on their 1986-album "The Wedge". He is mentioned in the Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire", "Hold On" by Lou Reed and "Stop That Train" by the Beastie Boys. The songs "Subway Vigilante" by Ronny and the Urban Watchdogs, "The Saga of Bernhard Goetz" by Otto von Wernherr, and "Shoot His Load" by Agnostic Front are about him.
In the David Letterman Book of Top Ten Lists, there is a list entitled "Bernhard Goetz's Top Ten Pickup Lines". He is mentioned in the film The Brave One, and in the Family Guy episode "Stewie Kills Lois". Goetz is mentioned approvingly by NBC executive Jack Donaghy in the season two episode "Subway Hero" of 30 Rock.
In a scene in the film Predator 2, a group of gang members threatens a businessman on the subway and he pulls a gun out of his briefcase, prompting half of the ordinary-looking patrons to pull out similar weapons.
Goetz is frequently mentioned in Criminal Minds episode 17 when the Behavioral Analysis Unit is in New York City to profile a vigilante killer.
Goetz is mentioned in "Seinfeld" season 2, the tenth episode title "The Baby Shower." In the episode, Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) convinces Jerry Seinfeld to lend her his apartment for a baby shower. The recipient of the baby shower is her friend, Leslie (Christine Dunford), who likes to talk brag about her life and is ungrateful for Elaine's attempt to throw a decent party. She says at one point, "Who catered this party? Sears?" She tells Elaine about the new apartment she recently moved into, bragging that Bernhard Goetz once lived there.
The incident is referenced in the Forgotten Rebels song "Criminal Zero" which appeared on the 1994 album of the same name.
In the Venture Brothers episode "The Better Man" Dr. Orpheus' omnisicent Master takes the form of a middle-aged Dean Venture who bears a strong resemblance to Goetz. The likeness is intentional and confirmed on the DVD commentary for the episode.
Mentioned in Season 2, Episode 7, of 21 Jump Street
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