Cultural References To Cockroaches - in Television

In Television

• X-Files episode "War of the Coprophages", cockroaches are seen to group together to murder people. The character Dr. Berenbaum (based on the University of Illinois entomologist) suggests that it is actually swarms of cockroaches that are responsible for most UFO sightings because they can generate an electro-static field which can be illuminated dependent on atmospheric conditions. In one of the scenes, a cockroach that escaped can be seen crawling over the camera, making it appear that the viewer's television has become infested. Though the shot was not planned, the producers decided to leave it in the episode.
• ALF, Alf inadvertently releases a cockroach from his home planet in the house. When it is sprayed with insecticide, it grows bigger until it is large enough to eat him. He discovers that a bottle of perfume will kill the cockroach.
• The short-lived kids television show Freaky Stories was hosted by a cockroach named Larry.
• Transformers Animated, an experiment on a cockroach goes wrong, causing it to grow and absorb everything in its path. Sari caught and damaging Prowl.
• In the television show "King of the Hill", the character Dale Gribble has been shown as a breeder of cockroaches. He attempts to breed a colony of Madagascar hissing cockroaches to do his bidding, theorizing that they will believe he is their mother and obey if he is the first thing they see when they hatch.
• In the popular television show Heroes, cockroaches are often shown near the main antagonist of the series, Sylar. The series' creator Tim Kring has stated that, because of their ability to survive and adapt so well, cockroaches present the embodiment of evolution to him, so he included them because of the show's evolutionary theme.
• In The Cosby Show, Theo's friend is named Cockroach
• In the Family Guy episode "Screwed the Pooch" while at the motel Brian is being given a tour of his motel room. When the owner reaches the bathroom and states that they have a roach problem, he opens the door to reveal two giant roaches in gang attire threatening to cut them.
• In All That Season 6 Episode 4, there's a skit about a game show called "Cockroaches in Your Pants" where Jerry Futile, the host, stuffs cockroaches down peoples pants.
• Oggy and the Cockroaches features three fictional cockroaches as main characters. Their names are Dee Dee, Joey and Marky.
• In The Powerpuff Girls, episode "Insect Inside", an evil man named Roach Coach possesses a swarm of cockroaches as his pets and uses them to attack and rule the City of Townsvelle.