Influence
On October 30, 1965, a song and dance based on Lurch, entitled "The Lurch", were introduced on the ABC music program Shindig!. This mirrored an earlier episode of the television series, entitled "Lurch, the Teenage Idol" (which was remade in 1999 for The New Addams Family). In it, Lurch records a song on his harpischord and becomes a pop sensation.
Lurch makes a momentary appearance in the Batman TV episode entitled "The Penguin's Nest" (1966), when he opens a window and sticks his head out and observes Batman and Robin climbing the wall to the Penguin's kitchen.
Lurch appears in the NES game Fester's Quest. Uncle Fester can get the famous noose from Grandmama, which, when used, shakes the screen with a loud gong (just like the TV show). Lurch's picture appears, says "You rang?", and destroys all on-screen enemies.
Lurch is mentioned the 1995 film Die Hard with a Vengeance. During the fight on the cargo ship, John McClane (Bruce Willis) repeatedly tries to provoke and mock his opponent, terrorist Mathias Targo (Nick Wyman), including by comparing his appearance with Lurch from The Addams Family.
On at least two episodes of Scrubs, the Janitor (played by Neil Flynn) has been called "Lurch" by other characters, alluding to his vague physical resemblance to the Addams Family character and certain behavioral traits they share, such as appearing out of nowhere or the jack-of-all-trades element. The Janitor character on Scrubs was not initially meant to have lines (except when talking to J.D., the viewpoint character), but this was changed, as he speaks with all other characters as of Season Two. A further similarity is that the Janitor's name is never revealed (until the final episode of the 8th season, which was originally intended to be the series finale). The Janitor has also changed his address in his profile to say that he lives at "1313 Mockingbird Lane" (the address of the Munsters). On one occasion he even responded to a summons with "You rang?", and stated that he was imitating Lurch.
Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, soon joined by other conservative pundits, used the nickname Lurch to describe the tall and slim 2004 Democrat Presidential nominee, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.
In 2012, the LEGO theme "Monster Fighters" released a set entitled "10228 Haunted House" that featured a butler minifigure based on Lurch.
In a season 5 episode of Mad Men, Don calls Stan and Ginsberg to his office. Upon arriving at the door Stan says, "You rang?"
Read more about this topic: Lurch (The Addams Family)
Famous quotes containing the word influence:
“Constitutional statutes ... which embody the settled public opinion of the people who enacted them and whom they are to govern—can always be enforced. But if they embody only the sentiments of a bare majority, pronounced under the influence of a temporary excitement, they will, if strenuously opposed, always fail of their object; nay, they are likely to injure the cause they are framed to advance.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“The Family is the Country of the heart. There is an angel in the Family who, by the mysterious influence of grace, of sweetness, and of love, renders the fulfilment of duties less wearisome, sorrows less bitter. The only pure joys unmixed with sadness which it is given to man to taste upon earth are, thanks to this angel, the joys of the Family.”
—Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–1872)
“Women stand related to beautiful nature around us, and the enamoured youth mixes their form with moon and stars, with woods and waters, and the pomp of summer. They heal us of awkwardness by their words and looks. We observe their intellectual influence on the most serious student. They refine and clear his mind: teach him to put a pleasing method into what is dry and difficult.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)