LIFE IMITATES ART Things that were fake, before they became real. | ||
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BOGUS BUSINESS BUREAU | |||||
1 | Bad Twin | LOST 2004 TV Series | BBB | Literature | Novels |
Bad Twin Fiction novel by Gary Troup, one of the passengers on Oceanic flight 815. Sawyer finds and reads the manuscript. Released as a real life semi-canonical tie-in novel available in hardcover and audiobook. Published by Hyperion Publishing. | |||||
2 | Batman vs. Superman | I AM LEGEND 2007 Film | BBB | Cinema | Movies |
Batman vs. Superman Ad for a new film visible on the side of a building, years before the DCEU and the real Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. | |||||
3 | BBC 4 | AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY 1997 Film | BBB | Cinema | TV Stations |
BBC 4 From Austin Powers' song Ming Tea: "Will ya make me tea? Make love to me? Put on the telly? To the BBC! To the BBC, Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! BBC 1! BBC 2! BBC 3! BBC 4! BBC 5! BBC 6! BBC 7! BBC heaven!" BBC did eventually launch a real BBC 4 five years later, in 2002. | |||||
4 | Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans | HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE 2001 Film | BBB | Food Products | Candy |
Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans Popular candy, similar to Muggle jelly beans, except the range encompasses every flavour imaginable, including vomit, toffee and earwax. Now available for real from Jelly Belly. | |||||
5 | Billy Graham's Bible Blaster | THE SIMPSONS 1989 Animated Series | BBB | Media | Video Games |
Billy Graham's Bible Blaster Rod and Todd's religious video game in the Flanders home. Later turned into an actual online game on the official Simpsons website, accessible through Rod's character biography. | |||||
6 | Bluntman and Chronic | JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK 2001 Film | BBB | Literature | Comic Books |
Bluntman and Chronic Stoner comic based on Jay and Silent Bob. Actual Bluntman and Chronic comic books created by Kevin Smith were published after the release of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. | |||||
7 | Bluntman and Chronic | CHASING AMY 1997 Film | BBB | Literature | Comic Books |
Bluntman and Chronic Stoner comic based on Jay and Silent Bob. Actual Bluntman and Chronic comic books created by Kevin Smith were published after the release of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. | |||||
8 | Bluntman and Chronic | JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT 2019 Film | BBB | Literature | Comic Books |
Bluntman and Chronic Stoner comic based on Jay and Silent Bob. Actual Bluntman and Chronic comic books created by Kevin Smith were published after the release of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. | |||||
9 | Booty Sweat | TROPIC THUNDER 2008 Film | BBB | Beverage Products | Energy Drinks |
Booty Sweat Alpa Chino's energy drink brand. | |||||
10 | Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. | FORREST GUMP 1994 Film | BBB | Dining | Restaurants |
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Company Forrest establishes in honor of his friend Bubba. Inspired by the movie, an actual restaurant with the same name opened in 1996. | |||||
11 | Bust-A-Nut | TROPIC THUNDER 2008 Film | BBB | Food Products | Candy |
Bust-A-Nut Alpa Chino's candy bar brand. Pop a cap in hunger! | |||||
12 | Catalina Wine Mixer | STEP BROTHERS 2008 Film | BBB | Events | Fairs and Festivals |
Catalina Wine Mixer Annual mixer that didn't exist at the time of the movie, but does now as a result. | |||||
13 | The Caverns of Draconis [game] | COMMUNITY 2009 TV Series | BBB | Toys | Tabletop Games |
The Caverns of Draconis [game] Dungeons & Dragon module - not real module at the time, but the company DriveThru RPG created a real module that you can buy. | |||||
14 | Cheesy Poofs | SOUTH PARK 1997 Animated Series | BBB | Food Products | Chips and Crackers |
Cheesy Poofs Cartman's favorite snack, eventually made into an actual product by Frito-Lay. I love Cheesy Poofs you love Cheesy Poofs if we didn't eat Cheesy Poofs we'd be lame. | |||||
15 | Chocolate Frog | HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE 2001 Film | BBB | Food Products | Candy |
Chocolate Frog Chocolate candy in the shape of a frog. Each pack comes with a collectible card featuring a famous witch or wizard. Now available for real from Jelly Belly. | |||||
16 | The Cones of Dunshire | PARKS AND RECREATION 2009 TV Series | BBB | Toys | Tabletop Games |
The Cones of Dunshire Role-playing game that Ben creates. NBC worked with Mayfair Games to create a fully playable, though incredibly complicated, version of the game. | |||||
17 | Daily Bugle | SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME 2021 Film | BBB | Periodicals | Newspapers |
Daily Bugle Internet news site that streams Mysterio's final video, revealing Spider-Man's secret identity. As part of the promotional campaign, several Daily Bugle news stands were put up in New York. | |||||
18 | Dunder Mifflin Copy Paper | THE OFFICE 2005 TV Series | BBB | Goods | Office Products |
Dunder Mifflin Copy Paper Primary product sold by Dunder Mifflin, eventually manufactured for real, licensed by Comcast and produced and sold by Quill.com, a wholly owned subsidiary of Staples. | |||||
19 | ESPN 8: The Ocho | DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY 2004 Film | BBB | Television | TV Shows-Sports |
ESPN 8: The Ocho Spoof of over-expanding ESPN, covering obscure sports. In 2017, ESPN actually rebranded one of their networks, ESPNU, to "ESPN 8: The Ocho" for one day - August 8 - in honor of the movie Dodgeball, changing their programming to include disc golf, trampoline, dodgeball, cornhole, kabaddi, and the Firefighters World Challenge XXV. | |||||
20 | Eyeholes | RICK AND MORTY 2013 Animated Series | BBB | Food Products | Chips and Crackers |
Eyeholes Snack food product. Rick: "You got to be careful Morty, If that guy catches you with a box of his Eyeholes, he'll come bursting in through a window and just starts kicking the shit out of you. But it's worth the risk. They melt in your mouth." Now available on Amazon.com from FYE in the form of white chocolate truffles with green strawberry filling. | |||||
21 | Fallout 4 | YOU AGAIN 2010 Film | BBB | Media | Video Games |
Fallout 4 Video game that Joanna gives Marni's younger brother - which didn't actually come out until 2015. | |||||
22 | Flutter Girl | SINGLES 1992 Film | BBB | Music | Songs |
Flutter Girl Song on the tracklist that Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam came up with for the tape of solo songs that Matt Dillon's character, Cliff Poncier, peddles in the film. Chris Cornell of Soundgarden later decided to record actual songs based on the titles. | |||||
23 | Heat Wave | CASTLE 2009 TV Series | BBB | Literature | Novels |
Heat Wave A Nikki Heat novel by Rick Castle, eventually adapted into a real novel by screenwriter Tom Straw. | |||||
24 | Jack Rabbit Slim's | PULP FICTION 1994 Film | BBB | Dining | Restaurants |
Jack Rabbit Slim's Restaurant where Vincent and Mia eat, talk and dance. Vincent's assessment: "It's like a wax museum with a pulse." | |||||
25 | Machete | GRINDHOUSE 2007 Film | BBB | Cinema | Movies |
Machete Movie trailer that accompanied Grindhouse, though Robert Rodriguez eventually made it into a full length feature film. | |||||
26 | Missing | SINGLES 1992 Film | BBB | Music | Songs |
Missing Song on the tracklist that Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam came up with for the tape of solo songs that Matt Dillon's character, Cliff Poncier, peddles in the film. Chris Cornell of Soundgarden later decided to record actual songs based on the titles. | |||||
27 | National Chicken Wing Festival | OSMOSIS JONES 2001 Film | BBB | Events | Fairs and Festivals |
National Chicken Wing Festival After Bill Murray's character mentioned the fictitious festival in Buffalo, the city created a real version. | |||||
28 | Nike MAG | BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II 1989 Film | BBB | Apparel | Clothing Products |
Nike MAG MAG = Magnetic Anti Gravity. Power-lacing shoe developed by real life company Nike. Nike eventually did make a show modelled on the sneakers worn by Marty McFly. In the 2011 release 1,500 pairs were produced, while a further 89 self-lacing pairs dropped in 2016. | |||||
29 | No Pun Intended | THE LAST OF US 2023 TV Series | BBB | Literature | Books |
No Pun Intended Books of puns that Ellie reads. Officially licensed replica books are available for purchase. | |||||
30 | Nowhere But You | SINGLES 1992 Film | BBB | Music | Songs |
Nowhere But You Song on the tracklist that Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam came up with for the tape of solo songs that Matt Dillon's character, Cliff Poncier, peddles in the film. Chris Cornell of Soundgarden later decided to record actual songs based on the titles. | |||||
31 | Olde Frothingslosh Pale Stale Ale | KDKA 1920 Radio | BBB | Beverage Products | Beer |
Olde Frothingslosh Pale Stale Ale Beer product from a running gag commercial by American radio personality and radio host Regis Cordic, from his time at both WWSW and KDKA, featuring fake advertisements for Olde Frothingslosh Pale Stale Ale, "the pale stale ale with the foam on the bottom." The beer was supposedly brewed by Sir Reginald Frothingslosh at Upper Crudney-on-the-Thames. In 1955, Pittsburgh Brewing Company began issuing special Christmas-season cans and bottles of Olde Frothingslosh filled with real beer. | |||||
32 | Olde Frothingslosh Pale Stale Ale | WWSW-FM 1931 Radio | BBB | Beverage Products | Beer |
Olde Frothingslosh Pale Stale Ale Beer product from a running gag commercial by American radio personality and radio host Regis Cordic, from his time at both WWSW and KDKA, featuring fake advertisements for Olde Frothingslosh Pale Stale Ale, "the pale stale ale with the foam on the bottom." The beer was supposedly brewed by Sir Reginald Frothingslosh at Upper Crudney-on-the-Thames. In 1955, Pittsburgh Brewing Company began issuing special Christmas-season cans and bottles of Olde Frothingslosh filled with real beer. | |||||
33 | Pepsi Perfect | BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II 1989 Film | BBB | Beverage Products | Soft Drinks |
Pepsi Perfect Vitamin-enriched variety of Pepsi cola sold at the Cafe 80's in 2015. In October 2015, Pepsi released a limited quantity of Pepsi Perfect bottles to attendees of New York Comic Con that were dressed as Marty McFly. | |||||
34 | Phantasm: Ravager | JOHN DIES AT THE END 2012 Film | BBB | Cinema | Movies |
Phantasm: Ravager DVD visible when Dave is on his couch watching a commercial for Marconi, the final installment of the Phantasm series, which didn't come out until 2016, 4 years after John Dies at the End. | |||||
35 | Pineapple Express | PINEAPPLE EXPRESS 2008 Film | BBB | Drugs | Marijuana |
Pineapple Express The super special and rare strand of marijuana that Saul sells to Dale. Saul: "This is like if that Blue Oyster shit met that Afghan Kush I had - and they had a baby. And then, meanwhile, that crazy Northern Light stuff I had and the Super Red Espresso Snowflake met and had a baby. And by some miracle, those two babies met and fucked - this would the shit that they birthed." Dale: "So this is the product of baby fucking." Also described as smelling like God's vagina. Not a real strain at the time the movie was released, but is now able to be purchased at marijuana dispensaries. | |||||
36 | Psycho III | THE FAR SIDE 1980 Comic Strips | BBB | Cinema | Movies |
Psycho III Next installment of the Psycho film series, this one featuring a tank heading for a woman in the shower. The actual third entry in the Psycho film franchise came out 3 years later, in 1986. It did not, unfortunately, feature a tank. | |||||
37 | Quidditch | HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE 1997 Literature | BBB | Sports | Sports |
Quidditch Wizarding sport played on flying broomsticks, now played as a real life sport. | |||||
38 | Reptar Bar | RUGRATS 1991 Animated Series | BBB | Food Products | Candy |
Reptar Bar Chocolate bar based on Reptar, the Rugrats' favorite dinosaur. Later, Entertainment store FYE sold real life Rugrats-inspired Reptar Bar. "Reptar bar, Reptar bar, the candy bar supreme! The candy bar that turns your tongue green!" | |||||
39 | Rick's Cafe Americain | CASABLANCA 1942 Film | BBB | Dining | Restaurants |
Rick's Cafe Americain Rick's upscale nightclub and gambling den in Casablanca. In real life, a restaurant designed to recreate the bar from the movie called Rick's Cafe Casablanca opened in 2004 in Casablanca. | |||||
40 | Rocky V | SPACEBALLS 1987 Film | BBB | Cinema | Movies |
Rocky V The Mr. Rental video tape rental machine contains Rocky movies, including future volumes that had not yet been released, as well as some that still haven't been released. | |||||
41 | Schraderbrau | BREAKING BAD 2008 TV Series | BBB | Beverage Products | Beer |
Schraderbrau Hank's home brew. "Home brewed to silky perfection." Eventually brought out of Hank's garage and into your fridge by Breaking Bad actor Dean Norris and Buellton, CA brewing company Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. | |||||
42 | Seasons | SINGLES 1992 Film | BBB | Music | Songs |
Seasons Song on the tracklist that Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam came up with for the tape of solo songs that Matt Dillon's character, Cliff Poncier, peddles in the film. Chris Cornell of Soundgarden later decided to record actual songs based on the titles. | |||||
43 | Sex Panther | ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY 2004 Film | BBB | Personal Care | Cosmetics |
Sex Panther "Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries. Yep. It's made with bits of real panther. So you know it's good. They've done studies. Sixty percent of the time, it works every time." Eventually made into a real product that, instead of bits of real panther, combines notes of juniper with cedarwood and sandalwood, and even comes in a box that growls when you open it. | |||||
44 | Spoon Man | SINGLES 1992 Film | BBB | Music | Songs |
Spoon Man Song on the tracklist that Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam came up with for the tape of solo songs that Matt Dillon's character, Cliff Poncier, peddles in the film. Chris Cornell of Soundgarden later decided to record actual songs based on the titles. | |||||
45 | Spy | THE PHILADELPHIA STORY 1940 Film | BBB | Periodicals | Magazines |
Spy Tabloid magazine that served as the basis for Kurt Anderson and Graydon Carter's real world magazine of the same name, which skewered New York society in the 80s and 90s. | |||||
46 | Stan Mikita's Donuts | WAYNE'S WORLD 2 1993 Film | BBB | Food Stores | Donut Shops |
Stan Mikita's Donuts Donut shop inspired by the Tim Hortons franchise in Canada. Created for real in 2017 in celebration of Wayne's World's 25th anniversary - one in Aurora, Illinois, and one in Los Angeles as part of the NHL All-Star Game festivities. "If we get your order wrong, you don't have to pay" | |||||
47 | Stan Mikita's Donuts | WAYNE'S WORLD 1992 Film | BBB | Food Stores | Donut Shops |
Stan Mikita's Donuts Donut shop inspired by the Tim Hortons franchise in Canada. Created for real in 2017 in celebration of Wayne's World's 25th anniversary - one in Aurora, Illinois, and one in Los Angeles as part of the NHL All-Star Game festivities. | |||||
48 | Stay Puft Marshmallows | GHOSTBUSTERS 1984 Film | BBB | Food Products | Candy |
Stay Puft Marshmallows When it comes time to select the Destructor, Ray thinks about the Stay Puft Marshmallow mascot, which then terrorizes New York City. | |||||
49 | Swingline Red Stapler | OFFICE SPACE 1999 Film | BBB | Goods | Office Products |
Swingline Red Stapler Red was not an option at the time, but after the movie came out, Swingline produced a red stapler. | |||||
50 | Talkboy | HOME ALONE 1990 Film | BBB | Technology Products | Audiovisual Devices |
Talkboy Small electronic device that Kevin used to record everything from his uncle singing in the shower to clips from the movie Angels with Filthy Souls, eventually made into an actual product by Tiger Toys. | |||||
51 | Unholy Storm | CASTLE 2009 TV Series | BBB | Literature | Novels |
Unholy Storm A Derrick Storm novel by Rick Castle, eventually adapted into a real novel by screenwriter Tom Straw. | |||||
52 | Vesper | CASINO ROYALE 1953 Literature | BBB | Menu | Mixed Drinks |
Vesper Cocktail James Bond names after the beautiful Vesper Lynd. Following its appearance in the movie, it became a popular real life drink. | |||||
FICTITIOUS TIMELINE | |||||
53 | November 13, 1937 | LI'L ABNER 1934 Comic Strips | Dates | 20th Century: 1st Half | Events |
November 13, 1937 Holiday that inspired real-world Sadie Hawkins dances, where girls ask out the boys. | |||||
OTHER | |||||
54 | Mahmoud | STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND 1961 Literature | Other | Quotes | Quotes |
Mahmoud Mahmoud: 'Grok' is the most important word in the Martian language-and I expect to spend the next forty years trying to understand it and perhaps use some millions of printed words trying to explain it. But I don't expect to be successful. You need to think in Martian to grok the word 'grok'. (While the word 'grok' was created for the novel, it can now be found in Merriam Webster's Dictionary). | |||||
55 | Tom | TOM GOES TO THE MAYOR 2004 Animated Series | Other | Quotes | Quotes |
Tom Tom's novelty T-shirt depicting a top-hat doffing rat - which were actually produced and could be purchased from the show's creators: "Rats Off To Ya!" |
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