Our favorite game made not one but two big appearances on TV this past week. First up, looks like the writer of TNT's Leverage (that Dan already interviewed a while back) is wasting no time getting his characters to fly the Horde flag, as you can see in the clip above (thanks to Massively for digging that up for us). The writer, John Rogers, told Dan that Blizzard actually vetted the dialogue above, which makes us wonder why they were ok with saying Burning Crusade, but didn't want to mention the second expansion by name. Maybe the episode was filmed so long ago that the name hadn't quite been confirmed yet.
And in other television news, we're told World of Warcraft made an appearance as a category on Jeopardy this week. We don't have video of that one (yet), but you can see a quick teaser over on Jeopardy's webpage that mentions the game as a category. World of Warcraft has of course appeared in the game show before as an answer, but this time around, there was a whole column of questions about it. If you see video anywhere online, let us know, and we'll add it here to the post.
there was also an episode of My Own Worst Enemy, in which the tech guy/operator (i forget his name), is playing world of warcraft on his multi-million dollar setup, and the star of the show threatens to tell his boss that he knows he plays WoW.
I have to say it was impressive to see the game played on his system. Having a see through screen and seeing all of the action going on. It tooke my wife and I a second to admit that it was WoW going on.
So, has WoW jumped the shark now that it is mainstream?
You're correct that "World of Warcraft" was in fact the name of a Jeopardy category, though you're mistaken about the actual content of said related questions.
I happened to be watching (yesterday, I think) when the category was used - it was one of many clever 'video game' related categories that actually were not about the game titles themselves. For example, there was 'Guitar Hero', which had questions about famous guitarists. 'World of Warcraft' contained questions/answers about real-life warfare and weapons (for example, one asked what the ammunition for crossbows was called, etc).
In addition, the category "Rock Band" was, in fact, about rocks. There WAS one video game related category in that episode however, aptly named "video games"
It's cool when TV shows get it right -- that dialogue sounded pretty natural and realistic. Not to mention kind of hilarious. (Although, namedropping "Halderman" made it sound like an early episode of Heroes.)
There was a blatant plug in the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" where a kid in bed is playing it, he's an Orc and he's crossing the bridge in Stranglethorn Vale, pretty funny that his mom is telling him to go to bed too.
I think it's awesome when something you enjoy so much is getting attention that is not just another news episode belittling it, or hearing that another person killed themselves because they didn't get the uber purple.
I hope to see more episodes like "Make love not Warcraft" from South Park, or even some shows that give the game a good review or play off of it in some fashion.
Jan 24th 2009 at 6:00PM 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TheChao Jan 24th 2009 6:07PM
there was also an episode of My Own Worst Enemy, in which the tech guy/operator (i forget his name), is playing world of warcraft on his multi-million dollar setup, and the star of the show threatens to tell his boss that he knows he plays WoW.
Prot Jan 25th 2009 10:56AM
I have to say it was impressive to see the game played on his system. Having a see through screen and seeing all of the action going on. It tooke my wife and I a second to admit that it was WoW going on.
So, has WoW jumped the shark now that it is mainstream?
Gnosh Jan 26th 2009 11:30AM
The dude was doing the bombing run daily on QD... oh god it seems so long ago :\
Thinking Mouse Jan 24th 2009 6:13PM
One of the recent episodes of House with a child in it had him playing WoW.
Sanwich Jan 24th 2009 6:13PM
You're correct that "World of Warcraft" was in fact the name of a Jeopardy category, though you're mistaken about the actual content of said related questions.
I happened to be watching (yesterday, I think) when the category was used - it was one of many clever 'video game' related categories that actually were not about the game titles themselves. For example, there was 'Guitar Hero', which had questions about famous guitarists. 'World of Warcraft' contained questions/answers about real-life warfare and weapons (for example, one asked what the ammunition for crossbows was called, etc).
Rihlsul Jan 24th 2009 6:37PM
Agreed. I got excited when I saw the category as well, but it wasn't about the game at all.
Mike, really - do you have any journalism training? As Editor, you should be editing that section out (strike through?).
Kvothe Jan 24th 2009 6:39PM
In addition, the category "Rock Band" was, in fact, about rocks. There WAS one video game related category in that episode however, aptly named "video games"
xnn Jan 25th 2009 7:32AM
yeah... I was like "oooh, I'll actually feel smart watching jeoparody for once!"
Too bad it had nothing to do with the game XD
mattereaterlad Jan 24th 2009 6:46PM
It's cool when TV shows get it right -- that dialogue sounded pretty natural and realistic. Not to mention kind of hilarious. (Although, namedropping "Halderman" made it sound like an early episode of Heroes.)
Jayo Jan 24th 2009 6:40PM
There was a blatant plug in the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" where a kid in bed is playing it, he's an Orc and he's crossing the bridge in Stranglethorn Vale, pretty funny that his mom is telling him to go to bed too.
jlpknights82 Jan 24th 2009 7:00PM
Haha you got to it first. Yeah he's in the Naga area in western STV. I flipped out in the theatre when I recognized it. XD
Frodo58 Jan 24th 2009 7:24PM
Actually, he was an Ally paladin. There was also a WoW poster in his wall
Tumleren Jan 24th 2009 7:38PM
He's an alliance paladin, and he isn't very good at being one :/
Uses the totally wrong spells (Judgement of Justice? What?) and wrong rotations.
ah well
tbear Jan 24th 2009 11:21PM
ten year old kid playing a human pally... way to stereotype.
my friend and i wanted to yell, "Pop your bubble noob!" when he died. haha
jlpknights82 Jan 24th 2009 6:59PM
The young kid main character in the new remake of "The Day The Earth Stood Still" plays WoW during a scene.
Thoorleif Jan 24th 2009 7:05PM
This is an old one I guess Stargate mentioning WoW and some odd facts *lol*
http://se.youtube.com/watch?v=fbb58QK6DjI
//Thoorleif
Keyra Jan 24th 2009 7:38PM
For the Horde!
LOL! This was great!
Serif Jan 24th 2009 8:23PM
As an avid Jeopardy watcher (taking the test this round, oh yes), my house was watching when the World of Warcraft category came up.
Despite my roomie saying "It's your category!", the other posters have been right: it was all about weaponry and war machines. We were sad.
MusedMoose Jan 24th 2009 8:23PM
That was hilarious.
And that is *exactly* the response I'd love to get when meeting someone else who plays WoW. "For the Horde!" *fist bump*
Wyveryx Jan 24th 2009 8:31PM
I think it's awesome when something you enjoy so much is getting attention that is not just another news episode belittling it, or hearing that another person killed themselves because they didn't get the uber purple.
I hope to see more episodes like "Make love not Warcraft" from South Park, or even some shows that give the game a good review or play off of it in some fashion.