Some Fun Television Facts from Recent Shows

These are just some fun trivial things I noticed recently while watching television in the last week:

How I Met Your Mother:

In recent episode "The Poker Game" they show a flashback of Marshall and Ted on a rooftop Halloween party.  One can briefly see actress Cristin Milotti (the 'Mother') dressed as the 'Great Pumpkin' a cultural reference to Linus from the Peanuts 1966 Halloween Special.  Linus would wait in a pumpkin patch rather than Trick or Treat every year in hopes the Great Pumpkin would make an appearance.

Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin circa 1966

How I met your mother also previously made reference to it in two episodes entitled "The Slutty Pumpkin" and "The Slutty Pumpkin Returns." In the first episode Ted develops a crush on an unknown woman inside a pumpkin costume, but loses her phone number.  In the reprise it turns out to be actress Katie Holmes.  It was just another tease in the ongoing story of who the 'Mother' would be.

Katie Holmes as the 'Slutty Pumpkin'

South Park:

The 4th episode entitled "Goth Kids: Dawn of the Posers" couldn't make it to air because of a power failure at South Park Studios. Apparently, South Park episodes are written, and animated in just six days.  6 days! This was the first time in 17 seasons they missed an air date.  Instead they showed a classic episode entitled "Scott Tenorman must die" and I could not stop laughing.  The premise is ridiculous, it features Radiohead and the writing for Cartman is genius.  A must see.

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

In recent episode "Wonderland Story" actor Richard Belzer's character Detective John Munch retires from SVU after appearing in 324 episodes.  Richard Belzer might hold a record for playing the same fictional character of Detective John Munch on the most television shows.

Detective Munch on the case at Sesame Street

This character has appeared as a regular in the following TV shows: Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, and of course Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.  Further, this character has been in episodes of The Wire, X-Files, Sesame Street, 30 Rock, Arrested Development and Jimmy Kimmel Live.  I can't think of another character that has reoccurred in this many shows other than Kermit and his Muppet friends.  Per the news Richard Belzer has not said if he is retiring this character for good and plans on continuing doing his comedy.

Can you think of one?  Please tell me.  I live for useless information.