And now NBC's sitcom Community is jumping on the Doctor Who bandwagon...sort of.
In a short parody sequence featured during last night's episode "Biology 101," Britta Perry, played by Gillian Jacobs, introduces the pop-culture junkie character Abed Nadir, played by Danny Pudi, to what could be his new favorite show, "a British sci-fi series that's been on the air since 1962." (*Cough* 1963 *Cough*) Abed starts playing the show, called "Inspector Spacetime," on a laptop computer and we see a British red telephone box (not a blue police box?) materializing on a strange alien world.
An eccentric-looking man with David Tennant sideburns in a trenchcoat and a derby hat called "Inspector" emerges along with a male sidekick dressed as a police constable. "Blimey, Inspector," says the Constable, "where've we wound up this time?" As some eerie Doctor Who-esque music plays in the background, the Inspector replies, "The question isn't where, Constable...but when." The Constable then realizes they are under attack. "Inspector, look out! Blogons!" he cries as two salt shaker-looking metal creatures with bulging eyes start firing laser blasts at them, chanting the words "Eradicate! Eradicate!" in a tone very similar to the Daleks.
Pausing for a moment to take in what he's just seen, Abed announces, "This is the best show I have ever seen in my entire life."
Yeah, I know exactly how you feel, Abed...
For those interested in checking out the segment, you can view it below thanks to the YouTubey kindness of someone called Limors...