10 Best Twin Peaks References In Other Shows

Twin Peaks is a well-loved cult classic show and has been an influence on several shows after airing in the 1990s. It has been part of modern pop culture since it aired and quite a few other series have made specific references to the quirky and confusing show.

Twin Peaks was something completely new for television when it first aired and its imagery and storylines still hold up, 30 years later. Whether it’s a direct reference or a strong influential presence in the show, the original Twin Peaks series has certainly left its mark.

10 The Simpsons (1989 – )

In one episode of The Simpsons, Lisa Simpson walks out in a similar fashion to The Lodge scenes in Twin Peaks and starts speaking in a backward fashion to Chief Wiggum during a dream. The location also looks exactly like The Lodge and takes all of its cues from Agent Cooper’s dreams in Twin Peaks. 

Lisa gives him advice on how to solve who shot Mr. Burns, but she eventually gets annoyed with Wiggum’s inability to understand her and yells the clue at him.

9 Gravity Falls (2012 – 2016)

Gravity Falls has several references to Twin Peaks and the town of Gravity Falls seems to take a lot of inspiration from the town of Twin Peaks, including all of the quirky characters and personalities who live there. It also follows the supernatural mysteries of the town in a similar fashion to the investigations into the mysteries of Twin Peaks.

The odd occurrences in both towns are similar and Gravity Falls has certain restaurants, like The Club and Greasy’s Diner, that have a very similar vibe to the Twin Peaks locations, The Lodge and the Double R Diner.

8 Psych (2006 – 2014)

Psych pays homage to a lot of shows, including an episode dedicated to the world of Twin Peaks and it even brought on several of the actors from the original show to guest star in the episode.

Shawn and Gus are sent a cryptic message from a townsperson from the small and quirky town of Dual Spires (a direct reference to the name “Twin Peaks”) and the two decide to check it out. Everything about the town is off and immediately creeps out Shawn and Gus. There are countless other references, from Ray Wise’s surprising bright white hair and Sherilyn Fenn’s seductive character to the diner’s great coffee and cherry pie.

7 Gravedale High (1990)

Gravedale High followed a high school class of rebellious monsters led by their human teacher (voiced by Rick Moranis) and one episode saw the kids go on a field trip to Thin Peaks Park.

The park is obviously a reference to Twin Peaks, as the name suggests, but the surrounding forest is also similar, and the music is similar to the main title sequence of Twin Peaks. Kimberly Robertson voices Duzer on the show and she starred in Twin Peaks as Lucy, the receptionist at the Sheriff’s station.

6 Darkwing Duck (1991 – 1992)

Darkwing Duck had a cleverly titled “Twin Beaks” episode that had several references to Twin Peaks. 

The episode has similar music to Twin Peaks throughout, Bushroot in plastic, just like Laura Palmer, a similar diner and waitress, and a motif of “the cows are not what they seem” that mimics the same line about owls in the town of Twin Peaks.

5 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010 – 2013)

This Scooby-Doo! animated series had a dream sequence reference to Twin Peaks, as Scooby fell asleep and tried helplessly to solve a mystery.

The dream is the same setup as Agent Cooper’s dream in the original Twin Peaks series, with the same scenery, character dancing out to greet him, and the backward speech pattern.

4 Pretty Little Liars (2010 – 2017)

Pretty Little Liars had a central plot of the disappearance or murder of a young woman and it followed a group of her friends who may or may not have been involved.

This premise is already similar to Twin Peaks, but the addition of an FBI agent called Agent Cooper is a true reference to the show’s main character Dale Cooper. Agent Cooper in Pretty Little Liars didn’t appear often, but it’s a great reference all the same.

3 The Good Place (2016 – 2020)

The Good Place followed the character of Eleanor, as she tries to adjust to the afterlife after recently dying. Eleanor and her new group of friends finally find their way to “The Good Place.”

In The Good Place, there are various candies that allow everyone to feel a certain way when they eat them. There’s a small easter egg that references Twin Peaks when Ring Pop candies give the person the ability to fully understand the meaning of the confusing show.

2 Stranger Things (2016 – )

Stranger Things walks a fine line between being truly scary and delightfully cheesy and a big reason for this is the show’s influences, including Stephen King’s work and Twin Peaks, especially in the first few episodes.

The first episode begins with a young local boy (Will Byers) who mysteriously goes missing. The beginning of the show focuses on the town’s reaction to his odd and supernatural disappearance, from the sheriff and his friends to his mother, which is all too similar to the beginning of Twin Peaks when Laura Palmer is found murdered.  

1 Sesame Street (1969 – )

Cookie Monster is “Agent Cookie” in the town of “Twin Beaks” in this Sesame Street parody, as he tries to figure out why the town is called this throughout the skit.

There are several references to the show’s dramatics, as he never fully gets an answer, he meets a bird called David Finch, talks to a Diane over a tape recorder, has some darn fine pie, and finds a bird who talks to a log.

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