Better Call Jimmy! No Really, You Can.

One of the greatest things about TiVo is it’s ability to pause a show to give you a glimpse of something you might have otherwise missed. It didn’t take long for show creators to start adding in Easter Eggs that only viewers with this magical ability would be able to find; but in the last few years, some have taken it a bit further. For years, whenever a character in a movie or TV show mentioned a phone number, they used the semi-fictional “555” telephone exchange (with a few, notable exceptions). But in some recent shows, that practice has been abandoned, thereby allowing viewers in the real world to call a real number or visit a real website if they were fast enough to catch it.

Here are some of our favorites:

• Cougar Town’s Penny Can ad: In an episode of TBS’s “Cougar Town,” Bobby and Laurie created a radio ad for their fledgling Penny Can business that included the catchy telephone number 1-855-PENNYCAN. To many viewers surprise, the cast spent the next few days picking up the Penny Can phone number and answering viewers’ questions. Even Courtney Cox got in on the action!
• Better Call Saul…no really: Well technically, you better call Jimmy. AMC’s “Breaking Bad” sequel continues the tradition set forth by its predecessor of including working websites and phone numbers in the script. This week’s episode included a flash of Jimmy’s business card including his telephone number (505-842-5662) and email address (JamesMcGill312@earthlink.net).Oh and if you’re looking for Nacho (for whatever reason), you can reach him at 1-505-242-6087.
• Gone Girl’s Missing Persons poster: When Nick awkwardly smiled in front of that giant missing person poster for his beloved wife Amy there was a real, working telephone tip line number displayed (1-855-4-AMY-TIPS). It may not help you find Amy, but it will help you be even more disturbed about her disappearance. 
• How I Met Your Mother does it all: “How I Met Your Mother” took this idea and stretched it to the absolute limit. Barney famously held up a poster with his telephone number during the Super Bowl. (Sadly, that number has been disconnected). Lily and Marshall really sold their stuff on lilyandmarshallselltheirstuff.com (but for charity, not to raise funds for their wedding). Search for “Lorenzo Von Matterhorn” and you’ll find all the fake articles Barney posted to help him pull off that play from The Playbook. Ted Mosby was called a jerk on the internet by a scorned ex. Even Marshall’s countdown clock for his next slap was real. 

So next time someone mentions a website or a telephone number on your favorite show, grab your remote, hit pause and try it out!