Jefferson in Popular Culture
From Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia
Thomas Jefferson is still alive and well in popular culture, and references to him sometimes appear in unexpected places. Below are some interesting Jefferson-sightings that have come to our attention.
Movies, Television, and Entertainment
- Jefferson's famous quotation, "I have sworn ... eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man," is featured on the USS Yamato in Star Trek (courtesy of Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki)
- The Springfield Town Hall in the television show The Simpsons bears a striking resemblance to Monticello
- Thomas Jefferson's career as a Muppet, courtesy of the Muppet Wiki
- The University of Virginia Magazine Web exclusive "Acting Presidential", a look at Thomas Jefferson's portrayal in film and the actors who have played him.
- The Declaration of Independence in Homer Simpson's voice, read by a classically trained English actor
- On page 213 of William Shatner's autobiography, Up Till Now: The Autobiography (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2008), he states that the full name of Sergeant T.J. Hooker is Thomas Jefferson Hooker. Apparently the creator of the character named him after Civil War General Joseph Hooker but couldn't come up with a first and middle name until later. The first line of the pilot episode was: "T.J. Hooker is the name but you don't have to lose any sleep wondering what the T.J. is for. As far as you're concerned my name is...sergeant."
- A radio station in Charlottesville calls itself Tom @107.5 named after Thomas Jefferson.
News Items
- A recent article in the Weekly World News entitled, "Thomas Jefferson's Alien Love Child": http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/top_story/59
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- A Jefferson bobble-head doll was offered to the first 20,000 fans to attend the the Aug. 4, 2007, Washington Nationals baseball game (pictured at right).
- An Alabama Power advertisement takes some liberties with Jefferson's image on the nickel (below).
