While recently watching a super old episode of Parks & Recreation, we had to laugh when we saw what looked exactly like our card-catalog-turned-spice-&-spoon-rack in the background behind Amy Poehler. Especially because the episode was all about her unabashed hatred for libraries:
Isn’t it a dead ringer for the $5 thrift store version I got two Valentine’s Days ago from Sherry (read more about that here)?
So it got us wondering if you’ve ever seen something you have in your house on TV. Was your fancy stapler on The Office? Did your Ikea curtains make an appearance on Project Runway? Have you spotted the same touristy magnet from Texas on someone’s fake sitcom fridge? Spill the as-seen-on-TV beans.
Ellie says
I have the same dining room set as Katherine on Desperate Housewives. I got mine at JC Penny’s, but I doubt her character would have shopped there!
Courtney says
When I was (much) younger, I had the same outfit that “Michelle” wore on Full House one episode… I even wore it in my kindergarten school photo!
Carole White says
Oh! …and one more thing, I have Vietri dinnerware in multiple Cucina Fresca colors…and so did the Osbourne family on Meet the Osbournes & I remember seeing it used on a season of the Real World a few years back.
http://apps.agenne.com/CategoryDisplay.cfm?cat=3103&cid=251&CFID=11412940&CFTOKEN=19171137
Jenn says
My parents own both of the cookie jars pictured in Monica/Rachel and Chandler/Joey’s apartments on Friends. I think they were a clown and a clock.
Lindsay says
I inherited the same china pattern that Carmella Soprano has on The Sopranos…it’s white with a black border with large purple and pink flowers in the border. HILARIOUS.
Lauren says
I saw a lady on a Qwest commercial wearing the same Old Navy sweater that I have. Also, I have the same Michael’s baskets (the ones on your Billy bookcase) and the same TV stand from Target that you have. I bought both of these before seeing them on your blog and was pretty flattered that you picked the same ones. That’s as close as my things have gotten to stardom. Now, if only I could get the rest of my house to look like yours. :)
Megan O. says
I have a unique white bowl with orange circles on it that I saw on an episode of one of my favorite shows– Friends! Phoebe was eating popcorn out of it and my jaw dropped because my mom got it super cheap at a garage sale and it’s so unique!
Stacy says
I actually saw my childhood home in Richmond in a magazine! We lived in a log cabin along the James River. This lady bought it after us and turned it into a beautiful home with modern furnishings worthy of a magazine. It was pretty neat to see what she had done to my old room, the living room, and such.
Holly says
I have the Menu candles that sit on the table between James Spader and William Shatner in every final scene of Boston Legal. – A gift from a visiting Swedish house guest.
I also have the Taxi bath towels seen in the kids bathroom as Everyone Loves Raymond.- From my mother -in law’s towel collection
laurajane says
I had the same Michael Kors purse as one of the ladies on Cougar town!
Erica says
Not exactly the same thing but my brother got married last month (on June 26th) at the Four Seasons Restaurant in NYC. For anyone who watches the Real Housewives of NYC, Bethanny also got married there (and insisted that the Four Seasons Restaurant is THE iconic NYC place to get married). Even though her wedding happened first in real time, the episode didn’t air until after my brother’s wedding, which made it feel like we were revisiting a great day.
Julianne says
I own the same Le Jardin shirt that Amanda Bynes wore in Sydney White that was a hammy down from my sister originally
purchased from J. Crew.
EMS says
Gilmore Girls had the Yorktowne pattern of stoneware from Pfaltzgraf … same as my grandma!
Tammi says
Well it’s not exactly the same thing…. the dagger/knife that Harry was going to kill Spider Man with in the 2nd movie, I got that for my husband for christmas a few years before that. I was all “HEEEEEY!!! That’s exactly the same! Ha!” Yeah we’re weird.
AlexisS says
My super-fancy-never-actually-used wedding china is the same that Blair Waldorf & her mom use as their “everyday” dishes on Gossip Girl!
Marcia says
I recognized my Pottery Barn striped pillow on Phil and Claire’s Modern Family sofa!
Julia says
I have a mirror thingy that has 9 little circle mirrors (3×3) that I got at Pier One years ago. I have 2 of them hanging above the fireplace. David Bromstad used it in an episode of Colorsplash and I just saw it on an episode of My First Sale!
Robyn in Chicago says
We got new phones at work and the first day we used them I would hear them ring and I would think…”how do I recognize the ring tone of our new phones…?” and then it dawned on me that it was the same ring tone used on The Office. It made me smile for about 2 days every time I heard the ringer…like I worked at Dundler Mifflin.
Next time I watched the show, I checked it out – same Cisco phones.
So – not a “home” related story, but kinda funny nonetheless.
Terry Bartel says
After remodeling our kitchen and putting new light fixtures up I saw a table lamp on an old TV drama staring Dick Vandyke that matched my light fixtures in the kitchen. I went on a search and found the table lamp (Lowe’s). It was a great find!
Lindsey S says
Not a TV show or movie, but just last night I was watching TV with my boyfriend, and I commented how much I loved the couch in an AT&T commercial. They showed it again, and I realized it’s the same couch that we bough last week from Ikea, but haven’t put together yet (waiting till we move on Friday). We high fived for picking out something so awesome.
tgrara says
A few months ago I bought a green carnival glass compote from a thrift store in Baltimore for 1.50. I have finally gotten around to watching The Wire, which is based in Baltimore, and in a scene from the third season there in the middle of a kitchen table was the exact same compote dish.
Annette says
Ahhh!!! Yes! I have this cute green mug, that has made two appearances on the Secret Life of the American Teenage … funny enough in two different character’s homes as they sipped on their morning cup of coffee. On both occasions I got really, really excited.
Jenn says
Ha ha ha yes! In The Devil Wears Prada Ann Hathaway’s character is made fun of for a “frumpy” blue cableknit sweater…which I own, from JCrew. But on the flip side, I also own the same coat as worn by the character, Alice, in the newest twilight movie; a cute trench from Anthropologie.
And if you like parks and rec, I highly recommend the episode titled “The Camel”…the departments are all competing to create a new mural for the building and their critique of each others work cracks me up every time I watch it.
Megan W. says
I have this orange IKEA throw pillow that I bought over two years ago…I have seen it on 30 Rock AND Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia! It is in Liz’s office and Dee’s apartment. It made me feel pretty good!
Christa says
I just notice the other day that I have the same lamp as you guys (the glass one that you filled with ornaments) I found it at a thrift store for 5 dollars! It had me at Hellooo! It is now filled with the shells my babies collect at the beach. Have a wonderful night.
Emily @ The Happy Home says
Stumbled across your site from another blog– LOVE IT.
I used to have green velvet chairs from Cost Plus that were definitely in Matthew Perry’s office on “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.” They were great chairs!
Carrisa says
Yes! I once saw my adorable Urban Outfitters lamp in an insurance commercial. State Farm I think. It was in a nursery. I was so excited. http://www.flickr.com/photos/carrisablog/2297263506/
Also we have this cool martini lamp with a giant olive in it. I spotted it inside Joey’s apartment on Friends.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carrisablog/289792427/
Emily says
I have three…
In like 1982 Erica Cain from all my children had our sofa and loveseat.
I had DJ Tanner’s bed.
More recently, I saw my gap cardi in a swifter commercial.
Jessica K says
I hate when my story is the same as your example – so unoriginal and boring – ha. But I see my cheap-o Ikea curtains turned shower curtain on tv all the time. Most recently on Kourtney and Khloe take Miami – I am ashamed to say I was caught watching that – so there you have it.
Oh and I just caught Courtney’s post above about Full House. I was watching it one night as I always did as a tot and happened to be wearing my favorite Gap overalls with cute pink and yellow patches on it at the same time Michelle was wearing them on the episode. I talked about that for months – and then probably wore them everyday for months.
Dellie says
It is really weird seeing something so familar of your own on a tv show. Our lounge used to be on an old Australian show called “mother and son” notice how I said our lounge…. hehe
It wasnt exactly a plain lounge either…
denise says
My bedding that i now use in our gueat room was the same as Loralie’s (?) comforter in gilmore girls. When ever I see it, it makes me smile!
LAURA LEIGH says
In the movie “When Harry Met Sally” in one of Meg Ryan’s apartments hanging over the mantle was a print of Matisse’s Goldfish. I have the same print in my office.
Josh says
In our office, we have the same “Life needs more green lights” artwork that Shawn and Gus from Psych have on the wall in their office. Since it’s one of our favorite shows we think it’s pretty cool.
mm says
The bed in our guest bedroom is the same bed that Ray had in Everybody Loves Raymond. I know at least 3 other people who have that bedroom set too, so it must have been popular!
And not nearly as exciting – but in The Office they have the same Cisco phones we use at work.
Devon says
Jim on The Office used to have my car. (The one in the episode where he slammed on the brakes, causing Dwight to hit his head on the headrest.) If I remember correctly, he has gotten something newer, though. (I’ll have it pretty much forever, ’cause I don’t get paid for product placement.)
Wow, someone took the time to put this together: http://theoffice.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_cars_owned_by_Dunder_Mifflin_employees.
Laura Nygaard says
Remember the show ‘The Love Boat’? My crystal that we got when we got married 26 years ago is that crystal! Didn’t know it at the time, but still love it!
Anna says
Stacy from TLC’ s What Not to Wear once had on a navy dress I got from Macys. It looked better on her though.
Yulia says
I have a shirt that I call “The Katie Couric Shirt” because she also wore it once when she used to host the Today Show. It no longer fits me, but I can’t bear to part with it.
OMG-YHL says
I’m a TV nut and Parks&Rec is one of my fave shows! I saw my Target necklace on the preppy-and-polished Emma Pillsbury from “Glee.” I also have the blanket (from Target also, how funny!) that Jan wrapped baby Astird–oops, I mean “Astrid”– in when they came to visit “The Office.” I love seeing something I have on TV!
Ashley says
I saw my wedding dress on an episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond” a while back. I think her name is Amy – the gal that married Robert. She was wearing my same dress but they had cropped it so that it was a short style. That’s wild!!!
Jenny D. says
Oh man, yes! We have this green & white throw-pillow (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ao3FuzZeDWs/S18dzBbCypI/AAAAAAAABMo/uYPg8HNkasQ/s1600-h/Green+Berries.jpg) from Pier One that we have seen on TV so many times! I don’t remember which shows specifically, but I know we saw it on two different ones AND in a commercial! I knew I had good taste!
We also have two red & brown striped pillows that were on the “interview” set of Jon & Kate Plus 8 a few seasons ago. Also, it seems TONS of people on HGTV have our Noresund bed from IKEA.
Krystal says
I can’t say I’ve seen anything in my house on TV, but I have seen some of my favorite pieces of clothing on What Not to Wear (and I’m not talking about the “after” segment). I was scandalized to see my green polo shirt be trash talked by Clinton who claimed he wore the same thing in his 6th grade school picture, so any woman who wore it would look like a 12 year old boy.
Sara says
It’s not really decor related, but I used to have a sweater that Monica wore in an old episode of Friends. I thought this was the coolest thing ever back in 9th grade.
kelly nixon says
i have adorable measuring cups that look like mugs from anthropologie that are on the show cougar town (i forget the character’s name but not courtney cox. she also wears my favorite gray grandpa sweater from target). rudy and vanessa had my pink flowered comforter from mervyn’s on the the cosby show.
Jen says
When I was little, I spotted my white flannel sheets with pink tulips in the movie “Prancer” (this was a BIG deal for a 10 year old and I have never forgotten)! When I was in high school, the movie “Election” came out and I recognized about half of my wardrobe because their costume designer bought most of Reese Witherspoon’s clothing at The Limited, where I worked part-time. Most recently, my Target shower curtain was in the movie “The Jane Austen Book Club.”
AND I second Jenn’s above comment about the Parks and Rec episode “The Camel”…it’s pretty hilarious!
Kat says
I have a beautiful vintage white lamp/table that sadly appeared in one of the final (awful) bedroom scenes from the movie No County For Old Men. The movie kind of ruined it for me, which is heartbreaking since this was my first beloved piece of furniture. It was the only thing that I stored when I went to Peace Corps and then I returned to have it ruin in a grisly movie scene. I still have it next to my bed, but it always gives me pause when I turn it out at night.
Jenny says
I have a blue bowl from Target that I see all over the place.
Elyse says
It isn’t TV, but after I got married, I kept seeing my wedding dress in wedding photographer portfolios and wedding blogs! Yes…I’m still obsessed with weddings :)
Also, little things on your blog, like ikea stuff (frames, storage boxes, striped white flower pot) and the anthropology mugs.
Tasha says
We have the same couch as the Masche’s in the tv show “Raising Sextuplets”. I have also seen it on an HGTV show.
http://www.poptower.com/images/db/10240/450/450/raising-sextuplets.jpg
jamie says
i’ve seen many of my belongings on tv shows and movies. A sweater that I had was worn my tiffany amber thiessen in an episode of beverly hills 90210. She also wore a dress that i owned in another episode. It’s like doing a double take. I had a nautica bedding set and that was seen in the movie bruce almighty.