References to the board game Risk in popular culture
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Since Parker Brothers first published and marketed the board game Risk in 1959, it has influenced popular culture in a myriad of ways. It has been referenced in numerous movies, television series, as well as in music. The following is a list of references to the board game Risk in popular culture.
- Risk is played in the Seinfeld episode "The Label Maker" by Kramer and Newman, prompting Jerry to comment "it's Risk, the game of world domination being played by two guys who can barely run their own lives." The two play an extended Risk game throughout the episode. Towards the end of the episode, Kramer is on the verge of victory as they play on the subway. However, after Kramer taunts Newman, regarding his position, "Ukraine is weak," a nearby Ukrainian man becomes enraged and smashes their Risk board.
- In his comedy special Dress to Kill, Eddie Izzard discusses Adolf Hitler's inability to hold a second front in Russia, comparing it to a game of Risk: "Hitler never played Risk when he was a kid. In Risk, you could never keep Asia. That Asian-Eastern European area, you could never hold it. Seven extra men in every go but you couldn't fucking hold it. Australasia was the one. All the purples. Get everyone on Papua New Guinea and just build up and up."
- An episode of the TV series Undergrads revolved entirely around the four main characters playing an all-night game of Risk.
- In the episode of Red Dwarf titled Dimension Jump, the character Rimmer regaled his shipmates with the incredibly boring tale of every dice throw of every move from every game of Risk he played in college. Rimmer insists it is building to the "really interesting bit", which turns out to be him throwing a five and a two. It was exciting for him because it got him into Irkutsk.
- In the R.E.M. song "Man on the Moon", Risk is one of the several board games mentioned in the first stanza. "Let's play Twister, let's play Risk, yeah yeah, yeah yeah"
- In one episode of Peep Show, a game of Risk is played by Mark, Jeremy and Sophie.
- In "No Exit", an episode of The West Wing, Debbie Fiderer and Charlie Young decide to play Risk whilst the White House is locked down due to a chemical scare.
- In the 1983 John Carpenter movie Christine, Dennis and his sister are playing Risk when Leigh calls.
- During Identity Crisis, the DC story arc, Merlyn and Mirror Master play a game of Risk.
- Wesley and Gunn play Risk at the beginning of "Blood Money", a second season episode of Angel.
- In one episode of The Drew Carey Show, the title character attempts to get some of his friends to play it with him.
- Charles Dickinson's short story "Risk" appeared in the Atlantic Monthly and the 1984 O. Henry Award collection. It is about a group of friends who gather to play a game of "Risk" while taking various risks in their real lives.
