9.5.2007

A (Not So) Complete History of TV Show Tattoos


Television is perhaps the most lowbrow of all the mass communication mediums. Despite a wealth of high-caliber programming in recent years, the small screen isn’t thought of in the same regard as music, film and literature. This is probably true because television is free (tell that to my effing cable bill!). Everyone watches the boob tube, as it is truly the everyman’s medium. With the fall TV season upon us, why not combine one lowbrow art form with another — the tattoo. But don’t get the wrong idea — we’re not passing judgment here. We love both forms equally. As do the men and women below, all of whom have taken their love of television and its myriad characters to new levels. As Larry Sanders would say, “No flipping.”

The old school black and white comedies of the 1950s still hold up fantastically in reruns. As do these tattoos of Larry, Moe, Curly, Lucy, Stan and Oliver.

In 1966, the world got “Star Trek,” and pasty geek flesh everywhere has never been the same.

Lots of folks have the Starfleet insignia inked on their skin, but it takes a true Trekkie to get an autograph of Brent Spiner, “Star Trek: The Next Generation’s” android Lieutenant Commander Data permanently etched in skin.

Few would argue that “M*A*S*H*” is one of the greatest series of all time, particularly these tattoo vets.

Jim Henson likely underestimated the impact he’d have on television. Or the arms of these hardcore fans of “The Muppet Show” and “Sesame Street.”

Animal may have been a kickass drummer, but he wasn’t a very good tattoo. And poor, poor Big Bird.

Cartoons make for classic tattoos, presumably because their simple design and bright colors replicate nicely on skin. When Bugs Bunny asked, “What’s up, doc?,” he likely wasn’t referring to Scooby’s dong. As we suspected, Daphne likes it doggy style, which Beavis would definitely approve of.

Here we have some kiddie faves including Daffy Duck, the Transformers, Rainbow Brite and the Powerpuff Girls.

What Would Cartman Tattoo?

What would Bart Simpson say during his tattooing session? “Ow-abunga, dude!”

Check out the wiener on Mr. Burns and the septum piercing and spacers in Homer’s ears.

This dude even has a “Treehouse of Horror” backpiece from “The Simpsons.”

They may not be as sweetly sublime their Simpsons counterparts, but the Griffins and Seth MacFarlane’s “Family Guy” characters are popular choices too.

We pity these fools who got bad T tats.

But not as much as the weirdos who got Alf, Urkel, Al Bundy and Heathcliff Huxtable tattooed on themselves. Cosby Core forever!

“The truth is out there.” But presumably nowhere near these “X-Files” tattoos.

No, this isn’t the number of subsequent days these sci-fi nerds have gone without getting laid, it’s the mysterious number sequence from “Lost.”

Check out this fearsome foursome of television comedy: Stephen Colbert, Borat, The Hoff and Anderson Cooper.

We can only assume this fella’s name is Joanie. How else to explain this monumentally awesome tattoo of mother-fucking Chachi.

Related posts: A (Not So) Complete History of Cinematic Tattoos | A (Not So) Complete History of Band Tattoos

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