Super Mario Bros. is a popular video game franchise from Nintendo. The games often involve two brother plumbers, Mario and Luigi, as they rescue Princess Peach Toadstool from the evil King Bowser Koopa. The title character, Mario, first appeared in the 1981 video game Donkey Kong. His brother Luigi was introduced in 1983's Mario Bros., before the main series was launched with 1985's Super Mario Bros, leading to many sequels, animated adaptations, and a live action movie.

ReferencesEdit

• The Muppet Babies episode "It's Only Pretendo" spoofed the games. An early scene features Baby Gonzo in the Mario role, combining elements of both Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros. (and even including footage from the games Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr.). At one point Baby Piggy plays the Donkey Kong game and encounters a character who resembles Mario himself. In a later scene when Gonzo looks for a game to play, he reads the titles of many games, some of which reference Super Mario Bros. in title: "Super Bario Bros." and "Son of Super Bario Bros."

Muppet MentionsEdit

• In a 1990 episode of The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, "Sneaky Lying Cheating Giant Ninja Koopas," a giant parrot laments the Koopas using its giant cage to capture Mario's companions: "My whole life was in that cage! My Big Bird poster, my Worms From Outer Space comics..."

ConnectionsEdit

• Dan Castellaneta provided narraration at the beginning of the 1993 film.
• Magic Johnson guest starred in an episode of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
• Cyndi Lauper guest starred in the Super Mario Bros. Super Show episode "Captain Lou is Missing".
• John Leguizamo played Luigi in the 1993 film.
• Frank Welker provided the voices of Yoshi and Goombas in the 1993 film.