Ask Lemmy

I haven't finished the book, but I have to give it to the "Navidson record" in "House of leaves".

House of leaves is a book about a guy who finds a manuscript about a movie that doesn't exist. So there are multiple layers on the narrative, from near to far you have:

• The editor who's editing the book
• The writer of the book (Johnny) who tells his story and what he finds in the manuscript
• The person who wrote the manuscript (Zampano) and his views on the movie
• The documentary "The Navidson record" which the manuscript is describing. Filmed by Navidson (who's, as far as Johnny can tell, a fictional character in a fictional movie that never existed)

The reason why I have to give it to that particular piece of media within media is that everyone else in the book is a pain in the ass that feels that you have to drag yourself to in order to get to the next chapter of the Navidson record. So in a way it's a fictional media within a fictional media that's better than the fictional media it belongs to.

And in case you haven't heard of house of leaves, I'll leave you with a page from the book:

This is not exactly what you're asking for (media inside media), but it's really close in spirit (nested narratives), and I really like it: a book written in Portuguese in the XIX century, called Noite na Taverna (Night in the Tavern).

The book has an overarching story of friends telling each other stories in a tavern, over booze; with all those nested stories being about love, despair, and death (it has a strong gothic vibe).

And, as each character tells the others a story, there's always that fishy smell that the story might be actually bullshit; and other characters do raise some doubts about its in-universe veracity (like Bertram does to Solfieri). And you, as the reader, do the same - but in no moment you question the veracity of the overarching story, and you feel like you're inside the tavern alongside the drunkards.

So it's a lot like the author is toying with your suspension of disbelief - redirecting it from the overarching story to the nested stories, and as you doubt the later you get even more immersed into the former.

If I must use an example of media within media, then my choice would be "The Book" within Orwell's 1984. I think that it's a great piece because it shows Orwell's views on politics and society, while still serving narrative and worldbuilding purpose - for Winston it's a material proof of the Inner Party's bullshit, for O'Brien it's a tool of the Inner Party to sniff out dissidence. (Note: 1984 is extremely misrepresented nowadays, I'm aware, but I still like it.)

Here's a website about those kinds of fake shows

https://nestflix.fun/

Just saw "The Play That Goes Wrong," and it is a two hour masterpiece of a play within a play.

I see videos of complete productions on youtube. Go watch one.

Threshold Kids in the Video game control it was a kids TV series to teach kids in the game about the FBC it was kinda bonkers

The “Busty Asian Beauties” running gag in supernatural. Was a magazine, website etc. Always gave me a chuckle.

"The Deb of Night" radio show from Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is consistently hilarious and a great way to relax between the more horrific parts of the game. Bonus points for one of the regular callers guessing the plot of the game by complete chance and one of the main villains calling in to threaten whoever might be listening.

The hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy

I'm a big fan of fake brands/products in anime. I don't know why, but they bring me joy.

Sick Sad World from Daria. I'd love that show

Gotta love The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon from The Murderbot Diaries.

Welcome to Nightvale.

"S." by Doug Dorst is in itself a fake novel, where the "real" story takes place as handwritten notes in the margins to form the complete story, the fake novel itself just a prop. But reading the novel-within-a-novel-that-is-the-novel "Ship of Thesus" by itself is an interesting short surreal read.

Lestat being a rockstar and fronting his own band.

Crash Nebula and The Crimson Chin from Fairly Oddparents are both great

Invitation To Love the soap opera that a lot of residents of Twin Peaks, especially Nadine, seemingly adored.

Seven on 7 is a series of TV news shorts and commercials from The Boys universe. It's a delightful little parody of Fox News. The whole series is available free on YouTube.

"Ow, My Balls" is a claaaassic.

Watched Asteroid City recently for the first time. I thought the play within the movie (and the intertwining back and forth of storylines) was really interesting and entertaining.

Interdimensional TV on Rick and Morty

McGarnigle from the Simpsons

Binky the Clown and The Buddy Bears from Garfield and Friends

Reptar from Rugrats

Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff from Homestuck. Although it actually predates Homestuck and was retroactively converted into media-within-media, does that still count?

"Address Unknown", a twilight zone/detective noir tv show within the universe of Max Payne.

Black Mirror. News tickers and headlines discuss other world-building stories from different episodes.

Los Dias Y Las Noches de Monsignor Martinez in King of the Hill.

Tales of The Black Freighter in Watchmen. Comic in a comic.