Similarly-ish, as part of a job interview process I had to make a presentation that included clients. Instead of using real companies I used Co's from Mad Men and Halt and Catch Fire - Sterling Cooper, Cardiff Electric, Mutiny Inc, etc - as well as character names. Despite the pres being hypothetical, the main criticism of it was that I hadn't used obvious, real world target clients (which I had done at earlier parts of the process, proving my awareness). Didn't get the job.

I once did a leaving presentation and successfully used a line from a month python film referring to the romans. Those present completed the quote.

When asking a question of my team I often add “Anybody? Anybody?” Nobody ever gets it.

You weren’t stupid. Everyone else is.

Trust that other people got the reference, especially if they are Gen X. No one spoke up though. Wimps.

I love this thread and all its comments.