TV shows, movies, and books about Bunco in popular culture

From pulp fiction to science fiction, and animated characters to real-world characters, Bunco’s two-century history has produced television, movies and short films, and books and comic strips involving Bunco. The influence of comic books on popular culture is undeniable, shaping the way stories are told across various mediums but alas, no one has mentioned Bunco in a comic strip (yet).

But we've compiled a bunch of TV series, movies, and books that have strong or casual Bunco mentions.

TV Shows featuring Bunco Artists

Some of these TV shows were executive-produced by notable figures, contributing to their success and popularity.

The impact of these TV series on popular culture is significant, too, and they have featured Bunco in various episodes:

1. Desperate Housewives - Season 5, Episode 8: “City on Fire”
2. Desperate Housewives - Season 5, Episode 10: “A Vision’s Just a Vision”
3. The Office (US) - Season 4, Episode 10: “Branch Wars” (deleted scene) [This is the episode where Michael and Dwight trick Jim into going on a trip to Utica to steal Karen’s industrial copier.]
4. American Housewife - Season 1, Episode 12: “Surprise”
5. Parks and Recreation - Season 4, Episode 11: “The Comeback Kid”
6. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills - Various Episodes
7. Gilmore Girls - Season 6, Episode 21: “Driving Miss Gilmore” (mention)
8. Superstore - Season 3, Episode 16: “Target”
9. Mom - Season 6, Episode 15: “Sparkling Banter and a Failing Steel Town”
10. King of the Hill - Season 4, Episode 19: “Hank’s Back” (mention) [The one where Hank injures his back at work, and, desperate to get better he turns to Yoga. There’s a scene where Peggy and Luann are playing Bunco.)
11. The Mentalist - Season 1, Episode 7: “Seeing Red” (mention)
12. My Name is Earl - Season 2, Episode 18: “Guess Who’s Coming Out of Joy” (mention)

Movies with Bunco placement

1. It’s Complicated (2009) - Played at Jane’s party.
2. Out to Sea (1997) - Played on the cruise ship.
3. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) - Brief mention. [Fitting that Bunco is mentioned, given the era of Bonnie and Clyde’s infamous ride was also the era of seedy Bunco artists and parlors. Vincent Price's influence on movies of that era is notable, as his work often depicted the darker side of human nature.]
4. The Odd Couple II (1998) - Mentioned during a conversation.
5. Sour Grapes (1998) - Played in a casino.

The second film adaptations of certain characters often bring new perspectives and interpretations, enriching the cinematic landscape.

Books mentioning Bunco in Popular Culture

1. "F is for Fugitive" by Sue Grafton - Bunco is mentioned as part of a scam.
2. "Bunco Babes Tell All" by Maria Geraci - A romance novel centered around a Bunco group. The character is shown interacting with other women, adding depth to the storyline.
3. "Knockout" by Catherine Coulter - Mention of Bunco in a conversation.
4. "The Bunco Club" by Karen DeWitt - A novel about a group of Bunco-playing friends. The book draws parallels to adaptations featuring notable actors like Roger Moore.
5. "Bunco Babes Gone Wild" by Maria Geraci - Continuation of the Bunco Babes series. [The description for this book reads in part, “Georgia Meyer needs some time to think?and what better place to get her head on straight than Whispering Bay, Florida, in the company of her sister Frida and her sister?s Bunco-playing friends, aka the Bunco Babes? Georgia's boyfriend and boss, Spencer Moody, made a slight miscalculation in the romance department and gave her a calculator instead of an engagement ring. So she needs some sisterly advice, in between rolling dice and drinking frozen margaritas, as to her next move.”
6. "Dead End Job" by Vicki M. Taylor - Bunco was mentioned in passing.
7. "Chance of a Ghost" by E.J. Copperman - Mention of Bunco in a paranormal context.
8. "Death at the Bunco Club" by Gail Oust - A mystery centered around a Bunco-playing group.