It’s difficult to think of a recent musical that’s had as massive a cultural impact as Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. The hip-hop account of Alexander Hamilton’s life premiered on Broadway in 2015, becoming a hit that sparked conversations about America’s past, the stories we choose to remember, and who tells them. The musical’s impact isn’t just about sold-out shows and numerous awards. It became a new cultural phenomenon, weaving itself into the society and politics of modern America. The show’s influence can be found everywhere, from classrooms to comedy sketches. (I still remember singing “You’ll Be Back” during my fifth grade graduation in 2017). The way Hamilton has filtered into various forms of media is a testament to its relevance. References pop up in everything from The Good Place to one of AJR’s songs. And not just as throwaway lines but as a means of engaging audiences in social issues, identity, and politics. Here, I’ll explore how Hamilton has made its way across different corners of media and how each reference reflects not only the musical’s popularity but its power to make us think more deeply about society and politics.

1. The Good Place

      In The Good Place, a comedy series created by Michael Schur, “Eleanor Shellstrop, a self-centered woman who dies and finds herself in the afterlife,… realizes she was mistaken for someone else and did not deserve to be there. Along with her new friends and neighbors - Chidi, Tahani, and Jason - Eleanor deals with philosophical and ethical themes about life and death” (Loik 2023). Attempting to become a better person, Eleanor decides to learn ethics from Chidi, including a lesson about moral particularism where she states: “So it’s like in Hamilton when Burr sings ‘talk less, smile more’?” (Schur 2016). This reference highlights the way Hamilton can be used in pop culture settings as an example for complex ideas, making them resonate with the audience more. It also allows for the musical to be recognized as a part of intellectual discourse, going beyond entertainment and serving as a tool for teaching and in this case understanding ethical reasoning. 

2. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

      The television show Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life is a sequel of Gilmore Girls, a comedy-drama following the lives of a mother and daughter. In the series, the town of Star’s Hollow, where the show takes place, is putting on a musical and Taylor Doose, the town selectman, is determined to include a rapping character:

      “Ay yo, look I’m rapping. Just like Hamilton on Broadway. 

      This is an odd way to tell the town’s story, depict the town’s glory,

      And get you to follow me to Star’s Hollow, see?

      Last night I held a meeting underneath the town gazebo. 

      We had sandwiches and talked all night,

      And at the end, we all voted to strike, strike!” (Hamedy 2016).

      As shown in the line “we all voted to strike, strike!,” Hamilton is used as inspiration for communicating political messaging. Even in this example of a rap, the reference shows the musical has helped to normalize alternative forms of political expression. This new style of communication stands out for an otherwise non-musical, dialogue heavy show. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life is an example of how Hamilton has pushed some pieces of media to rethink storytelling techniques and engagement with the audience. 



3. One Day at a Time

      One Day at a Time is centered around a Cuban-American family and discusses various “social and cultural issues such as immigration, mental health, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender inequality” (Loik 2023). The show contains a reference to the Hamilton lyric “immigrants, we get the job done” (Loik 2023). One of the prevalent themes in Hamilton is immigration: Miranda stated “I grew up in an immigrant neighborhood. We just knew the rule was you’re going to have to work twice as hard” (Kennedy 2016). Referencing this line from the musical highlights the topic of immigration and can contribute to media representation and education. The line, “immigrants, we get the job done,” has been used numerous times in different contexts as a way of celebrating immigrant identity and resilience. 

4. “3 O’Clock Things” AJR

      As alluded to by the name, "3 O'Clock Things is “an open book for AJR’s ‘shower thoughts’ that occur at 3 in the morning” and “is mostly about issues such as politics, college, and racism, and how the band feels as if they shouldn’t mention their opinions on such things to avoid losing their fans and/or friends” (Wiki Fandom 2021). In the song, AJR includes the line “If I keep on talking politics, I’m Hamilton, without the hits” (AJR 2021, at 1:52-58). By stripping away the musical elements from Hamilton (referred to in the song as “the hits”), AJR communicates that the show is inherently political and addresses social issues. Lin-Manuel Miranda has commented on this topic: “The reason ‘Hamilton’ works is because there is no distance between that story that happened 200-some-odd years ago and now, because it looks like America now. It helps create a connection that wouldn’t have been there if it was 20 white guys on stage” (Orcutt 2016). AJR’s lyric acknowledges the weight of Hamilton’s influence: the show isn’t merely about the music, but a message that invites audiences to reflect and speak openly about politics and society. Hamilton is used as a vehicle for AJR to engage with politics, showing its continued relevance even in modern media. 
 

      The cultural significance of Hamilton extends beyond its Broadway success; the musical has deeply influenced modern media by providing a way to address social justice, political identity, and American values. This impact is evident in how creators use references to Hamilton to make complex ideas—such as moral reasoning, political activism, and immigration—more accessible and resonant with current audiences. The references above show that Hamilton is more than a catchy soundtrack: it is a vehicle for dialogue and a way through which other creators can make sense of America’s complex identity. As Lin-Manuel Miranda states, “What’s incredible about ‘Hamilton,’ and the reason you can’t get a ticket, is because everyone’s responding to it. Everyone is seeing a bit of themselves in it” (Moreno 2016). 

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