This page explains in detail the interactions between the Frontline series and the Mario series.
Frontline episode The Soufflé Rises[]
Frontline S01E01 - The Soufflé Rises (1 3)
First part of the episode. Mike is playing the Game Boy at 2:47.
May 09, 1994
Frontline
Mario
In the first episode of Frontline, Mike is seen playing a Game Boy in his office. As the secretary Shelley enters he quickly hides it away, forgetting to pause the game. Hearing its music, she asks Mike if he can hear something but he says he doesn't. The music heard is actually the Overworld theme from Super Mario Land.
Frontline episode The Seige[]
Frontline - ABC - The Siege (Part 2 3)
Second part of the episode. Mike cites Super Mario at 6:24.
June 06, 1994
Frontline
Mario
In the fifth episode of Frontline, as Mike talks to a boy who is playing a Game Boy, he says "Hey, is that Super Mario? Hey watch out for those things." Oddly, the sounds coming from the Game Boy are from the NES game Super Mario Bros., not Super Mario Land or any other Game Boy game released at the time.
License[]
Frontline's company Working Dog didn't hold any right over Nintendo's Mario, but they only included minor references to the games.