It's hard not to include mention of Buffy's very first episode, Welcome to the Hellmouth, when talking about how the show changed everything. The launch of Buffy was notable for a couple reasons: what it became (a cult hit) and where it came from - after all, Buffy the Vampire Slayer had already been a failed feature film featuring Kristie Swanson and Donald Sutherland. It also brought with it a new-found passion for pop culture references, something which, to that point, was nearly unheard of in prime time television. Buffy's unleashing changed all that, and many shows would follow suit in the coming years. Buffy, however, was the catalyst.