Damon Lindelof reveals his 7 biggest pop culture influences

And J.J. said, Youre referencing a show that was basically canceled 20 years ago.

We should aspire toTwin Peaks.

Stephen King

Especially the horror masters early novels, like 1978sThe Stand.

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King mixes humor and horror in a way that I dont think anybody else can, Lindelof explains.

I wont say I wasnt terrified by his books, but I also found them really amusing.

Watchmen

Naturally,Alan Moores super-antihero classic makes the list.

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Richard Dreyfuss making the Devils Tower out of clay, saying, This means something…

The dialogue nobody does it like Tarantino does it and to me that movie is completely and totally perfect.

Encyclopedia Brown

I was obsessed with these books as a kid, Lindelof says.

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He and his associate Sally would solve mysteries.

Each book had like nine or 10 different mysteries.

And then it says:To find out how Encyclopedia Brown knows, turn to page 86.

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Continues Lindelof: I would get to the end of the story and Id immediately flip to the end.

And I was like, I just want to know what the answer is.

So he took myEncyclopedia Brownbook and he ripped out the endings.

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He said: It will be more interesting for you not to know if you were right.

That moment was my origin story.

I realized that was how I wanted to tell stories.

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Watchmenpremieres on HBO on October 20.