Futurama News (pre-season 7)

[Reply #720 on:]

Futurama isn't a show that extends the stasis.  Despite the message that When Aliens Attack, the events that occur in Futurama affect each of the characters and remain to serve historically for them.  This is demonstrated throughout the show when character recall back to earlier events, and through subtle changes in their characteristics.  Progression of time actually occurs in Futurama too.  This is demonstrated by the changing of the years, as well as, characters aging, the Professor being the most overt example.  You may say, but if the characters are actually aging, some of them should be in their like late 30s or early 40s by now!  Obviously in the future people live longer because of the environment they live in; the air cleanses the cells and slows down aging; in the future 90 is the new 30.  Fry was never dimwitted; he's always been an eccentric genius; he does stupid things because that's what he sees demonstrated by the rest of society.  He's merely imitating and mirroring the behaviors of everyone around him.

[Reply #721 on:]

Their ages are never addressed though, I think Cohen or someone else pointed this out in one of the commentaries - how while their world around them traverses through time (like in BBS, or when election years roll by), they seem to appear the same age. Pretty standard, at least amongst Groening cartoons (how long had Bart been in 4th grade? He should be well into his 30s by now).

Okay, I guess the events of ITWGY (and a little before that) change our perception of Fry as a character (not actually being that dimwitted, etc.). I guess I just enjoyed the innocence his character represented in the original run and how he just hopelessly wanted to be with the mutant whom mostly everyone rejected. That, is worthy of a ship story. What they're doing now is...meh. Standard sitcom drama, I'd say. Not original or touching, to me anyway.

[Reply #722 on:]

This probably isn't the right discussion for this (in fact I know it's not), but in discussing the ship in future episodes, I feel these are valid points up for discussion. Some of these posts may be moved around to their appropriate thread though (like the ship thread in the HR department).

Well...Futurama is heavily based on character constellation, with the characters staying very much among themselves compared to other sitcoms (e.g. Futurama uses recurring chars much less than Simpsons).

Fry kept the Trio together via the Bender/Best Buddy and Leela/Love interest link.
So, the relationship status of Leela and Fry can in a certain way define the whole main character setting.

In 6B, keeping their relationship status often ambigous was imhO a rather grave mistake:
Fry did neither chase after Leela, nor were they shown to be together. So, the "Love Interest" Link was definitely broken, leading to Leela's isolation from the main group.
Which lead to the following consequences:
- OFten recurring "Bender and Fry are best friends" plots.
- Many Leela "solo episodes", and Leela "single plots" imhO bear the biggest risk to suck big time.
(YLL was not really liked, and MB is considered by many folks as the most OC representation in the show)

Some people claimed that getting Fry and Leela together would destroy the shows dynamic. While I think this would at least repair the "Love Interest" link, etablishing the previously known "Three main characters linked together" constellation, and restoring the old character-constellation based dynamic.

To cut a long story short:
Fry and Leela relationship status and representation can have a much bigger impact on the whole show than just two characters being (not) together. So, I consider that subject and it's discussion quite fitting in an overall context regarding the show's future...

[Reply #723 on:]

I like the Next Generation character designs, but it would feel a bit too... fanfictiony no matter how well designed they are.  I do think Fry and Amy's fat daughter is very cute.

I still really want an episode that explores Amy's fat childhood as the Princess of Mars, with her borderline emotionally abusive parents.

[Reply #724 on:]

A storyboard from "Zapp Dingat".

[Reply #725 on:]

How nice to fianlly see what Morris gets up to in this episode. I wonder if he'll briefly move in with Fry and Bender when Munda and Zapp get together?

EDIT: That drawing of Fry in  the fourth panel is absolutely terrifying.  

[Reply #726 on:]

Wow, looks great.

[Reply #727 on:]

Today's storyboard is good. It seems Morris, Fry and Bender are busy doing some theft. I think it's much better than Leela/Zapp/Munda-things, which are happening on the surface .

[Reply #728 on:]

That's got to be my favorite storyboard this year, I can't wait to see the episode! It looks like they are racing, and I can't wait to see who wins! 

[Reply #729 on:]

My life will not be complete until I have had the opportunity to avoid leprechaun debris.

DEIT:  @ Inquisitor Hein - You make a really good point about the "love link" that I had never considered before.  You're so right though.  Leela has been isolated from the rest of the core group, and I think her character (and the dynamic of the whole show) is suffering for it.

[Reply #730 on:]

I like the Next Generation character designs, but it would feel a bit too... fanfictiony no matter how well designed they are.  I do think Fry and Amy's fat daughter is very cute.

I'm sorry.....DAUGHTER?!

[Reply #731 on:]

I like the Next Generation character designs, but it would feel a bit too... fanfictiony no matter how well designed they are.  I do think Fry and Amy's fat daughter is very cute.

I'm sorry.....DAUGHTER?!

Yep. She has eyelashes, which only female Groening style kids do possess.

[Reply #732 on:]

That image alone suggets Morris is now single.

I think the only other time he was ever on screen and not around with Munda was sewer fishing.

[Reply #733 on:]

I wonder if it will stay that way.  Eh, probably not.  He'll probably be back together with Munda by the end of the episode, but who knows?  For some reason I can't quite put my finger on I've got the feeling that this upcoming season is going to shake up some of the established order in the show, for better or worse.

[Reply #734 on:]

Theres a new clip up.

"Zapp attempts to negotiate a treaty with some aliens, and he doesn’t screw anything up and everything goes fine."

http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/tagged/countdown-to-futurama

Gotta admit that was funny.. I'm getting happier about this episode.

[Reply #735 on:]

As usual, what happens in it, since we can't view (yet) in the UK, please?

[Reply #736 on:]

As usual, what happens in it, since we can't view (yet) in the UK, please?

Zapp and the new shark aliens sit down for a nice treaty meeting at table seven... everything goes well... until Zapp decides he doesn't need a translator and talks to the aliens in their native tongue... you can guess the rest... b/c it's the Zapper.

[Reply #737 on:]

Ohhh......it was just a fan art conception. I thought it was mentioned in one of the new episodes that they had a kid or something. Like in Reincarnation where Fry said "So far I've only gotten Amy pregnant" 

[Reply #738 on:]

Amy's replaced food with sex, and is slutting about to make up for her lonely adolescence.  She's probably got knocked up at least once before.

[Reply #739 on:]

As usual, what happens in it, since we can't view (yet) in the UK, please?

Or in Canada.

This really irritates me.  Comedy Network has an agreement with Comedy Central to show CC's product (including Futurama) in Canada -- which means that CC is blocked from sending Futurama-related clips or episodes to Canadian IP addresses -- but Comedy Network does not bother to distribute Futurama-related video itself.  The result: no Futurama video (previews or episodes) from Comedy Central OR Comedy Network, and pissed-off Canadian Futurama fans, who have to illegally download (or wait a year for the DVDs) if they want to see the episodes.

[Reply #740 on:]

I'll have the vid up on YouTube in a minute or two.

Edit:  Here you go - http://youtu.be/BGsHtrAUIc4

[Reply #741 on:]

I'll have the vid up on YouTube in a minute or two.

Thank you, kind sir.

[Reply #742 on:]

Danny (and any other UK viewer who can't access the clips) I've just realised that you can (well I can anyway) access the clips if you use a mobile/handheld device (it works for my iPod) just go to the Comedy Central website and the videos should play... (For some reason though the new clip isn't up yet, oh well)

[Reply #743 on:]

I'll have the vid up on YouTube in a minute or two.

Thank you, kind sir.

I will second that!

[Reply #744 on:]

Danny (and any other UK viewer who can't access the clips) I've just realised that you can (well I can anyway) access the clips if you use a mobile/handheld device (it works for my iPod) just go to the Comedy Central website and the videos should play... (For some reason though the new clip isn't up yet, oh well)

Sadly, the crapness of my BlackBerry will make the internet close the webpage super quick.

[Reply #745 on:]

I wouldn't worry about it, with Louis uploading them to YouTube super quick (thanks so much by the way) there's really no problem...


Edit: Although the translation joke was seen coming from a mile away the punchline was so worth it

[Reply #746 on:]

I am glad to be of service.

Although the translation joke was seen coming from a mile away the punchline was so worth it

Yeah.  That's what I love about most of the jokes in Futurama.  They don't rely on surprise or shock and awe to make you laugh.  That way they are still funny no matter how many times you watch them.

[Reply #747 on:]

Thanks Louiswuenator.

The clip must be a reference to Star Wars, the table they are sat at and the environment looks very Mos Eisley Cantia-y...

[Reply #748 on:]

Danny (and any other UK viewer who can't access the clips) I've just realised that you can (well I can anyway) access the clips if you use a mobile/handheld device (it works for my iPod) just go to the Comedy Central website and the videos should play... (For some reason though the new clip isn't up yet, oh well)

Last year you could also share it on facebook and watch it on there (not sure if it's the same story this year)

[Reply #749 on:]

That was an awesome clip.

My hopes for the episode are restored.

[Reply #750 on:]

I expect no less from the Zapper. Great clip.

[Reply #751 on:]

Thanks Louiswuenator.

The clip must be a reference to Star Wars, the table they are sat at and the environment looks very Mos Eisley Cantia-y...

The seat arrangement, "cushions" and the table shape rather resemble the Falcon's Dejarik table.

[Reply #752 on:]

I just saw an ad on Comedy Central.  It was a short clip from "A Farewell to Arms" where Leela and Fry are standing on the widow's walk of PE against a backdrop of fiery sky.  We already saw an image of this scene I think.  Anyway, in the clip Leela prepositions Fry to "join the balcony club" but they are interrupted by Zoidberg.  Sex!  

EDIT:  Wow they are rolling out the new ads!  I just saw another one with Nixon asking Bender if he is wearing a wire.  Bender responds by pulling a bunch of wires from his compartment and saying, "I'm 40% wire!" 

[Reply #753 on:]

I think Zoidberg deserves to be boiled and eaten after all... Anyway, it's a nice callback to "The Duh-Vinci Code" and "Love and Rocket".

[Reply #754 on:]

Hm...after "Prisoner of Benda", it bears a certain irony that it's Zoidberg who interrupts them
(Of course, being interrupted by Zoidberg AND the Professor would have been even better )

[Reply #755 on:]

After all the years of rebuffs it may take a while for Fry's brain to process what Leela is saying to him. She seems to get inspired at some awkward times and places as well. Hope the writers don't make it another reason for her to get all mad at Fry for not catching on right away and it all goes back to square one, again.

Wonder if Dr. Zoidberg walked in on them doing the act if he'd know what he's looking at given is vast medical knowledge of humans. That or the next scene would be the Dr. in a white-hair panic again  .

[Reply #756 on:]

Oh my god Zoidberg! Where's the boiling water?

EDIT-They mentioned NOVA SCOTIA???!!! Holy crap, that's my province!!!!! 

[Reply #757 on:]

Can someone capture those ads and upload them, please?

[Reply #758 on:]

EDIT-They mentioned NOVA SCOTIA???!!! Holy crap, that's my province!!!!!  

Heck...why do so many of today's posts remind me of Folk Songs I haven't been playing for a too long time...?

* Inquisitor Hein starts to hum "Farewell to Nova Scotia, your seabound coasts, let your mountains dark and dreary be. For when I'm far away, on the briny ocean tossed, will you ever heave a sigh or a wish for me"

[Reply #759 on:]

First look at 'The Butterjunk Effect'! With plot info in the blog post:

"Word around the campfire is, the episode finds Amy and Leela becoming addicted to “Nectar,” a nutritional supplement that boosts their performance in the future sport of Butterfly Derby."