Episode ideas

[Reply #200 on:]

Although I hate the time travel episodes, I think a mission to the year 2443 (the year of Christ's return) would be interesting.  We could learn exactly why most of the video tapes from the 1990s were destroyed.

Were they destroyed in the battle of Armageddon?  Who destroyed them?  Is there any possibility that they could be recovered and returned to the present, uh, future, uh, Professor Farnsworth?

What was it like seeing Jesus return?  Was He "in the clouds" as all the current advertising literature would have us believe?  Did the final judgment take place?  Who were the winners and who were the losers and why did life continue afterward?

[Reply #201 on:]

The reason I reached back into Y2K for this is because someone scolded me for posting a new topic about a cool new episode.  He told me that I need to find a previous topic that has something to do with what I'm writing.

Therefore, I'll use his advice and post this on a thread from back in the year 2000.

[Reply #202 on:]

Oops.  My bad.  It was from the year 2001.

And nobody has contributed anything to it since 2006 (5-years ago).

[Reply #203 on:]

Although I hate the time travel episodes, I think a mission to the year 2443 (the year of Christ's return) would be interesting.  We could learn exactly why most of the video tapes from the 1990s were destroyed.

What has video tapes being destroyed got to do with Jesus' return?

[Reply #204 on:]

@DannyJC13, I don't know.  That's something Hubert Farnsworth said in the episode, "When Aliens Attack".

I think that finding out why would be interesting.

[Reply #205 on:]

Here's another inspired concept for an episode:

Could the cast take on a mission to retrieve all the Star Trek episodes from the forbidden planet, Omega III?

George Takei, the wealthy financier-head could hire Planet Express to take on this most dangerous mission.  Oh my...!

[Reply #206 on:]

We could learn exactly why most of the video tapes from the 1990s were destroyed.

Were they destroyed in the battle of Armageddon?  

That's unlikely. Farnsworth states that they were "damaged by the second coming of Jesus", which tells us two things. Firstly, the videotapes were not destroyed. The data on them was presumably erased or corrupted, which would be consistent with some sort of powerful electromagnetic interference event, implying that Jesus' return was accompanied by an emission of radiation powerful enough to envelop the whole planet. The planet wasn't sterilised, so we can't blame a nuclear bomb.

Secondly, the second coming of Jesus has been and gone, and there are still people living on Earth. The Earth has not "passed away" as the bible says it will, therefore the second coming of Jesus was a non-event as far as the final judgement of mankind.

By the way, posting more than once in a row in the same thread is discouraged. PEEL has an "edit" function that allows you to modify your existing posts. The practice of "doubleposting" (or even tripleposting) is both frowned upon and considered spam here. For a third time, I refer you to the unofficial manual. Please take the time to read it. It will make your posting career here a lot easier for both yourself and others to bear.

Could the cast take on a mission to retrieve all the Star Trek episodes from the forbidden planet, Omega III?

George Takei, the wealthy financier-head could hire Planet Express to take on this most dangerous mission.  Oh my...!

This isn't really "inspired" so much as "terrible". It could at worst be considered fanwank, and at best be thought of as the setting of a really bad fanfiction.

[Reply #207 on:]

Whether damaged or destroyed it doesn't matter to Lrrr, who was jonesin' to see how "Single Female Lawyer" turned out.  BTW, Wikipedia says, "destroyed" and not "damaged".  I haven't seen the episode in awhile.

Double-posting would be to post the same thing twice - not posting one thing and then another.

[Reply #208 on:]

You have ZERO concept of how a story is "pitched".  They don't write every line of an episode and then bring it to David Cohen to produce.  They pitch an idea.  In fact, some of the episodes from the first run were pitched on something that became only a small part of the actual show.

Pitching an idea for a show doesn't require that a writer tell the whole and complete story to the producers.  You have to think in terms of how a show is written (and rewritten).

Besides, I think the fact that George Takei's head becoming fabulously wealthy in the 31st century is funny in and of itself.

[Reply #209 on:]

It is good that you are an enthusiastic fan of the show but try not to post several times in a row; if you think of something new to say in a thread and nobody has posted since your last post just edit your post to add the new text

[Reply #210 on:]

Another concept might be for Planet Express to be inadvertently mixed up with an evil person (or organization).  It would mean a steady stream of much needed cash for the company but they might find out later that they are involved in shady dealings (or whatever).

Here's another thought for a different episode:
Base one show on the immortal classic "The Usual Suspects".  Nibbler could be Kaiser Soze or sumpthin'.

Just pitchin' ideas for shows I'd like to see.

[Reply #211 on:]

Whether damaged or destroyed it doesn't matter to Lrrr, who was jonesin' to see how "Single Female Lawyer" turned out.  BTW, Wikipedia says, "destroyed" and not "damaged".  I haven't seen the episode in awhile.

I've just watched it to confirm: The line is "damaged".

Double-posting would be to post the same thing twice - not posting one thing and then another.

You have ZERO concept of how a story is "pitched".  

[Reply #212 on:]

Maurice LaMarche does such a good William Shatner impression, I'd like to see them remake a Star Trek episode somehow.  They'd really have to force it in somehow but maybe it could be a dream or a Scary Door episode or something.

I think seeing Fry as Mr. Spock might be funny - not only visually but because Fry is SO illogical.

Maurice LaMarche also does a great Reverend Jim impression.  They need a peripheral character that talks like Jim Ignitowski from Taxi.

[Reply #213 on:]

Double-posting would be to post the same thing twice - not posting one thing and then another.

Forums do not work that way. Good night.

I feel like they throw in enough Trek references that we don't need another full episode after WNFHGB. Which was excellent, but does not mandate a sequel.

[Reply #214 on:]

One episode idea I was thinking about is Fry bringing Leela a beautiful crystalline flower....

That turns out to be a highly dangerous and invasive species, that eventually threatens to consume the earth (think the Baobabs from Le Petite Prince).  

Another episode I was thinking about will be one that takes place on the old crumbling Trans Atlantic Tunnel.  Since it has long been since rendered obselete, the system is desperately trying to reinvent itself as an underwater Orient Express, with the owners of the tunnel becoming very very lax on keeping it safe for passengers.  What happens is an Agatha Christie spoof, resulting in the driver being murdered, as well as the crew trying to stop a high speed crash on the Mid Atlantic Ridge.  It also forms part of a three part special, with our heroes arriving in London, and the third episode ending up becoming a steampunk one after the crew change the evolution of technology through time travel.

[Reply #215 on:]

The only episode I can think of is if Fry managed to get a Delta Brain Wave. However, "Parasites Lost" did do a smarter Fry. But still, it is of interest to me to see how Fry would be if he had that brain wave.

[Reply #216 on:]

I'd like to state that the first of tnuk's posts in this thread is glorious.

You have ZERO concept of how a story is "pitched".  They don't write every line of an episode and then bring it to David Cohen to produce.  They pitch an idea.  In fact, some of the episodes from the first run were pitched on something that became only a small part of the actual show.

Pitching an idea for a show doesn't require that a writer tell the whole and complete story to the producers.  You have to think in terms of how a show is written (and rewritten).

Actually, the majority of episode pitches are pretty well thought-out story-outlines which detail the vast majority of the episode, or at least how the episode COULD potentially turn out. Things almost always change a lot if they even get past the pitching stage at all.
This is because the writers will go away to work on pitches, then come back with more.

After these initial pitches, there will often be lots of "what if _____ gets a job as a ________" stab in the dark ideas thrown out there, but they're usually a hell of a lot better than your Star Trek idea. I also love that you consider your own ideas inspired. I mean, even if you genuinely think that about them, posting so is just, plain arrogant.


Anyway, I think some sort of storyline playing on religious angles and things such as the second coming could be interesting, but I'd rather they find a way to do it without just diving into a throw-away joke event from a past episode. It would reak of bad fan-fiction.

Another concept might be for Planet Express to be inadvertently mixed up with an evil person (or organization).  It would mean a steady stream of much needed cash for the company but they might find out later that they are involved in shady dealings (or whatever).

This has sort of been done, multiple times. Into the Wild Green Yonder, the video game and to an extent, Future Stock, all spring to mind.

Here's another thought for a different episode:
Base one show on the immortal classic "The Usual Suspects".  Nibbler could be Kaiser Soze or sumpthin'.

Just pitchin' ideas for shows I'd like to see.

I can guarantee you that the pitch for Anthology of Interest II was a bit more thought out than "Let's base one show on the immortal classic 'The Wizard of Oz'. Dorothy could be Leela or sumpthin'".

I feel like they throw in enough Trek references that we don't need another full episode after WNFHGB. Which was excellent, but does not mandate a sequel.

This. If anything, I'd say that 'Where No Fan Has Gone Before' was so excellent and conclusive that they could pretty much close the book on 'Star Trek' and I'd be happy.

One episode idea I was thinking about is Fry bringing Leela a beautiful crystalline flower....

That turns out to be a highly dangerous and invasive species, that eventually threatens to consume the earth (think the Baobabs from Le Petite Prince). 

I would like this if it was a full on musical.

[Reply #217 on:]

Crew: The flower!  The flower!  Eating the earth like a fat kid eating cake!  (cubert screams Hey! in annoyance as he is CURRANTLY eating cake inbetween the screams)
Amy: Will no one save us before the next commercial break?
Fry: I just wanted something lovely for the apple of my eye....
Leela: Fry that was sweet, but now we're all going to die...


Later
Leela: Fry, you don't put cane toads on Venus or introduce fire ants to your....
Fry: You don't?  OWWWW!

[Reply #218 on:]

It's funny reading some of the older posts here, because some of them turned out to be very close to actual episodes. Perhaps the staff are watching us?

[Reply #219 on:]

They'd better hire me then.  My brain is moist with ideas!

I was also thinking, maybe the next ToI could be three classic children's stories with science fiction themes?
We could have...
A Wrinkle in Time (with Leela as Meg, Fry and Bender as her travelling companions, Petunia/Hattie/Amy as Mrs Who/Mrs Whatsit/Mrs Witch, and Mom as IT.)
Le Petit Prince (with Fry as the titular Prince, Leela as the Rose, and Bender as the Fox... a robot fox.)
The Iron Man by Ted Hughes (with Bender as the titular Iron Man, and Fry as Hogarth. Plus Ted Hughes was kind of a dick, so I don't mind making fun of his book so much!)

Or it might be interesting to have three completely original "sci fi" fairy tales, that play homage to storytelling archetypes as much as they subvert them.  I'm writing a few sci fi fairy tales for my cousins at the moment, so it might be interesting to write some featuring the Futurama characters only with keeping more of the original sex and violence of Brothers Grimm.

[Reply #220 on:]

What if Amy's parents lost their fortune and had to mooch off amy? it would be funny to see how amy's dad would have to respect her

[Reply #221 on:]

When you start dreaming about Futurama then you know you are watching far to much of it!

that is so true, but i consider them classics, everyday i watch old ones, and going on the us copyright catalog to see if theere's any new episodes...u culd say im obsessed, but thats wut i do LOL

[Reply #222 on:]

What if Amy's parents lost their fortune and had to mooch off amy? it would be funny to see how amy's dad would have to respect her

This is actually a brilliant idea. It's very sitcom-y, but I think 'Futurama' should do a handful of sitcom-styled episodes a season just to break up all the space opera stuff.
But yeah, the idea of Inez and Leo hanging around Planet Express and harassing everybody seems like a comedy goldmine.

[Reply #223 on:]

lol.....2 bad the writers don't use fan ideas

[Reply #224 on:]

I don't know if this is the same with Futurama, but the creators of Ratchet and Clank (Insomniac Games) can't listen to ANY fan ideas, 'cause if they make a game based around the fan's idea the fan can sue them.

[Reply #225 on:]

That would only be the case if they just took the idea and used it without any credit.  I suppose they err on the side of caution by not reading any, that way any ideas that appear by coinkydink can't result in them being sued by an outraged fan who thinks their idea was pilfered.

I agree with the Leo Inez idea.  It would be great, but I think some fans already find them rather annoying, and seeing an entire episode of them might be stretching them too far (Clamps's popularity seems to have taken a nosedive since his episode).  On the other hand, I like the two and it would be great to let them be as assholy as possible.  As long as they use Amy to keep a balance going (again Amy needs more episodes that don't revolve around who she's currently sleeping with)

[Reply #226 on:]

lol.....2 bad the writers don't use fan ideas

Click here if you're going to stick around, Solid Gold Bender.

The writers really can't use fan ideas due to tortuously stringent intellectual property laws. For the same reason, they can't copy ideas from the back of breakfast cereal packets.

There would be time-and-space bending lawsuits all over the place.

[Reply #227 on:]

my bad, i am new, ill work on it, THX 4 the reminder! also, wut if bender got a kid who was equally obnoxious (although it culd happen in the bots and the bees) and they went around playingg jokes on every1, nah not enough plot

[Reply #228 on:]

nah not enough plot

Why even bother typing that then? And please don't use text speak.

[Reply #229 on:]

np

[Reply #230 on:]

np

Hm...

[Reply #231 on:]

hahaha

[Reply #232 on:]

my bad, i am new, ill work on it, THX 4 the reminder! also, wut if bender got a kid who was equally obnoxious (although it culd happen in the bots and the bees) and they went around playingg jokes on every1, nah not enough plot

Bender's had at least one child... who is now in the clutches of the Robot Devil. I don't think that the writers are interested in playing around with the idea of Bender as a father. He'd be terrible. It'd be a standard moralising episode, and might even cause continuity issues. Please stop using text speak. Please. Please, for the love of all that is holy (or unholy), please stop.

[Reply #233 on:]

May I ask, what is text speak? (I'm working on the grammar)

[Reply #234 on:]

It's grammar.

[Reply #235 on:]

May I ask, what is text speak? (I'm working on the grammer)

my bad, i am new, ill work on it, THX 4 the reminder! also, wut if bender got a kid who was equally obnoxious (although it culd happen in the bots and the bees) and they went around playingg jokes on every1, nah not enough plot

Text-speak emboldened.

This is what it should have looked like:

My bad, I am new, I'll work on it. Thanks for the reminder!

Also, what if Bender had a kid who was equally obnoxious (although it could happen in the bots and the bees) and they went around playing jokes on everyone? Nah, not enough plot.

In general, not using correct English is one of the most serious crimes that you can commit around here. Take a look at how people post in the offtopic section of the board, and you'll hopefully see what I mean.

[Reply #236 on:]

Well, thank you very much. I will work on my grammar and I see your valid point. Thank you!

[Reply #237 on:]

@cyber_turnip, You wrote:

Actually, the majority of episode pitches are pretty well thought-out story-outlines which detail the vast majority of the episode, or at least how the episode COULD potentially turn out.

On the DVD commentary for "Bend Her" (where Bender gets a sex change), the writer (Michael Rowe) said something like, "I was pitching this idea and that and David wasn't responding and the last note I had written down was, 'What if Bender got a sex change?'"

In other words, the pitch is an idea.  It could possibly be much more but it doesn't have to be.

An idea is pitched THEN the story is written - if the idea has merit.  It wouldn't make sense for a writer to write an entire episode then pitch it, only to have the producers reject it.  That would be an incredible waste of time.

[Reply #238 on:]

I think that's the most sensible thing Zubans has ever posted.

[Reply #239 on:]

I also love that you consider your own ideas inspired. I mean, even if you genuinely think that about them, posting so is just, plain arrogant.

The apostle Paul posted that his ideas were inspired by God.  I guess we should conclude that Paul was arrogant.  Of course, the Space Pope's church is not at all based on the New Testament.