Joke Clarification Thread

[on:]

It seems as if almost every sentence in Futurama has some underlying meaning to it. Sometimes I get a line stuck in my head and wonder how much more depth there is to it.

In this thread you can utilize the vast knowledge of the PEEL community to better understand some gags or lines that are over your head or you just don't understand.

I don't know if this thread has been done before, a search yielded no result.


I ask you, my fellow PEELers, what did Nixon mean when he said "This is the brass ring fellas" all I can think of is some sort of iron curtain reference. 

[Reply #1 on:]

I think he means that it is like the basic underlining theory behind the war plan, as brass isn't the most precious and valuable of metals so is a metaphor for something basic and fundamental. Well's that's my perception of it anyway     ...

Here's a line I always found confusing:

When Fry is describing the P.E. Crew members around the table in The Cyber House Rules he gets to the end of the descriptions and Professor Farnsworth says "And Fry you've got that brain thing..." and Fry replies "I already did"..... Whaaa??? Is it supposed to mean that he is so stupid that he gets his grammer wrong or what?

Also nice idea for a topic Actor, I to love how the dialogue of the episodes has a much deeper comedic meaning that only the intellegent can understand or notice     

[Reply #2 on:]

   

Originally posted by Actor-mo-tron:
It seems as if almost every sentence in Futurama has some underlying meaning to it. Sometimes I get a line stuck in my head and wonder how much more depth there is to it.

In this thread you can utilize the vast knowledge of the PEEL community to better understand some gags or lines that are over your head or you just don't understand.

I don't know if this thread has been done before, a search yielded no result.

Jokes you didn't get, part 2

Jokes you didn't get, part 1 (closed)

   

I ask you, my fellow PEELers, what did Nixon mean when he said "This is the brass ring fellas" all I can think of is some sort of iron curtain reference.     

"Going for the brass ring" is a figure of speech meaning aiming for the highest prize or attempting a difficult task. Nixon was probably referring to the fact that invading and concurring the Ball homeplanet would end the war with an Earthican victory. A difficult and bold task, one that would reap the highest reward possible.

[Reply #3 on:]

According to my minimal research, the phrase originated with an old carnival game. Next to the carousel, there would be a brass ring just out of reach; if you managed to grab it while riding, you got another free ride. Discontinued because it's a bit risky, and kids would regularly fall off trying to reach for the impossibly-far-away ring. Obtaining it is victory; trying and failing is defeat. It's all or nothing.

[Reply #4 on:]

 

Originally posted by Dave B:
Here's a line I always found confusing:

When Fry is describing the P.E. Crew members around the table in The Cyber House Rules he gets to the end of the descriptions and Professor Farnsworth says "And Fry you've got that brain thing..." and Fry replies "I already did"..... Whaaa??? Is it supposed to mean that he is so stupid that he gets his grammer wrong or what?

And Dave, I think the joke is simply a reinforcement of Fry's stupidness.  His response is proof of his "brain thing". 

[Reply #5 on:]

 

Originally posted by bushes39:
 And Dave, I think the joke is simply a reinforcement of Fry's stupidness.  His response is proof of his "brain thing". 

I thought so, thanks!