By Hawking's chair! Futurama is back! (News thread) (No spoilers)

[#680 :]

As for a Zapp's past episode, I'm not really for it (yet). You have to be careful with past episodes, because the audience normally already know how certain things turned out, so it's hard to justify doing them (coughStarWarsPrequelscough) frequently. I certainly wouldn't mind a Zapp's past episode, but they might want to hold off since there will already be a past episode involving the meeting of the Professor and Zoidberg (I also think that the Scruffy hiring will be a throwaway joke in this episode).

Really?, I was hoping for it to be a proper Scruffy origin episode...

Wouldn't that ruin the character of Scruffy?

Probably....but then he doesn't have a real character at the moment...

Edit: Whoo Bending Unit! didn't notice that before
oh and TOTP

[#681 :]

I don't think they'll do an AOI with other crew members. They could but I don't think they will. At least they'd probably keep Bender in there because isn't the pattern that his What-ifs always end with him dying and someone saying "Goodnight sweet prince"? At least that's what I thought....

[#682 :]

Probably....but then he doesn't have a real character at the moment...

No, Scruffy is more of a joke.  Cohen mention this a lot in the commentaries.  He goes to specify that Scruffy is hard to put in, because every time they do, they'll have to slow down, because Scruffy does everything really slow.

The whole joke about Scruffy is that we don't know who is other than being the janitor.  He is a throwaway character, that you can just throw all sorts of odd jokes on, like Fry's "I never told anyone -- not even Scruffy!"

[#683 :]

Probably....but then he doesn't have a real character at the moment...

No, Scruffy is more of a joke.  Cohen mention this a lot in the commentaries.  He goes to specify that Scruffy is hard to put in, because every time they do, they'll have to slow down, because Scruffy does everything really slow

Good point....and whatever happened to Xanfor and Katrina anyways? They just disappeared and no one cared

[#684 :]

You know what's strange about Xanfor and Katrina? They actually exist. AOI2 definitely happened (unlike AO1, which (aside from the Professor at the end) might have happened)), so that means those characters actually exist.

Anyway, I agree with Svip. We love Scruffy as a joke character, and so he shall remain!

[#685 :]

There's supposed to be an episode explaining who Scruffy was (other then 'the janitor') so if you want him to remain as a joke character then you'll have to ignore that episode when it comes. I don't see how they can do that, Scruffy works much better as a more 'unknown' character to me.

[#686 :]

There's supposed to be an episode explaining who Scruffy was (other then 'the janitor') so if you want him to remain as a joke character then you'll have to ignore that episode when it comes. I don't see how they can do that, Scruffy works much better as a more 'unknown' character to me.

Yeah that's what I heard...a proper origin episode

[#687 :]

One of the comics featured scruffy, He talked way too much and it just seemed weird.

[#688 :]

One of the comics featured scruffy, He talked way too much and it just seemed weird.

I remember that one. The whole time I was reading it I just kept thinking "Who is this and where's Scruffy?"

[#689 :]

There's supposed to be an episode explaining who Scruffy was (other then 'the janitor') so if you want him to remain as a joke character then you'll have to ignore that episode when it comes. I don't see how they can do that, Scruffy works much better as a more 'unknown' character to me.

I don't remember the writers specifically saying that there would be an episode devoted to the origins of Scruffy. Just that they would be revealed. Considering how Scruffy is usually used on the show (as detailed by Svip earlier), I'm guessing that the Zoidberg/Professor episode will end with Scruffy casually walking in after its (past) events, asking for a job, and then getting hired (like three sentences).

[#690 :]

I'm guessing that the Zoidberg/Professor episode will end with Scruffy casually walking in after its (past) events, asking for a job, and then getting hired (like three sentences).

You have destroyed my image of that episode.

But it is probably what will happen. 

[#691 :]

I don't have a problem with Scruffy's character getting developed more because the joke about his character is more to do with the fact that the PE crew don't know who he is not that we don't know who he is.

[#692 :]

I don't have a problem with Scruffy's character getting developed more because the joke about his character is more to do with the fact that the PE crew don't know who he is not that we don't know who he is.

They could do it so that the PE crew still don't know about him I suppose, but it would be hard.

[#693 :]

Not really. They could just have like a Scruffy flashback sequence or something, it's not like he has to be telling the rest of the crew a story or something...

[#694 :]

An AOI III would be awesome, and I'd be well up for Amy, Zoidberg and Hermes asking the questions this time around. That would rule! As for Scruffy, I don't want them to explain too much about him because that's not the point...

[#695 :]

      I'm guessing that the Zoidberg/Professor episode will end with Scruffy casually walking in after its (past) events, asking for a job, and then getting hired (like three sentences).

   You have destroyed my image of that episode.

   But it is probably what will happen. 

Maybe Scruffy came with the building.

[#696 :]

I could see that. They probably found him passed out in the basement clutching a Hustler.

[#697 :]

Yeah; he was either on break, or had a "schedule conflict"...

[#698 :]

Not really. They could just have like a Scruffy flashback sequence or something, it's not like he has to be telling the rest of the crew a story or something...

I wouldn't mind a flashback sequence for him. Could be interesting to know what his life was like.

Does Scruffy even have a house or an appartment?

[#699 :]

Missing the point of Scruffy much?

[#700 :]

Right... I never had any coffee today so I'm not really thinking clear. (I also just got back from babysitting some six year olds)

[#701 :]

Does Scruffy even have a house or an appartment?

Fry both has his home and mobile number, so I guess the answer is yes.

[#702 :]

I could see that. They probably found him passed out in the basement clutching a Hustler.

'Hustler' isn't a futuristic enough name.  It would have to be 'Space Hustler' or something like that...

[#703 :]

'Hustler' isn't a futuristic enough name.  It would have to be 'Space Hustler' or something like that...

"National Pornographic?"
"Zero-G Jugs?"
"Zero-G Juggs?"
Space Illustrated: Sexy Spacesuit Issue?"

[#704 :]

Yeah I'm happy but David (I  think) said that jokes were easy to write, good situations were tougher.The plotlines for this show are endless but this show does not move all that linearly.
Would anyone like to see a more linear storyline,especially with the budding(6 year) Fry-Leela romance?

[#705 :]

I don't think the show would benefit from a linear storyline. The show works best as intended: As a sitcom with Science-Fiction as its hook. This practically requires that episodes are mostly self-contained.

What I'd want is less unnecessary pushes of the reset button. It's fine to use it to so the show can have as many unique storylines as possible without being trapped by past events, but it shouldn't be used to reset anything major.

Small things like Bender's Explosion at the end of 217: OK.
Big things like the end of BBS: NOT OK!

That's about it. I'd say I got what I wanted, since the new season will develop F/L, start off with resolving the Wormhole situation, and hopefully will explore other things (like the Encyclopod's suggestion of Humanity's extinction, or the Professors relationship with Igner and Mom).

[#706 :]

A couple of 2 parter episodes might be nice. That's something they've never done till now.

[#707 :]

Don't mean to be grumpy but this is the news thread (just the facts ma'am). There are other threads for speculation, wishes, opinions, arguing, criticisms, etc.

[#708 :]

Don't mean to be grumpy but this is the news thread (just the facts ma'am). There are other threads for speculation, wishes, opinions, arguing, criticisms, etc.

Don't know what to tell you, man. We used this board yesterday for discussion of Scruffy.

A couple of 2 parter episodes might be nice. That's something they've never done till now.

Well, they've sort-of done some 2-parters. 101 and 102, 307 and 410, and 302 and 418. Not to forget that each chapter of the various films is shown as one-part out of four (although this doesn't really count, since that's like splitting up the LOTR Trilogy into 45-minute segments and calling it a mini-series, but it bears mentioning).

[#709 :]

A couple of 2 parter episodes might be nice. That's something they've never done till now.

I personally would prefer to have a series of episodes that (possibly) reference each other with a couple of throwaway lines but that overall can be watched and enjoyed without having to see the others. Unlike fully linear shows like Lost or 24 where if you miss one episode you don't have a clue what's going on. 

[#710 :]

I want a venture bros-esque story, not completley linear but still keeps episodes connected, also some cliffhangers.

watching bender's game on comedy central; a subtitle leading into the third act is current ebay bid: 7.51 I think this is a new one, unless I'm wrong.

[#711 :]

Agree not to have it completly linear but it would be great to see some clues to secrets to be revealed in later episodes or some jokes refaring to other episodes

[#712 :]

watching bender's game on comedy central; a subtitle leading into the third act is current ebay bid: 7.51 I think this is a new one, unless I'm wrong.

Yep, that's a new one!

They have new subtitles for the openings of each part of the movies.  

I can't wait to see the new subtitles for Into The Wild Green Yonder.  It will be airing next Sunday on Comedy Central.  =D

[#713 :]

I personally would prefer to have a series of episodes that (possibly) reference each other with a couple of throwaway lines but that overall can be watched and enjoyed without having to see the others. Unlike fully linear shows like Lost or 24 where if you miss one episode you don't have a clue what's going on. 

I want a venture bros-esque story, not completley linear but still keeps episodes connected, also some cliffhangers.

I hate to be a prick (I don't really), but isn't that basically how Futurama already is?

[#714 :]

I want a venture bros-esque story, not completley linear but still keeps episodes connected, also some cliffhangers.

I hate to be a prick (I don't really), but isn't that basically how Futurama already is?

Yep, and we don't want it to change

[#715 :]

I would say a slight increase in the frequency of continuity incidences would be cool. Not enough to alienate new fans or bog the show down in its own mire of history, but just enough to create a greater sense of an ongoing world. It's already there to an extent, but their tendency to reset everything could be curtailed a bit.

[#716 :]

an article about the complete collection

http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=14811&count=0

According to them it is currently priced $170 and not $200 which is good, but I'll pass

according to TFP and Maurice LaMarche, the first episode is fully recorded and the second episode will be about Zapp Brannigan

[#717 :]

Already posted.

[#718 :]

As for a Zapp's past episode, I'm not really for it (yet). You have to be careful with past episodes, because the audience normally already know how certain things turned out, so it's hard to justify doing them (coughStarWarsPrequelscough) frequently. I certainly wouldn't mind a Zapp's past episode, but they might want to hold off since there will already be a past episode involving the meeting of the Professor and Zoidberg (I also think that the Scruffy hiring will be a throwaway joke in this episode).

Really?, I was hoping for it to be a proper Scruffy origin episode...

Wouldn't that ruin the character of Scruffy?

Yeah, because scruffy the janitor is a background character.

[#719 :]

Yeah, because scruffy the janitor is a background character.

I did not know that.