New Futurama Speculations 2.0 - (Hopefully) Making Dreams Come True

[#360 :]

Anyway, 3 new episode titles are up from the Copyright catalogue!

• In-a-Gadda-Da-Leela
• Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences
• Proposition Infinity

I'm quite positive "In-a-Gadda-da-Leela" is the title for the second episode, the one with Zapp and Leela stranded in an Eden-like planet: the title is a pun on a Iron Butterfly's song, whose title is actually the mispronounciation of the phrase "In the Garden of Eden".

Edited for context.

[#361 :]

• In-a-Gadda-Da-Leela

Now that's a fantastic title. $50 says that's the Zapp and Leela stranded episode.

[#362 :]

Also Eric Rogers confirms that there will be a double bill on 24 June

Taken from the news thread. So I'm thinking that "Rebirth" is a two-parter, or that the second episode (and I agree that it's gotta be "In-a-Gadda-Da-Leela") is an extension of "Rebirth." When we first heard about the Zapp/Leela episode, I assumed that its placement in the season meant it will probably have something to do with solidifying the Fry/Leela ship (as weird as that sounds); others said that it has to do with the rebirth concept, what with the whole Adam and Eve thing. Probably (hopefully) it's a bit of both, and either way I feel like we'll be seeing "Rebirth" and "In-a-Gadda-Da-Leela" on June 24th.

Of course, I could be wrong. But speculatin' is fun; I feel like I haven't done it in a while.

[#363 :]

Eh.  I don't think it is a two parter in the 'common' understanding of a two parter.  What I mean is; they are probably closely tied, but can easily be viewed apart, you catch my drift.  No need for a 'to be continued' at the end.

[#364 :]

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. It'll probably be similar to how "Bender's Big Score" and "The Beast With a Billion Backs" are related--only the execution will hopefully be a bit more deft. Or maybe it's like how "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid" and "The Why of Fry" are related: they share similar plot points and overall themes, but you can understand and enjoy one without necessarily having seen the other.

[#365 :]

I think this is just a business choice by Comedy Central. They have more control in deciding when episodes air than the production staff. Think about how it'll be promoted: "Futurama is back June 24th with TWO NEW EPISODES!" It's enticing, like a two-for-one special. Gets people to watch both, and stick around on the channel for The Daily Show etc.

And I don't think they'd do a two parter so early in the new run. The best way to attract a new audience on a channel such as Comedy Central is to allow a viewer to watch episodes independently. It's the classic sitcom formula, such as Fry said in When Aliens Attack, and shows in that formula make up most of Comedy Central's schedule. I'm not saying that there won't be any mythology, but there won't be any story arcs or two parters like most sci-fi shows have. I mean, look back on the original run; were there any two parters or multi-episode arcs in the traditional sci-fi sense? Did stories continue or have reference in the immediately following episodes? Sure, we have the origins mythology in episodes Space Pilot 3000, The Day The Earth, Roswell That Ends Well Stood Stupid, and The Why of Fry (and one could include Nibbler's introduction in Love's Labours Lost in Space if they wanted or Nibbler's Easter Egg-like appearance in Jurassic Bark), but that's four episodes over seventy-two episodes / four seasons. To go off and start doing two-parters and multi-episode story arcs with the premiere of new episodes would go against the basic formula of episodic Futurama itself.

So, recap: I think the two episodes are unrelated entirely and the choice of a double-header premiere is a business decision. I feel like Rebirth will tie the loose end of Into the Wild Green Yonder during the first act and quickly go onto a different story, like Bender's Big Score did, and the second episode will not reference Rebirth at all. However, I do expect some mythology episodes during this new run. Like two or three over these 26 episodes.

[#366 :]

See, I think the two episodes will somehow be related, simply because it would be a decent transition from the four-interrelated-episodes angle of the movies, to the more self-contained episodic format of the original series. I'm not saying it will be a two-parter proper, but I feel like there may still be loose-ends with "Rebirth" (so I guess I disagree that the episode will go off in some unrelated direction after, say, the first act), and they'll be tied in the second episode (which, again, I'm feelin' is "In-a-Gadda-Da-Leela").

Of course I could be wrong; it's just a hunch I have.

[#367 :]

And I'd like your hunch to be correct, because it's a hope that I have.

[#368 :]

http://www.peelified.com/index.php?topic=18818.new#new

[#369 :]

I'd like to see an episode where Lrrr gets his own public access show after a TV Show he likes gets taken off the air.  It could be a sequel to 'When Aliens Attack'. 
The show Lrrr likes could be like The Hills. 

[#370 :]

I've got to go with Gorky and Tedward on the whole Rebirth--->602 connection. While I do agree with i_c_weiner that the two episodes on premier night are at least partly a business decision/good PR (it will have been 16 months since the last new Futurama), I still think it's also because the first episode's plot will have bearing on the second's (while still being able to be watched independently (think 101 to 102)). It's too perfect a transition not to take advantage of.

Plus, it's kinda weird have Zapp among the dead P.E. Crew (and primary reason for them being dead), revive him along with the others, have an episode with him and Leela isolated directly after this major event (in the characters lives) and not have any mention of it. At the very least it gives Leela ever more reason to dislike Zapp (on account of being killed by his stupidity and all).

On a crazy note, how great would it be if this connection hunch was correct!? That would mean to get a full connected storyline you'd have to watch 6 episodes of 4 loosely connected plots (513: Mars Vegas, 514-516: Green Age, 601: Rebirth, 602: Adam & Eve). That's about 2 hours and 20 minutes of parking it! What does Futurama think it is, a single performance of a Beck song!?

[#371 :]

Mmm, loosely connected plots...how nice.

And welcome back, Fistful!

[#372 :]

Duly noted.  I have missed Fistful too.  I may not despise Pauly Shore as much as him, but when he posts.  Oh, you know he posts.

Also, Fistful, that is only when Beck doesn't know how it ends!  So blame the writers for not knowing how the episodes end.

[#373 :]

welcome back, Fistful!

Duly noted.  I have missed Fistful too.

If this is your guys way to distract me with with flattery while one of you steals cash from my purse, consider me blushed and poor.

I may not despise Pauly Shore as much as him, but when he posts.  Oh, you know he posts.

Also, Fistful, that is only when Beck doesn't know how it ends!  So blame the writers for not knowing how the episodes end.

I blame the writers for not crafting my jokes so they'd be funny and understandable. Maybe if I said Rush instead?

Svip, I'm surprised that something you associate with me is "hate of Pauly Shore". I didn't like his appearance on Futurama (though, I'm certainly not alone there) but I have nothing against the guy. I actually kinda like him (or at least I enjoyed Encino Man).

Hmm, I wonder if that dark secret revealed is enough reason for me to exile myself again?

[#374 :]

so here the first sceen cap from the episode Rebirth.

[#375 :]

Awesome!

As Freako pointed out before, the comments on these Futurama things are so funny. Because the people don't know what they're talking about.

[#376 :]

I'm going to start an early Cubert Rant by still being confused as to why Bender's gears are the only parts of his body that survived the crash. The guy jumped into molten lava and out of his high-level apartment (looks like it's located over 20 stories) and made it out of both those events mostly undamaged (minus some melted eyes) and yet somehow this ship crash ruined him? If the other characters (the ones made of meat) bones managed to not be completely obliterated from the crash or the burning fire that likely ashed their flesh, then how is it that Bender shouldn't be completely intact (being made of heat resistant metal)?

*pushes glasses up*

P.S. Is that an actual still? It looks like it was made in MS Paint.

[#377 :]

Clearly it is a joke!

It looks good for a MS Paint job:

[#378 :]

It's a joke that's been bothering me for months (although strange that I didn't notice till now that it's even more unlikely for Kif's fluid-filled bladders to have survived (maybe because I don't care about Kif)). I know it shouldn't, I know that there's been unlikely, illogical things done in the series (hell, I referenced Cubert's Rants, the entire point of which is to search for those previously mentioned things), but for some reason this really bothers me. I would have been happier if nothing but the heads survived. Berate me as needed.

As for the MS Paint thing, I just mean the whole fuzziness the characters have going on (especially Bender). Reminds me of the level "Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy" from Yoshi's Island (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWxLT4PcQjo#t=0m47s).

[#379 :]

Bender rant

I think you're missing the most important mistake in the still: Where's Scruffy's hair?

[#380 :]

Who are you?

[#381 :]

Svip. shouldn't you be putting that still on the infosphere rather than asking questions you know the answer to? Get back to work!

[#382 :]

Svip. shouldn't you be putting that still on the infosphere rather than asking questions you know the answer to? Get back to work!

Have you even looked?

http://theinfosphere.org/Rebirth

[#383 :]

I was going to look before I posted but I decided it would be easier to just call you incompetent and then look. Then I called you incompetent, looked and saw that it had already been done.

Bastard.

[#384 :]

As I posted at slurmed.com , I'm worried about the 4:3 and not 16:9 format...
hopefully, this is just a promo image

[#385 :]

Probably is, only somebody with a brain slug would go back to the 4:3.

[#386 :]

As I posted at slurmed.com , I'm worried about the 4:3 and not 16:9 format...
hopefully, this is just a promo image

Given that the trailer and animatic were both in 16:9, I assume this is the promo picture's fault.  However, the usual promo pictures were in a portrait format.  So it is a rather weird promo picture.

[#387 :]

Speculation for how the characters are "Rebirthed" is basically over. CCInsider just posted a prop sketch for a "Birthing Device": http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/files/2010/05/601-Birthing-Device.jpg

You can see several vials and tubes filled with liquid (seemingly raw protein and calcium and whatnot to be converted into flesh and cartilage and the like), a large tub (like an above-ground pool) to stick the skeletons and liquid into, a large rack to hoist the multiple skeletons on (like the one they are hoisted in the Professor's Laboratory), some lasers pointed inward (perhaps to encode the DNA or help in the shaping (like in the Fifth Element)), and a shoot on the front to "Birth" the bodies outside of the tub.

I wonder how the episode is going to fill 22 minutes if The Professor going to be able to do the Rebirthing in-house? Seems like it should last 7 minutes (it probably is. The machine is apparently introduced in act 1). What could the rest of the plot be?

[#388 :]

I wonder how the episode is going to fill 22 minutes if The Professor going to be able to do the Rebirthing in-house? Seems like it should last 7 minutes (it probably is. The machine is apparently introduced in act 1). What could the rest of the plot be?

According to David X. Cohen, it would be about the Fry-Leela relationship.  Which makes... sort of sense?

[#389 :]

Speculation for how the characters are "Rebirthed" is basically over.

Oh my. Well, it all still seems quite promising...perhaps the focus will be more on readjusting to life anew and the regaining of memories or something, as we've speculated before (and no ship resetting, maybe?). Ooh, the tension is palpable!

[#390 :]

Note how the crew is almost in the reverse order of desirability for Fry (Zoidberg being the exception). Leela will possibly be the last one out... a little tension heightener there. Will Zoidberg's pudgy form break the machine? Oh noes!

[#391 :]

I like Tedward's idea: by getting the rebirthing part out of the way by the end of act one or the beginning of act two, I feel like the writers can then focus on that whole fugitive thing (I'm expecting a pardon from Zapp), and the Fry/Leela aspect--basically, tie up all those loose ends from ItWGY. In fact, by not allowing the rebirth itself to take up most of the episode, the writers are kind of forced to confront the ramifications of the events of ItWGY. Or at least that's my hope.

[#392 :]

Me? I didn't come up with anything great this time, but thanks anyway...

But yes, ramification-confronting would (and should) be neat.

Note how the crew is almost in the reverse order of desirability for Fry (Zoidberg being the exception). Leela will possibly be the last one out... a little tension heightener there.

Hey, that's a good observation! You'd think Bender might be second, though...and it has been mentioned (albeit through jokes) that Fry is somehow and for some reason closer to Scruffy...

[#393 :]

Speculation for how the characters are "Rebirthed" is basically over. CCInsider just posted a prop sketch for a "Birthing Device": http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/files/2010/05/601-Birthing-Device.jpg

I was thinking there was going to be some kinda tight rubber orifice they were going to be squeezed out of.

And everybody everywhere is saying that the thing was sketched by Matt. I 100% doubt he drew it, that guy can't draw himself out of a wet paper bag.

[#394 :]

I have two more points of speculation to offer (both based on the likelyhood of a late act 1/early act 2 rebirthing) and two responses.

To anybody who thought that the characters might have some memory loss, your thoughts are slightly more likely to be true than they were yesterday. If the characters were revived at the end of Rebirth rather than nearer to the middle than there would be no need to waste time with a memory loss development. But since they are likely being rebirthed near the middle of the episode it seems to be the writers intentions to introduce them/Futurama to a new Comedy Central audience (although I think it unlikely that any regular Comedy Central viewer hasn't caught at least a few episodes in the nearly 2 and a half years it's run on the network (especially with the movies airing fairly often). If this is true, it's probably what was meant by the various reports of Matt Groening being inspired by Star Trek XI to pitch the story.

Since the characters are likely rebirthed somewhere near the middle of the episode rather than the end, then it also seems likely that 602 (which many think is the Eden-like planet episode) does not have anything to do with Rebirth. If it had, then Zapp and Leela would have been rebirthed near the end (along with the others) and then snatched by an alien being or something. Oh well.

I like Tedward's idea: by getting the rebirthing part out of the way by the end of act one or the beginning of act two, I feel like the writers can then focus on that whole fugitive thing (I'm expecting a pardon from Zapp), and the Fry/Leela aspect--basically, tie up all those loose ends from ItWGY. In fact, by not allowing the rebirth itself to take up most of the episode, the writers are kind of forced to confront the ramifications of the events of ItWGY. Or at least that's my hope.

But then what would have been the point of the rebirths? They could have just had the P.E. crew crash, step out of the ship, and apprehended by the NNY Police and Zapp Brannigan, continuing on court scenes. Alternatively, that interdimensional Zoo storyline of DXC's would have worked too.

I don't really care that much about tying up ITWGY's loose ends. In fact, to me the only loose ends are the wormhole and the Encyclopod's suggestion that humanity is a dying species. The wormhole business is dealt with in the first three minutes and I'm perfectly happy to let the Encyclopod/human extinction business be let off for now to later be developed into a proper episode (maybe even arc). That leaves me hoping the writers focus on the rebirths and their after-effects to the best of their storytelling abilities.

Speculation for how the characters are "Rebirthed" is basically over. CCInsider just posted a prop sketch for a "Birthing Device": http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/files/2010/05/601-Birthing-Device.jpg

I was thinking there was going to be some kinda tight rubber orifice they were going to be squeezed out of.

They still might. The way the orifice segments jut out seems to suggest it might be rubber rather than metal.

[#395 :]

They still might. The way the orifice segments jut out seems to suggest it might be rubber rather than metal.

I concur with Fistful. First maybe a zapping from the 'electrodes' up top, then a regrowing inside the tank, and a final squeezing out through that orifice. There's the literal rebirth DXC was talking about.

But if this wasn't animated I'd question why Bender was in the tank too. Surely a new Bending Unit body could be purchased off eBay.

Fry: Umm, Professor, why is Bender in there too? He's a robot!
Prof: Hu-wha? Oh my, yes, you're right. Oh well. *activates machine*

[#396 :]

Like you saying Bender doesn't need to be rebirthed. He needs to be rebulit.

[#397 :]

If this is true, it's probably what was meant by the various reports of Matt Groening being inspired by Star Trek XI to pitch the story.

I am not so sure about this, Matt Groening did talk about this, but Cohen was quick to debunk these rumours.  It may seem like an obvious pitch for my wiki again, but even has a section on this matter:  http://theinfosphere.org/Season_6#Reboot

[#398 :]

Interesting stuff from CC Insider today. What do you guys make of the Robot Leela, which (as you can see at the bottom of the Robot Leela picture) is going to make its debut in Rebirth?

CC Insider Post: http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/tag/countdown-to-futurama/
Robot Leela: http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/files/2010/05/601-Leela-Robot.jpg

[#399 :]

Is kinda interesting if all the crew (but Fry and the Professor) have to use robot bodies for a while, until they can have their real bodies back. Perhaps controlling the robots from the PE Building.

That makes me thing.. what if 6acv02 is the episode of the shocking relationship between Bender and Amy.. ahh speculations..