Futurama News during the 2011 Futurama run

[#400 :]

Maybe some heart attacks are more severe then others?  Or the pez dispensers are a cheap alternative but not as good as a hospital visit.  I doubt Farnsworth's medical insurance is very good, and only covers the first heart attack. After that, its the pez dispensers and a lot of prayer.

[#401 :]

Maybe the pez-like cure only works if you nip the heart attack in the bud. Fry felt a heart attack coming on, took the pill, was fine.

In Ghost in the Machines, it caught him off guard at night and he wasn't able to grab one of the pez-thingies so he needed a bit more severe treatment at the hospital. Maybe?

[#402 :]

It was just one simple, funny gag you guys, there's no logic or explanation to why he didn't use it in a previous episode

[#403 :]

Let's just blame Granny Hester.  I'm sure it is somehow all her fault.

[#404 :]

i love futurama

[#405 :]

i love futurama

[#406 :]

See that's some vital information there, I would have thought someone posting on a Futurama fan site with many other fans would create an account and detest Futurama - Thanks for clearing that up 

[#407 :]

See that's some vital information there, I would have thought someone posting on a Futurama fan site with many other fans would create an account and detest Futurama - Thanks for clearing that up 

Someone actually did, can't remember who, but they kept slagging Futurama off...

[#408 :]

Futurama sucks Lady Gaga's hairy balls. WAIT WHO SAID THAT!!?

[#409 :]

BLASPHEMY!!

Postcount+

[#410 :]

I agree with Booze and flesheatingbull, but just to play devil's advocate: If heart attacks are so easily cured, why is Fry sent away in "Ghost in the Machines" after having a heart attack and being told that any more big surprises could be deadly? I thought the PEZ joke in Egg Man was funny, but I'm just sayin'; treating certain things cavalierly in some scenes and dramatically in others makes it hard to figure out how sad or scared I should be during the latter moments, considering the same condition was shrugged off in the former moments.

what episode was made first? if 'fry am the eggman' is earlier in the production order than 'ghost', then i'd say that he had a severe heart attack in 'ghost', which, as we all know, can have dire consequences.

[#411 :]

Fry has a history of those and the show was always kind of cavalier about it..."yep, right up until my third heart attack."

"Eggman" comes after "Ghost" in production so it might be that the Pez thing wasn't invented before then. He also might have just not had it on him and he was alone in his apartment when the attack happened, so no one would have been able to immediately help him. And even THEN the attack itself is basically played for laughs; what's emotionally significant about it is that Bender realizes he's almost murdered his friend in a vindictive way.

[#412 :]

Or, maybe they gave him the dispenser after the incident in "Ghost" since he had such a severe heart attack.

[#413 :]

Hmmm...maybe that's why it seems like Leela is not interested in Fry. She wants her men in good health!

[#414 :]

Well, she was more interested in Fry when he was all bulging muscles and super strength in "Parasites Lost"...

[#415 :]

I am pretty certain most people agree that was when Leela was at her most dickish.  Leela clearly is a bit shallow.

[#416 :]

Taken from this interview with DXC.

http://www.awn.com/articles/article/back-futurama/page/1%2C1

[#417 :]

That's a nice pic to make a Leela avatar from

[#418 :]

Hmmm.  I would like them to do a few episodes that play up Fry's creative/musical abilities (its obvious he has them, but doesn't have the technical ability to properly express them).  We know music is one of the keys to Leela's heart, and having Fry's creativity played up would flesh out that facet of his personality.

I was so excited for this.  I love how Amy is Betty Boop now (it makes me wonder if she's going to be an iconic female character in the video game section too since she's already Betty Boop and Sailor moon in the other two segments.  Maybe Princess Peach or Zelda?)

[#419 :]

Here's hoping for Leela as Samus, although chances are that'd be too obscure a character for them to bother with.

I love the Betty Boop Amy all the same. Hell, I love the look of all of them.

[#420 :]

Here's hoping for Leela as Samus, although chances are that'd be too obscure a character for them to bother with.

I love the Betty Boop Amy all the same. Hell, I love the look of all of them.

I think Leela is more likely to be Lara Croft if anything, but Leela as Samus would be awesome.  But then again Futurama does mix stock shout outs from Star Wars or Star Trek with extremely obscure ones, and Metroid seems to be in the middle.  I imagine Amy is probably going to be Princess Zelda in a short skirt, or Peach, if they are going to have her be an iconic female character in each segment, rather then just two.

[#421 :]

I wouldn't expect many video game references past 1990. The writers are clearly of the older set since they almost only referenced 70's/80's arcade games in "Raiders of the Lost Arcade" and they mentioned it would be pixelated anyway (which was most prevalent during the Arcade and NES/Genesis era's).

[#422 :]

Ehhh. They are of that generation, but I wouldn't put it past Futurama writers to continue playing video games well into their adulthood (although probably not with the same frequency). They're probably familiar with Metroid and Tomb Raider.

[#423 :]

Metroid was released in 1986.

I think the video game segment will be mostly retro game stuff, though. Overclockwise seems to be where they're going to do some more modern video-game stuff (COD-esque games and the whole online gaming world, I bet).

[#424 :]

Sorry for the double-post, but I come bearing news, so it feels like a legitimate reason to do so.

But yeah, according to Eric Rogers on Twitter, apparently claymation was talked about for 'Reincarnation' but they decided against it due to time and money constraints.

But also, apparently Ken Keeler wrote tonight's episode which not only confirms that I was right to have a good feeling about it, but also goes to show how weird it is when episodes are aired out of order. We'll be getting two Ken Keeler episodes within 3 weeks.

[#425 :]

But also, apparently Ken Keeler wrote tonight's episode which not only confirms that I was right to have a good feeling about it, but also goes to show how weird it is when episodes are aired out of order. We'll be getting two Ken Keeler episodes within 3 weeks.

They're saving the best til last from the looks of it!

[#426 :]

Comedy Central put up the preview for "The Tip of the Zoidberg."

Hmmm...I can't tell if I liked that or not. I do know that the cricking sound Leela's spine kept making made me faintly ill.

I thoroughly enjoyed this.  AL4 in the background?

[#427 :]

AL4 in the background?

I thought that eye chart thingy has always been in Zoidberg's office.

[#428 :]

I think Leela is more likely to be Lara Croft if anything, but Leela as Samus would be awesome.  But then again Futurama does mix stock shout outs from Star Wars or Star Trek with extremely obscure ones, and Metroid seems to be in the middle.  I imagine Amy is probably going to be Princess Zelda in a short skirt, or Peach, if they are going to have her be an iconic female character in each segment, rather then just two.

I wouldn't expect many video game references past 1990.

Metroid was released in 1986 (bold by FOA).

I think the video game segment will be mostly retro game stuff, though. Overclockwise seems to be where they're going to do some more modern video-game stuff (COD-esque games and the whole online gaming world, I bet).

"I'm well aware of that." I was talking about the idea of Amy as Lara Croft. She seems too recent and relatively obscure a reference for the show to go after. I agree that the game section will stick to the stuff the average viewer will remember (Mario, Duck Hunt, Mega Man), the late 80's-early 90's console games (since Arcade's were covered in AOI II and the most recent games haven't proved timeless yet). I also think that they probably will focus on a specific type of game (platformer being the most likely) and base the characters around that game type to focus the story and jokes, which is why I don't think the characters will all be dressed as famous game characters. The other two parodies seem to focus on a specific type of parody (Giant Robot Anime and Fleisher Cartoon) so it suggests the game section will follow suit (otherwise it would be disjointed).

[#429 :]

But also, apparently Ken Keeler wrote tonight's episode which not only confirms that I was right to have a good feeling about it, but also goes to show how weird it is when episodes are aired out of order. We'll be getting two Ken Keeler episodes within 3 weeks.

Anticipation skyrockets!...

[#430 :]

Lara Croft?  Obscure?  No way.  She was one of the most iconic fictional characters of the nineties, possibly the most iconic female character in gaming and probably the first videogaming sex symbol.  I have never played a Tomb Raider game in my life, and I know who she is.  Hell, even my mother knows who she is.  Even people who don't play games period know who she is.   And all this was before the Angelina Jolie movies (arguably Jolie's most famous role).  She's as well known as Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog or Pikachu. 

[#431 :]

I know it won't happen but, Leela as Portals Chell.  


This is my 200th post by the way!

[#432 :]

I know it won't happen but, Leela as Portals Chell. 

Chell is far more obscure than Lara Croft.

[#433 :]

But also, apparently Ken Keeler wrote tonight's episode which not only confirms that I was right to have a good feeling about it, but also goes to show how weird it is when episodes are aired out of order. We'll be getting two Ken Keeler episodes within 3 weeks.

Hopes...restored.

[#434 :]

Lara Croft?  Obscure?  No way.  She was one of the most iconic fictional characters of the nineties, possibly the most iconic female character in gaming and probably the first videogaming sex symbol.  I have never played a Tomb Raider game in my life, and I know who she is.  Hell, even my mother knows who she is.  Even people who don't play games period know who she is.   And all this was before the Angelina Jolie movies (arguably Jolie's most famous role).  She's as well known as Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog or Pikachu. 

As a character, sure, Lara Croft is fairly known. The Tomb Raider series she stars in however is about as describable as Burn Notice. What's it actually about? What do you do? Can anyone accurately describe the goals or appeal? Closest I can get is Indiana Jones with tits and that's mostly a comedy answer that does little to describe what goes on in those games (I've played demos of the recent ones). That's what I mean by obscure. Nobody knows what she is or does other than be a hot chick. She's a second (maybe third) string video game character and too worthless a reference for Futurama to make. I'd sooner see Samus or Chun-Li referenced before her, since at least their games can be described (i.o.w. they are more than the sum of their lady parts) and they are of the era of sprites and chiptunes being parodied.

I know it won't happen but, Leela as Portals Chell. 

Chell is far more obscure than Lara Croft.

Chell has better reasons for being obscure (puzzle game, mostly unseen protagonist) and the game she's in is at least describable.

[#435 :]

You search Tombs?  Hence the name Tomb Raider?  That's what the games are about.  And well, fight evil people who intend to steal the valuables from the Tombs.

[#436 :]

It's a bias I have. I am utterly baffled by what is seen as enjoyable or purposeful about Tomb Raider, what the actual gameplay really is. It's quite confusing to me. When I played, I could only see it as Devil May Cry with only guns and walking around doing puzzles. I don't care if one of the ladies dresses as her in Reincarnation, I just don't think Tomb Raider is known as much as a video game compared to Mario or Pac-Man or what have you.

[#437 :]

Lara Croft is an iconic character, in that she is recognizable to people who don't play videogames.   Sailor Moon is probably the most recognizable female anime character, but ask people to describe the show?  They will draw a blank.   The same with Betty Boop.  The majority of people who collect Betty Boop merchandise have probably never seen a Betty Boop cartoon in their lives, certainly not the Fleischer ones.

Most people know the Super Mario Theme, can name Mario, Luigi and Peach, even people who have never played the games at all.  Same with Sonic.  We're talking about iconic characters and recognizable ones, not if the games are memorable or any good.

I think Fistful you are really denying Lara Croft's presence.   I have never played a Tomb Raider game in my life, but she is far and away the most recognizable female video game character.   Lara Croft pretty much launched Angelina Jolie into a household name, not the other way round.   

[#438 :]

What a foolish argument of the utmost foolishness, you... fools!

Lara Croft is as recognisable as the golden arches! Hell, my nana knows who Lara Croft is (I was just chatting to her on the phone and decided to ask her that... Life file not found).

A Lara-esque Leela would be perfect, there are so many parallels and I can't find any reason why they couldn't, shouldn't, or won't!

[#439 :]

Lara Croft is known in the same way that He-Man or Twisted Sister are...people remember them, but not because they have any particular relevance to current pop culture. (And she's still nowhere near as famous as Mario or Pac-Man; sure she's very well-known, but let's be serious here.) Considering this Futurama bit is mostly spoofing 80s video games, it wouldn't make any sense to reference Lara, especially since she also isn't relevant now. A reference to her back around 1999/2000 (when Futurama itself was new) would have made more sense, since people other than hardcore gamers were still really talking about the Tomb Raider series then. Nowadays it survives mostly off nostalgia and gaming-forum dwellers who play each new one solely to complain about them.

I would probably expect to see mostly early 80s references. Maybe a little generic NES-era stuff, but I'd be surprised to see something as specific as even Samus or Mega Man for those.