Retro-Review: "Space Pilot 3000"

[on:]

Wow, that brought back so many memories! I forgot how much I loved this episode!

Anyone notice that Bender sounded different?

[Reply #1 on:]

And the professor. Really different.

"Can we borrow some money?"
"Oh my, no."

They moved the commercial breaks! So we saw Bender drop his arms, then immediately put them back on mysteriously.

[Reply #2 on:]

I doubt this thread will last long, but while it's up, I'll post.

Here's something I've noticed through TV and 'acquired' episodes. Doesn't Bender look really blocky for the first five episodes? His proportions seem totally out of whack. His head is small, his torso is huge. I never noticed that until I re-watched it tonight.

[Reply #3 on:]

I never liked Bender's voice when I fist watched Futurama and now I'm used to it... but it is true that he sounds different!  A lot less nasal or something now, and easier to understand.

The episode really brought back memories!  One of the finest Futurama episodes ever, and one of the best pilot episodes for any show ever.   Suicide Booth is classic!  Wow, I loved it, and I liked how Fry says "how'd you do that" when Bender immedietly puts on his arms.

[Reply #4 on:]

 

Originally posted by evan:
I doubt this thread will last long, but while it's up, I'll post.

Let us have a single Retro-Review thread for all CN repeats. Please?

EDIT: This thing messed up. So I edited it.

[Reply #5 on:]

fry also sounded different in early eps.

[Reply #6 on:]

now you just have to experience the rest of Adult Swim. Futurama + the existing shows + new anime series + weeknights = a mighty beast of programming!! rar!

[Reply #7 on:]

Yeah, aside from Bender, I never realized how different the voices were before.

Also the characters themselves have evolved into being a lot different. Can you imagine Bender feeling bad about anything nowadays? Him lamenting the fact that he built suicide booths, and talking about following his programming seemed completely wrong. And why did Bender say he could quit anytime he wanted? He's a robot, doesn't he need alcohol to survive?

Humor-wise, the episode holds up pretty well. Not a lot of big laughs, but it's amusing enough, and it's fast paced and it flows well(a lot of newer episodes have some dead spots).

[Reply #8 on:]

And how sexy is Cartoon Network? No syndication-style cutting! Full-screen credits and everything! This rocks so much.

[Reply #9 on:]

They do sound a bit different now than when they started.  No speed talking quasi-chipmonks on Cartoon network, unlike the PAL DVDs (from 4% speed up and resultant pitch increase).  The main thing I noticed is the lack of music -- there is almost none.

[Reply #10 on:]

They all sounded different. They did mention that on the commentary tracks of several season 1 episodes.

[Reply #11 on:]

 

Originally posted by McGrady:
No speed talking quasi-chipmonks on Cartoon network, unlike the PAL DVDs (from 4% speed up and resultant pitch increase).

Strange, I've been watching the DVDs and I noticed that the professor sounded higher.

[Reply #12 on:]

 

Originally posted by SQFreak:
 Strange, I've been watching the DVDs and I noticed that the professor sounded higher.

He used to be slightly higher when it first started, but he is one of the more noticable characters that talk in a higher pitch on the dvds compared to "normal"

[Reply #13 on:]

Hermes sounds and looks totally different.
 

Here's something I've noticed through TV and 'acquired' episodes. Doesn't Bender look really blocky for the first five episodes? His proportions seem totally out of whack. His head is small, his torso is huge. I never noticed that until I re-watched it tonight.

You 're right. Bender looks fat.

[Reply #14 on:]

The ship looks also strange in the first episodes.

[Reply #15 on:]

In I, Roommate they mention just how badly the characters were drawn, and i agree. The scene infront of the PE ship (which they hadn't finalised designs for) was awful looking!

[Reply #16 on:]

Then again, compare it with the first Simpsons Episodes and you realise that they did a good job from the beginning.

[Reply #17 on:]

wow...that was great...I hadn't seen that episode since the first time it was ever on...I think Cartoon Network is my new favorite channel...I thought it was still hilarious too

[Reply #18 on:]

One of my friends has fallen in love with Futurama after seeing last night's airing. He said that the only reason he never watched it before was that he couldn't keep up with when it was on. Stupid FOX.

It's only a matter of time 'till we see him on PEEL.

[Reply #19 on:]

Futurama - the show on FOX that the Cartoon Network advertisizes for...

[Reply #20 on:]

...but FOX doesn't even want the free advertisements.

Last night, when I actually saw Futurama on tv, they had this little bit before showcasing "an all new FOX Sunday". Right after the announcer said "an all-new Futurama!", notice how Homer went 'D'oh!' It's as if, subconsciously, Fox is trying to admit they don't like showing Futurama.

[Reply #21 on:]

Are we having seperate threads for every episode? Or should we put our 1acv02 review here?

We'll probably have less and less to say with each episode, but it's kind of cool to see what everyone thinks about all the old episodes.

[Reply #22 on:]

could do a "retro review" thread for each week.

"Gender Neutral Pac Person!"

[Reply #23 on:]

lfv, that is a real good idea!

But now the 2nd retro episode has aired, The Series Has Landed, and what an epsiode it was!

I never had the chance to see the 2nd episode on TV (later saw it.. um' elsewhere) so I was loving every minute of it.  The plot was strong, the jokes were funny, I really do like the first season a lot.  Seeing Fry so clueless and the crew very new to each other is so cool again.  I can't wait until the DVD is out, but this is the next best thing! 

I, Roomate tomorrow!  Yes, three of my favorite episodes in a row!

[Reply #24 on:]

I missed The pilot episode  but I saw The Series has Landed!!  ah, such blissful memories! 

I have always loved the lander scene when Leela and Fry look at the Earth. 
And Bender was a classic example of his cool a$$ self!  lol

[Reply #25 on:]

It seems to me, that whenever I mention "Futurama" to someone, the episode they always remember seeing is "Series Has Landed". It could because that episode was heavily promoted by Fox (gasp!), before the show started to get shoved around. And, really, this is one of the best episodes. A good one to start off with, and catch new fans, too.

[Reply #26 on:]

I remember the reaction to this episode being poor, in The Simpsons newsgroup and among a couple friends who watched it. I don't know why, I thought it was one of the better first season episodes. Great jokes with only a few that stand out as being bad, and a good story and a funny introduction to Zoidberg(whose voice also sounds different. I could have sworn he's always sounded like he does now. Maybe the low bitrate of my episodes helps to obscure the difference between voice-overs).

Once again, alcohol is treated normally, with the Moon person asking Bender not to drink alcohol in the park. If robots really need booze to survive, then why are those bastard amusement park people trying to take it away?

I kind of like Bender as a genuine drunk. The whole "robots need alcohol to function" concept was cute, but takes the edge off of a hilariously crippling addiction. Oh well.

[Reply #27 on:]

I forgot to watch this ep on Cartoon Network but I got thee DVD's so I suppose theres not much point.
I remember thinking tht Futurama was going to be a cheap spin off of the Simpsons in Space and the beginning of end of the Simpsons, I wasn't blown by the first episode but I thought it was good and it was the end of my wanking to Marge era and the beginning of my wanking to Amy and Leela era.

[Reply #28 on:]

It was the end of an era....

I loved this ep when I first saw it. I was sceptical at first, but when I watched it it was great. Seeing as I'd  recorded it, I watched it again straight afterwards.

[Reply #29 on:]

 

Originally posted by iliketowankalot:
I wasn't blown by the first episode but I thought it was good and it was the end of my wanking to Marge era and the beginning of my wanking to Amy and Leela era.

But Amy wasn't in the first episode.

[Reply #30 on:]

Hey, since Futurama's now on Adult Swim and they visited the Moon in the second episode, I don't suppose CN took the chance to use the Mooninites from ATHF to promote the show? No? Oh well, it would have been cool - I think they'd get along just fine with Bender, what with all the drinking and smoking and thievery and flipping the bird...

[Reply #31 on:]

Good old "The Series Has Landed". It was the first episode I ever saw, and I was instantly hooked. Still a brilliant show today. With the introduction of Amy and Zoidberg (best introduction of a character ever), the moon hilbilly and the lunar lander scene. Lot's of classic quotes in that episode, and not a single bad joke at all (a few meh's, but who care about those).

I saw SP3K halfway through season 2, but it was still a great show. One of the best pilots ever. Instantly funny, and lots of great characters.

[Reply #32 on:]

I don't remember what I watched that got me hooked. I think I watched it because it was "From the Creator of the Simpsons." I know I've seen every episode now.

[Reply #33 on:]

does anybody know what the ratings for cn have been? Has futurama been doing really well?

[Reply #34 on:]

 

Originally posted by Venus:
does anybody know what the ratings for cn have been? Has futurama been doing really well?

We won't know until March if you mean the overall rating.

[Reply #35 on:]

here's a press release from cartoon network however displaying demographic ratings -

 

The cable debut of Emmy Award-winning Futurama within Cartoon Network's Adult Swim franchise at 11 p.m. last Sunday proved its stellar rating's pull with adults 18-34 and men 18-34. Adults 18-34 ratings (0.8) increased by 33%, while men 18-34 ratings (1.0) ballooned by 43%. Delivery for both target demos also increased by 32% (513,000) and 43% (331,000), respectively. Adult Swim overall (Sunday, 11p.m.-2 a.m.) enjoyed 60% growth both in men 18-34 ratings (0.8) and delivery (250,000). Similarly, adults 18-34 ratings (0.5) grew by 25% and delivery (345,000) by 34%. Cartoon Network ranked #3 in delivery of men 18-34 on ad-supported cable during the Adult Swim time period.

[Reply #36 on:]

I don't know what any of that means, but woohoo!

[Reply #37 on:]

That's pretty good for Cartoon Network.  The 0.8 rating means that .8% of people who were watching tv at that time were watching Futurama.  In comparison, the lowest ratings on Fox were around 3.5/5 last year (3.5% of the people were watching it, 5 million total)

[Reply #38 on:]

Sadly I don't have cable but I already have that ep on my computer. Still a pretty good episode. Even the first one is still fresh, with jokes that are barely derivative from The Simpsons (unlike the Futurama-bashers out there declare). A really good pilot, and especially how Fry became a delivery boy for a third time was a nice twist.

[Reply #39 on:]

Hmmmm I wonder if all of the promotion from Cartoon Network will help the new episodes on Fox.