Unanswered Questions...

[on:]

<A single spotlight illuminates a lone microphone on the stage. SpaceCase, dressed head to toe in black, steps up to the microphone.>
Is this thing on? Good evening.
You may notice from my dress that I’m in mourning the passing of Futurama.
But that isn’t why I’m here. Now that Futurama has finished it’s broadcast run on F*x, what remaining unanswered questions do you have arising from the show?
I do not mean questions like;

<whines>
“Why’d F*x cancel the show,”
</whines>

Or “How can we get new ep’s on CN?” And so on.

Neither do I mean ”What If” kinds of questions like;

“What if Fry & Leela got married?”

Or, “What if Bender went straight?” And so on.

I mean unanswered questions arising from the contents of the show.
To get things started here are a few of mine:
<produces a sheet of paper, reads>

*Ahem*
What’s the story of Leela and Sean?

What went on in Leela’s ‘years of wild hedonism’?

Why does Hermes hate Zoidberg so much?

What, exactly, went on between Farnsworth and Mom?

How did Farnsworth start Planet Express?

Remember, these are just my examples, and your mileage may vary.
<looks strangely at the paper>
Um, yeah.
<crumples paper, drops it>
What burning questions do the rest of you have that remain unanswered by the show?
<takes microphone out of the stand>
We might hash out reasonable answers; we might not, but at least we’ll get the questions out in the open, and have some fun. Who knows? We might come up with some killer story ideas.
Don’t be shy. Come on up and share your thoughts.
<SpaceCase steps out of the spotlight, and hands the mike to...>
 

[Reply #1 on:]

Uh... are we supposed to answer these, or what? If so, I've got a few answers prepared for you...

What’s the story of Leela and Sean?

Sean's obviously an old boyfriend of Leela who she still has feelings for, no matter how hard she tries to cover them. The specific details of their relationship have yet to be announced, but that's really all we need to know.

What, exactly, went on between Farnsworth and Mom?

He used to work for her, they used to be in love. C'mon, do you REALLY want to know the specific details of it?! *shudders*

How did Farnsworth start Planet Express?

I'm not quite sure HOW he started it, but he said it began as a little money-earning project to get his inventions off the ground. I wouldn't be surprised if he started out exactly like Dwight & Cubert did in The Route Of All Evil.

Here's my question:

SpaceCase - why do you bother doing that awful Fox/Fux parody if you're going to censor it?

[Reply #2 on:]

I've always wondered why the hell Zoidberg had a Marble tank to stay in on the Titanic in "A Flight To Remember". I always thought it sounded intersting though, i'd like to have seen it. If that episode was done later on in the series, I'm sure that Amy and Zoidberg would have swapped places.
Continuing my new found interest in tanks, I thought the Ceilocanth tank in The Farnsworth Parabox was cool, again i'd like to have seen it more (don't ask why).
I'm sure there are more intersting or relivant questions that i'd like to have answered, but right now I can't think of any.

[Reply #3 on:]

Maybe that's where Zoid berg sleeps at night, in a marble tank filled with water.

Nice speech Spacecase.

[Reply #4 on:]

 

Originally posted by SpaceCase:
Why does Hermes hate Zoidberg so much?

because it's funny.

[Reply #5 on:]

The reference to Leela's years of hedonism in "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid" was supposed to be a joke, because she obviously has not led a life of hedonism.  You see, by her standards, living in a bare apartment, ordering underwear by the pound, and freezing meals is a life of hedonism.

[Reply #6 on:]

How about this...

How many time will Calculon have to see Bender before he finally reconizes his face???

Theres about 5 episodes when Calculon meets Bender for the 1st time.

[Reply #7 on:]

Mabe that's becasue all "bending units" look the same?  THe only variations I've seen are A) optional finish (he could have been either gold or fog hat gray)  B) a "beard" (a la Flexo) though that may be a aftermarket job and not a "factory option".

[Reply #8 on:]

I think Hermes hates Zoidberg because the good Doc sent him to that slave camp in How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back.  Anyways, my question...

We know that WERRRRRNSTROM! holds a hate for Farnsworth because of the A minus, but why does Farnsworth hate WERRRRRNSTROM!?

[Reply #9 on:]

Because WEERRRNNNSTROM! was a constant pain in the ass, due to his hate for Farnsworth.

[Reply #10 on:]

TriforceBun:  I'm going to give you a taste o fcomeuppance, even if it takes me 100 years!  And, you're a doddering old fool, a fact I'll remind you fo everytime I see you!

There.  Don't you hate me now?

DISCLAIMER: The preciding statements were made soley to express a point, and do not in actuallity reflect boingo2000's opinion of TriforceBun.

[Reply #11 on:]

What exactly was Leela's role in Nibblonian prophecy as "The Other"?  You cannot tell me this was a plot point that has been completely covered.

[Reply #12 on:]

It wasn't covered yet. I'm sure they intended to continue the Nibblonian saga and cover that point in a future episode. As I've said numrous times before, the "she must be the other" line goes hand in hand with Nibbler's "Oh, we will. We WILL." reply when Fry said "Well, the next time you need a savior, just ask!"

[Reply #13 on:]

 

Originally posted by Yorokobi:
Mabe that's becasue all "bending units" look the same?  THe only variations I've seen are A) optional finish (he could have been either gold or fog hat gray)  B) a "beard" (a la Flexo) though that may be a aftermarket job and not a "factory option".

It was a factory option, because in "Bendless Love" you can see Flexo's head in the parts box, complete with beard. 

[Reply #14 on:]

I think that Leela being "the other" was simply a casual reference to Star Wars...perhaps Leela and Fry are related in some way (though after so many generations it wouldn't matter)

My questions:

1) What's up with the owls? (I came up with my owl theory and wrote the script, put up over at TLZ today in the fanfic section)

2) Why was Fry's cryogenics building spared, and which aliens destroyed the rest of civilization twice?

3) What did Farnsworth do with the Atomic Supermen and the screaming monkeys after their respective episodes

4) Who will be president after Nixon?

[Reply #15 on:]

 

Originally posted by Fing-longer:
3) What did Farnsworth do with the Atomic Supermen and the screaming monkeys after their respective episodes

He probably shoved them in a storage room somewhere, along with various death clocks, smell-o-scopes, and a blue box.

As far as the Hermes/Zoidberg thing goes, I seem to remember someone suggested they have a very turbulent, uh... relationship. It makes more sense when you consider the "just-friends spooning" line.

[Reply #16 on:]

 

Originally posted by Fing-longer:1) What's up with the owls? (I came up with my owl theory and wrote the script, put up over at TLZ today in the fanfic section)

2) Why was Fry's cryogenics building spared, and which aliens destroyed the rest of civilization twice?

1) owls have replaced rats as the vermin of the future. for humor.
2)wizard

[Reply #17 on:]

In all honesty, I thought Nibbler was lying to Fry to get him to go back to the future. His expression doesn't convey one of truth, it conveys 'I just made this up.' Also while the line Nibbler said might foreshadow a future plot, it could also be him saying 'Gee, you're right. We could/should have asked you.'

I still don't understand Nibbler's reason for blanking Fry's memory. If indeed there was a future plot, why inconvience yourself by having to explain again why you need him? Also, he knows that Fry would be deemed crazy if he told and he could just refuse to talk as Nibbler is his only shred of proof that there are/were Brain Spawn and that he was essential to saving the Universe.

Also, why did they need to wait 1,000 years. They could have just taken him in 1999 and done away with the Brain Spawn then. I suppose the real reason they had to wait so long was so that he could father his dad, thus creating the abnormality that made him immune to the Brain Spawn attack, but they still could have defeated the Brains first and frozen him later. It's just something to think about. Although, given the confusion that would follow had the plot been done this way, it does make sense that they did it the other way. It's just not the smartest move to wait until they're ready to destroy the universe.

You probably all have massive headaches from wrapping your head around my post so go take some aspirin and lay down

Also, while Jurassic Bark is a touching tale, it explains events that never happened in the pilot. In JB, the dog tried to prevent Fry from going to his fate, but the dog wasn't there in SP3K.

[Reply #18 on:]

Well, owls replaced rats, yes, but also pigeons...example: in "Bendless Love" they sneak into Planet Express via a hole in the wall as rats would do, while people feed them on the sidewalks in "Parasites Lost" as people do with pigeons.

Notice we've seen at least 2 rats in the series but no pigeons. The pigeon eradication was much more effective... http://www.leelazone.com.ar/fanfic/rodentsleadhome.shtml

[Reply #19 on:]

 

Originally posted by Allen:

Also, while Jurassic Bark is a touching tale, it explains events that never happened in the pilot. In JB, the dog tried to prevent Fry from going to his fate, but the dog wasn't there in SP3K.

But the episode "inserts" different views of scenes to get around this, for the most part.

[Reply #20 on:]

 

Originally posted by Allen:
Also, why did they need to wait 1,000 years. They could have just taken him in 1999 and done away with the Brain Spawn then.

The Infosphere was only vulnerable when it opened up, and the Nibblonians knew that wouldn't happen for 1000 years.

[Reply #21 on:]

I have one. If Morbo hates humans so much, why work for them?

[Reply #22 on:]

Because it's just funny, to have this news reader who hates his viewers so much, not only that, he lets them know it on a regular basis. There's no deep plot point here, it's just purely for comedy value

Also, the deal with the owls is that they were originaly brought in to kill all the rats (although we see a bunch of them run out of benders hat in 30% Iron Chef) and in the end they just ended up with a bunch of owls instead.
Whoever thought of this is a genius, I just find it so funny. it pretty much sums up Futurama's quirky take on things.

[Reply #23 on:]

 

Originally posted by Fing-longer:
2) Why was Fry's cryogenics building spared, and which aliens destroyed the rest of civilization twice?

My guess is Nibblonian interference and Venusians ("Venusians go home" in SP3K) respectively.

[Reply #24 on:]

I, and probably others, are still waiting for the episode where Morbo's people come to take over earth.   It COULD be the plot of the movie...

[Reply #25 on:]

 

Originally posted by M Jackson:
Also, the deal with the owls is that they were originaly brought in to kill all the rats (although we see a bunch of them run out of benders hat in 30% Iron Chef) and in the end they just ended up with a bunch of owls instead.
Whoever thought of this is a genius, I just find it so funny. it pretty much sums up Futurama's quirky take on things.

Either that or it's a reference to the episode of the Simpsons episode where Bart finds and rescues the two lizards that eat pigeons.

Either that or it's an old joke.

[Reply #26 on:]

I suspect that if the Morbo thing were explored it would turn out that he doesn't hate humans and that it's all a gimmick for the news, one that he upholds in public too.

We'd get a peek into his private life and find him knitting, or raising Bonsai, or somesuch....

I read the synopsis of Space Pilot 3000 well before I saw it (I'm a CN convert)  I fully expected he "thawing" to be very different.  Now that I have seen the episode, I expected him to emerge in a setting more like the ruins of old New York, then find his way to the surface.  It would have made more sense from a SciFi point of view, but it also would have consumed more time.

[Reply #27 on:]

 

What’s the story of Leela and Sean?

My memory is on the fritz. Can somebody remind me who Sean is?

[Reply #28 on:]

leelas ex

[Reply #29 on:]

Exactly HOW did Zoidberg become a doctor in the first place?

[Reply #30 on:]

Well, he's the Prof's oldest, dearest friend, so that DOES dound like a good flashback episode. I guess the big question is, how did Zoid and Prof meet?

Also, why aren't (wern't) there more of Zoidburg's species on Earth, outside of the embassy?

And while we're talking about aliens, why do a) most aliens speak English, and b) why do they follow earths years as measurments (SP3K)

[Reply #31 on:]

 

Originally posted by Fing-longer:
Also, why aren't (wern't) there more of Zoidburg's species on Earth, outside of the embassy?

I would think they all died after mating.

[Reply #32 on:]

Ah so many pointless questions. Futurama doesnt lend itself to relentless fandom. Not everything is about driving the story.

[Reply #33 on:]

 

Originally posted by boingo2000:
Exactly HOW did Zoidberg become a doctor in the first place?

He found some fancy clothes.

"Just because I think i'm a Dr doesn't MAKE me a Dr...These fancy clothes do".

Just don't ask do see his medical degree, he lost it...in a volcano.

[Reply #34 on:]

I must disagree with you, Australian Guy. Futurama was one of the most well-thought-out and planned series ever. (The Why of Fry proves this, as the nibblonian's shadow was in the first episode.) Many of us are asking questions that we're pretty sure were setups for later episodes.

[Reply #35 on:]

 

Originally posted by M Jackson:
I've always wondered why the hell Zoidberg had a Marble tank to stay in on the Titanic in "A Flight To Remember". I always thought it sounded intersting though, i'd like to have seen it. If that episode was done later on in the series, I'm sure that Amy and Zoidberg would have swapped places.

They talk about this in the DVD commentary. The original joke concerning Zoidberg was him being a bad doctor, and as you said this was a pretty early episode. Only later in the series did they also make him poor, smelly, ugly, etc.   

[Reply #36 on:]

While its true that certain things are "planned ahead" (such as the Nibblonian stuff), MOST things (consistant or not) really aren't.  Things like Morbo's hatred of humans, for instance, really are just jokes.  In fact, regarding the "she must be the other" line, I'd bet that, unlike the planning ahead with the Nibbler shadow and all regarding Fry's importance, the "other" line was probably more just a set up so they'd have an excuse to do another Nibblonian episode (asuming they got renewed obviously, and they didn't  )down the line.  My guess is they probably didn't have an actual "answer" already planned out, but rather planned on coming up with one the next time the Nibblonians were the center of an episode.  Maybe they'll prove me wrong on the commentary though.

[Reply #37 on:]

   

Originally posted by Fing-longer:4) Who will be president after Nixon?

The head of Gerald Ford?   
But seriously now: I'm not sure, but I've heard that ...

Nixon was going to hell in the last episode.

(Well, didn't saw that episode yet.)
Basing on this knowledge his vice-president will be president till the polls in November 3004.
Since we know that Nixon thinnks that Ford is a "Sissy", it's obviously that he never would made him vice-president (again).

What about Henry Kissinger? He could be probably vice-president.

And in  November 3004 Jack Johnson and John Jackson will be for sure prepared for a 2nd candidacy.

[Reply #38 on:]

Question:

Is the Professor the father of Moms sons?

I think I remeber David X. said something like that in an interview...

[Reply #39 on:]

Answer to Lesbian's Q on the final episode:

Nixon only went to hell for poker night

EDITed because i always fuck up the spoiler tags!