What is the joke that defined Futurama for you?

[on:]

I searched for a similiar thread and couldn't find it.

What is the joke (not episode), in your opinion, that mostly defines and shows the Futurama humor?

For me its the Slurm T-shirt Zoidberg holds in "Fry and the slurm factory". The man who came up with that is a genious!

[Reply #1 on:]

For me it was the very first line of Fry:

"Space... it seems to go on and on forever.... but then you get to the end and a giant monkey throws barrels at you."

[Reply #2 on:]

That's how the first sentence is on my DVD: "... and a gorilla starts throwing barrels at you"

I wish I found THE sentence for me, but I'm still searching... maybe I'll post one later.

[Reply #3 on:]

So many, but definetely one of the really geeky science/computing jokes.

[Reply #4 on:]

My signature 

[Reply #5 on:]

Ooh. thats a good one! Loved that joke!

[Reply #6 on:]

A great gem from the Professor:

"oooh a lesson in not changing history from mister 'I'm my own grandpa'!, lets get the hell out of here, SCREW HISTORY!!!'

[Reply #7 on:]

"The mothership is in orbit above Earth. If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards - checkmate!"
(Kif groans)

 At its best, Futurama lines were frequently as classy as this. 

[Reply #8 on:]

All Brannigan-isms. 

[Reply #9 on:]

"As you all know, the key to victory is the element of surprise. SURPRISE!"

[Reply #10 on:]

"You're full of crap, Fry!"
*Gets electrocuted*
"You drive a persuasive argument, Fry!"

[Reply #11 on:]

Newhook, that's one of mine too (I call that moment "How Bender became the loveable rascal" ).

Perhaps my defining line:
"Go ahead, I'm not stopping you.  You and I both know you won't make it halfway to Vergon 6 before the craving sets in, and you'll come crawling back for another taste of that sweet, sweet candy.  Bam."  That's probably the first line that I ever memorized (well, mostly memorized), and I used to use it all the time to drive my friends nuts.

[Reply #12 on:]

Two moments - both from ep one.

Scientist1: "Welcome to the world of tomorrow!"
Scientist2: "Why do always have to say it that way?"
Scientist1: "Haven't you ever heard of a little thing called showmanship? Come, your destiny awaits!"

Fry: "What's with the eye?"
Leela: "I'm an alien alright? Let's drop the subject."
Fry: "Cool! An alien! Has your race taken over the earth?"
Leela: "No.. I just work here."

[Reply #13 on:]

 

Originally posted by Cap'n Skusting:

Fry: "What's with the eye?"
Leela: "I'm an alien alright? Let's drop the subject."
Fry: "Cool! An alien! Has your race taken over the earth?"
Leela: "No.. I just work here."

Crud, you beat me to it.  I'd say that's pretty definitive. 

[Reply #14 on:]

change directions! increase speed!

(from anthology of interest pt. II)

[Reply #15 on:]

So, I've stated my "defining moment".
But then came the moment in the very next episode that confirmed that defining moment and was yet another inescapable barb on the hook that I bit.

Fry: "Can I do the countdown?"
Leela: "Huh? Oh, sure. Knock yourself out."
Fry: "Ten...nine..."
Leela: "Ok, we're here."
Fry: "Eightsevensixfivefourthreetwo oneblastoff."

[Reply #16 on:]

Al Gore aka The First Emperor of the Moon: "I have ridden the mighty Moon Worm!" (COTH)

Bender: "Nine, ten, a big fat hen.. the name: Bender!" (LTH)

[Reply #17 on:]

I never understood that joke with Al Gore. Anyone care to explain?

[Reply #18 on:]

I think it's an allusion on the novel "Dune". This book (there are some movies based on it and some video games. I'm referring to the game and movie) deals with the desertplanet Arakis on which there is only resource "spice". iirc it's a drug. Some powerful families are fighting and intriguing in order to gain power over the spice. There are some gigantic worms in the desert where they find the spice. These worms are able to eat entire buildings, so it's really dangerous to be in those deserts. Then one day, some son of a king/emperor rides one of those worms and everyone is impressed.

 Imho it is funny to think that the moon becomes an empire, which I consider as an antique style of ruling a country/planet.

 It is kind of absurd that Al Gore becomes Emperor of the Moon and rides the non-existing Moon worm. It's a little pythonesque   

[Reply #19 on:]

Bite my shiny metal ass!

[Reply #20 on:]

Ofcourse I know Dune! Dune II was the first RTS game and therefore one of the most influencal games in history...
I just didn't know its a joke about that... Never got to see the movie (well I did, but it sucked so hard I couldn't bare to continue watching it).

[Reply #21 on:]

Fry: What's so wonderful about Leela being normal? The rest of us aren't normal and that's what makes us great. Like Dr. Zoidberg. He's a weird monster who smells like he eats garbage and does.
Zoidberg: Damn right!
Fry: And the Professor is a senile amoral crackpot.
Farnsworth: Ohhh... ehhh... ahhh.
Fry: Hermes is a rastifarian accountant.
Hermes: Tali me banana.
Fry: Amy is a clutz from Mars.
Amy: Gloups!
Farnsworth: And Fry, you've got that brain thing.
Fry: I already did! So Leela, do you wanna be like us? Or do you wanna be like Adlai with no severe mental or social problems what-so-ever?

[Reply #22 on:]

"Arr, I died doin' what I love." -- Smashed pirate robot from the moon ride.

"Why'd you open your bong-hole hippie? You'd sacrifice a beautiful woman to save a moderately beautiful monkey? You must have smoked some bad granola..." - Zapp

Universe 1 Fry: A year later I got her this diamond encrusted scrunchie...
Fry: A year later I beat up at a Neil Diamond concert by a guy named Scrunchie...

"Jambi, the chocolate icing!" -- Hedonism bot

[Reply #23 on:]

I'd have to go with "My god. It's the future. My parents, my co-workers, my girlfriend... I'll never see any of them again... YAHOO!"

[Reply #24 on:]

I think "No fair!  You changed the outcome by measuring it!" has to define the elite appeal of the show more or less precisely.

[Reply #25 on:]

Fry: Ahh Leela there's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time, but every time I try I get nervous and my mouth feels its stuffed with peanut butter even when it's not
Leela: What is it? is it about Bender?
Fry: No, it's about you and me.
Leela: and Bender?
Fry: Bender's not involved!

That alone speaks volumes, and then there's the ensuing confession....

Fry:Leela, I love you

[Reply #26 on:]

Amy: Well there doing us do you want to do it?
Fry: Sure.

[Reply #27 on:]

Fry: Is that blimp accurate?
Leela: Yep, it's New Years Eve, 2999
Fry: My god, a million years!

[Reply #28 on:]

 

Originally posted by TheLesbianLeela:
Fry: What's so wonderful about Leela being normal? The rest of us aren't normal and that's what makes us great. Like Dr. Zoidberg. He's a weird monster who smells like he eats garbage and does.
Zoidberg: Damn right!
Fry: And the Professor is a senile amoral crackpot.
Farnsworth: Ohhh... ehhh... ahhh.
Fry: Hermes is a rastifarian accountant.
Hermes: Tali me banana.
Fry: Amy is a clutz from Mars.
Amy: Gloups!
Farnsworth: And Fry, you've got that brain thing.
Fry: I already did! So Leela, do you wanna be like us? Or do you wanna be like Adlai with no severe mental or social problems what-so-ever?

BAM! You nailed it.   

[Reply #29 on:]

Bender: Look Fry, I'm steering the ship with my ass.
Fry: That's the best thing I ever saw!

[Reply #30 on:]

I'm going to have to agree with Canned Eggs. Listening to such an obscure and nerdy joke and understanding it really hits me where it counts. Branniganisms really do it for me too though. "She's built like a steakhouse, but handles like a bistro." being my favourite... I think. This is hard!!

[Reply #31 on:]

As shippy as I am, I'm going to have to say the defining LINE in Futurama is:

"No I'm... doesn't."

[Reply #32 on:]

I'd like to add the inclusion of the 420 universe. Any jokes about the number 420 on TV deserve special mention.

[Reply #33 on:]

I don't get those last to posts by ouch and FemJesse. Pleez explain!

[Reply #34 on:]

Fry said "No I'm... doesn't." in 'The Route of All Evil' after Dwight claimed he heard that alcohol makes you stupid. It's funny because Fry tries to deny this but just ends up making himself look stupid because he can't form a 3 word sentence. Something he's been unable to do on more than a few occasions.

420 is referred to as the stoner's number. There are several reasons for this. Mostly urban legends. Here are a few.
- It was once believed that there are 420 chemicals in marijuana.
- 4-20 (April 20th) is the last day you're supposed to plant cannabis seeds.

[Reply #35 on:]

aw, hell!  femjesse beat me to it! 
by the way dvdashot, I thought 4:20 was the time of day you are supposed to smoke a joint in the knowledge that someone else is also smokeing a 4:20 joint.

[Reply #36 on:]

I think people should be explaining their choices so that this doesn't just become another "What's your favourite line?" thread.

[Reply #37 on:]

"You may be lonely, and I may be lonely, but together, we're lonely together."

Kind of funny and bittersweet, and it nicely expresses the touching humor the show had, as well as the underlying theme of isolation.

[Reply #38 on:]

 

420 is referred to as the stoner's number. There are several reasons for this. Mostly urban legends. Here are a few.
- It was once believed that there are 420 chemicals in marijuana.
- 4-20 (April 20th) is the last day you're supposed to plant cannabis seeds.

I've heard that it was a police code for marijuana possession, but I don't know how true that is.

April 20th is also Hitler's birthday, but I don't think the two things are related.

As for Dune, I haven't read or seen it, but I've heard that the origin of Spice bears a striking similarity to that of a certain soft drink.  Can anyone confirm this?

[Reply #39 on:]

That certain soft drink would be Slurm. I can only assume that they mixed the spice up with the water of life, which is worm bile.