The New Tripping the Rift

[on:]

Many of us would have seen the old 3D animated short film Tripping the Rift, but what do you guys think of the new series the scifi network has based off it?

For those that dont know about it, Tripping the Rift follows the space adventures of a crew of misfits throughout the galaxy, doing missions to get by, while avoding the fued between the Confederation Law Enforcers and the Evil Dark Clowns.

The story lines are mostly irrelevant but from what I've seen its quite a funny new show, maybe thats just me because I loved the original 3d short film.

so love it or hate it, what do you think of it?

[Reply #1 on:]

Coming to an Irish terrestrial channel soon?

I think he means: "What channel's it on, honky?"

I like clowns. 

[Reply #2 on:]

It's on Sci-Fi, as part of their new Thursday lineup.  It's on after two reality shows.  Great scheduling there.

As I said in another thread, the show sounds sort of familiar, since it's about a delivery-making spaceship crewed by, among others, a robot, a slacker, and a beautiful purple-haired woman.

[Reply #3 on:]

Its only on SCIFI in the US now, but I've been watching it on a little channel I like to call Bit Torrent.

It does have some similarities with Futurama, but I'd say its different enough to be liked in its own right. They were strictly a delivery ship in the short, but that doesnt seem to be the case in the series. Did futurama have a butt-ugly ships pilot and an agoraphobic ship's ai? I dont think so

[Reply #4 on:]

The original short was great. A classic. I have seen two episodes so far from the series. A let down to say the least...but I'll give it some more time.

[Reply #5 on:]

I've seen the original short too. It's great, unless you're into things like "wit", "subtlety", and "jokes that are actually funny".

[Reply #6 on:]

What? You don't like a good space drama?

[Reply #7 on:]

Any show that advertises itself with the line "In space, you have to fight for your right to fart" has to be good, right?

It doesn't? Oh, right: no, it doesn't. And it isn't.

[Reply #8 on:]

What are you talking about? The word "fart" means gold television programming!

[Reply #9 on:]

pity. I'm waiting for the new Battlestar series to finally debut. Sci-Fi's been lacking ever since they cancelled Farscape and The Chronicle.

[Reply #10 on:]

 

Originally posted by SlaytanicMaggot:
Sci-Fi's been lacking ever since they cancelled Farscape and The Chronicle MST3K.

FIXED.

[Reply #11 on:]

Not really-MST3K had pretty much jumped the shark by the time it moved to Sci-Fi.

Anyways, I just watched a marathon of Tripping The Rift a few days ago. I have to say it actually is quite funny in its own right. It's a little more adult than Futurama, but I was cracking up a lot.
It pretty much shares NOTHING with Futurama-except for the fact that it's set in space, in the future, and the fact that Gus the Robot is voiced by NONE OTHER THAN!: *drumroll*

Maurice LaMarche! Voice of God-knows-how-many characters on Futurama!

Yep, that's right. The website's even got a full-body picture of ol' Maurice - along with a short bio:
 

EDIT: If you go the show's main site, if you look at the top of the page (where it says "Sci-Fi Exclusive" and has a picture of the Character of Six), you can stream the entire first episode.
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[Reply #12 on:]

 

Originally posted by Kryten:
I've seen the original short too. It's great, unless you're into things like "wit", "subtlety", and "jokes that are actually funny".

Ahaha...*high five*

I can't believe I haven't badmouthed Tripping The Rift here yet.

...but yeah. I saw the short and it was terrible. I generally like scifi parodies, too. I haven't seen the new series, but I assume it sucks just as much.

[Reply #13 on:]

I've seen the series a few times and i like it. It's pretty funny, and i'd recommend it to anyone who likes Futurama just because of it being a spoof on Science Fiction.

[Reply #14 on:]

I recently sat through a few minutes of the actual show, and I have to admit that my initial impression was wrong.

It's even WORSE.

[Reply #15 on:]

But Maurice is in it. I could listen to him all day long <3.<3

[Reply #16 on:]

 

Originally posted by Kryten:
I recently sat through a few minutes of the actual show, and I have to admit that my initial impression was wrong.

It's even WORSE.

the original short was initially made as part of a playboy magazine funded contest to see who could animate the best set of boobs, so if you were expecting Emmy Award winning programing from a 3d boob simulation, you're barking up the wrong boobs... er tree.

Except it for what it is, a show that has to keep trying to offend you to be slightly funny, sorta like how south park was in the beginning.
Personally I like it

[Reply #17 on:]

The sheer fact that the opening credits reference about every one of the top sci-fi movies ever got me-and I'm sorry, but every time I hear "You've got *bleep*in' mail," I can't help but crack up.

[Reply #18 on:]

Apologies for the bump, but just started on Sky One over here in England and I'm sure there's a few Brits with an opinion. Or maybe it's just me...

I saw "God is our Pilot" the other day, and it wasn't all that terrible, but parts of it just felt horribly forced - like the writers were trying to see what they could get away with. Some of it was extremely funny IMHO. Eg:

GUS: "I wonder where Nancy went."
CHODE: "Ahhh, she and her friends are probably out doing something religious, like bombing abortion clinics."

Although to be fair, I don't have what could be described as the most sophisticated sense of humour.
Also, for parts of it, my better half was just sat with his mouth open, grinning and an expression of "I can't believe they got away with this" on his face.

Verdict? Wait and see. Pilots can be sketchy.

Also, I adore Maurice LaMarche . I gotta second Evil Lunch on that one.

[Reply #19 on:]

CANCELLED!

Unfortunatly.

I thought the show was great, but it seems funny shows aren't as popular as they once were.

[Reply #20 on:]

NOT CANCELLED, actually...

New season starts in the spring.

[Reply #21 on:]

 

Originally posted by Kryten:
I've seen the original short too. It's great, unless you're into things like "wit", "subtlety", and "jokes that are actually funny".

Everything was always a bit too obvious and a bit too gritty, what with a character named Captain Chode(come on, that's not even innuendo).

[Reply #22 on:]

 

Originally posted by RavenStar:
NOT CANCELLED, actually...

New season starts in the spring.

[zoidberg]Well Kiss My Grits[zoidberg]

I'm glad I was wrong.

[Reply #23 on:]

I thought it was cancelled too for awhile there.  Frankly the show (as far as the animation goes) looks great.  Also that clown chick is fucking hot, I'd do her.  And the clown bad guy is funny, also the episode with the devil was good.  I'll wait in anticipation for the new episodes.

[Reply #24 on:]

I saw the last half of an epsiode on Sky One. They had to play a game of basketball after this really ugly alien had sex with a star player who turned out to be a robot, and it blew his circuits.
I thought it was VERY patchy. There were some really good jokes. But......there were some REALLY shit ones too. It's like the show set out to be as "quirky" and "adult" as possible. Now, Futurama did these things. But it did it with charm, sophistication and a good helping or pure genius.   

I'm not going to give my verdict on the show just yet, i'll try and catch another episode. because it's the kind of show I want to like. At the moment though it just feels like futurama with all the heart sucked out and replaced with bitterness and awkward silences.

That women is a fan boys wet dream though. But yet again, it all feels so calculated and artificial.
"Look her breasts jiggle slightly when she moves!"
People found Leela so appealing because she didn't act like a slut for the camera. She has dignity and a real character.

[Reply #25 on:]

Thread necromancy...HOORAY

Found a "Tripping the Rift DVD" for just 9 Bucks at the store, and decided to watch that series once again.

As the comparison to Futurama is mentioned, here are my two cents:

- As mentioned before, I consider Futurama in certain themes too biased, too politically correct. Tripping the rift's humor may in many ways be cruder and more juvenile than Futurama, they may not have such brillant ideas like the Harlem Globetrotters being the greatest scientic minds of the known universe...yet, that series really deserves the title "Equal opportunity offender", lashing out at every direction, without knowing any "sacred cows".

- Character constellation.
TTR allows in many ways a much smoother character interaction. When we look at Futurama, what roles are there on the ship:
(I will be another criticism of Leela, you have been warned)

Leader: Leela
Fighter: Leela
Pilot: Leela
Weapon Expert: Leela
Brain: Leela
Technican: Leela
Folks to mess up to allow a Leela skill display: Fry, Bender.

A bit one-sided, isn't it?  Also, her mess-ups are not usually followed by consequences, or a real struggle to get over problems (e.g. Möbius Dick and LLLiS delivered a solution within seconds...though the interesting part of those stories is usually "Let's see the character struggling to get out of that mess").

When we look at TTR, there is far more balance:

Leader: Chode. Certain street smarts, but common sense usually overridden by greed.
Brain: Six. The Brain/Voice of reason. Yet, as a sex-object, remaining usually unheard.
Pilot: T'Nuk. Skilled in what she does, also rather tough character. Subversion of the "Hot Babe" type, for being ugly as the night, yet considerung herself a beauty.
etc...

To cut a long story short: Every of those characters has a specific set of abilities and weaknesses. Every one is eligible to save the day in a competent way, or to make things even worse. Without any predictablity which of those two options will be played out.

E.g. let us compare TTR "Cool Whip" with Futuramas "MTS".
In both episodes, one crew member is worshipped as a god by locals, ignoring his former friends, and unaware of facing certain doom.

- Futurama made a brillant portrait of the Trisolians culture, no dout about that. But otherwise, it was "Leela is great, Fry should have done what she told him, let's have Leela save the day". Usually, satirical sitcoms should ridicule authority. But in this here (as in BBA), QUESTIONING authority was ridiculed. If this ain't a tame, cowardly plotline, I do not know what is...
- Whip's mess-up was very similar to Fry's. Yet, it was played out very differently from Futurama, not just the "loser earning the hero a showdown". There were reasons why he developed a certain animosity towards the others, and -in the end- he was allowed to pull the story through himself, to save the day (which he previously ruined).

[Reply #26 on:]

Jesus fuck.

Wait, TNUK is in this? I could listen to him all day long <3.<3