Commentary:Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles

Topics of Discussion

 * Matt leaves during the introduction to make a phone call and doesn't return.
 * The initial idea for the episode was to have Leela live with her parents.
 * Only a few of the vehicles needed to be created from scratch
 * The space station blown up is Deep Space Nine, from the Star Trek series of the same name.
 * Leela's book's cover features an alien based on the Gorn from Star Trek.
 * The 2000 election recounts.
 * Cut scenes included Farnsworth selecting soft foods at the salad bar.
 * This commentary was recorded a little over a week after the episode premiered.
 * Popularity of botulism injections and use as an actual medical treatment.
 * Actors needed to adjust their voices for the character variations, the commentators are especially impressed by those of Billy West, due to the sheer number of variations required of him.
 * The producers considered nominating him for an emmy.
 * Designing younger versions of characters.
 * Fry and Leela already had some young versions in earlier episodes.
 * Zoidberg's progression through various species.
 * Bender's early forms include the antennae ears that were in the early concept art.
 * The race was inspired by Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace's Podracers.
 * The (mostly) scientific origins of the oil eating bacteria.
 * David X. Cohen once lost an auction of trilobite fossils to Nicholas Cage.
 * Pazuzu is named for the Assyro-Babylonian god Pazuzu, king of the demons of the wind. Although they actually got the name from The Exorcist.
 * David questioning if perhaps it was in the Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual, and being told it isn't. (It is, in fact, and one of the types of creatures that worship it are gargoyles.)
 * Maurice LaMarche is credited despite not acting, Brian Cowan, a producer who happened to be there, confirmed that Maurice won't be paid for the episode.

Highlights / Quotes

 * Jeff Westbrook: We always like to get the Professor naked, it's one of our favourite visuals. Bret Haaland: Maybe one of yours.


 * Maurice LaMarche: Where did you guys come up with the notion of not having me in the episode? David X. Cohen: That was fairly early on, Maurice. LaMarche: [nearly Lrrrr] What, what am I doing here again? [Driver of a passing spaceship pulls alongside Farnsworth and tells him to speed up] John DiMaggio: Hey! Cohen: That was John as Randy - his favorite part. DiMaggio: Randy, I li-- [overly effeminate voice] 'Randy's fabulous!


 * David X. Cohen: It's a shame Billy's not here. We may submit this episode for Billy for the Emmy in fact, 'cause Billy is doing the Professor, Fry and Doctor Zoidberg. But their voices are all changing throughout the episode. Jeff Westbrook: That's true. Cohen: In a consistent fashion. Zoidberg's doesn't really change. Westbrook: That's pretty much part of Zoidberg. Cohen: But it's pretty much a tour-de-force, I'd say. Westbrook: It is. John DiMaggio: "Billy is a tour-de-force. Westbrook: When we were writing it we were certainly aware- we thought it'd be challenging for the actors. So we figured Maurice could maybe not do this one. Maurice LaMarche: Yeah. [DiMaggio laughs heartily.]


 * ["Also Starring Maurice LaMarche" appears in the credit roll] Maurice LaMarche: "But I wasn't in that one! Why did I get a credit? John DiMaggio: [whispering] Shut up! David X. Cohen: Did you get a credit? LaMarche: Yes! Bret Haaland [?]: I don't know, but... DiMaggio: Did you get paid? LaMarche: Does that mean I get a check!? Cohen: Brian Cowan happens to be here right now - our producer. Brian - Brian, check in to that, make sure Maurice isn't getting paid. LaMarche: Yeah, pretty sure I don't get any money for this one. Haaland [?]: Strike him from those credits! Rich Moore [?]: "...Says he's not, we're okay."