Commentary:Less than Hero

Topics of Discussion

 * Episode mostly written in London (but not the one in England).
 * Episode written in 2003 during a surge in popularity of superheros, due to a large number of comic book movies released in that period.
 * User assembled furniture.
 * There was a survey during production among the staff to see if the pieces missing joke was universal, all had experienced it.
 * Andrew (originally Hector) is similar to an abandoned character called Pocket Pal a minature robot that was so cute he drove Bender crazy
 * The AL1 text on the back of the cream
 * Fry's 1990s phrases are rubbing off on Leela.
 * Susie Dietter's 15 year old niece did the layout on one shot of Bender.
 * She also had to answer phones while there.
 * Scene on the roof is possibly inspired by Dark Angel
 * One of the singers of the theme also sang in Michael Jackson's Thriller.
 * A plot involving a bumper sticker was removed.
 * The team can't fly, but can jump high.
 * Dave Herman's process of warming up his voice.
 * Bender's line about a "big fat hen" was one of several nonsensical ones for that scene.
 * The giant ant is normal sized for those in the future.
 * A smaller one would later appear in The Beast with a Billion Backs.
 * Patric M. Verrone has recordings of all presidents' voices that have been recorded.
 * It is not possible for Leela to run down the steps faster than Fry fell.
 * This information is spoken in a Bugs Bunny cartoon "which may never see the light of day" written by David, story boarded by Susie and voiced by Billy.
 * The story about the Turanga family grounded the episode.
 * Leela's logo.
 * A mutant conversation about fishing and an interrupted phone call of the professor's were cut.

Highlights / Quotes

 * Ron Weiner: Much of this episode was written on location in London. David X. Cohen: Is that true? I didn't know that. Ron Weiner: You didn't? David X. Cohen: You're fired!
 * David X. Cohen [quoting assembly instructions]: When assembling Skuvnar, it is best to be two people.