http://theinfosphere.org/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=107.216.230.211&feedformat=atomThe Infosphere, the Futurama Wiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T11:57:44ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.36.3http://theinfosphere.org/index.php?title=Rebirth&diff=146703Rebirth2014-09-27T03:33:36Z<p>107.216.230.211: /* Continuity */</p>
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<div>{{episode infobox 2<br />
|name=Rebirth<br />
|season=6<br />
|broadcast season=7<br />
|no=89<br />
|image=[[File:Rebirth preview screenshot (skeleton shot).jpg|225px]]<br />
|image text=The {{Planet Express|crew}} in a skeletal state over the [[birthing machine]].<br />
|written A=Teleplay & story<br />
|written A by=David X. Cohen<br />
|written B=Story<br />
|written B by=Matt Groening<br />
|directed by=Frank Marino<br />
|caption=Rebirth<br />
|first aired={{date|24 June}}, [[2010]]<br />
|number=6ACV01<br />
|broadcast number=S07E01<br />
|hasanimatic=yes<br />
|hasstoryboard=yes<br />
|prev ep=Into the Wild Green Yonder Part 4<br />
|prev film=Into the Wild Green Yonder<br />
|next ep=In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela<br />
|hasanimatic=yes<br />
}}<br />
After the crash of the {{Planet Express|ship}}, [[Philip J. Fry|Fry]] awakes to find himself and the [[Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth|Professor]] the only ones left. But luckily, the Professor has a way to give rebirth to the remainder of [[Planet Express crew|the crew]].<br />
<br />
== The Story ==<br />
[[File:PE Crash.png|left|thumb|The PE crew dies in a horrid crash.]]<br />
<br />
=== Cold Opening: "Yeah, we're back." ===<br />
In the original airing of this episode, the [[Hypnotoad]] appears on screen, and [[Bender Bending Rodriguez|Bender]]'s voice announces that people will forget the series was ever cancelled "by [[Fox Network|idiots]]" and later revived "by [[Comedy Central|bigger idiots]]." The scene changes to [[Philip J. Fry|Fry]] walking into [[Hubert J. Farnsworth|Professor Farnsworth]]'s laboratory, asking why his hair is frizzy and why he is covered in burns. The Professor explains that when the crew entered a wormhole at the end of ''[[Into the Wild Green Yonder]]'', they emerged near [[Earth]] through the "[[Panama Wormhole]]", Earth's main channel for shipping. [[Zapp Brannigan]], aboard the [[Nimbus]] flagship, damages the [[Planet Express Ship]], causing it to crash in a large explosion with the Nimbus outside of the Planet Express headquarters. Professor Farnsworth survives due to his full body "[[safety sphere]] device", suffering only "tribial bray dablage", while Fry appears to be undamaged, save for severe burnmarks.<br />
<br />
The rest of the crew - not so lucky at all, as revealed to Fry.<br />
<br />
[[File:Birthing machine.png|left|thumb|[[Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth|The Professor]] rebirths the crew with a [[rebirth machine]].]]<br />
<br />
=== Act I: "Move over God - Prepare for rebirth!" ===<br />
The Professor revives everyone killed in the crash using [[adult stem cells]] (harvested from perfectly healthy adults he killed to get these stem cells) and a [[birthing machine]], except [[Turanga Leela|Leela]], who enters an irreversible coma. Bender also experiences difficulty during the rebirth. The Professor fits one of his doomsday devices to power him. The device generates excess power, and Bender is forced to continue partying endlessly or else he will explode.<br />
<br />
[[file:Cyclophage.png|thumb|left|The [[Cyclophage]] attacks the crew on [[Turanga Leela|Leela's]] funeral.]]<br />
<br />
=== Act II: "Can you believe she wore a tank top to my funeral?" ===<br />
Fry, in his despair over Leela, makes a [[Robot Leela|robot version of her]] at the [[Build-A-Bot Workshop]]. Using recordings made by surveillance cameras all over the Planet Express building, Hermes recreates Leela's personality and memories for the robot. The robot Leela is now horrified to learn of the human Leela's predicament.<br />
<br />
As Farnsworth cannot wake the human Leela, she is taken, pursuant to her final wishes, to a planet where she will be eaten by a Cyclops-devouring monster known as the [[Cyclophage]]. At the service, Bender's obnoxious partying wakes Leela, who is shocked to see Fry kissing Robot Leela.<br />
<br />
=== Act III: "So that's why I'm so amazed of these things I already knew!" ===<br />
The Cyclophage approaches, and the crew escapes in the ship. As the ship takes off, the Cyclophage attaches itself to the underside of the ship, unbeknownst to the crew.<br />
<br />
Back on Earth, Fry begins to question that either Leela loves him. Leela hears him telling himself that he only loved Robot Leela because she was so much like the real Leela. He also says that he thought Leela loved him, but was wrong as usual. Leela appears to him and convinces him otherwise. Robot Leela sees this, and a fight breaks out between the two Leelas. Fry is handed a gun by [[Amy Wong|Amy]] and told to shoot one, but accidentally shoots himself, only to expose that he too is a robot. <br />
<br />
The Professor then reveals what really happened when the ship crashed. Fry, attempting to shield Leela, was almost completely obliterated by the explosion. The Professor attempted to revive Fry in the birth machine, but this did not have any discernible effect. Leela, in her despair over Fry's death, made a [[Robot Fry|robot version of him]] and generated his personality for the robot. However, a malfunction caused Leela to receive a severe electric shock, putting her into a coma, and the robot Fry to be badly burned and lost his memory. <br />
<br />
At the end of this exposition, Human Fry unexpectedly emerges from the birthing machine, having finally absorbed the stem cells. Robot Fry and Robot Leela declare their love for each other, and leave together, leaving the human Fry and Leela to each other.<br />
<br />
Bender decides he is fed up with constant partying and begins to vibrate with the excess energy. The Cyclophage suddenly emerges, and attempts to eat Leela. Bender's severe vibrations cause one of his eyes to fall out, and the Cyclophage swallows him, believing Bender to be a cyclops. The device explodes, killing the creature. Bender emerges intact and the Professor declares that Bender expended his excess energy, making it unnecessary for him to keep partying. The crew leave in order to celebrate, and [[Zapp Brannigan]] emerges from the birthing machine with a "wheeee!"<br />
<br />
== Production ==<br />
{{further|Season 6#Production}}<br />
<!--<br />
[[File:6ACV01 concept art, birthing device.jpg|thumb|left|Concept art of the birthing machine used to rebirth the crew members.]]<br />
The first episode of the sixth season picked up from the events of ''[[Into the Wild Green Yonder]]''.<ref name="supercon-info">{{cite web |url=http://slurmed.com/?p=news&date=2009/10/03_01 |title=New spoilers of the Futurama Season 6 at the Florida Supercon |publisher=Slurmed |author=JavieR |date=2009-10-03 |accessdate=2009-10-04}}</ref> It featured a "literal" rebirth of the characters,<ref name="supercon-info"/> and focused on the [[Fry-Leela relationship]], rather than more complicated consequences of the "rebirth".<ref name="transcript-comicbookresources">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22372 |title=CCI: Futurama |publisher=Comic Book Resources |author=Cronan, Mark |date=2009-08-02 |accessdate=2009-08-04}}</ref><br />
<br />
After the first table reading on 7 August, 2009, [[Maurice LaMarche]] commented that the script was "hilarious, & strangely touching", and noted that "[y]ou guys are gonna LOVE this episode in nine or ten months! What a fantastic way to get back into Futurama, The Series!"<ref name="tablereading-slurmed">{{cite web |url=http://slurmed.com/?p=news&date=2009/08/08_01 |title=Fanart and more for the weekend! |publisher=The Futurama Point |author=Sánchez, JavieR |date=2009-08-08 |accessdate=2009-08-08}}</ref><br />
--><br />
<br />
As the first episode of a new run, the production first and foremost focused on continuing from ''[[Into the Wild Green Yonder]]''{{'}}s cliffhanger ending. [[David X. Cohen]] explained in an early interview, before the confirmation was even near, that he did consider what to do with the position they ended in, almost daily,<ref name="totalfilm">{{cite web |url=http://www.totalfilm.com/features/9-odd-things-we-now-know-about-futurama |title=9 Odd Things We Now Know About Futurama |publisher=Totalfilm |author=White, James |date=2009-02-20 |accessdate=2009-06-11 }}</ref> which [[Matt Groening]] called "painted [themselves] slightly into a corner".<ref name="avclub">{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/matt-groening,25525/ |title=Matt Groening |publisher=A.V. Club |date=2009-03-25 |author=Ryan, Kyle|accessdate=2009-06-11}}</ref> While disagreeing on the ease, they were both in agreement that it could and should be resolved in respect with the film.<ref name="totalfilm" /><ref name="avclub" /><br />
<br />
At the San Diego Comic-Con 2009, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen were asked once again about the issue. Matt Groening wanted to ignore it entirely by then, while Cohen stated that they ''would'' address it, but only for a single episode.<ref name="comiccon-ign">{{cite web |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/100/1007511p1.html |title=SDCC 09: The Future of Futurama |author=Iverson, Dan |publisher=IGN TV |date=2009-07-25 |accessdate=2009-07-26}}</ref><br />
<br />
The first table read for this episode began on 7 August, 2009, according to [[Maurice LaMarche]] and [[Katey Sagal]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peelified.com/index.php?topic=17869.msg1055467#msg1055467 |title="By Hawking's chair! Futurama is back! (News thread) (No spoilers)" (Page 15) |author="Smarty" |site=[[PEEL]] |date=2009-08-07 |accessdate=2009-08-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/08/07/katey-sagal-talks-about-contentious-futurama-negotiations-tca/ |title=Katey Sagal talks about contentious Futurama negotiations - TCA Report |publisher=TV Squad |author=Keller, Joel |date=2009-08-07 |accessdate=2009-08-07}}</ref> the following week, Maurice LaMarche revealed that the recording session was under way.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slurmed.com/?p=news&date=2009/08/13_02 |title=Into the Wild Green Yonder premiere at Comedy Central |publisher=The Futurama Point |author=Sánchez, JavieR |date=2009-08-13 |accessdate=2009-08-16}}</ref> And as of 20 August, 2009, the recording sessions for this episode have ended, and moved on to the table readings of the [[In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela|next episode]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peelified.com/index.php?topic=17869.msg1059046#msg1059046 |title="By Hawking's chair! Futurama is back! (News thread) (No spoilers)" Page 17 |site=[[PEEL]] |author="i_c_weiner" |date=2009-08-20 |accessdate=2009-08-21}}</ref><br />
<br />
In a 28 August interview, [[David X. Cohen]] revealed that the first episode was tentatively named "Rebirth",<ref name="Newsday">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/futurama-finds-a-new-future-on-comedy-central-1.1402526 |title='Futurama' finds a new future on Comedy Central |publisher=Newsday |date=2009-08-28 |author=Lovece, Frank|accessdate=2009-08-28}}</ref> and in an October interview, he confirmed it was the title they were using.<ref name="newsarama">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsarama.com/tv/091015-Futurama-Cohen.html |title=Back To The FUTURAMA W/ Co-Creator David X. Cohen |publisher=Newsarama |author=Fritz, Steve |date=2009-10-15 |accessdate=2009-11-07}}</ref><br />
<br />
On the Animation SuperCon in Florida on 4 October, David X. Cohen along with the male cast, gave a sneak peak of the first three minutes of the first episode's [[animatic]].<ref name="sneakpreview">{{cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wwUw0FQmDo |title=Sneak Preview on YouTube |date=2009-10-04 |accessdate=2009-10-04 |site=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="animatic">{{cite web |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/sfl-ent-to-do-futurama-100109,0,5255697.story |title=Animation Supercon to feature ''Futurama'' reunion, sneak peak at new episodes |publisher=Sun Sentinel |author=Piccoli, Sean |date=2009-10-01 |accessdate=2009-10-01}}</ref><br />
<br />
A full color trailer of this episode first aired during the premiere of ''{{w|Ugly Americans}}'' on Comedy Central on 18 March, 2010.<ref name="slurmed-trailer">{{cite web |url=http://slurmed.com/news/2010-03-18/futurama-new-season-teaser-trailer-from-comedy-central |title=Futurama new season teaser trailer from Comedy Central |publisher=[[The Futurama Point]] |author=JavieR |date=2010-03-18 |accessdate=2010-03-18}}</ref><br />
<br />
Beginning on 6 May, 2010, Comedy Central's online newsletter, Comedy Central Insider, began releasing various pictures to tease the premiere every weekday until 24 June, 2010.<br />
<br />
=== Original concept ===<br />
<br />
According to [[Commentary:Rebirth|the commentaries]] for the episode, [[David X. Cohen]] and [[Matt Groening]] had a completely different idea for the return of the show. In it, [[Planet Express crew|the crew]] would appear in another universe, or a distant part of our universe, as a result of passing through [[Panama Wormhole|the wormhole]] at the end of ''[[Into the Wild Green Yonder]]''. [[Philip J. Fry|Fry]] and [[Turanga Leela|Leela]] would wake up in a beautiful paradise of natural beauty, and are just about to start kissing and making out when they realize that they are in a zoo inclosure. <br />
<br />
An alien race has captured the crew, and want to breed [[humans]]. While Leela is turned off by this and loses interest, Fry is even more turned on by the crowds watching them. The alien race then throws in [[Zapp Brannigan]] to have two males fighting over one female. At this point, Matt Groening "very wisely" suggested that the crew would return to [[Earth]], instead, and that the series would pretty much continue where it left off.<ref>DVD [[Volume Five]]: [[Commentary:Rebirth|Commentaries]] for "Rebirth".</ref><br />
<br />
The "humans in a zoo" concept was later used in the episode "[[Fry and Leela's Big Fling]]".<br />
<br />
== Reception ==<br />
<br />
=== Viewers ===<br />
"Rebirth" aired 24 June, 2010, 10pm EST on Comedy Central followed by "[[In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela]]", and, according to {{w|Nielsen Ratings}}, was watched by 2.923 million viewers.<ref name="cable-ratings">{{cite web |url=http://pifeedback.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/63310451/m/792106403?r=421108403#421108403 |title=Thursday 6/24/10 |site=MediaWeek |author="TravisYanan" |date=2010-06-25 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref><ref name="review-firefoxnews">{{cite web |url=http://firefox.org/news/articles/3307/1/Review----Futurama-quotRebirthquot-and-quotIn-A-Gadda-Da-Leelaquot/Page1.html |title=Review -- Futurama: "Rebirth" and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela" |publisher=Firefox News |author=Ponywether, Ariel |date=2010-06-25 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> It received a 1.8/3 household rating and 1.6/5 of adults between 18 and 49.<ref name="cable-ratings"/> Indeed, the airing of "Rebirth" tied for most adults between 18 and 49 watching television that Thursday evening.<ref name="hollywood-rating">{{cite web |url=http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/06/futurama-returns-with-strong-ratings-.html |title='Futurama' returns with strong ratings |publisher=Hollywood Reporter |author=Gough, Paul J. |date=2010-06-28 |accessdate=2010-06-28 |quote=It was tied for the highest-rated show in adults 18-49 in all TV on Thursday's primetime, and was the highest-rated show among men 18-24 and men 18-34. Comedy Central said it helped the network to its highest-rated night in 2010 and its highest-rated Thursday primetime in the history of the network.}}</ref> ''Comedy Central'' went on to comment that it was the highest rated Thursday night that year and the highest Thursday primetime in the history of the network.<ref name="hollywood-rating"/> <br />
<br />
As expected, seeing as it was the debut episode, "Rebirth" was the most viewed ''[[Futurama]]'' episode of [[broadcast season 7]].<br />
<br />
=== Reviews ===<br />
"Rebirth" received positive to mixed reviews. IGN's Robert Canning rated it 7.5 (good),<ref name="review-ign">{{cite web |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/110/1100558p1.html |title=Futurama: "Rebirth" Review |author=Canning, Robert |date=2010-06-21 |accessdate=2010-06-26 |publisher=IGN}}</ref> and noted that "[w]hile the big laughs may be few, 'Rebirth' still delivers an interesting story using many of the familiar tropes of this amazingly well rounded sci-fi world".<ref name="review-ign"/> ''IF Magazine''{{'}}s Carl Cortez graded both episodes together a B+,<ref name="review-ifmagazine">{{cite web |url=http://www.ifmagazine.com/review.asp?article=4165 |title=Early Review: FUTURAMA - SEASON SIX - 'Rebirth'/'In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela' - Season Premiere |publisher=IF Magazine |author=Cortez, Carl |date=2010-06-24 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> Firefox News' Ariel Ponywether gave it an A+,<ref name="review-firefoxnews"/> Paste Magazine gave it 8.0 (commendable)<ref name="review-paste">{{cite web |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/06/futurama-review-rebirth-61.html |title=''Futurama'' Review: "Rebirth" 6.1 |author=Gandert, Sean |publisher=Paste Magazine |date=2010-06-25 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> and UGO's Alex Zalben called it "good".<ref name="review-ugo">{{cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/tv/futurama-s-back-and-it-s-good |title=Futurama’s Back – And It’s Good! |publisher=UGO |author=Zalben, Alex |date=2010-06-24 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref><br />
<br />
Overall, reviewers agreed that "Rebirth" had issues with its story with issues noted to its pace<ref name="review-gather">{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978327939 |title=Futurama "Rebirth" Season 6 Episode 1- Review |publisher=Gather Entertainment |author=S., Susan |date=2010-06-25 |accessdate=2010-06-26}}</ref> and being many things at once,<ref name="review-firefoxnews" /> but generally felt it was a decent episode. Though, as IGN's Robert Canning noted, they weren't certain if this was the return to the ''Futurama'' they "knew and loved".<ref name="review-ign"/><br />
<br />
== Themes ==<br />
Themes appearing in this episode include the [[Fry-Leela relationship]], [[identity]], and as usual, [[injury and death]].<br />
<br />
== Additional Info ==<br />
[[File:Bender Dancing.jpg|right|thumb|A promo pic showing Bender dancing at Studio 1²2¹3³.]]<br />
<br />
=== Trivia ===<br />
*The episode is among the few media to have its title [[:Category:Media featuring its title|featured in it]] and [[One-word titled media|only one-word long]].<br />
*The [[list of title captions|title caption]] for the episode is the same as the title. This also happens with "[[Where No Fan Has Gone Before]]" and "[[Reincarnation]]".<br />
*Leela tells Fry that if he had died, she probably would have built a copy of him too; as it turns out in the twist, however, that's exactly what she did.<br />
*With this episode, [[Lauren Tom]] and [[Phil LaMarr]] have officially been promoted to regular cast members.<br />
*The doomsday device the Professor uses to power Bender looked similar to the [[Spheroboom]] which Bender stole from the Professor, and again from - then used against - the [[Scammer Aliens]] in ''[[Bender's Big Score]]''. However, this doomsday device is smaller than the Spheroboom.<br />
*In some reruns, the first line that Bender says while the [[Hypnotoad]] is shown on screen is, "This has been a test of the Emergency Hypnotoad System. Had this been an actual hypnosis, you would go limp and watch whatever crap comes on next. Comin' up next: ''Futurama''!", after which he snaps his fingers. This is also the version seen on [[Volume 5|the DVD]]. The version from the original airing is included as a [[List of deleted scenes|deleted scene]].<br />
*Rebirth is one of only four episodes of [[season 6]] to contain the full opening sequence, the others being "[[That Darn Katz!]]", "[[Benderama]]", "[[Yo Leela Leela]]" and "[[All the Presidents' Heads]]". Beginning with "[[In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela]]", the opening sequence becomes abridged by cutting some parts of the flight of the Planet Express Ship and eliminating the opening cartoon.<br />
*Sky1 aired this episode on 22 July, 2011, after being originally scheduled for premiere six months earlier on 7 January, 2011.<br />
*When this episode airs in local syndication on ABC affiliates Bender's monologue and the joke about [[Comedy Central]] is removed, this maybe due to the fact that these episodes play right after "[[The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings]]". So if anyone doesn't see [[season 5]] they might be confused about the ship crashing.<br />
<br />
=== Continuity ===<br />
<br />
[[File:Fryfro 6ACV01.png|thumb|right|[[Fryfro|Fry's afro]]]]<br />
<br />
*[[Kif]] is supported by a system of fluid-filled bladders, as in "[[Where the Buggalo Roam]]".<br />
*This is the second episode in which Leela falls into a coma, the first being "[[The Sting]]".<br />
*Once again, we see Bender has difficulty getting up from lying on his back, as proven in "[[Crimes of the Hot]]".<br />
*When Hermes profiles Leela's personality, the computer says Leela's shoe size is 12. In "[[A Clone of My Own]]" and ''[[The Beast with a Billion Backs]]'', Bender addresses Leela as "big boots". Also, in "[[Anthology of Interest II]]", the Cute Witch of the North (Amy) asks Leela whether her boots come in "Women's sizes".<br />
*The surveillance video debuted in "[[Bendless Love]]" where it was used to identify [[Bender Bending Rodríguez|the person bending things around Planet Express]].<br />
*[[Fryfro|Fry's afro]] makes its first appearance since "[[Anthology of Interest I]]". It will appear again in "[[A Clockwork Origin]]".<br />
*Stem cells were actually revealed, or at least assumed, to not be controversial in "[[Three Hundred Big Boys]]" when [[Professor Farnsworth]] used them at Geneworks to temporatily make himself appear younger.<br />
**The Professor never mentioned his stem cell therapy to Fry in "[[Three Hundred Big Boys]]", and Fry is the only one who might take issue with it. Additionally, it isn't mentioned whether the stem cells the Professor used previously are adult stem cells or infant stem cells.<br />
*When the second Fry comes out of the stem-pool, he calls his robot self a "dork." This is the second time Fry has treated a duplicate of himself badly. In Bender's Big Score, he also makes fun of his time duplicate at the cryogenic lab.<br />
*Fry smells the milk before drinking it, like he did in ''[[Bender's Game]]''.<br />
*In most episodes of the [[Second run|second run]], Bender usually dances as much as he can (eg. cartwheeling, etc).<br />
<br />
=== Censorship ===<br />
*This episode was subject to [[censorship]] by {{w|Pick TV}}.<br />
<br />
=== Allusions ===<br />
*When the Professor describes the [[Panama Wormhole]], he is referencing [[Comedy Central]]. When he says that "[they're] on it now", he is referencing the [[Second run|revival]] of ''Futurama'' by Comedy Central, beginning with this episode.<br />
*The [[Build-A-Bot Workshop]] is a reference to the ''Build-A-Bear Workshop'', and, possibly, the [[Toynami Futurama Figures|Toynami toyline]].<br />
*The Professor says Leela "went all ''[[Blade Runner]]''".<br />
*[[Studio 1²2¹3³]] is an allusion to Studio 54 of New York (1²=1, 2¹=2, 3³=27; 1*2*27=54).<br />
*At Studio 1²2¹3³, Bender dresses like John Travolta in the film ''{{w|Saturday Night Fever}}''.<br />
*When [[Robot Fry]] and [[Robot Leela]] shed their skins, they talk like {{w|Terminators}}.<br />
*When the cast is rebirthed, the first few are introduced by name, and the last ones out announced as "The Rest", a call back to {{w|Gilligan's Island#Theme song|the original theme song of Gilligan's Island}} where the Professor and Mary Ann are introduced as "The Rest" although only two characters remained to be named. This is due to their designation as "second-billed co-stars". The same reference is made in "[[Less than Hero]]".<br />
*When Leela is discovered to be in an irreversible coma, Bender sings, "Coma coma coma coma coma coma-leela!" This is a parody of the Culture Club song "{{w|Karma Chameleon}}".<br />
*Fry sees a cinema showing the film ''[[That Darn Cyclops!]]'' which reminds him of Leela. The film's name is a reference to the 1968 film ''{{w|That Darn Cat!}}'', also referenced in the episode title "[[That Darn Katz!]]".<br />
*Bender having to constantly dance in order for the doomsday devise to not detonate is a reference to {{w|Speed (1994 film)|the 1994 film ''Speed''}}, in which a bus cannot slow down without exploding.<br />
*The Panama Wormhole is named after the {{w|Panama Canal}}, a man-made channel for shipping, through the {{w|isthmus of Panama}} between the {{w|Caribbean Sea}} and the {{w|Pacific Ocean}}. Before it was opened, ships going between the east and west coasts of North America had to travel around South America.<br />
*Coincidentally, the title of this episode was also the title of the two-part pilot of ''{{w|Batman Beyond}}''.<br />
*The rebirth sequence bears some similarities to the Cylon resurrection tanks of the series ''{{w|Battlestar Galactica|New Battlestar Galactica}}''.<br />
*Using recordings, e.g. security camera videos, to develop the Robot Leela is in reference to the creation of virtual Zoe Graystone in ''{{w|Caprica (TV series)|Caprica}}''.<br />
*The [[cyclophage]] seems to be a nod to {{w|Mother Brain}}, from the {{w|Super NES}} game ''{{w|Super Metroid}}''. Indeed, when Bender finally kills it, its color changes to a tone similar to the one that Mother Brain changes to when she is killed.<br />
<br />
=== Goofs ===<br />
*When Fry straightens his "Fry-fro" in the first scene, we see his sleeves, which are intact; seconds later, we see holes in his jacket and severe burns underneath them.<br />
*When Robot Leela says she loves Robot Fry, she is wearing a [[wristlojackimator]] but it is gone when she raises her hand again.<br />
[[File:Two-eyed Bender error.PNG|250px|thumb|right|Bender has two eyes after coming out of the Cyclophage.]]<br />
*When [[Bender]] comes out of the [[Cyclophage]] his second eye, which had previously fallen out and attracted the beast, is shown intact. He turns his back and when the camera shows him again he is back to just one, which then slides to the side allowing him to screw in a new one.<br />
*How did Zapp end up with his head still perfectly intact without using a [[safety sphere]] like the ones [[Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth|Professor Farnsworth]] and his crew used in the [[Planet Express ship]]? <br />
**It might be that the ''[[Nimbus]]'' possesses similar technology.<br />
*Zapp can't talk, or even live for that matter, with just his head because he doesn't have lungs.<br />
**There are several instances in the series of decapitated heads speaking, and living, despite the lack of lungs. For instance, Hermes is decapitated in ''[[Bender's Big Score]]'', but continues to talk, even without the head-in-jar technology.<br />
*After Fry asks how to tell the two fighting Leelas apart, Leela is temporarily drawn with two pupils, with one focused on the robot Leela and one turning to look at Fry.<br />
*The Professor tells Bender that if he stops partying for a single second, he'll explode. However, the first time he tells Bender this, Bender is standing still for about ten seconds and nothing happens.<br />
**The Professor may have been guessing or exaggerating.<br />
*Although it was already a mistake that everyone had reverted to their normal outfits at the end of ''[[Into the Wild Green Yonder]]'', [[LaBarbara]] was still in her [[Feministas|Feminista]] outfit at the end of the film, but in Farnsworth's flashback she reverted back to her normal clothes as well; Zapp is also wearing his normal uniform but he likely took the opportunity to change clothing.<br />
*After Zapp shouts out his victory yodel through the speaker in the [[Planet Express ship]], the speaker is shown again as Fry and Leela kiss, but disappears for the rest of the flashback.<br />
*The first scene shows the exterior of the [[Planet Express headquarters]], but the giant explosion crater is not there.<br />
*The closed captioning indicates that [[Randy Munchnik|Randy]] says, "No, spank you" but he's clearly saying "No, thank you".<br />
*The buttons that activate the [[Safety sphere|safety spheres]] appear and disappear after one shot.<br />
*[[Amy Wong|Amy's]] skeleton has 4 ribs while the others have 5. Scruffy is missing one rib bone from his right side.<br />
**This could be explained: Amy, a [[Martian]], may have less ribs than people from Earth, or simply had hers removed to be skinnier. Scruffy may have had a rib taken out in the past.<br />
*When Fry is looking out the window, the moon is much further away the second time you see it from the same view.<br />
*In "[[Why Must I Be A Crustacean In Love]]", it is said that Dr. Zoidberg is an invertebrate but his head is shown attached to a spine when the professor removes the "horror curtain". <br />
*[[Robot Fry]] and [[Robot Leela]] look completely different when they shed their human exteriors than when they were originally built by Fry and Leela. Unlike their change in voice, this is never addressed.<br />
*During the opening ship crash, Fry says they have "lost power to the forward {{w|Game Boy}}", although he is clearly using a {{w|Nintendo Entertainment System}} controller.<br />
**He maybe playing emulator of a Gameboy. Nintendo devices don't last a decade, let alone a thousand years. He might have gotten an attachment to go with the emulator.<br />
*When [[Hubert J. Farnsworth|the Professor]] is explaining that Fry died in the crash to save Leela, he says what is left of him just bubbled away in the stem cells, but afterwards he states the brew was yet to be finished until the "Fry-fro" scene (though it may be that it was because of the first attempt to revive Fry that the brew was perfected).<br />
*When [[Hubert J. Farnsworth|the Professor]] revives all the characters, [[Bender]] couldn't be revived with stem cells because he doesn't have living tissue. However, this is clearly a joke, as made evident by Fry's question.<br />
*The fugitive status of the crew is never formally resolved.<br />
*[[The Professor]] seems okay with the idea of Leela or Fry dating a robot in this episode. However, in "[[Proposition Infinity]]" he is against [[robosexuality]].<br />
**The Professor knew that [[Robot Leela]] was designed for another robot, explaining why he does not care. The designing of [[Robot Fry]] was only shown in flashbacks, so the Professor may have said something that was not seen onscreen.<br />
*When Fry has a miniature Fry and Leela made out of {{w|Lego}}s on the table, Lego Leela is facing Lego Fry's side, while in the next shot they are standing side by side. Then, in the shot after that, they are back in their original position. Fry couldn't have time to move them.<br />
<br />
=== Quotes ===<br />
{{q|<br />
<poem>''[The Hypnotoad is shown on screen.]''<br />
'''Bender''': ''[Voice over.]'' On the count of three, you will awaken feeling refreshed, as if ''Futurama'' had never been cancelled by idiots and then brought back by bigger idiots. One... two... ''[Snaps fingers.]''</poem><br />
<poem>''[First lines of the episode, Fry comes in with his hair in an afro like in "[[Hell Is Other Robots]]".]''<br />
'''Fry''': Professor, my Fry-fro's all frizzy.<br />
'''Farnsworth''': Okay.<br />
'''Fry''': That's all.</poem><br />
<poem>'''Bender''': ''[Casually, while filing his "nails".]'' Yeah, we're back.<br />
''[Everyone else cheers.]''</poem><br />
<poem>'''Farnsworth''': Come on, stem cells, work your astounding scientific nonsense!<br />
'''Fry''': Fetal stem cells? Aren't those controversial?<br />
'''Farnsworth''': In your time, yes. But nowadays... shut up! Besides, these are adult stem cells harvested from perfectly healthy adults, whom I killed for their stem cells.</poem><br />
<poem>'''Bender''': ''[Sounding weak and covered in stem-cells.]'' Aagh, I'm dying... I need mouth-to-ass resuscitation.<br />
'''Fry''': I'm on it.<br />
''[Fry moves his head to Bender's ass. Blowing sounds are heard.]''<br />
'''Fry''': It's not working.<br />
'''Bender''': ''[Laughing.]'' I die happy knowing you fell for that.</poem><br />
<poem>'''Fry''': I need cheering up Bender. I dunno... you wanna go party tonight?<br />
'''Bender''': I hate partying. If only I didn't have so much crunk in my ba-dun-ka-dunk!</poem><br />
<poem>'''Leela''': There's no room for two captain's butts in this chair!<br />
'''Robot Leela''': There would be if you'd have taken a spin class instead of lounging around in a coma!</poem><br />
<poem>'''The Professor''': ...and destroyed both of their short-term memories!<br />
'''Robot Fry''': So ''that's'' why I'm so amazed of these things I already knew!</poem><br />
<poem>'''Robot Fry''': Fry!<br />
'''Fry''': Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was already here. Wait, what's with all the Leelas?<br />
'''Robot Fry''': Trust me, don't ask.<br />
'''Fry''': Okay, dork.</poem><br />
<poem>'''Fry''': Poke harder, damn it!<br />
'''Farnsworth''': I'm poking as hard as I can!</poem><br />
<poem>'''Leela''': Bender, shut the hell up!<br />
''[Bender and everyone but Fry and robot Leela stare in amazement. Bender vibrates with the doomsday device.]''<br />
'''Farnsworth''': Bender! Stop shutting the hell up!<br />
'''Bender''': Oh, right. Leela's back, as if I care. Woooo.</poem><br />
<poem>'''Bender''': {{w|Karma Chameleon|Coma, coma, coma, coma, coma chameleon}}!</poem><br />
|2}}<br />
<br />
=== Characters ===<br />
{{chars-begin}}<br />
*[[Amy Wong|Amy]]<br />
*[[Bender Bending Rodriguez|Bender]]<br />
*[[Bolt Rolands]]<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Cyclophage]]<br />
*[[Philip J. Fry|Fry]]<br />
*[[Gary]]<br />
*[[Hermes Conrad|Hermes]]<br />
*[[Hypnotoad]]<br />
*[[Kif Kroker|Kif]]<br />
*[[LaBarbara Conrad]]<br />
*[[Turanga Leela|Leela]]<br />
*[[Mario]] {{miso}}<br />
*[[Nibbler]]<br />
*[[Paper-hatted salesman]] <small>([[List of deleted scenes#Volume 5|deleted scene]])</small><br />
*[[Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth|Professor Farnsworth]]<br />
*[[Randy Munchnik|Randy]]<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Robo-Fry]]<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Robo-Leela]]<br />
*[[Scruffy]]<br />
*[[Zapp Brannigan]]<br />
*[[Dr. John Zoidberg|Zoidberg]]<br />
{{chars-end}}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{reflist|2}}<br />
<br />
== External Links ==<br />
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wwUw0FQmDo "Rebirth" Animatic]<br />
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krPXycyNaFo David X. Cohen talks About Season Six]<br />
*[http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2010/03/18/new-futurama-teaser-trailer/ Trailer for Rebirth]<br />
<br />
{{navigation bottom<br />
|prev ep=Into the Wild Green Yonder Part 4<br />
|prev film=Into the Wild Green Yonder<br />
|next ep=In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela<br />
}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:A plots focusing on Fry]]<br />
[[Category:A plots focusing on Leela]]<br />
[[Category:B plots focusing on Bender]]<br />
[[Category:Media featuring flashbacks]]<br />
[[Category:Media featuring funerals]]<br />
[[Category:Media featuring its title]]<br />
[[Category:Media wherein characters run away]]<br />
[[Category:One-word titled media]]</div>107.216.230.211http://theinfosphere.org/index.php?title=Opening_sequence&diff=145988Opening sequence2014-09-01T05:15:16Z<p>107.216.230.211: /* Episodes where the tune is slightly different */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:Opening Credits.jpg|225px|thumb|A male [[Human]] in the [[Tube Transport System]].]]<br />
<br />
The '''opening sequence''' starts with the [[Planet Express ship]] flying, as it passes the letters of ''[[Futurama]]'' appearing in the middle of the screen and a [[List of title captions|caption]] that differs in each episode. The ship flies through the 'R' of the title into [[New New York]], and the camera shows different parts of the city, with a lot of [[hovercar]]s, buildings, people in the [[Tube Transport System]], and [[#Products displayed|advertisments]], until it comes to a [[List of opening cartoons|large screen]] on top of a building, which shows a real-life cartoon that also differs in each episode. After the cartoon, it shows the credits, and the Planet Express ship then crashes into the screen. See [[List of alien language sightings#Opening sequence|this]] for a list of [[alien language]] sightings in the opening sequence.<br />
<br />
== Usage ==<br />
Some episodes (especially in [[Season 1]], [[Season 2]], and [[Season 6]]) have short chapters called the [[cold opening]] before the opening sequence. This could for example be a [[sponsor]], a [[List of recaps|recap]] (in [[Season 5]] and [[Rebirth|the Season 6 premiere]]) or a shorter joke. In [[Season 6]], most of the episodes so far have had the opening sequence abbreviated, eliminating some of the parts showing the flight of the Planet Express ship as well as the opening cartoon.<br />
<br />
== Details ==<br />
[[File:Title Caption Episode 0113.png|right|thumb|The start of the opening sequence with "Futurama" and one of the many title captions]]<br />
<br />
=== Opening Theme ===<br />
In some episodes the traditional theme is different and sometimes has the cast singing. The accompanying music makes use of the rarely used {{w|Boobam|boobams}} and {{w|Tubular bell|tubular bells}}. The music, like with much of the show, is composed by [[Christopher Tyng]]. People widely regard {{w|Pierre Henry}}'s 1967 ''Psyché Rock'' to be of great influence for the theme, this tune can be heard [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNSYUXYcdhM on YouTube].<br />
[[File:Opening Cartoon Episode 0112.png|left|thumb|One of the many opening cartoons]]<br />
<br />
=== Characters Seen in the Tube System ===<br />
Throughout New New York, the tube system is seen with characters of the show, some [[List of primary characters|primary]] and some [[List of secondary characters|secondary]].<br />
*[[Amy Wong|Amy]]<br />
*[[Dr. Zoidberg]]<br />
*[[Hermes Conrad|Hermes]]<br />
*[[Kif Kroker|Kif]]<br />
*[[Zapp Brannigan|Zapp]]<br />
*[[Scruffy]]<br />
*[[Smitty]]<br />
<br />
=== Products Displayed ===<br />
Listed below are some of the many ads seen dotted around NNY in the opening:<br />
*[[Bachelor Chow]]<br />
*[[Mom's Old-Fashioned Robot Oil]]<br />
*[[DEF-CON Owl Traps]]<br />
*[[Slurm]]<br />
*Smart Sausages<br />
*Liquid Wisdom (seen on a hover taxi)<br />
*Mass Hypnosis Hour<br />
*Flesh-o-Poid Dating Service<br />
*Robot Wash<br />
*Got Protoplasm?<br />
<br />
=== Locations ===<br />
*Girls, Girls, Aliens<br />
*All-Tentacle Massage<br />
*[[Big Apple Bank]]<br />
*Sexatorium<br />
*Park 42<br />
<br />
=== Episodes where the tune is slightly different ===<br />
In some episodes, the opening theme is different<br />
*"[[Mars University]]"<br />
*"[[Bender Should Not Be Allowed on Television]]"<br />
*"[[Spanish Fry]]"<br />
*Every episode during and after [[Season 5]]<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
In the movies of ''Futurama'', the opening sequence is a bit different from the show normal episodes, and differs in each movie. For the episodes made from these films, the first of each four features the film's opening, while parts 2, 3 and 4 have the classic introductions' title caption and billboard crash with a recap in between.<br />
<br />
=== Bender's Big Score ===<br />
[[File:Different titles.jpg|thumb|right|Difference between series and movie.]]<br />
In ''[[Bender's Big Score]]'', the opening sequence was largely changed, while it did have the same graphics in the background, it also had introductions of each of the main characters to an alternative music of the normal theme, which had been created for [[Futurama (video game)|the Futurama game]]. And since it was a film, there was no information about who created the show on the beginning monitor, instead just the film's name. The title caption says "It just won't stay dead!"<br />
<br />
=== The Beast with a Billion Backs ===<br />
The opening sequence for ''[[The Beast with a Billion Backs]]'' is much like that of the series. However, instead of the [[Planet Express Ship]] crashing into the giant screen, it goes through into it, starting a short 1920s style cartoon, strongly parodying "Steamboat Willie". After this sequence, the opening resumes as normal with the ship exiting the cartoon, breaking the screen as usual. The title caption says "The proud result of prison labour".<br />
<br />
=== Bender's Game ===<br />
The opening sequence for ''[[Bender's Game]]'' is identical to the regular sequence, but like the sequence for The Beast With A Billion Backs, the Planet Express Ship goes through the giant screen into a parody of "Yellow Submarine." When the title appears, it shows Bender thumping his chest like Donkey Kong, and the Ship crashes out of the screen, with a bunch of flowers. The title caption says "The flames on your television are not part of the show."<br />
<br />
=== Into the Wild Green Yonder ===<br />
The opening sequence for ''[[Into the Wild Green Yonder]]'' is largely different from the others, The main difference is that it takes place in [[Mars Vegas]] and [[Seth MacFarlane]] sings a completely different song to the normal opening sequence. The title caption says (in Alien Language 1) "The humans shall not defeat us".<br />
<br />
==== Characters featured ====<br />
*[[21st Century Girl]]<br />
*[[Ipji]]<br />
*[[Amy]]<br />
*[[Bender]]<br />
*[[Blek]] and his [[Blek's wife|wife]]<br />
*[[Horrible Gelatinous Blob]]<br />
*[[Hattie]]<br />
*[[Hedonism Bot]]<br />
*[[Hermes]]<br />
*[[Leela]]<br />
*[[Hubert J. Farnsworth]]<br />
*[[Fry]]<br />
*[[Dr. Zoidberg]]<br />
<br />
== Live action ==<br />
The opening sequence was re-created in live action for the episode "[[Viva Mars Vegas]]".<br />
<br />
== Additional Info ==<br />
[[File:Title Caption Episode 0712.png|thumb|The opening sequence in live action. {{er|7ACV12}}]]<br />
<br />
=== Trivia ===<br />
*None of the characters seen in the tube system appear in the pilot episode except for [[Smitty]].<br />
*The guy that comes before Amy used to have a hook for a hand until during the opening of ''Bender's Big Score'', he doesn't have a hook anymore. Instead, it is replaced with a real hand.<br />
*In [[Season 6]] when the opening sequence is shorter, the original song is replaced with the one from the opening of ''[[Bender's Big Score]]'', except without the character voices.<br />
*The intro for the new episodes appears to look more cyan-like than the green-blue intro from the original series.<br />
*In the {{w|Netflix}} versions, some title gags appear in the captions over a blank intro.<br />
<br />
=== Appearances ===<br />
*[[Episode Listing|All Episodes]]<br />
<br />
{{futurama}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Futurama]]</div>107.216.230.211http://theinfosphere.org/index.php?title=Meanwhile&diff=145960Meanwhile2014-08-30T05:22:50Z<p>107.216.230.211: /* Act III: "I was never lonely, not even for a minute." */ Technically the Professor takes them back to the end of the series, making an infinite loop.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{episode infobox<br />
|name=Meanwhile<br />
|image=[[File:Meanwhile infobox.png|225px]]<br />
|image text=An older [[Fry]] and [[Leela]] walking on water with the rest of [[the universe]] frozen.<br />
|season=7<br />
|broadcast season=10<br />
|no=140<br />
|written by=Ken Keeler<br />
|directed by=Peter Avanzino<br />
|caption=AVENGE US<br />
|first aired=4 {{September}} [[2013]]<br />
|number=7ACV26<br />
|broadcast number=S10E13<br />
|title reference=''See [[#Allusions|here]]''<br />
|prev ep=Stench and Stenchibility<br />
|next ep=Episode Listing<br />
}}<br />
"'''Meanwhile'''" is the one hundred and fortieth and last <ref>{{cite web |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/04/22/futurama-not-renewed-comedy-central/ |title='Futurama' to end seven-season run on Sept. 4 -- EXCLUSIVE |date=2013-04-22 |accessdate=2013-04-22 |author=Snierson, Dan |site={{w|EW.com}}}}</ref> episode of ''[[Futurama]]'', the twenty-sixth and last of the [[Season 7|seventh production season]] and the thirteenth and last of the [[Broadcast season 10|tenth broadcast season]]. It aired on 4 {{September}} [[2013]], on [[Comedy Central]]. [[Fry]] asks [[Leela]] to [[Fry-Leela relationship|marry him]], and they face their destiny together as [[the professor]]'s latest [[:Category:Farnsworth's creations|invention]] alters the fabric of [[timeline|time]].<br />
<br />
== Plot ==<br />
<br />
=== Act I: "My little meatbag's growin' up!" ===<br />
<br />
The episode finds Fry, Leela and [[Bender]] making a delivery to the [[moon]] and visiting [[Luna Park|the amusement park there]]. After a [[Mecha-Hexadecapus|ride]] accident, Leela seemingly dies. Luckily, all is well. She was trapped inside a stuffed {{cat|animal}}. The close call was too much for Fry to handle, and he announces to Bender that he's going to finally propose to Leela.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Professor Farnsworth invents a device that lets him travel 10 seconds into the past: the [[time button]]. He uses it to steal [[currency|money]] from [[Zoidberg]] whilst the rest of [[the crew]] watches from the [[time shelter]] that shields them from the button's effects. Fry takes the time button to steal [[:Category:Diamonds|diamonds]], along with Bender.<br />
<br />
He uses the stolen diamonds to fashion an engagement ring, which he hides in a clam. When he presents it to Leela, she reaches for the ring and the clam snaps shut, severing her hand and a bloody stump.<br />
<br />
=== Act II: "Goodbye, my love..." ===<br />
Fry uses the time button to go back to before Leela's hand is severed, he injures the clam and proposes once again telling Leela to meet him on the top of the [[Vampire State Building]] at 6:30pm to give her answer. Leela seemingly jilts Fry and, heartbroken, he jumps from the skyscraper.<br />
<br />
While falling, Fry spots Leela arriving at 6:25pm; the time button did not account for Fry's watch making it seem as if Leela was late. When the rest of the clocks in {{the universe}} went back by 10 seconds, Fry's watch did not. Leela sees Fry falling, as she watches the incident in horror. Fry only realizes he can use the button to undo this after he has already been falling for more than ten seconds. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the professor calls Bender, [[Hermes]], [[Amy]] and Zoidberg into the time shelter, where Bender reveals that Fry took the time button to the Vampire State {{cat|Building}}, they carefully make their way to the building and meet Leela, Fry loses the button and dies upon impact, left as a puddle of blood and guts. A distraught Leela uses the time button to send him back into the sky but the professor is seemingly killed at the same instant, having being inside of the shelter, less than 10 seconds prior to the button press meant his [[chroniton]]s were scattered, because the button had less than ten seconds on knowledge of where to place him.<br />
<br />
Leela uses the button over and again to hear what happened with Fry, who suffers death after death, learning a little each time. Bender devises a plan to use his air bag to save Fry. He exits to be crashed into by Amy, Hermes and Zoidberg and his air bag successfully saves Fry. Elated, everyone begins to celebrate until Fry lands on the time button, leaving the entire universe save Leela and himself frozen.<br />
<br />
=== Act III: "I was never lonely, not even for a minute." ===<br />
After witnessing a strange glimmer travel across the air, Fry and Leela go on with their marriage, bringing along their friends and family to [[St. Koch's Cathedral|the wedding]] albeit frozen in time. They spend the rest of their lives travelling [[Earth|the world]] on the ultimate honeymoon: going to Africa, [[France]], the {{w|Arctic}}, among other places, living a happy life, together.<br />
<br />
The couple, now old and grey, return to the Vampire State Building to drink their engagement champagne, both feel as if they've lived the ideal life, with Leela pointing out that she was never lonely even in a frozen universe as she had Fry.<br />
The glimmer appears again before the couple, creating a tube-like tunnel to them and revealing to be the professor; he had been "tunnelling" his way around the frozen timeline in search of the time button, Fry gives it to him and the professor effortlessly repairs it.<br />
<br />
The time button has been modified to send the universe back to before the professor conceived of the button so he can undo the whole affair, erasing their memory of the incident in the process. Fry asks Leela if she wants to [[Space Pilot 3000|"go around again"]], to which she responds "I do". Fry and Leela share their final kiss, content with the knowledge they have another wonderful lifetime together to come, and with one press of the time button the timeline is negated.<br />
<br />
== Production ==<br />
<br />
{{expansion|section=yes|{{ctf|1}}}}<br />
<br />
This is the fourth series finale that writer and producer [[Ken Keeler]] wrote for the show. The other three are "[[The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings]]", ''[[Into the Wild Green Yonder]]'' and "[[Overclockwise]]". The director of the episode &mdash; [[Peter Avanzino]] &mdash; also directed ''Into the Wild Green Yonder''.<br />
<br />
In [[2012]], ''Futurama'' writer [[Eric Rogers]] made two revelations concerning the episode. On 11 {{April}}, he revealed that "<nowiki>[</nowiki>"[[7ACV25]]" and this episode] now [had] stories". <ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/#!/ERogTweets2Much/status/189902597757468672|title=ERogTweets2Much|author=[[Eric Rogers]]|date=2012-04-11|site=[[Twitter]]|accessdate=2012-04-12}}</ref> On {{date|20 April}}, he revealed that the episode was being "[pitched] out" and urged fans to buy [[merchandise]] in order for the show to "come back". <ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/#!/ERogTweets2Much/status/193416689281536001|title=ERogTweets2Much|author=Eric Rogers|date=2012-04-20|site=Twitter|accessdate=2012-04-21}}</ref><br />
<br />
<!--<br />
In [[2013]], the episode was revealed to be the last episode of Season 7 and the potential series finale.<br />
--><br />
On 5 {{February}} 2013, {{w|Vulture.com}} released [[Vulture preview clip|a preview clip]] for the tenth broadcast season, <ref name="vulture">{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/02/watch-a-preview-of-futuramas-seventh-season.html|title=Watch a Preview of ''Futurama''’s Seventh Season|author=Jesse David Fox|date=2013-2-5|site=Vulture.com|accessdate=2013-8-17}}</ref> which contained footage from the episode.<br />
<br />
On {{date|22 April}}, it was announced that ''Futurama'' had [[second cancellation of Futurama|not been renewed]] for an eight season, making this the series finale.<br />
<br />
On {{date|20 July}}, the [[cast]] read the episode's first act at {{w|San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic-Con}}. <ref name="Comic-Con">{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur56lHJxU54|title=Futurama Panel Comic-Con 2013 (Series finale act I)|author=David Perra|date=2013-07-21|site=[[YouTube]]|accessdate=2013-07-22}}</ref><br />
<br />
By {{date|29 August}}, Comedy Central had released a fifty-second preview clip featuring Fry and Leela alone in a time-frozen [[New New York]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/video-clips/oyozm0/futurama-broke-the-universe|title=Broke The Universe - Video Clip|site=Comedy Central|accessdate=2013-8-29}}</ref><br />
<br />
By {{date|1 September}}, Comedy Central had released a fifty-second preview clip featuring Fry, Leela, Bender, and [[Albert]] riding [[Mecha-Hexadecapus|an attraction]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/video-clips/7qqdlh/futurama-mecha-hexadecapus|title=Mecha-Hexadecapus - Video Clip|site=Comedy Central|accessdate=2013-09-04}}</ref><br />
<br />
=== Image gallery ===<br />
<gallery perrow="5"><br />
File:Futurama Meanwhile Leela and Fry on a Swing Made of People.jpg|[[Promotional picture]] of Leela and Fry on a swing made of people. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/52810289870/countdown-to-futurama-leela-and-fry-on-a-swing|title=Countdown to Futurama: Leela and Fry on a Swing Made of People|date=2013-06-12|site=Comedy Central's Tumblr page|accessdate=2013-06-18}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/supercinski/status/347000766608850948|title=supercinski|author=[[Lee Supercinski]]|date=2013-06-18|site=Twitter|accessdate=2013-06-18}}</ref><br />
File:Futurama Meanwhile Ultra Guy.jpg|[[Concept art]] of [[Ultra Guy]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/52946241080/countdown-to-futurama-ultra-guy-meet-ultra-guy|title=Countdown to Futurama: Ultra Guy|date=2013-06-14|site=Comedy Central's Tumblr page|accessdate=2013-06-14}}</ref><br />
File:Futurama Meanwhile Time Shelter.jpg|Concept art of the time shelter. <ref name="time shelter">{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/53023638298/countdown-to-futurama-time-shelter-in-the|title=Countdown to Futurama: Time Shelter|date=2013-06-15|site=Comedy Central's {{w|Tumblr}} page|accessdate=2013-06-15}}</ref><br />
File:Futurama Meanwhile Fry Falling.jpg|Promotional picture of Fry falling from the Vampire State Building. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/53111648672/countdown-to-futurama-fry-falling-i-dont-know|title=Countdown to Futurama: Fry Falling|date=2013-06-16|site=[http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/ Comedy Central's Tumblr page]|accessdate=2013-06-16}}</ref><br />
File:Futurama Meanwhile Fry in Tuxedo.jpg|Concept art of Fry in a tuxedo. <ref name="tux and gown">{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/53213400474/countdown-to-futurama-fry-in-tuxedo-and-leela-in|title=Countdown to Futurama: Fry in Tuxedo and Leela in Wedding Gown|date=2013-06-17|site=Comedy Central's Tumblr page|accessdate=2013-06-17}}</ref><br />
File:Futurama Meanwhile Leela in Wedding Gown.jpg|Concept art of Leela in a wedding gown. <ref name="tux and gown"><br />
File:Futurama 726 wedding.jpg|Promotional picture of Fry and Leela at their wedding. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/press/images/futurama/Futurama_726_wedding.jpg|title="Meanwhile" Fry & Leela's wedding preview|date=2013-08-31|site=[http://www.comedycentral.com/ Comedy Central]|accessdate=2013-08-31}}</ref> Also present are Bender, the [[Space Pope]], and [[Nibbler]].<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
== Reception ==<br />
<br />
:''The following paragraph was copied from {{w|Meanwhile (Futurama)|this article's Wikipedia counterpart}}.''<br />
<br />
"Meanwhile" has received positive reviews. Max Nicholson, for {{w|IGN}}, wrote that "Meanwhile" was "a fitting end to a classic animated series". {{citation needed}} He gave the episode a 9 out of 10. Zack Handlen, writing for ''{{w|The A.V. Club}}'', said that "the first five minutes are passable but rushed, and the hook of Fry deciding he needed to ask Leela to marry him isn't all that exciting". However, he later went on to say that "this finale settles somewhere between the "too happy" and the "oh dear [[God]] when will it end," which makes it just about perfect. It has just about everything you could want from Futurama: there's a nifty [[time travel|time-travel]] plot, Fry and Leela get married, Bender is a jackass, Zoidberg loses $10, there's a nifty time-travel plot, and Fry dies". He graded the episode an "A".<br />
<br />
IGN named this episode #9 on their list of the [http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/09/09/top-25-futurama-episodes?page=4 top 25 ''Futurama'' episodes].<br />
<br />
== Additional information ==<br />
<br />
[[File:Fry meme.png|thumb|The "[[Fry meme]]" image, from "[[The Lesser of Two Evils]]".]]<br />
<br />
=== Trivia ===<br />
<br />
*The episode aired on [[John DiMaggio]]'s forty-fifth [[birthday]].<br />
*In "[[Forty Percent Leadbelly]]", which was also written by Ken Keeler, a Bender duplicate says that his audience deserves better than some crappy, formulaic ending. This may be a reference to the fact that Keeler wrote the finale.<br />
*The episode's [[list of title captions|title caption]] is likely a reference to [[second cancellation of Futurama|the show's second cancellation]].<br />
*The episode revisits [[Luna Park]], from "[[The Series Has Landed]]", which was also written by Ken Keeler and directed by Peter Avanzino. <br />
**Another episode written by Ken Keeler and directed by Peter Avanzino is "[[The Six Million Dollar Mon]]".<br />
*[[Tress MacNeille]] does the voice of Albert, who up until this episode had been voiced by [[Kath Soucie]].<br />
*Bender tells Fry that he told Leela that he loved her "like 140 times". This episode is the one hundred and fortieth episode of ''Futurama''.<br />
*The number of seconds that the time button sends the universe into the past is the same as the amount of money that Zoidberg finds.<br />
*The [[censored couple]], [[Richard Nixon's head]], [[Smitty]] and [[URL]] are the only [[characters]] besides Fry, Leela, Bender and Professor Farnsworth to appear in both this episode and the first episode, "[[Space Pilot 3000]]".<br />
*While Fry is falling, his watch says that it's 7:03, when the time is actually 6:25. Since his watch is 38 minutes ahead, he must have done about 228 resets, three of which were the professor demonstrating the button while Fry was in the time shelter.<br />
**6:25 also happens to be the [[production]] number of "Overclockwise" &mdash; the show's previous series finale.<br />
*Assuming that the Vampire State Building has the same height as the [[Empire State Building]], Fry's fall from the roof would take 10.8 seconds when accounting for air drag. {{citation needed}} The remaining height after ten seconds would be 40 meters, which matches the depiction in the episode.<br />
*The professor says "time-space continuum", but the usual term is "{{w|spacetime|space-time continuum}}".<br />
*The woman holding the caviar resembles [[Nixon's campaign manager]].<br />
*This is the only time that [[last clone of Agnew|Agnew]] appears without Nixon.<br />
*When the elderly Fry and Leela observe the glimmer on top of the Vampire State Building towards the end of the episode, Leela says it's "Pretty though". At the end of "Space Pilot 3000", [[Smitty]] says the same line about the fireworks on [[3000|New Year]]'s Eve.<br />
*Thanks to the professor returning himself, Fry, and Leela to before he created the button, only the first four minutes and five seconds of the episode have a chance of having actually happened.<br />
*The first airing of the episode was immediately followed by the airing of "Space Pilot 3000". ''Futurama'' writer [[Patric M. Verrone]] initially suggested for the characters to, at the end of the episode, go back to {{date|31 December}} [[1999]], <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_MBFxSEpqo|title=Futurama Live! Post-Show w/ Billy West, Maurice LaMarche, Matt Groening and more! (32:08)|author=Nerdist|date=2013-9-6|site=YouTube|accessdate=2013-9-8}}</ref> the day on which "Space Pilot 3000" is set.<br />
*An image of the clam is used on the setup menu for [[Volume 8]].<br />
*Ken Keeler was unable to participate in [[Commentary:Meanwhile|the commentary]], so he sent Patric M. Verrone a set of comments for him to read on his behalf.<br />
<br />
==== Fry and Leela's list ====<br />
<br />
These appear to be locations for Fry and Leela to have sex in.<br />
<br />
{{appear-begin}}<br />
*Front Steps ✓<br />
*Professor's Desk ✓<br />
*{{w|Yankee Stadium}} ✓<br />
*In the Road ✓<br />
*Back of [[Police]] Car ✓<br />
*Ice Cream {{cat|Factor||y}} ✓<br />
*[[:Category:Banks|Bank]] Vault ✓<br />
*[[Abraham Lincoln's head|Lincoln]] {{w|Lincoln Bedroom|Bedroom}} ✓<br />
*Rhino Cage ✓<br />
*Vicinity of {{w|Scranton}} ✓<br />
*[[Monument Beach]] ✓<br />
*Middle of {{w|Atlantic Ocean}} ✓<br />
*{{w|Stonehenge}} ✓<br />
*[[Big Ben]] ✓<br />
*On a Mammoth ✓<br />
*{{w|Schloss Neuschwanstein}} ✓<br />
*{{w|triumphal arch|Arch of Triumph}} ✓<br />
*{{w|Mona Lisa}} ✓<br />
*Random Dark Alley ✓<br />
*[[Eiffel Tower]] ✓<br />
{{appear-end}}<br />
<br />
=== Allusions ===<br />
<br />
{{cultural mentions}}<br />
*The episode's title may be a reference to cartoonist {{w|Jason Shiga}}'s [[2010]] [[Comic Listing|comic]] {{cat|publication|book}} of the same name, which features a time {{cat|s=no|technology|machine}} that can only go back in time ten minutes. <ref name="title">{{cite web|url=http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2010/meanwhile-asks-chocolate-or-vanilla-3856-possibilities-from-there/|title=Meanwhile asks Chocolate or Vanilla? 3,856 possibilities from there.....|author=Richard Bruton|date=2010-3-1|site={{w|Forbidden Planet (bookstore)|Forbidden Planet}} Blog|accessdate=2014-1-6}}</ref><br />
*The episode's plot is reminiscent of that of the ''{{w|Stargate SG-1}}'' series finale &mdash; "{{w|Unending}}".<br />
*The ''[[Star Trek]]'' transporter sound effect is heard when Hermes orders a {{cat|food and drink|drink}} by saying "{{cat|Computer}}, {{w|Jamaica}}n joy juice, hot". This is also a reference to how {{st|Captain Picard}} frequently orders "Tea, {{w|Earl Grey tea|Earl Grey}}, hot" from [[USS Enterprise|the ship]]'s replicators in ''{{st|Star Trek: The Next Generation}}''.<br />
*[[Petunia]] says "I'll have what she's having" &mdash; a famous line from the [[1989]] [[films in Futurama|film]] ''{{w|When Harry Met Sally...}}''.<br />
*Fry falling from the Vampire State Building just in time to press the time button is reminiscent of the way in which {{w|Agent J}} travels back in time in the 2012 film ''{{w|Men in Black 3}}''.<br />
*The wrecking crane that [[Sal]] rides in has three legs, similar to the {{w|Fighting machine (The War of the Worlds)|tripods}} from ''{{w|The War of the Worlds}}''.<br />
*The crew delivers a copy of {{w|Edvard Munch}}'s ''{{w|The Scream}}'' painting.<br />
*Fry falling on and breaking the time button is an allusion to the ''[[The Twilight Zone|Twilight Zone]]'' episode "{{w|A Kind of a Stopwatch}}", where a man has a stopwatch that can stop time, which he proceeds to break and get stuck alone in a frozen [[alternate universes|universe]].<br />
*A {{w|Spider-Man}}-like [[robot]] can be seen when time is frozen.<br />
*Fry and Leela's decades-long honeymoon is set to the first movement of {{w|Frédéric Chopin}}'s {{w|Étude Op. 10, No. 3}}.<br />
<br />
=== Continuity ===<br />
<br />
*When the ship is flying towards Luna Park, one can see the moon buggy that Fry abandoned in a crater in "The Series Has Landed".<br />
*[[Craterface]] displays his sullenness and gets a beer bottle to the eye by Bender &mdash; references to "The Series Has Landed".<br />
*When the [[Mecha-Hexadecapus]] malfunctions and Leela breaks a hole in the dome, Craterface flies up and stops up the dome &mdash; a reference to the moon replicated in the [[Holo-Shed]] doing the same when the ''[[Nimbus]]'' blows a hole in its hull in "[[Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch]]".<br />
*When Fry is staring at the time button, his eyes narrow. This is a reference to a scene from "[[The Lesser of Two Evils]]", which originated [[Fry meme|an]] [[internet]] [[Fry meme|meme]].<br />
*When describing the horrible deaths that the crew will experience if they leave the time shelter, the professor says that they would be shredded across the time-space continuum like {{human}} coleslaw, to which Zoidberg says "Yum". This may be a reference to "[[Roswell that Ends Well]]", in which the professor orders [[Soylent products|Soylent]] coleslaw.<br />
*Fry's tuxedo and Leela's wedding gown are both from previous episodes. The tuxedo is from "[[Calculon 2.0]]", and the gown is from "[[Time Keeps on Slippin']]".<br />
*The episode features Fry and Leela's third wedding. Their first wedding was seen in "Time Keeps on Slippin'", and their second was in ''[[Bender's Big Score]]'', when Leela was going to marry [[Lars]] &mdash; a [[time-paradox duplicate]] of Fry.<br />
*Leela was previously seen with grey hair in "[[The Late Philip J. Fry]]".<br />
*The man and woman in [[Paris]] were previously seen in "[[Game of Tones]]".<br />
*Bender was previously referred to as "What's-his-name" in "[[Stench and Stenchibility]]" &mdash; the previous episode.<br />
<br />
=== Goofs ===<br />
<br />
[[File:Volume 8 set up.png|thumb|225px|The setup menu for [[Volume 8]], featuring the clam.]]<br />
*The clam bites off Leela's right hand, but the hand in the clam appears to be the left hand.<br />
*After the clam cuts off Leela's hand, Fry takes more than ten seconds to press the button.<br />
*When the professor calls for Hermes, Bender, Amy, and Zoidberg to enter the time shelter, the painting is ripped, despite the fact that it's intact in the previous shot.<br />
*When Leela presses the button, Fry is inside the button ball, so he should remain dead.<br />
*Since Fry (and later Leela) cannot press the button instantaneously after the device recharges he would not be able to prevent himself from falling forever; he would start closer and closer to the ground each time.<br />
**The button may account for this.<br />
*When Fry splatters on the ground, the time button survives the fall, but when Fry lands on it, it easily breaks.<br />
**It's possible that it has a lower terminal velocity than Fry.<br />
*When Leela presses the time button after Fry's fall, the time button should stay with Leela, because of the device's shielding, and a second one should be with Fry, because of time travel, but only Fry's remains.<br />
**It's possible that the time button excludes itself from the recession of time.<br />
*In the stands at the [[sports|basketball]] match, some characters are seen twice.<br />
<br />
=== Quotes ===<br />
<br />
{{q|<br />
<poem>'''Zoidberg''': Friends! I found a ten dollars!</poem><br />
<poem>'''Bender''': Listen. I know who stole the button. I wasn't gonna tell, 'cuz I don't like bein' helpful, but I do like ratt'n' people out.</poem><br />
<poem>'''Zoidberg''': Hooray! I'm trapped in a tiny fun room, with friends!</poem><br />
<poem>'''Fry''': You mean we'll all get to live our lives over again?<br />
'''The professor''': Oh, my, yes. Even that nasty robot what's-his-name.</poem><br />
}}<br />
<br />
=== Appearances ===<br />
<br />
{{chars}}<br />
<br />
==== Characters ====<br />
<br />
{{chars-begin|note=no}}<br />
*[[20th-century lecturer]] <br> {{cameo|14:57}}<br />
*[[21st-century girl]] {{cameo|link=no|14:08}}<br />
*[[Abner Doubledeal]]<br />
*[[Abraham Lincoln]] {{mito|18:17}}<br />
*[[Albert]]<br />
*[[Amy]]<br />
*[[Auctioneer]] {{cameo|link=no|15:58}}<br />
*[[Dr Beeler]]<br />
*[[Mrs Beeler]]<br />
*[[Bender]]<br />
*[[Brett Blob]] {{cameo|link=no|14:43}}<br />
*[[Bubblegum]]<br />
*[[Censored couple]] {{cameo|link=no|15:12}}<br />
*[[Charles]]<br />
*[[Craterface]]<br />
*[[Curly Joe]]<br />
*[[Dandy Jim]]<br />
*[[Elzar]]<br />
*[[Professor Farnsworth]]<br />
*[[Flamo]] {{cameo|link=no|14:46|possible}}<br />
*[[Fry]]<br />
*[[Globetrotters]]<br />
*[[H.G. Blob]] {{cameo|link=no|14:43}}<br />
*[[Hattie]]<br />
*[[Hermes]]<br />
*[[Hyper-Chicken]] {{cameo|link=no|16:00}}<br />
*'''Debut''': [[János]]<br />
*[[Kif]]<br />
*[[Last clone of Agnew]]<br />
*[[Leela]]<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Luna Park carny]]<br />
*[[Mom]]<br />
*[[Moon Patrol]]<br />
*[[Morbo]]<br />
*[[Nibbler]]<br />
*[[Nixon]] {{small|(on 10-[[currency|dollar]] bill)}}<br />
*[[Nixon's campaign manager]] {{cameo|link=no|15:12}}<br />
*[[Petunia]]<br />
*{{randy}} {{cameo|link=no|15:12}}<br />
*[[Roberto]]<br />
*[[Sal]]<br />
*[[Scoop Chang]] {{cameo|link=no|14:43}}<br />
*[[Scruffy]]<br />
*[[Smitty]]<br />
*[[Space Pope]]<br />
*[[Sweet Clyde]]<br />
*[[Turanga Morris]]<br />
*[[Turanga Munda]]<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Ultra Guy]]<br />
*[[Underwater-house salesman]] {{cameo|link=no|14:57}}<br />
*[[URL]]<br />
*[[Victor]]<br />
*[[Zapp Brannigan]]<br />
*[[Zoidberg]]<br />
{{chars-end}}<br />
<br />
==== Places ====<br />
<br />
{{chars-begin|note=no}}<br />
*[[Apartment 00100100]]<br />
*[[Big Ben]] {{mito|18:17}}<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Bronx Zoo]]<br />
*[[Eiffel Tower]]<br />
*[[France]]<br />
*[[Luna Park]]<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Luna Parking]]<br />
*[[Madison Cube Garden]]<br />
*[[Monument Beach]] {{mito|18:17}}<br />
*[[Moon]]<br />
*[[Paris]]<br />
*[[Planet Express hangar]]<br />
*[[Planet Express headquarters]]<br />
*[[Planet Express conference room]]<br />
*[[Planet Express employee lounge]]<br />
*[[Robot Arms Apartments]]<br />
*'''Debut''': {{w|Scranton}} {{mito|18:17}}<br />
*[[St. Koch's Cathedral]]<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Ultra Guy's Custom Diamonds]]<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Vampire State Building]]<br />
{{chars-end}}<br />
<br />
==== Miscellaneous ====<br />
<br />
{{chars-begin|note=no}}<br />
*[[Buggalo]] {{small|(stuffed animal)}}<br />
*[[Chroniton]]s {{miso}}<br />
*[[Curious Pussycat]] {{cameo|link=no|14:46}}<br />
*[[Currency]]<br />
*[[DOOP hovercopter]]<br />
*[[Fry-Leela relationship]]<br />
*[[Giraffe]]<br />
*"[[Hi-yah!]]"<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Mecha-Hexadecapus]]<br />
*[[Owls]]<br />
*[[Spice weasel]]<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Taste of NNY Gourmet Food Fair]]<br />
*[[Thundercougarfalconbird]]<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Time button]]<br />
*'''Debut''': [[Time shelter]]<br />
*[[Tube Transport System]]<br />
{{chars-end}}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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