Difference between revisions of "Fun on a Bun"

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=== Act III: "Battalion A: smash things. Battalion B: smash different things." ===
=== Act III: "Battalion A: smash things. Battalion B: smash different things." ===
It is then revealed that Fry had survived Bender's sausage machine with only his chicken hat. However, upon escaping, he falls down the hole hitting his head and is knocked unconscious. In doing so, Fry's head swells in cave man manner. Fry is later found in the glacier by [[Neanderthal]]s, who free him and believe him to be a kindred Neanderthal. Fry is scared for a few seconds whilst gazing upon the Neanderthal world but is convinced that he is one of them. Meanwhile, everyone is still trying to prevent Leela from remembering Fry. However, she still finds traces of Fry and feeling upset for reasons she can't explain. Fry also experiences similar feelings over Leela while looking at the tail of a [[prehistoric Warthog]] but due to the amnesia he's under, is only confused by it. [[Fry]] learns the story of why Neanderthals were living in the glacier and how Homo-Sapiens came to rule the Earth. During ancient times, the Homo-Sapiens shunned the lesser Neanderthal who wanted to interbreed and be as one and left them to live in isolation. The Neanderthals find the hole in the glacier leading up to the surface that Fry and Bender had made earlier. Fry then leads the Neanderthals to invade Oktoberfest to rightfully take back what is theirs. Leela is still affected by objects that remind her of Fry, Leela believes she should be happy because Bender's sausage had won third place, however Bender is upset stating it as the worst crime that Germany has ever committed. [[Zapp Brannigan]], as one of the judges, tries to flirt with Leela however, before he can, there is a tremor. After the smoke clears Fry is revealed with an army of Neanderthals riding mammoths to attack Oktoberfest. The Planet Express crew are in shock gaping at the army. Fry commands his army to kill all Humans, to which [[Bender]] happily cheers before being crushed by a mammoth's foot. The mammoths continue to recklessly smash various stalls and tents whilst the confused Planet Express crew, and others, run. Meanwhile, Bender finds the other contestants who placed higher than him in the sausage competition and arranges their ends in the commotion and steals the contestants' trophy and sashs. Zapp Brannigan makes foolish attempts to stop the army with modern technology but is outwitted. [[Zapp]] then tries to use the Nimbus, however that fails, and it crashes to the ground. Leela is outraged by the invaders and aims the Planet Express Ship right at the leader, Fry. Fry and Leela end up in combat with each other after his mammoth downs the ship with its tusks. However, Leela and Fry, unable to recognize each other, feel an oddly inherent connection to each other and embrace in a romanticly passionate kiss. The neural pathways in Leela's memory regenerate in a flood of memories she's shared with Fry as his amnesia lifts and his head unswells. The two are able to finally recognize each other and are back together. Seeing this union between a "Neanderthal" and a Sapien, the [[Neanderthal Chief]] forgives Homo-Sapiens for their ancestors' ways and the two sides begin bonding. Oktoberfest is returned to how it was back in Fry's day. Leela asks Fry if he wants to dance the chicken dance on top of the table, as he'd done earlier to her embarassment, to which Fry replies, "just this once I will let you embarass me". The episode ends with [[Leela]] dancing the chicken dance.
Fry, in fact, survived Bender's sausage machine--but not before the grinder tore off some of his hair and all of his clothing, explaining the remains found in Bender's sausage. He hits his head and falls into the mammoth hole, where he develops a swollen forehead, loses his short-term memory and is trapped in the solidifying ice. Fry is rescued a week later by [[Neanderthal]]s, who identify him as a kindred Neanderthal by his enlarged forehead. Leela and Fry both struggle with their feelings as they see certain objects that spark memories of each other, though neither one can explain why. Fry discovers that Neanderthals were driven away to live in the valley by '''Homo sapiens''', who refused to interbreed and coexist with them, and he decides to lead a charge of Neanderthals against humans on the "outside" to take back what is theirs. The charge wreaks havoc on Oktoberfest; [[Zapp Brannigan]] fails to use technology against them, Bender strategically steals awards from his contest peers, and Leela levels her own attack against the Neanderthal leader [[Fry]], whom she cannot recognize, from the [[Planet Express ship]]. Fry and Leela fight each other hand to hand but they observe one another more closely ("Orange?"/"Purple?") and, as Leela's memories are rekindled and Fry's swollen brow returns to normal, they kiss and reconcile. Seeing this union between a Neanderthal and a Sapien, the [[Neanderthal Chief]] halts his attack and the two species celebrate together that night, restoring Oktoberfest to the drunken glory of Fry's day. Leela admits that this version of the event is far more appealing, and invites Fry to chicken dance with her as he'd done earlier to her embarrassment. Fry replies, "Just this once I'll let you embarass me." The episode ends with [[Leela]] proudly doing the chicken dance in front of Fry on top of the table, in the midst of everyone else dancing and drinking.


== Production ==
== Production ==

Revision as of 00:45, 17 August 2012

Season 7 episode
Broadcast season 9 episode
Fun on a Bun
Fun on a Bun screenshot.png
Bender pulling a woolly mammoth's body out of a hole.[1]
No.122
Production number7ACV08
Written byDan Vebber
Directed byStephen Sandoval
Title caption50% More Colors Than Bargain-Brand Cartoons
First air date1 August 2012[2]
Broadcast numberS09E08
Title referenceBender's catchphrase "fun on the bun"
Additional
Commentary
(Transcript)
Transcript
AnimaticStoryboard

Pictures

Season 7
  1. The Bots and the Bees
  2. A Farewell to Arms
  3. Decision 3012
  4. The Thief of Baghead
  5. Zapp Dingbat
  6. The Butterjunk Effect
  7. The Six Million Dollar Mon
  8. Fun on a Bun
  9. Free Will Hunting
  10. Near-Death Wish
  11. 31st Century Fox
  12. Viva Mars Vegas
  13. Naturama
  14. Forty Percent Leadbelly
  15. 2-D Blacktop
  16. T.: The Terrestrial
  17. Fry and Leela's Big Fling
  18. The Inhuman Torch
  19. Saturday Morning Fun Pit
  20. Calculon 2.0
  21. Assie Come Home
  22. Leela and the Genestalk
  23. Game of Tones
  24. Murder on the Planet Express
  25. Stench and Stenchibility
  26. Meanwhile
← Season 6Season 8 →
Not to be confused with Fun on the bun.

"Fun on a Bun" is the one hundred and twenty-second episode of Futurama, the eighth of the seventh production season and the ninth broadcast season. Fry is the victim of a horrific sausage-making accident.[2]

Plot

Act I: "I had to have the break-up sex by myself."

The Professor decides that the crew should relax from work and suggests that they go to Oktoberfest. Fry arrives at the event with excitement but discovers that it has developed into a sophisticated event over the years, attended by the most renowned and calling for the most proper behavior. Fry, upset at the changes, refuses to behave. Bender wants to enter the Sausage Contest, but Elzar points out that not just any type of meat will be enough and that he needs to be more creative. Bender is determined to find something extraordinary. Meanwhile, Leela is so outraged and embarrassed by Fry's behavior that she breaks up with him.

Act II: "Where happened? What am I?"

Fry and Bender sulk together; Fry because Leela left him and at the disappointment of future Oktoberfest, and Bender because everyone has fancier sausage meat than him. They view a historical projection, showing that Oktoberfest is held in the Neander Valley, where Neanderthals and mammoths lived. Bender decides to use mammoth meat for his sausage entry betting on its rarity as an advantage. Bender and Fry take the ship out looking for a preserved mammoth, which they proceed to excavate and grind with the help of a giant sausage maker. While Fry helps Bender, he is caught by the machine and sucked in; Bender takes no notice. Bender returns to the contest with his sausage, which is well received by everyone. Leela samples one of his hot dogs to discover trace amounts of Fry's hair and clothing pulverized in the meat. Back at Planet Express, the crew hold a funeral for Fry. Overcome with guilt, Leela goes to Annie's Forgettery to have all her thoughts of Fry severed and out of memory. The crew struggles not to trigger any reminders of Fry in Leela. Unbeknownst to the crew, Fry is actually still alive, frozen over in a glacier.

Act III: "Battalion A: smash things. Battalion B: smash different things."

Fry, in fact, survived Bender's sausage machine--but not before the grinder tore off some of his hair and all of his clothing, explaining the remains found in Bender's sausage. He hits his head and falls into the mammoth hole, where he develops a swollen forehead, loses his short-term memory and is trapped in the solidifying ice. Fry is rescued a week later by Neanderthals, who identify him as a kindred Neanderthal by his enlarged forehead. Leela and Fry both struggle with their feelings as they see certain objects that spark memories of each other, though neither one can explain why. Fry discovers that Neanderthals were driven away to live in the valley by Homo sapiens, who refused to interbreed and coexist with them, and he decides to lead a charge of Neanderthals against humans on the "outside" to take back what is theirs. The charge wreaks havoc on Oktoberfest; Zapp Brannigan fails to use technology against them, Bender strategically steals awards from his contest peers, and Leela levels her own attack against the Neanderthal leader Fry, whom she cannot recognize, from the Planet Express ship. Fry and Leela fight each other hand to hand but they observe one another more closely ("Orange?"/"Purple?") and, as Leela's memories are rekindled and Fry's swollen brow returns to normal, they kiss and reconcile. Seeing this union between a Neanderthal and a Sapien, the Neanderthal Chief halts his attack and the two species celebrate together that night, restoring Oktoberfest to the drunken glory of Fry's day. Leela admits that this version of the event is far more appealing, and invites Fry to chicken dance with her as he'd done earlier to her embarrassment. Fry replies, "Just this once I'll let you embarass me." The episode ends with Leela proudly doing the chicken dance in front of Fry on top of the table, in the midst of everyone else dancing and drinking.

Production

In 2011, a few revelations concerning the episode were made. On 15 November, Futurama assistant director Aimee Steinberger revealed that "[the production team was] done with [the episode]", calling it "[her] most time intensive grueling ep ever", and that the animatic would be screened "on the FOX lot [on the next day]".[3] On the next day, after leaving the screening, she revealed that "Everyone [had] liked it"[4] and, after watching the animatic, Futurama writer Eric Rogers revealed that it "might be [the best episode of the ninth broadcast season]", calling it "EPIC".[5]

In 2012, more revelations concerning the episode were made. On 29 February, CGEF revealed the episode's title, its writer to be Dan Vebber and its director to be Stephen Sandoval.[6][7] On 20 April, Steinberger revealed that she "[had seen] fully animated color acts 2 and 3 back from Korea on [her 7ACV08 the previous day]" and that she "still [thought it was] a really great show"[8] and Rogers jokingly asked her if "[she had been] expecting it to be worse".[9] On the next day, she, in reply to him, revealed that "[it had been] demanding a lot" and that "[she thought that] when [it was] done [it would] be nice"[10] and he, in reply to her, revealed that "[it was] a monster, for sure, but [that Rough Draft] always [delivered]" and that "[it would] be awesome as always".[11] By 8 June,[12] MSN TV had revealed the episode's plot and air date.[2]

In June, Countdown to Futurama began releasing promotional material for the episode. It has so far released seven items: a design of the cover of Unfrozen Dude Magazine on 13 June,[13] a design of a Neanderthal chief on 14 June,[14] part of the storyboard set in a sausage contest showing Bender angry about winning third place and Zapp as a judge on 15 June,[15] a design of a Neanderthal version of Fry on 16 June,[16] a promotional picture showing a drunk Fry on 17 June,[17] a video clip featuring Bender and a drunken Fry, wearing a chicken over his head, searching for woolly mammoth with an elephant detector on 18 June[1] and a promotional picture of a group of Neanderthals charging with woolly mammoth on 19 June.[18] The seventh Countdown to Futurama podcast revealed more information about the episode, including elements of its plot.[19]

On 12 July, following the broadcast of the episode "Zapp Dingbat", the public were given the opportunity to participate in a live chat with the Futurama cast and crew. Several clips of "Fun on a Bun" were shown during the live stream.[20]

Reception

On 3 May 2012, Aimee Steinberger revealed that she had "watched the finalish color, full animation for [the episode] at the FOX lot [on that day]", that "it really did turn out nice" and that she was "Really proud of [it]"[21] and Eric Rogers called it the "2013 Emmy nominee", "Epic fun"[22] and "awesome".[23]

Additional information

Trivia

Allusions

  • The episode's title is a reference to Bender's catchphrase "fun on the bun".
  • Bender putting a giant set of ribs in front of Zapp Brannigan is a reference to the closing credits of the The Flintstones.
  • Leela's memories of Fry are erased in Annie's Forgettery, this could be an allusion to the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
  • The region of Valley corresponds with the modern Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia.
  • The "double dip" might be a reference to a Seinfeld episode where George Costenza is disgusted for the same reason as Leela.
  • The History machine refers to the Woolly Mammoths as Snuffleupagus which is a recurring character in Sesame Street
  • When Hermes first sees a mammoth, he refers to them as "Hairy Elephantes" which is an allusion to American singer/songwriter Harry Belafonte

Continuity

Quotes

    Professor: Crew, you're working too hard.
    [Bender staples another picture of a clown to the wall, which has been poorly coloured in, like a child's drawing.]
    Bender: Tell me about it.
    Professor: For once, I thought it might be nice to do something in a social setting! Finally get to know each other. Why, I don't even know half your names! [He points to Fry.] You, boy! What do they call you?
    Fry: Most folks just call me 'Orange Joe'.

    Bender: Hey, Elzar! I've just recently started always having dreamt of being a sausage making champion.

    Fry: I hate future Oktoberfest! It's supposed to be beer and bratwurst, not break ups and - [He gestures towards a History Kiosk.] - boring thing!

    Bender: It's tragedy on a bun!

    Zapp: [He summons a squad of small fighters with a controller.] Behold our latest weapon. A revolutionary fleet of unmanned drones...with men in them.
    Leela: Then how are they unmanned?
    Zapp: The men are just for ballast. I control all the drones from this single unit. [He holds up controller.] Foolproof and durable; it's designed to withstand the weight of a modern day elephant foot. [A wooly mammoth tramples them, making Zapp drop the controller, which is crushed by the mammoth's foot, causing the drones to crash and explode.]

Goofs

  • The Neanderthals already speak English when they find Fry.
  • Ground sloths and saber-tooth cats were only found in the Americas, thus Neanderthals would have never interacted with them. Furthermore, the Neanderthals would have froze over before these species went extinct
  • During the invasion, the ship is seen firing, but in previous episodes a gunner (Fry) was in place. The gunner position itself is unnecessary if Leela can control the ships guns all from her console.
    • It is most likely that the ship has a targeting system via Leela's console, but a manual gunner position is available to take the strain off of the captain so he/she can concentrate on flying.
    • Or she had an unseen person in the gunner's spot.
  • Although the map of Germany and the location of the famous Neanderthal are quite accurate, the Oktoberfest is actually held in Munich, in the southeast. The glaciers of the Alps nearby would have made a good place for finding prehistoric mammoths and people, since for example Ötzi the Iceman was found there.
    • The history booth specifies that Oktoberfest has been held in the Neander Valley for "hundreds of years," implying that it had been held somewhere else earlier.
  • Bender says that the mammoth will have been aged for 30,000 years -- but freezing meat does not age it.
  • The Neanderthals are shown having a catapult, but the catapult wasn't invented till about three thousand years ago, long after the Neanderthals were trapped.
    • They may have invented it themselves, possibly by Fry's guidance.

Characters

(In alphabetic order)

References

  1. ^ a b Matt Tobey (18 June 2012). Countdown to Futurama: Woolly Mammoth Clip. (Comedy Centrl [sic].) Retrieved on 19 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Futurama - Episode Guide. (MSN TV.) Retrieved on 09 June 2012.
  3. ^ Aimee Steinberger (15 November 2011). aimeekitty. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 16 November 2011.
  4. ^ Aimee Steinberger (16 November 2011). aimeekitty. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 16 November 2011.
  5. ^ Eric Rogers (16 November 2011). Kitchelfilms. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 17 November 2011.
  6. ^ Episode Guide: 7 ACV. (CGEF.) 29 February 2012. Retrieved on 29 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Just Fan" (29 February 2012). "Futurama: Futurama News (pre-season 7)". (PEEL.) Retrieved on 29 February 2012.
  8. ^ Aimee Steinberger (20 April 2012). aimeekitty. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 21 April 2012.
  9. ^ Eric Rogers (20 April 2012). ERogTweets2Much. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 21 April 2012.
  10. ^ Aimee Steinberger (21 April 2012). aimeekitty. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 21 April 2012.
  11. ^ Eric Rogers (21 April 2012). ERogTweets2Much. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 21 April 2012.
  12. ^ Just Fan (08 June 2012). Futurama: Futurama News (including but not limited to Countdown to Season 7) - Page 8. (PEEL.) Retrieved on 09 June 2012.
  13. ^ Matt Tobey (13 June 2012). Countdown to Futurama: Unfrozen Dude Magazine. (Comedy Centrl [sic].) Retrieved on 13 June 2012.
  14. ^ Matt Tobey (14 June 2012). Countdown to Futurama: Neanderthal Chief. (Comedy Centrl [sic].) Retrieved on 16 June 2012.
  15. ^ Matt Tobey (15 June 2012). Countdown to Futurama: Sausage Judge. (Comedy Centrl [sic].) Retrieved on 16 June 2012.
  16. ^ Matt Tobey (16 June 2012). Countdown to Futurama: Neanderthal Fry. (Comedy Centrl [sic].) Retrieved on 18 June 2012.
  17. ^ Matt Tobey (17 June 2012). Countdown to Futurama: Drunk Fry. (Comedy Centrl [sic].) Retrieved on 18 June 2012.
  18. ^ Matt Tobey (19 June 2012). Countdown to Futurama: Mastodon. (Comedy Centrl [sic].) Retrieved on 21 June 2012.
  19. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Week 7 Podcast
  20. ^ "Tastes Like Fry" (12 July 2012). "Newsarama! (Futurama News Thread)" (page 1). (PEEL.) Retrieved on 13 July 2012.
  21. ^ Aimee Steinberger (03 May 2012). aimeekitty. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 03 May 2012.
  22. ^ Eric Rogers (03 May 2012). ERogTweets2Much. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 03 May 2012.
  23. ^ Eric Rogers (03 May 2012). ERogTweets2Much. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 03 May 2012.
  24. ^ Ann Pinson (16 July 2012). Brave Combo's nuclear polka to explode on the small screen in "Futurama". (The Dallas Morning News.) Retrieved on 04 August 2012.