Simpsorama
The Simpsons episode | |||||
Simpsorama | |||||
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Written by | J. Stewart Burns | ||||
Directed by | Bob Anderson | ||||
Title caption | A show out of ideas teams up with a show out of episodes We're not done with the mash-up! (during the credits) | ||||
First air date | 9 November 2014 | ||||
Wikisimpsons has information unrelated to Futurama | |||||
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"Simpsorama" is an episode of The Simpsons the story of which features the characters of Futurama. It aired on Fox, on 9 November 2014. The crew goes back in time to 2014 Springfield to prevent the Simpsons from destroying the future.
The episode was announced on 20 July 2013, at Comic-Con, by Simpsons executive producer Al Jean. It was written by Futurama-and-Simpsons writer J. Stewart Burns. It was initially scheduled to be recorded in August 2013, [1] but it appears to have actually been recorded in September. [2]
Plot
The crossover unspools a complex Terminator-esque story that involves Bart blowing his nose on a sandwich that he places in a time capsule. When that mixes with Milhouse's rabbit's foot and some radioactive ooze, it creates a global catastrophe in the future, prompting Bender to travel back in time to kill Bart and prevent this mega-mess.
The episode's couch gag features the Simpsons' couch transforming into Hedonismbot, prompting everyone to stand up in shock/disgust, except for Homer, who receives a massage and is fed grapes.
Production
Al Jean said of the episode:
“ | Futurama is such an easy fit. (...) It's really funny, and their show lends itself to any variety of plot lines. By having them on, we have a little freedom... The biggest thrill for me is that we don't have to adjust the animation style. [1] | ” |
On 19 September 2013, John DiMaggio posted a picture of the episode's production script on his Twitter page, [5] revealing the episode's title.
On 17 December, an interview with David X. Cohen revealed that the episode was being animated. [6]
On 4 March, an interview with Jean revealed that the episode would air in the fall. [7] At the time, the episode was expected to air in May, as the season-25 finale. [1] [8] It was also revealed that Maurice LaMarche, who often guest-stars on The Simpsons, would be in the episode.
On 21 May, Jean revealed through Twitter that the episode was "scheduled to be the first episode [to air] in November", [9] suggesting an air date of 2 November.
On 1 June, Jean revealed through Twitter that, besides Bender, the episode would feature "Leela, Fry, Farnsworth, Zoidberg, Hermes, Amy, Hypnotoad, Nibbler and more". [10]
On 20 July, Entertainment Weekly published an online article in which the episode's air date was first confirmed. [11]
On 26 July, Instagram user "steelesaunders" uploaded a short clip of a reinvented Futurama opening sequence, shot at The Simpsons's 2014 San Diego Comic-Con International panel. [12]
On 4 September, Entertainment Weekly published an online article revealing the first official image of the episode and also provided more information on the episode's plot. [4]
On 6 September, Jean confirmed through Twitter that the Futurama characters would retain their normal skin tones in the crossover instead of being coloured yellow like the characters in The Simpsons. [13]
On 9 September, Lisa Simpsons's voice actor, Yeardley Smith, spoke about the interaction between Lisa and Bender during the crossover in an interview with Nuke the Fridge. She said: "Lisa just questions the validity of Bender being one of the most advanced robots that we have ever created. She's like, "Really? I don't think so." But that episode really focuses on Bender and Homer's friendship and relationship, and the similarities, a dubious distinction if I do say so." [14]
On 26 September, David X. Cohen, Al Jean, and British author Simon Singh discussed Singh's book The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets at the London Science Museum, where a clip of Bender and Homer playing "tether boy" was shown. [15] The next day, Singh tweeted a photo of them watching the aforementioned clip. [16]
Additional information
Trivia
- This episode highlights The Simpsons' 25th anniversary (17 December 2014) and Futurama's 15th (28 March 2014).
- A crossover episode for The Simpsons and Family Guy, titled "The Simpsons Guy", was announced two days before this episode was. [17]
- The writer of the episode, J. Stewart Burns, has written for both shows. Other people who have written for both shows include Bill Odenkirk, Brian Kelley, Dan Vebber, David X. Cohen, Eric Kaplan, Jeff Westbrook, Josh Weinstein, Ken Keeler, and Patric M. Verrone. Burns also wrote the Futurama video game.
- This is the second speaking appearance of a Futurama character in a piece of Simpsons media. John DiMaggio voiced Bender in the season-16 episode "Future-Drama".
DiMaggio also voiced Bender in The Simpsons Game, and Billy West voiced Zoidberg. - "Simpsorama" is also the name of a collection of Simpsons comics published in 1996.
- After Moe says that he thinks that Bender and the jukebox "had a thing goin'", the jukebox plays American soul singer Aretha Franklin's song "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman".
- Bart says that it's "like the guy who designed Bender just took a drawing of Dad and stuck an antenna on it".
- After Fry, Bender, Homer, and Leela pass by Seymour and Panucci's Pizza, the song "I Will Wait for You", which previously played in "Jurassic Bark", plays.
- This is the first time Scruffy is seen without his mustache.
- Lisa plays a saxophone version of a holophonor.
- When New New York is being repaired at the end of the episode, a sign is placed which reads "New New New York".
- Ndnd refers to Kang and Kodos as "the Johnsons".
- The Statue of Liberty in New New York is replaced with the Lard Lad statue in the style of Morbo's species in the mash-up opening of the two shows in the end credits.
Allusions
- Click here to see cultural mentions made in this episode.
- The episode's plot is inspired by the 1984 film The Terminator. It also seems to be based on that of the Star Trek episode "The City on the Edge of Forever", the writer of which, Harlan Ellison, was credited for the synopsis by Al Jean after the episode's announcement. [1]
- Coincidentally, Ellison guest-starred in the season-25 episode of The Simpsons "Married to the Blob", which aired in the same year as this episode aired.
- Moe refers to Bender as a "blade rummy", possibly a reference to the 1982 film Blade Runner.
- Bongo from Matt Groening's Life in Hell writes "CROSSOVERS ARE HELL" on a wall.
- When the characters are sucked back into the future, a 3014 calendar featuring a photo of the professor with long hair and in a swimsuit can be seen. The photo resembles American actress Farrah Fawcett's iconic 1976 poster.
- This poster was previously referenced in "Neutopia" (also written by J. Stewart Burns) and in "Overclockwise".
- The Tesla Building is a reference to the Chrysler Building, in Manhattan, and Tesla Motors, an electric-car manufacturer.
- A billboard can be seen that reads "The eBook of Mormon", a reference to the musical The Book of Mormon.
- Madison Cube Garden hits an FXXX satellite, a reference to Fox's T.V. channels FX and FXX.
Continuity
- An apocalypse previously took place in "A Farewell to Arms".
- Bender was previously seen with one eye in "Rebirth".
Goofs
- Bender's slot, which Professor Frink opens, is visible at Moe's.
- It's possible that Bender did not have it in previous episodes.
- When Hermes says "the monsters are stealing our office supplies", his glasses are off-model.
- The bullet hole in Bender's head closes up and heals onscreen without any explanation.
- Panucci's Pizza is shown in Springfield when it is actually located in New York.
- Bart says his birthday is 23 February, even though it was previously established to be 1 April.
Quotes
Homer: Don't drink my loved ones!
Bender: Bite my shiny metal ass!
Homer: A robot with a catchphrase!
Bart: Hey, Homer, you gonna kiss him or kill him?
Homer: Hey... Uh... What's the robot version of "bromance"?
Bender: *Ro*mance.
Bender: *I can't do* Maggie. The "G"s look like sixes.
Zoidberg: Looks like everyone gets a turn to say something. This concludes my time.
Marge: [thinking] Don't mention her eye. Don't mention her eye.
Leela: [thinking] Don't mention her hair. Don't mention her hair.
Marge: Eye...am so pleased to meet you.
Leela: Nice to be hair.
Bender: [sleeping] Kill all humans... Kill all humans...
Homer: [also sleeping] Start with Flanders. Start with Flanders.
The professor: Good news, everyone!
Fry: [to Bart] That means it's bad!
The professor: [to Marge] We don't have to kill *you*.
[Marge sighs.]
Marge: Well, *that's* better.
The professor: We just have to kill all your children.
Lisa: I can't believe you're all giving up without a fight.
Leela: Lisa, we're just a package-delivery service.
Fry: And not a very good one!
[Leela, Lisa, Zoidberg, Amy, and Hermes cheer.]
Bart: You realise you're cheering the death of millions of my children.
[They cheer harder.]
Alien-language sightings
Time: 20:30
Location: Sign right of Jebediah Springfield statue (which usually reads "TASTY HUMAN BURGERS")
Language: AL1
Translation: CONGRATULATIONS YOU'RE A NERD
Appearances
Characters
- Abraham Lincoln (in picture)
- Amy
- Debut: Atomic Energy Commission employee
- Barney Gumble
- Bart Simpson
- Debut: Bart Simpson creatures
- Bender
- Debut: Bender's Bounty
- Bernice Hibbert
- Bongo
- Carl Carlson
- Chief Wiggum
- Cletus Spuckler
- Comic Book Guy
- Professor Farnsworth
- Professor Frink
- Fry
- Grampa Simpson (in picture)
- Groundskeeper Willie
- Hedonismbot
- Hermes
- Dr. Hibbert
- Homer Simpson
- The Hypnotoad
- Jasper
- Jebediah Springfield (as statue)
- Jesus (mentioned in speech only)
- Jimbo Jones
- Kang and Kodos
- Kent Brockman
- Kearney Zzyzwicz
- Krusty the Clown
- Leela
- Lenny Leonard
- Linda
- Lisa Simpson
- Lou
- Reverend Lovejoy
- Lrrr
- Luann Van Houten
- Maggie Simpson
- Marge Simpson
- Mayor Quimby
- Milhouse Van Houten
- Moe Szyslak
- Morbo
- Mr. Burns
- Mr. Teeny
- Ndnd
- Ned Flanders
- Nelson Muntz
- Nelson Muntz's father (mentioned in speech only)
- Nibbler
- Principal Skinner
- Ralph Wiggum (mentioned in text only, unknown moment)
- Rich Texan
- Santa's Little Helper
- Scruffy
- Sea captain
- Seymour Asses
- Sideshow Mel
- Snowball II
- Superintendant Chalmers
- Zoidberg
Places
- 742 Evergreen Terrace
- Aztec Theater
- Barney's Bowlarama
- Professor Frink's laboratory
- Madison Cube Garden
- Moe's
- Moon (seen only)
- New New York
- Omicron Persei 8
- Omicronian castle
- Panucci's Pizza
- Planet Express headquarters
- Planet Express ship
- Springfield
- Springfield Elementary School
- Springfield Heights Institute of Technology
- The Tesla Building (during the credits)
Miscellaneous
- "Ay caramba!"
- "Bite my shiny metal ass"
- Canyonero
- Channel √2 News
- "D'oh"
- Duff Beer
- "Eat my shorts!"
- El Barto (mentioned in text only, unknown moment)
- English language (mentioned in speech only)
- Everybody Loves Hypnotoad
- Debut: FXXX
- "Good news, everyone"
- Debut: How to Read a Book in Bed
- "Kill all humans"
- Laramie Cigarettes (mentioned in text only, 5:20)
- "Meatbag"
- Morbo's species (as statue)
- Orange Station Wagon
- Pink Sedan
- Statue of Liberty's head
- Tube Transport System
- Xmas (mentioned in text only, unknown moment)
References
- ^ a b c d Dan Snierson (20 July 2013). 'The Simpsons' to join forces with 'Futurama' for crossover episode. (Entertainment Weekly.) Retrieved on 24 July 2013.
- ^ John DiMaggio (19 September 2013). TheJohnDiMaggio. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 19 September 2013.
- ^ a b Box Incorporated (19 October 2014). Futurama: DEFINITELY the last Futurama News Thread ever...maybe... [Warning: SPOILERS] - Page 20. (Planet Express Employee Lounge.) Retrieved on 19 October 2014.
- ^ a b Dan Snierson (04 September 2014). See the first image from the 'Futurama'-'Simpsons' crossover episode. (Entertainment Weekly.) Retrieved on 04 September 2014.
- ^ a b John DiMaggio (19 September 2013). TheJohnDiMaggio. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 19 September 2013.
- ^ Kyle Anderson (17 December 2013). David X. Cohen Reflects on the End of FUTURAMA. (Nerdist.com.) Retrieved on 18 December 2013.
- ^ Marisa Roffman (04 March 2014). THE SIMPSONS: Al Jean Previews the Upcoming LEGO Episode, the Return of Sideshow Bob, Guest Spots by Daniel Radcliffe, Zach Galifianakis, and More. (Give Me My Remote.) Retrieved on 05 April 2014.
- ^ Dan Snierson (11 October 2013). 'Simpsons' producer on mystery death: Even the actor doesn't know yet | Inside TV. (Entertainment Weekly.) Retrieved on 12 November 2013.
- ^ Al Jean (21 May 2014). AlJean. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 22 June 2014.
- ^ Al Jean (01 June 2014). AlJean. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 22 June 2014.
- ^ Dan Snierson (20 July 2014). 'Simpsons' character will die in season 26 premiere; 'Futurama' crossover to air in November. (Entertainment Weekly.) Retrieved on 05 September 2014.
- ^ steelesaunders (26 July 2014). steelesaunders' Instagram post. (Instagram.) Retrieved on 26 July 2014.
- ^ Al Jean (06 September 2014). Al Jean. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 06 September 2014.
- ^ Fred Topel (09 September 2014). “The Simpsons” Exclusive: Yeardley Smith on Lisa vs. Family Guy’s Meg Griffin and Futurama’s Bender!. (nukethefridge.com.) Retrieved on 23 September 2014.
- ^ @gotfuturama (27 September 2014). CGEF / Got Futurama. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 27 September 2014.
- ^ Simon Singh (27 September 2014). Simon Singh. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 29 September 2014.
- ^ Dan Snierson (18 July 2013). 'The Simpsons,' 'Family Guy' doing crossover episode. (Entertainment Weekly.) Retrieved on 24 July 2013.
See also
- The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis
- The Cure for the Common Clod
- Cold Warriors
- Simpsorama at Wikisimpsons