View source for Zapp Dingbat

{{episode infobox 2
|name=Zapp Dingbat
|image=[[File:Zapp Dingbat screenshot.png|225px]]
|image text=[[Zapp Brannigan]] and [[Kif]] with a [[universal translator]].<ref name="Countdown to Futurama 5"/>
|season=7
|broadcast season=9
|no=119
|written by=Eric Rogers
|directed by=Frank Marino
|caption=Cancel OK
|first aired=11 July, [[2012]]
|number=7ACV05
|broadcast number=S09E05
|title reference={{w|Zapf Dingbats}}, a common typeface which is composed almost entirely of symbols
|prev ep=The Thief of Baghead
|next ep=The Butterjunk Effect
|hasstoryboard=yes
|special guest=[[George Takei]]
|guest-stars=[[George Takei]] as [[George Takei's head|himself]]
}}
[[Leela]] is upset when [[Turanga Munda|her mother]] starts dating [[Zapp Brannigan]].

== Plot ==
=== Act I: "Leela, you never told me you had a mother." ===
Leela hosts a 40th anniversary party for her parents. However, during a video montage of their history together, they begin to argue about the direction their lives have taken: [[Turanga Munda|her mother]], an exolinguist, wants to explore the universe now that they are no longer legally constrained to [[New New York sewers|the sewers]], while [[Turanga Morris|her father]] fears outer space and wants to surf the great sewer waves of [[Earth|the world]]. The conflicts lead to them getting a divorce, and Munda moving in with Leela.

When Leela (along with Fry and Bender) takes her mother out to a bar, they encounter Zapp Branigan in negotiation with shark-like aliens called Carcarons; he botches the negotiations with his poor command of their {{cat|language}}, severely insulting them; however, Munda is able to salvage the situation by speaking the language properly. Zapp begins flirting with Munda, and the two begin dating. 

=== Act II: "Sex with Zapp! Sex with Zapp! Sex with Zapp!" ===
Leela strongly disapproves of the relationship, convinced that he is attempting to get to her through her mother, but no one believes her, and Munda thinks that she is just jealous. Zapp then hires Munda as his personal translator so the two can spend more time together and she can explore the universe as she always wanted.

Meanwhile, Morris is not coping with divorce as well; Leela convinces him to take Fry and Bender on the surfing trip he had always dreamed of, which cheers him up greatly. Although both of her parents are now happy, Leela is still relentless in her attempts to break up her mother and Zapp. Ultimately Munda decides to move out of [[apartment 1I|her daughter's apartment]]. Leela attempts to prove her theory that Zapp is really interested in her by inviting him over for dinner. She tries to seduce him when he arrives, but he refuses her, insisting that he loves Munda. Munda hears this, Zapp proposes to her, and she accepts.

=== Act III: "We're under attack and the wedding's off. Kif, return fire ''and'' the cake." ===
At the last minute, Fry convinces Leela to support her mother's decision and attend the wedding. He even wonders if maybe she would marry him and she replies that she might. In the middle of the ceremony, however, the Carcarons arrive to sign a peace treaty, and Zapp and Munda must meet with them. During the meeting, Zapp reveals that he is planning to trick the Carcarons into war; Munda is horrified by this, and calls off the wedding. She also tells the Carcarons of Zapp's plan, causing them to declare war anyway. Moreover, the Nimbus has been disabled, and can only be operated by an auxiliary control panel. Morris appears, determined to win back Munda, and uses his surfing skills to help the ship ride the energy wave attacks of the Carcarons. Once peace is achieved, Zapp remarries Munda and Morris.

== Production ==

On 16 November 2011, [[Eric Rogers]] revealed that he was the author of the episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/#!/Kitchelfilms/statuses/136973795658440704|author=[[Eric Rogers]]|date=16 November 2011|title=Kitchelfilms|site=[[Twitter]]|accessdate=2011-11-17}}</ref>

In 2012, a few revelations concerning the episode were made.  On 29 February, [[CGEF]] revealed the episode's title to be "Zapp Dingba {{sic}}" and its director to be [[Frank Marino]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gotfuturama.com/Information/EpisodeGuide/7ACV/|title=Episode Guide: 7 ACV|date=2012-02-29|site=[[CGEF]]|accessdate=2012-02-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peelified.com/index.php?topic=22731.msg1299002#msg1299002|title="Futurama: Futurama News (pre-season 7)"|site=[[PEEL]]|author="Just Fan"|date=2012-02-29|accessdate=2012-02-29}}</ref>  On 15 March, Eric Rogers announced the "1st color screening of [his] 1st episode as a full time hack [there] on the show" - probably referring to this episode - and revealed that he "[could not] wait to see what [[Rough Draft Studios|Rough Draft]] [had] done"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/#!/ERogTweets2Much/status/180334870688563201|author=Eric Rogers|date=2012-03-15|title=ERogTweets2Much|site=Twitter|accessdate=2012-03-15}}</ref> and, later that day, that it had been "delightful", that he "could not be happier with how [it] turned" and that it was "gonna be a great episode".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/#!/ERogTweets2Much/status/180358134982901760|author=Eric Rogers|date=2012-03-15|title=ERogTweets2Much|site=Twitter|accessdate=2012-03-16}}</ref>  On 2 May, {{w|MSN TV}} revealed the episode's plot and air date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tv.msn.com/tv/series-episodes/futurama/?ipp=40|title=Futurama - Episode Guide|site={{w|MSN TV}}|accessdate=2012-05-02}}</ref>

In May, ''[[Countdown to Futurama]]'' began releasing promotional material for the episode.  It has so far released eight items:  A design of a new [[character]], the [[Carcaron]] admiral, which revealed the episode's actual title on 25 May,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/23739625130/countdown-to-futurama-carcaron-admiral-dont|title=Countdown to Futurama: Carcaron Admiral|author=Matt Tobey|date=2012-05-25|site=Comedy Centrl|accessdate=2012-05-25}}</ref> a [[promotional picture]] showing Leela - in lingerie - and Zapp Brannigan in Leela's apartment and a character design of Leela in lingerie on 26 May,<ref name="Countdown to Futurama 2">{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/23801052068/countdown-to-futurama-leela-in-lingerie-i-dont|title=Countdown to Futurama: Leela in Lingerie|author=Matt Tobey|date=2012-05-26|site=Comedy Centrl|accessdate=2012-05-26}}</ref> a character design of [[Bender]] in a {{w|Carmen Miranda}}-style dress with a headdress made of rotting fruit and a design of another new character, the [[mouth monster]], on 28 May,<ref name="Countdown to Futurama 3">{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/23933250335/countdown-to-futurama-carmen-miranda-bender-and|title=Countdown to Futurama: Carmen Miranda Bender and Mouth Monster|author=Matt Tobey|date=2012-05-28|site=Comedy Centrl|accessdate=2012-05-28}}</ref> part of [[Storyboard:Zapp Dingbat|the storyboard]] showing Leela's father, [[Fry]] and Bender be chased by three [[leprechauns]],<ref name="Countdown to Futurama 4">{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/23995469479/countdown-to-futurama-leprechauns-storyboard|title=Countdown to Futurama: Leprechauns Storyboard|author=Matt Tobey|date=2012-05-29|site=Comedy Centrl|accessdate=2012-05-29}}</ref> a video clip featuring Zapp Brannigan and [[Kif]] negotiate a peace treaty with the Carcaron admiral and a similar creature<ref name="Countdown to Futurama 5">{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/24008151636/countdown-to-futurama-the-treaty-of-table-7|title=Countdown to Futurama: The Treaty of Table 7|author=Matt Tobey|date=2012-05-29|site=[http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/ Comedy Centrl [sic<nowiki>]</nowiki>]|accessdate=2012-05-29}}</ref> - which revealed the Carcaron admiral to be named "[[Admiral Chew]]" - and the fourth ''Futurama'' [[podcast]]<ref name="Countdown to Futurama 6">{{cite web|url=http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/futurama-countdown-to-futurama/id526059138|title=iTunes - Podcasts - Futurama: Countdown to Futurama by Comedy Central|author=[[Comedy Central]]|date=2012-05-29|site={{w|iTunes Store}}|accessdate=2012-05-30}}</ref> - which revealed "Carcaron" to be the name of Admiral Chew's species - on 29 May and the fifth ''Futurama'' [[podcast]]<ref name="Countdown to Futurama 8">{{cite web|url=http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/futurama-countdown-to-futurama/id526059138|title=iTunes - Podcasts - Futurama: Countdown to Futurama by Comedy Central|author=[[Comedy Central]]|date=2012-06-05|site={{w|iTunes Store}}|accessdate=2012-06-06}}</ref> - which stated that the episode was "the world's first TV episode ever named after {{w|Zapf Dingbats|a font}}" - on 6 June.

Comedy Central's website released two other promotional pictures, the first showing [[George Takei's head]] watching a stripper and the second showing Zapp holding out a ring.<ref name="Press">{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/press/series/futurama.jhtml?gallery=true|title=Comedy Central Press <nowiki>|</nowiki> Futurama|author=Michelle Rosenblatt|site=[[Comedy Central]]|accessdate=2012-07-12}}</ref> By 10 July, Comedy Central had aired an advertisment for the seventh season of ''Futurama'' which featured a new clip from the episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1M8JfNK5Ac|title=New Futurama Ad 2012|author=punkyacturbo|date=2012-07-10|site={{w|YouTube}}|format=Video|accessdate=2012-07-12}}</ref>

== Additional information ==

=== Trivia ===

*The title "'''Blue Munda'''", which was registered on the US {{w|Copyright Catalog}} on 8 September 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=19&ti=1,19&Search_Arg=futurama&Search_Code=TALL&CNT=25&REC=0&RD=0&RC=0&PID=C5ZaUi7C0eBdvjsbzV0f7HutovTJ&SEQ=20120229183413&SID=1|date=2011-09-08|title=WebVoyage Record View 1|site=US {{w|Copyright Catalog}}|accessdate=2012-02-29}}</ref> was possibly a working title for this episode.
*Fry and Bender rarely appear in the episode. In addition, {{Professor Farnsworth}} and {{Hermes}} both appear multiple times, but have no speaking roles. This is most likely due to the fact that this episode has no B-plot centered on another character, a rare occurrence.
*The name "[[Carcaron]]" stems from the genus name "''Carcharodon''" for the great white shark.<ref name="Countdown to Futurama 6"/>
*When Leela spies on Zapp and Munda onboard the '''Nimbus''', she goes incognito wearing the same disguise she wore in "[[War Is the H-Word]]" as Lee Lemon.
*Leela wears a pair of one-eared bunny slippers while waiting for her mother to return from a date with Zapp, a reference to [[Bongo]] from [[Matt Groening]]'s earlier work ''{{w|Life in Hell}}''.
* In the cantina, one of the billiard balls is number e.

=== Allusions ===

{{cultural mentions}}
*The episode's title is a reference to {{w|Zapf Dingbats}}, a common typeface which is composed almost entirely of symbols.
*The headdress worn by Bender is a reference to the headdress worn by the late Portuguese-born Brazilian performer {{w|Carmen Miranda}} in the [[1943]] film ''{{w|The Gang's All Here (1943 film)|The Gang's All Here}}''.
*[[Supernova Scotia]]'s name<ref name="Countdown to Futurama 5"/> is a reference to the Canadian province of {{w|Nova Scotia}}.
*The [[Mos Def Cantina]] is a parody of the famous {{w|Mos Eisley Cantina}} from ''[[Star Wars]]'': ''{{sw|A New Hope}}''.  Its name also refers to the rapper {{w|Mos Def}}.
**{{w|Lightsabers}} from ''Star Wars'' were used to play pool.
**The scene with the dancing hologram in the club is a parody of the infamous ''Star Wars'' Holiday Special.
*Zapp asking Kif to get out on the wing and pretend to be a gremlin is a reference to ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' episode ''{{w|Nightmare at 20,000 Feet}}''. [[William Shatner]], an inspirational source for Zapp's character, starred in the episode.
*Leela says "I don't wanna put a rat in your face-cage," to her father; this is a reference to the ''{{w|Room 101}}'' scene in ''{{w|Nineteen Eighty-Four}}.''
*Leela has a potted {{w|The Lorax|Truffula tree}} in her apartment. It makes sense, given Leela's strong environmentalism.

=== Continuity ===
{{cleanup|section=yes}}
*The fact that mutants are free to be on the surface has been reestablished, although it turns out few of the mutants want to live on the surface anyway.
*Turanga Munda's studies in exolinguistics (the study of [[alien languages]]) has been reestablished since the episode "[[Leela's Homeworld]]".
*The nameplate on [[Al Gore's head]] jar says "Lance Starman". When Gore [[The Futurama Holiday Spectacular|last appeared]], he said that he would return as [[Captain Lance Starman]].

*{{e|2ACV10}}
**The [[universal translator]] was last seen.
*{{e|3ACV10}}
**Zapp Brannigan explains to Kif, "The quickest way into a girl's bed, is through her parents, have sex with them and you're in." Which possibly could mean that Zapp was still making an effort to seduce Leela despite his feelings for Turanga Munda.
*{{f|2}}
**The last time Zapp was punched in the stomach.
*{{f|4}}
**[[Leprechauns]] were last seen.
*{{e|6ACV02}}
**The [[Zapp-Leela relationship|relationship between Zapp Brannigan and Leela]] was last used.
*{{e|6ACV06}}
**The word "[[Mexican]]" was last used.
*{{e|6ACV12}}
**[[Brown University]] is seen again (on film).
*{{e|6ACV23}}
**[[Peru]] was last mentioned.
* 3 musicians play [[Holophonor]] in the cantina, yet "[[Parasites Lost]]" said only a few people in {{the universe|the whole universe}} can play it.
** "[[The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings]]" also contradicted this.
**Compared to the entire population of the the universe, the number of people we have seen playing the [[Holophonor]] could be considered "only a few."

=== Quotes ===

{{q|
<poem>'''[[Zapp]]''': [speaking into something] Now, regarding this peace treaty, [[Admiral Chew]]&mdash;
'''[[Kif]]''': That's a napkin dispenser, sir.  ''This'' is the universal translator.
''[Kif places a universal translator from "[[A Clone of My Own]]" on the table and then one of its two microphones on each side.]''
'''Zapp''': Whatever.
''[Zapp drops the napkin dispenser - but Kif catches it.]''</poem>
<poem>'''[[Bender]]''': I'm bored. Let's drink!</poem>
<poem>'''[[Zapp]]''': Very well, Morris, Munda. I now pronounce you man and wife. May I kiss the bride?
''[Morris punches Zapp in the stomach.]''
'''Zapp''': Congratulations.
''[Zapp falls to the ground in pain and Morris and Munda go back to holding hands/tentacles while looking into each other's eye.]''</poem>
}}

=== Goofs ===
*Kif states the weapons are out, but during Morris' surfing stance, the Nimbus is seen firing.
** Well, Morris uses the auxiliary controls. Perhaps these can use the deactivated weapons, too?
*When Morris is using the board on the Nimbus, his helmet changes colors.

=== Appearances ===
{{chars}}

==== Characters ====

{{chars-begin|note=no}}
*'''Debut''':  [[Admiral Chew]]
*[[Al Gore's head]] as [[Captain Lance Starman]]
*The [[Alien Overlord & Taylor Clerk]]
*[[Amy]]
*[[Bender]]
*[[Borax Kid]]
*[[C-3PO look-alike]] {{cameo}}
*[[Colonel (mutant)]]
*[[Fry]]
*[[George Takei's head]]
*[[Gorgak]]
*[[Headless Clone of Agnew]]
*[[Kif]]
*[[Hermes]]
*[[Leela]]
*[[Leela's grandmother]]
*[[Morris]]
*'''Debut''':  The [[mouth mutant]]
*[[Munda]]
*[[Murg]]
*[[Nixon]]
*[[Pig]]
*The [[Promiscuous Ladybot]]
*[[Randy]]
*[[Robot 1-X]] {{cameo|link=no|3:07}}
*[[Raoul]]
*[[Scruffy]]
*'''Debut''':  [[Scruffy's goldfish]]
*[[Zapp Brannigan]]
*[[Zoidberg]]
{{chars-end}}

==== Places ====

{{list expansion}}
{{chars-begin|note=no}}
*[[Apartment 1I]]
*'''Debut''':  Lower Manhattan Mutanticipal Court
*[[Planet Express headquarters]]
*[[Turanga house]]
{{chars-end}}

==== Miscellaneous ====

{{chars-begin|note=no}}
*[[DOOP]]
{{chars-end}}

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{navigation bottom
|prev ep=The Thief of Baghead
|next ep=The Butterjunk Effect
}}

[[Category:A plots focusing on Leela]]
[[Category:A plots focusing on Zapp]]