Anthology of Interest I
Encyclopedia
"Anthology of Interest I" is episode sixteen in season two of Futurama
. It originally aired in North America
on May 21, 2000. This episode, as well as the later "Anthology of Interest II
", serves to showcase three "imaginary" stories, in a manner similar to the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes of Matt Groening
's other animated series The Simpsons
.
shows the crew his new invention, the Fing-Longer, a glove with a long rod meant to be used as an extension of the pointer-finger. He demonstrates it by activating the What-If machine, a device that allows the user to view a simulation of a hypothetical scenario after the user asks it a 'what-if' question. The Professor invites the crew to ask a question.
The simulation begins with the giant Bender being built by hundreds of regular-sized bending units on some distant planet. He reaches Earth
, where he meets Fry
, having recently arrived in the 31st century all alone. Bender takes a liking to him and they become friends. Bender destroys nearly all of Central Park (including what seems to be a montage- supporting performance by Hanson
), and the military is sent to deal with him.
The military is unable to damage Bender with their electric weapons, but when Fry runs to his defense, he is electrocuted. Bender wreaks havoc upon New New York. To combat Bender, the Professor (whose crew oddly includes Leela, even though she would not have joined Planet Express if not for chasing Fry and Bender) uses his enlarging-ray on Zoidberg, only to see him wreak havoc as well, interrupted by Bender who is not pleased with Zoidberg destroying "his" city. The two fight and Bender finally appears to win by pushing Zoidberg into Shea Stadium
filled with boiling water.
While Bender laughs in triumph (and starting to make Shrinky-Dinks with Fry), an enraged and boiled Zoidberg rises out of the water and snaps off Bender's feet, causing him to fall over and impale himself on the Empire State Building
. A tearful Fry admonishes the citizens of New New York City about the tragedy of Bender, whose final words lament his inability to fulfill his dream to kill all humans, then he asks 'Who's the real 7 billion ton robot monster here?'. Bender dies, and the scenario ends as onlookers silently watch on. The fight between Bender and Zoidberg could be considered a reference to the Beastie Boys "Intergalactic
" music video, which featured a very similar fight scene between a giant robot and a giant Zoidberg-like sea creature in a city.
The What-if Machine creates a scenario in which Leela shows off a new pair of boots, bought on a wild impulse - according to her. However, the only difference is a green stripe down the side, which is of no interest to anyone. The Professor tells Leela that her lack of impulsiveness has given him reason to place her as his sole heir. Leela then kills Farnsworth on an impulse.
When Hermes comes into the anteater room, he finds a bootprint on the Professor's coat and shows Leela the Professor's video will. As the video will shows Leela throwing the Professor into the anteater pit, Leela kills Hermes. While Leela tries to shove the dead Hermes into the sink disposal, Bender comes in and starts to get suspicious over the deaths of the Professor and Hermes. Fearing he might find her out, Leela kills Bender by exposing him to an open microwave oven and turns his body into a toy car. Leela begins to feel regretful of her actions and decides that she will chew gum the next time she gets a murderous impulse, but this is short-lived when she kills Amy for making a comment about her attractiveness (and not having any gum at the time).
Eventually, the survivors become aware that someone in the crew is murdering them. Despite Dr. Zoidberg's attempts to track down the killer, the crew is slowly killed off one by one by Leela until only Fry remains. One morning Fry notices Leela eating lobster and accepts her offer to have some with her. When Fry then realizes that she was responsible for the murders Leela is forced to do something really impulsive: sleep with Fry to keep him quiet. While in bed, Leela asks Fry if he likes the "impulsive, new me", to which Fry responds "I like it". Then she turns off the lights and Fry is heard to scream...and then says "I really like it".
Fry narrowly misses falling into the cryogenic tube, and a rift in the space-time continuum appears, which shows the Planet Express crew in the future (oddly, the crew includes Bender and Leela, even though they would have never joined Planet Express if not for the events following the thawing of Fry). The next day, after talking to Mr. Panucci, who just disbelieves him, he comes to the attention of Stephen Hawking
who arranges for Fry to be abducted
on his way home from work. Fry is introduced to the "Vice Presidential Action Rangers", led by Al Gore
, whose Constitutional duty (in addition to casting the tie-breaking vote in the Senate) is to protect the space-time continuum. His group is filled out by Hawking, Nichelle Nichols
, Gary Gygax
, and Deep Blue.
Fry explains what happened the previous night and they determine that Fry was supposed to die and try to kill him. Another rift with Bender, Leela, and the Professor appears during the attempted murder and Nichelle Nichols suggests that Fry be frozen and Gary Gygax gives Fry his "+1 mace" for protection "against drunken robots" in the future. Just before Fry is frozen, he smashes the cryogenic tube, causing the universe to collapse into a space-time rift. This results in Fry and the Vice Presidential Action Rangers appearing in some other indeterminate dimension that is not part of the universe. The scenario ends with them playing Dungeons and Dragons for the next quadrillion years.
and Al Gore
, both of whom would make later appearances in "Where No Fan Has Gone Before
" and "Crimes of the Hot
" respectively. Al Gore received some criticism for his appearance because parts of the show "conflicted starkly with the anti-violence, anti-smoking and family-values themes of Gore's campaign". Gore's spokesperson responded by stating that most viewers would recognize that the show was meant to be entertaining and that it would be taken in the right spirit.
This episode is one of four featured in the Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection as one of Matt Groening's four favorite episodes of the series. In 2006 IGN.com ranked this episode as number thirteen in their list of the top 25 episodes of Futurama reviewer noting that although the plots of the three individual segments weren't the best work of Futurama they were each considered to have "killer" comedy.
Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
. It originally aired in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
on May 21, 2000. This episode, as well as the later "Anthology of Interest II
Anthology of Interest II
"Anthology of Interest II" is episode eighteen of Futuramas third season. It originally aired in North America on January 6, 2002. This episode, as well as the earlier "Anthology of Interest I", serves to showcase three "imaginary" stories.-Plot:...
", serves to showcase three "imaginary" stories, in a manner similar to the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes of Matt Groening
Matt Groening
Matthew Abram "Matt" Groening is an American cartoonist, screenwriter, and producer. He is the creator of the comic strip Life in Hell as well as two successful television series, The Simpsons and Futurama....
's other animated series The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
.
Plot
Professor FarnsworthProfessor Hubert Farnsworth
Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, or simply The Professor, is a fictional character in the American animated television series Futurama. He is voiced by Billy West using a combination of impressions of Burgess Meredith and Frank Morgan. Farnsworth is the proprietor of the Planet Express delivery...
shows the crew his new invention, the Fing-Longer, a glove with a long rod meant to be used as an extension of the pointer-finger. He demonstrates it by activating the What-If machine, a device that allows the user to view a simulation of a hypothetical scenario after the user asks it a 'what-if' question. The Professor invites the crew to ask a question.
Terror at 500 Feet
Bender offers to take the first turn and asks what would happen if he were 500 feet tall.The simulation begins with the giant Bender being built by hundreds of regular-sized bending units on some distant planet. He reaches Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, where he meets Fry
Philip J. Fry
Philip J. Fry, known simply as Fry, is a fictional character, the main protagonist of the animated science fiction sitcom Futurama. He is voiced by Billy West using a version of his own voice as he sounded when he was 25.-Character overview:...
, having recently arrived in the 31st century all alone. Bender takes a liking to him and they become friends. Bender destroys nearly all of Central Park (including what seems to be a montage- supporting performance by Hanson
Hanson (band)
Hanson are an American pop rock band formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by brothers Isaac , Taylor , and Zac Hanson . They are best known for the 1997 hit song "MMMBop" from their major label debut album Middle of Nowhere, which earned three Grammy nominations...
), and the military is sent to deal with him.
The military is unable to damage Bender with their electric weapons, but when Fry runs to his defense, he is electrocuted. Bender wreaks havoc upon New New York. To combat Bender, the Professor (whose crew oddly includes Leela, even though she would not have joined Planet Express if not for chasing Fry and Bender) uses his enlarging-ray on Zoidberg, only to see him wreak havoc as well, interrupted by Bender who is not pleased with Zoidberg destroying "his" city. The two fight and Bender finally appears to win by pushing Zoidberg into Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
filled with boiling water.
While Bender laughs in triumph (and starting to make Shrinky-Dinks with Fry), an enraged and boiled Zoidberg rises out of the water and snaps off Bender's feet, causing him to fall over and impale himself on the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
. A tearful Fry admonishes the citizens of New New York City about the tragedy of Bender, whose final words lament his inability to fulfill his dream to kill all humans, then he asks 'Who's the real 7 billion ton robot monster here?'. Bender dies, and the scenario ends as onlookers silently watch on. The fight between Bender and Zoidberg could be considered a reference to the Beastie Boys "Intergalactic
Intergalactic (song)
"Intergalactic" is a Grammy-winning song by American hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, released as the first single from their fifth studio album Hello Nasty on May 12, 1998....
" music video, which featured a very similar fight scene between a giant robot and a giant Zoidberg-like sea creature in a city.
Dial L for Leela
The Professor asks Leela to ask a question. Leela refuses at first, but is then teased about being unimpulsive. She angrily asks what would happen if she were a little more impulsive.The What-if Machine creates a scenario in which Leela shows off a new pair of boots, bought on a wild impulse - according to her. However, the only difference is a green stripe down the side, which is of no interest to anyone. The Professor tells Leela that her lack of impulsiveness has given him reason to place her as his sole heir. Leela then kills Farnsworth on an impulse.
When Hermes comes into the anteater room, he finds a bootprint on the Professor's coat and shows Leela the Professor's video will. As the video will shows Leela throwing the Professor into the anteater pit, Leela kills Hermes. While Leela tries to shove the dead Hermes into the sink disposal, Bender comes in and starts to get suspicious over the deaths of the Professor and Hermes. Fearing he might find her out, Leela kills Bender by exposing him to an open microwave oven and turns his body into a toy car. Leela begins to feel regretful of her actions and decides that she will chew gum the next time she gets a murderous impulse, but this is short-lived when she kills Amy for making a comment about her attractiveness (and not having any gum at the time).
Eventually, the survivors become aware that someone in the crew is murdering them. Despite Dr. Zoidberg's attempts to track down the killer, the crew is slowly killed off one by one by Leela until only Fry remains. One morning Fry notices Leela eating lobster and accepts her offer to have some with her. When Fry then realizes that she was responsible for the murders Leela is forced to do something really impulsive: sleep with Fry to keep him quiet. While in bed, Leela asks Fry if he likes the "impulsive, new me", to which Fry responds "I like it". Then she turns off the lights and Fry is heard to scream...and then says "I really like it".
The Un-Freeze of a Lifetime
After being told that Bender's scenario would not be done again, Fry asks what would happen if he had not been frozen (in what is, according to the Professor, "...a profoundly stupid way," as Fry phrases his question, "What would happen if I never fell into the 'Freezer-Doodle' and came to the 'Future-Jiggy'?")Fry narrowly misses falling into the cryogenic tube, and a rift in the space-time continuum appears, which shows the Planet Express crew in the future (oddly, the crew includes Bender and Leela, even though they would have never joined Planet Express if not for the events following the thawing of Fry). The next day, after talking to Mr. Panucci, who just disbelieves him, he comes to the attention of Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking
Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA is an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, whose scientific books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity...
who arranges for Fry to be abducted
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
on his way home from work. Fry is introduced to the "Vice Presidential Action Rangers", led by Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, whose Constitutional duty (in addition to casting the tie-breaking vote in the Senate) is to protect the space-time continuum. His group is filled out by Hawking, Nichelle Nichols
Nichelle Nichols
Nichelle Nichols is an American actress, singer and voice artist. She sang with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton before turning to acting...
, Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
, and Deep Blue.
Fry explains what happened the previous night and they determine that Fry was supposed to die and try to kill him. Another rift with Bender, Leela, and the Professor appears during the attempted murder and Nichelle Nichols suggests that Fry be frozen and Gary Gygax gives Fry his "+1 mace" for protection "against drunken robots" in the future. Just before Fry is frozen, he smashes the cryogenic tube, causing the universe to collapse into a space-time rift. This results in Fry and the Vice Presidential Action Rangers appearing in some other indeterminate dimension that is not part of the universe. The scenario ends with them playing Dungeons and Dragons for the next quadrillion years.
Conclusion
After the end of Fry's scenario, the Professor curses the What-If machine for simulating scenarios even he found preposterous and dumps it into the trash. He judges the Fing-Longer to be a success and is congratulated by the crew. It is then shown that everything before was just a simulation by the What-If machine when the professor asked what would have happened if he had invented the Fing-Longer, leaving him to lament about the possibilities if he had invented it.Production
- Gary Gygax's appearance alongside Al Gore is something of an inside joke since Gore's wife, TipperTipper GoreMary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore , née Aitcheson, is an author, photographer, former second lady of the United States, and the estranged wife of Al Gore...
, hates Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
and has been publicly critical of it. - When rebroadcast during the 2000 Presidential Election2000 presidential electionThe 2000 presidential election may refer to:* Croatian presidential elections, 2000* Federal Republic of Yugoslavia presidential election, 2000* Fijian presidential election, 2000* Ghanaian presidential election, 2000* Polish presidential election, 2000...
, the tagline at the start of the episode said, "Starring a guy who is kind-of, sort-of our next president, maybe!" - This episode is based on the AsimovIsaac AsimovIsaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
short story "What If—What If—"What If—" is a fantasy short story by Isaac Asimov that was first published in the Summer 1952 issue of Fantastic and reprinted in the 1969 collection Nightfall and Other Stories...
". - During the sequence in "The Un-Freeze of a Lifetime" in which Fry almost falls into the cryogenics machine, the shadow of Nibbler is absent (in the original footage from the first episode, there is a shadow of Nibbler present, in accordance to a plotline which explains how and why Fry comes to the future in "The Why of FryThe Why of Fry"The Why of Fry" is the tenth episode in the fourth season of the animated television series Futurama. It originally aired in North America on April 6, 2003. The episode was written by David X. Cohen and directed by Wes Archer...
"). This is consistent since Nibbler would have never been discovered by the gang had Fry not made Leela quit her job and join Planet Express. - The episode also parodies the film "The Iron Giant".
Broadcast and reception
This episode guest starred Nichelle NicholsNichelle Nichols
Nichelle Nichols is an American actress, singer and voice artist. She sang with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton before turning to acting...
and Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, both of whom would make later appearances in "Where No Fan Has Gone Before
Where No Fan Has Gone Before
"Where No Fan Has Gone Before" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of the animated series Futurama. It originally aired in the United States on April 21, 2002...
" and "Crimes of the Hot
Crimes of the Hot
"Crimes of the Hot" is the eighth episode of the fourth production season of the television show Futurama. It originally aired in North America on November 10, 2002 as the season premiere of Futuramas fifth broadcast season. The episode was written by Aaron Ehasz and directed by Peter Avanzino...
" respectively. Al Gore received some criticism for his appearance because parts of the show "conflicted starkly with the anti-violence, anti-smoking and family-values themes of Gore's campaign". Gore's spokesperson responded by stating that most viewers would recognize that the show was meant to be entertaining and that it would be taken in the right spirit.
This episode is one of four featured in the Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection as one of Matt Groening's four favorite episodes of the series. In 2006 IGN.com ranked this episode as number thirteen in their list of the top 25 episodes of Futurama reviewer noting that although the plots of the three individual segments weren't the best work of Futurama they were each considered to have "killer" comedy.
External links
- Anthology of Interest I at The Infosphere.