The Tip of the Zoidberg
Encyclopedia
"The Tip of the Zoidberg", is the twenty-third episode of the sixth season
of the animated sitcom Futurama
. It aired on Comedy Central
in the United States on August 18, 2011.
to fire him. The professor refuses, and the crew question why Zoidberg was ever employed in the first place. A series of flashbacks reveal that Zoidberg first met and befriended Farnsworth in 2927, during a mission to kill a Tritonian
yeti
for Mom
. During the mission, Farnsworth became susceptible to hypermalaria
, a fatal, incurable disease which can either strike instantly or remain dormant for years. As a favor to Farnsworth for killing the yeti and saving his life, Zoidberg agrees to perform a mercy killing
when Farnsworth begins to experience symptoms of the disease before it can fully manifest. As a result, Zoidberg was employed by the professor for the purpose of carrying out the task.
In the present, the Professor begins to experience the symptoms of hypermalaria, and insists that Zoidberg must kill him by surprise. The crew catch Zoidberg attempting to murder the Professor, and restrain him with the professor's lab coat and imprison him. Zoidberg notices a single white hair on the professor's coat and deduces that he does not have hypermalaria. Rather, he has contracted yetiism after being scratched by the Tritonian yeti. The illness mimics the symptoms of hypermalaria, but results in its victim's transforming into a yeti.
Zoidberg escapes and goes to Mom, exchanging a coupon
for a free tanning
session for the yeti's head so that he may use its pineal gland
as an antidote
. Meanwhile, the Professor reveals the truth to the crew, who decide to kill him themselves, using an elaborate mechanical killing machine. Zoidberg returns to announce his discovery to the crew just as the Professor begins transforming into a yeti. Zoidberg forces him to swallow the yeti gland, successfully curing him. As the crew goes to a tanning salon to celebrate, Zoidberg laments giving away his coupon. A grateful Farnsworth offers to treat Zoidberg to a free session, and they both depart as friends.
Futurama (season 6)
Futurama sixth production season originally aired on Comedy Central from June 24, 2010 to September 8, 2011 and consisted of 26 episodes. The season marks the change of networks from Fox to Comedy Central.David X...
of the animated sitcom Futurama
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 aired on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
in the United States on August 18, 2011.
Plot
Frustrated with Zoidberg's incompetence as a doctor, the Planet Express crew demand Professor FarnsworthHubert J. 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...
to fire him. The professor refuses, and the crew question why Zoidberg was ever employed in the first place. A series of flashbacks reveal that Zoidberg first met and befriended Farnsworth in 2927, during a mission to kill a Tritonian
Triton (moon)
Triton is the largest moon of the planet Neptune, discovered on October 10, 1846, by English astronomer William Lassell. It is the only large moon in the Solar System with a retrograde orbit, which is an orbit in the opposite direction to its planet's rotation. At 2,700 km in diameter, it is...
yeti
Yeti
The Yeti or Abominable Snowman is an ape-like cryptid said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal, and Tibet. The names Yeti and Meh-Teh are commonly used by the people indigenous to the region, and are part of their history and mythology...
for Mom
Mom (Futurama)
Mom, real first name Carol, is a character from the animated television series Futurama. Voiced by Tress MacNeille. Mom is one of the show's two main antagonists, the other being Zapp Brannigan...
. During the mission, Farnsworth became susceptible to hypermalaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, a fatal, incurable disease which can either strike instantly or remain dormant for years. As a favor to Farnsworth for killing the yeti and saving his life, Zoidberg agrees to perform a mercy killing
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
when Farnsworth begins to experience symptoms of the disease before it can fully manifest. As a result, Zoidberg was employed by the professor for the purpose of carrying out the task.
In the present, the Professor begins to experience the symptoms of hypermalaria, and insists that Zoidberg must kill him by surprise. The crew catch Zoidberg attempting to murder the Professor, and restrain him with the professor's lab coat and imprison him. Zoidberg notices a single white hair on the professor's coat and deduces that he does not have hypermalaria. Rather, he has contracted yetiism after being scratched by the Tritonian yeti. The illness mimics the symptoms of hypermalaria, but results in its victim's transforming into a yeti.
Zoidberg escapes and goes to Mom, exchanging a coupon
Coupon
In marketing, a coupon is a ticket or document that can be exchanged for a financial discount or rebate when purchasing a product. Customarily, coupons are issued by manufacturers of consumer packaged goods or by retailers, to be used in retail stores as a part of sales promotions...
for a free tanning
Sun tanning
Sun tanning or simply tanning is the process whereby skin color is darkened or tanned. The process is most often a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or from artificial sources, such as a tanning bed, but can also be a result of windburn or reflected light...
session for the yeti's head so that he may use its pineal gland
Pineal gland
The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. It produces the serotonin derivative melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and seasonal functions...
as an antidote
Antidote
An antidote is a substance which can counteract a form of poisoning. The term ultimately derives from the Greek αντιδιδοναι antididonai, "given against"....
. Meanwhile, the Professor reveals the truth to the crew, who decide to kill him themselves, using an elaborate mechanical killing machine. Zoidberg returns to announce his discovery to the crew just as the Professor begins transforming into a yeti. Zoidberg forces him to swallow the yeti gland, successfully curing him. As the crew goes to a tanning salon to celebrate, Zoidberg laments giving away his coupon. A grateful Farnsworth offers to treat Zoidberg to a free session, and they both depart as friends.