List of references to Futurama in popular culture
This article lists references to the show Futurama in popular culture, that means references outside of the show to the show itself.
Comics and Magazines
52
In an issue of the comic series 52 (#21, released September 2006), the Australian mechanic Johnny Warrawa wears a welding mask shaped like Bender's face whilst repairing the droid head of Red Tornado.
Action Comics
In Action Comics (#863, released May 2008), a Legion of Super-Heroes comic, there is a plot involving aliens being sent to a prison camp. Among them is what appears to be Zoidberg and possibly Kif Kroker.
Cracked
Cracked was a humour magazine which based most of its material on popular culture. The gallery shows all appearances of Futurama in Cracked.
Futurama parodied on the cover of #340 (December 1999),...
...whilst inside, there is a comic parody called "Futuredrama". The full 5 pages can be read here.
Forbes
Mom was included in the 2007 Forbes list of the richest fictional characters. She was ranked at #4 with an estimated net worth of $15.7 billion. MomCorp was also included in the list of "The 25 Largest Fictional Companies" which estimated its sales at $291.8 billion.
Heroes
A supplement of the TV series, the Heroes graphic novel "The Trip, Part 1" (#160, released January 4, 2010) features the Planet Express ship in a full page panel.
Life in Hell
In Matt Groening's comic, Life in Hell, a Bender-like doll appears in a 1999 Christmas strip.
Mad
The Mad magazine parodies many popular culture things, including Futurama. The gallery shows all appearances of Futurama in Mad.
In this translation of a German edition, there is a parody named "Botterama". The full 4 page comic and information on the more obscure jokes can be read here.
In another German magazine (#31, April 2001), Futurama is parodied on the front cover...
...and in a comic on a interior page. "Schraub" is German for "screw".
On the cover of this 2008 summer issue, dealing with superheroes, instead of coming out in his usual armour, Tony Stark comes out as Bender instead.
Mother Jones
Four panels of Futurama are featured on the back of the May/June 2001 issue of Mother Jones.
Off The Mark
The September 17, 2009, issue of the single panel comic Off The Mark, created by Mark Parisi, features Leela, with Fry and Bender in the background at the bar. Leela is trying to be chatted up by cyclops Mike Wazowski from the film Monsters, Inc., whilst his friend Sulley is at the bar.
Outer Orbit
The Planet Express Ship appears in an issue of the Dark Horse Comics miniseries Outer Orbit.
Transmetropolitan
In Warren Ellis' Transmetropolitan (#25), there is a billboard which depicts Leela and Bender.
Top Ten
In Alan Moore's Top Ten (#11), a discoloured Fry, Leela, and Bender can be seen in the background of the first frame of page 11. Nibbler is also featured two panels later wearing a shirt saying "Slam", a reference to the DC Comics' Message Board poster who suggested Nibbler as an Easter egg.
Young Avengers
In Young Avengers Special #1 (released February, 2006), the logo for Slurm can be seen on a vending machine being thrown by the Hulkling.
Zits
In a Zits comic (published in the 2001 collection, Big Honkin' Zits), Jeremy is excited about a new Futurama episode.
Films
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
In the film The Adventures of Pluto Nash, released August 16, 2002, a piece of music similar to the Futurama theme song can be heard in some scenes on the moon.
Attack of the Drones
Attack of the Drones was the forth short of Duck Dodgers and was released in 2003, though not theatrically, because of the failure of Looney Tunes: Back in Action. Dr. Zoidberg makes a cameo appearance in the council, even as much as having a line: "Uh, what do we do?". Billy West voiced him, due to his obligations as Porky Pig. The buildings and animation (2D with 3D sequences) are similar to Futurama's and this may be due to Dwayne Carey-Hill, Eric Kaplan and Rich Moore's involvement. It can be viewed here.
Comic Book: The Movie
The mockumentary, Comic Book: The Movie (released January 27, 2004), features a Futurama cut-out in it. Some Futurama voice actors also appear in the movie including Mark Hamill, Billy West, Matt Groening and Maurice LaMarche.
An Inconvenient Truth
- In An Inconvenient Truth, released May 24, 2006, Al Gore uses a scene from the episode "Crimes of the Hot" during his initial explanation of global warming.
- The Futurama cast and crew also made an animated faux-trailer for the film titled A Terrifying Message from Al Gore featuring Gore and Bender.
- Al Gore is a recurring guest star on Futurama, appearing in "Anthology of Interest I", "Crimes of the Hot", Bender's Big Score and an unknown Season 6 episode. He has said that Futurama is his favourite show, prior to his appearance on it, during the time of Season 1.
- His daughter, Kristin Gore, also worked for the show as a screen writer for all of Season 3 and 4's episodes, bar three.
Logorama
In the 2009 short film Logorama, over 2,500 logos are used to tell the story. Among these is the logo for Slurm, which appears among others at KFC. Also the name is similar to Futurama. It can be viewed here.
Unfaithful
Futurama appears in the movie Unfaithful. It is unknown where it appears in the movie, but Fox is credited for its use in the film.
Internet
Homestar Runner
During the Halloween toon, "Most in the Graveyard" (released October 30, 2008), of the Flash animation series Homestar Runner, The Poopsmith is dressed up as Zoidberg. The King of Town also says Professor Farnsworth's catch phrase, "Good news, everyone!", when you click The Poopsmith at the end of the toon. It can be viewed here.
Mozilla Firefox
In Mozilla's Firefox browser (version 3 or later), if you type "about:robots" in the address bar, a page will appear paying tribute to robots in popular culture. The last point is "Robots have shiny metal posteriors which should not be bitten." This a reference to Bender's catchphrase, "Bite my shiny metal ass!"
RiffTrax
In the RiffTrax commentary for The Star Wars Holiday Special (released December 10, 2007), Ackmena asks two aliens to finish their Slurm. It can be viewed here.
Robot Hall of Fame
Bender is nominated for the Robot Hall of Fame. He is currently in number two position, with 29% of the votes, to get a place.
Runescape
Runescape mentions Futurama on several occasions:
- The Sea slugs' ability to take over a human's mind is similar to the Brain Slugs of Futurama.
- During the final dialogue of the quest Troll Romance (released 5 January, 2005), Arrg says "This concept of 'love' confuses and infuriates Arrg." This is a reference to a quote said by Lrrr in the episode "Love and Rocket".
- In the 100th quest, Recipe for Disaster (released 15 March, 2006), when the player is informed by Gypsy Aris that the universe could be destroyed, the player exclaims, "Not the whole universe! That's where I keep my stuff!", a quote originally appearing in Futurama.
Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series
- In episode 7 of the internet series Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series, released 7 August 2006, Tristan Taylor (in robot monkey form) and Joey Wheeler are dubbed over as Bender and Fry in the episode "Space Pilot 3000". It can be viewed here.
- In episode 17 (released 17 March, 2007), Ryo Bakura appears as a parody of the Hypnotoad, with the same noise and eyes as it. It can be viewed here.
Music
Atomic Raygun Attack
The band Atomic Raygun Attack made an free download EP in 2007 which bases it's six songs off the Futurama episode "The Sting".
The Devin Townsend Project
The song "Bend It Like Bender!", from The Devin Townsend Project album Addicted (released November 17, 2009), is a reference to Bender. It can be viewed here.
MC Lars
MC Lars referenced the show in the song "Space Game", from his album The Graduate (released March 21, 2006), with the lyric "Hey Fry, look, we can still be friends. I won't ask Leela out again". It can be heard here.
Television
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
In an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force called "Bible Fruit" (released March 23, 2008), Frylock, Meatwad and Master Shake have a discussion about watching Futurama. It is a joke about Futurama being removed from Adult Swim, as Comedy Central had bought the rights to the show.
Meatwad: Why don't you ask that TV if he minds showin' me some Futurama. I like me some Futurama.
Shake: Well now we're too damn cheap to receive it, so go the hell over to Carl Central and watch it to your heart's content.
Meatwad: Carl gets Futurama?
Shake: He didn't even want it until we started watching it.
The Colbert Report
During the intro for the 22 June, 2009 episode of The Colbert Report, Colbert's interview with author Simon Schama was headlined "Future-Schama" — a pun on the name for Futurama.
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann is a news show hosted by Keith Olbermann who regularly uses catchphrases from The Simpsons and Family Guy, but has recently taken to common use of Professor Farnsworth's catch phrase, "Good news, everyone!"
Doctor Who
The relaunched Doctor Who contains a few possible references (or just similarities) to Futurama.
- In the series 1 episode, "The Long Game" (released May 7, 2005), a character pretends to be a student at Mars University, to which a medical technician replies, "The Martian boondocks. Typical!"
- The series 2 episode, "New Earth" (released 15 April, 2006), which is set in the year five billion and twenty-three in the city of New New York. However, if the city had been more accurately named, it would in fact be "New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York" as it was the fifteenth New York.
- New New York also appears in the series 3 episode, "Gridlock" (released 14 April, 2007), which is set 30 years after "New Earth". It features a character called "Branagan", and has a similar skyline to Futurama.
- The series 4 Christmas Special, "Voyage of the Damned" (released 25 December, 2007), has an interstellar cruiser modelled after the original RMS Titanic. This is very similar to the space cruise ship, Titanic, in the Futurama episode, "A Flight to Remember".
The Einstein Factor
Contestants in the Australian ABC1 quiz show The Einstein Factor choose a specialty on which to be quizzed during the first round. During episode ten of the 2005 season, a contestant chose Futurama as his specialty. He was the second placing of three contestants in the episode.
Family Guy
- In the episode "Deep Throats" of Family Guy, released April 9, 2006, Peter Griffin sings a song without his inspiration (marijuana). His lyrics are possibly describing the Tube Transport System in New New York.
- During the premiere skit in Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, released September 27, 2005, a reporter on the red carpet asks Stewie Griffin if Fox has any plans to bring back Futurama. Family Guy and Futurama were both animated series on Fox which were cancelled and subsequently aired on Adult Swim; at the time of release Family Guy was scheduled to return but Futurama was not.
- Bender was seen during the Chalmun's Cantina scene of the "Blue Harvest", released September 23, 2007.
- In the fifth "road" episode, "Road to the Multiverse", released September 27, 2009, Stewie keeps the multiverse remote in a safe, with alienese characters on the buttons. Also the multiverses are similar to Futurama's Parallel universes.
Gilmore Girls
In the Gilmore Girls episode "Scene in a Mall" (released 24 February 2004), Brian has a set of action figures from the show, which he and Zach discuss at length.
Good News Week
In an episode of Good News Week, broadcast 31st August 2009, Paul McDermott, the host, went to a commercial break saying "Stay tuned meatbags!" Meatbag is a word frequently used by Bender.
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
In the episode "Dream Mutt" (released June 17, 2005) of The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Wiggy Jiggy Jed's line "So you can lick my Candy-striped..." may be a reference to Bender's line of Bite my shiny metal ass.
Journeyman
In the series Journeyman, in the episode "Emily" (released November 19, 2007), Dan Vasser travels back in time to the year 2001, and enters his own house and at that time, on a TV screen, a clip from "Parasites Lost" is seen and heard (Professor Farnsworth saying "Come on, let's all give Fry some privacy."). This means that he probably travelled to January 21.
Kenan & Kel
In season 4 of the sitcom Kenan & Kel, there is an episode named "Futurama" (released December 31, 1999) which is set in the year 3000.
Lost
- In the episode "The Man Behind the Curtain" (released May 9, 2007) of the series Lost, the plot element of the Dharma Initiative arrivals being assigned their new jobs and one being angry about it, is similar to the Career chip in the Futurama episode "Space Pilot 3000".
- In the episode "Because You Left", released January 21, 2009, Daniel describes the time skips like a needle skipping on a record player. This is a direct quote from the Futurama episode "Time Keeps on Slippin'".
The PJs
In the episode "Hangin' With Mr. Super" of the show The PJs, Fry makes a cameo appearance on a wanted ad on a milk carton, referring to Fry's disappearance after being frozen. This was an act of reciprocation for an advertisement of The PJs etched onto a manhole cover in the episodes "I Second that Emotion" and "The Luck of the Fryrish", like The PJ's opening scene.
Shaun the Sheep
In the Shaun the Sheep episode "The Visitor", the alien's space ship can use sheep feces as fuel, which resembles Nibbler's feces.
South Park
In the South Park episode "Go God Go", Cartman is stuck in the snow and is buried by an avalanche and is defrosted 500 years later. Although not an explicit reference to Futurama, there is brief reference to cryogenics, and the name of the city "New New Hampshire" is familiar to other names of cities used in Futurama, like "New New York" or "New New Jersey".
Stargate Universe
In the Stargate Universe episode "Earth", Eli Wallace gives his mother the name Philip Fry.
Talkin' 'bout your Generation
The Australian quiz show, Talkin' 'bout your Generation, asks many popular culture questions. On episode 9, in the round "Your Generation", a true or false question was asked: "Did Darren Shatner, the son of William Shatner, compose the theme song to Futurama?" Generation Y answered true and got the question wrong. Futurama's theme song was actually composed by Christopher Tyng.
Warehouse 13
On the 8 September, 2009 episode of the Syfy series Warehouse 13 (episode 10, "Breakdown"), Claudia says, "Oh, we're boned!" A common phrase in Futurama.
Video Games
Contra 4
Bender appears credited with his full name on the Special Thanks section in the Contra 4 credits.
Gears of War 2
On Gears of War 2, in the special thanks section for the makers, Mikey Spano says That Guy's quote of "My one regret is that I have Boneitis!". John DiMaggio voices the main character Marcus Fenix and Franklin in the game also.
Team Fortress 2
In Team Fortress 2, an unlockable headgear called Triboniophorus Tyrannus is modelled after the Brain slugs on Futurama.
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
In the game TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, the gingerbread man says Bender's quote of "Bite my crunchy brown ass!"
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
In the hospital, of the game Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, a patient named D. Marsh is diagnosed with frequent bouts of Sexlexia.
Various
The Simpsons
- Main article: The Simpsons
- In "Bart Gets Famous" (1F11), there is a head in a jar in a dream about the future from Bart Simpson. This episode aired approximately 5 years and a month before Futurama started.
- In "Future-Drama" (GABF12), Bender appears in the hovercar Homer Simpson and Bart are driving after crossing a "quantum tunnel". There are references to heads preserved in jars, Hovercars and cities similar to Futurama. Homer's under water house is resembles one that Fry considers buying in "I, Roommate". The title, "Future-Drama", is an obvious reference to the title of Futurama itself.
- In The Simpsons Game, Bender and Dr. Zoidberg are characters at the end of Level 15 - "5 Characters In Search Of an Author." Fry also appears in a painting from Matt Groening.
- In Simpsons Comics #99, there is a cameo appearance by Bender.
- In Simpsons Super Spectacular #6, the Planet Express crew appear at the end of this comic.
Star Wars
- Main article: Star Wars
- The droid HK-47 and other droids from the Star Wars Expanded Universe have been known to use Bender's phrase of "Meatbag".
- In the comic Skippy the Jedi Droid, Bender is seen making fun of Skippy.
- A droid with the name "Probulator" appears in the online game Star Wars Galaxies.
- Bender is also seen in the comic Junkheap Hero as a scrapped droid.
- The "Bender Droid" also appeared in the novel Death Star. It is unknown if they are related.
- Bender was seen in the Star Wars parody Family Guy: Blue Harvest in the Chalmun's Cantina scene.
- Bendu Fry's name was probably derived from Bender and Fry.
- There are a few characters in the Star Wars Galaxy with names shared in Futurama:
- Jedi Master Xamar's species, Khil, has been jokingly referred to as being the same species of Zoidberg, Decapodian.
- A clip from "War Is the H-Word" appears in the "The Birth of the Lightsaber" featurette on the 25 anniversary trilogy DVD
Transformers
Various Transformers releases include some references to Futurama:
- In the Transformers: Universe comic "Wreckers Finale: Part 1", Bender appears as a resident of CSSB-16 Spaceport.
- In the Transformers: Timelines story "Gone Too Far", Old Fortran is mentioned.
- In the Transformers: Timelines script reading "Bee in the City", Bumblebee says "My manwich!", a line used by Hermes and Dwight Conrad in Futurama.
- In the Transformers Animated episode "A Fistful of Energon", the Decepticon's Clone #2716057 and Clone #3370318 is a reference to Bender and Flexo's serial numbers.
- In "The AllSpark Almanac" for Transformers Animated, there is an advertisement for many films, including Bikini Party Summer from the episode "That's Lobstertainment!".
- The voice actors Frank Welker, Phil LaMarr, Bumper Robinson, Kath Soucie and John DiMaggio have done work for both Futurama and Transformers
| Popular Culture | |
|---|---|
| Family Guy • Godzilla • Harry Potter • James Bond • The Simpsons • Star Trek • Star Wars | |