That's Lobstertainment!
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| Futurama episode | |
| "That's Lobstertainment!" | |
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| Episode no. | 40 |
| Prod. code | 3ACV08 |
| Airdate | February 25, 2001 |
| Where |  United States |
| Writer(s) | Patrick M. Verrone |
| Director | Bret Haaland |
| Opening subtitle | Deciphered From Crop Circles |
| Opening cartoon | Unknown |
| Guest star(s) | Hank Azaria as Harold Zoid |
| Season 3 January 2001 – December 2002 |
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| List of all Futurama episodes... | |
"That's Lobstertainment!" is the 8th episode in season 3 of Futurama. It originally aired February 25, 2001.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
After a disastrous attempt at stand-up comedy, Dr. Zoidberg informs the crew that his uncle Harold Zoid was a star in the silent hologram era. Zoidberg writes to his uncle, asking for help with his comedy act. The washed up Harold Zoid sees this as an opportunity to restart his career. The crew sets off for Hollywood.
While taking a bus tour of movie stars' homes, Bender leaves the tour, and scams his way into employment as Calculon's water heater. Shortly after, Zoidberg meets his uncle in a fancy restaurant. Harold Zoid tells him to give up comedy, and that he needs Zoidberg to finance a drama to the tune of a million dollars. Always a source of bright ideas, Bender tells Calculon that he can star in the movie if he provides the production money. Calculon initially refuses, but after learning Harold Zoid wrote the script, and getting a guarantee from Bender that he will win an Oscar, he accepts.
The film, The Magnificent Three, is a story about a son (the Vice-President of Earth) not wanting to follow in his father's (the President of Earth) footsteps. Unfortunately, the movie is terrible and at the premiere, the entire audience walks out. A furious Calculon threatens to kill Bender, Zoidberg, and Harold Zoid if they can't find some way to get him an Oscar.
Zoidberg and Bender set off to rig the awards; meanwhile, Leela and Fry are busy attempting to free their ship from the La Brea Tar Pits. When the awards reach the Best Actor award, Dr. Zoidberg tosses presenter Billy Crystal off the stage, and takes his place. In place of the fifth nominee, he substitutes Calculon. But when he sees his uncle's depression at being a has-been, Zoidberg announces him as the winner. Calculon, somewhat chastened by Harold Zoid's acceptance speech, decides not to kill him or the others.
[edit] Cultural references
- The title references the 1974 documentary film That's Entertainment!.
- Harold Zoid bears a striking resemblance to silent film star Harold Lloyd, right down to the straw hat and glasses, but his films are much more similar to the styles of Buster Keaton and other silent film stars.
- In the future, Mel Gibson's head has starred in the film Bravehead, a parody of the film Braveheart.
- Leela uses a tool similar to The Club to lock up the Planet Express ship.
- The film made by Harold Zoid is titled The Magnificent Three, a parody of The Magnificent Seven.
- The film Star Trek: The Pepsi Generation is nominated for an Oscar; this is a reference to the Star Trek fan film, Star Trek: The Pepsi Generation. The nomination of this film clashes with the plot of "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" which states that in the 31st century Star Trek has been banned.
- The tour bus seen in the episode is called "Star Tours" and has a disclaimer reading "NOTE: BUS DOES NOT LEAVE EARTH." This is a reference to the Disney attraction, Star Tours.
- The scene in which the 30th Century Fox beacon blinds a pilot, which then rolls upside down and crashes parodies the TaleSpin episode A Bad Reflection on You Part 2. The plane in the Futurama crash also appears to be the Sea Duck from TaleSpin.
[edit] Trivia
- In the DVD commentary, the producers mention that this is considered by fans to be the worst episode of the series, supposedly because it is Zoidberg-centric.
- The announcer at the stand up comedy show and a guest at the Oscars are the same water-based alien race as is featured in "My Three Suns".
- It is interesting to see here that Hollywood, LA is not the wasteland it was made out to be in the Season 2 Episode "The Cryonic Woman", but rather, another Futuristic City.
- At the end, Fry is able to join the party since the skeletal remains of a primitive human, which are stuck to his leg, are mistaken for those of Sylvester Stallone.
- The Daily Variety headline "Fox Exex Bax Sex Pix, Flix Lax Crux Bux, Stox Sinx, Ax Prex" is a reference to an old Variety headline from the 1930's which read "Pix Nix Sex Flix".
- In this episode Zoidberg's parents are revealed to be named Norm, Sam, and Sadie, providing clues as to the reproductive cycle of Decapodians.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: " The Day the Earth Stood Stupid " |
Futurama episodes | Followed by: " The Cyber House Rules " |
