The Problem with Popplers
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| Futurama episode | |
| "The Problem with Popplers" | |
 Fry Bender and Leela discover The Popplers. |
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| Episode no. | 28 |
| Prod. code | 2ACV15 |
| Airdate | May 7, 2000 |
| Writer(s) | Patric M. Verrone Darin Henry (story) |
| Director | Chris Sauve Gregg Vanzo |
| Opening subtitle | For External Use Only |
| Opening cartoon | Unknown |
| Guest star(s) | Phil Hendrie as Free Waterfall Jr. |
| Season 2 November 1999 – December 2000 |
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| List of all Futurama episodes... | |
"The Problem with Popplers" is episode 15 in season 2 of Futurama. It originally aired in North America on May 7, 2000.
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[edit] Plot
When the Planet Express crew lands on a previously undiscovered planet, they find that it is covered in a new and delicious animal life form which they call "popplers". The name was chosen by Fry from a list of the two remaining words on Earth that were not trademarked; the second was Zitsles. This was also after rejecting the unsuitable name "tasticles" as too similar to an existing product: "Those frozen Rocky Mountain Oysters on a stick, you know, testsicles?". These edible and highly addictive "popplers" soon become a new business venture for the crew as Earthlings just can't seem to get enough of these delicacies. Unfortunately, after popplers become an incredibly popular food item, it is learned that they are the larval stage of the Omicronian race. Leela, the first to discover this, when a Poppler awakens in her hands, leads the charge to stop the eating of Popplers. This mostly fails, partly due to Bender's subsersive actions. The warlike natives of Omicron Persei 8, led by Lrrr arrive to seek justice for humans devouring billions of their young. The Omicronians demand that they be allowed to eat the same number of Earthlings as "popplers" which were eaten. Since there are fewer humans on Earth than the number of popplers, and since Lrrr filled up on nuts during the negotiations, the Omicronians choose instead to eat the first Earthling to eat their young: Leela.
In order to fool the Omicronians, Zapp Brannigan brings an ape which he claims "looks exactly like Leela." The Omicronians are initially fooled because they have difficulty recognizing individual humans; however, the Earthlings' luck is spoiled when hippie Free Waterfall Junior claims it is not fair to eat an innocent being such as the ape (the ape is, however, eaten anyway). After realising the trick, Lrrr demands he be allowed to eat the real Leela. Just when he is about to eat her, a small Omicronian, Jrrr, arrives. This is the one that came to life in Leela's hands. Jrrr jumps into Leela's mouth and convinces everyone to not eat other sentient life. The Omicronians leave, but not before Lrrr devours Waterfall Junior and gets high from eating him.
The episode ends with the Planet Express Crew eating a smorgasbord buffet of unintelligent animals, including a suckling pig and a dolphin who wasted all his money on instant lottery tickets.
[edit] Broadcast and reception
This episode was ranked number eleven on IGN's top 25 episode list.[1] In Doug Pratt's DVD Pratt calls this episode "original and inspired".[2]
[edit] Characters
Characters who first appear in this episode are:
[edit] Continuity
- This is the first appearance of Phil Hendrie on Futurama as one of his Waterfall characters. He later appeared as Free Waterfall Sr. in "The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz" as well as both Old Man Waterfall and Frida Waterfall in "A Taste of Freedom".
- Fishy Joe says during the Datenight interview that "the only reason we don't eat people is because it tastes lousy," but a recurring joke throught the series is the consumption of 'Soylent Green,' a reference to the movie, which is indeed made out of people.
[edit] Cultural references
- The title comes from the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles".[2]
- The "popplers" theme is to the tune of the traditional "Sailor's Hornpipe", also used as the theme to the Popeye cartoons.
- The "popplers" are discovered on a class M planet, a reference to Star Trek. Leela also expects to find "Roddenberries" there, a reference to the creator of Star Trek Gene Roddenberry.
- The television news program Leela appears on, DateNight, is a parody of the show Dateline and Nightline.
- When Leela pokes Jrrr in the stomach and he giggles, it is a reference to the Pillsbury Doughboy.
- In a deleted scene in this episode, Lrrr says to Ndnd: "One of these days Ndnd, one of these days. Bam! Straight to Omicron Persei 12." This line is a parody of The Honeymooners. In a later episode, "Spanish Fry", he says a similar line, but instead of saying "Omicron Persei 12", he says "Straight to the third moon of Omicron Persei 8."
- In one scene the Planet Express ship is hauling a trailer full of popplers, the trailer is labeled U-Yank, a parody of U-Haul.
- The episode references Futurama's own opening, when Leela crashes into a billboard after being distracted by protesters. Fry mentions it's "the second billboard you've crashed in to this week".
- This episode is sponsored by Molten Boron, liquid Boron with a slogan that spoofs the Sara Lee slogan, "Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee!"
- There is a quick scene inside a Fishy Joe's restaurant, and behind the counter is a worker dressed in a pirate outfit similar to the outfit Brad wears in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
- Popplers resemble Popcorn Chicken.
- In the video game Saint's Row for Xbox 360, Fishy Joe's appears as part of the scenery.
- In the beginning of the episode, Fry asks whether the planet closest to them has a Burger Jerk, a Fishy Joe's, or a Chizzler. These are references to Burger King, Crabby Joe's, and Sizzler. Leela then disappointedly says that since they are a billions miles from nowhere, the planet probably only has a Howard Johnson's.
[edit] References
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