Futurama/Behind the scenes
Futurama was created by Matt Groening, who also created The Simpsons.
The series is referred to in DWU sources as being set in the year 3000: this is only true for the earlier seasons. Subsequent seasons are typically set in a floating timeline roughly 1000 years from our present day.
DWU references on Futurama[[edit] | [edit source]]
Television[[edit] | [edit source]]
In All the Presidents' Heads, the Fourth Doctor appears again, and a disembodied head in a jar in the Hall of Presidents with a name plaque reading "Amelia Pond" appears. Another head with a name plaque reading "Owen Harper" also appears.
Owen Harper's head in a jar in All the Presidents' Heads.
Amelia Pond's head in a jar.
The Fourth Doctor entering the TARDIS in an alternate timeline.
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In the episode Möbius Dick, the Fourth Doctor appears among the space whale's past victims.
The Fourth Doctor in Möbius Dick.
The Doctor from behind.
The Doctor in the background.
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In Assie Come Home, a deactivated Dalek is among many robot parts.
A deactivated Bronze Dalek, among other robot parts, in Assie Come Home.
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Comics[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Futurama comic story Doctor What serves as a parody of Doctor Who. In the story, Professor Farnsworth invents a blue "porta-potty" which when flushed teleports those inside to a random place in space and time. The story also features a parody of the Daleks in the form of the Deacons, extremely religious aliens that scream "excommunicate!" and begin firing at the Planet Express crew upon discovering they are not members of Deacon religion and have committed blasphemy.
Title page of Doctor What, featuring a parody of the Doctor Who logo.
Farnsworth showcases the dimensional transcendentalism of the porta-potty time machine.
The time machine dematerialises.
The time machine in a red Time Vortex.
The "Deacons", clear parodies of the Daleks.
The Deacons attempt to excommunicate Fry, Leela, and Bender, as Fry suggests the Deacons can't follow them up the stairs.
The comic story Tartar House Five features an appearance from every incarnation of the Doctor at the time of the comic's publishing in 2013. In the story, Dr. Zoidberg is sent back in time to the year 3000. Professor Farnsworth, believing Zoidberg to be acting "freaky-deaky" when he tells him of the events of 3013, seeks a doctor. One doctor, resembling the First Doctor, is unsure of Zoidberg's condition and states he would like a Second Doctor's thoughts. This second doctor then states he needs the opinions of a "few more doctors". The subsequent panels show doctors resembling each incarnation of the Doctor until finally the Eleventh Doctor diagnoses Zoidberg with "Vonnegut's Syndrome", recognising that he has become unstuck in time.
The First and Second Doctors in Tartar House Five.
The two Doctors.
Production connections[[edit] | [edit source]]
John DiMaggio voices Bender and various other reoccurring characters in the series.
Frank Welker voices Nibbler and provides the vocal effects of various non-speaking characters.
Bumper Robinson originally voiced Dwight Conrad in his first two appearances.
Dan Castellaneta voices the Robot Devil.
The aforementioned comic book series was published in the UK by Titan Publishing Group.
Other matters[[edit] | [edit source]]
The 1999 Futurama episode A Flight to Remember shares similarities with the 2007 Doctor Who television story Voyage of the Damned [+]Loading...["Voyage of the Damned (TV story)"]. Both stories feature a starship called the Titanic which meets a disaster. In the Futurama story, the Titanic is sucked into a black hole. This is likely a coincidence rather than a deliberate reference by Doctor Who, as both stories were based on the real life sinking of the RMS Titanic.
One of the main characters of Futurama is Turanga Leela. According to series creator Matt Groening, her name is an intentional tribute to the Fourth Doctor companion Leela.[1][2]
