(Spoiler alert: Please do not read on if you have not yet watched Sunday’s episode of “The Simpsons” entitled “Simpsorama.”)
For the second time in this young season, “The Simpsons” starred in a crossover with another popular Fox animated series. “Family Guy” kicked things off by having the Griffins crash Springfield for its season opener. This time, “The Simpsons” invited guests from the far-flung future.
The twice-cancelled “Futurama” made yet another triumphant return to the airwaves in “Simpsorama,” which was essentially a “Futurama” episode run through the classic filter of Matt Groening‘s most popular franchise. This was a very good thing, as it proved that “Futurama” is a show that’s far more inventive and daring than the family-friendly confines of Springfield U.S.A.
The crossover even included a nod to Groening’s original comic strip series “Life Is Hell,” making it a Groening mashup spectacular.
The plot was typical “Futurama” nonsense, with the Simpsons along for the ride. The family mostly played either targets or sidekicks to the adventures of the Planet Express crew, with Bart the biggest problem. Who knew spitting into a sandwich and dumping it into a radioactive time capsule could lead to green Bart-like rabbit creatures taking over the future.
Bender is dispatched to the past to first kill Homer — because his DNA is detected in the creatures. When they deduce the true genesis of the creatures, they decided to stop it at the source by digging up the time capsule. But instead, they are thrown in the future, because what fun is it to bring Fry and Leela in the past if you can’t also send Homer and Marge into the future?
The episode was filled with fun nods to both shows, including a brilliantly awkward couch gag featuring Hedonismbot in the role of the Simpson’s couch … which Homer doesn’t mind a bit when he starts getting full body massages and grapes fed to him. It also featured a heartbreaking callback to Fry’s loyal dog, who waited outside the pizza parlor for Fry after he got cryogenically frozen
“Futurama” credits dominated the episode, with the opening “Simpsorama” mimicking the opening of “Futurama” episodes, including the humorous episodic tag. This one poked fun at both shows: “A show out of ideas teams up with a show out of episodes.”
And before it ended, Homer Simpson decided to put words to the “Futurama” theme song, which was … awkward to say the least. Below is my best guess as to what he’s saying.
Simpsons in the future
Space jokes flying
Through time. What are
Those tubes?
I wonder what ice cream’s like now
Maybe it’s hot or some new temperature they invented
Fans seemed overjoyed to see the two popular Groening properties finally crossing over. They’ve only been asking for it for the past 15 years, since “Futurama’s” debut in 1999. We’ve gathered some of the best Twitter responses to the once-in-a-millennium event below.
One of the best @TheSimpsons episodes ever! Loved it!! ❤️ #simpsonsfuturama
— Rebecca (@HappyZappe) November 10, 2014
#SimpsonsFuturama kill all humans…start with Flanders lol — James Fretz (@Fretzza) November 10, 2014
Not the dog! Oh, the feels!!! #simpsonsfuturama — Michael Erb (@merb101) November 10, 2014
“#Simpsorama” was, without a doubt, the best episode ever! My only complaints are Zapp & Kif weren’t in it, & the episode went by too fast.
— Mike Chimeri (@MikeChimeri) November 10, 2014
The sweetest thing anyone has ever done for anyone. #Simpsorama pic.twitter.com/kJi9nu8Z1o
— The Simpsons tvtag (@tvtagSimpsons) November 10, 2014
“The Simpsons” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. “Futurama” is waiting for yet another great fan revival to give it another shot somewhere.