Don't you just hate when shows do episodes that are nothing but clips from old shows with about 4 mins of new material. Sure we all do. There have been a few that were pretty good, but most are shameless budget saver episodes and it shows.
Well someday, Futurama will be on long enough to have one of these. Since it's going to totally suck, I figured I could write it. To paraphrase someone who's name I forgot: I've suffered for my craft, and now it's your turn.
Season 4 will end with a cliffhanger teaser scene from the Season 5 Premier
The scene opens in the hold of the Planet Express ship. It is stacked to the ceiling with crates labeled "Poison", "High Explosive" and "Flammable". A fire is raging and Bender is desperately trying to put the flames out.
Cut to exterior shot, The Planet Express ship blows up, bits of debris fly past the camera, including Bender's head. . .
Season 5 premier Scene 1
The teaser scenes from next episode (above) runs and then quickly fades to the whole crew sitting around the conference table at Planet Express.
Dr. Farnworth: That simulation shows why I charge 10% extra to deliver explosives. Now, since you three have been here for five years, I'm going to take you off probation and make you permanent employees.
Leela: Has it been five years already. (Turning to fry) Do you remember when you first got here?
Fry: Do I ever.
(Scene does a swirly effect and morphs into scene of Fry back in the year 1999, playing Monkey Fracas. The very first episode then runs in it's entirety, including opening credits. As Fry says "All right! I'm a delivery boy!", the scene morphs back to the year 3000 at the conference table.)
Fry: Man that was something!
Bender: It sure was.
Roll closing credits.
--Larry