NewsRama / FutaRadio

Origanally posted at alt.tv.newsradio by: Otto Exec <A HREF="mailto:[email]">[email] on Sun, 07 November 1999 at 11:26 PM EST

I was watching "Futurama" earlier tonight (991107) and noticed a couple of interesting things. (Hey, what else was there to watch on Fox between "The Simpsons" and "The X-Files"?)

In the opening scene (from 1999), Fry was delivering pizza and beer to a TV station with the call letters "WNYW." This is only one letter off from "WNYX."

Later in the episode, there were several scenes featuring one "President McNeal." Not McNeil, mind you, but McNeal. In my opinion, he also bore a striking "resemblance" to Phil Hartman / Bill McNeal / Lionel Hutz, at least as much as a cartoon can resemble a real person.

Of course, it could all be coincidence, but given Phil's close association with The Simpsons, these things really struck me as a subtle tribute the Dearly Departed One.

Whaddaya think? - - - - - Will O'Hargan http://itslikeyouknow.cjb.net "I have nothing to do. I feel like a writer on a movie set." "Men don't like to cuddle. We only like it if it leads to... you know... lower cuddling."-Ray Romano

I'd say it's a coincidence. WNYW is a real New York City affiliate, and McNeal was used (and spelled thusly) because it sounds like "McBeal." Weather or not the president looked like Hartman is subjective ... but I'll grant that taken together they're nice coincidences.

I would guess it wasn't meant to make us think of Hartman. Considering that the character is killed, it would have made for a potentially tasteless comparison.

OTOH, Brian Kelley and Lewis Morton have written for both shows, making potential Newsradio references more plausible.

-Eric S. ([email] or [email] or [email])

	"I've been wasting my life.  I'm going to do what I always dreamed of.
	 I'm going to write that sitcom about the sassy robot!"
	  -Matt Groening creates Futurama?