Time Keeps on Slipping Capsule Submission

S03E14 Time Keeps on SlippingliveMay 6, 2001, 8:45 PM ET1 hours before it aired28 posts by 11 posters
28 posts
Joe Klemm

No review here.

S P O I L E R

S P A C E

DYN's

the sign-up list for body dumping at Central Park Lake?

Refs.

"Fly Like An Eagle" by the Steve Miller Band -Title refers to a lyric from the song

Harlem Globetrotters -Players appear in the episode -Curly Joe = Globetrotter Curly -Time travel was part of the of their animated series

Space Jam -Song that the title refers to appears in the film soundtrack (performed by Seal) -Beings from outer space land on Earth and challenge residents to a basketball game -Small beings, through a special item, become monsterous basketball players

Bobby Knight -Professor Farnsworth throwing a chair

Joe Klemm

Michael ZaiteJoe Klemm

Joe Klemm wrote:

Im not a super refrence spotter, But I have a feeling all of Farnsworth's Doomsday devices were taken from various sci-fi works. Nothing directly that I can point out, just a feeling I have.

Mike Zaite ICQ:25758172 "...Glorious sunset of my heart was fading. Soon the super karate monkey death car would park in my space. But Jimmy has fancy plans... and pants to match. The monkey clown horrible karate round and yummy like cute small baby chick would beat
Lyle McDonaldMichael Zaite

Perhaps reaching a bit. But when the spaceship is flying away before they detonate the nuke, and Fry sees the message he wrote Leela with stars, it was reminiscent of the final episode of MASH when BJ is flying away in the helicopter and sees the message Hawkeye left him with rocks.

Lyle

Michael ZaiteLyle McDonald

Lyle McDonald wrote:

Didn't think of that. But yes your right. Except Hawkeye was in the chopper and the message was made by B.J.

Mike Zaite ICQ:25758172 "...Glorious sunset of my heart was fading. Soon the super karate monkey death car would park in my space. But Jimmy has fancy plans... and pants to match. The monkey clown horrible karate round and yummy like cute small baby chick would beat the donkey.
Alex CainMichael Zaite

That's the second MASH-related episode this season. Is Matt a MASH fan, like oh-so-many others?

Michael ZaiteAlex Cain

Alex Cain wrote:

Matt? What does Matt have to do with individual episodes? He's an Exec. Producer. He just says Okedokey to stuff other people do.

Mike Zaite ICQ:25758172 "...Glorious sunset of my heart was fading. Soon the super karate monkey death car would park in my space. But Jimmy has fancy plans... and pants to match. The monkey clown horrible karate round and yummy like cute small baby chick would beat the donkey. "-Jimmy
Alex CainMichael Zaite

He also would have a lot of clout on what goes and what stays. SOMEONE on that staff is obviously a MASH fan, and I'm simply wondering if the references are there because of MASH, or there because the writers like the show as a whole.

Michael ZaiteAlex Cain

Alex Cain wrote:

What self respecting TV writer wouldn't like MASH? Even when it became the Alen Alda show? And I don't think you quite get how Exec. Producing works. You try to do as little actual work as possable while still making sure the writers don't go too far off the deep end and take your show with them. For an Exec. Prod. to say "Hey on that one episode, why not put a MASH refrence in" Would mean he's doing a whole lot of micromanaging and that's bad.

Mike Zaite ICQ:25758172 "...Glorious sunset of my heart was fading. Soon the super karate monkey death car would park in my space. But Jimmy has fancy plans... and pants to match. The monkey clown horrible karate round and yummy like cute small baby chick would beat the donkey. "-Jimmy James, News
Alex CainMichael Zaite

Lots of them, I imagine. While the quality of the writing was good, and thus there would be some respect there professionally, it still comes down to a matter of taste, or, if you will, "like vs. dislike."

That's 'Alan Alda,' and if you're saying that there was too much emphasis put on the character of Hawkeye, I disagree. Granted, the last few seasons they DID have him with more lines than anyone else in the show, but they were well-written lines.

I think I do, for the most part.

So are you saying that being an Executive Producer automatically makes you a lazy asshole? That's like saying that the President of a company does nothing but go golfing and drink martinis all day. Granted, some DO, but when it boils down to it, there's still the office work to do. Same thing for an Executive Producer; the job would have work, regardless. And there would still be input. As you said, "making sure the writers don't go too far off the deep end." Thusly, there's input from the Executive Producer. Albeit it would be the censors who would probably have the FINAL final say...them or the network executives, I suppose.

No, it wouldn't be. It would mean he is being part of the process, and is working side-by-side with the writers. If there is a consensus that the joke wouldn't work, then it gets tossed out. If it's agreed that it WOULD work, without taking too much attention away from the script, then it's added in. That's not too hard to understand, is it?

Lyle McDonaldAlex Cain

meaning that you don't know for sure. Albeit a single data point but a friend works in LA as a script writer and their executive producer is nothing but a lazy asshole, comes in late, leaves early, does as little work as possible (my friend gets genius notes like 'be funnier' to give you some idea of the process) and then has the nerve to bitch at my friend about work not getting done.

Face it, in nearly any industry, the higher up you get, the more money you make, and the less actual work you end up doing.

Such is life and life is pain, anyone who tells you different is trying to sell you something.

Lyle

Alex CainLyle McDonald

No, I DON'T know for sure, since I am in no way affiliated with the FOX network or any of the production that goes on involving an episode of Futurama.

If FOX would like to hire me as a writer, however, I am available. ;)

That's Hollywood for you.

Not necessarily. Though I will concede that that is most likely the norm.

Like what? Cookies?

Michael ZaiteAlex Cain

Alex Cain wrote:

*Invalid page fault*

So I was right before I corrected it.

I agree I was using the "MASH Pureist" term for the latter episodes.

Well Good for you.

Now now. I never said that. Your the one who made that leap.

I guess I'm just an Idiot because you have to talk down to me like one. So I'll act like the idiot you think I am and end by saying, Stop Cross posting this to the MASH group. They don't care.

Mike Zaite ICQ:25758172 "...Glorious sunset of my heart was fading. Soon the super karate monkey death car would park in my space. But Jimmy has fancy plans... and pants to match. The monkey clown horrible karate round and yummy like cute small baby chick would beat the donkey. "-Jimmy James, News Radio
Alex CainMichael Zaite

Huh? My point still stands.

I didn't see the correction, but I also wasn't out to argue over spelling lames within this thread.

They're very GOOD episodes, though.

Thank you!

And I made it because of your own words.

"You try to do as little actual work as possable while still making sure the writers don't go too far off the deep end and take your show with them."

"as little actual work as possible" generally means being lazy. And that same statement can conclude, albeit stretchingly, that a person in that position would be a jerk, as well. If there was no need for an Executive Producer, we would not have them today.

Actually, for once I'm trying NOT to do that with you. I'm attempting to have a civil conversation, as it pertains to the reason that the Futurama episodes have so many MASH references contained within them. Is it the writers? Matt? The producers? Animatiors? Hell, one way or another, they have to be there for a reason. This isn't 'Family Guy,' after all. This show is supposed to be making sense.

They DO care, because this is related to MASH and as such is on-topic for them. In fact, I crossposted a thread from here to there, just two weeks ago, when the other MASH reference popped up in Futurama. So, I will say for the moment, that no, I will not stop crossposting into the MASH group, unless THEY ask me not to. And given that I'm being civil in this discussion, and posting into there via crossposting on-topic, I don't think that is going to happen.

DaveAlex Cain

Where do you get "so many"? I recall one, the Alan Alda bot.

One in how many episodes? Thirty-something? Forty-something??

[email] (Hammer nail here--> <-- for a new monitor.) Seinfeld FAQ http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/7217/faq.html *NOTE* I am not responsible for equipment damage due to reeeeally
Alex CainDave

In Futurama, you take what you can get.

petbenAlex Cain

One episode with MASH references. Moot discussion.

Calling the "star writing" a MASH reference is a reach, at best.

Pete > Actually, for once I'm trying NOT to do that with you. I'm attempting > to have a civil conversation, as it pertains to the reason that the > Futurama episodes have so many MASH references contained within them. Is
DaveMichael Zaite

Besides, Fry's big message in the sky was nothing close to a MASH reference, in scope, style or meaning.

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petbenDave

damn, beaten out by 45 minutes.

Pete > From: Dave > Organization: Vandelay Industries > Newsgroups: alt.tv.futurama
Davepetben

Yabbut yours was more succinct. :-)

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LooseChanjMichael Zaite

"Mike Zaite" wrote in message news:[email]...

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Holy shit, someone finally trimmed their quotes in this thread. :-P

> </paranoia> Do you really think it's a good idea *ever* to close a paranoia tag? The Scarlet Manuka in ATSR
petbenMichael Zaite

is that right? I thought it was BJ in the chopper.

Pete > > Didn't think of that. But yes your right. Except Hawkeye was in the chopper > and the
Michael Zaitepetben

petben wrote:

No, BJ had the P.O.W.'s motorcycle he painted yellow.

Mike Zaite ICQ:25758172 "...Glorious sunset of my heart was fading. Soon the super karate monkey death car would park in my space. But Jimmy has fancy plans... and pants to match. The monkey clown horrible karate round and yummy like cute small baby chick would beat
petbenMichael Zaite

that's right. It's all coming back to me now. There it is.

Now I can forget all about it again. Phew!

Pete > From: Mike Zaite > Organization: CHUCK 5 Studios > Reply-To: [email]
doug holversonLyle McDonald

There was a '40s vintage sci-fi story (set in the '80s!) about a machine that changed how the positions of the stars appeared (the stars didn't really move but looked like they did) to form advertisements in the sky.

DGH

Larrydoug holverson

On Sun, 06 May 2001 22:47:25 -0500, doug holverson wrote:

The Puppeteer's, in Larry Niven's books (Ringworld etc), arrange five stars into a rosetta and move them through space. In one of Asimov's last novels 'Nemesis' they move a star's orbit slightly for centuries to prevent a collision.

--Larry

DON3kJoe Klemm

I think another Globetrotters reference has been missed by all. I remember it all to well (unfortunately...)

http://us.imdb.com/Plot?0082502

The famous Harlem Globetrotters crash land on Gilligans Island. A mad doctor and his accomplice plan to take over the island for its rich energy supply by scaring off Gilligan and his buddies, but it soon settles to a basketball match between the doctors robots and the aforementioned Globetrotters

DON3k MST3k - Picture This Quote! - MST3k http://picturethisquote.com Ignore the SPAM below!
F18fettDON3k

In the "War is the H-Word" episode was Zoidberg supposed to be like Franks Burns and that big alien like Margaret Houlihan?

petbenF18fett

Same episode. doesn't count as a whole new reference. It was a segment.

Pete > From: [email] (F18fett) > Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com > Newsgroups: alt.tv.futurama