That's Lobstertainment!

"That's Lobstertainment!"
Futurama episode
File:Futurama ep40.jpg
Episode no.	Season three
Directed by	Bret Haaland
Written by	Patrick M. Verrone
Original air dates	February 25, 2001
Episode features
Opening cartoon	Unknown

'That's Lobstertainment!'is the 8th episode in season 3 of Futurama. It originally aired February 25, 2001.

Plot

After a disastrous attempt at stand-up comedy, Dr. Zoidberg informs the crew that his uncle Harold Zoid was a star in the silent hologram era. Zoidberg writes to his uncle, asking for help with his comedy act. The washed up Harold Zoid sees this as an opportunity to restart his career. The crew sets off for Hollywood.

While taking a bus tour of movie stars' homes, Bender leaves the tour, and scams his way into employment as Calculon's water heater. Shortly after, Zoidberg meets his uncle in a fancy restaurant. Harold Zoid tells him to give up comedy, and that he needs Zoidberg to finance a drama to the tune of a million dollars. Always a source of bright ideas, Bender tells Calculon that he can star in the movie if he provides the production money. Calculon initially refuses, but after learning Harold Zoid wrote the script, and getting a gaurantee from Bender that he will win an Oscar, he accepts.

The film, The Magnificent Three, is a story about a son (the Vice-President of Earth) not wanting to follow in his father's (the President of Earth) footsteps. Unfortunately, the movie is terrible and at the premier, the entire audience walks out. A furious Calculon threatens to kill Bender, Zoidberg, and Harold Zoid if they can't find some way to get him an Oscar.

Zoidberg and Bender set off to rig the awards, meanwhile Leela and Fry are busy attempting to free their ship from the La Brea Tar Pits. When the awards reach the Best Actor award, Dr. Zoidberg tosses presenter Billy Crystal off the stage, and takes his place. In place of the fifth nominee, he substitutes Calculon. But when he sees his uncle's depression at being a has-been, Zoidberg announces him as the winner. Calculon, somewhat chastened by Harold Zoid's acceptance speech, decides not to kill him or the others.

Trivia

• Writer Patric Verrone emailed a Futurama fan who constantly bashed the episode on the message boards, even if it was irrelevant to the thread's topic. Patric asked him what was wrong with it, to which he replied "Oh, no it was OK, I'm sorry!"
• In the DVD commentary, the producers mention that this is considered by fans to be the worst episode of the series.
• Hank Azaria was the guest star in this episode; he's most famously known for doing voice work for other Matt Groening projects, specifically The Simpsons as Moe Szyslak and others.
• The announcer at the stand up comedy show and a guest at the Oscars are the same alien race as is featured in My Three Suns.

References

• The title references the 1974 documentary film That's Entertainment!.
• Harold Zoid bears a striking resemblance to silent film star Harold Lloyd, right down to the straw hat and glasses, but his films are much more similar to the styles of Buster Keaton, and other silent film stars.
• In the future Mel Gibson's head has starred in the film Bravehead, a parody of the film Braveheart.
• Leela uses a tool similar to The Club to lock up the Planet Express ship.
• The film made by Harold Zoid is titled The Magnificent Three, a parody of The Magnificent Seven.
• The film Star Trek: The Pepsi Generation is nominated for an Oscar, this is a reference to Star Trek: The Next Generation

Quotes

• Zoidberg: Is bread free?
  Waiter: Yes.
  Zoidberg: We'll split an order.
• Bender: That plot makes perfect sense. Wink wink.
  Zoidberg: You just said 'wink wink' out loud.
  Bender: No, I didn't. Raise middle finger.
• Judge 1: Uh oh, he read the wrong name!
  Judge 2: Shh! Just play along, like they did for Marisa Tomei.
• Calculon: I respect and admire Harold Zoid too much to beat him to death with his own Oscar.