Futurama: Season 1 - Episode 9: 'Hell Is Other Robots' (1999) - TVEpisode Review

Official Score = 3 Devils

I don't know about you guys, but when it comes to Futurama, for me I have to say that my favorite character of all time has to be, 'Bender', that smart-ass robot always knew when the right time to make a comic remark, and when it would be the funniest point to tease or generally make fun of some one and get the most amount of comedy out of it!

Now in the first season though, Bender, it seems, had the most growing up to do... I mean in the first couple of episodes of the series, his character... Although mostly there, did not seem to be particularly developed, but as the season went on, you could tell the progression, and when he got his first episode devoted to him... I must say, absolutely hilarious!

That episode of course being: 'Hell Is For Other Robots'!

The Beastie Boys singing to Bender in Robot Hell!

Written by: Eric Kaplan (The Big Bang Theory) & Directed by: Rich Moore (Technological Threat), Gregg Vanzo (RoboCop 3). Starring: Billy West (The 7D), Katey Sagal (Married With Children), John DiMaggio (Adventure Time), Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons), Phil LaMarr (Samurai Jack) & Lauren Tom (Bad Santa).

This hilarious episode tells the story of how after Bender gets addicted to Electricity, he weens himself off of it and finds robot religion... And like all great conversions, Bender goes for it with gusto and ends up being a good little robot for awhile... A little while anyway...

That is of course until his so-called friends who have gotten board of him, decide that they want the old Bender back, and thus tempt him to the darkside...

Joining this religion will have funny consequences for not just Bender, but the rest of the Planet Express crew!

And when he disappears, it will be up to his friends to find him... Because even in a robot's religion... Where there is a heaven, there is also a hell!

In the end, the only thing that I didn't like about this episode was the song near the end of it... I mean I know that last part of the episode is tied in to it... but still...

Other then that guys, it is a fun episode, and certainly one worth watching!

Futurama: Season 1 - Episode 8: 'A Big Piece Of Garbage' (1999) - TV Episode Review

Official Score = 2 Devils

Now I am going to be honest here and say that Futurama is one of those series whose first season generally seems to tends to be not quite as good... Don't get me wrong, there are some truly fun moments, and some truly hilarious episodes! But I will admit that for my money, the future seasons tended to get successively better and better, to the point where I was surprised where I heard that the show was canceled when it was!

And I hate to say it, but, Season 1 - Episode 8: 'A Big Piece Of Garbage' is just one of those episodes!

Written by: Lewis Morton (Newsradio) & Directed by: Susie Dietter (Open Season) & Gregg Vanzo (RoboCop 3). Starring: Billy West (Space Jam 2), Katey Sagal (Sons Of Anarchy), John DiMaggio (Adventure Time), Ron Popeil (As Seen On TV), Lauren Tom (Bad Santa), Phil LaMarr (Samurai Jack) & Tress MacNeille (The Simpsons).

Now listen, I know this story is primarily meant to entertain children, but it was also designed for adult to... And I will go so far as to say that I suspect that this episode was intended to parody Armageddon (1998)... The main problem is, is this episode just didn't have the same comedic appeal that a lot of the other ones had!

"Now, now. There'll be plenty of time to discuss your objections when and if you return." - Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth (Quote from: Futurama Season 1 - Episode 8: 'A Big Piece Of Garbage'.)

Professor Farnsworth showing the trajectory of the massive stinky meteor! 

You see this episode tells the story of how after almost a thousand years a ball of barely post 20th century garbage that had been slingshot in to outerspace is heading back to Earth and threatens life as we know it... And of course, the only one's that can fix this is the Planet Express crew... 

Maybe not the best episode, but if you are going through the series one right after the other... It is worth checking out!

Futurama: Season 1 - Episode 7: My Three Suns (1999) - TV EpisodeReview

Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils

You know I am really glad that Fox gave Futurama another run... I mean this show, besides being absolutely hilarious, is fun to see a sort of, 'spoof'  of all of Science Fiction that have come out in the last fifty years... And on the more serious side of things, it is fun to see these characters as they develop in to a closer and closer almost family like unit!

And well so far I think that Season 1 is a pretty good season, I mean we got to see the characters establish themselves, and also to see them getting in to more then a few hilarious problems! And you know what? I am gonna have to say that the latest episodes, 'My Three Suns' (1999) maybe one of the more funnier episodes of the season!

Written by: J. Stewart Burns (The Simpsons) & Directed by: Jeffrey Lynch (The Gift), Kevin O'Brien (WALL-E), Gregg Vanzo (RoboCop 3). Starring: Billy West (The 7D), Katey Sagal (Married With Children), John DiMaggio (Adventures In Time), David Herman (Office Space), Phil LaMarr (Pulp Fiction), Maurice LaMarche (Frozen), Lauren Tom (Bad Santa) & Danny Jacobs (Batman: Arkham Asylum).

The latest adventure of the intrepid, 'Planet Express crew'... Fry drinks the recipient of their latest package delivery...

This hilarious episode tells of the latest attempt by Fry to fit in to the new world, but ultimately messing things up!

What I mean by this is that the Planet Express crew end up making a delivery to a planet that is all desert, and well they end up landing the ship about as far away as you can from the actual city, so when Fry gets to the Palace, he decides to take a drink from what at first looks like a cold bottle of water!

Well little does he know that it is actually the, 'King' of a race of fluid based sentient life forms... And well everything seems to be going alright... That is until they find out how the line of succession in this kingdom works!

Fry, when he discovers the great hall where all the former world leaders pictures were hung!

And it will be up to the Planet Express crew to fix things and get out of their quick, before the water drinks them!

In the end, this episode is just hilarious, and it shows that the show is really coming in to itself... So if you have a chance to check it out, do so, it is more then well worth it... Trust me!

Futurama: Season 1 - Episode 6: 'A Fishful Of Dollars' (1999) - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

Futurama... What can I say about this show that hasn't already been said? I mean this show is truly epic... in that it parodies every epic Science Fiction medium known to man!

Unfortunately, I have since discovered that this show has been cancelled yet again, but you know what? During the run of this show that Matt Groening (The Simpsons) created, we saw a lot of funny moments, and parodies of some other great Science Fiction mediums, (including Star Trek.)

And, 'A Fishful Of Dollars' (1999) is another hilarious episode in this classic series!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] The Planet Express crew as they are celebrating Fry's new fortune![/caption]

Written by: Patric M. Verrone (Pinky & The Brain) & Directed by: Ron Hughart (American Dad). Starring: Billy West (The Looney Tunes Show), Katey Sagal (8 Simple Rules), John DiMaggio (Adventure Time), Pamela Anderson (Baywatch), Phil LaMarr (Pulp Fiction) & Lauren Tom (Batman Beyond: Golem).

This hilarious episode tells the story of how Fry (Billy West), after heading over to the bank and checking up on his old bank account from the 20th century, ends up discovering that with all the interest after 1,000 years, that not only is he no longer mega poor... But he is mega rich!

This effects the Planet Express crew in different ways, but in the end all Fry really wanted was a place that reminded him of the century that he had been forced to forget... But after shunning all of his friends, a cruel manipulator behind the scene will help Fry get the one thing he truly missed from that area, and the friends that he loved from his current century back to enjoy it !

In the end, this episode is pretty awesome, and if you check it out, I think that you might find that you like it as well!

http://youtu.be/9PJNlmk5Yik

Batman Beyond: Seaason 1 - Episode 4: 'Golem' (1999) - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignright" width="220"] Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Have you ever seen a show that you were so happy with, that you ended up watching the entire series in a couple of days? Well for me, the most recent one that I have found is, 'Batman Beyond' (1999 - 2001)!

It was fun to see where most of the characters ended up at in their story lines, years after most of them could continue to dawn there roles as, 'Batman' or as, 'Robin'... Or even as, 'Batgirl'... But not just that, it was fascinating to see how without superheroes, how Gotham City begins to dive back in to the anarchy that it was in before Bruce Wayne became Batman!

And so far, with Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle) as the new Batman, he has as of yet failed to disappoint as, 'Batman'!
And Episode 4 of Season 1, 'Golem' is another example of this!

[caption id="attachment_2596" align="aligncenter" width="450"] This new Batman may not be Bruce Wayne, but he is pretty awesome never the less![/caption]

Written by: Hilary J. Bader (Superman), Stan Berkowitz (Justice League: The New Frontier), Alan Burnett (Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm), Paul Dini (The Batman Superman Movie), Rich Fogel (Smurfs), Bob Goodman (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1) & Directed by: Butch Lukic (James Bond Jr.). Starring: Will Friedle (Boy Meets World), Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series), Scott McAfee (Midnight Run), Seth Green (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Melissa Disney (Superman Vs. The Elite), Lauren Tom (Futurama) & Bill Smitrovich (Millennium).

In this latest episode, Batman goes face to face with a giant two story tall robot by the name of, 'GLM'... (Or, 'Golem')... Now Golem is a robot that is normally used to aid construction workers, but some one has kidnapped it!

And this kidnapper has decided to bring it closer to home then he would like, when as Terry McGinnis, it has been sent after his High School enemy.

In the end, Batman is going to have to find out who is doing this and stop this person from destroying, 'Terry's' High School enemy!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Batman, as he is trying to defend the city from the rampaging, ' Golem' as well as defending himself from it![/caption]

This episode is a lot of fun, I believe it was inspired by Stephen King's, 'Christine'... And well... Let's put it this way, if you liked the book, then I am pretty sure you will like the episode... I know I did!

http://youtu.be/S4OUK2Q4q10

Futurama Season 1 - Episode 4: 'Love's Labour Lost In Space (1999) - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_322" align="alignright" width="258"] Official Score = 1 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Ok, so one of the things that you have to know about Leela, is that because she is a mutant... (Or well at this point she is still an, 'Alien') that the show generally tends to play up her differences as one of the main reasons that she never seems to be able to find some one who is good enough for her... There are other reasons as well, but this one seems to be pretty well documented...

With that said though, the first time that this particular part of her role is heavily introduced is in an episode that I have to admit that I found particularly bland, the 4th episode of season 1, 'Love's Labour Lost In Space'...

Written by: Brian Kelley (Joey), Directed by: Brian Sheesley (Camp Lazlo) & Gregg Vanzo (RoboCop 3). Starring: Billy West (Animaniacs), Katey Segal (8 Simple Rules), John DiMaggio (Princess Monoke), Phil LaMarr (Pulp Fiction), Lauren Tom (The Newsroom) & Maurice LaMarche (Alvin & The Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman).

You see this episode tells the story of how Leela (Katey Segal) whom at this time is feeling particularly lonely is about to be sent (along with the rest of the, 'Planet Express' crew) to a planet called, 'Vergon 6', a planet that has been essentially mined out entirely, and is dying... Their tax-deductible charity mission is to go and rescue a male and a female of every living creature still on that planet...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Zapp Brannigan (Billy West), when he first meets, 'Turanga Leela' on board his ship.[/caption]

As they get there though, Zapp Brannigan (Billy West) throws them all in to the brig for violating a security cordon... The only way that they will be able to get out is when Leela ends up sleeping with the idiot...

After this, they quickly head to the dying planet to rescue as many animals as they can... After they do so though, Leela will find the ultimate companion for which to call her own!

In the end, this episode had a few funny moments... But not many... The sad truth is that in a show that is supposed to be funny,  this episode really wasn't all that funny, honestly I would say that the best thing about this episode is that they introduce Leela's pet, 'Nibbler' in to the show... And for that, I hate to say it, but this episode is worth a watch... At the very least to keep up with the story...

http://youtu.be/bOM0Jwg2CEw

Batman Beyond: Season 1 - Episode 3: 'Black Out' - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_390" align="alignright" width="178"] Official Score = 1 Devil[/caption]

Well so far so good, so far, 'Batman Beyond' is proving itself to be a pretty formidable series... I mean we got to see how Bruce Wayne finally realized that he was, 'as the famous line goes', "To Old For This Shit"... And retired the Dark Knight... Seemingly for good, and how Gotham has begun to fall to the wayside thanks to the loss of Batman... And how just when things were at their bleakest, a young man, whom in a similar situation that Bruce Wayne was in when he decided to pursue the life of, 'Batman', ends up taking over...

Well believe it or not that was a real mouthful... The sad part is, is that the first 2 episodes of this new series were so great, but the next episode just ended up going all, 'children's cartoon' and didn't leave anything for the adults that were just settling in for a fun ride!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] It looks like the new, 'Dark Knight' is really struggling with his newest enemy![/caption]

What I mean by this, is that this episode, which was called, 'Blackout' and which was written by: Hilary Bader (The New Batman Adventures), Stan Berkowitz (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies), Alan Burnett (The Batman Superman Movie: World's Finest), Paul Dini (Superman), Rich Fogel (Batman Beyond: The Movie), Bob Goodman (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1) & Directed by: Dan Riba (The Super Mario Bros. Super Show). Starring: Will Friedle (Boy Meets World), Kevin Conroy (Tales Of Metropolis), Shannon Kenney (The Invisible Man), Sherman Howard (Casualties Of War), Stockard Channing (Grease) & Lauren Tom (Wall Street).

In this latest episode, it looks like some one is trying to dismantle a technology firm bit by bit... The problem is, is that when the new, 'Batman' (Will Friedle) comes on the case, he discovers that not only is his first case as the new Batman an exciting one, but that the slimy dirt bag that he is following, may actually be a slime based dirt bag!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="250"] Batman's latest enemy is one that is a little more slippery the normal![/caption]

And as Terry McGinnis, settling down to a new life, both as, 'The Batman' and to try and maintain his old identity as just, 'Terry' is also proving difficult as well... But like all great cases, the old addage, 'sometimes the simplest solution is the best,' may prove out on this one!

In the end, I really just didn't like this episode all that much... Don't get me wrong, the characters, voice over work, and animation were pretty awesome, but in all truth, the big bad that they had for this episode was just really lame!

http://youtu.be/e3rAZJiVngc

Batman Beyond: Season 1 - Episode 1: 'Rebirth Part 1' - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

When I was a kid one of my favorite shows was, 'Batman: The Animated Series' It was sleek, it was dark, it was cool, and it had finally dropped all that campy stuff that made Batman so popular from the 60s through the 80s!

So when I discovered, 'Batman Beyond' in the early 2000s, I found the concept of, 'What if Bruce Wayne had to retire and pass the mantle of, 'Batman' to the next generation' and what that would be like.  Now I will admit that I have not really seen to many episodes of this new series yet, but I will admit that so far, that I have found this show to be pretty awesome!

And so far, starting with Episode 1 of Season 1, the show has been a great way to start... But we will get in to that in a moment!

Written by: Alan Burnett (Superman), Paul Dini (Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker) & Directed by: Curt Geda (Ultimate Avengers). Starring: Will Friedle (Boy Meets World), Kevin Conroy (Batman), Teri Garr (Tootsie), Michael Gross (Tremors), Sherman Howard (Day Of The Dead), George Takei (Star Trek) & Lauren Tom (Futurama).

This first episode tells the story of how 50 years in the future, Gotham City is a whole different place... The technology of the future is there, including hover cars, and an over grown bustling Gotham City... The only problem is that Batman retired years ago, and the Police are essentially under the control of, 'Derek Powers' (Sherman Howard)...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Derek Powers (Sherman Howard) as he is having a frank discussion with Warren McGinnis (Michael Gross)... And boy is it the discussion of a life time![/caption]

Now Derek Powers is an up and coming billionaire playboy who is slowly replacing Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy)... Being that Powers is buying up Wayne Enterprises one company at a time!

But there is a secret that Derek Powers is harboring, and it will hit the McGinnis family pretty hard!

You see after his fight with his father, Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle) takes off to go and be with his girl friend, 'Dana' (Lauren Tom)... While there Terry is confronted by, 'The Jokerz' a street gang that modeled themselves after the legend of the original, 'Joker'!

Well in the end, they chase Terry up to Wayne Manor... Once there McGinnis meets an aged Bruce Wayne, who helps McGinnis take down the, 'Jokerz' and after helping Bruce up to, 'Wayne Manor', Terry ends up accidentally stumbling on to the Batcave and discovers who Batman really is! Well after he gets home and discovers that his father is dead and decides to enlist Bruce's help in trying get vengeance...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] It's gonna be like a buddy cop movie, ya know?[/caption]

Since this is a 2 parter, stay tuned for part 2 of this review!

In the end though, the acting in this episode was good... Not exceptional, but good... The animation was good... Not exceptional, but good... In the end what really held my interest in this episode was the story! I love stories that quickly establish great back stories... which this episode did really nicely (what with having shown how Bruce Wayne initially retired as, 'Batman'... And it also quickly established a great story and motivation for bringing, 'Batman' back to life!

In the end, this episode was fun, and if this series continues this way, it is sure to get better and better!

http://youtu.be/3ABcSoiDnFQ