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{{Tab|Eps}}
 
{{Quote|Well? How are they? Oh, they're great! They're like sex! Except I'm having them!|Fry, eating popplers for the first time}}
 
 
 
{{Infobox television episode
 
{{Infobox television episode
 
| title =The Problem With Popplers
 
| title =The Problem With Popplers
 
| image =[[File:Futurama 218 - The Problem with Popplers.jpg|250px]]
 
| image =[[File:Futurama 218 - The Problem with Popplers.jpg|250px]]
| image_size =250px
+
| episode =28
| episode =15
 
 
| season =2
 
| season =2
 
| prod_code =2ACV15
 
| prod_code =2ACV15
 
| airdate =May 7, 2000
 
| airdate =May 7, 2000
| runtime =30 minutes
 
 
| director =[[Chris Sauve]] <br />[[Gregg Vanzo]]
 
| director =[[Chris Sauve]] <br />[[Gregg Vanzo]]
 
| guests = [[Phil Hendrie]] as [[Free Waterfall Jr.]]
 
| guests = [[Phil Hendrie]] as [[Free Waterfall Jr.]]
Line 17: Line 13:
 
| subtitle =For External Use Only
 
| subtitle =For External Use Only
 
| cartoon =
 
| cartoon =
| preceded_by =''[[Mother's Day]]''
+
| preceded_by = "[[Mother's Day]]"
| followed_by =''[[Anthology of Interest I]]''
+
| followed_by = "[[Anthology of Interest I]]"
  +
}}
}}'''"The Problem with Popplers"''' is episode 15 in [[Season Two]] of Futurama. It originally aired in North America on May 7, 2000.
 
 
{{Quote|Well? How are they? Oh, they're great! They're like sex! Except I'm having them!|Fry, eating popplers for the first time}}
  +
 
'''The Problem with Popplers''' is episode 15 in the second season of Futurama. It originally aired in North America on May 7, 2000.
   
 
== Story ==
 
== Story ==
 
Desperate for food after a visit to the Planet of the Moochers, the [[Planet Express crew]] land on a planet to look for [[Futurama Wiktionary#R|Roddenberries]], and instead find the planet covered in a delectable delicacy, which they decide to sell under the name [[Popplers]]. The crew create a [[Poppler's song|catchy jingle]] and sell Popplers on the street for $1 a dozen, with great success. [[Joseph Gillman|Fishy Joe]] makes the crew an offer to sell the treats at his chain of seafood restaurants for $2 a dozen, of which they get half.
 
Desperate for food after a visit to the Planet of the Moochers, the [[Planet Express crew]] land on a planet to look for [[Futurama Wiktionary#R|Roddenberries]], and instead find the planet covered in a delectable delicacy, which they decide to sell under the name [[Popplers]]. The crew create a [[Poppler's song|catchy jingle]] and sell Popplers on the street for $1 a dozen, with great success. [[Joseph Gillman|Fishy Joe]] makes the crew an offer to sell the treats at his chain of seafood restaurants for $2 a dozen, of which they get half.
   
Protesters, including "Anti-food activist" [[Free Waterfall Jr.]] rally outside the [[Planet Express building]]. A Poppler [[Leela]] is about to eat opens its eyes and says "Mama" to her; realizing that Popplers are intelligent, she joins the activists in protesting the trade in Popplers. A televised debate between "Fishy Joe" Gilman, Free Waterfall Jr. and Leela is interrupted by the arrival on [[Earth]] of the [[Omicron Persei 8]] invasion fleet. The [[Omicronian]]s demand vengeance for the eating of their young; the initial demand that Earth 'serve' one human for each of the 198 billion Popplers eaten. However, during negotiations with Zapp, there are revealed to be not as much humans so they eventually settle on Leela, as the discoverer of Popplers, to be presented for consumption.
+
Protesters, including "Anti-food activist" [[Free Waterfall, Jr.]] rally outside the [[Planet Express building]]. A Poppler [[Leela]] is about to eat opens its eyes and says "Mama" to her; realizing that Popplers are intelligent, she joins the activists in protesting the trade in Popplers. While at first, the crew reasonably think she is delusional, but when Professor Farnsworth, suggests they painfully dissect its brain, leading the terrified Poppler to beg for protection. Shocked, they then vow to help Leela's cause, although they do not get much headway (i.e., Fry handcuffs himself to a revolving door to stop people from going into a Fishy Joe's restaurant, leading to him literally getting walked on). A televised debate between "Fishy Joe" Gilman, Free Waterfall, Jr. and Leela is interrupted by the arrival on [[Earth]] of the [[Omicron Persei 8]], who reveal that Popplers are in fact Omicronian young, with the planet Leela, Fry, and Bender found being one of their nursuries. The [[Omicronian]]s demand vengeance for the eating of their young; the initial demand that Earth 'serve' one human for each of the 198 billion Popplers eaten. However, during negotiations with Zapp, there are revealed to be not as much humans so they eventually settle on Leela, as the discoverer of Popplers, to be presented for consumption.
 
While [[Lrrr]] waits to eat Leela on live television, [[Zapp]] formulates a brilliant plan to use an orangutan to substituted for Leela, in the hopes that the [[Omicronians]] inability to tell humans apart can be exploited. [[Kif]] attempts to makeover the ape as best he can. Oblivious to the danger it places Leela in, Free Waterfall Jr. reveals that the ape is an ape; [[Ndnd]] confirms it by eating it and Lrrr demands the real Leela. Only the intervention of the Poppler Leela didn't eat saves her. Lrrr eats Free Waterfall Jr. instead, but feels woozy from eating him and the crew retires to a meal of dolphin, which they deem as unintelligent because it blew all its money on lottery tickets.
 
   
 
While [[Lrrr]] waits to eat Leela on live television, [[Zapp]] formulates a "brilliant" plan to use an orangutan to be substituted for Leela, in the hopes that the [[Omicronians]]' inability to tell humans apart can be exploited. [[Kif]] attempts to makeover the ape as best he can. Oblivious to the danger it places Leela in, Free Waterfall Jr. reveals that the ape is an ape; [[Ndnd]] confirms it by eating it and Lrrr demands the real Leela. Only the intervention of [[Jrrr]], the poppler Leela didn't eat, saves her. Lrrr eats Free Waterfall, Jr. instead, but feels woozy from eating him and the crew retires to a meal which includes dolphin, which they deem as unintelligent because "it blew all its money on lottery tickets".
== Quotes ==
 
*'''Fry''': "Look, Leela, even if you heard one talk, that doesn't mean it's intelligent. I mean, parrots talk and we eat them, right?"<br />'''Bender''': "Yeah, it could just be a parlor trick like Fry."<br />'''Fry''': "Like Fry, Like Fry."
 
----
 
   
  +
==Ongoing Themes==
*'''TV''': "And finally, the founder of Popplers, Miss Turanga Leela."<br />'''Fry''': "Turanga?"<br />'''Amy''': "That's her name, Philip."<br />'''Bender''': "Philip?"
 
----
 
'''LRRR'''
 
''' Is he your friend too?'''
 
 
''' '''
 
'''''' JRRR'''''
 
''' No.'''
 
 
''' '''
 
''' [Lrrr eats Waterfall Jr. He pokes his head out of Lrrr's mouth.]'''
 
''' '''
 
'''''' '''''
 
'''''' '''''
 
'''''' WATERFALL JR.'''''
 
''' This is not happening.'''
 
 
''' '''
 
''' [Lrrr swallows him and everyone cheers and applauds. Lrrr clutches '''
 
his stomach.]
 
''' '''
 
'''''' '''''
 
'''''' LRRR'''''
 
''' I think there was something funny in '''
 
that hippie.
 
''' '''
 
'''''' '''''
 
'''''' LEELA'''''
 
''' Thank you, Jrrr. I hope you'll always '''
 
think of me as your mom.
 
''' '''
 
'''''' '''''
 
'''''' JRRR'''''
 
''' When my species grows up, we eat our '''
 
moms!
 
''' '''
 
'''''' '''''
 
'''''' LEELA'''''
 
''' Whoop!'''
 
 
''' '''
 
''' [She tosses Jrrr to Ndnd.]'''
 
 
''' '''
 
'''''' LRRR'''''
 
''' People of Earth - oh, that hippie's '''
 
starting to kick in - we've all learned
 
a valuable lesson today, I realise now
 
that - dude! My hand are huge! The
 
can touch anything but themselves.
 
Oh, wait.
 
   
== Trivia ==
+
===Fry and Leela===
  +
While Leela awaits execution in her cage, Fry tells her that she's beautiful and a great friend.
*The title references the ''[[Star Trek]]: The Original Series'' episode "The Trouble With Tribbles", in which it is discovered that the trouble with Tribbles is their astronomical reproductive rate.
 
*Roddenberries and "Type M Planet" are a reference to [[Wikipedia:Gene_Roddenberry|Gene Roddenberry]] and his creation, the "Star Trek" series.
 
*The vegetarian group "Mankind for Ethical Animal Treatment" (MEAT) is a parody of the real life "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" (PETA)
 
*In this episode, Bender can taste the Popplers. But in 30% Iron Chef, he has no sense of taste.
 
   
  +
===Doppelgängers===
== Appearances ==
 
  +
A dolled-up orangutan takes Leela's place at the execution.
*[[Fishy Joe]]
 
*[[Free Waterfall Jr.]]
 
*[[Jrrrr]]
 
   
  +
{{EpisodeListBroadcastOrder}}
{{Episodelist}}
 
  +
{{EpisodeListProductionOrder}}
 
[[Category:Season Two|Problem with Popplers, The]]
 
[[Category:Season Two|Problem with Popplers, The]]
  +
[[Category:Episodes]]

Revision as of 14:57, 28 June 2014

Episode
References
Appearances
Transcript
Goofs
Gallery

"Well? How are they? Oh, they're great! They're like sex! Except I'm having them!"
Fry, eating popplers for the first time

The Problem with Popplers is episode 15 in the second season of Futurama. It originally aired in North America on May 7, 2000.

Story

Desperate for food after a visit to the Planet of the Moochers, the Planet Express crew land on a planet to look for Roddenberries, and instead find the planet covered in a delectable delicacy, which they decide to sell under the name Popplers. The crew create a catchy jingle and sell Popplers on the street for $1 a dozen, with great success. Fishy Joe makes the crew an offer to sell the treats at his chain of seafood restaurants for $2 a dozen, of which they get half.

Protesters, including "Anti-food activist" Free Waterfall, Jr. rally outside the Planet Express building. A Poppler Leela is about to eat opens its eyes and says "Mama" to her; realizing that Popplers are intelligent, she joins the activists in protesting the trade in Popplers. While at first, the crew reasonably think she is delusional, but when Professor Farnsworth, suggests they painfully dissect its brain, leading the terrified Poppler to beg for protection. Shocked, they then vow to help Leela's cause, although they do not get much headway (i.e., Fry handcuffs himself to a revolving door to stop people from going into a Fishy Joe's restaurant, leading to him literally getting walked on). A televised debate between "Fishy Joe" Gilman, Free Waterfall, Jr. and Leela is interrupted by the arrival on Earth of the Omicron Persei 8, who reveal that Popplers are in fact Omicronian young, with the planet Leela, Fry, and Bender found being one of their nursuries. The Omicronians demand vengeance for the eating of their young; the initial demand that Earth 'serve' one human for each of the 198 billion Popplers eaten. However, during negotiations with Zapp, there are revealed to be not as much humans so they eventually settle on Leela, as the discoverer of Popplers, to be presented for consumption.

While Lrrr waits to eat Leela on live television, Zapp formulates a "brilliant" plan to use an orangutan to be substituted for Leela, in the hopes that the Omicronians' inability to tell humans apart can be exploited. Kif attempts to makeover the ape as best he can. Oblivious to the danger it places Leela in, Free Waterfall Jr. reveals that the ape is an ape; Ndnd confirms it by eating it and Lrrr demands the real Leela. Only the intervention of Jrrr, the poppler Leela didn't eat, saves her. Lrrr eats Free Waterfall, Jr. instead, but feels woozy from eating him and the crew retires to a meal which includes dolphin, which they deem as unintelligent because "it blew all its money on lottery tickets".

Ongoing Themes

Fry and Leela

While Leela awaits execution in her cage, Fry tells her that she's beautiful and a great friend.

Doppelgängers

A dolled-up orangutan takes Leela's place at the execution.