Xmas Story
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Xmas Story Written by David X. Cohen
Directed by Peter Avanzino
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Production code: 2ACV04 Original Airdate: 19-Dec-1999
TV Guide synopsis:
Fry discovers that feeling of good will and joy are not part
of Christmas in Y3k, in fact Saint Nick isn't jolly at all
-- he's a feared robot who torments all those dare to walk
the streets on Christmas Eve. John Goodman guest-voices as
Santa. Conan O'Brien also guest-voices, as himself.
Title Sequence
Opening theme promotion:
Based On A True Story
Opening theme cartoon:
"Fresh Hare," 1943
Did You Notice...
... Bender says the Y2K bug was "fixed 900 years ago," which
would mean around the year 2100? The year 2100 is in fact
the next opportunity for two-digit years to present such a
problem. (Some call it the "Y2.1K bug.")
... Leela says that global warming happened ("but nuclear winter
cancelled it out"), but in [1ACV08], Mayor Poopenmeyer called
global warming a scientific fraud?
... Zoidberg's Cousin Zoidfarb sends him an Xmas card, even
though all the Zoidfolk seem to be Jewish?
... Leela's prom dress looks pretty normal for something pieced
together out of carpet remnants (as we learn in [3ACV07])?
... there's an "X" taped onto the floor where Leela's prom date
is supposed to have been standing?
... Santa Claus was manufactured by the Friendly Robot Company,
not Mom's Friendly Robot Company. Does he predate a merger?
Is this why he didn't show up for Mother's Day [2ACV14]?
... Bongo, the one-eared rabbit from Life in Hell, for sale
in the pet store?
Joe Klemm:
... Tinny Tim has a crutch for a right arm?
... the "No Banana Peels" sign at the clocktower?
... at the end, the time on the clocktower was the same as
the time in EST and PST?
Haynes Lee:
... clock at the end is in synch to the airing of the show
(8:57 p.m.)?
John Plasket:
... Fry does not seem to know left from right as he attempts
Zoidberg's apology dance?
Voice Credits
- Starring
- Billy West (Fry, Dr. Zoidberg, Prof. Farnsworth)
- Katey Sagal (Leela)
- John DiMaggio (Bender)
- Special Guest Voices
- John Goodman (Santa)
- Conan O'Brien
- Also Starring
- Dave Herman (Robo 2)
- Maurice LaMarche (Morbo)
- Phil Lamarr (Hermes Conrad, Preacherbot, Robo 1)
- Tress MacNeille (Linda, Tinny Tim)
- Lauren Tom (Amy Wong)
Movie (and other) References
+ Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series)
- His band is led by Max Weinberg's head
+ A Charlie Brown Christmas (TV)
- The skating children scene, and its background music
+ There was Jamaican bobsled team in the 1994 Olympics.
+ Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Movie)
- Computer error makes space probe destroy inferior life. {hl}
+ Charles Dickens: {hl}
- Tinny Tim (from A Christmas Carol).
- Asking for more food (from Oliver Twist).
+ Safety Last (1923), with Harold Lloyd (Movie)
- Fry hanging onto digital clock display.
+ "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (Song)
- Some dialogue, and the closing carol (which has
changed quite a bit in the last 1000 years).
+ "Gift of the Magi", by O. Henry (Short Story)
- Selling hair to buy combs.
+ The Simpsons
- [4F11] Scary robotic Santa.
Previous Episode References
- [1ACV03] Hattie (the landlady) appears.
- [1ACV06] Alien Overlord & Taylor appears.
- [1ACV09] Preacher from the Church of Robotology.
- [2ACV01] Three-armed mutant in the sewer
Freeze Frame Fun
- Catskills Lodge: Children Under 90 Admitted Free
- [[[Signs on buildings as they zoom past.]]]
- Bender's Xmas Card:
- Cover:
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- Inside:
MERRY XMAS
SON #1729
- Fry's Xmas Card (Deleted Scene on DVD):
Merry Xmas
From Your Loving Nephew,
Prof. Hubert Farnsworth
- Leela's "Happy Memories" photo album:
- Baby picture by an "Abandoned Property" sign
- Sporting braces at the Orphanarium
- Attending the Senior Prom without a date.
- News subhead (Deleted Scene on DVD):
Rev. Lionel Preacherbot
- Our Motherboard of Mercy
LIQUOR KITCHEN
- Sign inside: Booze Saves
- Alien Overlord & Taylor
- Sign inside: Xmas Sale: 3% Off
- Joe's Ark Pet Store
Formerly Noah's Ark Shoe Store
- Dogs: $5.00 / Leg
- Cerrado Para Xavidad
[[[Alien alphabet presumably also sez closed for xmas.]]]
- Sign on ledge: [[[???]]]. No Banana Peels
Animation, Continuity, and Other Goofs
Who sent Fry an Xmas card? {ddg}
- A deleted scene on the DVD reveals that it was Prof. Farnsworth. {jd}
Reviews
Phish Eggs: This episode was truly great, it had dramatic content
that didn't turn to into painful sappiness (ala the pilot).
Quite an accomplishment really, and one of the funniest Futurama
episodes yet. Of course the evil robotic Santa was the
highlight. (A)
John Plasket: When a great television program does an Xmas special,
I hope and pray that it doesn't suck. "Xmas Story" joins the
list of "non-sucking" Xmas episodes. It has all the makings of
a great Xmas special: loneliness, glee, giant robotic Santas ...
the list just goes on. And as far as Futurama episodes go,
it was pretty damn good. (A+)
Eric Sansoni: The usual laughs, emotion, and imagination, but not as
much. The evil Santa, who inspires some exciting, well-animated
action scenes, is too broad a concept; after his one-sentence
description there are no surprises. The humor is mostly as good
as ever (Fry on the digital clock, the bird, "I'm so hungry"),
but sags in a latter-day Simpsons way when jokes repeat too often
(nudism, "Xmas"). Things seem whittled down to a formula, with
an unrelated intro, various Y3K cultural updates, some sentiment,
an antisocial Bender side plot, and a climactic action scene. All
are good, but none stand out or successfully tie it all together.
More emotion and less action would have made a better mix. (B)
Comments and Other Observations
Jym Dyer: A specific date and time appear in this episode:
24-Dec-3000 and 08:57:08 (p.m., presumably Eastern time).
In a deleted scene on the DVD, we learn that Preacherbot's
full name is "Rev. Lionel Preacherbot."
Newsradio
Eric Sansoni: This episode features some flat-out uncanny
parallels to the late, lamented NBC sitcom Newsradio:
- Both were the 17th episodes to air of their respective
series.
- Both were the first Christmas-themed episodes of their
respective series.
- Both aired on December 19th (four years apart).
- Both share the identical title "Xmas Story".
- Both have plots involving a homicidal Santa Claus character.
- Newsradio/Futurama writer/producer Lewis Morton wrote
Newsradio's "Xmas Story".
Ray Kassinger: And don't forget the famous nude Scrabble game
between Matthew, Jimmy James and Bill in that NewsRadio
episode (cut for syndication).
Quotes and Scene Summary
At the Catskills Lodge, Conan O'Brien is telling jokes to the
breakfast crowd, which includes Bender drinking a Bloody Mary.
[Deleted Scene (from DVD)]
Amy slips while getting off the ski lift, then tumbles into
the whole crew, knocking everyone down.
Bender: You'll be getting a call from my lawyer.
Amy: I hope so. I slept with him last night
-- "Xmas Story"
[End of Deleted Scene]
Zoidberg: You, a bobsledder? That I like to see.
Hermes: Listen, you filthy crab, a thousand years ago there
there was a legendary team of Jamaican bobsledders.
Fry: Yup, I remember. They came in last at the Olympics,
then retired to promote alcoholic beverages."
Hermes: A true inspiration for the children.
-- "Xmas Story"
The newscaster shows a shelter for homeless robots who can't
even get the alcohol they need to function.
Linda: Is there anything sadder? Only drowning puppies, and
there'd have to be a lot of them.
-- Hard news, "Xmas Story"
Santa: I checked my list.
Fry: Well, check it twice.
Santa: I perform over 50 megachecks per second.
-- Even Katherine Harris can't stop this recount, "Xmas Story"
Fry: Please, let us live! We'll put out milk and cookies for you.
Santa: You dare bribe Santa? I'm going to shove coal so far up
your stocking you'll be coughing up diamonds!
Fry: I never thought it would end this way: gunned down by Santa
Claus. Honestly, I didn't see it coming!
-- He should have watched "When Santas Attack," "Xmas Story"
Santa: My God, Bender, framing an orphan! That's so naughty, I'll
have to add it to my list right now.
-- Not how he became known as "Honest Bender," "Xmas Story"
The clocktower reads 08:57:08, and fade out ...
Contributors
Capsule authored by Jym Dyer.
{ddg} Don Del Grande
{jd} Jym Dyer
{rk} Ray Kassinger
{jk} Joe Klemm
{hl} Haynes Lee
{jp} John (scArA) Plasket
{es} Eric Sansoni