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Back to the Futurama

PODCAST · tv

Back to the Futurama

Ben and Mike take you on a podcast voyage back through one of the greatest TV shows Fox ever cancelled. We also talk about a lot of other tangets that come up, whether it's Battlebots or A-1 Steak sauce.

  1. 186

    The White Hole

    The crew is selected to go witness the birth of a new universe! But the problem is that they will age terribly, tens of millions of years! So they hatch a plan to sleep in a carbonara stasis and then shenanigans ensue. Of course. Meanwhile... well we're actually kind of on task for once? We don't go on too many digressions other than a few video games. But we do try to figure out what the worst burrito fillings are. That's a wrap on the season. See you next year! Ben makes a vegetarian lasagna. Mike tries out for a role as Dr. Doom.

  2. 185

    The Trouble with Truffles

    Bender goes truffle hunting! There's a pig! The robot mafia is there! We basically summed up the episode in three sentences. Good job everyone, we did it. Yet somehow we produced a 90 minute long episode? That's right, that must mean Back to the Futurama is back. We're also talking about the urge to throw your phone into the river and move into the forest, and a late nod to... mayonnaise? Fine, whatever who even knows what this podcast is anymore. Ben trips balls with a raccoon friend. Mike evolves his balls.

  3. 184

    Crab Splatter

    Zoidberg loses his hip bachelor pad. Leela loses patience with her parents. Fry somehow DOESN'T lose his pants in this one despite all the other times it has happened this season. Also there's something about a blenal gland and crabasaurs also existed. It's all explained in the episode. Meanwhile we're talking about millennial memes, mayonnaise, and spiders. I'm not sure if that is supposed to get you interested in this episode or make you run away. But it's probably fine because I don't think anybody actually reads these. Ben gets some shoes. Mike gets some shoes.

  4. 183

    Murderoni

    Something something scandal at a local pizzeria I simply cannot be bothered by that. But also, we go on a fun adventure to the Central Bureaucracy and fight something that does 2d12 damage. Look nerds, I accidentally say 1d12 damage when Dwight clearly said 2d12. Also I said a bastard sword does 1d12 damage when really it does 1d10, and I meant greatsword which I'm also wrong about because that does 2d6. What I was thinking of was a greataxe. Let's not call a lot of attention to it. Fry also loses his pants. So that was a plot. Meanwhile we're talking about awkward things that happen to us, pineapple on pizza: yay or nay?, arcade cabinets, and radioactive teeth. We truly contain multitudes. Ben finds a table of radioactive half-lives. Mike is perceived.

  5. 182

    Wicked Human

    The rapture is here! Everybody is getting raptured... almost. The few stragglers try to figure out why this is happening from a scientific perspective. I guess. Mostly it's just yelling about how good science is? It's fine, we'll get into it. Meanwhile we're talking about elevator music and Shakespeare plays somehow. Ben dies as he lives. Mike enters his Benoit Blanc era.

  6. 181

    Scared Screenless

    These darn kids with their screens! Always on their screens! Why won't they stop looking at them!? If only there was some sort of program to get them to stop, perhaps taught by some sort of famous war hero / war criminal? Also, while the kids are away, the parents will play (get massively drunk). Meanwhile, we're talking about the things we're bad at, our histories of being nerds on a burgeoning dial-up internet, and living in a world of enshitification. Ben performs a retro impression. Mike makes a ringtone for reasons he does not remember.

  7. 180

    The Numberland Gap

    Amy uncovers a secret number station plot to develop a device to travel to Numberland, a world where there are only numbers. ONLY NUMBERS. Bender is afraid of every number except 0 and 1. Fry tries to become an artist. Also, special guest Danica McKellar. On the Futurama episode and not our podcast. Obviously. (But if you want to guest, Danica, please reach out). Meanwhile, we're talking about movie lines, how sand is coarse and gets everywhere, numbers stations (they're real, look them up), and more! Ben gets pedantic about Morse code. Mike gets excited about math.

  8. 179

    50 Shades of Green

    Fry and Leela are on the rocks (again) and so Fry gets an illegal magic mirror to prove that Leela is his soul mate. This backfires when Leela's soul mate is revealed to be the man, the myth, the legend Branch Woodsman. Hilarity ensues. Meanwhile, we're talking about being the coolest kid in school, karaoke and strippers, and of course the esteemed acting career of one Mr. Kenny G. Ben needs to apply himself. Mike also needs to apply himself.

  9. 178

    The World is Hot Enough

    The world is doomed. Doooomed. DOOOOOOOOOOOMED! A new climatetastrophy is on the horizon after some controvertible data is processed into an obviously incontrovertible graph. A plan is hatched to save the climate once and for all (again)! We also talk about the hierarchy of biologists that is raised by the events of this episode. Meanwhile we are talking about some poorly thought out drinking games, weird place we fell asleep, and the deadliest animals of all. Ben takes sides in the eternal Cola Wars. Mike demonstrates the importance of properly labeled axes on graphs.

  10. 177

    Destroy Tall Monsters

    We're back and we're talking about the latest season, in which Bender gets really tall after making a literaly deal with the devil, and then Fry and Leela do some stuff I guess. Meanwhile we're talking about the darnedest things that the kids say. Ben dispenses Tinder advice. Mike buys one art.

  11. 176

    Season 9 Wrapup

    The first order of Hulu episodes is done, and we're here to give our thoughts about it. What did we like? Did we like things? Let's find out. See you in season 10! Or season 13. Whatever it is we hope you're there. Ben turns neutral. Mike turns the camera on society.

  12. 175

    Otherwise

    This is it. It's over. The Planet Express Ship is dead and so is the show. (Not really. There will be more episodes to come next season!) Fry experiences Deja Vu. Not really. It's somehow all the things that were and could be and also a ghost ship of the Planet Express ship. I feel a little bit like I'm typing nonsense into this episode description, but am I wrong about any of it? No. Meanwhile, we're talking about things I'm pretty sure the PodDecks have given us before, the perils of a rewatch show turning into a recap show, how we can't remember what we even had for breakfast, and more! Ben fails upward. Mike shows some ass respect.

  13. 174

    The Futurama Mystery Liberry

    It's an anthology episode! Hooray(?) We're looking at three different mysteries: Lancy Trew, FryFry, and Wikipedia Brown. It's... certainly an episode of television. Meanwhile, we're talking about infinite tacos vs. infinite sushi, whether or not cream cheese soda would be good, whether the rest of the world thinks we're weird for chili, and many more! Don't forget, we're sending out stickers to anybody who donates $5 or more to any of the organizations listed in this article to help with hurricane relief: BPR News — Ways to donate and help flood victims in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene Also! Ben was on an episode of The Great and Secret Knowledge, talking about the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz! You can check it out here: https://greatandsecretknowledge.libsyn.com/the-wizard-of-oz-1939-with-ben-mooney Ben likes his cream cheese soda. Mike chooses Big Pink.

  14. 173

    Cuteness Overlord

    Amy gets heavily into the world of collecting Fuzzy Funbags, a clear Beanie Babies analog, and she does it at the expense of her own children and some orphans. This probably also happened with Beanie Babies in the 90s, just don't think too hard about it! Also, a bunch of different DOOP bases have had a strange number of deaths that is probably not related. Just don't think too hard about it! Meanwhile we're reinventing Pod Decks and trying to start a new Pod Deck Cast. Sorry? Ben throws out some baseball cards. Mike buys some tulips.

  15. 172

    Planet Espresso

    Hermes follows in his dad's footsteps by leaving his family to harvest that dank Jamaican... coffee. And Planet Express becomes Planet Espresso (hey! That's the name of the episode!) Meanwhile, we're talking about the things people are obsessed with that we just don't get, and also talk about Twin Peaks an awful lot considering neither one of us has really watched it. Stay tuned for Twin to the Peakarama coming this winter! (This will not be happening.) Don't forget, we're sending out stickers to anybody who donates $5 or more to any of the organizations listed in this article to help with hurricane relief: BPR News — Ways to donate and help flood victims in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene Ben considers becoming a Twin Peaks Guy. Mike sells an ad to Dunkin Donuts.

  16. 171

    Special Announcement: Hurricane Relief Fundraiser

    Hello! As I'm sure you are already aware, there is some terrible flooding and damage in the southeastern United States right now due to hurricane Helene. We also happen to have a lot of Back to the Futurama stickers sitting around. How are those two things related? Well... if you donate $5 or more to any of the charities on this list from bpr.org and send us a screenshot of the receipt, we'll send you one of those stickers and a handwritten note. That's it! Simple as that. Pick your preferred charity off this list and let us know about it and get probably the most expensive sticker of your life — but you can rest easy knowing that the money you spent will go to those in need instead of two dinguses on the internet who talk about a thrice-canceled TV show. BPR News — Ways to donate and help flood victims in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene

  17. 170

    Attack of the Clothes

    The Professor gives up on his first love (science) to dive headfirst into his first love (fashion). It's sort of like the "Distracted Boyfriend" meme but it's just the Professor looking at fashion. What is the worst that could go wrong here? Meanwhile, we're talking about what it would cost to sell our toe(?) and also who we would main in a Smash Bros. style Futurama game with every single character. Don't forget to check out the Climate Town episode "Fast Fashion is Hot Garbage" at the following link. Tell 'em that Back to the Futurama sent you. They will be very confused by this: https://youtu.be/F6R_WTDdx7I?si=BcVZYP38CBXlz5Bb Ben gets ennui. Mike gets a Slurm Factory F-shirt.

  18. 169

    One is Silicon and the Other Gold

    Leela gets a new friend and joins a book club. The boys start their own book club. Somehow all this leads to somebody drowning in a giant wine bottle. How does that make any sense? Listen to the episode and we'll find out together. Meanwhile, we talk about some superstitions and what beverages we want to drown in and then serve at our own funeral. The clip of "Make New Friends" comes from Miss Nina on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V8S-gzjaMc Ben protects a mug. Mike hates a book.

  19. 168

    Beauty and the Bug

    After a brief hiatus, we're back, baby! And we're talking about how Bender falls in love with a beautiful fembot and the sport of bug fighting. Amy takes a stance on animal rights (as long as those animals are not pigs), and Fry drops his cerveza hat. Meanwhile, we're talking about bad pickup lines and our favorite cold winter foods. Ben sleeps under a pile of cats. Mike eats some Beyond Buggalo.

  20. 167

    The Twinkie Wiener Sandwich Saga: The Ben and Mike Story: Thank You Weird Al For Ruining My Life: The Podcast

    Mike is still off this week so here is us eating some Twinkie wiener sandwiches. That's... it. That's basically all this is. Ben eats a Twinkie wiener sandwich. Mike eats a Twinkie wiener sandwich.

  21. 166

    Ski Lodge

    Mike is going to be out of the country for a few weeks! Luckily, we managed to get this week's episode ahead of time. Sure, it may be on an old VHS tape, but everything seems on the up-and-up. Ben is assigned a mascot. Mike recognizes the Jeopardy! font.

  22. 165

    The Temp

    Fry is behaving strange... he likes his job, he is using soap? Is this even the same Fry? It turns out... no, it is not. It's.................................... uh....................... Frank. That's right. Meanwhile, we're talking about the various strategies for progression of time in cartoons that last forever (and trust us, Futurama will last forever because we'll have to do this podcast until we are dead), and the things that we wish we loved. We wish that you love this podcast! Enjoy! Or don't, we're not the boss of you. Ben guesses what the context is about. Mike bathes in cilantro.

  23. 164

    Quids Game

    It's Fry's birthday! And instead of the two hours of staring into the void like he wants, he instead gets a surprise birthday party re-enacting all his childhood trauma. We watch basically everybody die as they compete to survive here in the Quids Game. We also talk about which celebrity chef we would like to cook us a meal and we cover the wide world of knockoff Dr Peppers. Ben is not a real doctor, but he is a real worm, he is an actual worm. Mike does his best to avenge Kif.

  24. 163

    The One Amigo

    It's 2024, so obviously Futurama is talking about the hottest new thing on the internet... NFTs? Yeah, I was as surprised as you were. Anyway. Somehow that leads to Bender going to Mexico in order to reconnect with his familia, the PlanEx crew plans a daring NFT art heist. But you can't steal an NFT because something something I don't know and honestly don't care. Meanwhile we're talking about house guests, Caesar salads, and the Monster with 21 Faces. Plus, a discussion about what are we even doing here with new Futurama thanks to some much belated fan email. Ben nudges the mouse, ever so slightly, to keep the computer awake. Mike learns about a kidnapping.

  25. 162

    Intermission Theater Presents: UHF

    While we wait for Futurama to return, we take a break and talk about the 1989 Weird Al film UHF. Obviously, Mike likes it, but what does Ben think? What is a UHF anyway? Ben demands plot relevancy in his sandwiches. Mike is in his natural element.

  26. 161

    Season 8 Midseason Recap

    We're recapping our feelings on the first ten episodes of the Futurama re-re-reboot! And in turn, we end up talking a lot about reboot culture in general. Ben parties down. Mike builds a multiverse.

  27. 160

    All the Way Down

    The Professor's simulation makes the crew ask a very important question: are they, themselves, part of a larger simulation? The answer is a big-ass shrug. Maybe. Maybe not. Meanwhile, we are talking about the Monty Hall Problem, The Sims, failure to name things in D&D, and so much more! Ben looks for the ghost of Brenda. Mike remembers Steevarooni.

  28. 159

    The Prince and the Product

    On a delivery to the space king, the Planet Express crew is repeatedly interrupted by commercials where the Planet Express crew is toys for some reason. We get Windos. We get Round Wheels. We get Eggulons. What is not to love? Well...... a lot actually. Meanwhile we're talking about famous celebrity voices, the worst fighting game of all time, the ship of Theseus, and it's all in your podfeeds. What a deal! Collect all 158. Ben gets a plaque. Mike buys toys for his children.

  29. 158

    Zapp Gets Canceled

    As the title suggests, Zapp gets canceled. But mostly this episode is that Leela gets a new job as the Doop captain of the Nimbus. And then she goes to visit aliens in a bucket to try to peace treaty all their air away. If that doesn't make sense, you didn't see the episode I guess. Ben gives a lesson on 2006 viral videos. Mike gets the only worthwhile writing advice from Clippy.

  30. 157

    Rage Against the Vaccine

    Explovid 23 hits the scene and it's making everybody angry! It's... the pandemic episode. I don't know what to say about it. But hey, Bonebot is here and he's serving up bone puns. Ben is watching indie movies based on location. Mike releases new anti-Dr-Banjo merch.

  31. 156

    I Know What You Did Next Xmas

    Professor Farnsworth goes back in time to make Santa NOT kill everybody. Meanwhile, Zoidberg and Bender have to try to hide a corpse. Everybody is having a wonderful Xmas time. We also talk turducken and Paul McCartney. Which is I guess ironic because he's a vegetarian. Oh well. Ben apologizes. Mike apologies for nothing.

  32. 155

    Related to Items You've Viewed

    This episode was automatically downloaded to your podfeed courtesy of Invesa: the latest technolgoy from Mom Corp. We have also ordered you some egg shaped chairs for your egg shaped friends, a bottle to pee in, a lamp that looks like your partner's previous lover, and a large array of crap you will inevitably put straight into the dumpster. Thank you for using Momazon, a Mom Corp company. Momazon is everything. You can never leave. Ben remembers the name of a car. Mike gets a race car bed.

  33. 154

    Parasites Regained

    The worms are back in town (the worms are back) The worms are back in town (the worms are back) guitar solo The worms are back and they're making Nibler... dumb? Also we've got a whole Dune thing going on and SURPRISE SURPRISE neither of your intrepid hosts know anything about Dune. Ben reads a book and a half. Mike regrets his lunchtime activities.

  34. 153

    How the West Was 1010001

    The PlanEx crew heads to the old west (old west, got it) to mine ore to sell to bitcoin miners. Everybody has their own little old west (old west, got it) adventures. We are also talking about whatever the hell Mike's card says. I already forgot. Ben becomes a knife-gun druid. Mike grades vocabulary.

  35. 152

    Children of a Lesser Bog

    It's been 20 years in the making, but Kif and Amy's kids emerge from the swamp. Axl, Mandy, and little what's his name are here and they grow incredibly attached to... Leela? It makes for some drama as Amy questions her value as a parent. Kif also blows up a lot of bears. And there's a plot about honey candy. Don't ask me, I didn't write it. Meanwhile, we're talking about laughing at funerals and farting during weddings, the return of the WIDOW'S WALK, and the peril of forgetting names. Ben starts a bumper sticker business. Mike has faith in the Bear Biologist.

  36. 151

    The Impossible Stream

    Good news, everyone! Futurama is back on Hulu and they're talking about Fulu bringing back All My Circuits! It is meta! So. There's that. We talk about what we liked and what we didn't. We talk a little bit about Johnny 2 Cellos in this one and honestly, if you like us you ought to give him a watch over on YouTube! He covers Futurama and a bunch of our other favorite animated shows, too. Find him at https://www.youtube.com/@Johnny2Cellos Ben copies some homework. Mike introduces a new bit.

  37. 150

    An Announcement

    A quick announcement. That is all.

  38. 149

    Back to the Futurama Finale

    This is it. We're done. Podcast over. I hope you enjoy our self-congratulations, our lister-provided-congratulations, and a few surprises along the way. See you on some other podcast! (That podcast is at https://goodmorninggreendale.com no need for us to be coy about it) Ben says goodbye. Mike says goodbye.

  39. 148

    Meanwhile

    This is it. It's the last one. We're talking about the last Futurama episode and it is called "Meanwhile" and we liked it. Fry and Leela finally get some quality time together. Maybe too much time? No, no it's just the right amount of time. Meanwhile (heh, get it?) we talk about the English language melting, Cornface dot com, marriage proposals, and y'know... feelings. Feelings about the end of the TV series we love so much. Ben becomes time-ified spaghetti. Mike feels challenged by hot surfers.

  40. 147

    Stench and Stenchibility

    It stinks! Wait, what is this, a podcast where we talk about the television series, The Critic? No, sir! This is Futurama land. But it does stink because Zoidberg makes it stink. But he also finds love. Somehow. Through all the stink. It's a lot to process. Also a B-plot involving a joke well past its prime. Meanwhile we are talking about the hot new trend in Phoenix, Arizona that should definitely be called the Orange Joe. This episode is brought to you by http://www.tcbcrochet.com/ for your hand-made crochet needs. Ben skips straight to the blood loss. Mike goes to the domed body parts Superdome.

  41. 146

    Murder on the Planet Express

    We're going on the Back to the Futurama Studios corporate retreat! And we probably won't die! Hey also the Planet Express crew is also doing a retreat. And they might just die thanks to an alien that gets loose on the ship. We're also talking about the names for rooms where one might eliminate waste, Jesus camps, exciting sounding books you can buy right now on Amazon. Ben watches his favorite holiday movies. Mike joins a coven of rats.

  42. 145

    Game of Tones

    An evil tone is going to destroy the planet why not? But that's not important, because most of this episode is hanging out in Fry's dreams. Or memories. Or dream memories. It's not totally clear, but it does mean he can't go to the Booby Tuesday's. Ben, meanwhile, does the important business of pointing out that popcorn is a SCAM. That's the kind of thing they'd say "Hey you'll want to check out this important thing on the news tonight but we're going to wait until after sports." Also, Mike talks about sports. It's kind of his thing. Ben is pro-rulers-at-movie-theaters. Mike is forced to also be pro-rulers-at-movie-theaters.

  43. 144

    Leela and the Genestalk

    We're taking a look at the CONTROVERSIAL world of GENETIC ENGINEERING and also the somehow less controversial world of being a big ball of tentacles with a face. Leela is a big ball of tentacles with a face. Fry still loves her though. Not controversial. Meanwhile we talk an awful lot about left-handedness in cartoons and the best made up disease to have. We also contemplate the best condiment to put on a hat prior to eating it. Ben wishes to be the friction in your genes. Mike takes a look in a book.

  44. 143

    Assie Come Home

    What would you do if you had... ...no ass? Bender can't even begin to contemplate this after he gets his ass stolen out from under him. That's pretty much all this episode is about. It's about butts. We cannot lie about it. Ben and Mike talk about what their states are famous for and the scale of sexy vs. scary in Halloween costumes. And good sports team colors. It's another day at the Back to the Futurama factory. Ben eats Rocky Mountain oysters. Mike hails from a commonwealth.

  45. 142

    Calculon 2.0

    Have you ever brought technology back from the dead? (If so, drink!) Since Calculon is dead that's exactly what the Planet Express crew decides to do. Let's mess with ghosts and spirits and corpses. Also, Calculon is bad at acting as it turns out. Meanwhile, we savor the senioritis of the final run of this podcast. Stay Sassy. Love You Like A Brother. I wrote in your crack. Ben does magic with electricity. Mike opens a cursed tomb.

  46. 141

    Saturday Morning Fun Pit

    What's the best part of Saturday morning? Watching cartoons, of course. So this is a podcast about a cartoon watching cartoons. If that's not meta enough for you, get the heck out of here. It's a Scooby-Doo ripoff and a Smurfs ripoff and a G.I. Joe ripoff all in one! We also talk an awful lot about cereal in this one. Also a chicken that should not be eaten. And too much breakfast to be eaten. Ben eats some bacons. Mike forms a breakfast factory union.

  47. 140

    The Inhuman Torch

    Let's say you get accused of being a serial arsonist instead of an incredible hero. What do you do? How do you clear your name? That's the challenge Bender has to face. Meanwhile, we have to deal with challenges of our own, like the Game of Life and... uh... arson I guess. And our inability to play as Bender in Tony Hawk Pro Skater games. Or where to store a baby while trying to eat two different festival foods. Life is hard. Ben turns into Red Forman. Mike opens an account at a vampire bank.

  48. 139

    Fry and Leela's Big Fling

    This episode would make for great listening in the coital-adjacent times in your secluded couple's retreat. Unless SHAWN shows up with his saxophone. Also you may or may not be in a zoo. That's... basically the entire plot to this episode. Be prepared for jazz noodling. We spend the rest of the episode getting dunked on in a live chat and talking about baboon butts. Thanks to Matt and Laura for being patreon supporters and also dunking on us and sending us a lot of baboon butt pictures while we recorded this audio programme. Ben builds a desk chair. Mike has an after dinner mint.

  49. 138

    T.: The Terrestrial

    When Fry gets stranded on a strange planet full of the dankest lettuce, he of course befriends a child and eats turds. None of that is a typo. Buckle up. Meanwhile, we talk about Mike's strangest fears and one of Ben's favorite video games and take an interesting look at the age old theory that men are from a different planet and women are from yet another different planet. Ben orders a clone from Amazon Prime. Mike considers pooping outside.

  50. 137

    2-D Blacktop

    The professor joins a street racing gang, Leela gets a minivan, there's a 2-D world. There's a lot going on here. Let's try to unpack it all, which will be easier to do in a 2-D space! Or... harder? I'm not sure how it works. Meanwhile we talk about Osmosis Jones for some reason and Die Hard for some reason and Speed Buggy... but there's a reason we talk about Speed Buggy. There's a lot going on on our end, too. Ben does serious Speed Buggy research. Mike experiences osmosis with interesting results.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Ben and Mike take you on a podcast voyage back through one of the greatest TV shows Fox ever cancelled. We also talk about a lot of other tangets that come up, whether it's Battlebots or A-1 Steak sauce.

HOSTED BY

Ben & Mike

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