The following contains spoilers for Futurama season 12 episode 8, “Cuteness Overload,” now streaming on Hulu
Futurama’slatest reference toThe Simpsonsworks even better in light of the formal crossover between the shows from ten years ago. The co-creation of Matt Groening and David X. Cohen,Futuramahas never had the consistent success ofThe Simpsons. While the latter has become the longest-running prime-time show in TV history,Futurama’s enduring fanbase has suffered through multiple cancelations and apparent endings for the sci-fi comedy. Their shared creative DNA has always been a fun element of the two shows, with similar dark but silly senses of humor and an optimistic yet bittersweet view on love and life.
Currently in its twelfth broadcast season,Futuramahas also slipped in several references to its sister show over the years, ranging from easter eggs to more overt allusions. The latest is in theFuturamaseason 12 episode"Cuteness Overload," which openly referencesThe Simpsons' art style and sneaks in a clever dig atFuturama’s similar art style. The reference is fun on its own, but takes on additional meaning if one also considers the way it actually connects to the plot of crossover between the shows from a decade ago. Here’s howFuturama’s new season pokes fun atThe Simpsons.
Futurama Season 12 Presents A Harsh Reminder Of A Major Series-Long Fry Tragedy
Futurama season 12 has reinforced a long-running element of Fry’s character that’s somber but a perfect note for the character’s arc in the series.
Bart Simpson’s Futurama Season 12 Cameo, Explained
Bart Is An Image Of Horror In Futurama
A hologram of Bart Simpson appears in theFuturamaseason 12 episode “Cuteness Overload,“and it works better in light of the show’s other notable crossovers. “Cuteness Overload” is largely about a race of aliens disguised as stuffed animals. Thanks to their cute appearance, humanity is unable to stop themselves from embracing the creatures. While explaining this process to the rest of the Planet Express crew, Professor Farnsworth highlights how it comes down to the adorable look of a creature’s eyes, which reflects human evolution, and how big eyes like that of a baby trigger a protective nature in people.
The explanation ends with Farnsworth showing the group a picture of Bart Simpson, which he claims is the opposite of cute. He specifically points to the small pupils as an example of someone humanity doesn’t find adorable. The rest of the cast reacts in horror at the image, with the typically disgusting Zoidberg begging Farnsworth to take the picture down.It’s a fun jab atThe Simpsons, which shares a similar animation style withFuturama. It’s also a good reminder about how the two shows, both of which Matt Groening was involved in creation, actually exist within one another’s universe.
How The Simpsons & Futurama Are Connected In-Universe
Both Shows Exist In One Another’s Universe As A TV Series
InThe Simpsons,Futuramahas been confirmed to be an in-universe television show. The same is true forFuturama, which has seen several characters referenceThe Simpsonsand Bart Simpson in particular. Season 1’s “A Big Pile of Garbage” almost endedFuturama’s Earth, and that trash astroid included a massive pile of Bart Simpson toys. Other similar dolls of characters appear elsewhere. Season 4’s “Leela’s Homeworld” introduced a hot air balloon made from discarded Macy’s Day Parade floats, including Bart.Season 7’s “Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences” even had Matt Groening guest starand directly reference the long-awaited sequel toThe Simpsons Movie.
Conversely,Futuramahas been repeatedly referenced inThe Simpsonsas an in-universe show created by Matt Groening that was canceled too early.Bender has cameoed in several episodes, with John DiMaggio even reprising the role in season 16’s “Future-Drama.“The Simpsonshas even directly referenced attempts to getFuturamabrought back to television following cancelation, highlighting the tight connection between the two shows and shared creatives on both. This makes the Planet Express crew’s horror at Bart all the funnier, especially in light of the actual crossover that happened between the shows in 2014 during season 26 ofThe Simpsons.
Futurama Season 12 Uses The Same Niche Gimmick Twice In 4 Episodes
There’s no denying that Futurama has always been a gimmicky show, but the sci-fi sitcom has slipped up and revisited the same gag too soon.
Bart’s Latest Futurama Cameo Works Better After The Simpsons/Futurama Crossover
“Simpsorama” Turned Bart Into A Nightmare For The 31st Century
“Simpsorama” was a formal crossover betweenThe SimpsonsandFuturamathat aired following the conclusion ofFuturama’s 10th season on Comedy Central. The episode suggested that the two shows shared a universe, with Bart’s actions in the present accidentally setting up chaos in the 31st century. A prank in a time capsule left by Bart eventually mutated into a host of ravenous and dangerous aliens that brought havoc to the future. Initially, Bender is sent back in time to kill Homer and prevent his DNA from dooming the 31st century, only for the robot to become fast friends with Homer.
Serving as a tribute to its sister seriesFuturama, “Simpsorama” makes Bart being a horrifying figure in “Cuteness Overload” even funnier. It could be seen as a reference to the damage Bart’s spawn did in that crossover, making his general appearance one that elicits horror in those who see it. However, “Simpsorama” also doesn’t appear to be considered canon byFuturama, as two of the notable minor character deaths in that episode (Scruffy the Janitor and news reporter Linda) were ignored inFuturama’s most recent revival. Still, that crossover adds a great comical layer to the crew’s horror about Bart.
Should Matt Groening’s Shows All Be Set In The Same Universe?
Fun Easter Eggs Shouldn’t Create An Entirely Connected Timeline
The latestcrossover betweenThe SimpsonsandFuturamaraises an interesting question about the co-existence of multiple Matt Groening projects. On top of creatingThe Simpsonsand co-creatingFuturamawith David X. Cohen, Groening also created Netflix’sDisenchantmentand the long-running comic strip series,Life is Hell.The three shows reference one another over the years, and the idea that they may all share a single universe is a fun concept in theory. However, the specific rules and universal constants of each setting works better within their own world. This way, the strengths of each don’t actively contradict one another.
The flexible timeline ofThe Simpsonsand the relatively grounded nature of the series would be lost if it fully shared the fantastical elements ofFuturamaandDisenchantment. By contrast, those series both have strong universal arcs and mythos that contradict one another and are ideally positioned in contrast instead of in concert. All three shows are fantastic in their own right and work better on their own rather than as continuations of one another. While seeing Bart referenced inFuturamais fun, it’s good the show seems to be keeping that as the extent of their potential fuller crossover.
Futurama
Cast
Futurama is an animated science fiction series that follows Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy from late-20th-century New York City. He is accidentally cryogenically frozen for a thousand years and becomes an employee at Planet Express, a delivery service in the retro-futuristic 31st century.
