| "Future-Drama" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |||
| Episodeno. | Season 16 Episode 15 | ||
| Directed by | Mike B. Anderson | ||
| Written by | Matt Selman | ||
| Production code | GABF12 | ||
| Original air date | April 17, 2005 (2005-04-17) | ||
| Guest appearances | |||
| |||
| Episode features | |||
| Couch gag | Several toy-like forms of transportation come into the living room, only to changeTransformers-like into the family. | ||
| Commentary | Al Jean Matt Selman Tom Gammill Max Pross Mike Reiss John DiMaggio Mike B. Anderson Lauren MacMullan Jon Vitti | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
| |||
| The Simpsonsseason 16 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"Future-Drama" is the fifteenth episode of thesixteenth season of the American animated television seriesThe Simpsons. The 350th episode overall, it originally aired on theFox network in the United States on April 17, 2005.[1] In the episode,Bart andLisa stumble intoProfessor Frink's basement, and he gives them a look into their future as teenagers getting ready for their high school graduation.
Matt Selman wrote the episode, andMike B. Anderson served as director.Amy Poehler andJohn DiMaggio guest-starred as the characters of Jenda andBender, respectively. The episode received mixed reviews.
In the midst of one of their arguments,Bart andLisa fall intoProfessor Frink's basement. Frink uses anastrology-based machine toshow the kids their future as teenagers.
Eight years in the future (2013), Bart and Lisa are getting ready for theirhigh schoolgraduation andHomer andMarge have separated after Homer blew the family savings on anundersea home. Lisa is graduating two years early and has a scholarship toYale University, while dating a muscularMilhouse and Bart dates a skateboarder named Jenda. He also shows them a picture of Lisa at age 12 (2009) after she was saved by Milhouse from a fire, which she later learns that he started. After the prom, Jenda wants to have sex with Bart, but Bart has no plans for the future and wants Jenda to marry him and live an aimless life, so she breaks up with him.
Bart unsuccessfully seeks advice from Homer on dating. He then shows Lisa ahologram of the prom, and tells her love can be painful; she agrees, noting she broke up with Milhouse and he had anIncredible Hulk-style meltdown. Lisa suggests that to get Jenda back, he must show her he can provide for her. Bart decides to take Lisa's advice and gets a job at theKwik-E-Mart. While delivering groceries to Mr. Burns, he rescues him from a robbery bySnake Jailbird. As a reward, Burns gives Lisa's scholarship to Bart. He accepts it, seeing it as a way to get Jenda back. He then tells Lisa about the scholarship causing present and future Lisa to both get angry at Bart. Bart reconciles with Jenda, and now has a good future. That night, Jenda again wants to have sex with Bart, but then he goes into Professor Frink's basement and sees Lisa's bleak future with Milhouse on Frink's machine. Jenda is furious at Bart (she notes she never had any problems sparking romance with Todd Flanders), and gives him an ultimatum: leave and they are finished. Bart does head out and saves Lisa from accepting Milhouse's dismal proposal, then tells his sister he is giving her scholarship back and will find a woman who loves him for himself. Professor Frink then tells present Bart he will get one at age 83, then die one minute later, and his brain would be buried in a pauper's grave.
Meanwhile, Marge has dumpedKrusty and reunites with Homer in the underwater home. During the credits, Bart is shown to find the sequence boring, and instead watchesCletus Spuckler's future as the Vice President of the United States on his way to a funeral for theSultan of Brunei.
The episode was written byMatt Selman, his thirteenth writing credit forThe Simpsons. The episode was the third season sixteen episode thatMike B. Anderson directed, following "Fat Man and Little Boy" and "Pranksta Rap". It was the third future-themed episode ofThe Simpsons, following theseason six episode "Lisa's Wedding" and theseason eleven episode "Bart to the Future".[2][3]
Even though this is the 350th episode broadcast on FOX, the 350th in production order is "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star" (which was temporarily shelved following Pope John Paul II's death, and was originally supposed to air after "Don't Fear the Roofer").
In an interview, Selman stated that the story of the episode originated when he asked himself what if people saw Bart and Lisa grow up as "ugly teenagers".[4]
Amy Poehler guest starred as Jenda.[5]John DiMaggio reprised his role asBender from the television seriesFuturama, created bySimpsons creatorMatt Groening.[6]
The episode's title is a parody of the TV seriesFuturama, which was also created bySimpsons creatorMatt Groening.[7] The characterBender makes a cameo appearance when Homer and Bart pass through aquantum tunnel; voice actorJohn DiMaggio reprised his role voicing Bender.[7] The song playing while Homer and Bart cruise through the former's hovercar is "I.G.Y." byDonald Fagen. The songs "Take On Me" bya-ha, "Bizarre Love Triangle" byNew Order, "Incense and Peppermints" byStrawberry Alarm Clock, and "True" bySpandau Ballet[8] are played during Bart and Lisa's prom. "Sea of Love" byPhil Phillips plays while Homer and Marge kiss in the former's aquatic home. "Lenny's Super Pet" bears a strong resemblance toSuperman's pet dog,Krypto the Superdog.[9]
In its original American broadcast, "Future-Drama" garnered roughly 8.3 million viewers. The show finished third in its original timeslot.[10]
Hayden Childs ofThe A.V. Club wrote in 2011 that the episode was "full of sweetness and funny", but he thought "Holidays of Future Passed" was better.[3]
Colin Jacobson ofDVD Movie Guide felt time travel episodes were "spotty" and thought the episode was "the weakest show in a while."[11]
OnFour Finger Discount, Guy Davis and Brendan Dando thought it was a "by the numbers" episode where nothing stood out. They liked the ending when Bart makes the sacrifice for Lisa.[12]
The episode was also nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour) in 2005.[13]
