Futurama is back, baby, and in the first two episodes of its fourteenth season, the series has already taken on lab-grown meat and scammers. The upcoming third episode, “Our Flag Means Medical Coverage,” spoofs the pirate genre as Fry and Bender have to deal with a group of space pirates who have stolen some priceless cargo. And it wouldn’t be a Futurama episode unless there were a whole bunch of references and Easter eggs—some so clever and obscure you might miss them.
Luckily, we’ve got some exclusive character sketches and quotes from supervising director Pete Avanzino to break down all the references in the episode.
“There are a few things that are direct nods to the [Pirates of the Caribbean ride]—one is the famous pirate chasing a woman, (or later a woman chasing a pirate) turntable mechanic from the ride,” said Avanzino. “In the show, Fry and Leela are on a table top that is being rotated so that Leela seems to be chasing Fry around in a circle. Also, the choreography in the pirate song is inspired by the ride, specifically how they raise their mugs in a salute. And of course, Zapp’s Jack Sparrow-inspired disguise is from the movie.”
Below, Avanzino walks us through a few of the episode’s pirate characters and explains the inspiration behind each one.
The leader of the pirate gang, Captain Longjohn Longjohns, is “…a spoof of Long John Silver from Treasure Island,” said Avanzino. “His appearance is an Easter egg though—calling back to episode [320], ‘Godfellas,’ where we first met a pirate of his race.”
“Ultraviolet-Beard is a spoof of Blackbeard. We made him a bearded alien,” said Avanzino.
“Don Electro is named after and shaped like a guitar called the Danelectro,” said Avanzino.
Avanzino also offered up two more intriguing tidbits that you’ll have to check out the episode to fully appreciate: “Bonny Bonnie Bonney is a spoof of Anne Bonny, the female pirate,” he said. Also, “when Glab says she’s hired a couple of know-nothings to deliver the piano, and then Fry and Bender enter saying ‘Hello,’ that is a tribute to Lenny and Squiggy entering on Laverne & Shirley.”
Pirates and Laverne & Shirley in one episode—what more could you ask for?
Futurama season 14, episode three, “Our Flag Means Medical Coverage,” airs Monday, August 10, on Hulu.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
