This week, 'Futurama' takes on educational children's programming and basic cable, 'cause those guys have had it coming for FAR TOO LONG!

I don’t think there’s ever been an episode of Futurama that doesn’t include pop culture and social parody, but “Yo Leela Leela” is definitely focusing it’s sharp wit on kid’s TV. Leela’s Rumbledy-Hump is reminiscent of nonsensical, super-cheery preschool shows like Teletubbies, Barney and Yo Gabba Gabba. Captain Mega-Meat and his young ward Bottomless Boy is a subtle reference to those delightfully manipulative fast-food commercials. The nod to occasional Futurama voice actor Tom Kenny with Spongebot Squarebolts was a nice touch, as was switching out Nickelodeon’s iconic slime with Slurm. And Popular Slut Club — with that awesomely to-the-point theme song — reminds me why I can’t stand Gossip Girl (sorry, Rachel).

While the storyline itself is a little thin, the jokes are packed into this episode. There’s a reason I’ve put so many quotes at the bottom of this week’s review. Almost every line of dialogue is hilarious, which is rare even in this great show.

I saw the big reveal coming from a mile away, but the payoff at the end is funny, if not a bit uncomfortable. The episode focuses on Leela’s ego getting out of control; when Leela begs to be punished for her plagiarism, her real punishment is seeing these creatures and orphans happily getting manipulated by “the biz.” It’s not as dark or as effective as the ending of “The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz,” but the point is made. Overall, it’s a decent episode that pokes fun at its own industry. I just hope this isn’t the last we see of the orphans.

All the best quotes:

“Penetrates even the thickest foil hat.” — title card joke

“Hi kids! What book would you like me to read first?” — Leela

“We don’t got books no more.” — Albert the orphan

“What?” — Leela

“He means ‘anymore.’ Look, sometimes you have to choose between eating and reading … so they ate the books.” — Warden Vogel

“Miss Leela? I have a question.” — Albert

“Yes, Albert?” — Leela

“That story was bad.” — Albert

“That’s not really a question.” — Leela

“That wasn’t really a story.” — Albert

“Guys, guys, guess who just got commissioned as a tugboat!” — Bender

“Warden Vogel, I have a new story for the children. I’m sure they’ll like it more than my last one.” — Leela

“They liked more hunger cramps more than you last one. Anyhow, you’ll have to wait. The kids are busy right now.” — Vogel

“Oh, is the organ-harvesting clown here?” — Leela

“No, Rusty comes on Tuesdays now.” — Vogel

“Oh my gawd, there’s Jake Finkleberg. He’s so hot! … I wish he wasn’t my brother.” — Popular Slut from Popular Slut Club

“Thanks for the brain scans, kids! Don’t have any children for the next couple of days.” – Abner Doubledeal, Tickleodean Network executive

“Will you come back again and tell us more stories and also adopt us all?” — Nina the orphan

“Of course I’ll tell you more stories!” — Leela

“Welcome to the glamorous, big-money world of basic cable TV! … I’m gonna need that pen back.” — Abner Doubledeal

“If it’s alive, don’t lick it/like a horse, a turtle or a cricket/so if you’re not sure if it’s alive or dead/ poke it with a stick and lick the stick instead!” — The Rumbledy-Humps’ licking song

“I like turtles!” — Bender as Garbly

“We all know any TV show that’s even slightly good gets cancelled. Sometimes two or three times!” — Leela

“Tonight: Young People’s Choice Awards. Tomorrow: Old People’s Choice Awards (The Oscars)” — blimp sign

“So wait, you play a high school student who’s also secretly a rock star who’s also secretly a massage chair?” — Bender

“No, I play a high school student who’s also secretly a rock star, but in real life I’m a massage chair!” — Pretty robot TV star

“Oh! … You ever made out with a tugboat?” — Bender

“… And poo-poo and pee-pee and penis and gay/ those are the 98 words we don’t say!” — The Rumbledy-Humps’ bad words song

Photo Credit: Comedy Central