Episode Capsule: [4ACV05] A Taste of Freedom

Title: A Taste of Freedom
Written by: Eric Horsted
Directed by: James Purdum
Opening theme promotion: OR IS IT?

Synopsis

Dr. Zoidberg is accused of flag desecration when, at a Washington D.C. celebration, he cannot restrain himself from eating a large flag. After Zoidberg is sentenced to death, his people send an invasion force to enslave the people of Earth and teach them the meaning of freedom.

Voice Credits

Starring

Billy West (Fry, Dr. Zoidberg)
Katey Sagal (Leela)
John DiMaggio (Bender)
Tress MacNeille

Guest Starring

Phil LaMarr
Lauren Tom (Amy)
David Herman
Phil Hendrie
Frank Welker (Hoodlum, Old Man Waterfall, Frieda Waterfall)

Also Starring

Maurice LaMarche (Morbo)

Did You Notice…

Bender wears a bathing-cap? — Marc Wichterich
Washington D.C. got a tube transport system? — Marc Wichterich
Lady Justice's scale is weighed down on one side by a bag of money? Also, she is lacking her sword? — Marc Wichterich
Kif's arms can be extended if heavy weight is applied? — Marc Wichterich
At the polls, Zoidberg wears a fish tie that's a real fish? — Alan Hamilton
Leela is cheering for Zoidberg out of sync with the rest of the crowd? — überblarg
One of the band members is playing a holophoner? — überblarg
The severing of the Clinton Monument is refering (to the sick minded) to a circumcision? — KM
The Decapodian flag is fascist in nature, featuring a claw and a Soviet-style hammer inside a white cirlce on red ground like the swastika? — KM
The guy from the Dudes For Legalization Of Of Hemp party is sober enough to atend the anti-Zoidberg rally? — Michael Nissen
Earth went to war over the ownership of Haley's Comet? — Michael Nissen
Zoidberg was dog paddling, even though he is a sea creature? — Michael Nissen
The Earth flag resembles the US flag quite some? So the US finally succeeded in dominating Earth in 1000 years... — tm

External References

Snoop Doggy Dogg (rapper)

His head now serves as a justice in the Supreme Court. — edel Washington Monument
The obelisk in Washington now has a twin (Clinton Monument) — Marc Wichterich Welcome Back Kotter (TV Show)
Washington D.C. was rededicated to the Kotter character Washington the Sweathog in 2475. — edel Charleston Chew (candy bar)
An old fashioned chewy favorite. Vanilla nougat covered in chocolate. — Marc Wichterich Klingons
The Star Trek originating, war-loving aliens have their own (pink) embassy on Earth. — Marc Wichterich Globetrotters
The Harlem Basketball team got an embassy on Earth. — Marc Wichterich prior knowledge
During the Watergate hearings, Nixon claimed he had no prior knowledge of the break-ins and cover-up. — edel ACLU
The 20th century civil liberty union now fight for banning the right to free speech in form of flag eating. — Marc Wichterich Sandra Day O'Connor
Her head still serves on the Supreme Court. — edel Abe Vigoda
The actor who played Fish on the classic TV series Barney Miller now serves as a justice in the Supreme Court. — Marc Wichterich David Souter
The head of the 1990-sworn in Supreme Court justice still serves there. — Marc Wichterich Clarence Thomas
The head of the 1991-sworn in Supreme Court justice still serves there. — edel John Paul Stevens
His head still serves in the Supreme Court. — edel Antonin Scalia
His head still serves in the Supreme Court. — edel Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Her head still serves in the Supreme Court. — edel John Dillinger
This 30's mobster's salad shooter is on display in the museum of ancient weaponry. — edel New Freedom sanitary napkin
The feminine hygiene product that sounds like Freedom Day. — Alan Hamilton The Simpsons: Bart's Inner Child
"Freedom Day" is a lot like "Do What You Feel Day". — Alan Hamilton Michael Dukakis (1988 US Presidential Candidate)
The comical image of Michael Dukakis riding in a tank was one of many things that led to him losing to George Bush Sr. — Alan Hamilton Mardi Gras
Zapp tries to get women to flash him for some beads (an old Mardi Gras tradition). — Alan Hamilton Star Spangled Banner (US national anthem)
"By the rocket's red glare, our flag was still there" — Alan Hamilton Flag burning controversy
There have been recurrent attempts in the US to ban flag burning, or other forms of flag desecration (such as eating, I suppose). — Alan Hamilton Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Nixon appeared on the show and said their catch phrase, "Sock it to me," in 1968. — Alan Hamilton The Shroud of Turin
Zoidberg wonders what this religious relic tastes like while hoisting the new flag. — Michael Nissen

Futurama References

[2ACV05] Why Must I Be A Crustacean in Love?

Zoidberg's people and home planet Decapo 10 are introduced. — Marc Wichterich [2ACV03] A Head in the Polls
Richard Nixon is elected president of Earth. — edel [2ACV02] Brannigan Begin Again
The Neutrals' embassy appears. — Marc Wichterich [3ACV14] Time keeps on slippin'
The globetrotters not only have their own planet but also an embassy on Earth. — Marc Wichterich [2ACV15] The Problem with Popplers
Another member of the environmentalist Waterfall family appears. — Alan Hamilton [3ACV05] The Bird-bot of Ice-catraz
Another member of the environmentalist Waterfall family appears. — Alan Hamilton [2ACV17] War Is The H-Word
The DOOP warriors which plan to attack the lobster embassy with a huge pole first appear. — JACK [2ACV03] A Head in the Polls
Scoop Chang, the reporter who asks Zoidberg to take a bite of the new flag, is first seen. — Michael Nissen [1ACV01] Space Pilot 3000
A primitive spear from 2256 is seen in the Museum Of Ancient Weaponry. Maybe from the medieval civilization we saw emerge between the 2 alien invasions. — Michael Nissen [3ACV16] A Leela of Her Own
Bender says "Neat!" and takes a quick snapshot at the Blernsball Hall Of Fame. — Michael Nissen [2ACV03] A Head in the Polls
The Clinton Monument is seen for the first time. — Michael Nissen [2ACV08] Raging Bender
Bender stuffs the earth flag into the mouth of The Foreigner. — Alan Hamilton [3ACV19] Roswell that Ends Well
Earth scientists take out one of Zoidberg's hearts, and he says "Take, I've got four of them!" They must not have put it back: in "A Taste Of Freedom," Zoidberg says, "Two of my three hearts are having attacks!" — Kevin Canini [1ACV02] The Series Has Landed
The fat guy from the moon makes an appearance once again. — Tim Kay

Freeze Frame Fun

Parade floats:
* Boy Scout Troop #254
* Top Secret - Do Not Look

The
Fighting
 Dukaki

Embassy Row:

* Neutral Planet Embassy
* Klingon Embassy
* Globetrotter Homeworld Embassy
* Decapodian Embassy

Protest signs:
* Salute Her, Don't Sauté Her
* Don't Chew on Me!
* Lobsters Go Home!

Washington Post Headlines

* Lobster Trial Nears
* Mobster Trial Nears
* Handsome Invaders Defeat Earth
* Post Names New Editor

Museum of Ancient Weaponry
     Nuns & Nunchuks:
Mother Teresa's Secret Arsenal

* World's Biggest Rolling Pin
* Spear, circa 2256
* Dillinger's Semi Automatic Salad Shooter
* Sharkapult
* Crossbow

Signs smashed by the palace:

* Johnson's Collapsible Top Hats
* E-Z Squeeze Accordians
* Hair King Unbreakable Combs

Comments and Other Observations

The nude pool scene was shortened. There used to be a scene where Amy and Leela are sitting in the pool nakedly (with delicate parts below the water line) and Bender's antenna surfacing. — Marc Wichterich
"Schlep" is Yiddish meaning "arduous journey" — Alan Hamilton
Zoidberg wonders what the Shroud of Turnin tastes like. This shroud is claimed to be the burial shroud of Jesus Christ. — Alan Hamilton
During the trial Zoidberg say 2 of his 3 hearts are having heart attacks. Normally, Decapodans have 4 hearts, but Zoidberg lost one of his in "Roswell That Ends Well". Score one for continuity. — Michael Nissen
The speech made by the chicken lawyer against Zoidberg's defence speech refers to a very famous bible sentence: "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean'." (Matthew 15, 10-12) — Patrick Walz

Original capsule author: Can't Get Enough Futurama <www.gotfuturama.com>