Futurama developed a cult following thanks to its original take on the sci-fi genre. It presents several quirky characters and funny plotlines. Futurama changes significantly following the pilot. However, as the show carries on, multiple running gags reveal themselves.
Futurama shows continuity in its callbacks and overarching plotlines. Fans get recurring jokes along with these narratives. As viewers follow the developing stories in Futurama, running gags give them some of the series' biggest laughs. They often relate to the series' characters like Bender and Dr. Zoidberg. Others have to do with details within the show's universe.
Sober Bender
Many fans say that Bender Bending Rodriguez is one of Futurama's best characters. Devotees know he is a loudmouth wise-cracking robot who is fueled by alcohol. Bender has repeating catchphrases like "bite my shiny metal a**!" He repeats jokes, like referring to most tasks as primitive forms of bending.
However, one of Bender's best running gags comes when he goes through depressed bouts of sobriety. Since he is fueled by alcohol, abstinence gives him the opposite effect of sobriety. He is showcased with rust around his mouth imitating the five-o'clock-shadow of an archetypal drunkard.
Amy's Slang
Amy Wong is a superficial intern at Planet Express, the delivery company for which the main characters work. She is portrayed as a ditzy spoiled woman who comes from wealthy parents who own an entire hemisphere of Mars.
One of Amy's consistent running gags is her use of martian slang. Instead of saying "what" or "huh," she will use "buh." She will say "shman" instead of "man." It's a subtle running joke that Amy herself might say adds to her overall cuteness, something she continually refers to.
Dr. Zoidberg's Three Stooges References
Dr. John Zoidberg is Planet Express' zany physician. Some fans call Zoidberg one of Futurama's most likable characters. He presents several running jokes, most often associated with his poor medical knowledge, poverty, and bullying from fellow crew members.
One of Zoidberg's most consistent running gags is his scuddling away while crying out "whoop whoop whoop." Fans of The Simpsons, which comes from Matt Groening like Futurama, will remember Homer performing a similar routine. It is a reference to The Three Stooges' Curly and is repeated multiple times.
Kif's Body Make-Up
Kif Kroker is Zapp Brannigan's assistant aboard the Nimbus and Amy Wong's love interest. He is portrayed as irritated and complacent and presents running jokes like his repeated sighs in response to almost anything that Zapp says.
When Kif meets Amy's parents, he is forced to explain his body makeup. He tells them he doesn't have bones and is supported by "a system of fluid-filled bladders." It's repeated to the point that Amy's mother Inez at one point cuts him off, saying they know he is just a "big squishy wuss."
Heads In Jars
Several notable guest stars appear in Futurama. In the world of the show, the main characters often interact with celebrities from the 20th and 21st centuries. However, in order to explain their existence 1000 years in the future, a plot device is introduced and regularly put on display.
Celebrities and notable people are shown as severed heads existing in glass jars, bringing to mind the aesthetic of old sci-fi film and TV shows that Futurama often draws from. Lucy Liu, The Beastie Boys, Leonard Nimoy, and Conan O’Brien have all appeared on the show from the neck up.
40 % Bender
Bender presents several funny jokes throughout Futurama. He is self-aware of his catchphrases. Most fans know his Rolodex of sayings like "kill all humans!" but he often presents a lesser-known running joke. The gag concerns his chemical makeup.
When a substance or metal is mentioned around Bender, he frequently responds that he is made up of 40% of that metal. Sometimes this value changes, but forty is used most frequently, and he never presents an accurate percent breakdown of his parts. Throughout the series, he says he is made of 40% Zinc, Titanium, and Dolomite to name a few.
Good News, Everyone
Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth is the leader of the Planet Express crew. He comes up with tasks for the crew to do and often drives plotlines with his inventions. He straddles the line between genius and insanity in many of his quirky arcs.
One of the most noticeable running jokes in Futurama is the Professor's catchphrase, "Good News, Everyone!" It provides consistent laughs as the phrase is often followed by ambivalent or negative news. Sometimes it is played on and altered to things like "Bad News, Nobody!" It appears in over two dozen episodes.
Owls As Pigeons And Rats
Futurama showcases several running gags concerning its characters, but viewers will notice other details in the Futurama universe repeated throughout the series. The show takes place in New New York, a revamped version of the famous metropolis built upon the remains of the present-day city.
Anyone who has visited New York City knows pigeons and rats are common pests roaming around its streets. However, in New New York, owls have replaced rats and pigeons as the pests of the future. They can be seen in the background of scenes consistently throughout the show.