Episode 16: A Head in the Polls
Synopsis
The episode opens with Fry and Bender watching an episode of "the Scary Door" on TV. Leela enters the room and turns on the Presidential debate, despite Fry and Bender's protests. Fry notices how the politicians debating on the screen are eerily identical, and Leela explains it's because they're clones (though they differ on key issues). Fry is unimpressed and alludes to the fact that he's not a registered voter, as one vote doesn't matter. Leela decries this fact, citing John Quincy Adding Machine, the first robot president, who won by a single vote. The professor encourages everyone to go get registered. Fry questions the Professors enthusiasm in voting; the Professor is old.
The scene cuts to a hall where the differing political parties are seeking to register new members. After seeing the two main parties (Fingerlicans and Tastycrats), Zoidberg points out the option of 3rd parties (though it may just be for weirdos). Bender reveals he can't register to vote (convicted felon). The crew proceeds to visit a few alternate party booths. Fry visits the Brain Slug Party booth, Amy visits Dudes for the Legalization of Hemp booth, the Professor visits the National Ray-Gun Association booth, Zoidberg visits the People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans, and Fry almost strikes a cord with the Voter Apathy Party but proves too excitable.
Back at the office, Fry almost thinks he's getting into politics; the news comes on and Fry falls asleep. On the program, Morbo and Linda announce the collapse of a major titanium mine, causing prices to soar. Bender jumps up, thrilled, announcing he's rich, as he's 40% titanium. Fry questions Bender's ability to spend his body; the scene changes to a pawn shop, Bender's head is placed outside on the sidewalk with a wad of cash in his mouth. A dog pees on Bender's head.
Bender gets back to the office via the kicks of strangers and lands in the middle of the conference table. As the rest of the crew discovers he's sold his body they're horrified but Bender assures them all that's needed in life is a head full of money. A series of scenes progress wherein Bender is seen enjoying his wealth to the full, drinking, gambling, and propogating is own wealth by dubious methods; he even gets a sweet mini car. Tiring of life among bodies, Bender decides to ditch them and go the head museum, on the way out he flips his car. Bender asks someone to carry him there.
Once at the Head Museum, Bender finds his way to the Presidential area and he and the crew begin palling around with the former leaders. Bender starts immensely enjoying the company and is saddened to find out he can't stay.The presidents inquire about Bender's body, leading to talk by the heads (notably by Nixon) about how miserable they are without their bodies. This is sour news for Bender.
That night at his apartment Bender suffers a binary nightmare and is spurred by the dream to reclaim his body. The next day they arrive at the pawnshop to discover the owner has already sold the body to someone else.Fry sells the clothes off his back.
The scene cuts to a naked Fry consoling Bender among friends, and as they turn on the TV they show Nixon's head over a podium announcing his canidacy for president. Questioned by a reporter how this is possible, the camera pans out to reveal Nixon on Bender's body, with Nixon using word play to thrust himself into the election. Bender is shocked and betrayed by his body, and asks his friends for help in retrieving it. Leela agrees without wasting time on I told you so's, realizing the gravity of a robotic Nixon.
The scene cuts to a debate between canidates under a truthoscope, in which Nixon struggles to contain his more infanticidal tendencies. Backstage after the election his pollster brings the surprising news that his robotic body is incredibly charming to the robot voters, thus granting him massive support; this is incredibly empowering for Nixon. Suddenly Bender, Leela and Fry pop out of a hamper in the room and Bender demands his body back. Nixon refuses and Fry appeals to his sense of decency, everyone gets a laugh. Nixon sends them out.
The scene changes to nighttime outside the Watergate Hotel, where Nixon has returned due to a deal for previous customers. They scale the side of the building on the shoulders of Leela and make it into Nixon's room. Once there Leela begins unscrewing Nixon's jar from the body. Right as she finishes Fry activates the magic-tentacles on the bed and awakes Nixon. Enraged, Nixon and Bender almost get in a head fight, but they're heads that can't move without bodies so they, you know, don't. Leela goads Nixon into saying horrible horrible things about his plans as president (here's a hint, he'll come in the night, and wreck things up, also child slavery comes up). Before Nixon gets the chance to call the police Bender reveals that he's been recording the entire conversation, including Nixon's derisive comments about voters. Cornered, Nixon agrees to give up the body in exchange for the tape.
Back at the office Bender celebrates getting his body back as the TV displays current election standings. Nixon shows zero votes, the robot vote is taken, and Nixon wins the election. Perplexed as to why, Nixon's image rises up on the shoulders of a metallic behemoth of a body. The Professor notes that Nixon had won by one vote; Fry and Leela as it turns out, had forgotten to vote. Bender is still a non-voting felon. Nixon celebrates his victory by wrecking up a few blocks in his new robot body.
References and Trivia
The line on the opening credits for this episode is "From the Makers of Futurama".
The title is a reference to the turn of phrase "Ahead in the polls" regarding elections.
The Scary Door is a take-off of the Twilight Zone. “Time Enough At Last” is the episode this parodies.
Stoner culture is mocked in a conversation between a burnout and Amy regarding the uses of hemp.
The NRA is parodied, as Farnsworth wants more production to bear arms—Doomsday devices, to be specific.
PETH—People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans—is a parody of PETA.
Bender reads Playbot magazine in a pool after trading in his body for cash.
The Shining is referenced when Bender’s head traverses the Planet Express HQ is a remote control car. The camera angle is the same as Danny’s tricycle.
Heads in the Head Museum’s celebrity wing include Tom Cruise, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Charlie Chaplin, Clint Eastwood, Mimi Rogers, Sylvester Stallone, Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sharon Stone, Nicole Kidman, Martin Lawrence, Elvis, John Turturro, Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Tim Allen, Jerry Seinfeld, Lucille Ball, and Eric Stoltz. Katey Sagal, the voice of Leela, also makes an appearance.
Two porn stars appear in that branch: Ron Jeremy and Traci Lords.
The super model wing has names such as Cindy Crawford, Rebecca Romijn, Kate Moss, Heidi Klum, and Claudia Schiffer.
Jesse Ventura is in the Presidents hall. He wrestled under the name “The Body” before becoming “The Head” in Futurama.
Nixon sings Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” while campaigning as a way to win over the hippies he scared away during his past runs.
Bill Clinton has a large, phallic monument based on his sexual exploits.
The Watergate Hotel is where Nixon stays. Again.