Anthology of Interest II

The simulation opens with Professor Farnsworth announcing that he has invented a process of reverse fossilization, which can turn robots and machines into organic life forms.

After a short period of adaptation, Bender's self-control is overwhelmed by his new senses of taste and touch, and he goes on a binge of eating, smoking, partying, and drinking alcohol.

The following day, the hungover committee awards Bender the Nobel Prize in Chemistry but discovers that he died shortly after the party began.

As the simulation starts, the President of Earth Richard Nixon is preparing to sign a treaty with Ambassador Kong of the planet Nintenduu 64.

Due to his extensive knowledge of video games from the 20th century, Fry is brought into the Milatari headquarters and introduced to General Colin Pac-Man.

Before Fry can impart his wisdom to the military, the Nintendians launch an attack on Washington, D.C., and they are forced into the escape tunnels, which resemble a Pac-Man board.

Fry situates himself at the controls of a rolling anti-aircraft artillery platform and begins destroying the alien ships like Space Invaders.

It knocks her unconscious, prompting her to dream a parody of The Wizard of Oz with Leela as Dorothy, Nibbler as Toto, Amy as Glinda the Good Witch, Mom as Wicked Witch of the West, Fry as the Scarecrow, Bender as the Tin Man, Zoidberg as the Cowardly Lion, and Professor Fansworth as the Wizard.

Leela happily agrees, but when Bender opens a celebratory bottle of champagne, the spilled liquid causes Mom to melt into nothing.

She wakes up to find Bender splashing water in her face and berates the crew for showing up in her wonderful dream and ruining it.

The Nintendians' fleet is composed of ships based on the aliens from the Space Invaders series, which move in the same pattern as those in the video game ("Drop down, increase speed, and reverse direction!").

The majority of the plot is a direct parody of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, with Leela taking the place of Dorothy, Amy as the Good Witch of the North, Fry as the Scarecrow, Bender as the Tin Man, Zoidberg as the Cowardly Lion, Professor Farnsworth as the Wizard and Mom as the Wicked Witch of the West.

[3] In its initial airing, the episode received a Nielsen rating of 4.5, placing it 62nd among primetime shows for the week of December 31, 2001 – January 6, 2002.