Bend Her
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| Futurama episode | |
| "Bend Her" | |
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| Episode no. | 67 |
| Prod. code | 4ACV13 |
| Airdate | July 20, 2003 |
| Writer(s) | Mike Rowe |
| Director | James Purdom |
| Opening subtitle | Too Hot for Radio! |
| Opening cartoon | Tom & Jerry |
| Season 4 January 2002 – August 2003 |
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| List of all Futurama episodes... | |
"Bend Her" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth production season of the animated television series Futurama.
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[edit] Plot summary
While attending the Earth Olympics, Bender decides to pose as a fembot named Coilette in order to win gold medals. Bender, having won five gold medals, seemed to have succeeded, until he is called in for gender testing. Thinking quickly, Bender has the professor give him a sex change. Bender fools the world into believing he is a she.
"Coilette" is invited to go on Late Night with Humor-Bot 5.0 and starts to show woman-like tendencies. Also appearing on the show is robot actor Calculon, who falls for Coilette instantly. The two go on several dates, which Bender claims he is doing for the fame and money. Calculon later proposes to Coilette, who accepts — Bender's motive being to subsequently divorce Calculon to get half his belongings. On an outing, however, Coilette's emotions go wild as she sees that Calculon really loves her/him. Professor Farnsworth then reveals that Bender is slipping closer and closer to being a fembot forever due to her female hormones. The crew decides to stage a "soap opera death" at Coilette and Calculon's wedding. They pull it off, leaving Calculon alone to make a film about his heartbreak. Bender returns to his male persona, but still seems to miss Calculon.
[edit] Cultural references
- The title is a reference to Ben-Hur. It is also a reference to Bender's name and the act of "gender bending". In the DVD commentary producer David X. Cohen claims the episode title is a "triple joke"
- Hermes says Barbados Slim, his rival, has gone "One toke over the line!", a reference to the 1971 song "One Toke Over the Line".
- Humorbot 5.0's show is a mix between The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Late Show with David Letterman. Coilette's behavior is similar to that of Drew Barrymore on the Late Show.
- When becoming female, Bender is injected with "Femzoil", a parody of Pennzoil. When he is made male again, he receives "Testosteroil".
[edit] Production notes
- Barbados Slim, based off his popularity amongst the staff, was to have a musical episode with him as the focus, but it was not written, as the writers wanted to stick with the crew during the series' final episodes.
- In a deleted scene, Bender tries to enter the Olympics by threatening to have his country retaliate with terrorist attacks, but this was cut following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
[edit] Continuity
- Humorbot 5.0 also appeared in "That's Lobstertainment!" doing stand-up.
[edit] Robonia planetary anthem
In addition to the Coilette's awards ceremony, the anthem is played during her appearance on Late Night with Humorbot 5.0. The tune is loosely based on the national anthem of Freedonia from the Marx Brothers movie Duck Soup. According to Bender the only lyrics are:
- Hail, hail, Rob-on-i-a
- A land I didn't make up!
