Supernatural has been on our screens for an astounding 12 years, and the show’s creative team is constantly finding new ways to keep it fresh. Case in point: a Scooby-Doo crossover episode. When they announced the bizarre event, we were definitely intrigued by the high concept idea of the meeting of these two huge franchises. But it’s not just fans who are excited, as we found out when we visited the Vancouver set of the show. As it turns out, one of the Winchester brothers really, really loves Scooby-Doo.

Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki first learned about the collaboration in January, and have been preoccupied by the crossover since the beginning of the year. “Well, we’ve been been working on it since February, and we’ve already laid down the audio for it,” Ackles said. “They recorded the full thing so it’ll all be documented. What little we’ve done so far has been really fun. We’ve already seen the animatics and that was pretty cool.”

Though the elder Winchester clearly enjoyed the process, it was his younger brother who outed himself as a huge Mystery Inc. fan. “I grew up watching Scooby-Doo,” Padalecki said. “I remember when the Scooby movies came out, and they wanted me to try out for Shaggy. I was young and Lillard is great, but I fought not to do it. It’s like, I’m a huge James Bond fan. Not that I could ever play James Bond, but I would never try out for that because that’s something I want to watch as a fan.”

Padalecki laughed, pausing for breath amidst his excitement. “I’m really excited for Scooby-Doo to be a part of the Supernatural lore, but I’m more excited for the Supernatural lore to be a part of the Scooby-Doo canon.” He continued, “That’s cool for me, you know, that there’s a footnote about Supernatural when people are talking about Scooby-Doo. It’s nerve-wracking to make when you’re such a fan of something, cos you wanna do it justice.”

The Scooby-Doo episode of Supernatural is due to air later this season. The crossover will see the famous teams join together in the guise of a more adult animation. It’s a bold move for The CW‘s longest running show, and one that will undoubtedly be met with a whole lot of interest.

While this kind of crossover will be a first for Supernatural, it’s certainly not for Scooby and the gang. The Scooby-Doo franchise has a history of incorporating other pop culture icons into their haunted adventures, whether it’s the dynamic duo of Batman and Robin, the basketball tricksters of the Harlem Globetrotters, or the original cast of The Addams Family TV series. Many ’70s celebrities also guest starred in Scooby-Doo episodes as themselves, from Don Knotts to Phyllis Diller to Dick Van Dyke to Sonny and Cher.

Jared’s enthusiasm is infectious and we can’t wait to see the Winchesters go for a ride in the Mystery Machine! Are you excited for this meeting of ghostly gangs? Can’t wait to see your favorite hunky hunters in cartoon form? Let us know in the comments!

Images: The CW, Warner Bros.

The Joyfay Giant Teddy ($109, Amazon) is described as "6½feet" and appears in pictures as an adorably chubby furry friend for young and old alike: "offers more huggability than your average bear!" declares the product description.

But upon receipt, buyers report, the toy is not quite what they expected. It is, as promised, "6½ feet". As spotted by Twitter user cooltonedcutie, this applies to a single axis, indeed to a single set of limbs.

"Hideous!" writes Savannah. "The legs are like 4 feet long making the bear look like a creepy gumby thing. I got this for Valentine's Day and would have rather had a cheaper more proportional bear...I mean this isn't even cute."

"I was expecting a the bear to be huge because it's 6.5 ft right?" writes "Amazon Customer". "No, all of its height is from its legs and the legs are longer than its upper body."

And she says I'm hard to shop for.

Welcome to Kitchn's Food Budget Diaries series, where we show you how people around the country spend money on what they eat and drink. Each post will follow one person for one week and will chronicle everything that person consumed and how much it costs them.

Name: Carla
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Age: 37
Number of people in family: 2 (me and my husband, Justin)
Occupation: Healthcare Administrator. My husband is an inspector for construction services.
Household income: $110,000
Weekly food budget: $185

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In a piece for GQ in 2016, Daniel Riley explored the cult of hyper-enthusiastic Chili’s employees tasked with training new employees and teaching them the core values of the Chili’s brand. That story, “Inside The Church Of Chili’s,” is now being adapted into an NBC sitcom by Veep executive producer Sean Gray, Condé…

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The Wisconsin Historical Society is looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our Frontline Staff team. The Library Cataloging Assistant will catalog materials either held or received by the library by editing existing records in OCLC or creating original catalog … Continue reading →

New York Observer columnist Andre Walker, who learned to read on his own dollar thank-you-very-much, has no use for public libraries. Understandably suspicious of a long-standing service whose funding over the last few decades has very likely been taken over by crypto-Soviet sleeper cells, Walker tweeted a very smart…

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As regular viewers of NBC’s wonderful sitcom The Good Place know, swearing is not allowed in that particular afterlife, which leads to benign exclamations like “forking bullshirt.” The same can not be said, though, for the actual set of The Good Place, where swearing abounds aplenty. The show recently posted its …

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Many in Hollywood have worked with Harvey Weinstein over the past couple of decades, but no one is more closely associated with the now-disgraced studio mogul than Quentin Tarantino. All of Tarantino’s films were financed by Weinstein in some capacity, and the two have been close friends for more than 20 years.…

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The Company Christie’s, the world’s largest Art Business, is an incredibly exciting & enriching place to start or continue your career. Whether you work within one of our Specialist Art Departments or in our more Operational focused teams we are … Continue reading →

Reporting to the Coordinator of Digital Collection Services (DCS), this position serves as the head of the Digital Repositories Unit, and is responsible for the technical, bibliographic, and metadata management of the CSU Libraries’ digital institutional repository system, including coordination … Continue reading →

Job Summary The University of Michigan Library is one of the world’s largest academic research libraries and serves a vibrant University community that is home to 19 schools and colleges, 100 top ten graduate programs, and annual research expenditures approaching … Continue reading →

“In the heart of World War II, Tom and Ben became lovers.”

Coming from Tor.com Publishing in April 2018, Ian McDonald weaves a love story across time in his new science fiction novella Time Was. Tom and Ben are torn apart by a time travel experiment gone awry. Can they find each other across the decades? Can they seize control of their desperate timelines? We’re excited to share the cover and the story below!

Time Was is coming from Tor.com Publishing in April 2018. From the catalog copy:

A love story stitched across time and war, shaped by the power of books, and ultimately destroyed by it.

In the heart of World War II, Tom and Ben became lovers. Brought together by a secret project designed to hide British targets from German radar, the two founded a love that could not be revealed. When the project went wrong, Tom and Ben vanished into nothingness, presumed dead. Their bodies were never found.

Now the two are lost in time, hunting each other across decades, leaving clues in books of poetry and trying to make their desperate timelines overlap.

Pre-order now at the links below, or from your preferred retailer:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

A new DNR secretary faces not only confirmation hearings, but a full plate of issues and pending legislative initiatives that could impact his agency. Gwyn and Brian discuss this, the fall session and the obnoxious new Blue Books on this episode of The Wheelercast.

Outlander’s moving so quickly through years and years of story that it’s difficult for the character development, especially for the new characters and new relationships, to really sink in and carry emotional weight. But at the same time, Outlander has to move forward quickly. Because it has to get to the point of…

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Continuing a year of industry coups that began with The Handmaid’s Tale winning Best Drama Series at the Emmys, Hulu has picked up streaming rights to all episodes of 30 Rock, an acquisition that officially makes Hulu better than Netflix, or most forms of entertainment and human interaction. The show will make its…

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Casting Tim Riggins as David Koresh in Waco, the forthcoming six-part television event series from Paramount Pictures, is kind of genius.

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Like the people who attempt to eke out the barest minimum of human happiness against its backdrop of violence and ice zombie apocalypse, romance in Game Of Thrones’ Westeros is generally pretty doomed. The best-case scenario tends to be star-crossed lovers getting ripped apart by war; it’s more likely that you’re…

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The spookiest month of the year is nearly upon us, and that means Netflix is once again shaking up its streaming video offerings, adding some anticipated and downright scary season sequels while kicking some of the most beloved comedy shows on TV to the curb.

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Once you've made it through high school and gotten yourself accepted to the college of your choice, maybe even with financial aid, then what? You've received plenty of advice about getting to that point, but there are several years to go as a student. One of the main pieces of advice I gave my kids about college is to make sure the professor knows you, and knows that you're interested in their subject and really want to learn it. They will help you, remember you, and rejoice in your success. College professors are happy to tell you what your high school guidance counselor did not about actually attending (and passing) college courses. Here's a sample:   

13. They only remember the names of the good students and the bad students. Everyone in between is a blur.

I know the names of two kinds of students: those who are doing very badly in my class, and those who are interested, engaged, and making an effort to do well. Please don't sit there for 16 weeks, with your hand down and mouth closed, and expect me to know who you are on the last day of class.—Rebecca Gibson, Facebook

 22. A 13-year-old could be grading the paper you pulled an all-nighter to complete.

My mom's a professor and the one thing her students NEVER know is that I've graded parts of their exams. It's been a tradition in our family to help grade exams and finals since we were around the age of 13, and none of her students know.—bonniereinsch

My father taught geology, and started me grading papers at a much younger age, at least for the multiple choice quizzes. Read more advice in the list 23 Secrets Your Professors Will Never Tell You (except they obviously will tell you) at Buzzfeed.

Donald Glover, winner of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for “Atlanta”

 

We have to admit, we’re jealous as hell:

Because we’re pretty sure we wouldn’t look one-tenth as fine as Mr. Glover does in a purple tuxedo. And let’s be clear: this is no aubergine or eggplant. This is full-on Prince Purple and it looks fabulous. LOVE the touch of yellow in the pocket square. The jacket’s a tiny bit too long on him, but that’s our only quibble. It’s hard to make a tux look fresh – and coloring it in with crayons is not always the best way to go. But this really works beautifully for him. All others should probably consider approaching purple tuxes with the caution they require.

 

 

Style Credits:
Gucci Purple Tuxedo with Contrasting Lapel

[Photo Credit: INSTARImages.com, Getty Images]

• Awards
• Donald Glover
• Emmy Awards
• Emmy Awards 2017
• Gucci
• Red Carpet

The post Emmy Awards 2017: Donald Glover Worked a Purple Gucci Tux, Which is Now a Thing We Want appeared first on Tom + Lorenzo.

Terry Dresbach must have the absolute best costume design job in television right now. She certainly acts like she does, going by her work on Outlander, which is infused with tremendous care, thought and an understanding of the importance the characters have to its audience. There is true love to be found in every stitch and fold; every fabric choice, historical reference and color scheme. All costume designers of worth will pour themselves into their work if they’re really committed to it, but there’s something very special about Terry’s approach; something that comes through quietly, the way most costume design does, but also makes its story and character points so strongly that you not only believe in these characters as real people, you’d swear they were close, intimate friends of Terry herself. She knows these people.

But of course, part of what makes her job, we imagine, one of the best of its kind, is that she gets to play around with different eras, locations and cultures; the combination of which simply wouldn’t be available all on the same job, normally. After two seasons in the 18th Century of the Scottish Highlands and the French Court, not to mention post-WWII Britain, she now gets to turn her attention to mid-Century America, where Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser Randall, ever the traveler, finds herself. Having left behind her grand love Jamie in the past, she’s joined up again with her first husband Frank, in America.

So, what are we looking for in Claire’s costumes? Modernity, for one. Ambivalence or confusion, for another. And finally, the looming issue of her impending motherhood, which is clearly a good thing for her, but also something that causes her a fair amount of private stress, since Frank has agreed to raise another man’s child.

 

Terry, who writes extensively about her work on her site and interacts a great deal with the show’s fans on social media, loves to make clear and direct observations or references to the trendiest fashions of the period. The shoulders, nipped waist, and flare in the back of her coat are extremely on point for post-War, New Look-inspired styles of the time. Compared to what we’ve become used to seeing her wear in the past, she looks shockingly modern, unencumbered, and bold. She’s also in blue, which is a fairly rigidly adhered-to color scheme for her character throughout the episode.

 

In western culture, blue is often seen as a maternal color, due to countless Madonna and Child representations over the millennia.

There’s also a point being made here about how truly free she is in these clothes, in comparison to what she wore in the 18th Century. They’re lightweight, easy to wear and leave her unrestricted, for the most part. And yet she’s deeply uncomfortable.

 

There’s an irony built into these scenes: despite the relative comforts of the 20th Century, like gas stoves, she’s frustrated and out of sorts with it all. You never lose sight of the idea that her heart and mind, despite the comforts of the modern day, would much rather be in the past.

 

Note the tartan of the neighbor’s skirt. Everything about this scene is about the past calling to Claire.

 

Note how much her blue stands out among all the browns and grays of the disapproving or condescending men around her. Note how her collar and bow are feminized forms of a man’s dress shirt and tie. Again: despite the modernity of her trappings, she didn’t feel condescended to when she was living two centuries in the past. All the heavy skirts and corseting in the world didn’t prevent her from achieving a level of freedom and independence that she’s realizing will be harder to come by in the present.

 

There’s also a slight sense of her drawing closer to Frank over time, whether she consciously wants to our not. Her clothing, despite the skirts and maternity wear, has strong, broad-shouldered touches and masculine accent colors of black and gray. Scroll up and look at that neighbor again to see how Claire is working a stronger, more assertive look than her.

 

Which isn’t to say that Claire is dressing in a masculine manner. After blue, the other persistent motif in her costumes were florals, whether lightly exoticized tropicals (very much of the period, since so many GIs came home from the Pacific with a taste for Tiki)…

 

…or delicate little Liberty Print-style florals (which would naturally appeal to an Englishwoman of the early 20th Century) which only tend to call to mind the ridiculously bold florals and rich dressing gowns of her time in Paris – if only to look all the poorer in comparison. Again, there’s that sense of irony in the design. She’s trying so hard to be the post-War wifey-poo here and it’s making her absolutely miserable. In that sense, she’s like a whole generation of women who were forced out of j0bs and careers they’d come to love after the men came home.

But like we said, there’s also something of a sense of her slowly pulling closer to Frank, even if she’s resisting it or feels conflicted about it.

 

When things get real – and they don’t get more real than “My water broke” – they’re clearly a couple, unified in shades of brown. But just like the nurse’s question that ended the episode and underlines the main emotional conflict in the story (“Where’d she get the red hair?”), there is a subtle reminder here that, even now in this moment of coming together, the past is intruding. Frank’s in a tartan-inspired plaid.

And that’s it for now! As always, we ask book readers to keep the details of upcoming plot turns to themselves, so as not to spoil the non-readers here. We can’t promise we’ll be doing the same level of costume analysis episode to episode, but Terry’s work in the 20th Century this season is some of the best costume design of the period we’ve ever seen. And that’s coming from the guys who literally wrote a million words on the Mad Men costumes. We’ll be back.

 

 

 

[Photo Credit: Starz – Stills: Tom and Lorenzo, Starz]

• Costumes
• Outlander
• Outlander Style
• Starz

The post Outlander Style: Claire’s Gorgeous Mid(20th)Century Wardrobe in “The Battle Joined” appeared first on Tom + Lorenzo.

If you aren’t caught up on Supernatural, read on with caution! Spoilers ahead!

We’re a few weeks away from the season 13 premiere of Supernatural, and it can’t come quickly enough. Last season left us in a pretty precarious place: Castiel is dead (and from our interview with the cast at San Diego Comic Con, he’s “more dead than usual”), Mary and Lucifer are trapped in an alternate, apocalyptic universe, Crowley’s dead, and Satan’s offspring — Jack — is running around. Things look pretty dire for the Winchesters (especially with the quick look we get of Jack’s powers in the trailer), and the trailer teases yet another threat—hell’s new management.

Take a look:

Showrunner Andrew Dabb promised us that a new individual would be taking over for hell in Crowley’s stead, and from the look of it, he’s super powerful. Of course, you can’t help but notice that the new King of Hell is rocking a sparkly, white suit, which is a clear departure from the normal black-on-black attire worn by demons (and Crowley himself).

So who is this new guy? After all, the last time we saw someone so boldly rocking an all-white outfit after Labor Day was in the flash-forward to the Croatoan-riddled world where Sam was Lucifer’s vessel.

So does that mean the new King of Hell is an archangel like Lucifer? Most run-of-the-mill angels don’t dress so ostentatiously, after all. Of course, maybe his real story is that he’s not from the Winchesters’ world at all. It’s possible he’s an entity carried over from another universe when Jack’s birth caused the different worlds to collide. After all, if Mary and Lucifer could leave our world to go into another universe, it stands to reason someone could come into ours, right?

Regardless of where the new King of Hell calls home, it sounds like he’s a big threat to the Winchesters (and humanity at large). A new King of Hell that is not begrudgingly on Team Winchester is definitely a problem. Since Mark Sheppard has made it very clear that Crowley is dead for good, whoever this guy is, he may be here to stay. The fact that the trailer has Dean praying (which he rarely does) means that things are bad. Sadly, we’ll have to wait until October 12 to see how our boys are faring, but thank Chuck that the premiere is less than a month away!

What do you think of the Supernatural season 13 trailer? Who do you think the new guy in hell is? Do you think Jack is truly going to be evil, or will he help the Winchesters defeat the new King of Hell? Tell us what you think in the comments!

Need More Supernatural?

• Here’s why we’re SO pumped for Wayward Sisters, the Supernatural spin-off.
• Every detail we have on season 13, straight from the gang themselves.
• And, of course, all the info about that Scooby Doo crossover.

GIF credit: Giphy
Feature Image: The CW

The new Futurama podcast episode Radiorama is here!

WOOP WOOP… Jam City, via its game studio TinyCo, FoxNext Games, and Matt Groening released a Futurama double-length podcast episode today, created by Matt Groening, David X. Cohen and the Futurama writers. The new Radiorama episode, which features the original cast and clocks in at a whopping 42 minutes in length, can be heard in the player below!

RELATED: Worlds of Tomorrow Teaser Offers New Futurama Animation!

Existing Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow players have already been enjoying original content from the podcast, and new players can join the fun with exclusive episode content in-game, including a space mission to Junkleon 7, the deleted file planet.

The new Futurama podcast episode brings a long-awaited reunion of the Planet Express crew, including Fry, Bender, Leela, Professor Farnsworth, Zoidberg, Amy, and Hermes—plus Borax Kid, Calculon, and the return of the popular robot soap opera, “All My Circuits.” While on a routine mission to Junkleon 7, the crew encounters Klaxxon, a nefarious life form composed entirely of soundwaves from 21st-century podcasts. Can the crew save Earth from Klaxxon’s harmful soundwaves? To find out more, listen to the podcast and discover for yourself!

“Last year I cornered two fine gentlemen–Matt Groening & David X. Cohen–and pitched the idea of doing a new ‘Futurama’ episode as a podcast/radio play because it’s one of my favorite things AND I NEED MORE OF IT,” said Chris Hardwick. “Today I am drooling with unfiltered joy to say that a) it’s actually happening, b) I got to voice the villain (Klaxxon), and c) I’m a freaking head in a jar in ‘Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow,’ a game I’ve been feverishly playing since it came out. Galaxies of thanks to Matt, David and TinyCo for acquiescing to the maniacal ravings of a well-meaning fanboy.”

The episode came to life after the Futurama team was reunited to create original content for Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow. The experience was so positive and fan interest so strong that Jam City and TinyCo collaborated with Matt Groening, writers from the show, and the cast to bring fans a brand-new Futurama podcast episode that was integrated with the game for an extended digital experience.

“’Futurama’ has set off a strangely sci-fi-ish paradox where the episodes inspired the ‘Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow’ game, and now the game is inspiring new episodes,” said David X. Cohen. “Hooray for infinite loops!”

Created in partnership with Futurama creator and Executive Producer Matt Groening and his Curiosity Company, along with Executive Producer David X. Cohen, original Futurama writers, and Rough Draft Studios, Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow blends together simulation, combat, galactic exploration, and choose-your-own-adventure gameplay to bring the escapades of the Planet Express crew to life. Players will experience new stories from the writers of Futurama that are filled to the brim with the wit, charm, and sci-fi hijinks that fans have come to know and love.

“It’s a new step for entertainment when a mobile game format can inspire original narrative content at this level,” said Chris DeWolfe, co-founder and CEO of Jam City. “Partnering with Matt Groening and his Curiosity Company to launch the mobile game, ‘Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow,’ and to be a part of the resulting double episode Podcast of original ‘Futurama’ content from Matt, David X. Cohen, Chris Hardwick, the show writers, and cast has been a great experience. The Jam City team has had a blast inspiring this new chapter in the ‘Futurama’ multiverse.”

Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow is free to play and is available on mobile devices via the App Store and Google Play.

The post Radiorama: The New Futurama (Podcast) Episode is Here! appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

On Monday Gothamist reported, by way of Netflix Life, that 30 Rock will almost definitely be departing Netflix’s streaming service in October. I write this with a mixture of nostalgia and relief, for though my days of binge watching 30 Rock episodes a shocking number of times are behind me, the ritual was once a…

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If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a hundred times: no soul is as purely joyful as that of famed PBS painter and noted art hippie, Bob Ross. The former host of The Joy of Painting has already been made in Funko form before, but sometimes perfection can be made better. Sometimes, the metaphorical happy little trees and sunny little clouds of life can be improved upon—by adding tiny baby animal friends. Because that’s exactly what Bob Ross had in real life, so why WOULDN’T they then become immortalized in plastic vinyl form?!

Which is exactly what Funko did, elevating their serene, perfect collection of Ross dolls by adding the likes of Peapod the squirrel, Hoot the owl, and a wee baby raccoon—all real animals that, in his infinite wisdom and kindness—Bob Ross made his pets and rehabilitated rescue friends in real life.

BECAUSE BOB ROSS WAS A PRECIOUS SOUL AND A GIFT TO US ALL, ALRIGHT? IT WAS NO HAPPY LITTLE ACCIDENT THAT HE WAS THIS WAY, IT WAS A CHOICE. And we choose to make ourselves happy by scooping up as many of these adorable little doodads as we can. Because, I mean, how could we NOT? Just look at them!

The iteration with Hoot the owl (a personal favorite, as a noted owl enthusiast) is actually a limited edition chase variant (meaning you have a 1-in-6 chance of finding it), and perhaps the one we’re most coveting at the moment:

But if you’re looking for something a bit more traditionally Bob-the-painter, they’ve got one of those, too (with a giant paintbrush and a silly hat because Bob Ross must ALWAYS COME WITH WHIMSY):

Which Bob Ross Funko is your happy little favorite? Have you watched any old episodes on YouTube? Let us know in the comments below!

Alicia Lutes is the Managing Editor, creator/host of Fangirling, and resident Khaleesi of House Nerdist. Find her on Twitter!

Need More Funko News?

• The original Bob Ross Funko set can be found here.
• We’re OBSESSED with the Rick and Morty ones.
• And the Mad Max: Fury Road Funkos of our dreams have finally arrived!

Images and GIFs: Bob Ross, Inc/Giphy

Four years after saying goodbye–again–to Futurama, the show is returning for a very special, all new episode, right here at Nerdist. This week on the Nerdist Podcast, the entire cast will join our Chris Hardwick for an original radioplay episode.

To celebrate this momentous event we put together a list of some our favorite episodes, ones we think best capture everything–the humor, science fiction, intelligence, tenderness, and gut-wrenching humanity–that made Futurama one of most beloved series of all time. So whether you’re a die-hard fan doing another re-watch, or a newcomer to the show, these 11 episodes are essential to understanding the show’s greatness, and how it mixed existential darkness with the hopefulness of humanity to make something funny, smart, and beautiful.

“The Farnsworth Parabox” (S5, E10)

The Professor creates a box with a parallel universe, where everyone has a slightly different looking doppelganger, and everything is the same except the outcome of coin flips. But after the Zoidbergs steal the box containing the universe we know, the two groups have to go universe hopping to get it back. The episode is loaded with laugh out loud moments (especially from the Professor, at his meanest here), and this episode exemplifies how artfully the show handled classic sci-fi tropes.

“The Late Phillip J. Fry” (S6, E7)

Not many shows can say they made watching the ending of the entire universe one of the most sentimental and beautiful moments in its history, but Futurama can. The Professor’s forward only time machine leads to the show’s continued exploration on the themes of love and loss, as well as insightful commentary on the very nature of existence and the universe. And it did all of that in a 22-minute episode of an animated sci-fi comedy.

“Where No Fan Has Gone Before” (S4, E11)

For a show set in the 31st century, Futurama was loaded with pop culture references from today, and none better capture that than this episode, starring cast members from the original Star Trek. (Not to mention it is a parody of a Star Trek episode itself.) It’s also a spot-on commentary on the zealousness of modern fandom and how some people can go a little too far with their love for old shows. Signed, a guy who spent a lot of time writing about this old show

“The Devil’s Hands Are Idle Playthings” (S5, E16)

With apologies to Robot Santa and Hedonismbot, the greatest secondary character in show history is the Robot Devil, and this episode is his Citizen Kane. After an evil deal with Fry goes wrong (that giant wheel is one of the best gags they ever did), the two switch hands, and Fry is able to use his new Robot Devil hands to play the holophonor beautifully. That helps him show Leela how much he loves her. Of course the Robot Devil forces him to give them up, but the episode still ends on a touching, beautiful note. (PUN INTENDED.)

“Roswell That Ends Well” (S4, E1)

Remember how creepy it was to watch Marty McFly’s mother try to have sex with him? Well Futurama took it another step–then actually took that step–here, where Fry goes back in time, gets his grandfather killed, and has sex with his own grandmother, making him his own grandfather. It’s a hilarious episode on its own, but what makes it even better was how it contributed to other great episodes and the larger story of the show.

“The Day the Earth Stood Stupid” (S3, E7)

Most heroes are smart and brave, but Fry wasn’t most heroes. This episode features the first appearance of the evil Brainspawn, and the revelation that Nibbler isn’t a dumb little animal, but one of the oldest beings in the universe sworn to protect it. The final sequence, when Fry (and his bad-spelling) defeats the Big Brain is easily one of the funniest in show’s history, and shows that heroes come in all shapes and IQs.

“The Why of Fry” (S5, E8)

This followup to “The Day the Earth Stood Stupid” explains Fry was able to defeat the Brainspawn because he lacks the Delta brainwave, as a result of being his own grandfather. But then he learns that he didn’t accidentally fall into the cryogenic tube on at midnight on New Year’s Eve in the year 2000, Nibbler pushed him in because he was the only person who could save the universe. Fry first decides he doesn’t care about that and stops Nibbler, before realizing that means Leela won’t be saved either. It’s everything you’d want in an episode of the show, tying in multiple major story lines, the inherent sadness of Fry’s existence, and how his love for Leela seems to be what keeps the universe going.

Three Hundred Big Boys (S5, E11)

Futurama was also a very precisely written show and this episode, where everyone on Earth got a tax rebate for 300 dollars, shows how. All of the independent character strands come together perfectly in a final sequence that pays off one of the best gags in show history, as Fry’s decision to drink 100 cups of coffee ends up saving the day. (Bonus: this might also be the funniest we ever saw Zoidberg, which is really saying something.)

“Jurassic Bark” (S4, E7)

The entire premise of Futurama is inherently sad, as Fry got sent 1,000 years into the future, leaving behind his friends and family who never got any explanation about what happened to him. Despite being an animated comedy, the show never shied from exploring the forlorn implications of Fry’s time travel. And oh man, is this episode depressing, after Fry found the fossilized body of his beloved dog Seymour. This episode, which deftly explores loss, nostalgia, moving on, and of course loyalty, ends with one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in television history. It’s the best parody of The Odyssey ever, and also the saddest.

“Luck of the Fryrish” (S3, E4)

In “Jurassic Bark” Fry walked away believing Seymour moved on without him and lived a happy life, but this episode, where he becomes obsessed with the idea his jealous brother stole his identity and his dreams, doesn’t let him have his blissful ignorance. He realizes he was missed because he was loved, and it is devastating. Good luck not crying at the end of this episode.

“Time Keeps on Slippin'” (S3, E14)

If one episode captures everything about this show–the references, the humor, the science, the sincerity, and the sadness of Fry’s struggles–it is this one. It involves the Harlem Globetrotters, time skips, lots of sci-fi elements, and Fry desperately trying to understand how he finally made Leela love him. The ending is beautiful and bittersweet, which is when the show was always at its best.

But we can already hear you guys yelling at us for leaving off other episodes you think are just as essential, so tell us in the comments below which ones we should have included. Did “Fry and the Slurm Factory” deserve recognition, or “The Prisoner of Benda?” What about the pilot, or “Leela’s Homeworld?” Let’s discuss all our favorites while we get ready for an all new one this week.

Want even more Futurama?

• How Futurama nailed the science of comedy.
• Could a Futurama scheme stop global warming?
• Behind the scenes of Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow.

Images: Fox, Comedy Central

Nostalgia lovers worried they might miss out on Nintendo’s upcoming miniature Super Nintendo gaming system might be able to breathe a sigh of relief, as the company has increased inventory of the in-demand game, while also offering nostalgia lovers another chance to get their hands on the company’s classic console system — next year, that is. 

Nintendo announced today that due to “incredible demand” the company plans to ship more Super NES Classic Edition systems on its Sept. 29 launch than it did for the classic system that went on sale last year and quickly sold out.

While the company didn’t provide an exact number of units that would ship on launch day, it did note that stores will receive shipments of new systems regularly. Additionally, the system will be available well into 2018.

“Fans have shown their unbridled enthusiasm for these Classic Edition systems, so Nintendo is working to put many more of them on store shelves,” the company said.

The Super NES Classic Edition system has the original look and feel of the ‘90s home console, just in miniature. The game system, which will sell for $79.99, will come with two controllers and loaded with 21 games, including the never released Star Fox 2.

Bringing Back Classic

Launching a mini-SNES appears to be Nintendo’s attempt to build on the runaway popularity of the NES console that quickly sold out after its launch last year.  Potential customers were no-doubt disappointed when Nintendo announced this spring that it was discontinuing that system, noting that it was never meant to be a permanent product.

However, the company has apparently taken customers’ disappointment to heart, announcing today that it will bring back the mini-NES Classic console next summer.

While Nintendo didn’t provide additional information about the Classic’s re-relaunch, it does note the system will once again feature 30 classic NES games such as the original Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda and Donkey Kong.

It's hard to be sad about summer's departure when fall favorites like pumpkin, butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, apples, and more are rolling into the market any moment. Use their arrival as a marker to shift the meatless night in your meal plan to one that makes these veggies the star of the hearty, comforting dinners that makes this season so remarkable. There's everything from curries and soup to comforting casseroles and hearty salads. To get you started, here are 20 vegetarian fall dinner recipes that are not to be missed.

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There are nearly 700 episodes of Star Trek spread across five television series and you’d assume the best episodes would translate to the most rewatched, right? After all, usually the cream rises to the top. Or does it? Netflix has just released their list of the ten most rewatched Star Trek episodes of all time, and frankly, this old school Trekker was left a little bit shocked by the results. Especially when you realize the finale episode of Voyager is the most rewatched Star Trek episode of all time on the streaming service, and not other, far more well regarded classics.

As a matter of fact, none of the original series episodes are among the most rewatched (blashphemy!), and only four The Next Generation episodes are in the top ten…and only one from our Eleven Best Star Trek: The Next Generation Episodes list! I call shenanigans! You can check out Netflix’s list of the top ten most rewatched Star Trek episodes in the graphic down below.

Voyager can lay claim to having the most revisited episode of all, its series finale. As it turns out, the first episodes of any Trek series are usually the most-watched, so in an effort to seek data beyond default behavior, the first two episodes from any first seasons were omitted from the data. Also, it should be noted that the Borg show up in seven out of ten episodes. People must really want to be assimilated.

Usually, after the introductory episodes of any of the first seasons, it’s episodes introducing well-known parts of Star Trek lore that tend to be rewatched the most. The Next Generation and The Original Series can claim the largest audiences on Netflix, but Voyager and Deep Space Nine fans are better repeat customers, more likely to return for their favorite episodes.

My theory as to why the original series and The Next Generation are not so well represented in the rewatch list? Both the original show and TNG have excellent, upgraded to high-def Blu-rays, while neither Voyager or Deep Space Nine have ever been given a high definition upgrade. If you’re a hardcore Trekker, you’ll watch your original series or Next Gen Blu-rays before you watch a more compressed streaming version. But with the other shows, for many fans it’s the only way to watch them.

What do you make of the Netflix list? Are you surprised, or did you always know Janeway was #1? Let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.

Images: CBS / Paramount Pictures

Boldy Go!

• Our ranking of the 13 Star Trek movies
• The 11 best TNG episodes
• 11 most essential Original Series episodes

 

We just love this gal, even though her red carpet style is … not quite fabulous. What it is, however, is very true to her goofy, slightly silly self. While we desperately want to implore her during this transitional period in her career to really grab the style bull by the horns and really wow the world, we can’t help but smile at her big grin and slightly dorky ensembles.

We’re probably over-selling our point here, because she looks pretty great in all these looks.

 

Tatiana Maslany Receives The IMDb ‘Fan Favorite’ STARmeter Award during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada

All of this is pretty real-world cute, but doesn’t quite make for the best promo fashion. The proportions break her up and turn her into a jacket and a pair of feet. Still, the jacket and shoes are cute. They just needed better items to set them off.

 

Tatiana Maslany attends the “Stronger” premiere during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada in J. Mendel.

No complaints here. The style of dress isn’t exactly our favorite, but the color looks amazing on her. But honestly, she could be wearing a sack and that smile would sell it.

 

Tatiana Maslany attends the HFPA & InStyle annual celebration of 2017 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada.

LOVE this. Personally, we think a colored pair of Chucks would’ve worked better, but the blinding white made us laugh. Dorky Chic.

It’s weird to see her in three different outfits and hairstyles, while sporting the same smile and facial language. We’re so used to her turning into a different person depending on how she’s styled that it takes some getting used to to see the same Tat in all three shots.

 

Style Credits:
Second Look: J. Mendel Bordeaux Broomstick Pleated Tiered Dress with Jet Embroidered Trim | Rachel Katz Jewelry Single Cage Ear Cuffs | Tyler Ellis Small Lee Pouchet in Black Satin | Aquatalia Sasha Sandal in Black Satin

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

• Aquatalia
• J. Mendel
• Rachel Katz
• Red Carpet
• Style File
• Style Triple Shot
• Tatiana Maslany
• Tyler Ellis

The post Style File: Tatiana Maslany is Adorkable at the Toronto International Film Festival appeared first on Tom + Lorenzo.