Wow, another great episode! After last week’s tremendous return to form, and now “That Darn Katz!”, I’m actually starting to relax and enjoy the show without comparing it to previous seasons.
Not only was it smart as well as respectful of continuity, it was also hilarious. The lolcat poster cracked me up, as did Calculon’s cameo.
I’d give it a 7/10, or maybe even 8/10.
Thoughts?
In the club, did Leela say she didn’t have a man?
Hmmm, yeah, I missed that. I just checked, and you’re right. Odd.
Are they being played out-of-order, perhaps?
Addendum: Fry is dancing with Bender. Leela’s remark could refer to simply her feeling left out.
A step down from the last few weeks, but still some funny moments. That purple planet yelling “SHUDDUP” was hilarious.
Bender’s comment cracked me up.
“Why am I full of sand? And Tootsie Rolls?”
A minor little thing, but I really enjoyed it: the bar they went to, the opening pan was a near frame-by-frame of a Jetson’s episode!
Well, there’s good Futurama and bad Futurama, and this was very bad Futurama. I’ve been rewatching the first couple seasons on DVD, and it reminded me that there were a few clunkers back then, too. The last couple weeks had been pretty good, but this was down there with the eyePhone episode. Oh well.
When did Nibbler blow his cover? Must have happened in one of the last 2 movies (which I didn’t watch).
Yep. Nibbler’s been “out” for a while. I loved that Leela still thinks of him as a pet - and more surprisingly, that he likes it! It works out perfectly for future episodes, as they can still have Nibbler around as the adorable fuzzy animal when the plot demands it, and they can also have Nibbler as the hyperintelligent, deep-voiced, but still adorable fuzzy space marine when the plot demands that!
Overall, this was another great one IMO. Didn’t have the poignance of the last few, but not every episode has to be “Luck of the Fryrish.” Futurama also does zany very well, and there were probably more quotable lines in this one than the rest of the season combined. I think Futurama does wordplay better than just about any show out there. Plus, as a grad student myself, I found all the thesis jokes hilarious (and just a bit terrifying). The horse says: “THESIS DENIED.” 
I liked all the subtle nods to continuity as well - Amy’s been a grad student for twelve years, Fry’s still technically ranked “Delivery Boy,” Ethan “Bubblegum” Tate is a physics professor, and finally getting the explanation for Nibbler’s continued presence.
A good episode but the story felt a little recycled to me. It wasn’t all that different from the Big Brains episode except that it was Amy rather than Fry who defeated the invaders.
In fact, the thing that was most original about this episode was that it had Amy as the main character but didn’t have the plot based on her family or her love life.
I really liked it. I’d say it’s in the top 2 or 3 of the season. Cats and academia are evil so it was a good send up.
“Welcome to academia!”
YES. Sigh.
As with that episode where the characters make Earth’s year a week longer, the calendar people are really gonna be pissed at Planet Express.
But as Futurama goes, I’d have to put this one in the bottom tier, which is still better than 98% of television overall. The cat subtitle that read “DUH” was the only real belly-laugh I got.
An homage to “Cats” the musical, right?
How the black, screwy hell did I not get that there’s a new season of Futurama on?!
I thought this was a pretty average episode, but I’d like to watch it again. Interesting point: I didn’t notice this during the credits, but the writer of this episode was Josh Weinstein, who was co-show runner of The Simpsons at the end of its classic period (season seven and eight) and co-wrote episodes including Who Shot Mr. Burns? and $pringfield. I forgot he was involved with Futurama. I think this was his first writing credit on the show.
I thought it was the best new one yet. Does anyone know who was the voice of the evil cat? I thought maybe Michael York, but I’m not positive.
“Aww - his anus looks like an asterisk!”
“Hey - do you know Obliteron? He pretends to be a hamster, but…”
“How’s the job market?” “RUFF.”
“Or as we call it: Shiny Shiny Blue Ball.”
“Enojy your ruined planet! And the dead bird I left in your slipper. BWAA HA HA HA!”
According to the Futurama Wiki, Katz was voiced by Billy West. I thought it was Maurice LaMarche.
Hedonism Bot has quickly become one of my favorite characters.