The Tip of the Zoidberg
| "The Tip of the Zoidberg" | |
|---|---|
| Futurama episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 6 Episode 18 |
| Directed by | Raymie Muzquiz |
| Written by | Ken Keeler |
| Production code | 6ACV18 |
| Original air date | August 18, 2011 |
| Opening caption | "It's Tentacular!" |
"The Tip of the Zoidberg" is the eighteenth episode of the sixth season of the animated sitcom Futurama. It aired on Comedy Central in the United States on August 18, 2011. A pivotal episode, it reveals Dr. Zoidberg's backstory. This episode was nominated for the 2012 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour).
Frustrated with Zoidberg's incompetence as a doctor, the Planet Express crew demand Professor Farnsworth fire him. The Professor refuses, and the crew question why Zoidberg was ever employed in the first place. A series of flashbacks reveal that Zoidberg first met and befriended Farnsworth in 2927, during a mission to kill a Tritonian yeti for Mom. During the mission, Zoidberg is attacked by a yeti, but is saved by Farnsworth, who is scratched by the yeti. Farnsworth now fears that he has contracted hyper-malaria, a painful, fatal, incurable disease which can either strike instantly or remain dormant for years. He asks Zoidberg to perform a mercy killing if he ever exhibits symptoms of the disease. Grateful for the Professor having saved his life and killing the yeti, Zoidberg agrees. As a result, Zoidberg is employed by the Professor for the purpose of carrying out the task.
In the present, the Professor begins to experience what he believes are the symptoms of hyper-malaria, and informs Zoidberg that the time has come to fulfill his promise, but insists that Zoidberg must kill him by surprise because he is afraid to die. The crew, not aware of the agreement, are shocked when they walk in on Zoidberg attempting to murder the Professor, and restrain him with the Professor's lab coat and imprison him. Zoidberg notices a single white hair on the Professor's coat and deduces that he does not have hyper-malaria, but rather yetiism, which he had contracted after having been scratched by the Tritonian yeti. The disease mimics the symptoms of hyper-malaria, but instead of illness or death, its victim transforms into a yeti.
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