History Recap / FuturamaS2E6TheLesserOfTwoEvils

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Despite turning out to be the evil one, Bender is offended that Fry thinks Flexo is evil [[BeardOfEvil because of the goatee]] and calls him prejudiced.

* FutureImperfect: The Past-O-Rama theme park (supposedly based on the year 2000) is probably the best example: in a commercial, cowboys with surfer accents and hover-mopeds hunt mammoths with harpoons, and UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein and Hammurabi (who ruled Babylonia c. 2000 BCE) are seen disco dancing in a hot air balloon, and Hammurabi uses the catch phrase "Dy-no-mite!" from ''Good Times''. In one exhibit, UsefulNotes/GeraldFord is credited with inventing the automo''car'', which is built by primitive robots (who dress and behave like human cavemen) and runs by burning fossil fuels (as in actual dinosaur bones rather than petroleum byproducts). An ad in the recreated subway seems to assume that "Spanglish" was an actual language.
** Fry, who is actually from the past, is either not believed when he tries to correct the errors, or just makes them worse with his [[CloudCuckooLander unique perspective]] (What were those booths on the road used for in your time? Bathrooms). This is despite several living heads of people from the 20th century with their memories living in the time (and even winning elections).
** To put things in perspective, the difference in time between Einstein (who was from the 1900's) and the year 3000 is ''four times smaller'' than that between Einstein and King Hammurabi. The people of the year 3000 seem to have a decent grasp of the past millennium or so of their history but collapse any and all human history before that into a single homogeneous garbled mess.

* AsHimself: Creator/BobBarker provides the voice for his head, and the show even manages to set up a scenario for him to say "you're the closest without going over" when it came to the atom's price.

* AsHimself: Creator/BobBarker provides the voice for the head of Bob Barker, and the show even manages to set up a scenario for him to say "you're the closest without going over" when it came to the atom's price.

* {{Pixellation}}: Parodied when the crew are watching ''Cop Department'', and the suspect's face is blurry (similar to how ''COPS'' blurs out suspects' and victims' faces for privacy/legal reasons[[note]]and, at times, breasts and private parts for censorship reasons[[/note]]). It turns out he's doing it himself, when Smitty orders him to stop it.

The Planet Express staff meets Flexo, a Bending robot just like Bender. The two robots hit it off, but Fry can't help but be suspicious of the new robot, especially when Planet Express is hired to ship an expensive tiara to the Miss Universe pageant.

* AnachronismStew: Let's just say that Pastorama is not exactly an accurate representation of the 20th century...

* BaitAndSwitch: During the episode, the normally naked Bender is seen wearing a turtleneck and later a scarf, leading the audience, and Fry, to assume this is actually Flexo trying to cover up his goatee. When Fry later yanks the scarf off, it turns out to be Bender after all; he was just trying to be stylish.

* BeautyContest: The framing device of the second act. The crew's first mission since welcoming Flexo is to deliver an atom that will be placed atop the Miss Universe pageant's winner crown. The winner is Miss Vega Four (although Zapp mistakenly announces Leela's name).
* BlatantLies: The drunken alien on ''Cop Department'' claims that he didn't fire off any lasers, despite the smoking hole in his ceiling. When confronted, he claims it's the "crazy upstairs lady". URL points out they're on the top floor of the apartment building.
* TheBlindLeadingTheBlind: Pastorama got a lot about the 20th century wrong but Fry as a tour guide isn't much better.

* FutureImperfect: The Past-o-Rama theme park (supposedly based on the year 2000) is probably the best example: in a commercial, cowboys with surfer accents and hover-mopeds hunt mammoths with harpoons, and UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein and Hammurabi (who ruled Babylonia c. 2000 BCE) are seen disco dancing in a hot air balloon, and Hammurabi uses the catch phrase "Dy-no-mite!" from ''Good Times''. In one exhibit, UsefulNotes/GeraldFord is credited with inventing the automo''car'', which is built by primitive robots (who dress and behave like human cavemen) and runs by burning fossil fuels (as in actual dinosaur bones rather than petroleum byproducts). An ad in the re-created subway seems to assume that "Spanglish" was an actual language.
** Fry, who is actually from the past, is either not believed when he tries to correct the errors, or just makes them worse with his [[CloudCuckooLander unique perspective]] (What were those booths on the road used for in your time? Bathrooms). This is despite several living heads of people from the 20th century with their memories living in the time and even winning elections.
** To put things in perspective, the difference in time between Einstein (who was from the 1900's) and the year 3000 is ''four times smaller'' than that between Einstein and King Hammurabi. The people of the year 3000 seem to have a decent grasp of the past millennium or so of their history, but collapse any and all human history before that into a single homogeneous, garbled mess.

-->'''Fry:''' Look, I know Flexo's your friend but I don't trust him alone with the atom.\\
'''Bender:''' My God, Fry! Just 'cause the guy's got a beard you label him as evil? Well I got a label for you, pal: An ugly little word called "prejudice".\\

* MistakenForServant: At the Pastorama park, Fry thinks a mugger is a park performer. Later, Fry himself is mistaken for a park employee because of his 20th Century clothing (by someone wearing ''16th Century'' clothing).

* NotSoAboveItAll: Leela twice talks down to women hoping to win the "Miss Universe Pageant"; first to Amy, then towards the actual contestants. But when a misunderstanding briefly leads her and everyone else to think she actually won, despite not even being in the pageant, Leela is clearly excited, then disappointed when the misunderstanding is cleared up and the prize taken from her and handed to the actual winner.
* OpeningShoutOut: The pastorama logo looks just like the start of the opening theme.

* SpacePirates: In a slight variation, Space Bandidos. They're easy to distinguish from other kinds of spaceborne brigands: if it's them, you'll hear maracas.

* SubwaysSuck: One of the less-inaccurate exhibits at Past-o-Rama is an absolutely filthy subway station. Fry shows his friends how to jump the turnstile and then curls up on two seats for a nap.

* ToiletHumour: Fry tells Leela that phone booths were used as bathrooms in his time, afterwards Leela states that she'll be out in a second, clearly implying that she's going to enter the booth to relieve herself inside it.

* RecycledSoundtrack: The same ending cue from "[[Recap/FuturamaS2E1BranniganBeginAgain Brannigan, Begin Again]]" was used as the ending cue for this episode as well.

* DrivenToSuicide: PlayedForLaughs when Bender mistakes a phone booth for a suicide booth, [[CallBack the opposite to Fry's mistake in]] [[Recap/FuturamaS1E1SpacePilot3000 the first episode]].

* AsHimself: Bob Barker provides the voice for the head of Bob Barker, and the show even manages to set up a scenario for him to say "you're the closest without going over" when it came to the atoms price.

* FutureImperfect: The Past-o-Rama theme park (supposedly based on the year 2000) is probably the best example: in a commercial, cowboys with surfer accents and hover-mopeds hunt mammoths with harpoons, and UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein and Hammurabi (who ruled Babylonia c. 2000 BCE) are seen disco dancing in a hot air balloon, and Hammurabi uses the catch phrase "Dy-no-mite!" from ''Good Times''. In one exhibit, UsefulNotes/GeraldFord is credited with inventing the automo''car'', which is built by primitive robots (who dress and behave like human cavemen) and runs by burning fossil fuels (as in actual dinosaur bones rather than petroleum biproducts). An ad in the re-created subway seems to assume that "Spanglish" was an actual language.
** Fry, who is actually from the past, is either not believed when he tries to correct the errors, or just makes them worse with his [[CloudCuckooLander unique perspective]] (What were those booths on the road used for in your time? Bathrooms). This is despite several living heads of people of 20th century people with their memories living in the time and even winning election.

-->'''Fry''': Look, I know Flexo's your friend but I don't trust him alone with the atom.\\
'''Bender''': My God, Fry! Just 'cause the guy's got a beard you label him as evil? Well I got a label for you, pal: An ugly little word called "prejudice".\\
'''Fry''': I'm not prejudiced.\\
'''Bender''': Ah, save it for the cross-burning, Adolf!

-->'''TV ad''': Is today's hectic lifestyle making you tense and impatient?\\
'''Bender''': SHUT UP AND GET TO THE POINT!

* SpotTheImposter: Leela find herself in this situation, gun included, during Bender and Flexo's fight, not helped by Fry telling her to "shoot Flexo". Ultimately, [[TakeAThirdOption Leela shoots the planet decorations hanging from the ceiling]], knocking them both out.... and revealing that ''Bender'' stole the Jumbonium atom.

* SuspicionAesop: Fry immediately suspects Flexo is up to no good, seemingly just because of his [[BeardOfEvil goatee]]. Those suspicions seem to be confirmed when the Jumbonium atom is stolen and Flexo goes missing. But the confrontation at the end reveals ''Bender'' actually stole the atom, and Flexo left to get the police.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Implied when Fry over-explains that his "girlfriend" was simply a girl who lived next door and never closed her curtains.

* PoisonousFriend: Fry doesn't like Flexo because he makes fun of him and treats him like crap, even though that pretty much is just like Bender himself, who also makes fun of Fry and treats him like crap.

* BeardOfEvil: Flexo has a beard, but isn't the evil one. Bender is.

* PoisonousFriend: Fry doesn't like Flexo because he makes fun of him and treats him like crap, even though that pretty much is just like Bender himself, who makes fun of Fry and treats him like crap.

* WhatTheHellHero: Flexo calls out Fry and Leela for assuming he was the EvilTwin because of his goatee. It's then immediately subverted
-->'''Leela:''' I'm sorry we suspected you, Flexo. It's just, what with the beard and all-
-->'''Flexo:''' Don't even bother! You people sicken me. I put my life on the line to guard that atom and this is how you repay me? Well, you can go ''rot'' for all I care. ''[laughs]'' [[SubvertedTrope Nah, I'm just kidding]], you guys are alright. ''[laughs again]''

* GuiltyUntilSomeoneElseIsGuilty: Fry and Leela automatically assume Flexo stole a giant atom. The two of them are only convinced of Flex's innocence once the atom was shown inside Bender's compartment, showing that Bender was the real thief.

* MortonsFork: Fry’s attempts to watch over the atom before Flexo fail because all three orders they choose (Leela’s random order, alphabetical order and in order of descending rank) all result in Flexo coming before him.

-->'''Flexo:''' That’s “Flexo outranks me SIR”.