Cubert Farnsworth
Encyclopedia
Cubert Farnsworth is a fictional character
, Professor Farnsworth
's clone from the animated television series Futurama
. He was created from a growth on Professor Farnsworth
's back in 2989. Cubert differs from the Professor in appearance due to his nose being squashed up against the wall of his cloning tube from being left there too long. His hair is reminiscent of his great-great-great-etc. grand-uncle/grandfather Fry
. According to the DVD commentaries he was the first character to be designed, and was originally to first appear in the episode "A Big Piece of Garbage
" in the first season, but was cut for time. Originally, he was to be a character who pointed out obvious plotholes (for example, how Leela, who has little to no depth perception
, can still pilot the Planet Express ship) but it was then decided that the viewers would ask questions like that themselves.
It was originally intended that Cubert was to be a genius character so bothersome that the viewing audience would want to punch him in the face (David X. Cohen
likens this to many fans' opinions of the character Wesley Crusher
in Star Trek: The Next Generation
). Unlike other shows, however, the crew would actually want to—and would—punch him in the face as well; this idea was lost as Cubert took a less vital role in the series and could not be properly established as an unlikable character.
"), and his belief that the addition of flame decals to the Planet Express Ship
would increase its speed. Cubert may be missing a toe. It is mentioned by Bender that he is a bed-wetter, possibly connected to Hubert's condition referred to as "Wandering Bladder".
Because he is Professor Farnsworth's clone, he is genetically his identical twin, but being much younger Farnsworth treats him as a son, and even refers to him as such, while Fry (his Great x30 Uncle) treats him as a nephew.
An adult version of Cubert is shown to have a brief relationship and marriage with Leela in "The Late Philip J. Fry
"; this may have occurred in several of the universes
in which Fry mysteriously disappeared.
s", are Cubert and Dwight able to attract guests to their subsequent party.
", Cubert and Dwight teamed up to take over Planet Express for their own delivery company- Awesome Express. Dwight discovers that the Professor declared himself legally dead
as a tax dodge (the professor claims he just took a nap in a ditch and everyone thought he was dead), so Cubert inherits his building and his space ship, forcing the Professor and Hermes out of the job. The rest of the crew are taken on as paper-boys. When the duo realized that they had promised to deliver more than they could, their parents help them out. After apologizing to Horrible Gelatinous Blob for breaking his window, Cubert and Dwight realize that they should give up and let their parents do all the managing, after they (Hermes and the Professor) were "on the ass end of an ass kicking". In this episode, it is revealed that he is 12.
, symbolizing a battle to preserve the Earth for several generations, chartered a "Children's Ship" that included Cubert (possibly as captain, as he is seen on screen with the captains of 23 other ships before the battle). His ship was reported as destroyed by the scammers ("Nailed the Children's Ship!") though he is shown in subsequent films without any visible injuries.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, Professor Farnsworth
Hubert J. Farnsworth
Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, or simply The Professor, is a fictional character in the American animated television series Futurama. He is voiced by Billy West using a combination of impressions of Burgess Meredith and Frank Morgan. Farnsworth is the proprietor of the Planet Express delivery...
's clone from the animated television series Futurama
Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
. He was created from a growth on Professor Farnsworth
Hubert J. Farnsworth
Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, or simply The Professor, is a fictional character in the American animated television series Futurama. He is voiced by Billy West using a combination of impressions of Burgess Meredith and Frank Morgan. Farnsworth is the proprietor of the Planet Express delivery...
's back in 2989. Cubert differs from the Professor in appearance due to his nose being squashed up against the wall of his cloning tube from being left there too long. His hair is reminiscent of his great-great-great-etc. grand-uncle/grandfather Fry
Philip J. Fry
Philip J. Fry, known simply as Fry, is a fictional character, the main protagonist of the animated science fiction sitcom Futurama. He is voiced by Billy West using a version of his own voice as he sounded when he was 25.-Character overview:...
. According to the DVD commentaries he was the first character to be designed, and was originally to first appear in the episode "A Big Piece of Garbage
A Big Piece of Garbage
"A Big Piece of Garbage" is episode eight in season one of Futurama. It originally aired in North America on May 11, 1999. The episode was written by Lewis Morton and directed by Susie Dietter. Ron Popeil guest stars in this episode as himself. Nancy Cartwright also has a brief cameo as a Bart...
" in the first season, but was cut for time. Originally, he was to be a character who pointed out obvious plotholes (for example, how Leela, who has little to no depth perception
Depth perception
Depth perception is the visual ability to perceive the world in three dimensions and the distance of an object. Depth sensation is the ability to move accurately, or to respond consistently, based on the distances of objects in an environment....
, can still pilot the Planet Express ship) but it was then decided that the viewers would ask questions like that themselves.
It was originally intended that Cubert was to be a genius character so bothersome that the viewing audience would want to punch him in the face (David X. Cohen
David X. Cohen
David Samuel Cohen , primarily known as David X. Cohen, is an American television writer. He has written for The Simpsons and he is the head writer and executive producer of Futurama.-Early life:...
likens this to many fans' opinions of the character Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
in Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
). Unlike other shows, however, the crew would actually want to—and would—punch him in the face as well; this idea was lost as Cubert took a less vital role in the series and could not be properly established as an unlikable character.
Unveiling
Cubert was unveiled to the crew in 3001 to become the Professor's successor. They first view him, suspended and drowning, in a hibernation tank. After the Professor drains the tank, Cubert's first words (to the entire crew) were, "What? You've never seen a genius' weiner before?" (Fry had, once, "in the park"). He quickly demonstrates his obnoxiousness and maintains that the Professor was crazy, his ideas are impossible, his inventions are useless, and his crew is incompetent. However, because of a dream (after a severe blow to the head), he concludes that nothing is impossible and then goes on to save the crew from the Near Death Star robots. At the end of the episode he begins to call the professor Dad.Character
Cubert is pompous, arrogant, and very rude to the other members of Planet Express. Unsurprisingly, he is unpopular with the crew. He will frequently shout "That's preposterous!" upon hearing a concept which he believes to be impossible. However, he admits that he is subject to the ignorance of a child's mind; this is demonstrated in his frequent act of imitating whatever is on his favorite show, All My Circuits ("Bender Should Not Be Allowed on TVBender Should Not Be Allowed on TV
"Bender Should Not Be Allowed on TV" is the sixth episode of the fourth production season of Futurama...
"), and his belief that the addition of flame decals to the Planet Express Ship
Planet Express Ship
The Planet Express Ship is a fictional spaceship in the animated series Futurama, which bears the official designation "U.S.S. Planet Express Ship." The ship was designed and built by Professor Hubert Farnsworth and is the sole delivery ship of Planet Express, a delivery service owned by the...
would increase its speed. Cubert may be missing a toe. It is mentioned by Bender that he is a bed-wetter, possibly connected to Hubert's condition referred to as "Wandering Bladder".
Because he is Professor Farnsworth's clone, he is genetically his identical twin, but being much younger Farnsworth treats him as a son, and even refers to him as such, while Fry (his Great x30 Uncle) treats him as a nephew.
An adult version of Cubert is shown to have a brief relationship and marriage with Leela in "The Late Philip J. Fry
The Late Philip J. Fry
"The Late Philip J. Fry" is the seventh episode of the sixth season of the animated series Futurama. It originally aired on Comedy Central on July 29, 2010. In the episode, Fry attempts to make it on time to a birthday dinner date for Leela. He is sidetracked by Professor Farnsworth and Bender,...
"; this may have occurred in several of the universes
Big Bounce
The Big Bounce is a theoretical scientific model of the formation of the known universe. It is implied by the cyclic model or oscillatory universe interpretation of the Big Bang where the first cosmological event was the result of the collapse of a previous universe.- Expansion and contraction...
in which Fry mysteriously disappeared.
Friends
Cubert befriended Hermes' son Dwight as they both attend the same school. However, Cubert is unpopular with the other children; when Cubert and Dwight's fathers throw a birthday party for the two, no guests accept the invitation. Only by committing a burglary, boosting their score on the Cool-O-Meter to "over forty Mega-FonzieFonzie
Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli is a fictional character played by Henry Winkler in the American sitcom Happy Days . He was originally a secondary character, but eventually became the lead...
s", are Cubert and Dwight able to attract guests to their subsequent party.
Awesome Express
In "The Route of All EvilThe Route of All Evil
"The Route of All Evil" is episode twelve in season three of the Futurama DVDs. This episode was originally made to be aired during Season 3 but was put on the shelf by FOX. It was also going to be the season premiere for the fifth season but FOX made a last minute change and aired it on December...
", Cubert and Dwight teamed up to take over Planet Express for their own delivery company- Awesome Express. Dwight discovers that the Professor declared himself legally dead
Death in absentia
Death in absentia is a legal declaration that a person is deceased in the absence of remains attributable to that person...
as a tax dodge (the professor claims he just took a nap in a ditch and everyone thought he was dead), so Cubert inherits his building and his space ship, forcing the Professor and Hermes out of the job. The rest of the crew are taken on as paper-boys. When the duo realized that they had promised to deliver more than they could, their parents help them out. After apologizing to Horrible Gelatinous Blob for breaking his window, Cubert and Dwight realize that they should give up and let their parents do all the managing, after they (Hermes and the Professor) were "on the ass end of an ass kicking". In this episode, it is revealed that he is 12.
In battle
In Bender's Big Score, Cubert was drafted to fight in the Earth force that reclaimed the planet from a gang of scammer aliens that had duped Earth's people out of their homes. Commander Zapp BranniganZapp Brannigan
Captain Zapp Brannigan is a fictional character in the animated sitcom Futurama. He is voiced by Billy West, but was originally intended to be voiced by Phil Hartman, with West taking over the role after Hartman's death. Brannigan is a 25-Star General in the Democratic Order of Planets, and captain...
, symbolizing a battle to preserve the Earth for several generations, chartered a "Children's Ship" that included Cubert (possibly as captain, as he is seen on screen with the captains of 23 other ships before the battle). His ship was reported as destroyed by the scammers ("Nailed the Children's Ship!") though he is shown in subsequent films without any visible injuries.
Cultural references
- Cubert is a veiled parody of Wesley CrusherWesley CrusherWesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
. - Cubert's name is a reference to Q*bert, an arcade game.