Every Star Trek Reference In Futurama
19. Spock Product Placement In That's Lobstertainment
The reference in That's Lobstertainment is a small one.
The episode follows Zoidberg's attempt to make it as a star. This starts with a terrible stand-up routine. Following this, he goes to his uncle Harold Zoid, who was a film star in the silent hologram era. His uncle tells him to get into drama and help him finance a dram film he wants to make.
The financing costs a million dollars and, as Zoidberg is broke, Bender approaches Calculon to fund the project, having pretended to be Calculon's water heater. Calculon agrees on the idea that he will win an Oscar but, when the movie is terrible, he threatens to kill them all if he doesn't win. They decide to rig the awards but, in the end, Zoidberg gives it to his uncle for trying everything.
The reference comes during the Academy Awards. A category entitled Best Product Placement features Star Trek: 'The Pepsi Generation' and a picture of Spock holding a can of Pepsi. Like quite a few references within the show, this is just a small nod to the science-fiction giant and one of the inspirations for Futurama. It's nothing but dumb humour, but it works.