Al Gore breaking the rules

Al Gore came to speak at NYU. I didn’t go because some of us have to put bread on the table, but certain “special” law students did go. However, the event lay forgotten until the night before. Lucky for at least one law student, we were watching the episode of Freaks & Geeks when then-VP George Bush visits the high school (the show is set in 1980). Something about watching a show about the VP come to a school to speak clicked in As Yet Unnamed Law Student’s brain and he realized that the ex-VP was coming to his school to speak.

My only request was that AYULS ask about Al’s stint on Futurama, the best show ever. And that he phrase it like this: “Hey remember when you were on Futurama? That was cool.” A la Chris Farley. Come to find out my request was not fulfilled. However, the guy introducing Al did bring it up; but in a stupid way – “one of the select few to appear as a head preserved in a bubble on Futurama” - I would have done such a better job.

For example, I know that lots of people appeared on Futurama as preserved heads in jars. Beck, Bob Barker, the entire cast of original Star Trek (plus Commander Riker), Claudia Schiffer, Pamela Anderson, Lucy Liu, Ron Popeil, Hank Aaron. That’s just to name a few (voiced by themselves). Sure, Al was in 2 episodes, but that’s partly because his daughter was a (crappy) writer on the show in the 4^th season. And yes, he was on the show before she was a writer there.

The point is, when someone has been on my favorite show and they are giving a speech, I demand that the topic gets drawn from whatever they are talking about (the “environment?” please.) and talk about the show. If they were never on the show, but were parodied (a la SNL) then they need to talk about that. However, not if their job is being on tv shows. This only stands for non-actors (world leaders?) that make guest appearances.

Just a few simple rules. That’s all I ask.