Tonight, Comedy Central will premiere season six of Futurama. It will be the first original season for the network, as season five consisted of direct-to-DVD releases and will consist of back-to-back episodes, “Rebirth” and “In-a-Gadda-Da-Leela.” The latter will feature Zapp Brannigan, the loud, incompetent captain of the Nimbus who fancies himself suave even though his attempts at wooing women like Turanga Leela are consistently offensive. Zapp's brashness is best countered by Lieutenant Kif Kroker, whose contempt for his superior is readily apparent despite his shy demeanor.

We've compiled a small list of the misadventures of Zapp and Kif. If you've seen “The Beast with a Billion Backs,” then you might consider the following selections foreshadowing of what was to come for the duo.

5. “Love's Labours Lost in Space”

Leela goes to Zapp for help in her attempt to save the animals of Vergon 6. The captain of the Nimbus not only declines her request, but prohibits her from taking action. She ends up sleeping with him after he starts crying. Nevertheless, the military leader feels the need to brag to his lieutenant.

“I have made it with a woman. Inform the men,” he tells Kif.

This episode is the first appearance of Zapp and Kif and, subsequently, introduces us to the lieutenant's exasperated sigh.

4. “Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch”

Maybe if it weren't for Zapp's unrequited lust for Leela, Kif and Amy Wong wouldn't have fallen in love. But, Zapp does a good job of spoiling the mood too, like when he blasts a hole into a wall, setting off a series of events that results in Kif's pregnancy.

3. “A Flight to Remember”

Zapp is smitten, both with Leela and his new ship, the Titanic. On the ship's maiden voyage, he decides to show off by changing courses, heading through comets. When the move goes typically awry, Zapp comes up with a solution. The captain will go down with the ship.

Kif: Why, that's surprisingly noble of you, sir.

Zapp: No, it's noble of you, Kif. As of now, you're in command. Congratulations, Captain.

One good thing comes out of the mishap, though. Sparks begin to fly between Kif and Amy.

2. “Brannigan, Begin Again”

Zapp and Kif are fired from the Democratic Order of Planets when Zapp accidentally destroys the space station and manages to implicate his lieutenant in the matter as well. In order to restore his glory, though, he has a plan.

Zapp: We will single-handedly attack our archenemy, the Neutral Planet.

Kif: Oh, geez.

Zapp: Once the Neutral war machine lies in ruins, I'll be a hero again and the DOOP will reinstate me as captain.

Kif: But, sir, that plan makes no sense.

That Zapp gets his job back is only a testament to how deeply some people on the Planet Express crew don't want to work with him.

1. “Amazon Women in the Mood”

Kif has fallen for Amy, but he's too shy to do much about it. Zapp gives him a crash course in the art of seduction, but, of course, his advice is horrible. Using Zapp's pick-up lines, Kif offends both Amy and Leela on a double “half-date.” While he redeems himself at karaoke by singing “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” Zapp, “The Velour Fog,” steals the stage from him and turns “Lola” into a Shatner-esque ode to Leela. Things get worse when Zapp drives all the customers out of the restaurant and proceeds to navigate the ship straight into Amazonia.

A while back, IGN ranked this as the best episode of Futurama. It really is.

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