500 Cigarettes Meme Template

Template Name

500 Cigarettes / Five Hundred Cigarettes / Bortus 500 Cigarettes / The Orville Cigarette Replicator / What Did You Order? Meme

Origin

This viral moment originates from Seth MacFarlane’s sci-fi comedy-drama series The Orville, specifically Season 2, Episode 11, titled "Lasting Impressions" (first broadcast in March 2019).

In the episode, Moclan crew officer Lt. Commander Bortus (Peter Macon) and his mate Klyden (Chad L. Coleman) discover the 21st-century human custom of smoking tobacco after examining a preserved historical time capsule. Fascinated by the experience, the two quickly develop an intense addiction. Later in the episode, Klyden approaches the ship's matter synthesizer (replicator) to order more. When Bortus steps up to see what Klyden has materialized, Klyden proudly gestures to an enormous pyramid of tobacco, prompting Bortus’s iconic, deadpan command to the device:

"Five hundred cigarettes."

The machine chimes and immediately materializes a massive, steaming pile of 500 individual lit cigarettes on the tray.

The scene experienced a massive viral resurgence around mid-2024 across TikTok, YouTube, Reddit (r/TheOrville, r/dankmemes, r/me_irl), and Twitter/X. Creators clipped the deadpan delivery into video remixes, green-screen skits, and static image reaction macros, transforming the line into internet shorthand for ordering absurd, excessive quantities of something unhealthy, obsessive, or completely unnecessary.

Key Vibes

Deadpan indulgence, excessive hoarding, zero impulse control, unapologetic overconsumption, and absolute addiction.

Visual Breakdown

• The Character (Center): Lt. Commander Bortus, a Moclan alien with heavy prosthetic brow ridges, a stoic expression, and dark, deadpan eyes, his mouth slightly parted mid-command.
• The Wardrobe: The Planetary Union naval blue duty uniform featuring grey trim around the collar and a circular silver service comm badge on the chest.
• The Subtitle (Lower Center): White sans-serif text centered along the lower third of the chest stating simply: "500 cigarettes."
• The Framing: A tight medium close-up shot emphasizing the utter seriousness and complete lack of hesitation on his face.

Description Paragraph

The enduring comedic genius of the "500 Cigarettes" meme is rooted in Peter Macon’s stone-faced delivery. Bortus doesn't hesitate, ask for a pack, or test the waters; he immediately scales his newfound craving to an industrial level without an ounce of shame. The internet took that absurd escalation and applied it to modern consumer splurges, gaming binges, late-night snacking, or digital hoarding. Whether it's downloading hundreds of mods that crash your game, ordering far too much takeout, or buying identical items in bulk during an online sale, Bortus embodies the instant choice to discard all moderation.

Popular Caption Ideas

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• "Me installing mods for Skyrim right before the game crashes on startup: '500 graphic enhancement packs.'"
• "When the waiter asks how many complimentary bread rolls our table would like to start with."