Story (http://gizmodo.com/5285178/futurama-is-back-for-26-more-episodes)

Can't believe I missed this big news!!! Wooo!!!! It should be HD as well.

This is nice. I kind of liked that show. And on Comedy Central, I'm sure it will be repeated enough that it won't conflict with anything.

Heavens to Mergatroid!

Though the movies have been rather hit or miss. Maybe the short format will get them back in the groove.

As Zoidberg would say...

Woooop wooooop woooop woooop.

I wonder how they are going to go ahead with Fry and Leela finaly getting together at the end of the last movie!

As Zoidberg would say...

Woooop wooooop woooop woooop.

I wonder how they are going to go ahead with Fry and Leela finaly getting together at the end of the last movie!Big spoiler there, you might want to blank it out for those who haven't seen the last movie yet.

Didn't they say the same thing about 3 years ago ?

Didn't they say the same thing about 3 years ago ?

They said they were going to make 4 movies and then they did.

Big spoiler there, you might want to blank it out for those who haven't seen the last movie yet.

Considering the way the last movie ended.... they can do whatever they want... (and that movie has been out for 4 months... so i would hope people interested in this thread topic have seen it already)

I think they've almost gotten together several times, including when the original series ended.

Being a cartoon, I expect them to take whatever liberties they want as long as its funny.

Looking forward to more Futurama... While I have been a big Simpsons fan, I've found Futurama to be much more consistently funny than Simpsons in recent years.

This is great news! Plus in HD!

:D

FOX To Recast Futurama Voices (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html)

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @!&@#!@%^&!@#@#!!!!!:mad: (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html):mad: (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html):mad: (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html)

Cheap bastards. Over before it's begun. No way am I going to watch now. Everyone send your emails and try to convince them to try and keep the original actors.

FOX To Recast Futurama Voices (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html)

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @!&@#!@%^&!@#@#!!!!!:mad: (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html):mad: (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html):mad: (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html)

Cheap bastards. Over before it's begun. No way am I going to watch now. Everyone send your emails and try to convince them to try and keep the original actors.

Check the original full story (http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2009/07/is-fox-planning-to-recast-futurama.html)

sounds like it may be a FOX-created hoax to create buzz (i hope)

FOX To Recast Futurama Voices (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html)

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @!&@#!@%^&!@#@#!!!!!:mad: (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html):mad: (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html):mad: (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/07/futurama-new-voices.html)

Cheap bastards. Over before it's begun. No way am I going to watch now. Everyone send your emails and try to convince them to try and keep the original actors.

Wow. Major buzzkill.

Check the original full story (http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2009/07/is-fox-planning-to-recast-futurama.html)

sounds like it may be a FOX-created hoax to create buzz (i hope)It sounds more like quite the opposite- a buzz created by the original actors so they can get more money.

Either way I hope the original cast sticks around, because without them the show is pretty much done.

It sounds more like quite the opposite- a buzz created by the original actors so they can get more money.

Either way I hope the original cast sticks around, because without them the show is pretty much done.

Well the following is advertised as part of comic-con:

Sat Jul 25 1:00-1:45 Futurama: Life or Death?!— Be a part of sci-fi history! Join executive producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, and stars Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, and Maurice LaMarche for high-stakes thrills as a top-ranking FOX executive decides live, on stage, whether Futurama will make yet another triumphant return or whether it is gone forever! The very fate of Futurama hangs in the balance! Paramedics will be standing by in case the intense excitement causes any panelists to collapse. Raucous celebration or abject despair to follow the news. Ballroom 20

Well the following is advertised as part of comic-con:

Sat Jul 25 1:00-1:45 Futurama: Life or Death?!— Be a part of sci-fi history! Join executive producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, and stars Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, and Maurice LaMarche for high-stakes thrills as a top-ranking FOX executive decides live, on stage, whether Futurama will make yet another triumphant return or whether it is gone forever! The very fate of Futurama hangs in the balance! Paramedics will be standing by in case the intense excitement causes any panelists to collapse. Raucous celebration or abject despair to follow the news. Ballroom 20

That's funny. That puts a little different perspective on the whole issue of the possibility of the show returning without the main cast. It sounds very much like the whole "crisis" is to generate buzz and that the cast is very much in on the joke. I hope that's the case.

I distinctly recall hearing years ago that Matt and the boys kept in mind the way The Simpsons' cast was able to hold the show hostage with their demands for more money, and that they wrote the contracts for Futurama so that this could not occur again.

...but lawyers being the way they are, who knows?

It's confirmed now, the original voices will not be returning. Funny, Futurama just died again and it hasn't even aired yet.

It's confirmed now, the original voices will not be returning. Funny, Futurama just died again and it hasn't even aired yet.

nothing is confirmed yet...

But people are willing to kill the idea of it, in their mind, not only before it is confirmed, but before they even give the new voice artists a chance. I think that's ridiculous. It's entertainment. Thousands of people think the highlight of entertainment is the live stage, where different actors bring the same characters to life, in different cities, from one revival to the next, and so on. The character is not the actor; the actor plays the character.

nothing is confirmed yet...

Variety is now chiming in on theFuturama situation, and it looks like this is indeed the real deal, as in not any sort of hoax. Variety confirms that the show has a dramatically slashed budget, and that the salary offers made to the cast were far below what they were asking – which Variety says was likely around $75,000 an episode. The budget cuts (compared to what the show had when it originally was produced) have also led to a smaller writing staff and a shorter schedule to produce episodes.


As for it not being the same show with different voice actors - WRONG. The voices brought the characters to life. Different actors will bring a different life to them, one I couldn't care less about. There's still time for the original actors to take a much lower salary than they asked for, but its not looking good.

Why aren't people directing their anger at the actors, who refused to change their salary expectations to be commensurate with the change in network from one of the big four broadcast networks to Comedy Central, which doesn't even break the top 10 list of cable networks?

Why aren't people directing their anger at the actors, who refused to change their salary expectations to be commensurate with the change in network from one of the big four broadcast networks to Comedy Central, which doesn't even break the top 10 list of cable networks?Why should we begrudge working profressionals because they try to make what they think they're worth? Regardless of what cable network the first showing is on, I bet FOX still handles the HOME distribution rights, and I bet that makes all the difference here.

Why should we begrudge working profressionals because they try to make what they think they're worth? There is no rational logic for supporting the actors as you've described and not similarly supporting the production company and network trying to make what they think they're worth, as well. You cannot have it both ways, without being an actors' apologist. Let the market decide who is worth what and not begrudge anyone their business decisions.

There is no rational logic for supporting the actors as you've described and not similarly supporting the production company and network trying to make what they think they're worth, as well. You cannot have it both ways, without being an actors' apologist. Let the market decide who is worth what and not begrudge anyone their business decisions.Look, I'm sure most of the regulars here know how you feel from your long time posts in the forums and it's not even worth arguing with you about this point.

The fact is, Futurama has a huge fanbase (considering it was only on for 4 seasons) and has made plenty of money for FOX in home sales, and just would not be the same without any of its main cast members.

I agree: It wouldn't be the same. Rather, it would be just like a brand-new series, that has the same premise as one that you thought highly-enough about the last time to check it out and stick with it for years. It was good enough last time; so there is no reason it cannot be good enough this time.

My concern is how so many people set themselves up to be disappointed -- poisoning the pool -- out of some misguided loyalty to actors, who really, in this case, made their decision to decline the offer to return, not based on their feelings for you, their fans, but rather made their decision to decline the offer to return based on the money.

I agree: It wouldn't be the same. Rather, it would be just like a brand-new series, that has the same premise as one that you thought highly-enough about the last time to check it out and stick with it for years. It was good enough last time; so there is no reason it cannot be good enough this time.

My concern is how so many people set themselves up to be disappointed -- poisoning the pool -- out of some misguided loyalty to actors, who really, in this case, made their decision to decline the offer to return, not based on their feelings for you, their fans, but rather made their decision to decline the offer to return based on the money.

So you think they're bringing the series back out of the goodness of their own hearts? Yeahhhhhhhh I think I'll side with the actors who made the show what it was rather than the giant conglomerate that is out to do nothing but make a buck.

I agree: It wouldn't be the same. Rather, it would be just like a brand-new series, that has the same premise as one that you thought highly-enough about the last time to check it out and stick with it for years. It was good enough last time; so there is no reason it cannot be good enough this time.

It's an assumption that the followers of Futurama initially watched the show because of the premise. In my experience, many folks check out a show because of the actors involved. I'll watch my favorite actors in roles that I otherwise don't find appealing.

Part of the reason Futurama has a cult following (the same as any other show with a cult following) is because the fans have emotional ties to the characters. It would be foolish for Fox to ignore the intrinsic value of these characters' voices just because of a bottom line. If Fox's numbers for this show really are low enough that they cannot afford to pay an amicable price for the original voice talent, they may want to rethink their plans to revive it, as it seems the very people they plan to make money from in this endeavor have been very offended. It would not seem to be a prudent financial move to revive a beloved brand only to offend its followers. That is a waste of time and money. They may as well start from scratch with a new series if they are not interested in being as faithful to the original as its fans would like. They are, after all, the consumers. I suspect that if, somehow a casting change took place and no one discovered it until the first episode aired, many fans would refuse to watch, and Fox would have thrown a decent amount of money down the drain.

I'm not a fan of this show, but this issue has had such an emotional impact for so many people that I've seen in mentioned via many outlets in the past few days.

It's an assumption that the followers of Futurama initially watched the show because of the premise. In my experience, many folks check out a show because of the actors involved. I'll watch my favorite actors in roles that I otherwise don't find appealing.

Part of the reason Futurama has a cult following (the same as any other show with a cult following) is because the fans have emotional ties to the characters. It would be foolish for Fox to ignore the intrinsic value of these characters' voices just because of a bottom line. If Fox's numbers for this show really are low enough that they cannot afford to pay an amicable price for the original voice talent, they may want to rethink their plans to revive it, as it seems the very people they plan to make money from in this endeavor have been very offended. It would not seem to be a prudent financial move to revive a beloved brand only to offend its followers. That is a waste of time and money. They may as well start from scratch with a new series if they are not interested in being as faithful to the original as its fans would like. They are, after all, the consumers. I suspect that if, somehow a casting change took place and no one discovered it until the first episode aired, many fans would refuse to watch, and Fox would have thrown a decent amount of money down the drain.

I'm not a fan of this show, but this issue has had such an emotional impact for so many people that I've seen in mentioned via many outlets in the past few days.

It's sad that Billy West has now gone through this sort of scenario with many of his shows. He had that cartoon series Doug that had been revived by ABC. However, he did not return and the show wasn't the same.
The voice acting is very important for the audience to hear a familiar voice but you can't but help that these actors add more influence in the writing and production of the show because they can use their voice acting skills to create scenes that other actors may not be able to replicate using the same character.

Oh get over it guys, you don't have a Comicon panel with the producers, main cast, and a "high ranking FOX executive" so you can tell the cast they're fired and disappoint everyone at the event.

So you think they're bringing the series back out of the goodness of their own hearts? Nothing could be further from the truth (or further from anything that I wrote). You evidently misunderstood what you read.

Yeahhhhhhhh I think I'll side with the actors who made the show what it was rather than the giant conglomerate that is out to do nothing but make a buck.The actors sure have you snowed. The producers/giant conglomerate had far more to do with making the show what it was than the actors who were just looking for gig (and now greedily looking to get big network salaries for a cable network series).

It's an assumption that the followers of Futurama initially watched the show because of the premise. In my experience, many folks check out a show because of the actors involved. I'll watch my favorite actors in roles that I otherwise don't find appealing.In my experience, that's simply not the case with animation. People either check out an animation show because they recognize the creator ("It's a Mike Judge series" or "It's from the people who made The Simpsons"), or they check out all animation shows not intended for children, or, as I suggested before, they check out the show because its premise attracted them.

Part of the reason Futurama has a cult following (the same as any other show with a cult following) is because the fans have emotional ties to the characters.The characters aren't going away.

It would be foolish for Fox to ignore the intrinsic value of these characters' voices just because of a bottom line.So they're going to be keeping the characters. Yup I agree.

If Fox's numbers for this show really are low enough that they cannot afford to pay an amicable price for the original voice talent, they may want to rethink their plans to revive it, as it seems the very people they plan to make money from in this endeavor have been very offended.I think people who want to get offended will get offended. I think some people live to be pissed off when they don't get their way. I don't think you can really control that.

Given that the shows fans were so insignificant that the show died, basing the resurrection of the show on those fans is stupid. They need to get new fans. Many of the complainers are going to watch the show anyway. They're just complaining to complain, because they like complaining. What the show needs is new fans.

It would not seem to be a prudent financial move to revive a beloved brand only to offend its followers.And if the folks who made the excellent Battlestar Galactica remake thought that, we'd not have enjoyed that superior programming for the last five years.

They may as well start from scratch with a new series if they are not interested in being as faithful to the original as its fans would like.This is better, because they'll get all the same new fans they'd get for a new series, plus all the people who were fans of the old series but who aren't self-spiting themselves from being able to appreciate and enjoy the remake.

It's sad that Billy West has now gone through this sort of scenario with many of his shows. He had that cartoon series Doug that had been revived by ABC. However, he did not return and the show wasn't the same.
The voice acting is very important for the audience to hear a familiar voice but you can't but help that these actors add more influence in the writing and production of the show because they can use their voice acting skills to create scenes that other actors may not be able to replicate using the same character.
I remember a similar situation 15 years ago with Robin Williams and the direct-to-video release of Aladdin 2, where he didn't reprise the role of Genie (the role went to Dan Castellaneta of Homer Simpson fame). From what I remember, Williams had some kind of tiff with Disney and backed out of the production. Even though Castellaneta is a great voice actor, the Genie wasn't the same. I guess things were all hunky-dory later when he came back for Aladdin 3, though.

I remember a similar situation 15 years ago with Robin Williams and the direct-to-video release of Aladdin 2, where he didn't reprise the role of Genie (the role went to Dan Castellaneta of Homer Simpson fame). From what I remember, Williams had some kind of tiff with Disney and backed out of the production. Even though Castellaneta is a great voice actor, the Genie wasn't the same. I guess things were all hunky-dory later when he came back for Aladdin 3, though.

True... but Disney also has a half-hour Aladdin cartoon I've seen... and no Robin Williams there.

I still think this is hoopla about nothing, and they are intentionally trying to see what kind of uproar they can stir up to see just how many people are looking forward to this show coming back.

Not original voices.... not watching it.. sorry...

They only really need to pay up for Billy West and maybe Benders voicer, the rest dont really matter.

I would tend to be forgiving with replacements, but without John Di Maggio's Bender they really would no longer have a show.

I agree that an average TV show, of average quality, can afford to replace the actors without losing much.

However, every now and again a TV show captures lightning in a bottle, and everything clicks, and the show becomes transcendant. For me, Futurama was one of those shows.

If you change anything about those types of shows it will likely never be the same quality as the original. It still may be OK, maybe even good, but it will cease to be great.

See the Futurama DVDs for an example of what changing even just a few writers can do to the quality.

I fully expect the "re-purposed" Futurama to be little more than a shadow of its former self.

I still think theyll eventually settle....i mean its Peggy Bundy we are talkin about here.

Still thinking this is a hoax designed to increase attention and get fans to react....

but, IF there's any reality here... FOX does kinda need some of these voice-actors or the known characters will not be the same... BUT what else are those actors doing? They probably need this work too, especially in this economy. Not like I'm seeing those voice-actors all over TV and movies in other roles.

Still thinking this is a hoax designed to increase attention and get fans to react....

but, IF there's any reality here... FOX does kinda need some of these voice-actors or the known characters will not be the same... BUT what else are those actors doing? They probably need this work too, especially in this economy. Not like I'm seeing those voice-actors all over TV and movies in other roles.


Bender is the star of the Gears of War series. Not sure what if anything the others are doing.

It's relatively easy to find a voice that can closely imitate what someone else has already done. If the writing is good, the program will probably be as good, or better, than before.

It's relatively easy to find a voice that can closely imitate what someone else has already done. If the writing is good, the program will probably be as good, or better, than before.


Close isn't the same. They tried it with Alladin. They did it with Eddie Murphys voice in some Shrek TV specials and it failed. If they want Futurama to succeed, they'll do what it takes to get the voices back.

Aladdin (after the original movie) was a cheaply made kids TV show and direct-to-video sequels.

It's probably not a fair comparison.

Aladdin (after the original movie) was a cheaply made kids TV show and direct-to-video sequels.

It's probably not a fair comparison.

No, not at all.


Not to sound too ignorant, but can someone list the main actors?

Not to sound too ignorant, but can someone list the main actors?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0149460/

Not to sound too ignorant, but can someone list the main actors?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0149460/

Thanks. Other than Katey Sagal I'm not sure most viewers would recognise the other voices.

No, not at all.


Not to sound too ignorant, but can someone list the main actors?

Billy West
Katey Segal
John DiMaggio

Tress MacNeille
Maurice LaMarche
and a few others do the "various characters"

Thanks. Other than Katey Sagal I'm not sure most viewers would recognise the other voices.

Billy West does like 3/4 of the voices on the show. He's pretty much irreplaceable. He's more or less a modern day Mel Blanc

In fact, he has played Bugs Bunny (most notably in Space Jam) and Elmer Fudd before.

That's one thing that's screwy about it. He's so talented that they would have to hire like 4 or 5 people to take his place to have the range they had before.

Billy West's other 'famous' roles was Doug in Doug and well as Stimpy and sometimes Ren in Ren and Stimpy

Thanks. Other than Katey Sagal I'm not sure most viewers would recognise the other voices.

I value voice talent as much as anyone... but I thought your question was a good one. I wonder how many Futurama fans could list all the voice actors without consulting IMDB or something on the Web.

I honestly can only come up with Billy West, Katey Sagal, and sometimes "the guy who does Bender" whose name I usually butcher when I try to spell it.

Something tells me that the average fan might notice something was up, but might not recognize the actor's name anyway.

Billy West
Katey Segal
John DiMaggio

Tress MacNeille
Maurice LaMarche
and a few others do the "various characters"

Phil Lamarr!

Thanks. Other than Katey Sagal I'm not sure most viewers would recognise the other voices.

They might not know them by name by they'd sure as hell know them by sound if they were fans.

And I'm sure that folks were able to tell Dick York from Dick Sergeant. That didn't seem to hurt Bewitched much.

Incredible! I love Futurama... the professor is hilarious

And I'm sure that folks were able to tell Dick York from Dick Sergeant. That didn't seem to hurt Bewitched much.But honestly, he wasn't the star of the show, and no one tuned in to look at him every week, so Darren could have been played by a leaky faucet for all the audience cared.

Close isn't the same. They tried it with Alladin. They did it with Eddie Murphys voice in some Shrek TV specials and it failed. If they want Futurama to succeed, they'll do what it takes to get the voices back.They tried to replace Murphy in the Mulan read-along tape-book.....did_not_work. I think he was also missing from the sequel. Having said that, I wasn't the biggest fan of Futurama; I only watched occasionally.

But honestly, he wasn't the star of the showBut you saw him, and heard him. Given that a picture is worth a thousand words ...

As for the show, It's been noted on a few other forum that FOX might not have as much involvement with the show this year as previously reported, but ultimately whoever's fault it might be, ultimately, without the 3 original cast/voice members it will fail.

I'd like to know why people think doing a voice is any less acting than appearing in a live action program. In many ways, it takes more talent as you don't get to create the visuals that goes along with the performance and instead have to find a way to bring your character to life with 1/2 of the control.

This is why it's incredibly annoying to see all these big stars doing voices in animated movies. 9 times out of 10 they aren't creating a new character, they are playing a caricature of themselves.

Billy West himself pretty much summed it up.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/billy-west,13937/


O: But that's the complete antithesis to how animation is now. Celebrities are the characters. They're expected to put themselves in the role. Even before CGI movies, you had Robin Williams in Aladdin.

BW: Robin Williams understands sonic performances. He understands what it's like to change your voice up. He understands what it's like to have theatre of the mind—and with your little strip of vocal cords, you're going to create heavens and hells and universes and populations of people, which is the whole idea that a voice person has in their head. It's like, "Whatever it is, I'll be it." But the voice people can physically escape the sound of their own voice. We do multiple voices. We used to save producers' asses, because they'd hire you and say, "Well, we were going to get six people, but we can't afford it. Can you do this, this, and this?" And you'd do them, and they'd be perfectly happy, and they'd save a bundle of dough. Now, it's the exact opposite. The minute they mention a CGI film, they're already looking to see what Renée Zellweger is doing. They're already looking to see what Billy Crystal is doing. This doesn't make sense, to do what they do—spend zillions on visuals, and then have this totally *ucking flat-lining voice track. You know, "Hey, I'm Will Smith, I'm a clam! I'm Will Smith, I'm a kangaroo!" All you bring to the performance is your own ego. They're just being themselves. Let's put it this way: Cameron Diaz is the highest paid voice actress in history: $20 million for Shrek. Why? Because she has a 9-foot mouth? That works somewhere else, but not on tape! [Laughs.] It's like what the hell is that all about?

O: So are you totally out of the loop on big-budget films?

BW: Well, we still audition for them if they call us, but we know it's a joke. What's really insidious is, they love to have the A-team come in and read for them and create characters for them and read their copy, and then you never hear from them again. Then you see the person who has the job saying things that came direct from your own ideology, like if I'm ad-libbing, and I use a word from the Midwest because I grew up in Detroit. You know, it's like "What the *uck? What am I, a copywriter now? How come I don't get residual checks?" They take your riffs, they take your little noises that you do, and they go tell this schlub celebrity, "This is what we want; this is what we're looking for. Hear what he's doing?" And then that guy's gotta sweat bullets trying to sparkle some life into his bland-o voice... I hope I'm not coming off cocky or bitter about the swing in the business. I'll hang in, but I'm going to change my hat. I have to be a producer now.

O: But they obviously think they'll make way more money because the celebrities will draw people.

BW: It's "Oh well, we can use those stars on their bankable star power to promote the cartoon and do Access Hollywood interviews." You know, it's like they treat us like we're not actors. I went to the première of Space Jam at [Grauman's] Chinese Theatre—big première, red carpet, everything. Me and the voice people got invited to the little theatre; there's two of them there, the big Chinese theatre, and then there was a smaller one next to it. We weren't invited to the big place, and so my friend Bob Bergen, who does Porky Pig an awful lot, called them up and said, "Hey, what gives? We're featured in this movie." She said, "Oh you mean the party at the big Chinese theatre? Oh, that's for the actors." I'd like to find out what little cement-head said that.

I'd like to know why people think doing a voice is any less acting than appearing in a live action program.Nah, it's very few people (just a very vocal minority).

This is why it's incredibly annoying to see all these big stars doing voices in animated movies. 9 times out of 10 they aren't creating a new character, they are playing a caricature of themselves.I've heard more than a few celebs say they do big animation spots for their own children's benefit.

I've heard more than a few celebs say they do big animation spots for their own children's benefit.

Well, that's all great and everything, but that's just pretty much the definition of the ego stroking that Billy West mentioned. I'm real happy that Big Action Star #8 managed to score the part of the talking dog in the next big Pixsney production so that his kids can squeal with delight when they hear their dad's voice coming out of a CGI poodle. However, I can't help but wonder how much the movie could have been enriched if I wasn't being smacked in the face with THIS DOG IS A FAMOUS ACTOR PLAYING A DOG every 2 seconds.

The ironic thing... everything Billy West says there is true... BUT also simultaneously is damning to himself when it comes to Futurama.

IF they shouldn't hire superstars for the big name... then it becomes similarly hard to argue that Futurama needs Billy West because he is a big name.

It almost undercuts his own position of importance because of name recognition... because it implies that it would be better for the studio to save money and go with cheaper voice talent than to hire the big familiar name.

Lest anyone think I'm not a fan of the real Futurama actors... I am certainly a fan, and I appreciate the voice actors and what they bring to animation, and I most certainly would notice if this is a real scenario and they don't reprise their roles.

However, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if a lot of folks just didn't notice.

I'd like to know why people think doing a voice is any less acting than appearing in a live action program. In many ways, it takes more talent as you don't get to create the visuals that goes along with the performance and instead have to find a way to bring your character to life with 1/2 of the control.

This is why it's incredibly annoying to see all these big stars doing voices in animated movies. 9 times out of 10 they aren't creating a new character, they are playing a caricature of themselves.

Billy West himself pretty much summed it up.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/billy-west,13937/

Thanks for this post, bull. I remember reading or seeing that or a very similar interview with Billy West a few years ago. It was illuminating and I got what he meant almost immediately. It is totally uncool for producers to act as if voice actors are not really actors. He makes a good case that their kind of acting requires very different skills and a great range of voice characterizations and imagination to convey emotion and action with voice inflections alone. It's something to ponder.

Anyway, I get his frustration over how the big studios go to conventional actor stars for the big budget animated films and shut out voice talent from consideration for those roles. It's bad enough for the very best voice actors to be shut out of big Hollywood productions for the big screen. It's really a slap in the face for a television show in which they were an integral and critical part of its success (at least as a cult TV show on DVD and on Cartoon Network in reruns) to treat them as expendable. They aren't. The principal voice actors are the "face" of the show, and despite high quality scripts consistent with the characters we are all familiar with, without the same actors breathing life into their portrayals, they simply will not be the same characters. Casting is important, and voice casting is more than just sounding like someone else. The acting is real and organic. It's not just reading lines.

Anyway, I agree with Billy West on this issue.

The ironic thing... everything Billy West says there is true... BUT also simultaneously is damning to himself when it comes to Futurama.

IF they shouldn't hire superstars for the big name... then it becomes similarly hard to argue that Futurama needs Billy West because he is a big name.

It almost undercuts his own position of importance because of name recognition... because it implies that it would be better for the studio to save money and go with cheaper voice talent than to hire the big familiar name.

Lest anyone think I'm not a fan of the real Futurama actors... I am certainly a fan, and I appreciate the voice actors and what they bring to animation, and I most certainly would notice if this is a real scenario and they don't reprise their roles.

However, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if a lot of folks just didn't notice.

There's a little bit of a difference though. He was a large part of creating these characters. This would be a bit like Warner Bros. trying to force out Mel Blanc for voicing Bugs Bunny over a few dollars.

Really though, I can't imagine that their requests are out of line. They all love doing futurama and they pretty much do all sorts of bit voice work in all manner of cartoons. Fox had no issue paying them for doing the past 4 movies, why is it an issue now?

This whole thing is odd and I'm still leaning towards this being a stunt of some sort. Even the economics of this don't makes sense. Billy West does The Professor, Fry, Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan, and a whole host of minor characters. Anyone with that much range (if they exist) is probably going to go for a premium too. The alternative is hiring more people (which again doesn't make economic sense) or lower the VA level of Futurama to Family guy where most of the characters sound the same (which would ruin the show.)

It would also be a bit of a slight to Phil Hartman. Billy West was friends with Phil Hartman and Phil was supposed to get the part of Zapp Brannigan before he died. Billy West views doing Zapp the way he does as a tribute to Phil.

It would also be a bit of a slight to Phil Hartman. Billy West was friends with Phil Hartman and Phil was supposed to get the part of Zapp Brannigan before he died. Billy West views doing Zapp the way he does as a tribute to Phil.

Yeah, it was pretty obvious to anyone paying attention that Zapp was created for Phil Hartman to run rampant with... and a shame he didn't get to have the chance.

From what I remember, Williams had some kind of tiff with Disney and backed out of the production.

It was more than a little 'tiff'. Williams did the original movie for scale, on the condition that Disney not use his name for any promotion of the movie. His logic was that if Disney wanted to use his name recognition to sell tickets, he should get paid more than scale.

Disney agreed, then went ahead and used his name in promotional material anyway. At the time, there were a number of Williams-related projects going at Disney, including theme park rides, interactive CD projects, etc. He said 'screw you' to all of them and held them up until Disney negotiated a settlement.

OK, I went though IMDB and pulled the following voices and who acted them. There are many other bit voices not included. From the list, you can see that several of the actors have provided a large number of characters. I don't know if actors get paid by the voice or just a flat fee per episode, but some are irreplacable. The ones, like Katey Sagal, have distinctive recurring voices.

Anyway, her is the list, no where complete:


Billy West was responsible for Phillip J Fry, Zoidberg, Professor Farnsworth, Zap Brannagan, Richard Nixon's Head, Leo Wong

John DiMaggio: Bender, Elzar, Mom's son Ignar, Mr. Panucci, Yancy Fry Sr, Robot Santa, Elves, Henry Kissinger's Head

Tress MacNeille: Mom, the Grand Midwife, Mrs. Fry, Slurm Queen,Tinny Tim

Maurice LaMarche: Kif Kroker, The Donbot, Clamps, Calculon, Morbo, Lrr, Horrible Gelatinous Blob, Mom's son Walt, and Hedonism Bot, Hyper-Chicken, Robot Devil

Phill LaMar: Hermes Conrad

Katey Sagal: Leela

Lauren Tom: Amy Wong, Inez Wong

Dan Castellaneta: Robot Devil (also voiced by Maurice LaMarche)

David Herman: Scruffy,Reverend Preacherbot,Crow T. Robot ,Slurms McKenzie, Niedermeyer,Dr. Ogden Wernstrom

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurama

AND THEY'RE BACK!!! (http://tv.ign.com/articles/100/1009858p1.html)

We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Apparently a no show at Comic-Con last week was enough to get FOX to reconsider their position, and they have resigned all the cast members back on to the show.

Crisis averted. Anything else would have been unwatchable.

Now we'll never know.

The next time we hear "Good news, everyone!" it will have a whole new meaning, at least to me.

I'm very happy for the cast and for fans everywhere, including me. The producers made a good decision by relenting and re-opening negotiations with the principal cast. They would have been shooting themselves in the foot otherwise, as the show would have lost much of its following, in my estimation.

Now, even if the show doesn't do well enough in the actual TV ratings (and thus generate enough ad revenue), at least they can probably count on healthy DVD/Blu-ray sales in the future to get a good return on their investment. It's a good risk. Everybody wins, I hope.

What a shock. :rolleyes:

Possible good news for those of us without Comedy Central HD:

The deal 20th Century Fox made with Comedy Central allows for a broadcast network to first air the new episodes, should a separate deal be made. The natural place for that to occur would be the FOX network, both because of their corporate connection to 20th and because they were where Futurama first aired – but as of now, no deal has been made with any network for the show. However, Variety notes that with a year still until Futurama is set to air on Comedy Central, a deal could still happen.

http://tv.ign.com/articles/101/1010015p1.html

Possible good news for those of us without Comedy Central HD:



http://tv.ign.com/articles/101/1010015p1.html
I would imagine FOX would want this as it would be a big marketing campaign for its eventual home release. Either way it will be on Hulu or some such website for sure.

Comedy Central started running promos for the 2010 season (in HD) last night. First eps to start in June.

June 24 at 10. (I'm getting Comedy Central HD on Comcast next month.)

http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2010-3-4-new-futurama-episodes-premiere-on-comedy-central-in-june

Cool... I had almost forgotten about more Futurama coming, and in HD to boot.

Futurama Makes a Triumphant Return to Our Planet! The All-New Season of 'Futurama' Premieres on COMEDY CENTRAL Thursday, June 24 at 10:00 P.M.

Emmy(R) Award-Winning Animated Comedy Series Lives Again On COMEDY CENTRAL More Than Six Years After Last Original Episode

Entire Original Voice Cast Returns For A Sixth Season Stacked With New And Returning Guest Stars

Series Marks Its 100th Episode On Thursday, September 2

Users Can Visit comedycentral.com To Get "Futurama" Web-Exclusive Content, Including A Recap Video Narrated By Zapp Brannigan, Episode Previews And Highlights Plus Interviews With The Cast And Executive Producers

NEW YORK, June 2, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Prepare to be transported to the year 3000 for the return of Fry, Bender, Leela and the usual cast of twelve-dimensional space monsters. Back by popular demand, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's brilliantly subversive animated sci-fi comedy "Futurama" debuts its sixth season of 12 all-new half-hour episodes on Thursday, June 24 at 10:00 p.m. on COMEDY CENTRAL, kicking off with a special hour-long block of two back-to-back new episodes. The series also reaches a milestone on Thursday, September 2, when it celebrates its 100th episode.

"Futurama" follows the life of Philip J. Fry (Billy West), a pizza delivery boy who accidentally stumbles into a freezer on December 31, 1999 and wakes up a thousand years later. In his future home of New New York City, Fry goes to work for the Planet Express Intergalactic delivery company, where he befriends Bender (John DiMaggio), a booze-fueled robot, and sets his romantic sights on Leela (Katey Sagal), a sexy cyclops who enjoys beating him up.

In the premiere episode, "Rebirth," a devastating space battle leaves the delivery crew members reduced to skeletons. Their only hope for survival is the Professor's experimental re-birth device, but its use results in severe sci-fi complications.

In the second episode, Leela and hunky space captain Zapp Brannigan find themselves stranded, alone and naked, on a Garden of Eden-like planet.

Special guest stars this season include Chris Elliot, Craig Ferguson, George Takei, Sergio Aragones, Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, Katee Sackhoff and Mark Mothersbaugh.

http://www.viacom.com/news/Pages/newstext.aspx?RID=1433710

Futurama Makes a Triumphant Return to Our Planet! The All-New Season of 'Futurama' Premieres on COMEDY CENTRAL Thursday, June 24 at 10:00 P.M.

Emmy(R) Award-Winning Animated Comedy Series Lives Again On COMEDY CENTRAL More Than Six Years After Last Original Episode

Entire Original Voice Cast Returns For A Sixth Season Stacked With New And Returning Guest Stars

Series Marks Its 100th Episode On Thursday, September 2

Users Can Visit comedycentral.com To Get "Futurama" Web-Exclusive Content, Including A Recap Video Narrated By Zapp Brannigan, Episode Previews And Highlights Plus Interviews With The Cast And Executive Producers

NEW YORK, June 2, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Prepare to be transported to the year 3000 for the return of Fry, Bender, Leela and the usual cast of twelve-dimensional space monsters. Back by popular demand, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's brilliantly subversive animated sci-fi comedy "Futurama" debuts its sixth season of 12 all-new half-hour episodes on Thursday, June 24 at 10:00 p.m. on COMEDY CENTRAL, kicking off with a special hour-long block of two back-to-back new episodes. The series also reaches a milestone on Thursday, September 2, when it celebrates its 100th episode.

"Futurama" follows the life of Philip J. Fry (Billy West), a pizza delivery boy who accidentally stumbles into a freezer on December 31, 1999 and wakes up a thousand years later. In his future home of New New York City, Fry goes to work for the Planet Express Intergalactic delivery company, where he befriends Bender (John DiMaggio), a booze-fueled robot, and sets his romantic sights on Leela (Katey Sagal), a sexy cyclops who enjoys beating him up.

In the premiere episode, "Rebirth," a devastating space battle leaves the delivery crew members reduced to skeletons. Their only hope for survival is the Professor's experimental re-birth device, but its use results in severe sci-fi complications.

In the second episode, Leela and hunky space captain Zapp Brannigan find themselves stranded, alone and naked, on a Garden of Eden-like planet.

Special guest stars this season include Chris Elliot, Craig Ferguson, George Takei, Sergio Aragones, Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, Katee Sackhoff and Mark Mothersbaugh.

http://www.viacom.com/news/Pages/newstext.aspx?RID=1433710I could have sworn we said that already (minus the hyperbole).:p

I set up a Series Link for new episodes of Futurama 2010 and found that all 6 episodes scheduled for Thursday 6/24 will be recorded, even though the first 4 half-hours seem to be the exact same episode, Into the Wild Green Yonder. Can it be that the same title is being applied to 4 different episodes?

Funny that Rebirth — supposedly "the premiere episode" (as well as In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela) follow the 4 shows called Into the Wild Green Yonder. All 6 episodes are labeled "First Aired: 6/24/2010".

I set up a Series Link for new episodes of Futurama 2010 and found that all 6 episodes scheduled for Thursday 6/24 will be recorded, even though the first 4 half-hours seem to be the exact same episode, Into the Wild Green Yonder. Can it be that the same title is being applied to 4 different episodes?

That would be the 4th direct-to-dvd movie (split into 4 parts/episodes)

It premiered on TV a while ago... don't know why it's coming up as new.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurama:_Into_the_Wild_Green_Yonder

Yep, I just checked Wikipedia, which says Into the Wild Green Yonder is the last of a series of four straight-to-DVD Futurama movies. Elsewhere on the Web, someone says it's the best of the four.

Glad I'm recording it. I might not have seen it. It's new to Comedy Central, right?

It's new to Comedy Central, right?

Nope theyve aired it before.

Dont know why the guides are saying its a 6/24 1st air.

CC chopped all 4 movies into 16 eps.

That is odd. My DVR (U-Verse) is only recording "Rebirth" and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela".

I watched all 4 movies via Netflix (on Blu-Ray!) and I agree, the last one was the best, so you'll enjoy it. I also liked the first one, "Bender's Big Score." If you like Futurama, you owe it to yourself to watch all 4 movies though. This show's respect of canon and continuity is fantastic and treated far differently than most cartoons in that the passage of time is acknowledged (i.e., there isn't a reboot every week). I wouldn't be surprised if "Rebirth" makes mention of the fact that the year is now 3010.

I'm not a huge fan of this show, but I used to watch it.
Looking forward for tonight's episodes. I think it's going to be in HD, that will be a plus.

Dishnetwork will delete Comedy Central-HD before tonight's premier :p

Good news everyone! episodes were great, and, most of all, plenty of Nudity

I'll watch the new eps tonight or tomorrow. I also have the movies, but I thought the first was by far the best and each successive one was worse than the previous.

I'll watch the new eps tonight or tomorrow. I also have the movies, but I thought the first was by far the best and each successive one was worse than the previous.
The first movie was the best, but the last one was also really good. The continuity on this show is one of its main drawing points for me.

New episodes were good, but seemed to fly by quick. Maybe I was just used to the longer plots of the movies.

http://poorlydressed.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/129138435946731403.jpg?w=500&h=332

That is odd. My DVR (U-Verse) is only recording "Rebirth" and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela".

I watched all 4 movies via Netflix (on Blu-Ray!) and I agree, the last one was the best, so you'll enjoy it. I also liked the first one, "Bender's Big Score." If you like Futurama, you owe it to yourself to watch all 4 movies though. This show's respect of canon and continuity is fantastic and treated far differently than most cartoons in that the passage of time is acknowledged (i.e., there isn't a reboot every week). I wouldn't be surprised if "Rebirth" makes mention of the fact that the year is now 3010.

I'll have to put those movies in my Netflix queue. I had only watched this show occasionally when it was o n Fox, but I enjoyed the two shows last night.

I really enjoyed last night's two new episodes.
Will come back next week.

Good episode tonight. The Eyephone. ha

Anyone know where seasons 3 and later are available? I bought Seasons 1 and 2 from Xbox Live and I am half way through season 2. But I would like to watch the remaining shows over the Summer.

...But I would like to watch the reaming shows over the Summer.

Those sound like the kind of episodes Bender would love!

:)

I don't believe this. All the seasons of futurama, (at least I think it's all) are now available on Netflix streaming. It must have just become available yesterday becasue I don't remember seeing them last week when I looked for them and ended up paying for the first two seasons from Xbox Live.

it shows Volumes 1 through 4 available for streaming. Do those volumes cover all the shows that were broadcast on Fox?

it shows Volumes 1 through 4 available for streaming. Do those volumes cover all the shows that were broadcast on Fox?
Yes, Seasons 1-4 were the ones on Fox, and season "5" is the four movies broken up into 16 episodes.

Great episode this week. Definitely the best since at least the first movie.

I liked this weeks episode.

This week was more like the Futurama of old... not that the other episodes were horrible or anything... but this one felt more like it could have been one of the early episodes.

This week was more like the Futurama of old... not that the other episodes were horrible or anything... but this one felt more like it could have been one of the early episodes.

Indeed. It may have been the best episode so far. I loved their take on H.G. Wells' The Time Machine, the Killer Robot World, the Fertility Banquet World, the incorporation of the late 60s song "In the Year 2525," and the killing Hitler bit. The death of life on earth was so bleak and poignant, especially when Fry visited the Cavern on the Green to see Leela's message. It reminded me of the saddest episode ever, "Jurassic Bark."

Then they traveled to the heat death of the universe. Incredible. Then they witnessed the second (and even the third) Big Bang. Awesome.

It was the most cinematic episode of Futurama I think they've ever done, and it was really beautiful, the story and the visuals, and of course, incredibly clever.

This episode will be hard to beat, but even if none of the remaining episodes come close, this one alone will be worth the revival of one of the best TV series ever.

I'm thrilled over it.

I hope Comedy Central continues to support Futurama. I've always been a fan and I have it on series record on my DVR. Last week's episode was hilarious.

Then they traveled to the heat death of the universe. Incredible. Then they witnessed the second (and even the third) Big Bang.

... And they even got it right about it being impossible (as far as we know) to build a "reverse" time-machine. (Sorry Terminator/"City on the Edge of Forever" fans.)

... And they even got it right about it being impossible (as far as we know) to build a "reverse" time-machine. (Sorry Terminator/"City on the Edge of Forever" fans.)

Well, they've already broken that rule, a couple times. Loved the call-back to the Roswell ep.

The time machine "follows Terminator rules, that is, it's one way only and you can't go back. This is in contrast to, say, Back To The Future rules, where back and forth is possible, and, of course, Timerider rules, which are just plain silly."

I also liked the multiple destroyed statues of Liberty... ape version, bird version, etc... nod to the Planet of the Apes.

It was, as noted, a good mix of the comedy and pulling at the heartstrings that when Futurama does it well, they do it very well.

I hope the ratings are good so far, because this is a good show to have back.

Why did i never enjoy this show? I always liked The Simpsons, it sucks now of course though. I love Family Guy, American Dad. I just never got this show. Maybe I just suck...

Why did i never enjoy this show? I always liked The Simpsons, it sucks now of course though. I love Family Guy, American Dad. I just never got this show. Maybe I just suck...
Don't worry, its not your fault that Fox never aired this show. Quite a diamond in the rough.

Ha! It should be noted that in the recent episode, Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences, Orson Welles was voiced by Maurice LaMarche (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005606/), who also did the dubbed-in voice for Orson Welles in Ed Wood.

Best line ever?

"Gee, Fox really has the process streamlined." :D

Ha! It should be noted that in the recent episode, Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences, Orson Welles was voiced by Maurice LaMarche (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005606/), who also did the dubbed-in voice for Orson Welles in Ed Wood.

he is famous for his Osron Welles impression... ever watch Pinky and the Brain?

Has there been any info on the Futurama ratings? HAs it been renewed for next year? I'm really enjoying it. Plus I've been watching the episodes that were broadcast on Fox from Netflix streaming. Although I've only watched around 60% of them.

After almost seven years since the last original episode aired, the sixth season premiere of "Futurama" in June led COMEDY CENTRAL to its best Thursday prime ever among young men. Since then, the animated sci-fi comedy has continued its out-of-this-world winning streak, with a season-to-date average of 2.5 million viewers each week, a 1.56 P18-49 rating, a 3.02 M18-34 rating and 3.26 M18-24 rating.

http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/34911/futurama-season-6-finale-airs-thursday-september-2-2010-on-comedy-central

Has there been any info on the Futurama ratings? HAs it been renewed for next year? I'm really enjoying it. Plus I've been watching the episodes that were broadcast on Fox from Netflix streaming. Although I've only watched around 60% of them.

The show came back with an order of 26 episodes - so if this is the 'season finale' coming up (12th episode + the special holiday episode for December) - there will be another 13 episode season at some point.

TV Notes
Things Are Looking Good for Another Season of Futurama
By Josef Adalian and Glada Velman, New York Magazine's 'Vulture' Blog - February 2nd, 2011

Break out the Slurm, Futurama fans: Matt Groening's can't-be-killed toon may be headed for another season of episodes on Comedy Central. Katey Sagal, who supplies the voice of Leela when she's not kicking ass on (or nabbing a Golden Globe for) Sons of Anarchy, told Vulture over the weekend that she's heard the show will definitely be back for more. "Futurama just got ordered again for another season," she told us while walking the red carpet at the DGA Awards. "I don't know if I'm supposed to say that yet. But it just did." Vulture did some investigating and found that Sagal might have been a tad early in declaring the show renewed — but that she's definitely on to something.

Our insiders say the show's studio, 20th Century Fox TV, has been quietly talking to the voice actors on the show to make sure they'd be on board for more episodes, and Comedy Central has indicated to 20th that it's interested in keeping the show going. However — and this is important — insiders from both camps insist that no formal negotiations have taken place and that no deal is done for a new round of episodes. But that could change quickly: Because of the long lead times associated with animation, 20th and Comedy Central would probably want to nail things down within the next month or two in order to ensure that a new supply of the funny would be ready by summer or fall 2012.

Futurama die-hards won't have to wait that long for new episodes, however. Vulture hears the second half of a previously ordered batch of 26 episodes — what Comedy Central is calling season 7 of the show — is currently set to premiere June 23 on the network. Futurama returned to series TV last June after a seven-year break and drew nearly 3 million viewers — giving Comedy Central its highest-rated night of the year up until that point — then held up well for the rest of the season.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/02/futurama_renewed.html

Most Exceellent News Indeed!

Good news everyone!

Comedy Central Renews 'Futurama' With 26-Episode Order

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday March 24, 2011 @ 12:25pm PDT

That's pretty good for a second lease on life: Comedy Central is finalizing a deal for a 26-episode seventh-season pickup of Futurama. Comedy Central resurrected Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's animated sci-fi comedy in 2009, six years after it was cancelled by Fox, with a 26-episode sixth-season order. The first batch of 13 episodes from Season 6 averaged 2.5 million viewers, with the remaining 13 airing this summer. The 26 newly ordered episodes will follow the same pattern, airing in two installments of 13 episodes in 2012 and 2013. Futurama has been a big hit online, growing from 1 million Facebook fans at its launch on Comedy Central to 11 million.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/comedy-central-renews-futurama-with-26-episode-order/

Oh sweet, I didn't know we were getting 13 eps this summer!

sweeeet!

Oh sweet, I didn't know we were getting 13 eps this summer!

I wondered what was going on. I've had this nagging feeling that I've missed out on some of the revival.

The only weird part to me... is signing up for 26 episodes and then airing 13... waiting 6+ months, then airing 13 more.

That's kind of the problem Futurama had at FOX... always being pre-empted by Sunday late NFL games...

I love the show and will watch.. but a lot of people will completely forget that there are still 13 more episodes coming this summer... thinking maybe t was canceled again after last year's run.

I really wish they would run this show more often.

A 26 episode run, for example, could run a new episode every other week!

So... why not run maybe 6-7 in a row and then take a short break... then 6-7 more... and so forth... rather than 13 in a row and the huge hiatus.

Considering how they usually air their animation shows (and other half-hour series), 13 in a row is about twice as much as the others. "South Park", etc run in blocks of seven episodes; with two blocks making up a "Season".
Points:
1: They could have explained a little better how they were going to schedule the series.

2: The DVD set costs way too much for a half-season.

^^^ You've just answered HDMe2's question about why the lengthy waits between episodes: to make money off the DVD/Blu-ray/streaming of 13 episodes for people that don't want or care to watch the show on Comedy Central (or do). Then, a couple of years down the road, they'll re-release the entire series on one mega-package with to-die-for bonus features (maybe an exclusive episode or something) to try and get people that bought the 13-episode seasons to buy them again. Sci-fi fans are known to be generous with their entertainment budget (is the foundation of franchises like "Star Trek" and "Star Wars"), hence Comedy Central renewing "Futurama" hoping to squeeze the show's fans a little bit at a time. Sorry. :rolleyes:

Can't wait.

For anyone who doesn't already know, the 13 eps that were new on CC are available for streaming (HD) on Netflix.

13 episode seasons, or "half seasons", whatever they're billed as, are pretty standard for shows on cable networks. It's a little annoying, but a 26 episode order still warms the heart.

Topic title edited.

13 episode seasons, or "half seasons", whatever they're billed as, are pretty standard for shows on cable networks. It's a little annoying, but a 26 episode order still warms the heart.

I'm fine with half-seasons... that is not a problem for me.

What I question, though... is running all 13 in a row... then going more than 6 months without them. That seems to be a recipe for people forgetting about it.

Case in point, many didn't know there were 13 more episodes coming this summer! A lot of folks saw the new 26 episode announcement, and thought that was the next batch... completely missing/forgetting that we are still "owed" 13 more for the current season.

People are fickle... and it's too easy to lose track of a show with a very long hiatus.

I would much rather see them fill in those 6 month gaps better.

I would rather see 6-7 episodes, then maybe a month off... then another 6-7 episodes... then another month or two (maybe the usual Christmas large break)... and so forth.

I will find Futurama to watch... but I wonder how much it hurts the ratings if other people don't find it.

So when do the next set of new episodes air?

I'm fine with half-seasons... that is not a problem for me.

What I question, though... is running all 13 in a row... then going more than 6 months without them. That seems to be a recipe for people forgetting about it.

Case in point, many didn't know there were 13 more episodes coming this summer! A lot of folks saw the new 26 episode announcement, and thought that was the next batch... completely missing/forgetting that we are still "owed" 13 more for the current season.

People are fickle... and it's too easy to lose track of a show with a very long hiatus.

I would much rather see them fill in those 6 month gaps better.

I would rather see 6-7 episodes, then maybe a month off... then another 6-7 episodes... then another month or two (maybe the usual Christmas large break)... and so forth.

I will find Futurama to watch... but I wonder how much it hurts the ratings if other people don't find it.

they dont seem to have a problem airing South Park in 2 7 episode blocks every year.

and its coming back in june - i'm sure they'll promote it plenty when the time is right...

they dont seem to have a problem airing South Park in 2 7 episode blocks every year.

and its coming back in june - i'm sure they'll promote it plenty when the time is right...

I don't like that either... but at this point, South Park has been going on so long it is unlikely they will expand to longer seasons.

South Park has mostly been selling itself, and it still airs repeats in the normal timeslot when in hiatus.

Futurama is not airing repeats in its "normal" timeslot... They air repeats but at different times... and that last X-Mas new episode they actually aired it on the weekend instead of the Thursday nights they were airing the new shows last year.

Doing that, in my opinion, makes it hard for people to find it and know it will be coming back for more.

Pretty good this week. Just the Schrodinger's Cat bit would have been enough, rest of the ep was good too though.

Well, it was OK. A lot of it was a takeoff on Minority Report, a movie that I didn't really like. Grade B

I liked the episode before, "Ghost in the Machines". Any episode with the Robot Devil has to be good (only they cut his song and dance number way too short). But it was the second Bender-focused episode in a row. Loved the suicide booth and the 'DeadEx' hearse that delivered Bender's dead carcass back to Fry et al. Amish World was a riot. And it ended with a decent moral. Good bordering on great. A-

"Benderama" was a takeoff on the grey goo idea. Too much uncontrolled Bender ruins the show, IMHO. B-

"Neutopia", the season opener, was just too crude for me. So was the first episode in the previous season. C-

One of the funniest episodes.

Coincidentally, I watched Minority Report (again) this week.

Just recently bought the past season on BD at a Borders 50% off sale, and I kept up with the features on DVD (didn't purchase the very last one).

I figure any Futurama is better than no Futurama, but I have found that most of the stuff produced after the original shows finished have been wanting. Lots of jokes that are supposed to be funny aren't, and lots of the concepts for the shows go nowhere.

My Dish EPG had a funny typo for this week's episode...

It said "Fry decides to become a police office."

Not officer... but office :)

Knowing Futurama, until the episode aired... I half thought that it might not be a typo! :)

Just recently bought the past season on BD at a Borders 50% off sale, and I kept up with the features on DVD (didn't purchase the very last one).

I figure any Futurama is better than no Futurama, but I have found that most of the stuff produced after the original shows finished have been wanting. Lots of jokes that are supposed to be funny aren't, and lots of the concepts for the shows go nowhere.

I agree vice a vis the No vs Any Futurama.

Some of the problem in the quality lies in the fact that there are fewer writers on the Comedy Central-produced episodes to save money (due to cable network rates), same as there are fewer voice talents (although they have done a reasonable effort at hiding that). I also see more and more CGI animation rather than the animation used in the original series (not saying that it is bad).

In a comedy series, limiting the number of staff writers aways results in fewer good ideas or poorer implementation.

Also, I think they have to deal with a couple fewer minutes for content than the original series, which makes good storytelling harder. The title sequence is being time-squeezed and end-credits are overlapped with whatever is coming on next.