Comedy Central Cancels Futurama

[Reply #160 on:]

It's a shame that such a fantastically funny and creative show hasn't done that well. Yet, I am not surprised by this. The population in general is, of course, not very creative. Most people are logical, and seem to either want news, or simple parodies of current times.

Futurama hasn't typically used much real-life references or stupid jokes, but with new episodes those things have appeared more. Too bad they didn't help the show last longer, while they decreased the quality little.

In a category of stupidness, I've seen with new episodes (espescially in 7B) that problem is solved by Professor's new invention too much or without much explaining. It bothers me a little, but of course Futurama is changing over time by today's standards. I simply hope writers would have tried to stick with its successful elements from the original run more. Something like continuity is very important and these things shouldn't be too hard to stick with.

True. My biggest issue is too much cartoon logic being applied where some sort of faux-sci-fi explanation would've once been used. The present-day references are a little jarring for a show that's supposed to be set 1,000 years in the future, but they've always been there, and are at least funny on occassion.

[Reply #161 on:]

It's a shame that such a fantastically funny and creative show hasn't done that well. Yet, I am not surprised by this. The population in general is, of course, not very creative. Most people are logical, and seem to either want news, or simple parodies of current times.

Futurama hasn't typically used much real-life references or stupid jokes, but with new episodes those things have appeared more. Too bad they didn't help the show last longer, while they decreased the quality little.

In a category of stupidness, I've seen with new episodes (espescially in 7B) that problem is solved by Professor's new invention too much or without much explaining. It bothers me a little, but of course Futurama is changing over time by today's standards. I simply hope writers would have tried to stick with its successful elements from the original run more. Something like continuity is very important and these things shouldn't be too hard to stick with.

True. My biggest issue is too much cartoon logic being applied where some sort of faux-sci-fi explanation would've once been used. The present-day references are a little jarring for a show that's supposed to be set 1,000 years in the future, but they've always been there, and are at least funny on occassion.

I hated it when Leela mentioned Facebook in 'Murder on the Planet express', basically for the same 1,000 years reason. I also hated AOTKA for all its modern day stuff (but even more so for Susan....oh, how I despise that susan...).

[Reply #162 on:]

Attack of the Killer Ap is probably my most hated episode.

[Reply #163 on:]

I enjoyed Killer App, Kinda like a 7/10 kind of like. Easily Forgettable, but I particularly liked the "Hey Fatso Stuffa ya Face" bit. Me and my friends used to use it to death back then.

[Reply #164 on:]

Attack of the Killer Ap is probably my most hated episode.

But the Killer App has this now famous quote.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQCP85FngzE

[Reply #165 on:]

I think it's only hated by Mac owners. You know, the ones that are paying money to see a movie about Jobs. Drive by your local theater and laugh at them while they are both standing in a line.

[Reply #166 on:]

I hate "Attack of the Killer App" and I hate Macs so there goes your theory.

[Reply #167 on:]

I think it's only hated by Mac owners. You know, the ones that are paying money to see a movie about Jobs. Drive by your local theater and laugh at them while they are both standing in a line.

I don't own a Mac and I would never pay to see a movie with Ashton Kutcher.

There are a lot of other reasons to hate killer Ap:
Already-dated satire in a show set in the future.
Leela's singing boil named Susan.
A two-headed goat both vomiting and shitting into a pool that Fry then jumps in.
Aimless, badly-structured plot with no real narrative and an unfunny anticlimax.

Other generally unpopular episodes from the new era (ie. In-a-Gadda-da-Leela, Yo Leela Leela, Saturday Morning Fun Pit) at least had a few funny moments. I didn't laugh at Attack of the Killer Ap once. A Leela of Her Own was always my most hated from the original run (it pretty much destroyed the brilliant joke of Blernsball by giving it rules, and again, I didn't laugh once), but the immaturity and bad writing of Killer Ap earned it a new place at the bottom.

[Reply #168 on:]

He Who Is Unmentionable By Decree Of The Time Court says TBS may in fact do four more seasons, with 15 episodes in each new season. So that'd be 60 more episodes, for a total of 200 episodes exactly.

Too bad It Who Is Unmentionable By Decree Of Hyper Galvatron is a liar!  

I love that we can't write Unmentionable's name like it's Voldemort's, Beetlejuice's, Rumpelstiltskin's, and Bloody Mary's names all rolled into one unholy spectacle.

[Reply #169 on:]

So your saying if we say Unmentionable 3 times, he'll fly  out of our mirror and try to marry our emo relative?

Oh, how i'm scared....

[Reply #170 on:]

Who be who:  ( > = Owned by)

Comedy Central>MTV Networks>Viacom>CBS>National Entertainment.

Cartoon Network>Turner Broadcasting System>Time Warner.

- Turner paid $350M for Hanna-Barbera Studios in 1991.

- Owns pre-1948 WB Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies Libraries.

- Owns Max Fleischer Studios (Popeye) and Lantz Studio (Woody Woodpecker).

Looks like if Turner wants something enough they have deep pockets as well as a strong position in animation compared to CC/MTV.

[Reply #171 on:]

Yeeeaahhhhh, that's, like, not at all how it works, but thanks.

[Reply #172 on:]

Just as how it isn't the case that people with rich parents aren't necessarily all rich, as Beamer said, that's not even remotely how this sort of thing works.

Umbrella companies don't just rain money down into their subsidiaries without any thought or question. The smaller companies tend to operate largely independently on their own budgets (once they're established) and then pump the money back up into the larger companies, if not simply back into themselves.

[Reply #173 on:]

How what works? You seem to be saying you have personal experience and insight in both US entertainment and corporate knowledge.

[Reply #174 on:]

How business works. How companies work. How the entertainment industry works.

[Reply #175 on:]

Your statement is "The owner of the company that owns the company that owns the company that owns the company currently broadcasting Futurama is not as rich as the owner of the company that owns the company that owns the company that owns the company that used to broadcast Futurama reruns! Therefore, the latter can bring the show back on a higher budget." Like cyber_turnip said, that's not how business works (least of all network television). And even if it were, there's so much you haven't factored in. What you're suggesting is unfeasible.

[Reply #176 on:]

No I'm saying that the revenue stream generated by Futurama may be more attractive than a quick glance at the ratings of the 1st nights showing of an episode indicates.

That Turner is active in aquiring several large blocks of animation rights and properties, both current and past. So in terms of a corporate culture it has potential. You sort of throw up your hands in the air and surrender just because CC may not have the resources to play with the big boys. That or you think being negative makes you appear smart without actually have to do anything.

I remember the naysayers back when they were saying the movies were impossible then again when the series revival was just people talking crazy. You never know because it usually gets down to who know who as much as the accounting sheets (at least the ones you can see).

[Reply #177 on:]

It's true that there are a few rare exceptions here, but here's what's happened with Futurama post-Fox-cancellation:

* Rated very well on Adult Swim. Adult Swim didn't have a big enough budget to order more.
* Rated relatively well on Comedy Central. Comedy Central DID order more. Ratings declined significantly.

If the show does go back to [AS], or is syndicated on any other network for that matter, its performance on CC makes the prospect to renew it a third time even riskier now than it was before. Online streaming and potential DVD releases are the only mediums in which Futurama's return would actually be a viable option.

[Reply #178 on:]

When you say ratings do you mean the first run numbers or an overall total of views in a certain period of time? Also, weren't the 1st order episodes premiered on Thursday nights and the 2nd order episodes premiered on Thursday nights? Meaning that 1st order did so well that CC put the 2nd order in a "suicide slot" like Fox did.

Also, I'm not saying it would go to AS necessarily, TBS is currently running Family Guy episodes, including those from this season, and as already been mentioned is funding new American Dad episodes since Fox cancelled it as well. So I'm not seeing how the idea is so far fetched that Futurama could be brought into the Turner catalog.

[Reply #179 on:]

I believe the source of the show's declining quality over the past 2 seasons, lies in the reduced writing staff, The amount of time required to write a full script, and the amount of episodes ordered.

Think about it, back then they had a bigger budget, and less episodes to produce. And more notably, more time to produce each episode. They were perfectly able to take their time with making the episodes, and were able to have it done anytime they wanted before it's scheduled air date. And most of the time, they were usually a season ahead, which resulted in the success of Seasons 2-4. I mean admit, Season 1 was good, but the following Seasons had more of the witty humor, and smart sci-fi jokes/gags that we all loved. I mean they had more time to edit the episodes and do stuff with it before sending it to Rough Draft back then.

Now look at it's run on Comedy Central. They have a lower budget, less writers, and more episodes to produce than ever. And to top it all off, they need to have it done by a year and a half. Also, the time spent editing scripts is very limited nowadays too, with the low budget and the restricted time to get the episode done and whatnot.

Right there's alot of stress put on their shoulders! I can see why the quality has slightly declined.

But I'm surprised that they are still making good/great episodes, considering the restricted amount of time to write the scripts for the ep, and low budgets and whatnot. Because they need to have it done on time for a nice, successful send to the Rough Draft Studios, and make sure they're completed merely months before the air-date.

So I mean I wouldn't go too far as to entirely blame the writers on the decline. They do take partially the blame, since they're the ones writing the stuff here. But I can't exactly blame them, either. Plus, seven years in production and everything, it would most definitely take some time to get a great idea and write a good ep.

[Reply #180 on:]

Also, I'm not saying it would go to AS necessarily, TBS is currently running Family Guy episodes, including those from this season, and as already been mentioned is funding new American Dad episodes since Fox cancelled it as well. So I'm not seeing how the idea is so far fetched that Futurama could be brought into the Turner catalog.

Fox didn't cancel American Dad so much as they just halted production, as there were now 40+ episodes that were fully complete and yet to air at this point, which is easily two seasons worth. Yes, pretty similar to Fox's original "cancel-Futurama-and-turn-the-holdovers-into-a-season" move, but seriously, over FORTY episodes in the bank? I'd have halted production too. And unlike Futurama, there wasn't a gap in-between Fox cancelling American Dad and another network picking it up. When I heard the news, it was basically just "American Dad will no longer air on fox, TBS will be airing new episodes once it finishes up its run" announced in one big hit, which leads me to believe it was less of a straight-up cancellation and some kind of special deal that the companies made with one another.

Futurama being brought back on TBS could happen (and is certainly more likely than [AS], who I don't think would ever be able to afford to order new episodes). But I still believe Netflix to be our most realistic prospect thus far.

[Reply #181 on:]

Adult Swim is definitely out of the question. It would only pay as much as it goes for reruns, and I wouldn't be surprised if it only bought the rights to rerun the show.

TBS is a 50/50 opportunity. I say this considering how it never really reruns the show, and never displayed any interest in the show either. But they might bring it to their network to try and boost up ratings, and maybe form their own Animated TV Block. It's quite possible they could do that, seeing how they picked up AD. This would put Futurama back into the big restriction zone again, which I think could help the show tremendously. And on a network like TBS, why wouldn't they get pretty good ratings? That Network gets better ratings than Comedy Central in general. Because they know what the audience likes, unlike Comedy Central. Plus, the restrictions might help open the writers eyes and make them want to expand their horizon, and start using their limitless setting for once, since the show can involve lots of Space travelling.

FXX is probably the most likely opportunity though. I mean FXX needs some new shows to pitch off the network, and gain the attention of others. I think Futurama would do them a nice start. Because they could be able to pay the show back into it's original budget, and get the show into some pretty good amount of restrictions, which again, would help alot. Comedy Central telling them to get dirtier is what made Season 7A so chock full of weird mutilations. And that's probably the best way to get dirtier for a show like Futurama, in my opinion. I think the show did better with restrictions. If it came back, I'd want it to be on a network with restrictions. Maybe that's what made it so good during the FOX run.

FX, seems a bit unlikely to be interested in buying the show. I could be wrong, but I mean the kind of genre the network airs wouldn't make Futurama fit in, you know? I could be wrong. But then again, I wouldn't be surprised if I was right.

[Reply #182 on:]

The channel that's set to air Always Sunny and The League doesn't exactly scream "restrictions" to me. Let alone "high budget."

I'd prefer to see it on FX to be honest; pairing it up with Archer could make for some strong ratings.

[Reply #183 on:]

I would like to see the show on either FXX or TBS, not Adult Swim. I feel like FXX and TBS would treat the show well and have a nice enough budget in order for amazing episodes to be made.

I'd prefer to see it on FX to be honest; pairing it up with Archer could make for some strong ratings.

I also agree that Archer and Futurama would make for a great pair and could both benefit each other.

[Reply #184 on:]

I apologize if someone already asked this on this thread, but does anyone know if Comedy Central will still keep the syndication rights to Futurama? Because according to the TV listings, they'll be showing reruns through Friday, September 6. But the listings don't go any further than that.

EDIT: I just checked tvguide.com, and Comedy Central will be airing "A Head in the Polls" and "Xmas Story" on Monday, September 9. But still, I'm not sure how long they'll be keeping this up. I think I read somewhere Viacom will be losing the rights to the episodes.

[Reply #185 on:]

I assume they will. If I'm correct, FOX kept the syndication rights for a while, so I don't see why CC wouldn't keep them.

Of course, I'd like AS to get the syndication rights again, If Possible. I just think the show fits best on that channel.

[Reply #186 on:]

I assume they will. If I'm correct, FOX kept the syndication rights for a while, so I don't see why CC wouldn't keep them.

Of course, I'd like AS to get the syndication rights again, If Possible. I just think the show fits best on that channel.

I agree with you there, it would be nice to see the show go back to Adult Swim, perhaps with two episodes a night this time.

[Reply #187 on:]

I just realized that QNF is now a professor. Everybody's growing up right before my eyes.

_{It's so beautiful. Sniff.} 

[Reply #188 on:]

Josh Weinstein is officially on Twitter now.

@joshstrangehill

[Reply #189 on:]

I didn't realize we had this AND a news thread. There's too much stickyness around here. Out with the old, in with the new!

* futurefreak vanishes into the night

[Reply #190 on:]

My most hated episodes are from 2010-2013 are:

Attack of the Killer App
Lrreconcible Ndndifferences
Neutopia
Fry Am The Eggman
A Farewell to Arms
Leela and The Genestalk


P.S. I loved Fun On a Bun!