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Author Topic: Is Futurama really cancelled?  (Read 1236 times)
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Red Decapodian

Crustacean
*
« on: 05-07-2003 19:56 »

Well, let's look at the facts here, this seems to be the last call for renewing it this week so we may as well look things over.

Fox still has 10 more episodes that they've probably paid to rent and haven't aired yet, just letting 10 episodes sit around unaired would seem pretty cost ineffective considering all the holes in Fox's schedule, and it would make sense that they would want more episodes just to round out the season.

It's May right now, next episode aired will be November with the way Fox does their seasons (even Simpsons), and they probably wouldn't finish the 10 completed ones until about March with the football preemptions and all. So that would be 9 or 10 months away.

From what i understand from the Family Guy sites I've been to, reuniting the team and getting a writing crew together and making new episodes took 9 months, and Fox only ordered that show back because of the huge amount of letters from the internet and snail mail.

Now i understand that Futurama is a little more complex animation since it's painted on cells, but from how i understand it all the Americans do is the animatic and it's sent over to Korea to be filled in with color, motion, stuff in the background which takes like 2 months (?).

I figure if Fox listened to the Family Guy fans they'd listen to the Futurama fans, especially with all the letters they sent back saying that the show isn't cancelled and that they're pleased with how it's doing at 7 PM on Sundays. I know we don't like it on Fox but how many of you wouldn't like to see the show at least hit 100 episodes before calling it a day? (I mean, 1 season away!)

So i guess it's going to take more letters and petitions, and i know that's a pain in the ass, but instead of flooding Fox with "complaining fan mails", let's present logical reasons that make dollars and sense to them why Futurama should be brought back.

1) Futurama, without promotion, does a little under a 4.0, while the X-Men special aired in it's place did a 1.7 (?)

2) Fox will have all sorts of holes in their programming.

Sunday-7 PM (outside of football season), Sunday 9:30 PM (cancelling The Pitts)

Tuesday-8-10 since last night's 24 was the series finale to my understanding and American Idol probably won't be back until next January

Wednesday-8:00, American Idol gone until January

Thursday-8-10, in fact, this spot has been empty for forever, i wonder why they haven't filled it.

Friday-8-10 since Fastlane and John Doe are getting the boot

With all these holes in the programming why would they cancel a proven success that hasn't been marketed in so long they could start promoting it again and making it fresh.

3) Futurama has almost singlehandedly turned cartoon network around even though there's only about 50-60 episodes in syndication.

4) Fox has money to experiment with a different time slot or more episodes or maybe more promotion for the show to boost it's numbers, they're getting their highest ratings ever doing better than ABC every week, and they have a successful news channel to boot.

I know it's hard getting logic out there to Fox but maybe, just MAYBE they'll listen. I'm going to send a formal letter to them by snail mail in the next two days just to see if it has any effect at all.
PCC Fred

Space Pope
****
« Reply #1 on: 05-07-2003 19:59 »

I admire your enthusiasm, but the problems FOX have with Futurama aren't ones that'll be solved by fans sending in letters.  They went bitchcakes with Matt Groening after an argument during the early days of the show, and since then FOX have deliberately gone out of their way to destroy the show.
Red Decapodian

Crustacean
*
« Reply #2 on: 05-07-2003 20:16 »

I understand the issue is that Fox doesn't own Futurama lock, stock, and barrel like they do the Simpsons and it eats them up so they take it out on Groening
Anarchist

Professor
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« Reply #3 on: 05-07-2003 20:20 »

No, the issue here is a simple self esteem problem at FOX. Groening won a bitchfight with FOX in the show's early days, thus questioning FOX's manhood, and Gail Berman has been trying to prove that his dong is bigger than Matt Groening's ever since.
Kristi
Starship Captain
****
« Reply #4 on: 05-07-2003 20:25 »

    • Gail Berman is a female.
    • How can you question a TV network's manhood?  :rolleyes:
Anarchist

Professor
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« Reply #5 on: 05-07-2003 20:35 »

1. I'm not quite sure about that; although I can't call Gail Berman male either. I prefer to use the term "it".
2. Everything has a manhood, and most things have a problem with said manhood. Nations, especially.
Killerfox

Professor
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« Reply #6 on: 05-07-2003 21:00 »

FOX Doesnt like the show at all, They never have and never will, havent you noticed all those crap timeslots, no advert, almost 4 years after the show started they launch the season one dvd.

They dont like the show and i dont know why but it isnt just coincidence.
getak2003

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #7 on: 05-07-2003 21:08 »

totally manhood insicurity issues....

logic need not apply when it comes to questioning of the manhood, also even if gail berman is a chick, they have more manhood issues than men do sometimes, the age old "im a chick, i can do it better than any MAN ever could!" mentality.

i know some of these bitches, i hate these bitches, glad I am the boss im my own company, they would want it otherwise though.
Kristi
Starship Captain
****
« Reply #8 on: 05-07-2003 21:15 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Anarchist:
Everything has a manhood

  :rolleyes:
Zoidberg MD

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #9 on: 05-08-2003 00:39 »

Problem is that the Fox execs. dont have any input into the show, Matt and CO. have total creative control.  The Fox people can not say, "Hey, my input made Futurama what it is" which translates to "Hey, I took an original, creative, funny show, turned it into a steaming pile of horse crap and sucked another couple million out of it by making its end excruciatingly long and painfull, as well."
alexvilagosh

Goose Patrol
Space Pope
****
« Reply #10 on: 05-08-2003 02:34 »

alot of research there! and i think Futurama might still get new episodes. a lot depends on next week and fox's cannings
Grim

Professor
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« Reply #11 on: 05-08-2003 03:38 »

I take the more negative side, yes it is cancelled  :(
mikey

Urban Legend
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« Reply #12 on: 05-08-2003 03:51 »

Is there a possabitlity of another network picking up futurama??
WGuy00

Crustacean
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« Reply #13 on: 05-08-2003 03:57 »

I think it's just antenna envy
PCC Fred

Space Pope
****
« Reply #14 on: 05-08-2003 05:30 »

At this point I'm hoping it gets cancelled.  I shudder to think what might happen if FOX decide to drag it out for another year.
getak2003

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #15 on: 05-08-2003 08:18 »

I shudder to think someone like you can say that. Futurama is great, always has been since the word go. it has failed to meet my expectations in just one episode, and that being lobstertainment. although that episode is still better than the tired old horse that is the simpsons. and every episode of futurama is better than KoTH or those other shows after the animated block.

if they kept the show going and DID A GOOD JOB of it then i see no reason to shudder at the thought of it. although, if what you mean is drag the last ten episodes through the year, then i have already blocked the fox channel from my television.
Red Decapodian

Crustacean
*
« Reply #16 on: 05-08-2003 08:25 »

I don't want to see the show go forever either so it doesn't turn into Simpsons circa Season 14 (UGGHH)

But come on, 100 episodes, we have nothing to lose, it's worth fighting for!
Anarchist

Professor
*
« Reply #17 on: 05-08-2003 12:11 »

I kinda agree with PCC Fred here. If they decide to continue dragging it out, and even if they do order 8 more episodes, it will mean that we won't see the current unaired episodes for a while. They'll make them "Season 6", while the new episodes are being made. (FOX can easily turn 8 eps into a season. We've all seen it.) After that, there's no gurantee that the show will be stable (and it most likely won't be) - it will suffer a bad timeslot and many preemptions, and will be on hiatus again in no time. Besides, the old crew won't be working on the new eps. They'll probably be able to get some of them back, but it won't be the same anymore. I doubt many of them would want to quit a stable job to go back to FOX for a few episodes and then be out of a job again, regardless of how much they enjoyed working on Futurama. Also, since they won't be sure how long the series will continue, they'll have to make another "series finale" just to be safe. It won't be pretty.
I'd rather see Futurama die with dignity than continue being dragged on like this. I'm only in favor of it being renewed if it will be given a good, stable timeslot and some advertizing.
Is it worth fighting for? Sure. Too bad we've already done all we could, and it pretty much had no effect.
Merion

Crustacean
*
« Reply #18 on: 05-08-2003 13:39 »

Greetings,
Ok, we all know it, it's a bloody shame, and there's obviously no reliable information to get from FOX. But is there any word from Groening on that matter? He should know...
Teral

Helpy McHelphelp
DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #19 on: 05-08-2003 14:12 »

He said in a British radio interview he's grateful for the fans actions to save the show.

Also one of the staff, I think it was Cohen, said Groening still fought to save the show, either by convincing FOX to renew or examining the possibility of taking it to other networks (no information about the legal issues in that interview).
CyberKnight

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #20 on: 05-08-2003 14:16 »

Wasn't it one of the voice actors (Maurice LeMarche, I think), who said in an interview that Groening was still in there, pitching the show?
Teral

Helpy McHelphelp
DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #21 on: 05-08-2003 14:21 »

I think that's the name I was looking for. I guessed Cohen because it sounds like something he would've said.
Red Decapodian

Crustacean
*
« Reply #22 on: 05-08-2003 20:34 »

The letter i'm writing is addressed to Gail Berman and I'm trying to write friendly/persuasively, it never hurt writing a professional looking letter.

Although I couldn't help doing envelope art, Free Waterfall Junior is on the front holding a "Save Futurama" sign with the Tofu Eating Lion on the back, i figured it was eye-catching.
Grim

Professor
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« Reply #23 on: 05-08-2003 21:39 »

You could probably do with out the envelope art... less likely to take u seriously with that...
getak2003

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #24 on: 05-08-2003 21:42 »

yeah, they are stuck up exectutives like that, i doubt that they will even read the thing, just put it in the "circular File" if you know what i mean.
Red Decapodian

Crustacean
*
« Reply #25 on: 05-09-2003 14:52 »

I'm sending more letters on Saturday so don't worry about it. There's tons of other people to reach.

The petitions go in the circular file, the letters actually have a WAY better chance of getting read.
Grim

Professor
*
« Reply #26 on: 05-11-2003 07:11 »

I always thought the Fox mail room had a revolving door, in comes the mail, out goes the same mail...
OC_James

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #27 on: 05-11-2003 11:47 »

What exactly was the argument between Matt and FOX about? I mean I know the two have had a lot of differences (like the Suicide Booths and how the future isn't like the Jetsons) but what sort of disagreement could be so big a deal that FOX would go out of their way to ruin the series and piss off it's fans AND piss of the creator who is also the man who made the one series that saved the station from being destroyed. Maybe it was just a small fight and FOX is just too dumb to worry about anything besides who has creative control over what.
Teral

Helpy McHelphelp
DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #28 on: 05-11-2003 12:08 »

Basically FOX said: "we want creative control, or at least a joint control."

Groening repsonded: "GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!" ::insert picture of Matt Groening from that-Simpsons-episode-I-forgot-the-name-of-right-ow::

Taking lessons from the Simpsons, FOX wanted some creative control of Futurama. Matt said, "Forget it. We'll do this like we did on the Simpsons (ie. Matt had complete control of the show)." FOX said "We don't do business that way anymore." And Matt's final words were: "Though, that's the only way I do business."

And that's how the big pissing-contest between FOX and Groening started. I think FOX's strategy was to harass and annoy Matt so much, he'd eventually say "Okay, you win. We'll do it your way!" Looks like FOX made a slight mis-calculation.
CyberKnight

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #29 on: 05-11-2003 12:24 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Teral:
Basically FOX said: "we want creative control, or at least a joint control."

Groening repsonded: "GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!" ::insert picture of Matt Groening from that-Simpsons-episode-I-forgot-the-name-of-right-ow::

You mean the "Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular"?
Teral

Helpy McHelphelp
DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #30 on: 05-11-2003 12:29 »

That's the one.

Boy, Matt sure cleaned himself up before taping the Futurama season 1 extras, eh?
futureman

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #31 on: 05-11-2003 13:36 »

As far as i know. futurama is going to be aired untill the made episodes/season run out! i aint 100% sure on dat tho
Action Jacktion

Professor
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« Reply #32 on: 05-11-2003 16:36 »
« Last Edit on: 05-11-2003 16:36 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by OC_James:
What exactly was the argument between Matt and FOX about?
Groening explains things in this interview -- which was actually conducted before Futurama even premiered.  Interestingly, he thinks Fox also dislikes The Simpsons and gives it a lot less support than they could, though they tolerate it because of its popularity.  So if they dislike Futurama even more, it makes sense that they'd show an even greater lack of interest.

So is the 7:00 time slot a manefestation of their lack of interest and support?  I asked in another thread if Futurama has had that slot since 1999, since they moved it back from Tuesdays.  Is that right?  (EDIT: Okay, I just read the interview and Cohen says the show was "bounced around" a bit before it got the 7:00 slot.  I don't remember that but it sounds right.)
Teral

Helpy McHelphelp
DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #33 on: 05-11-2003 16:41 »

David gives some further opinions on this matter in the interview Andy just put up at ANSTATMAW.

Geoshitties closed the site due to bandwidth overrun- Try again in an hour, or look out for mirror sites (CGEF).
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