The whole point of Futurama

[on:]

This may sound stupid, or obvious, but I think I understand the creaters' idea.  The whole idea of Futurama, besides being a laughfest, is this:
Fry and Leela are two very lonely people who are destined to meet, thus involving Nibbler, whose role is rather important.  Bender is really just for laughs, as well as most of the others.  I think they'e trying to tell you isn't just what he seems- there's more to that.  The main story is Fry changes, he grows within himself.  Please post your thoughts on what the hell I'm talking about.

   

[Reply #1 on:]

welcome to peel, futurama_hil!!     

[Reply #2 on:]

Welcome to PEEL. I read somwhere that idea of Futurama is to show that even Future is not perfect.

[Reply #3 on:]

Thanx for the welcome!  I just wanted to express a point.

[Reply #4 on:]

The point of Futurama is to make me laugh with a tiny bit of commentary on society, people, robots, aspects of the future, and a dead dog that makes me sad.

[Reply #5 on:]

The point of the General Discussion forum is to hold threads like these.

[Reply #6 on:]

i think the point of episodes like jurassic bark is to show that going to the future has disadvantages too.

[Reply #7 on:]

as opposed to every other episode where every almost dies?

[Reply #8 on:]

I think its fair to say that for any kind of fiction, it always has to be about the characters first and foremost.  Science Fiction in general tends to be more plot-driven than character-driven, which is one of the reasons the genre is rarely considered in terms of being great literature.

In a way, and this might be a stretch, Fry represents an Americanized version of some of the un-heroic main characters of Japanese anime.  By this, I'm referring to the typically teenage males who possess no great intelligence or wit, and often have other character defects, but who have a great heart and are true to themselves.  If you've seen Tenchi Muyo, then you probably have some idea of the connection I'm making here.

At the same time, I wouldn't posit any direct link between the SciFi-Comedy shows of Japanese anime and Futurama.  Futurama is definitely an American cultural artifact.  Besides, beyond Star Trek, I suspect The HitchHikers Guide To The Galaxy probably has more formative influence than anything (which could be said of nearly any science fiction-comedy hybrid)

[Reply #9 on:]

Didn't Groening say Fry was him when he was younger?  Lazy, Shiftless, with no direction?

[Reply #10 on:]

Akito01, I think you're right.  Futurama is surely a story that has a strong plot and strong characters.  I still think it's about changes in people as they grow(what a coincedience, I'm listening to "Miss Independent" on Z100,a NY radio station).Anyway, back to the point, I think Matt has more planned and a bigger plot than we all thought, espicially due to these season five eps.
Sorry about spelling, I'm only a juvenile teenage weirdo.

[Reply #11 on:]

IMO Fry serves a mostly meaningless existance, and that's why he's such an important person (in the vein of Salinger)


"Didn't Groening say Fry was him when he was younger? Lazy, Shiftless, with no direction?"

I identify with Fry today and when I was younger, although there was a brief lapse in between when I tried to be a responsible achiever.  How young and foolish I was...

[Reply #12 on:]

Fry is a kid who wishes he could go far, far away from his life and becomes a hero in the future. He saves the world, touches lives, and faces great enemies unwillingly and based on his own experience from being a simple kid.

[Reply #13 on:]

G'uh, to make money. 

[Reply #14 on:]

  very true

[Reply #15 on:]

Well, of course it's to make money, but you can't make money if you have a crappy show, which futurama is not.  Besides, Matt seems to really love what he does.

[Reply #16 on:]

Groening said it himself in the commentaries or feauturette of the S1 DVD the whole point of Futurama.  I can't remember word for word.  Basically, making a show for those who like sci-fi get a kick out of the show, and even for those who aren't fans of sci-fi love the show too.

[Reply #17 on:]

 

Originally posted by Futurama_Hil:
Well, of course it's to make money, but you can't make money if you have a crappy show.

Uh... Have you been watching TV lately?

[Reply #18 on:]

 

Originally posted by Futurama_Hil:
... but you can't make money if you have a crappy show, ...

I wish that were true.
 

[Reply #19 on:]

the pits, malcom in the middle, every show on the si-fi channel(except for science mystery theater 3000)exetera, exetera.

[Reply #20 on:]

hmmmm.... has anyone even read this thread?..... its about Futurama, not Fox programming (which sucks now), but i think the whole point of futurama is to entertain (DUH!) 

[Reply #21 on:]

You know, one of the things I think was important about Futurama was the way in which Groening felt about it's source material.

The Simpsons came about because of the dislike Groening had for the "perfect" family which was always shown back in the 80s (at least, that's my impression). Futurama was more a labour of love, because Groening loves (I believe) Sci-Fi. To take it to the extreme, it's a labour of love versus a labour of dislike.

[Reply #22 on:]

My friends always that Fry reminds them of me.

In a good way, they say.

The scary part is: I agree with them.

[Reply #23 on:]

hmmm...... if cyberknight is correct.... then perhaps Matt has a natural hate for the past and present.... that un-grateful bastard, he is a freakin millionare and he hates the present...... mabye he just wants to live in the future so that there is more rich stuff for him to buy? $$$

[Reply #24 on:]

 

Originally posted by The Hypno Toad:
hmmm...... if cyberknight is correct.... then perhaps Matt has a natural hate for the past and present.... that un-grateful bastard, he is a freakin millionare and he hates the present...... mabye he just wants to live in the future so that there is more rich stuff for him to buy? $$$

Did you even take the time to read what he said?

 

Originally posted by CyberKnight
The Simpsons came about because of the dislike Groening had for the "perfect" family which was always shown back in the 80s (at least, that's my impression). Futurama was more a labour of love, because Groening loves (I believe) Sci-Fi. To take it to the extreme, it's a labour of love versus a labour of dislike.

See that part in bold there? Groening was not attacking the entire present, just satirizing a familial sterotype common during the 80s. From this you draw that he hates the present era entirely?

Go look up "generalization" in the dictionary (maybe "generalisation" for those of you in the UK, I dunno  ).

[Reply #25 on:]

 

Originally posted by Futurama_Hil:
Well, of course it's to make money, but you can't make money if you have a crappy show, which futurama is not.  Besides, Matt seems to really love what he does.

Well, Matt and DXC really enjoy it, which is why they're working on a movie idea. It may not be realized, but they're looking at it. They didn't make money in the end, because FOX decided not to show the show enough for them to get extremely rich. Not the Matt wasn't rich enough already, and DXC is getting handsomely paid I'm sure, but not along the lines of Mark Burnett.

Wanna talk crappy shows? Try, oh, Survivor, Joe Millionaire (A FOX stunt), Fear Factor...the list goes on of "crossfire kinda new reality shows" as Jason Mraz says.

EDIT: And BTW, Futurama_Hil, this is one of the best threads that a newbie has started. Usually, newbie-started threads are terrible, pointless, and already covered. This one isn't.

[Reply #26 on:]

Okay, okay!  I guess that wasn't really what I meant with crappy shows, but what i do mean is that every show has to be about something.  This can not be avoided otherwise what's the point in watching, even if what the show is about sucks.  Futurama is a very clever show.
Anyway, SQFreak,  I agree with what you said about Matt and DXC.  And I don't know about al of you, but I'm hoping for a movie!

[Reply #27 on:]

Hypno toad: have you tought of going out lately?

well i think the very deep message in the whole show and episodes like: Parasites lost, Jurassic bark, Put YHOMS...

is to say that some people are meant for each other but just dont want to realize it or wont accept it

[Reply #28 on:]

 

Originally posted by Futurama_Hil:
Okay, okay!  I guess that wasn't really what I meant with crappy shows, but what i do mean is that every show has to be about something.

Largely true, though I'm immediately tempted to bring up Seinfeld, which of course was the self described 'show about nothing'.  I also tend to think that South Park exists purely as a platform for satire -the fact they can kill off Kenny each week and bring him back the next shows their deliberate disregard for continuity.

I'm also very much hoping for a movie, which I think is about the only realistic avenue for a continuation of the series.  Funding a new season of shows would not be economically viable for CN, but, as with The PowerPuff Girls Movie, they might be tempted to throw a bit of cash towards one of their more popular properties -the only lynchpin in this scenario being that Fox still exists as a partner-in-ownership and would have to be part of the project as well.

[Reply #29 on:]

A movie will never come. Even if Cartoon Network is willing to do it FOX won't pull front the money to do so. I don't know why Groening didn't just make a multi-parter season finale. He should know after working with Fox through the Simpsons and Futurama's life what Fox is capable of.

[Reply #30 on:]

We can wish for a movie, yet i will never be.....

 

[Reply #31 on:]

There will be a movie, countless futurama staff have said a movie is in the works.

[Reply #32 on:]

You make a good point, Akito.  Still, those shows had comedy(even though Seinfeld is a little old for my time).  Anyway, about the movie, I can't say that there will be one, but I really hope so.  Futurama is just one of those things you can't let go of.

BTW, thanx SQFreak.  It's nice to feel I'm welcome, unless  you're being sarcastic. 

[Reply #33 on:]

if they havent made a simpsons movie what makes you think they'll make a futurama movie

[Reply #34 on:]

Rights?  The drive that the Futurama staff has in order to just add one more big F-You to fox?  That it still has the possibility to be original, unlike the Simpsons?

[Reply #35 on:]

there's just a lot more you can do with futurama in a movie setting then you can do with simpsons. futurama lends itself to action adventure and romance which is always good for a movie. what could simpsons do?

and i don't really think a futurama movie is currantly 'in the works' i would classify it more as 'floundering to get off the ground' Fox unsurprisingly doesn't want to cough up the dough to fund it.

[Reply #36 on:]

The reason the Simpsons haven't done it is simply because they would have to stop season production for a year or more. They plan on having one when the show ends.

[Reply #37 on:]

i guess all 3 of you are right

[Reply #38 on:]

The Simpsons Shall never end untill Matt Dies............ everyone knows that......

[Reply #39 on:]

 

Originally posted by The Hypno Toad:
The Simpsons Shall never end untill Matt Dies............ everyone knows that......

what the hell are you talking about?????that just came outta nowhere.