Hey everybody. First post, don't kill me.
Today's Variety has an article on Futurama. Sorry if it's been posted, couldn't find it anywhere:
 http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117935453?categoryid=14&cs=1&s=h&p=0

Inside Move: 'Futurama' may get new lease on life
Toon with a past may get new life on Fox TV
 
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

"Futurama" may live to see the year 3000 after all.

Talks have begun at 20th Century Fox TV to revive the animated skeinskein, which takes place in the next millennium, much in the same way "Family Guy""Family Guy" found new life after cancellation.

The studio is in early discussions to put "Futurama" back in production and create a limited number of episodes of the Emmy Award-winning skein -- although it's too soon to tell where those segs might end up. A reprep for 20th Century Fox TV declined comment.

The final original episode of "Futurama" aired on Fox in August 2003. But since then, the skein has found new life -- and fans -- via DVD releases and repeatedly high-rated airings on the Cartoon Network.

"Futurama" remains popular enough that Comedy CentralComedy Central even stole away off-netoff-net rights to the show's repeats late last year; it will switch to the laffer cablercabler in 2008.

A similar resurgence in interest for "Family Guy" persuaded 20th Century Fox TV to revive that show, which has produced two seasons of new episodes and a DVD since coming back from the dead. "Family Guy" now resides as Fox's Sunday 9 p.m. tentpole.

"Futurama" scored three Emmys in its five-season run, including the 2002 award for animated series. But it lived an unusual existence on Fox, with short seasons, late launches and long gaps between airings. That allowed Fox to air five seasons of "Futurama," even though technically only four were produced.

"The Simpsons""The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening and "Simpsons" vet David X. Cohen were behind "Futurama," which bowed on Fox in March 1999. The animated skein revolved around Fry, a pizza delivery boy who's accidentally frozen for 1,000 years. He wakes up in the year 3000 and befriends cyclops Leela and cranky robot Bender -- all of whom work for the intergalactic delivery service run by Fry's distantly descended nephew, Prof. Farnsworth.

Before "Futurama" comes back into being, however, 20th first must secure deals with the show's production team, as well as voice stars including Billy West (Fry), Katey Sagal (Leela) and John DiMaggio (Bender).

Meanwhile, even after the cancellation new "Futurama" stories have continued to be churned out via the "Futurama" comicbook, published by Groening's Bongo Comics imprint.


- HOW COOL IS THIS?
It may have some credit to it with all these recent rumors, and Billy West ramblings, even tough the author must smoke some great pot.
What on earth is "skein". Did he made that word up?   

It is promising that more mainstream publications are reporting this.

If it comes back as a series, hopefully FOX won't screw it over by placing it in shitty timeslots.

Still, the fact that it's in Variety (aka "the trades" ) validates what we've been hearing through the grapevine.

Of course, "early discussions" doesn't mean it's going to happen, but it is a good sign.

What's with every other word eing "skein"?

I assume "skein" to be an industry term; every industry has to invent a jargon they use to describe themselves, so us mortals don't get the idea that we understand their jobs as well as they do.

And if the only obstacles to new episodes is really signing the production team and cast, then that would sound to me like a pretty done deal, since I've heard most of the cast and production team describe working on the series as one of the high points of their careers. And since it's animated, there is little chance of unmanagable scheduling conflicts with cast, whatever other projects they might be involved in.

This is the most concrete news we've seen about the show coming back.  I'd much rather see it come back as a series than as a set of DVD movies, but I'm hoping that we'll get both.

One of the Futurama comic's people told me to: "Keep your tenacles crossed."  For what that's worth...

 

Originally posted by Ralph Snart:
Imagine what the Futurama crew could do without network limitations and with 75-90 minutes to dedicate to a storyline.

I'm drooling at the mere thought. 

I'm both optimistic yet sceptical that this will all end up in our favor.

 

Originally posted by Ralph Snart:
Two articles in two mainstream publications (Variety.com and TVGuide.com) in one day about the possible return of Futurama.  That's the most encouraging news that we've heard yet.  Granted, it's not like hearing that FOX has given the revival the greenlight, but it is promising.

And now E ! Online. That was posted just an hour ago.

Wow, front page of tvguide.com says "Futurama returning?" the Billy West post, and some other stuff too.  I haven't been this optimistic since... May, and that sure paid off!
:hearty laugh that slowly turns into pathetic crying:

they need an emoticon for that

 

Originally posted by Ralph Snart:
It seems that FOX may be leaning to making more episodes than the direct-to-DVD movie, which is nice, but I would like to be greedy and have both.  There is only so much that you can do on network TV and in 22 minutes.  Imagine what the Futurama crew could do without network limitations and with 75-90 minutes to dedicate to a storyline.

I don't see why they wouldn't do both.  That's what they did with Family Guy. 

I like what I'm hearing from various major publications, but "believe it when you see it" is my mindset here.  If fox smells money in resurrecting Futurama they might go for it based on Family Guy's success.  Of course, this may all fizzle out and never happen.  It could go either way I think.  I would be gratefull for any new material and I'd be absolutely crazy if multiple episodes were made.  I hope those idiots at fox get it right and bring the show back.

 

Originally posted by KurtPikachu2001:
This _IS_ a good sign!  It's like Futurama is following the footsteps of Family Guy.  Both shows are on Adult Swim and are getting more new viewers, both shows are the top rated shows on AS, and DVD sales of both shows are getting higher and higher! 

If Family Guy came back, then Futurama will, too!  If Futurama comes back as movies on DVD or episodes, I'll be happy either way!  Plus, it's a good sign that TV Guide and magazines like Vareity are talking about a comeback!

I wouldn't get that hopeful yet, Kurt.
Not until actual articles come out, not just ripped off ones.

so many return threads........

I looked it up on Google News, and I found a couple interesting articles from December, you can look at them here: http://news.google.ca/news?q=futurama+return&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=nn&oi=newsr  .  Particularily "Off The Planet".

So... I'm confused.  Are we potentially getting a movie, or a new series?  If it's a combo of the two....   

I haven't seen the Family Guy movie, but breaking the Futurama movie into 3 or 4 episodes isn't what I wanted to see (I keep thinking "plot flow issues" ).  That said, I'll gladly take what I can get.

*Is remaining cautiously optimistic*

Edit: Damn you, missing letters!

It has been said many times before, but until FOX makes an official announcement that "Futurama WILL return", then I will remain pessimistic. However, I can't help but feel a little hopeful.

[EDIT]: Yay, first post for January 5, 2005 in PEEL! Which is also my birthday!

*sings the "Futurama" Birthday song*

I'm hopeful that this rumor pans out into something substantial. New Futurama episodes by 2007 will be spectacular, even if a few of the show's writers aren't able to make it back on (Ken Keeler, you know what you did!). As I've said before, the real way to get the show back on is through watching the repeats and buying the DVD sets. No more of these petitions.

 http://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/comments/?entryid=278643

Now 'Rotten Tomatoes' is on the FUTURAMA story.  If it's a trial balloon being let out by FOX or Groening, it's getting some buzz.