Would Futurama have been more sucsessful if it were created first?

[on:]

And Matt created The Simpsons at a later date?

[Reply #1 on:]

Hmmmm I still think that The Simpsons would have grabbed the wider audience so my honest answer is, no!

[Reply #2 on:]

yes because futerama is a lot more entertaining.

but if it was made 2 long ago the special effects would not be as good.

[Reply #3 on:]

I agree with Dave B. The Simpsons appeal to a much wider audience. People like shows they can relate to. 

[Reply #4 on:]

Yeah its true but thats the whole point I love Futurama as The Simpsons has the wide appeal as a family but Futurama I find to be a much higher quality content including the vast amount of Sci fi related content included with a linear inventive plotline (frozen guy wakes up in the future)etc and funniness to enjoy Futurama better!            Its great!

[Reply #5 on:]

Not necesarilly, the first episodes of Futurama are a lot better than season 1 simpsons.  Also, early simpsons are super tame by modern TV standards

[Reply #6 on:]

But still you would have to take in what Futurama would be like before that 'super tame' episodes time and then say that statement... as the first futurama was aired in 1999 and if it was in the late 80's then that would be a biiiiiig difference in quality

[Reply #7 on:]

well i'd say probably at least half the people who watched the pilot of Futurama did so because it was created by same person as did the simpsons (Groening). then after a few episodes only the true fans stuck on, but the show as well increased its audience among the fans' friends, etc. I agree with Dave B that the quality would really have been low compared with how it came out to be if it had aired in the late 80s. It's weird to see how the public audience has changed in even 10 years form late 80s to '99, because the first few seasons of Simpsons weren't focused on humor in my opinion, but rather telling a moral...that's why at the end you usually see a "the moral of the story" sequence, and humor was just sorta sprinkled along the side. Now compare that with the Simpsons of today...what a difference.

it is difficult to answer the question yardstick, perhaps it could have been more successful, perhaps not. it's really a 50/50 chance here. was the genre of "sci-fi" hot in the late 80s? or would the first Futurama not even air until the late 90s, and we'd only now be within the first 10 seasons of The Simpsons? many factors come into play. if it aired at a time when the genre wasn't hot, it could have had only one season and that's it. I'm super mad that the show was cancelled, there's no two ways about it, but if it aired at another time in another place, it could have done far worse

[Reply #8 on:]

It could have as if it were cancelled a long time ago futurefreak then there would probably be less chance of it coming back now so in a ways its a good thing it was released after the Simpsons so I agree futurefreak with you there...

[Reply #9 on:]

I'm not sure if it would have been more successful.

Would if have even been put on TV, if it were created first? Keep in mind that Fox never seemed to be a fan of Futurama. But they were very familiar with Matt Groening's previous success, and could therefore see how Futurama could be profitable and put it on the air anyways. But if The Simpsons hadn't been in existance beforehand, do you think Fox would have given Futurama a chance?

[Reply #10 on:]

I don't think it would've.

[Reply #11 on:]

Futurama being cancelled was actually part of the government conspiracy that involved September 11th, the London bombings, the Madrid train bombing, Celine Dion, and that dwarf in my book club that steals all of my opinions.

[Reply #12 on:]

Nix, your forgot that the Bush Administration sent a request to Rupert Murdock to kill Futurama because they had Al Gore on several eps but never asked Dubya to be a guest star.

Hey, it's as good an explanation as any other that I've heard so far...

[Reply #13 on:]

No, Futurama wouldn't have been more successful. If anything, it wouldn't have lasted even half as long, and probably wouldn't have been picked up in the first place. The Simpsons became a success because even though it was animated, it appealed to everyone - kids and adults alike.

An prime-time animated show was a big risk for Fox to take, and it only worked for The Simpsons because it was so down-to-earth and relatable in its early years. Futurama would've alienated people and would have put off adults, since it'd been seen by many as just a stupid kids' show because of its premise and setting. If anything, Futurama was ahead of its time when it came out, it's only really become successful these past few years. So, no, I think it would've been even worse off if it was created first. People only warmed to the idea of an adult animated show AFTER The Simpsons premiered.

[Reply #14 on:]

Yeah, the answer is absolutely not.  The thing is, The Simpsons had to come along and revolutionize television and comedy for shows like Futurama to even exist.  It took ten years of Simpsons (and it's followers like Seinfeld, South Park, etc.) before people could get used to the idea of watching something as weird as Futurama.  The Simpsons had to come along for people to even get used to the idea of watching an animated show in primetime, and it did so by being centered on a relatable family.  And both the tv landscape and comedy in general would be vastly different without the influence of The Simpsons, so ideas like Futurama would simply have never been thought up.  It's not just a matter of Futurama...all these offbeat shows like Arrested Development, My Name is Earl, etc. would never have an audience if it weren't for The Simpsons.  Things like The Onion and The Daily Show might not even exist.  It's in the wake of The Simpsons and a few other things from it's time that humor has gotten "weird" enough for a show like Futurama to even last four seasons.

[Reply #15 on:]

I just want to add, if not for the success of the Simpsons most networks (fox especially) probably would never have even TOUCHED Futurama. Fox barely admitted that the show didn't flop like they probably expected from the pilot on, if it hadn't been the creator of the huge hit The Simpsons backing it it would have been unlikely to ever be made, at least to the level of quality it was. Without the CGI and the voice talent it had (read: the $$$), the show just couldn't have been the same, and few networks have ever gambled that much on something as quirky as Futurama. Sad but true. The quirky, experimental shows you do see slip by are usually (relatively) low-budget - this is even true of most of Adult Swim's lineup and other, more recent network forays into the realm of the odd.

[Reply #16 on:]

Futurama seems to appeal to both children and adults as well.  However, I think Futurama should have been released in the early 1990's instead of 1999.  Maybe then if that had happened, both The Simpsons and Futurama would be successful.  Of course both shows would be in competition with the other. 

[Reply #17 on:]

Absolutely not *says in Elzar-esque voice* Like many have stated, special effects would suck, but back then, it may have been good.( Don't forget the Star Wars effects from the 70s and 80s were good..Of course that was for movies..) Like Kurt said, the two, if they had been simultaneously made, would be in cometition for primetime slots, and in turn would probably both have crashed and burned, leaving all the Simpsons cast and crew without jobs.

[Reply #18 on:]

Well, if The Simpsons where like the way it is now, i definatly think so.

[Reply #19 on:]

n 1987 the world wasnt ready for futurama (and it still isnt)

[Reply #20 on:]

back in 89' they didn't have any of the 3d effects or things that make Futurama what it is....

[Reply #21 on:]

   

Originally posted by commie detector:
back in 89' they didn't have any of the 3d effects or things that make Futurama what it is....

Yeah! Thats true the 3D parts are cool
    ... that reminds me has anyone else noticed that 3D Fry and Leela are never used its only Bender lol thought I'd just bring that up    I guess 3D humans would look a bit strange though! lol

[Reply #22 on:]

 

Originally posted by Dave B:
...has anyone else noticed that 3D Fry and Leela are never used its only Bender lol thought I'd just bring that up

Also bender is also like 10x easier to model since he is just cylinders

[Reply #23 on:]

3-D Leela would be a nightmare to do.  Her body would be great, but trying to do the face (no chin, one eye, etc) would be an effort that would cause seizures.

[Reply #24 on:]

No they were modelled a lot of times,
when Leela was in Nibbler's ship she was 3D
and if u look at the 3D works on the DVDs you can see lots of humans and Fry, Leela, Amy.

[Reply #25 on:]

Yep, yes sir, it would. The Simpsons was popular at the time, so can Futurama.

[Reply #26 on:]

i think futurama would be more sucsesful

[Reply #27 on:]

Futurama may have been more successful, if created first, but it has got more of a niche sci-fi market, whereas the simpsons would have had world wide appeal even if it was released second, giving Matt Groening the incentive to create more episodes

just my thoughts.....