Season 5 Renewal??

[Reply #240 on:]

 

Originally posted by Just Chris:
it would have survived for a longer time had it stayed in the 7:30 slot when Malcolm debuted.

From what I've seen on different boards through the years, the bulk of the crowd that likes seasons 10, 11, & 12 of the Simpsons also likes MITM. It was a shift in programming style geared toward younger viewers.
That coveted 8:30 slot has got to be the highest advertising block for Fox. 7:30 is pretty high too.

[Reply #241 on:]

Yeah, 7:30 was the sweet spot. I never had to worry about missing it even if I had to work.  So they're making Sunday eve more kiddie-oriented? Explains why they took off the Fox Kids afternoon lineup and replaced it w/Jerry Springer and Cops. :/

[Reply #242 on:]

when Futurama used to air in Australia it was Friday nights at 7:30pm. Perfect prime time. And still time to go out for drinks afterwards 

[Reply #243 on:]

its only a tv program

[Reply #244 on:]

This is the worst news imaginable.  I am writing Fox right away.   I'm left speechless.  I've seen this show since day one, and have witnessed FOX's desperate attempt to kill it.  Now they have finally done it.  This is beyond "fuck".... I don't even know....

[Reply #245 on:]

Smithers-"Yes...good...try to eat something."
Homer(crying)-"Uh huh..."

[Reply #246 on:]

Someone forwarded me this by a fox spokesman:
"We have tremendous respect for
Matt, but the show's production schedule requires an advance renewal decision that we don't have the luxury to make at this time, we may want to
order more in the future, but we could not meet this early deadline".

Well, sorry, that's not enough, I don't think Rough Draft can just fire people, sell assets maybe and then start over. They need to air their backlog in the offseason then.
I will put this up on cgef when the article around it is published

[Reply #247 on:]

 

Originally posted by [-mArc-]:
Someone forwarded me this by a fox spokesman:
"We have tremendous respect for
Matt, but the show's production schedule requires an advance renewal decision that we don't have the luxury to make at this time, we may want to
order more in the future, but we could not meet this early deadline".

Well, sorry, that's not enough, I don't think Rough Draft can just fire people, sell assets maybe and then start over. They need to air their backlog in the offseason then.
I will put this up on cgef when the article around it is published

Gee, why would they be in such a position? Maybe because.... THEY NEVER RUN THE FUCKING SHOW?!!

[Reply #248 on:]

 

Originally posted by Kryten:
...I've come to this conclusion:

This could very well be the best thing that ever happened to Futurama.

..This isn't the end. It's just a new beginning.

I think cancelling Futurama is like killing a puppy dog after it breaks its leg. Of course, the animal is in pain, but it's not like it's not going to heal. Sad thing is, the puppy will soon be forgotten when a new dog replaces it. (unless it's name is William Shatner).
I don't think Futurama will end up like Star Trek, it's just didn't get famous enough. In most countries, not even a single episode has been aired, and those 3 months of Futurama we had here in Norway will probably not make thousands of die-hard fans   

Unless Fox actually has some plans with Futurama, either commercially (games, videos etc) or as a tv series, I believe it's time to mourn Futurama's death 

But I believe no-one should sit back and relax, thinking this was the best thing that could happen to Futurama (that was a bit out of proportion regarding what you actually wrote, Kryten, but I'm just trying to make a point here). We should put an effort into expressing our views to Fox, either by mail or phone or whatever. (I prefer ordinary mail, as it isn't as easily ignorable as e-mail).

Good luck, fellow believers! Write a letter for the Cause!

[Reply #249 on:]

Tremendous respect my ass (and it ain't shiney and metal either).

Well i'm off to the post office soon to buy air mail letters, do my bit an' all.
 

[Reply #250 on:]

At times like this it is good to remember good words.

You can not stop us
You can not bring us down
never give up
we go on and on
you'll never brake us
never bring us down
we are the light

Thank you Offspring for that inspirational music. Remember FOX needs us more than we need them.

[Reply #251 on:]

The petition is growing by thirty signatures a minute.

What dickhead made this decision?

[Reply #252 on:]

Sweet zombie Jesus, 19000 and rising at one signature per refresh, and pages refresh quickly when yur hooked up to ADSL.   

To quote a class film "Never give up, never surrender".

[Reply #253 on:]

 

Originally posted by [-mArc-]:
Someone forwarded me this by a fox spokesman:

Let's see if I can manage a FOX-Exec-speak to English translation:

"We have tremendous respect for Matt,"

Please Matt don't stop producing The Simpsons.  We want to keep it on the air for at least seven more seasons.

"but the show's production schedule requires an advance renewal decision that we don't have the luxury to make at this time"

We have all these episodes laying around here that we don't know what to do with.  We figure at one new episode every four months, we can stretch it out a few seasons.  One of the execs here had a brilliant idea that if seasons were only four episodes long, we'd have to order a lot less episodes and we'd save money.

"we may want to order more in the future"

All you animators and writers don't go anywhere.  Sit by the phone waiting the callback.  It may come in the next year or two.  Maybe three.  Four at the most.  Unless it's five.  Meanwhile make a living off of selling your personal possesions on E-Bay because we want you available should we grow a few brain cells, realize our mistake, and change our minds.

"but we could not meet this early deadline"

This is what we think of Futurama:   

I think that about sums up what FOX really meant in that quote.

[Reply #254 on:]

Jesus, by my calculation it should reach 20,000 in about fifteen minutes.

JasonLevine, cynical though your translation is, I have the feeling it's spot on. But surely they realise that the damn thing is making money?! After all, isn't that all those bloodsucking, braindead imbeciles care about?

Danny

[Reply #255 on:]

The real question to ask is: "are they making enough return on investment buying this show for broadcast?"  Chances are that Fox can produce When Grass Grows much cheaper than buying Futurama - and the'll sell all their advertising space either way.  Somehow, we have to show them that they will realize a good ROI on Futurama.

[Reply #256 on:]

When shows get cancelled.   

[Reply #257 on:]

Ouch - that one hits too close to home Torq.  Excuse me while I talk to the Fox film crew - they're here filming an episode of When Nerds Fight Back

[Reply #258 on:]

Sorry, laughter in the face of adversity and all that. I'll try and tone it down.

*edits this post for no reason*

[Reply #259 on:]

 

Originally posted by Torquemada:
Sorry, laughter in the face of adversity and all that. I'll try and tone it down.

It's cool, we all need to blow off steam with the cancellation still fresh in our minds.

 

[Reply #260 on:]

 

Originally posted by flexo:
its only a tv program

And thats only blood (or hydraulic fluid) pumping through your veins.   

Nah, just kidding, your alright.

[Reply #261 on:]

 

Originally posted by danny-dude:
Jesus, by my calculation it should reach 20,000 in about fifteen minutes.

It blew past 20K and it speeding towards 22K.  Not bad for 24 hour's time.

EDIT:  While I was posting this, it passed 22K.  Boy, you turn your back for one second.... 

 

Originally posted by danny-dude:
JasonLevine, cynical though your translation is, I have the feeling it's spot on. But surely they realise that the damn thing is making money?! After all, isn't that all those bloodsucking, braindead imbeciles care about?

Danny

Well, they care about money and power.  They didn't have much power over what went on in Futurama and so they hated it from the get-go.  Execs tend to like "guiding" a show with their own special brand of "creative influence."  I shudder to think of what Futurama would have looked like if the execs had the final say as to what went on.  "Bender hasn't been using his catch-phrase nearly enough.  Also, Fry and Leela need catch-phrases.  And forget this slow-developing, character-building romantic sideplot.  Let's just jump to Fry and Leela in bed."  (Ok, maybe some fans would have liked the last one.   )

[Reply #262 on:]

Not so related, but I went to Petition Online's homepage and saw a petition against cancelling Family Guy burgeoning with over 48,000 signatures. Yowza! It's like a two-front war! This is making me a lot more confident in our efforts. 

And Futurama has a cult following; it was never as big as the Simpsons. Also due to negligent advertising. Maybe people think that the show's too sci-fi and don't realize that its jokes are more clever than today's Simpsons. It's more than just a sci-fi; it's a sitcom in its true sense.

[Reply #263 on:]

 

Originally posted by Just Chris:
it was never as big as the Simpsons. Also due to negligent advertising.

Ok, that's about the only thing that could get me madder would be if this was a Fox exec and marketing dept problem.  Had that happen in my former company -- twice.  (Windows Magazine closed because "it's great content, but we don't know how to sell it."  And then Winmag.com closed because "we're changing our focus and killing our biggest site.  We're now focusing on reposting other site's content instead of generating our own."  Still bitter over those two.          )

[Reply #264 on:]

Latest count 24469. It's flying up!

Re Family Guy petition, bear in mind that Family Guy cancellation has been common news for a few weeks now. They got a head start. We've got half as many as them, and we've only been going for a day.

And, I have to say, I'm all for Family Guy getting the axe!! ;-)

[Let the flame war begin!]

Danny

[Reply #265 on:]

For any one who what's to go to that t.v futurama thing and talk to the cast about the show being cancelled there's someone on with ticks on e-bay

  http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1332450555

[Reply #266 on:]

 

Originally posted by DrThunder88:
Well, we know Billy West and Maurice LaMarche will still have jobs doing cereal cartoon voice-overs (and Gateway commercials, I guess).

Phil Lamarre has his Samurai Jack gig and lots of other cartoons, and I think Lauren Tom is still on King of the Hill. The voice cast has plenty of other work...it's those crazy writers and animators I'm worried about.

Last night I saw sexy Lewis Morton's name on Undeclared, but unfortunately that show is getting cancelled too. Stupid Fox.

[Reply #267 on:]

Past 25k now!

[Reply #268 on:]

 

Originally posted by homerjaysimpson:
For any one who what's to go to that t.v futurama thing and talk to the cast about the show being cancelled there's someone on with ticks on e-bay

  http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1332450555

I'm sure that the 1st question will be about the cancellation. Word is getting around quickly on the internet.

[Reply #269 on:]

I just got this from a friend - CNN is covering the end of Futurama.  http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/13/television.futurama.reut/index.html

The comment about early syndictation is interesting.

[Reply #270 on:]

glad to see some major media coverage about this! 

[Reply #271 on:]

Sigs well past 26K now

[Reply #272 on:]

I like this part:
 

Despite virtually no promotion and frequent preemptions, "Futurama" has still managed to win its 7 p.m. Sunday slot this season in teens, adults 18-34 and adults 18-49. Executives at producer 20th Century Fox TV have already had early talks about launching the show in syndication, though no deals are close.

In other words, Reuters is basically saying: FOX sucks.

[Reply #273 on:]

I'll say it again.  This is OBVIOUSLY something personal somebody high up at FOX had with Groening.  The show was deliberately put in bad time slots and pre-empted.

Sarge, deliver this message to Matt:

Matt, you're a smart man.  You like reggae!  You need to walk, Matt.  FOX obviously has no respect for you.  Get up and go.  There are MUCH better avenues for your work and I am certain that other networks would have much greater respect for you.  Take the Simpsons with you if you can, and FOX will sink into oblivion.

It's gotta be about respect Matt, and FOX has none.

[Reply #274 on:]

 

Originally posted by [-mArc-]:
I like this part:
 In other words, Reuters is basically saying: FOX sucks.

Yup, Fox both Sucks and Blows.

[Reply #275 on:]

Looks like FOX has bitten of more than it can chew, the online petition has 27,000 signitures and less than 24 hours have passed. Then there are letters and Emails, keep up the good work everybody!

We need a season 5, imagine only having 2 AOI episodes we need at least 3.

[Reply #276 on:]

 

Originally posted by Sarge:
I hope someone edits out the swear attacks before they post it to Fox. That's the same as begging to kill the show.

How could it POSSIBLY be the same as begging to kill the show?!! 

If I was in charge of something, and decided to change it, and then 20,000 people gave me a big ol' "FUCK YOU!", I sure would rethink my decision.

FOX can kiss my ass.  And they can reap what the sow too.  I seriously hope that they DON'T keep the show and Matt picks up his toys and goes where he gets some respect.  FOX exists today because of Matt Groening.

[Reply #277 on:]

If a lot of people bad-mouth them they might kill the show just out of spite.

[Reply #278 on:]

Oh, so we should look up with puppy-dog eyes and say, "Pleeease, oh pleeease Mr. FOX Executive!  Pleeeease don't take Futurama off the air!"...  SCREW THAT!  We have to assert ourselves people!  If we go down, at least we don't go down like wimps!

FOX Execs are chimps... no wait, I like chimps!

[Reply #279 on:]

Ha ha ha 

I bet they're sitting by their big tables right now, thinking of how they can undo this thing without saying that they accually was wrong!