Season 5 Renewal??

[Reply #280 on:]

i bet they are not lookie lookie... http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT30GTPBMXC&live=true&tagid=ZZZLZDL1B0C&subheading=media,%20entertainment,%20%20sport

[Reply #281 on:]

Now past 27K...soon 27,5K...might be past that when I post...

What did these guys think when they made that decision?

Yup, there we go, as I said, past 27,5K

[Reply #282 on:]

It will be interesting to see if Matt Groening has even heard of this petition at the Futurama thing on the 28th

[Reply #283 on:]

That would be awesome... It should be a human right to know about the petition, and mailsending...and e-mail...and...etc.

[Reply #284 on:]

Hey Sarge -- As you're a Futurama staffer, can you fill us in on how Matt Groening's taking this, what his stand is? I'm sure The Simpsons could be an ENORMOUS leveraging tool. Will Groening fight for Futurama? What about Kristen Gore's dad? Does he have any pull with Rupert Murdoch? I've written the prerequisite e-mail and snail mail letters and signed the petition but I can't believe there's nothing else I can do. Would writing to Groening Productions and/or James L. Brooks help? Does Fox really own Futurama? I thought Groening owned it, which is the point of contention between the two. Anyway, e-mail me at retroactive71@msn.com if anyone has any other ideas of what we can do. Thanks!!!!!

[Reply #285 on:]

Blahness,  the article you posted the link to says that FOX is losing ratings to NBC and CBS. 

I think cancelling a show that many viewers obviously want to watch at a time when your network is losing ratings would be a colossal mistake.  And not very bright either.

Unfortunately, I don't think FOX will re-think its decision to cancel Futurama because they are just not smart enough to.  They don't have the brain-power between them to light a match.  Even Brainslugs avoid them!

[Reply #286 on:]

One thing that may become of all this is that if FOX still decides to drop Futurama, another network is likely to be very willing to buy the rights because of the reaction the fans have given. Thats what I hope anyway.

[Reply #287 on:]

That would be a lot better... Give Futurama better showing time, and more advertising... Go you secret, not yet known tv network!

[Reply #288 on:]

I can just picture it: "Tonight on the dubba dubba yew bee! An all new Dawson's Creek followed by Futurama and then three hours of Pokemon!"

[Reply #289 on:]

FOX doesn't DESERVE to be allowed to broadcast Futurama!

[Reply #290 on:]

"Tonight on UPN, we get 'OOP-EN!' with Moesha followed by Malcolm and Eddie and then an all new Futurama!"

[Reply #291 on:]

Binder be careful!  Typing the D C words in a sentence within six pages of the word Futurama is grounds for disintigration.

[Reply #292 on:]

quote:
------
For the 738th time, it's not about Fox.
It's not about what Fox thinks is funny.
It's not about Fox making horrible decisions.
It's about ratings.
Why is that such a difficult concept to grasp???
No one's watching.
That is why The Family Guy and Futurama are in trouble.
You should be praising them for being the only
major network willing to take a chance on these
animated shows instead of bashing them. With-
out Fox, there would be no Simpsons. Without
the Simpsons, there would be no Family Guy
or Futurama. Blame the viewers (or lack thereof),
not the network. Got it now???
------

[Reply #293 on:]

We know it's about ratings, Impact.

Shows that do not get broadcast can not get ratings.

Got it now???

[Reply #294 on:]

No one's watching?  I think 29,433 (and counting) people beg to differ.

[Reply #295 on:]

As long as each and everyone of those names are real, but still, quite impressive

[Reply #296 on:]

Quoted from TVinsite:

"So far this season, the 7 p.m. EST/PST series is averaging 6.4 million viewers and a 2.9 rating/8 share in adults 18 through 49, according to Nielsen Media Research."

Too bad all 6.4 million viewers couldn't send mail to fox.

[Reply #297 on:]

I was wondering, Sarge would know the answer. Surely even though some of the writers have packed their bags and gone to work elswhere I would have thought that some scripts would have been made with the intension of a 5th season going ahead?

Sarge and the other animators were phoned up to say that they were not needed to do any animation/storyboards etc, surely if it was the other way round like it should have been and a 5th season were to be given the green light then a few scripts would have to have already been writen for the storyboard artists to work from?

As it's not I think that there would still be some scripts writen with intension in mind?

[Reply #298 on:]

If any scripts were started, I never heard about them. Maybe 1 or 2 might have been partially drafted out. But only those writers would know about that.

As far as all that stuff that Pimpbot asked, that's way beyond my reach. I don't work for Fox.

[Reply #299 on:]

dear sarge,
can you send me a candy bar and a piece of plaster from the studio? thanks

love,
VelourFog

[Reply #300 on:]

Oh well, if there are scripts then they can be revisited if the show does get picked up.

Sarge, thanx for your helpful answers. Just another simple question, one of my favourate characters is Roberto and I was wondering if you know if he's likely to return during Season 4? You don't need to give away any plots, I would be happy if you could tell me if he will return though.

[Reply #301 on:]

Here's a possible reason for FOX's action.

Yesterday (2/12), News Corp released its financials for the 2nd quarter of FY2002.  They announced a one-time charge of $909 million to cover losses on its contracts with the NFL, NASCAR, and Major League Baseball.  It breaks down like this:

NFL - $387 million loss
NASCAR - $297 million loss
MLB - $225 million loss

It looks like sports screws Futurama again.  No wonder FOX doesn't want to order any more episodes now.  They don't have the money. 

[Reply #302 on:]

Nascar is just lopsided racing, NFL footies a fix and baseball is just big league rounders. What costs so much??

[Reply #303 on:]

 

Originally posted by VelourFog:
dear sarge,
can you send me a candy bar and a piece of plaster from the studio? thanks

love,
VelourFog

Milhouse-"Sure! What's a big sister for!"

[Reply #304 on:]

Hey, yawanna big brother, eh ?   

Edited for the love of editing.

[Reply #305 on:]

I think Roberto does come back, not in a major way though. Small bits.

[Reply #306 on:]

Oh well, small bits is better than no bits.

[Reply #307 on:]

The petition is doing quite well, its got 40,000 so far and still more are coming!

[Reply #308 on:]

Otis - I was a board artist and I can tell you that Roberto does make a brief 4-5 minute appearance in at least one episode season 4...

[Reply #309 on:]

Thanx Guffman and welcome to PEEL, sorry to hear about the loss of your job. At least I know Roberto will be back at some point and that he won't be just a one episode wonder, I look foward to seeing it when it eventually airs.

[Reply #310 on:]

Man, not to burst a bubble, but Roberto...ugh :-)

We need more of the Mr. Pancucci!  "Fry!  Pizza going out..C'MON!"

(Just kidding, but Roberto still suck :-)

[Reply #311 on:]

Nah, just kidding, you're alright :-)

Hey Guffman, what's a board artist?  One of those dudes that draws the early production art that I'd love to buy but can't scrap up the money for? :-)

[Reply #312 on:]

Board artists take the script and, with the show's director, draw out the shot selection and acting. Yeah, its pretty early on in the production process, we were the first to get our "hiatus" notices...

[Reply #313 on:]

That's a damned shame...  in fact, everybody is really broke up over it.

As Bender once said, "Everybody's a jerk...  You, me, that jerk...Fox"

Any idea if the Star Trek episode was completed or was that one only the drawing board (so to speak)?

[Reply #314 on:]

I'd like to see Fox drop SPORTS for once!


daydream:
"This sunday!  Football will not be shown due to the Futurama playoffs!"
yay!

[Reply #315 on:]

One other thing I'd ask, if you don't mind...  Who exactly is responsible for the original character design...  Not just Fry or Bender (probably Groening himself), but all of the secondary screen fillers?  Is that the job of a board artist?

[Reply #316 on:]

The Star Trek episode was finished, as far as I know. Very funny animatic. As for the characters, they were done by a designer. However, sometimes they would get backed up and the board artist would have to wing it...

[Reply #317 on:]

Any Season 4 episodes that sound particually promising from what you've heard Guffman?

[Reply #318 on:]

Thanks for the quick replies, Guffman! 
   I know it's not much consolation, but I just wanted to congratulate you (and the entire team)...  From recently rewatching the first season episodes, production quality has been excellent all through the series...  Too bad that doesn't equate to a better future for the show...

[Reply #319 on:]

Is that you, Rodney??????