When's Bender's Game coming to Comedy Central?

[on:]

Anyone know when Comedy Central is going to show Bender's Game? 

[Reply #1 on:]

http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_schedule/index.jhtml?seriesId=23961&forever=please

Comedy Central does have it on its schedule yet, so it remains unknown for now.  Unless someone else have some word on it.

[Reply #2 on:]

http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_schedule/index.jhtml?seriesId=23961&forever=please

Comedy Central does have it on its schedule yet, so it remains unknown for now.  Unless someone else have some word on it.

you mean does not have it on its schedule yet

[Reply #3 on:]

Comedy Central does have it on its schedule yet, so it remains unknown for now.  Unless someone else have some word on it.

You mean 'Unless someone else has some word on it'.

[Reply #4 on:]

Comedy Central does have it on its schedule yet, so it remains unknown for now.  Unless someone else have some word on it.

You mean 'Unless someone else has some word on it'.

Or do I...?

[Reply #5 on:]

I'm surprised it hasn't shown yet, even with the fourth movie out for some time now...

[Reply #6 on:]

Apparently, ITWGY is going to premiere on Comedy Central on April 26th at 9:00pm.  Does this mean they're skipping Bender's Game entirely, or did we all miss it somehow?

[Reply #7 on:]

Huh...that's weird, soylentOrange. According to Comedy Central's schedule for the 26th, they're doing a pseudo-marathon kind of thing: they're airing BBS from 1-3 and TBWaBB from 7-9; after that, they're premiering ItWGY. Which means no BG. I wonder if there's a particular reason that they're holding off on airing it. Maybe they recognize it for the dreck (by Futurama's standards, at least) that it is. Either that, or they think it can pull bigger ratings at another time (but I don't see the logic in that).

At any rate, they're probably premiering ItWGY so soon because it's the (possible) series finale. Since it'll be airing only two months after the DVD's release, chances are fewer people will have had the chance to purchase it--that might translate to bigger ratings.

(Or maybe I'm just talking out my ass. That's also a possibility.) 

[Reply #8 on:]

I wonder if there's a particular reason that they're holding off on airing it. Maybe they recognize it for the dreck (by Futurama's standards, at least) that it is.

If that was true then they wouldn't have shown off BWABB .

On Topic: That is weird. If they are going to marathon why wouldn't they show both BG and ITWGY? Alternatively, why not premiere BG before their new fantasy series? It would  make sense (and from the looks of it they will be of the same quality).

[Reply #9 on:]

A thought occurs.  What if they are not going to air BG at all?  What if there is some sort of announcement associated with the air date in question, which may explain the hasty move?

Incidentally, I took the liberty of updating the Infosphere's episode listing in broadcast order and it doesn't look pretty.

However, maybe we will know the reason around its air date.

[Reply #10 on:]

Thanks for the link, Svip. Any idea why CC is referring to each new movie as a "season"? I thought the idea was that the four movies would comprise a new, 16-episode season five (all the movies have 5ACV codes, right?). Bah--why is it that no network can treat this show with a modicum of respect for production order?

And you do mean to imply that there may be new episodes on the way, right? Because it'd be a pretty cruel, counter-productive thing to announce that there would be no new episodes.

[Reply #11 on:]

My assumption would be that CC thinks that the distance between the release of new film cuts is too long to count for an actual broadcast season, and thus labels as a minor season.

This obviously makes the whole counting in the head a lot harder.  If Futurama were renewed, the new production season would be 6, and the broadcast season would be 10.

What the puck?

And yes, I am trying to imply that, but I don't know.  It just seems weird to air what should be the season's (and possibly the show's) finale before the actual end of the available episodes, if there is no more interesting reason than that.

Edit:  In case anyone cares, here is the press release.

[Reply #12 on:]

Another strange thing about how Comedy Central airs the show. If you go to their Futurama schedule you'll notice that instead of assigning the show its production order code it uses the Original FOX Broadcast numbers.

My guess is because CC thinks that the casual Futurama fan remembers the OFB as the order of the show. But wouldn't the casual Futurama fan be the type who wouldn't remember the OFB? I'm a dedicated fan and even I don't know the OFB (though I remember the name of every episode and the production code associated with them).

Plus in the 5 years since release the DVDs have shown off the production order of the show. Also wouldn't it have been more work for CC to find the OFB order rather than use the one established by the DVDs? I don't know what they are thinking over there.

P.S. If Futurama doesn't get renewed It'll kind of suck that the last episode on T.V. will be the sub-par Benders Game.

[Reply #13 on:]

My assumption would be that CC thinks that the distance between the release of new film cuts is too long to count for an actual broadcast season, and thus labels as a minor season.

Because, as well all know, Fox always aired the show in such a way that there was very little distance between new episodes.

Nah, I'm just kiddin'. That's a reasonable explanation. Still, I refuse to refer to the movies as anything other than season five; it makes things so much easier for my brain.

And yes, I am trying to imply that, but I don't know.  It just seems weird to air what should be the season's (and possibly the show's) finale before the actual end of the available episodes, if there is no more interesting reason than that.

I like the way you think, sir.

Another strange thing about how Comedy Central airs the show. If you go to their Futurama schedule you'll notice that instead of assigning the show its production order code it uses the Original FOX Broadcast numbers.

I noticed that, too--strange stuff, indeed. Although I'm much more perturbed by the fact that CC airs the episodes in such a nonsensical order, often repeating one episode numerous times before it airs another episode even once.

P.S. If Futurama doesn't get renewed It'll kind of suck that the last episode on T.V. will be the sub-par Benders Game.

Eh, that doesn't bother me too much. If we never get new Futurama episodes, I'll always consider ItWGY the finale. I don't put much stock in the Four-Part Epics that Comedy Central chooses to air the movies as. Honestly, the only reason I watch the movies when CC re-airs them is for the slight, dorky thrill that comes from seeing new-ish Futurama on television. It does my heart proud, it does.

[Reply #14 on:]

I think the likely reason is that CC purchased the episodes from FOX.  Who more than likely have the episodes in stock as the original broadcast order.

In fact, it would probably be considered a violation of their contract if they obtained the episodes elsewhere.  However, CC is not obligated to the order the show ought to be broadcast in, as you can plainly see, but since the episodes have the broadcast order from FOX, it may make sense to them to air it in that order.

Trust me, I have seen Wikipedia's Futurama episode listing and the Infosphere's Futurama episode listing being rearranged to broadcast order numerous times, because people forget to read in the introduction that it is in production order.

The point is, a lot of people remember Futurama airing as a 5 season show, and was only confused by the order on the DVD.  I only know the broadcast order because I helped create the listing in that order on the Infosphere.

[Reply #15 on:]

Benders Game got copyrighted, maybe, and wasn't allowed to show on commercial television, or they were too scared of bad ratings from FOX.

[Reply #16 on:]

I wonder if there's a particular reason that they're holding off on airing it. Maybe they recognize it for the dreck (by Futurama's standards, at least) that it is.

If that was true then they wouldn't have shown off BWABB .

On Topic: That is weird. If they are going to marathon why wouldn't they show both BG and ITWGY? Alternatively, why not premiere BG before their new fantasy series? It would  make sense (and from the looks of it they will be of the same quality).

[bender] Interesting...... no wait the other thing tedious! [/bender]

[Reply #17 on:]

Just as I thought Comedy Central could not confuse me any more, they rise to the challenge.

Bravo, Comedy Central!  So, for the hell of it, I check their Futurama schedule again.

I scroll down to 26 April, and what do I see?  Bender's Game?  Not Into the Wild Green Yonder as in their press release?

In addition to that, Comedy Central has revised their position of airing it was 4 broadcast seasons, but rather as one.

So that is all very good.  I am still puzzled why they call this season, season 0.  Hm!

[Reply #18 on:]

Wow. Comedy Central is a master of scheduling things chronologically.

[Reply #19 on:]

Now I wonder when they are going to show off ITWGY.

[Reply #20 on:]

I still need to get Into The Wild Green Yonder on DVD! Argh!

[Reply #21 on:]

Wow so Comedy Central's press release was wrong! Errr.... possibly. Still we will find out for sure on the 26th April.

[Reply #22 on:]

I saw an ad on Comedy Central last night--it's definitely Bender's Game that's airing on the 26th. It makes me feel kind of bad for Into the Wild Green Yonder; I mean, if someone confused me with BG, I'd be mighty pissed.

[Reply #23 on:]

I don't quite understand the Bender's Game bashing, I mean sure, it's not great for the last half hoiur but before that it's pretty good and overall far better than Beast With A Billion Backs.

[Reply #24 on:]

Not broadcasting ITWGY a mere two months after it comes out on DVD is probably a good idea.

[Reply #25 on:]

upside_ur_head: One thing that leads to any of the films being bashed (ITWGY excluded) is that they are the possible last. We've all waited years for Futurama's return and if its less than great its more disappointing than if an episode wasn't very good.

Also, the movies are 88 minutes long. A slow part of an episode lasts at most a few minutes. A slow part of a movie lasts significantly longer (like say half a hour).

For the record, the only really good one is ITWGY. BBS was an overall B- (too slow in certain parts), The first half of BWABB is a B while the second half is a D- (it would have been F if it wasn't for the Pirates of the Caribbean Sequence), The First half of Benders Game teeters between C+ and B while the second half is a C-. ITWGY is perfect as can be.

[Reply #26 on:]

I actually think that BWABB was poor all th eway through even the begining was poor and felt too big a reset from BBS (except for the anomaly obviously).

[Reply #27 on:]

if someone confused me with BG, I'd be mighty pissed.

"Hey look! Here comes Futurama: Bender's Game... Wait, no it's Gorky"

And FistfulOAwesome: I bet if Futurama comes back for more episodes and there's ONE episode that's not that great people will start saying "OMFG!!!1111!!!!1 FUTURAMA'S NOT GOOD ANYMORE!!11!!11111 JUST LET IT DIIIIIE!!!!!!!1111111!!!1!" instead of "I didn't like this week's episode as much as last week's"

[Reply #28 on:]

Assuming FOX or CC orders at least 2 seasons- I'm pretty sure as long as it started strong (a tie-in episode that takes place after ITWGY that explains how they get home and are pardoned would work) people would accept that there would be good and bad (mostly good. This is Futurama).

Don't forget that no fan has to pay for TV episodes (ignoring the fact that strong DVD sales are what would have gotten us more TV episodes). A sub-par episode you saw for free is less likely to piss you off than a sub-par episode you paid for.

[Reply #29 on:]

According to Wikipedia, April 26 2009

[Reply #30 on:]

You know what I like about watching these episodes on TV? How considerate Comedy Central is for not playing the end credits of the previous episode over the opening credits of the proceeding episode, thus making it impossible to read the caption (which is pretty much the only new content there is to speak of). CC, I salute you.

[Reply #31 on:]

Oh, Gorky!  Just wait till it airs on Sky 2 in the UK... oh wait--

[Reply #32 on:]

It's showing tonight!  I've never seen it (didn't buy the DVD; silly me), and so far it's just like an episode...

Edit - It was good; very funny in parts.  Not consistently hilarious, but still, it was written with more wit than anything on TV nowadays...