EVEN MORE Futurama news [Warning: SPOILERS]

[Reply #480 on:]

When I first heard news of the revival and issues signing the cast I was discouraged but with a side of optimism. This is great news. I wonder what percentage of fans already have their minds made up wrt the expected quality of the episodes?

I'm curious about the directions it'll go in.

*  edit  *

TOTP dance time.

[Reply #481 on:]

I am shocked. Shocked! Well, not that shocked.

Having the full cast is a huge relief.

[Reply #482 on:]

Great news that DiMaggio is back. My expectations are now raised from low to moderate, definitely not expecting prime Futurama but I'd settle for the quality of the second last season which was still pretty fun.

[Reply #483 on:]

Most certainly didn't expect that there'd ever be another season of Futurama :O

I share the general sentiments expressed here, yet I'm curious to see what stories will be told and when in the Futurama timeline they'll pick up.


Unbelievable it's been like 10 years since the last episodes were originally aired and just over 11 years since I registered here when I started messing around with computers and getting online and stuff.
I've moved on to watching Anime old and new, but sometimes I catch Futurama on TV, on the rare occasion I tune in. Even though I do own the old DVD sets <.<
Glad to see PEEL still being around, although a bit different interface-wise, but more importantly, the same people still being here

[Reply #484 on:]

John DiMaggio ended up taking the same offer as Billy West and Katey Sagal. But that's not really news. What is "news" is that they were planning on bringing in a new voice actor for Bender every episode. Reddit mused that idea quite a bit but I'm glad we're not getting that.

I am desperate for every scrap of information on new Futurama episodes. There is so much I am curious about.

[Reply #485 on:]

What is "news" is that they were planning on bringing in a new voice actor for Bender every episode.

Wow.  It's like these people just sit around in a room somewhere and try to come up with ideas for how they could make the show worse.

[Reply #486 on:]

Oof, for real. That’s some latter-day-Simpsons-level nonsense. I have to believe the producers were pretty confident DiMaggio would ultimately come back: Futurama has always been a labor of love for this cast and crew (which was part of DiMaggio’s point in holding out for more money; the execs were exploiting that love of the work to justify underpaying the actors).

Anyway, I have no great hopes for the new episodes, but I am curious to know which writers (if any) besides DXC will be returning to the show. The writing in the Comedy Central episodes was definitely hit-or-miss, so I’m almost wondering if bringing in a new (or mix of old and new) group of writers would actually be a good thing. A lot of the CC episodes felt indulgent and/or stale, and maybe those problems would be less likely with a dramatically different writing staff.

[Reply #487 on:]

Episode titles for the first 10 episodes of the revival, as per the Entertainment Identifier Registry (EIDR): https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/9C54-B9A7-2BB9-C308-5498-B (Edit: to see the titles you need to click on the "Relationships" button at the top)

11.1 The Impossible Stream
11.2 Rage Against The Vaccine
11.3 Zapp Gets Cancelled
11.4 The Prince And The Product
11.5 Related To Items You've Viewed
11.6 Children Of A Lesser Bog
11.7 How The West Was 1010001
11.8 I Know What You Did Last Xmas
11.9 Parasites Regained
11.10 All The Way Down

[Reply #488 on:]

Interesting if true!

I’m trying to stay positive about the revival, but some of those titles are pretty cringeworthy. (“Zapp Gets Cancelled,” in particular, sounds like it has the potential to be some kind of weird culture-war, reactionary nonsense.) If I can wildly speculate for a moment, though, I wonder if “Children of a Lesser Bog” is a follow-up to “Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch” about Kif and Leela’s now-hatched progeny. “Parasites Regained” also sounds sequel-y, though I can’t say I’m especially excited by the prospect.

[Reply #489 on:]

I don't know, maybe there are some Leela fans still looking for an opportunity for her to redeem herself after "Parasites Lost".

What is a testament to the 1990s Simpsons is how timeless the episodes feel.  The first four seasons of Futurama has that feel, even if some few references feel a bit dated today.  The first revival seemed too focused on current events, and thus - ironically - they feel more dated today than the original four seasons.  Based on these titles alone, it would seem the writers are continuing down the same path.

[Reply #490 on:]

Hey, does anybody have Bender bodypillow?

[Reply #491 on:]

You're in the marked for one?

[Reply #492 on:]

What is a testament to the 1990s Simpsons is how timeless the episodes feel.  The first four seasons of Futurama has that feel, even if some few references feel a bit dated today.  The first revival seemed too focused on current events, and thus - ironically - they feel more dated today than the original four seasons.  Based on these titles alone, it would seem the writers are continuing down the same path.

I agree with your basic point about the zeitgeist-y quality of the new-run episodes, but I do think some combination of stubbornness and nostalgia leads us to misremember the original run as “timeless.” There were definitely plenty of then-current pop culture references (Ally McBeal, Britney Spears, Napster), and while I continue to find those jokes charming (to varying degrees), they are essentially no better or different than the new-run references to Twitter and Facebook and Lady Gaga.

The real difference between the old and new runs is that the former aligns with (and perhaps even created some of) my pop cultural tastes and reference points, whereas the latter feels like the writers are chasing whatever the new, fresh, or “cool” thing is just for the hell of it. Also—and this is definitely my old-person curmudgeonliness talking—I think our pop culture has become so dumb and degraded over the past twenty years that I really don’t want my sci-fi cartoons (ostensibly set a millennium hence) reflecting any part of it. I know the show was conceived as a satire of science-fiction tropes and perhaps pop culture in general, but to me its strength lies in its interesting characters and its genuine heart (with occasionally dark or bleak turns), both elements that were sorely lacking in the new run.

TL;DR: Basically, I think the show aged because the writers aged, and rather than keeping the pop culture references in their middle-aged white-dude wheelhouse (to sometimes corny, but generally not cringeworthy, results), they turned into everyone’s embarrassing dad or uncle who just wants to Relate to the Young Folks.

[Reply #493 on:]

I have no doubt that, rather than learning from their mistakes, the writers will instead choose to double down on them and we'll get more of the same.  Then, when these episodes don't do well, they may briefly have a Principal Skinner moment where they wonder if they're out of touch, before deciding that no, it's the viewers who are wrong.

[Reply #494 on:]

What is a testament to the 1990s Simpsons is how timeless the episodes feel.  The first four seasons of Futurama has that feel, even if some few references feel a bit dated today.  The first revival seemed too focused on current events, and thus - ironically - they feel more dated today than the original four seasons.  Based on these titles alone, it would seem the writers are continuing down the same path.

I agree with your basic point about the zeitgeist-y quality of the new-run episodes, but I do think some combination of stubbornness and nostalgia leads us to misremember the original run as “timeless.” There were definitely plenty of then-current pop culture references (Ally McBeal, Britney Spears, Napster), and while I continue to find those jokes charming (to varying degrees), they are essentially no better or different than the new-run references to Twitter and Facebook and Lady Gaga.

While I have little doubt of my own nostalgia bias, (I hear there are actually people who like new Star Trek!) I should have emphasised the clear pop culture references in classic Futurama (some of which age particularly worse than others, Lucy Liu).  It's perfectly OK for a show to be a product of its era.  Indeed, I would be sort of bothered if Futurama didn't feel like a show from the turn of the century.

But a show can be both timeless and a period piece at the same time.  Perhaps less revered around here, but Yes, Minister is an excellent example of this.  The show obviously takes place in the 1980s, but much of its humour and jokes can be applied today.

[Reply #495 on:]

At least some of the 20th-century pop culture references in the original run made sense, since Fry is from the 20th century.  It made less sense for the other characters to know or care about pop culture from a thousand years ago.  The 21st-century pop culture references in the Crazy Central episodes make just as little sense for the other characters, but they should be completely incomprehensible to Fry.  He spent the entire 21st century cryogenically frozen, so he should remain blissfully unaware of such things.

Anyway, I still don't think the pop culture references are what's wrong with the Crazy Central episodes, or at least not the main thing that's wrong with them.  They might be bad, but those episodes would still be bad even without them.

[Reply #496 on:]

I like Enterprise.

[Reply #497 on:]

I tried to watch it.  It wasn't terrible; it just wasn't really Star Trek, you know?

[Reply #498 on:]

I think Enterprise felt more like TOS than TNG, tbh.  Maybe you're a VOY fan?

[Reply #499 on:]

The only part of Voyager that I liked was Robert Picardo as the holographic doctor.

We do have a Star Trek thread if you'd like to continue this conversation...

[Reply #500 on:]

I'll place a small bet that "How The West Was 1010001" is a DXC episode

[Reply #501 on:]

How the West was 81?  That's a heck of a pun.

[Reply #502 on:]

Did you know that 81,649 contains all of the squares of the integers between 1 and 9, except 5 and 6?

and one cube.....

[Reply #503 on:]

Holy shit Futurama is coming back!!!

[Reply #504 on:]

So, I heard (or dreamt, but same thing, right?) that one of the new episodes was going to be about Fry and Leela meeting their daughter from the future.  I just want to remind everyone that I had that idea first, and if they do use that idea in an episode, they owe me royalties.  In fact, you all owe me royalties if you watch it.

[Reply #505 on:]

According to DXC, Coolio recorded new lines and tracks for Kwanzaa Bot in the new Futurama revival. The episode where Kwanzaa Bot returns will be dedicated to Coolio, and feature him rapping the credits.

Source: https://www.tmz.com/2022/09/29/coolio-return-kwanzaabot-futurama-season/

[Reply #506 on:]

Another batch of titles, this time for the first seven episodes of season 12 (again from the Entertainment Identifier Registry):

12.1 The One Amigo
12.2 Quids Game
12.3 The Temp
12.4 Beauty and the Bug
12.5 One is Silicon
12.6 Attack of the Clothes
12.7 Planet Espresso
12.8 TBD
12.9 TBD
12.10 TBD

[Reply #507 on:]

Ah well, at least those titles fill me with less immediate dread than the previously leaked S11 titles. Progress!

[Reply #508 on:]

Now we have all the titles for season 12!

12.1 The One Amigo
12.2 Quids Game
12.3 The Temp
12.4 Beauty And The Bug
12.5 One Is Silicon and The Other Gold
12.6 Attack Of The Clothes
12.7 Planet Espresso
12.8 Cuteness Overlord
12.9 The Futurama Mystery Liberry
12.10 Otherwise

[Reply #509 on:]

Otherwise sounds like another time travel story. Or at the very least, taking a look into a future where something seemingly-minor was changed in the past.

A for-want-of-a-nail type story.

[Reply #510 on:]

“Planet Espresso” reminds me (for no real reason) of “Cafe Disaffecto,” which is the title of a Daria episode and makes me long for an episode of Futurama set in a ‘90s-style coffee joint.

Something I’m wondering about the new season, as it draws (presumably) nigh: Will the full batch of 10 episodes be released all at once, or will a new episode premiere every week? I’ve never watched a Hulu-exclusive original series, so I’m not sure if they tend to dump all the content in a single go to encourage a quick binge or if they parcel things out on a weekly basis like the olden days. My preference is for the latter, but I truly have no idea what to expect in terms of release schedule.

[Reply #511 on:]

Agreed re: an episode that's a riff on 90s coffee shop comedy. With a light touch it would work.

Makes me think of the episode Fry Am The Egg Man, with the Scottish bar. It was broad humour but still funny (for me, at least).

[Reply #512 on:]

I recall quite enjoying both “Fry Am the Egg Man” and “31st Century Fox” precisely because they were partially set in down-to-earth (as in “Earth-like”) locales and were quite atmospheric. (“The Honking” and “Spanish Fry” would be similar examples from the old run.) They weren’t brilliant episodes by any means, but they did not make me actively hate the show or myself. Honestly if even half of the new episodes can live up to the average-est episodes of seasons six and seven, I’ll be happy.

[Reply #513 on:]

Otherwise sounds like another time travel story. Or at the very least, taking a look into a future where something seemingly-minor was changed in the past.

A for-want-of-a-nail type story.

Yeah... I am not particularly excited for new episodes, but it sounds like this is probably the title with the most promise.

[Reply #514 on:]

I'm super excited about new episodes.

People cast a lot of shade on the Comedy Central seasons but I like them well enough. Are they as great as the original 4 seasons? Maybe not. But I'd rather have them than not have them.

I watched 6ACV17 through 6ACV20 last night and had a great evening. Just hearing the theme tune puts me in a happier place and having 20 new episodes on the near horizon has me pumped. Maybe not as frothingly excited as I was twenty-odd years ago while waiting for someone to encode and upload that week's episode, but I'll be excited enough to put time and money aside for new material. I love this show and I think it has mileage left yet.

[Reply #515 on:]

I'd rather have them than not have them.

As much as I loathe a small number of episodes, I agree with this. TLPJF was worth having a handful of dross in exchange for. Meanwhile and Overclockwise were worth the mishandling of their respective plotlines before they came together.

It's just a shame that for every really good episode, we seem to have had one or two mediocre offerings with a good moment or line, and one or two absolute used diapers.

From the secondary run, at least. The original four seasons were a lot more consistent, and the main thing I'm hoping for is consistency. Either let it be shit right the way through, and I can abandon it like I did The Simpsons after the twelfth season or so, or let it be amazing in every moment of every episode so that I can gradually temper the giddy high with the inevitable decline that will follow as another season then gets commissioned and is thoroughly run into the ground by the network overlords.

It'll be a form of closure that we never got initially, halfway had with every last-ever-episode so far, and ultimately are still waiting for.

[Reply #516 on:]

Every renew is worse than the last. My bet it will be worse than the CC run. The movies kinda killed Futurama for me.

[Reply #517 on:]

one or two absolute used diapers.

Would you mind giving an example or two of these diapers, and maybe what you don't like about them? I'd be interested to understand your thoughts.

Reading through various people's comments in this, and other, threads, I'm clearly not as analytical or critical as some other folk here. People talking about colour palettes, animation styles and even being able to recognise Cohen or Keeler episodes by their style, all of this goes way over my head. I just don't overthink entertainment like that, so I suspect that I'm blissfully ignorant of the type of things that put people off the more-recent runs.

I also think the original 4 seasons had some bum episodes. Mars University, A Leela of Her Own, and That's Lobstertainment are stand-out duds, in my mind. I'm also not overly keen on A Biclops Made For Two, but that's mostly because I used to watch Married With Children as a kid and the near carbon-copy format was a bit too jarring - in many ways it's a very clever episode, but it never sat well in my brain (weirdly, this wasn't a problem with Where No Fan Has Gone Before). I'll still watch these episodes as part of a run, but If I'm cherry-picking episodes to watch, I'll avoid them. I don't think I _hate_ any episode (I try and reserve that for politicians and oil companies, there days).

[Reply #518 on:]

The writers for the first 10 episodes of Season 8.

https://directories.wga.org/project/1239816/futurama-2023-s8/

The impossible Stream - Patric M. Verrone
Children of a Lesser Bog - Eric Horsted
How the West Was 1010001 - Nona di Spargement
Parasites Regained - Maiya Williams
Related to Items You've Viewed - David A. Goodman
I Know What You Did Next Xmas - Ariel Ladensohn
Rage Against the Vaccine - Cody Ziglar
Zapp Gets Cancelled - Shirin Najafi
The Prince and the Product - Ari John Kaplan & Eric Kaplan
All the Way Down - David X. Cohen

A few new writers with pretty much no other TV credits. Hopefully the new blood is a positive thing for this Season. Happy to see Eric Kaplan back after his absence from the CC era, likewise for David A. Goodman.

[Reply #519 on:]

Please, no more 21^st Century culture/current events crap. Please?