EVEN MORE Futurama news [Warning: SPOILERS]

[Reply #640 on:]

to add to the writing credits list - Season 9, episode 10 (the finale) was written by Ken Keeler

[Reply #641 on:]

I was watching the livestream of the NYCC Futurama panel while doing chores so I was not paying too much attention, but here's a list of the most important things they said or teased about the next 10 episodes.

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• In one episode (The One Amigo?) Bender visits his hometown in Mexico and we meet a new relative.
• There is a Professor/Hermes team-up episode.
• Another is directed by Crystal Chesney-Thompson and it's a Fry episode that Claudia Katz described as "sweet"; DXC said it was hard to animate and sound-engineer this particular episode because of a scene with 37 characters moving and talking at the same time.
• DXC said All The Way Down was originally meant to be the premiere, but then they realised it worked better as a season finale.
• During the Q&A somebody asked about any upcoming references to the time Fry and Leela spent together while the universe was frozen in Meanwhile, DXC said "Hard yes" and that's going to come up in the new (series?) finale...

[Reply #642 on:]

Hoping someone uploads that panel soon.

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The Fry episode is apparently about aliens letting him relieve his 8th birthday party.

[Reply #643 on:]

Interesting... I start to think that Fry's episode is Quids Game...Because, you see - "The Kids Game".

[Reply #644 on:]

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In one episode (The One Amigo?) Bender visits his hometown in Mexico and we meet a new relative.

Huh, we were fairly on the money there. I'm up for that, though.

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There is a Professor/Hermes team-up episode.

Keeping up the odd character pairings formula. I'm all for it.

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Another is directed by Crystal Chesney-Thompson and it's a Fry episode that Claudia Katz described as "sweet"; DXC said it was hard to animate and sound-engineer this particular episode because of a scene with 37 characters moving and talking at the same time.

I may be wrong, but this sounds very interesting and potentially super sci-fi. Could just be like when everyone went on a date with Yivo at the same time, though.

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DXC said All The Way Down was originally meant to be the premiere, but then they realised it worked better as a season finale.

Hmm. I think it would benefited them well to open with such a bang, but then we'd need at least one more outstanding episode so the season didn't end on a bum note. Plus, the whole tying into "Meanwhile" thing could have been a hindrance to it.

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During the Q&A somebody asked about any upcoming references to the time Fry and Leela spent together while the universe was frozen in Meanwhile, DXC said "Hard yes" and that's going to come up in the new (series?) finale...

No surprise here. I'm anticipating a full-on Fry/Leela romance and, likely, more of a direct sequel to that episode than "The Impossible Stream". I can see it opening with lots of "Remember how we were going to get married before all that stuff happened, Leela", "Yeah, but I feel like the moment passed" type stuff, causing one of them (most likely Fry but hopefully Leela) to end up exploring alternate realities to see if they should get married or not. I suspect it'll involve something a bit more epic and space-opera than just their relationship.

[Reply #645 on:]

Hoping someone uploads that panel soon.

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The Fry episode is apparently about aliens letting him relieve his 8th birthday party.

This also sounds great and potentially like a knockout episode with a lot of emotional depth. Overall, I'm way more excited for season 9 than I think I was for 8.

[Reply #646 on:]

Interesting... I start to think that Fry's episode is Quids Game...Because, you see - "The Kids Game".

Good thinking. The actual "squid game" in Squid Game is a kids' game, and there were other kids' games featured throughout.

[Reply #647 on:]

Thanks...

Anyway, I liked the panel but imho the one awkward moment was when one woman asked them if they are going to have again grand arcs and continuity in the style of original episodes and they, kinda looking embarrassed said yes and recalled how they gave Amy and Kif kids which kinda pales in comparison, at least at the moment.

[Reply #648 on:]

While we wait for the panel (and the teaser!) to surface online, another spoiler from a redditor:

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apparently they also said Emilia Clarke (who voiced Marianne) will be back.

[Reply #649 on:]

I knew it! (But wasn't necessarily expecting it next season).

[Reply #650 on:]

Final two episode credits:

The Futurama Mystery Liberry - David X. Cohen, Jeanette Lim, and Patric M. Verrone

Otherwise - Nona di Spargement

Keeler using a pseudonym again. Odd.

[Reply #651 on:]

Final two episode credits:

The Futurama Mystery Liberry - David X. Cohen, Jeanette Lim, and Patric M. Verrone

Otherwise - Nona di Spargement

Keeler using a pseudonym again. Odd.

Now, I feel a little better about The Futurama Mystery Liberry again.
EDIT: Couldn´t the second writing credit mean they wanted to emphasize that finale is highly collective creation this time?

[Reply #652 on:]

You know what guys?  I'm actually pretty excited after reading all this.  These premises have a lot more potential to be funny and memorable then...Fry binge watches a bunch of tv shows, Covid is still a thing and the crew are all Hot Wheels characters.   I feel much more optimistic about the future of the show after reading these.

[Reply #653 on:]

I wait with baited breath for this second batch of episodes. What you all have shared feels very old-school, and potentially very promising. While I won't hole my breath, I'll await with cautious optimism.

While we wait, hopefully we'll get teased here and there to tide us over.

[Reply #654 on:]

Final two episode credits:

The Futurama Mystery Liberry - David X. Cohen, Jeanette Lim, and Patric M. Verrone

Interesting. Three credited writers is definitely a good sign. These tend to feel more tired when it's just one writer handling all three (which was essentially the case on "Prince and the Product" -- yes there were two writers, but it seemed like a writer team rather than they handled different segments each).

Also, I wonder if I should read anything into David X. Cohen's involvement when this episode is almost certainly set to be the (potentially canon) return of the brain spawn. Probably not.

Otherwise - Nona di Spargement

Keeler using a pseudonym again. Odd.

This is fascinating as it throws basically every theory we had about the credits on "How the West Was 1010001" out the window. He must have a legal reason he can't be officially involved with Futurama as a whole right now, but who knows why.

[Reply #655 on:]

I'm almost certain we'll never know the true reason for Keeler's use of a pseudonym for the Hulu episodes, but my head-canon is that he's just so indebted to/fond of the Futurama crew that he overcame his disgust for the show itself (which disgust I think is evident in some of his remarks on commentary tracks post-BBS) to pen a couple episodes.

I say all this as someone who loves Keeler's work, and is thoroughly charmed by his crotchety-old-man persona. I honestly think he's the only guy affiliated with the show who is clear-headed about its weaknesses and flaws, and thus has one of the more fraught/ambivalent relationships toward it. He's like Futurama's version of a John Swartzwelder: kind of a crank, kind of a recluse, but so thoroughly plugged in to what makes the show work that he can't help but write for it (even if those individual efforts seem always to fall short of his high expectations).

[Reply #656 on:]

Speaking of comments, I´m curious what will people report about DVD commentaries for the recently concluded season.

[Reply #657 on:]

I'm almost certain we'll never know the true reason for Keeler's use of a pseudonym for the Hulu episodes, but my head-canon is that he's just so indebted to/fond of the Futurama crew that he overcame his disgust for the show itself (which disgust I think is evident in some of his remarks on commentary tracks post-BBS) to pen a couple episodes.

OK, Gorky, you´ve  raised my curiosity. What did he talk about, for example, can you tell me, please?

[Reply #658 on:]

I haven’t listened to the commentaries in a good six or seven years, but as I recall Ken Keeler was not over-effusive in his assessments of the show generally (and his own contributions specifically). The Infosphere’s entry on the “Meanwhile” commentary provides a list Keeler asked to be read on the track in his absence; I think the tone there perfectly encapsulates how warmly he felt for the crew and how critical he was of the series (in oftentimes pedantic and/or self-critical ways, but still).

[Reply #659 on:]

Speaking of comments, I´m curious what will people report about DVD commentaries for the recently concluded season.

If DVD's are made of the Hulu Seasons. There may still be a chance, the Animaniacs reboot had DVD releases for their first 2 Seasons, albeit no special features. Hopefully we get a little more insight/comments from the writers and actors on the current revival now that the strike is over.

[Reply #660 on:]

I haven’t listened to the commentaries in a good six or seven years, but as I recall Ken Keeler was not over-effusive in his assessments of the show generally (and his own contributions specifically). The Infosphere’s entry on the “Meanwhile” commentary provides a list Keeler asked to be read on the track in his absence; I think the tone there perfectly encapsulates how warmly he felt for the crew and how critical he was of the series (in oftentimes pedantic and/or self-critical ways, but still).

Thank you!

[Reply #661 on:]

Sadly, I'm not expecting a home media release for these new episodes at all. I hope that I'm wrong if for no other reason than I want my commentary fix.

I'm almost certain we'll never know the true reason for Keeler's use of a pseudonym for the Hulu episodes, but my head-canon is that he's just so indebted to/fond of the Futurama crew that he overcame his disgust for the show itself (which disgust I think is evident in some of his remarks on commentary tracks post-BBS) to pen a couple episodes.

I say all this as someone who loves Keeler's work, and is thoroughly charmed by his crotchety-old-man persona. I honestly think he's the only guy affiliated with the show who is clear-headed about its weaknesses and flaws, and thus has one of the more fraught/ambivalent relationships toward it. He's like Futurama's version of a John Swartzwelder: kind of a crank, kind of a recluse, but so thoroughly plugged in to what makes the show work that he can't help but write for it (even if those individual efforts seem always to fall short of his high expectations).

I don't think being a pedant or pointing out flaws means you dislike something. I never got the impression Keeler didn't think highly of the show.

I mean hell, I spend hours pointing out the show's flaws. It's also my favourite show of all time.

[Reply #662 on:]

For the love of God, I hope Marianne's return doesn't mean that "Beauty and the Bug" will be about Alkazar pretending he's Zoidberg.

[Reply #663 on:]

So... Hulu ordered two more seasons.
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/futurama-renewed-season-13-14-hulu-1235776322/

[Reply #664 on:]

Just saw this on Twitter and involuntarily shouted "fuck yes" while fist pumping.

Haven't had a reaction like that to something since Sonic the Hedgehog was revealed to be in Super Smash Bros Brawl...

So this means we're guaranteed a minimum of three more seasons of the show, taking it through 2026. Amazing news. Especially as I have a feeling they're really going to hit their stride with season 9. Season 8 felt like a bit of a warm up.

I'm really, really happy to hear that the show obviously performed well enough to justify a nice, early, double-season renewal too. My instincts were right for once. Hopefully things continue like this. I'd love the Hulu run to, at a minimum, end up being comparable to the other two (72 and 68 episodes respectively).

[Reply #665 on:]

Depending on how this next batch of episodes turns out, this is either really promising or really unfortunate news. If season 9 is an improvement over season 8, then I'll hold out hope that seasons 10 and 11 will continue that positive trajectory...but, if not, then whatever.

I think more Futurama in the world is a a net neutral—certainly not a bad thing, not necessarily a good (or, let's say, necessary) thing—but I'll continue to be cautiously optimistic about each new episode/season. If nothing else, I'll be curious to see who they tap to write these next twenty episodes, as the credits for these first twenty have been rather eclectic and lead me to suspect they're not really operating with a full-on writers' room (for better or worse).

[Reply #666 on:]

Looks like Disney is buying Hulu from Comcast.  Everything truly is Disney.

[Reply #667 on:]

Looks like Disney is buying Hulu from Comcast.  Everything truly is Disney.

Hooray, Elzar might cook for Thrawn.

[Reply #668 on:]

I just hope it wasn't renewed on the basis of a success that was perceived to come from aspects of the show that are more recent, which would presumably mean more of that side of things.

[Reply #669 on:]

I wonder if it's two more seasons, or another season once again split into two? I really wonder why they always do that, lol. Besides the inherent appeal of stretching out what content they've made, I guess.

I'm siding with Gorky here, my jaw dropped when I saw the Twitter post, but I'm... cautiously optimistic. I honestly wasn't sure we'd get another season of Hulurama after this one (based on how not especially popular it seemed online), but hey, I guess more people are watching than I had assumed. The big positive is that they'll now have even more time to fit back in to the world of Futurama, so that can only mean better episodes. I think the CC run got better as it went, so who says it won't be the same with Hulu.

It can't get worse than the ducks episode

[Reply #670 on:]

Looks like Disney is buying Hulu from Comcast.  Everything truly is Disney.

Hooray, Elzar might cook for Thrawn.

Resistance is futile; you will be assimilated.

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[Reply #671 on:]

It's absolutely wild that Futurama is going this strong, and has gone for this long. Not but two weeks ago, a family came into my workplace and a girl about the age I was when I began enjoying this series was wearing a Planet Express t-shirt. I didn't know whether to weep because she knew about this excellent show, or because I've gotten that old.

Both.

I mean- there are other shows that bridge generational gaps because they go on for so long. But who would've thought that Futurama would be one of them, y'know?

[Reply #672 on:]

I wonder if it's two more seasons, or another season once again split into two? I really wonder why they always do that, lol. Besides the inherent appeal of stretching out what content they've made, I guess.

Hulu doesn't split seasons in two, they order 10 episode production seasons. This year we got all 10 8acv episodes. Next year we'll get all 10 9acv. This new order is for 10acv & 11acv.

As for your question why Comedy Central did split it in two, as do some other streaming platforms with animated shows, it's so they don't have to pay any of the people working on the show a required seasonal raise. So Hulu did the right thing here.

[Reply #673 on:]

Welp, this is the first time I've seen this news and just reflexively went "ugh" lol. Oh well!

Hopefully this next run is better. I'm still willing to give it a shot but the recent season tried my patience quite a bit, especially with other things to watch at this point. The last episode was reasonably strong and if they can get more to that level I'll be happy enough, even though I'd probably still have some problems with it. It doesn't need to be perfect, but too many of the episodes this year didn't really make me laugh.

Also, Billy West seems to be the nicest guy in the world (certainly of this cast) so I feel bad saying anything negative about him, but they are really pushing it with him at this point. A lot of lines aren't working as well because the urgency in his voice just isn't there anymore. It's not his fault, but TV shows just aren't meant to last this long, even when animated. I hope they at least have a game plan for exiting before it gets to the point that Billy just can't do the voices anymore.

[Reply #674 on:]

Billy said recently that his voice was damaged by COVID-19.

[Reply #675 on:]

That's too bad. Hopefully he can heal eventually. If not, it's certainly not his fault. Shows just aren't meant to last this long in chronological years (even considering the many years "off" due to cancellation; time still marched on between runs) and most would tend to show their age by this point, including in the people making them.

[Reply #676 on:]

That's too bad. Hopefully he can heal eventually. If not, it's certainly not his fault. Shows just aren't meant to last this long in chronological years (even considering the many years "off" due to cancellation; time still marched on between runs) and most would tend to show their age by this point, including in the people making them.

Red Dwarf fans experience this much more visually. Perhaps Naylor should try the animation...

[Reply #677 on:]

With animation the process feels (and to some extent is) slower because the appearances of the characters don't physically age in front of you. But at the end of the day you're still dealing with aging actors (who are not immortal), aging writers who can lose their edge or whose personal sensibilities can change over time, changing cultural contexts and sensibilities surrounding the show, etc. It comes for some shows more quickly than others. But no show is simply not susceptible to it.

[Reply #678 on:]

Billy said recently that his voice was damaged by COVID-19.

I believe what he said was that he was still recovering from the effects of COVID when they started recording the new episodes.

Which would account for why he sounded so much better in "All the Way Down" than "The Impossible Stream". I suspect he'll be largely right as rain come season 9.

[Reply #679 on:]

The new season premieres on the 29th July!

Source.