EVEN MORE Futurama news [Warning: SPOILERS]

[#80 :]

This isn't really news at all, but it's kind of important and cool... the new Futurama Comic (#73) is easily one of the best adventures the crew has ever had... in any medium.

It was written by Eric Rogers and I highly recommend everyone check it out.

I consider this news worthy b/c the comic companion series usually isn't worth mentioning.
But here, I feel, this issues story will be re-used if the show ever got resurrected back to life.. yet again.
Thus... almost newsworthy.

Also the next issue (#74) involves reality crossovers, the plot device being the what-if machine exploded.
That's probably what "Simpsorama" should have done instead, as it would have made more sense with respect to each shows reality. Again, not news.. but interesting and noteworthy.

[#81 :]

Hey MuchAdo, turns out Eric Rogers pitched the story of the issue to the show itself over and over again, but David X. Cohen never liked it enough to make it into an episode.

Source one & two.

I agree that #73 was really, really strong. If you don't read Futurama comics that often or at all, I'd say this one is worth picking up whilst you have the chance.

[#82 :]

That's cool to know. The concept sounds like it would have made a pretty cool episode. I'm amazed that David X. Cohen felt that an episode where Leela and Amy take up butterfly derby or an episode where Bender becomes a folk-singer (again) were more appealing than that.

Part of me wants to read it, but I haven't particularly enjoyed any issue of Futurama comics ever so I don't know if it's worth it.

[#83 :]

I saw the new issue of Futurama comics on the magazine rack at Booksamillion. I've been in that store a dozen times over the last four years and never noticed it before. I enjoyed the undead bot army and thought the drawings were really great in this issue. In some of the other comic issues I have the art is a bit hit or miss. There was one major typo in the comic though. Did anyone else notice this?

[#84 :]

Tell us more, turnip!

I didn't want to say anything earlier in case I was breaking some sort of embargo, but basically I worked on this.

Also, sorry to anybody who came to this post expecting news. Futurama is still very dead.

[#85 :]

Futurella... gone but not forgotten.

Who?

[#86 :]

This happened in San Francisco with Billy West, John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, Phil LaMarr and Lee Supercinski:



*edit*

A picture of the gang from Maurice's Facebook page:

[#87 :]

I'm not in the SF Bay Area anymore due to college shame I missed it
I went last year and met them

[#88 :]

Cool beans!  Some of the Futurama crew have come to the Emerald City Comicons in Seattle, but I really don't think that I could handle the physical and mental stress of the insane lines and crowds.

 

[#89 :]

I went to SDCC and stayed in line overnight for the Simpsons panel
Matt Greoning sat next to me during the family guy panel beacuse I had the question before him

2014 was a good year
I'm sure this was posted but Matt said that same week as SDCC the writers where going to discuss brining the show back

[#90 :]

Were they able to brine it back?

[#91 :]

Beamer, you're a snot

[#92 :]

It bugs me that american dad got cancelled and picked up again a few days after
Don't get me wrong I love american dad (my roomate is watching it) but I wish futurama would get the same luck
It's just that show that's really good but for some reason no network wants it

Also edit: FYNNY tumblr has posted that the funky futurama pop figures are Avalible for pre-order
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/hitlist.asp?theme=Futurama

[#93 :]

I wish futurama would get the same luck

The show got 4 dvd movies and two full 26-episode-long seasons following its cancellation. Granted, it wasn't as immediate as American Dad's renewal, though the practice of un-cancelling a tv show was far less common back in 2003 than it is now.

It's just that show that's really good but for some reason no network wants it

It all comes down to the numbers. Comedy Central actually treated the show quite well (especially in comparison to Fox), but they're a cable network - they just don't have the same budget as Fox. Futurama is an expensive show to make, and wasn't pulling good enough ratings to warrant how much money it was costing them. Simple tv economics - sad, but true.

Despite the show's loyal fanbase, the television landscape has changed significantly since the show first found success in reruns. With online streaming (and the increase in popularity for illegal downloads), live broadcasts just don't pull the same numbers anymore, let alone the fact that heavily seralised storytelling has become increasingly popular for tv shows in the past decade or so - Futurama just wasn't urgent or "must-see" viewing for a lot of people, regardless of how much they enjoyed the show.

Comedy Central gave us 52 bonus episodes of the series. That's more than a lot of shows get in their entire run. Sure, I'd like to see more adventures of the Planet Express crew as much as anyone here, but after the multiple chances this show got, its cancellation is hardly the travesty you make it out to be. Futurama defied all odds countless times and had a really good run overall - that's far more than most niche genre shows like it could ever hope for.

[#94 :]

I'm really grateful that CC brought it back, and yes, it did have a good run.  I've not yet given up all hope yet, though.

[#95 :]

Don't get me wrong I'm so greatful that CC gave it a chance and treated it so well, it is just a shame for the fanbase and of course the crew
I learned at sketchfest last year that they knew the show was cancelled in Febuary of 2013
Explaining the farewell picture we got at the animation studio

[#96 :]

I'm really grateful that CC brought it back, and yes, it did have a good run.  I've not yet given up all hope yet, though.

Given the overall decline in quality that the very last half-season evidenced, I really don't think it would be a good thing if Futurama came back onto the screen in any form except a one-off theatrical release (and even then, it'd have to be something that the team threw more of their asses into making than they did the last two or three seasons, or the previous direct-to-DVD movies).

It's over. They've told their story. Let the accumulated body of work stand whilst it still has legs on which to do so. Would you really be okay with Futurama going the same way as The Simpsons (ie: so far downhill that Sisyphus pities their climb back up)?

[#97 :]

I don't want it to come back either. It's had a respectable run and even though I enjoyed the newer season immensely, they were beginning to dip in quality. The last thing we want is Futurama becoming famous for going downhill, ala "Heroes".

Also, I don't want to have to update my cast picture. That's the main reason.

[#98 :]

Given the overall decline in quality that the very last half-season evidenced...

You know, if anything, I'd say the last half-season was a step-up from the first half of season 7. That said, I agree that season 7 was piss poor by the show's standards.

[#99 :]

I agree, season 7A was easily the show at its worst and most forgettable in my opinion. 7B had its stinkers as well, but it had enough solid episodes near the end that I felt the show managed to go out on a good note.

I honestly have no desire to see the show come back again and jeopardize that achievement. I have almost no faith that another run of episodes would be at all worth it.

[#100 :]

You people are all idiots.

(<medical crab>Don't hit me!</medical crab>)

[#101 :]

... it had enough solid episodes near the end that I felt the show managed to go out on a good note.

Y'know, I can't really argue with this. I might have been thinking of 7A when I wrote that. A lot of stuff's blurring together right now.

[#102 :]

I'm inclined to agree. I thought 6A was a real mixed bag, 6B was a big step up, 7A was a step down, and 7B was another big step up in terms of quality.

[#103 :]

- Regarding overall quality, I'd put 6B over 6A.
- Regardings individual, memorable highlights, 6A far over 6B ("Rebirth" containing the one of the classic sci fi themes "Machine that does not know it is one", TLPJF, "Prisoner of Benda" as whackyness highlight, TMAR as continuous, society changing episode).

[#104 :]

- Regarding overall quality, I'd put 6B over 6A.

Even though it includes an episode whose title seems to refer obliquely to a penis with unusual topology?

[#105 :]

"Futurama was a good series..a pity they did not make a parody on Moby Dick".
"But in season 6B, they..."
"A PITY THEY DID NOT MAKE A PARODY ON MOBY DICK!!!!"


See also:
"I liked Matrix. A pity they did not make any sequels".
"But they..."
"A PITY THEY DID NOT MAKE ANY SEQUELS!!!!"

[#106 :]

Heh. I thought Möbius Dick was one of the standouts of 6B.

I'd personally take 6A over 6B as well. Contrary!

[#107 :]

Heh. I thought Möbius Dick was one of the standouts of 6B.

It was one of the few that felt like it was made in the same spirit as the original run, even if Leela's characterisation was a little over-the-top. Which is my only real complaint with it, I suppose.

[#108 :]

I'm also a fan of 6A over 6B but I agree with the general consensus here that 6B was more consistently good. I just like those stand-out 6A episodes enough to make up for the bad ones.

[#109 :]

TLPJF and Prisoner of Benda still probably stand as my top two favorite post-cancellation episodes.

[#110 :]

I'd say 7B was probably the strongest run of the post-cancellation era, and definitely a positive note to end on.

6A has some of the show's all-time best episodes, but also some of its all-time worst (including the atrocious Attack of the Killer App, which I still maintain is the show's worst outing). It's just wildly inconsistent.

[#111 :]

I have nothing to add to this conversation, so I'll just nod and give a thumbs up.

I agree with those pointing out how wild 6A was. Definitely the most inconsistent batch of episodes in the show's history.

[#112 :]

I actually thought Attack f the Killer App wasn't the most horrendous thing ever; parts of it were the most horrendous thing ever, but the episode on the whole wasn't necessarily so; it also had some really neat animation which wasn't particularly possible in the original run.

[#113 :]

I enjoyed the credits, as they signified the nightmare was finally over.

[#114 :]

Futurama lining, neh?

[#115 :]

AOTKA had a few funny parts throughout so I can't say I detest it with every fibre of my being.

It's definitely not a great episode though.

[#116 :]

I still disagrea

[#117 :]

Agreed with UrL. I think AOTKA has a lot of detestable aspects to it, but it also has a lot of great jokes that hold up, and overall I think it's far more hated than it should be compared to episodes that came later. Just a theory, but I think part of why it might still be considered the worst by some is because it was one of the very first episodes of the new run with such bad elements, so the distinct change in quality from what came before was memorably noticeable especially for those who were concerned about the state of the show's writing since its return. Personally I think even within season 6A that Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences and the Holiday Spectacular are both considerably worse episodes.

After 6A, my least favorite episodes would, in no order, probably be (and I know people will disagree with some of these picks strongly) Overclockwise, The Butterjunk Effect, Naturama, and T.: The Terrestrial.

[#118 :]

I'm going to have to agree more with Beamer on this one. AOTKA was pretty damn awful. Perhaps even worse than TCW, which despite being terrible overall did have some legitimately awesome moments.

AOTKA spawned a horrendously overused image macro, and was genuinely un-engaging. Which is damn rare for Futurama.

[#119 :]

It is my personal opinion that The Cryonic Woman, while not a top-tier episode of the original run, is still better than 90% of the post-cancellation run and that you are crazy.

AOTKA spawned a horrendously overused image macro

Sure, but that doesn't change the fact that the line it was spawned from was legitimately funny in the episode. The same goes for the macro spawned from A Clockwork Origin.