Is there still hope?

[Reply #80 on:]

I used to think people were crazy for saying Futurama is better than Family Guy.  Now, I love them equally (although Futurama is in a slight lead becuase I haven't seen all the eps yet).

Anyhow, if sales are big enough and the bridges aren't burned too badly, we very well may see it return. No one knows. Wait and see (in the meantime, I will speculate with all of you).

[Reply #81 on:]

Here's what Fox TV president Gary Newman (who I guess has given up on music) said about Family Guy's return:

"In no way should anyone think this is a template for the future....  A successful DVD life does not justify production costs.  What it does suggest is those of us on the supplier side of the business have to be open to unique shows and situations."

He doesn't say anything about Futurama, but he'd be the one to know.  But what's that about "unique shows and situations?"  Maybe that sounded better than "shows we canceled but later brought back when we realized they could make us money."

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/gofuton.cgi?action=newswire&id=6479

[Reply #82 on:]

 

Originally posted by Unknown:
I would have thought that FOX would have given it enough time to get to 100 episodes so that it could be syndicated, and thus make them some money.

That 100 episodes is a myth.  Shows have been sold into syndication with far fewer episodes.

@Jackson - That report doesn't sound good for Futurama.

[Reply #83 on:]

I cant believe it, they still havnt revealed the original article source.

[Reply #84 on:]

It's been about a week, so I'm not expecting that poster to come back.  It is odd that no one else has seen this article, but it didn't seem to be an obvious lie.

[Reply #85 on:]

Is it possible that he read this Wired article and took it way out of context?

[Reply #86 on:]

I don't think so, because this person said the article was more about Fox than Cartoon Network, and that it had information about The Simpsons in syndication.  I've been unable to find anything like it, but if there's anything to the story we might hear about it from other sources.

[Reply #87 on:]

Well that quote from the Fox Prez does give a glimmer of hope at least because you still get the impression they could possibly be open to reconsideration. The fact that there was that huge online petition could help push them towards considering it.

[Reply #88 on:]

I hope you guys don't mean me.  I've tried to email the people that distrubute Futurama on DVD.  And asked them if they could tell me how many copies the have sold.  But they have not mailed me back yet.  So here's the email.  Foxmovies@fox.com
Everyone should ask the same thimg.  And maybe they will be overwhelmed with the same question they would have to answer.

Shockwave04

Futurama's not dead yet!!!

[Reply #89 on:]

We were talking about the person who posted on the Adult Swim board, the one you mentioned in the first post of this thread.

[Reply #90 on:]

 

Originally posted by PCC Fred:
  That 100 episodes is a myth.  Shows have been sold into syndication with far fewer episodes.
.

Well, my impression is that they usually aim for around 100 episodes first (with the 90 or even 80 range I guess being close enough), with exceptions being made for some shows that don't go that long.

But no, otherwise 100 episodes is more or less the benchmark.

[Reply #91 on:]

And now due to Matt Groening appearing in the Simpsons about being the famous Futurama inveentor thatm ight be a bit more hope.    ?

[Reply #92 on:]

/

[Reply #93 on:]

I've seen the article in Wired and it definatly seems to suggest that new episodes are on the way for both Futurama and Family Guy. But since I have not heard this anywhere else, I'm assuming for now that they just got confused about which shows were doing new episodes. However I did E-mail wired to see if they can shed any light on the subject, if they give me any info I'll make sure to post it.

[Reply #94 on:]

Hey if you remenber the email  I would like the do the same.  the more people do it the more likley they will answer.

Shockwave04

Futurama's not dead yet!!!

[Reply #95 on:]

i remember writing hate e-mail to fox for cancelling futurama and family guy. return of futurama would be great, as long as they dont screw it up like ren and stimpy (even though i never really liked r&s).
i heard new episodes of family guy gonna be on early 2005, i think.

sorry to get off topic.

[Reply #96 on:]

 

Originally posted by PCC Fred:
  That 100 episodes is a myth.  Shows have been sold into syndication with far fewer episodes.

@Jackson - That report doesn't sound good for Futurama.

Gandalf: "There never was much hope ... just a fools hope."

100 episodes is not a hard 'n fast law, but if you plan to syndicate your show it's wise to reach that number. Makes it that much easier to sell.

[Reply #97 on:]

For those not in the know, what does syndication involve?

[Reply #98 on:]

Selling the right to air a tv-show to other networks. For instance Cartoon Network paid FOX a bunch of money for the right to show Futurama the next 5 years, meaning Futurama now air on CN in syndication.

The more episodes, the more money you can get in a syndication deal, because it will allow the buyer to cycle the episodes without too much repetition. Offcourse popularity and quality also play a significant role. This is incidently also the main reason why region 1 is behind region 2 on the DVD's.

[Reply #99 on:]

Ah, gotcha.

Thanks muchly.

[Reply #100 on:]

 

Originally posted by Teral:
Selling the right to air a tv-show to other networks. For instance Cartoon Network paid FOX a bunch of money for the right to show Futurama the next 5 years, meaning Futurama now air on CN in syndication.

And you just blew a hole in your earlier argument about the "100 episodes" claim.  Futurama has 72 episodes, Family Guy less than that, yet they both made it to syndication.  And the word is that Enterprise may go to syndication with just three seasons, or 76 episodes.

Okay, more episodes will mean better sales, but what I said earlier was right - it's not absolutely neccessary for you to have 100 episodes before you syndicate a show.

[Reply #101 on:]

I never said it was a requirement, just that 100 episodes would make your task that much easier. It's a rule-of-thumb, not an ammendment to the Constitution.

[Reply #102 on:]

 

Originally posted by Unknown:
I would have thought that FOX would have given it enough time to get to 100 episodes so that it could be syndicated, and thus make them some money.

@Teral - this was the post I originally repsonded to.  Unknown makes it sound like a show can't be syndicated unless it has 100 episodes.

 

PCC Fred's reply:
That 100 episodes is a myth.  Shows have been sold into syndication with far fewer episodes.

100 episodes may help boost sales, but I think I proved my point that it's not a neccessity.

Incidentally, my last post before this one was the thread's 100th reply.  Does this mean I can now syndicate this thread on PCC Text of the MASH message board? 

[Reply #103 on:]

 

Hey if you remenber the email I would like the do the same. the more people do it the more likley they will answer.
Shockwave04

Futurama's not dead yet!!!

editor@wiredmag.com

[Reply #104 on:]

The original comment I made about 100 episodes being necessary for syndication was meant to be a generalization, not a hard and fast rule without exceptions.  Perhaps I should have made that clearer.

[Reply #105 on:]

A distinction that needs to be made: cable syndication runs on a different playing field then local/station syndication, and thus the same rules don't always apply.  Although some aim for 100+ episode shows, in general I think cable channels just look for whatever the audience of these channels would like.  For instance, Cartoon Network figured that fans of adult animation probably like Futurama and Family Guy, and they were right.  I didn't matter that there were less then 100 shows of each, although it did probably help that they were both cancelled series that were not already running in syndication anymore, and that they could probably be acquired somewhat cheaply (compared to other programs) based on the short length.

However, with LOCAL (as in the stations that play free network shows) syndication, they usually want around 100 episodes.

[Reply #106 on:]

The politics of television...

[Reply #107 on:]

Thanx E The B

Shockwave04

Futurama's not dead yet!!!

[Reply #108 on:]

I really wish there was hope. but chances are it is dead. FOR GOOD.

[Reply #109 on:]

i dont understand how someone can say its dead so easily, you have heard about family guy's return, so there could be a possibility

[Reply #110 on:]

Yeah AquaSka is right. When they stopped making Family Guy a while back, I wuz heartbroken and when the DVDs came out i jumped at the chance to go and buy them. And look what happened to them: a minimum of 22 new episodes with FOX or C.N.

DREAMS CAN COME TRUE!

[Reply #111 on:]

You know, I was skeptical on Futurama's return, but after this thread, who knows, it may have a shot after all. All we have to do is show up at FOX headquarters with empty glass bottles and semen-filled super soakers and maybe we'll get our wishes.

[Reply #112 on:]

Psst! I'll meet you at Fox HQ at 6:30

P.S Bring Super Soakers!

[Reply #113 on:]

Sorry, I've got work from 1-10, maybe another day.

[Reply #114 on:]

It will be back.. Believe me..

[Reply #115 on:]

And if it's not, we can just use TheLampIncident's idea. Welcome, Lucky Clover. Enjoy it here.

[Reply #116 on:]

 

Originally posted by PCC Fred:
Family Guy's resurrection is definitely a step in the right direction.  It at least shows that FOX are willing to reconsider their decisions under the right circumstances.   

I think these apply:

7) Always keep your ears open.
9) Instinct plus opportunity equals profit.
57) Good customers are a rare as latinum - treasure  them.

 

[Reply #117 on:]

(It's good to be here) Well.. I guess we all have our hope.. I mean it is a little depressing that there will be no more Leela, Fry, Bender, Nibbler, Zoidberg, Professor, Amy, and even Hermes.. *Sigh*

[Reply #118 on:]

Yea, i dont think i would ever get over it if Futurama faded away into nothingness. I cant remember a life before March 1999.

At least we'll always have the Simpsons......
*Breaks down and cries loudly in hands*

[Reply #119 on:]

i hope fururama does not go to fox they do not deserve such a great show