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PEEL - The Futurama Message Board    Off Topic    It's got a TV!    Why is Family Guy selling so well? « previous next »
Author Topic: Why is Family Guy selling so well?  (Read 2123 times)
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Beamer

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #40 on: 01-22-2004 22:33 »
« Last Edit on: 01-22-2004 22:33 »

Family Guy is selling well because it has more mainstream appeal than Futurama. 'Nuff said.
newhook_1

Urban Legend
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« Reply #41 on: 01-22-2004 22:58 »

I agree. Futurama while it is a fantastic show, does not appeal to many because of the setting, more complicated storylines and often more highbrow sense of humor.
Ranadok

Starship Captain
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« Reply #42 on: 01-23-2004 13:40 »

That, and a lot of people automatically dismiss most sci-fi shows as being too nerdy for them (the fools!).
User_names_suck
Professor
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« Reply #43 on: 01-24-2004 09:53 »
« Last Edit on: 01-24-2004 09:53 »

Well even so Sci fi doesn't appeal to everyone,
In fact I'd could do without some of the sci fi action sequences in futurama.
especially the race scene in Teenage Mutant Leela Hurdles.
but I digrees.
Family guy appeals on more levels.
If futurama had more big memorable jokes not to do with sci fi it would have appealed  more
bender+fry

Professor
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« Reply #44 on: 01-25-2004 19:33 »

Futurama appeals to the more, sophisticated type of person. Family guy is for the regular, everyday person
User_names_suck
Professor
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« Reply #45 on: 01-25-2004 21:00 »

Yes thats it nerds keep reminding and convincing yourself of your 'superiority' and you might just be happy in life
Ranadok

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #46 on: 01-25-2004 23:46 »

I don't think that it's so much that Futurama is more intellectual or sophisticated(there's a difference between intellectual and nerdy), but that it being a nerdy, sci-fi cartoon turns many people away right away. 
User_names_suck
Professor
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« Reply #47 on: 01-26-2004 17:45 »
« Last Edit on: 01-26-2004 17:45 »

Thankyou nice to hear someone hear that doesn't make themselves out to be better because they watch "such an intellegent show"
planetcutie

Bending Unit
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« Reply #48 on: 01-27-2004 08:40 »

Almost coincidently, I wrote about this on my website a while back :

 http://rubycabernet.mysite.freeserve.com/self.htm

(Tip : Read the purple sidebar on the right, so as to avoid my diary   :) )
Beamer

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #49 on: 01-27-2004 08:49 »

I don't think Futurama being a sci-fi show has anything to do with it. As long as it's funny, people aren't going to care what other qualities the show possesses.

At the end of the day, the type of humour in Futurama is different from the type in Family Guy or The Simpsons - it doesn't appeal to the mainstream crowd.

Also, as good as it was - the first episode wasn't really that funny. I think people tuned into the pilot expecting non-stop uproarious humour, but they didn't realise that the whole point of Space Pilot 3000 was to set up the show (although it did have a few funny moments). In my opinion, the show didn't get REALLY funny until Season 2.

So, in short - the fact that it was science fiction had nothing to do with it. People expected too much from it, and they just didn't give it a chance when they realised it wasn't what they were expecting.
Ranadok

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #50 on: 01-27-2004 11:47 »
« Last Edit on: 01-27-2004 11:47 »

  I think that it being a sci-fi show did work against it. I know a lot of people that would automatically dismiss it just because it is sci-fi, without watching an episode to see if it is funny. ESPECIALLY if they have to put out money to buy the DVD to see it. Sad, I know.

   Family Guy, on the other hand, had more of a every-family appeal, with 2 parents, 3 kids and a dog (no aliens, mutants, or robots). Considering how popular The Simpsons is, it isn't surprising that people are willing to give a show that appears to be a similar format and style a chance (whether it is or isn't is not the issue, just that it appears to be).  So, they pick up the DVD or tune in on CN, and like what they see. They tell their friends, most likely comparing it to The Simpsons once again, and the cycle continues. DVD sales rise, the fanbase grows, Fox is greedy, the show gets renewed, and there is muchg rejoicing (yaay).

   Futurama, on the other other hand... Fans usually avoid comparing it to The Simpsons, and because that's what most people want and/or expect from it (being in the MG style), joined with the whole sci-fi prejudice... you still get a number of people buying the DVDs (as it is still a hilariously funny, quality show), but not in as high numbers as Family Guy.  The fanbase grows at a more... leisurely pace, the show remains cancelled, and newbies create fox-bashing threads for all of eternity.
User_names_suck
Professor
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« Reply #51 on: 01-27-2004 13:53 »

I think the sci fi action element would have put off more female viewers, as it could be dismissed as dumb action sequences, I mean surley kids would like the spaceships element so it more intresting visually than the simpsons so that part works both ways.

But the lack of humour or likeable characters worked against it at first, I know some people would disagree that they loved the charcters straightaway, but most normal people (no offence nerds0 wouldn't be intrested in the characters at first so it creates problems when you expected to care about them, it just makes it feel like a cheesy sentimental predictable cartoony sci fi show at first.
and by predictable cartoony stuff a perfect example is in fry and the slurm factory, bender strapped to a conveyor belt, and leela being slowly lowerd towards a harmful substance,
I saw the same dilemma in cartoons when I was a kid.
Gorky

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #52 on: 01-27-2004 18:09 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by newhook_1:
I agree. Futurama while it is a fantastic show, does not appeal to many because of the setting, more complicated storylines and often more highbrow sense of humor.

You make me feel so intelligent when you say that about the show. Uh, I just decided to post this for no raisin, so ignore it if you'd like.

newhook_1

Urban Legend
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« Reply #53 on: 01-29-2004 13:05 »

Well I'm going to give you a raisin anyway, just because I like the cut of your jib.

*Gives Gorky a raisin*
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