Futurama Returning to Fox?! Could Be!!

[AerostarMonk]

Latest from the rumor mill, Fox may be mulling over bringing Futurama back to network television. The details can be found here (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/40159).

This has me somewhat excited and somewhat down at the same time. I hope that if this is true that both Fox and the Futurama crew bring their A-game to the table. Futurama's DVD movies leave much to be desired and Fox doesn't even know how to handle shows they care about.

What do you think?

Edit: I just realized I would have to turn in my geek badge if I didn't mention the interview with Billy West embededded in the page.

[warnerbroman]

I swear fox is like the girlfriend that dumps you and want to makeup

[mowub]

Thank god!!! Let's hope the writers can get the comedy and writing back to the same level of the first 72 episodes, and make up for those overall disappointing DTV movies. I don't want Futurama to suffer from the same fate as the new Family Guy seasons.

But if Futurama comes back, on FOX, will they have to cut down on all the random nude scenes the show is well-known for? I mean, ever since Janet Jackson, the network's been cutting down on those (for Simpsons and FG), and I'll be a little disappointed if I never see Leela or Amy's butt again... (weird statement)

[J. B. Warner]

Y'know, at first I wasn't sure if this was a good thing - after all, "Family Guy" got revived, and not only did it plummet in quality, but its premiere schedule got royally screwed up (though rumor has it that it's mostly due to Seth MacFarlane dragging his feet). The "Futurama" movies have been hit-or-miss - when they're good, they're really good (Bender's Big Score and Bender's Game), but when they're bad, they're really bad (The Beast With a Billion Backs). But maybe that's just because writing four feature-length stories presents more challenges than writing 16 episodic stories. A return to the series might be beneficial, since the writers would be back to doing what they do best.

I don't know, I have faith in the "Futurama" staff, but there's not enough for me to base my opinion on yet. If this really happens, I'll have to wait until the episodes air before I can pass judgement.

[RonDrakenfan17]

Yes I hope this happens, I love the show :D

[Peter Paltridge]

BUT it's going to come at a cost. The undeniable fact is that Beast with a Billion Backs killed Fry-Leela, one of the show's favorite arcs among fans.

"We can't play that card right away," said the writers. If that was the case, then they definitely shouldn't have led every single person to believe they would finally be together after Bender's Big Score. The next movie came out, and it was like Leela never met "Lars" to begin with. That burned a lot of people.

If the central relationship of the show isn't believable anymore, that's a problem.

[Gonzales]

No no no no no no no.

Futurama was good, but it's over. It's been over for six years now (at least the show). Futurama is so beloved by it's fan base that it has nowhere to go but down. And is that what any of us want?

No, they shouldn't resurrect it after all this time.

[SuperMegaHyper]

BUT it's going to come at a cost. The undeniable fact is that Beast with a Billion Backs killed Fry-Leela, one of the show's favorite arcs among fans.

"We can't play that card right away," said the writers. If that was the case, then they definitely shouldn't have led every single person to believe they would finally be together after Bender's Big Score. The next movie came out, and it was like Leela never met "Lars" to begin with. That burned a lot of people.

If the central relationship of the show isn't believable anymore, that's a problem.Bender's Game was pretty decent, and it still has loads of potential as a series.

[Luna]

I have mixed feelings on this....If they can keep up the overall quality of the earlier TV series episodes(and the "Bender's Big Score" and "Bender's Game" DTV movies),it should be good (I really love the series/characters),but if ends up like the "Beast With a Billion Backs" DTV movie....:shrug: ...well,I'd rather they didn't continue...While the "Fry/Leela" relationship isn't a major reason I like the show,I did enjoy seeing them grow closer over the course of the series,and I would like to see them end up together ("Bender's Big Score" is my favorite of the DTVs,and "The Sting","The Why of Fry", and "The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings" are among my favorite episodes)...."Beast With a Billion Backs" kinda ruined continuity,which the series had been fairly good at up to this point (and it also kinda killed the "Amy/Kif" relationship,which I also liked,funny as Zapp Brannigan was here)....

[chdr]

How are they going to continue? From what I hear, "Into the Wild Green Yonder" is supposed to be pretty final.

[J!!!]

How are they going to continue? From what I hear, "Into the Wild Green Yonder" is supposed to be pretty final.
Last minute ending changes or this happening before that could always happen.

[James]

It's fiction. Nothing's ever final. Every ending can be resolved. Just needs imagination - and Futurama has oodles.

I don't know, I think when any show returns there is a negative disproportion between expectation/familiarity and the objective quality of the product. Beasts of the Billion Backs wasn't as good as Bender's Big Score, but it was still very good. Sit back, put the episodes in any previous season it would still hold up.

I'm happy for more. I'd rather have more than not. That way, my appetite is abated, not starved and if it gets terrible I can always change the menu (aka: the channel) - so win win pour moi!

[Darklordavaitor]

Honestly, I never believed that Futurama needed to be revived. If The Simpsons is any indication, the last thing a Matt Groening show needs is extended age, and I find the DTVs to be a fanservice fest rather than actually entering continuations of the series. Not only that, but would they be able to get the original staff back?

I do think that a revival of cancelled series can work out well, and Home Movies is a perfect example of that. If these new episodes can match the best of that series' later contributions, I'm game, and I will always catch up on this show, but for now, I'm on the fence.

[J. B. Warner]

Honestly, I never believed that Futurama needed to be revived. If The Simpsons is any indication, the last thing a Matt Groening show needs is extended age...

Ye gods, that's a good point. The last thing I want is for "Futurama" to turn into what "The Simpsons" is today.

Now I'm really kinda hoping this doesn't happen.

[HomeMoviesFan]

BUT it's going to come at a cost. The undeniable fact is that Beast with a Billion Backs killed Fry-Leela, one of the show's favorite arcs among fans.

"We can't play that card right away," said the writers. If that was the case, then they definitely shouldn't have led every single person to believe they would finally be together after Bender's Big Score. The next movie came out, and it was like Leela never met "Lars" to begin with. That burned a lot of people.

If the central relationship of the show isn't believable anymore, that's a problem.

I know you haven't seen Wild Green Yonder yet, so I'll just say have patience...

[Radical]

WOOHOO,I hope Fox brings it back since Futurama is one of my most favorite adult comedy shows:D(like with my favorites,Home Movies/Family Guy revived with new episodes)& I love all the DTV movies(with Bender's Big Score,Beast with a Billion Backs,and Bender's Game being my most favorites).Bender & Dr.Zoidberg are my most favorite characters which I love their hilarious crazy antics with the gang(especially Zoidberg's goofy run,hahahahaha)& Leela & Amy are my most favorite sexy female characters with I love their relationships with Fry & Kif:anime:that got interesting so far & I wish they would of did more on the Leela/Amy wrestling part on my favorite episode Jurassic Bark,I love that catfight,Leela so OWNED her,hahahahaha:D:p,poor Amy.

[CyberCubed]

I wouldn't mind if it came back.

After all if you don't like it, you can pretend the show still ended back when it did.

[Lavenderpaw]

It's the future... infinite possibilites. ;)

[Desensitized]

Wow. 'Beast With A Billion Backs' somehow went from okay to pure garbage? :confused:

I guess Futurama is only capable of producing A+ or F- work, according to the fans.

What's with you guys thinking this will be like the Simpsons? Did you forget that most of Futurama is run by people and comprised of people who were around in the Simpsons CLASSIC era? You know, the ones who left around season 10?

I'm so tired of the internet's endless pessimism.

[veemonjosh]

Between this and the rumors that King of the Hill will be heading over to ABC, I'm starting to think that NONE of the primetime Fox cartoons can die.

I'm mixed about Futurama returning, though. I mean, first of all, where would they put it? Cleveland is taking KotH's place, that other cartoon is rotating with American Dad, and their two big guns will never budge. Only spot left is the 7PM death-OHTHAT'SRIIIIIGHT.

There's also the matter of if they're still up to it. The final movie might be a satisfying-enough ending, and I'm sure some of the crew might just want to move on from this decade-old series. They left when Simpsons turned 10, why wouldn't they leave Futurama?

[Pepperidge]

I say just let the show die. If The Beast With a Billion Backs brought nothing else to the table, it was a terrifying glimpse at what future seasons are almost certain to bring us. I don't understand why people are ragging on the rest of the DTVs, but I think most of us can agree that they pounded out the last bit of creativity and entertainment value that the series should be expected to offer.

Let's just move on, folks.

[Elven Moon]

I've mixed feelings about this. I adore Futurama, I really do, but the DTVs have been disappointing if not depressing. If this is the way they're headed, I think a new season would be painful. If they must, I really hope they can step up their game in time.

[FGfan]

Between this and the rumors that King of the Hill will be heading over to ABC, I'm starting to think that NONE of the primetime Fox cartoons can die.

I'm mixed about Futurama returning, though. I mean, first of all, where would they put it? Cleveland is taking KotH's place, that other cartoon is rotating with American Dad, and their two big guns will never budge. Only spot left is the 7PM death-OHTHAT'SRIIIIIGHT.

There's also the matter of if they're still up to it. The final movie might be a satisfying-enough ending, and I'm sure some of the crew might just want to move on from this decade-old series. They left when Simpsons turned 10, why wouldn't they leave Futurama?

Ummm, I thought ABC said they had no plans to pick up KOTH?

And yes, this show damn well deserves a comeback. I mean, four DTV'S, compared to hundreds of episodes for Simpsons?

Simpsons has dug its grave too deep for its own good, its time has come. Futurama, on the other hand, deserves to return, it knew when to quit originally AND when to attempt a comeback, it deserves more time.

[PC!]

The "Futurama" movies have been hit-or-miss - when they're good, they're really good (Bender's Big Score and Bender's Game), but when they're bad, they're really bad (The Beast With a Billion Backs). But maybe that's just because writing four feature-length stories presents more challenges than writing 16 episodic stories. A return to the series might be beneficial, since the writers would be back to doing what they do best.

^ This. I personally have found all of the DTVs so far to be incredibly underwhelming, but perhaps giving the writers simple 22-minute plots instead of these sweeping, grandiose storylines they've been coming up with would be better for them.

[J. B. Warner]

Having just watched Into the Wild Green Yonder, I'm torn again. I won't give away the ending, but it definitely leaves the door wide open for a sixth season. Perhaps they're planning something we don't know about yet.

And I'm beginning to think I was perhaps too hasty in my suspicions that a revived "Futurama" would go downhill just like "The Simpsons" did. Everyone knows "The Simpsons" is out of ideas, because there's only so much that can happen to a funny suburban family (or at least so much that can actually be entertaining). But the cast and setting of "Futurama" is a million times more diverse, and their well of ideas is probably a heck of a lot deeper.

[Mala Loba]

If they can do it, then they should do it.

And if they can't, and they end up doing it, I won't watch. Simple as that. :)

[HomeMoviesFan]

I personally have found all of the DTVs so far to be incredibly underwhelming, but perhaps giving the writers simple 22-minute plots instead of these sweeping, grandiose storylines they've been coming up with would be better for them.

Yes. Anyone who cries about the DTVs should remember that we're discussing a return to the 22-minute format. The last time they did that in 2003, it was still pretty damn amazing. To top it off, Into the Wild Green Yonder was pretty good...

[Neo Yi]

Hmmm, if the idea of a new Futurama occurs, I can only wonder how they will work the ending that was in The Wild Green Yonder. Of course, I'm still a bit weary over the idea of a potential Futurama return. The movies for the most part kept me entertained (the verdict is out on WGY; I need to rewatch it again), so could a return to form bring about the same show I know and love? Is it really necessary to revive the series instead of ending it on a good grace?

I guess it's another "we'll see" case.

[Scirel]

IMO, they really shouldn`t have pulled out all the stops the way they did for BBS. It was incredibly epic, bringing all the charachters together in one huge battle while giving great stuff for Fry/Leela.

BBS should have been the last movie, not the first.

[mowub]

I just finished watching Wild Green Yonder, and I have to say, I was very impressed, and I consider it to be the best of the four movies. The humor was very consistent, and it felt like I was watching one of the original 72. So if Matt and co. want to revive the half-hour series, I say go for it.

[ajac]

hope its true I love futurama. Didn't futurama get canceled once and then brought back and they had an episode that said they were cancled at the beginging then werent?

[mowub]

hope its true I love futurama. Didn't futurama get canceled once and then brought back and they had an episode that said they were cancled at the beginging then werent?

I believe that was Bender's Big Score.