FOX is looking to bring back Futurama

[davepeck]

Inside Move: \'Futurama\' may get new lease on life
Toon with a past may get new life on Fox TV
 
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

"Futurama" may live to see the year 3000 after all.

Talks have begun at 20th Century Fox TV to revive the animated skeinskein, which takes place in the next millennium, much in the same way "Family Guy""Family Guy" found new life after cancellation.

The studio is in early discussions to put "Futurama" back in production and create a limited number of episodes of the Emmy Award-winning skein -- although it\'s too soon to tell where those segs might end up. A reprep for 20th Century Fox TV declined comment.

The final original episode of "Futurama" aired on Fox in August 2003. But since then, the skein has found new life -- and fans -- via DVD releases and repeatedly high-rated airings on the Cartoon Network.

"Futurama" remains popular enough that Comedy CentralComedy Central even stole away off-netoff-net rights to the show\'s repeats late last year; it will switch to the laffer cablercabler in 2008.

A similar resurgence in interest for "Family Guy" persuaded 20th Century Fox TV to revive that show, which has produced two seasons of new episodes and a DVD since coming back from the dead. "Family Guy" now resides as Fox\'s Sunday 9 p.m. tentpole.

"Futurama" scored three Emmys in its five-season run, including the 2002 award for animated series. But it lived an unusual existence on Fox, with short seasons, late launches and long gaps between airings. That allowed Fox to air five seasons of "Futurama," even though technically only four were produced.

"The Simpsons""The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening and "Simpsons" vet David X. Cohen were behind "Futurama," which bowed on Fox in March 1999. The animated skein revolved around Fry, a pizza delivery boy who\'s accidentally frozen for 1,000 years. He wakes up in the year 3000 and befriends cyclops Leela and cranky robot Bender -- all of whom work for the intergalactic delivery service run by Fry\'s distantly descended nephew, Prof. Farnsworth.

Before "Futurama" comes back into being, however, 20th first must secure deals with the show\'s production team, as well as voice stars including Billy West (Fry), Katey Sagal (Leela) and John DiMaggio (Bender).

Meanwhile, even after the cancellation new "Futurama" stories have continued to be churned out via the "Futurama" comicbook, published by Groening\'s Bongo Comics imprint.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117935453?categoryid=14&cs=1&s=h&p=0

[antbach]

:thumbsup:

[Spacey]

I\'ve found myself watching "Futurama" again on Cartoon Network. Some episodes are good while some don\'t do nothing for me. I\'d watch it again if re-airs.

[FrankZappa]

I love futurama. one of the best shows ever.

"In my expierence, most of the time boxes are empty... maybe with a little cheese on top. And this one time, Pepperoni! oh what a day that was! BRWAAALLLLWWWLL!"

[princesscaspian]

I\'ve found myself watching "Futurama" again on Cartoon Network. Some episodes are good while some don\'t do nothing for me. I\'d watch it again if re-airs.

i tend to get this way with the show sometimes, i love it to death though, hardly ever miss it on adult swim. i think its one of the best written cartoon shows out there, i\'ve seen some amazing episodes.... i would certainly love to see a comeback!!

i can\'t help but feel bad for cartoon network.... they are the ones who recognized the talent, and revived it.... even though i know there is no way it could ever happen, i really believe that cartoon network should have the rights to the new episodes of family guy/futurama....

[delfunk1]

Fox is doings something right for once, losing Arrested Development and gaining Futurama....hmmm

[FrankZappa]

I just hope they put it on later. That 7pm during football schedule was torture. There were so many skipped episodes due to football, that most of season 4 was really season 3 that never made it to air. Pathetic.

Did anyone see the family guy Stewie movie? At the begining one of the interviewers calls stewie over on the red carpet and asks him "Is there any truth to the rumour that fox may be bringing back futurama?" Stewie gets pissed asks "Who the hell let you in?" and then beats the guy.

And while your at it, stop this crap with live action between the cartoons! I hate having to surf around for something good on for just a half hour at 8:30 every sunday  night!!!

[zuke583]

when futurama started it was already better than the simpsons, yet the simpsons has been coasting on its reputation for at least the last 5 or 6 years. i say, bring back futurama, put it on at 8:30 on sundays, cancel the simps after another year or two and have futurama take it\'s place (ala joe montana/steve young competition of the early 90s). i should be running fox...CONFIRMED

[Me!]

There also was speculation that Fox was looking to resurrect the animated series "Futurama," from "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening, on its Sunday lineup the same way that "Family Guy" was brought back last year. The network has an option for new episodes, which currently are being produced for Cartoon Network\'s Adult Swim late-night block.

source

Except when I watched adult swim last night furing the "bumps" they pretty much said it\'ll never happen.......

[obsession600]

Fox did a horrible job of scheduling Futurama after the first couple of seasons which effectively killed the show. Towards the end it seemed like they were stretching for plots and material. I think they may have already mined the gold from that shaft. If the show comes back now I don\'t think it will even be a shadow of its former self. After three years I would also think that most of the voice talent and writers are contracted with other projects.

Cartoon network does not have to invest much money or effort into their lineup. The majority of the shows are picked up second hand for small syndication fees. They are smart about what they choose and Adult Swim gives them a couple of slots to plug in whatever shows they want to push at the moment.

[Spacey]

Fox wants it back now that it can make money.

[Me!]

Fox did a horrible job of scheduling Futurama after the first couple of seasons which effectively killed the show. Towards the end it seemed like they were stretching for plots and material. I think they may have already mined the gold from that shaft. If the show comes back now I don\'t think it will even be a shadow of its former self. After three years I would also think that most of the voice talent and writers are contracted with other projects.

Cartoon network does not have to invest much money or effort into their lineup. The majority of the shows are picked up second hand for small syndication fees. They are smart about what they choose and Adult Swim gives them a couple of slots to plug in whatever shows they want to push at the moment.

Family Guy, Futurama, and American Dad are the only shows that are not cartoon network originals, there are a plethora of other shows that they run.  Additionally they actually did make a couple Futurama straight to DVD movies, so the voice talent is available.

[Spacey]

from what I understand the voice talent is ready to go. would like to see some new episodes of Futurama really enjoy Bender now.

[FrankZappa]

 Additionally they actually did make a couple Futurama straight to DVD movies, so the voice talent is available.

source? I love the show but don\'t know about these other than rumours... If they are already out, I want a heady .info amazon link pronto!

[Todd]

I never heard of these either. Link?