Image Credit: Futurama TM and Twentieth Century Fox Film CorporaTonight, Futurama will return from the dead for the fifth or sixth time. This is a sacred event. Five years ago, when I was rediscovering the show on Adult Swim reruns, news of Futurama‘s return would have caused my brain to explode. In fact, my brain did explode back in 2007, when the show’s creators announced the production of four direct-to-DVD movies. Then I actually saw the movies…and haven’t felt so disappointed by a franchise I love since The Phantom Menace taught us all a valuable lesson about intergalactic trade routes. All of which has me wondering: When Futurama returns this week, will it still be as good?
I don’t want to sound like a hater. There was some fun stuff in every movie. The time travel plot of Bender’s Big Score was twisty fun. The Beast With a Billion Backs features easily the best war against heaven since Paradise Lost. The end of Into the Wild Green Yonder was very emotional. And, well, I lied, there was nothing fun about Bender’s Game.
When you get right down to it, the films just felt like they paled in comparison to the original series. Every episode of Futurama threw alien cultures and futuristic satire in your face at a rapid-fire pace. (And the show could also move you to tears, something that The Simpsons stopped doing over a decade ago.) By comparison, the movies just felt like lots of fan service with once-great characters turning into clichés; think Sex and the City 2 for the D&D set.
Exec-producer David X. Cohen talked to EW last month, and his teases for the show’s upcoming storylines (Robosexual marriage! Mutant rights! Katee Sackhoff!) has me hopeful that the show will return to its former glory. But what do you think, PopWatchers? Will Futurama be another Family Guy, a show that rose from the dead to achieve pop culture dominance? Or will Futurama be another Family Guy, a brilliant series that was never as good (IMHO) in its post-cancellation run? And is Futurama the most quotable show ever? Windmills do not work that way! Good night!
Futurama was always light years funnier than Family Guy. I expect nothing less than hilarity to ensue tonight.
Agreed and can’t wait!
That was my exact thought when I heard Futurama was being resurrected…will it be another Family Guy-style mess? I share the author’s opinion that post-cancellation FG is not as funny compared to the first couple of seasons. I did enjoy the Futurama movies more than most people I’ve heard from, but definitely acknowledge that they had their problems. I’m holding out hope for Futurama’s return to TV though, and am looking forward to tonight’s premiere of one of my favorite shows of all time (and, yes, one of the most quotable)…”53 years old?! Ohhh, now I’ll have to get a fake ID to rent ultra-porn.”
The movies were ‘ok’, the trouble is that took plots that were just a little to big for one show, and instead of trimming it down as usual, they padded it. I’d say the same thing happened with the Simpsons movie. Cartoons need to move quick, else they become flat too quick.
I also fear the taint of post-FG lameness will rub off on Futurama. I liked the movies, the first one especially. I found them funny with repeat viewings, which is always a good sign. I’m cautiously optimstic. And if I’m wrong, you can bite my shiny metal &ss. JK!
that jurassic bark episode gets me every time. loved futurama when it was on the air, and i agree about the movies. although half-hour long cartoons don’t typically make great movies, so i’ll let those slide. very excited for tonight and i hope the first several episodes don’t disappoint. agree with family guy, too – something about that show has been lost since its return. seth macfarlane should take note that THIS is how you do multiple shows at once, not by making 2 carbon copies of the one hit.
omg jurassic bark literally made me bawl like a baby. D:
That is, by far, the greatest episode of any cartoon.
Gahh, the end of that episode of one of the saddest things ever. I always think of that scene when I think of this show’s finest moments. Been waiting forever for these new eps. So excited.
I had to stop watching the end it made me so sad. So I love that Fry found Seymour when he went back in time in Bender’s Big Score.
I know! That’s one of the reasons Bender’s Big Score is my favorite. Plus the great space war sequence when Hermes takes over and the Futurama Remix plays over the action.
There’s no one here or anywhere by that name. I hope in time you realize what an idiot you’ve been.
I doubt it.
Well, it’s time for a real reply to this.
I’m looking forward to the return of Futurama. The movies were good, but not as great as the regular series. I’m thinking that since the writers had lots of time to prepare for this episode, that will make it extra wonderful.
I’m happy the show is back. I hope it’s wit and charm remain in tact.
Gosh, thanks for the “real” reply. A thousand apologies for my “imitation” reply. Intact is one word, by the way. It may be time for some real English.
ZackBauer FTW.
Hey sexy Mama, wanna kill all humans?
Bite my shiny metal ass.
Hope springs eternal… I hope it will match the brilliance of the original. I was tied up and forced to watch it by my then-boyfriend (not as fun as it sounds… really) on DVD. It’s genius, it really is. It’s a lot to live up to, but here’s hoping it happens.
Does anyone know how long we humble Canadians will have to wait before we’re allowed to watch it? *Bad Canada, Bad! Bad America, Jr.! No Futurama for you!*
LOL “Bad America, Jr.!” – nice. I hope you don’t have to wait too long…it would drive me nuts to know that other people in the world could enjoy something I loved but I had to wait!
I agree that there was something very off about the Futurama movies. There were pacing problems. All of them simply dragged too much and got kind of boring. Only the first one is moderately entertaining. Here’s hoping the show returns to its former glory.
Credit Kristen Gore for the show being as moving as it was funny, as it was in the edisodes Time Keeps On Slippin’, Jurassic Bark, The Sting, Luck Of The Fryish. I could tell watching Futurama that the writing staff had more women (cough, ONLY ONE, cough) than the average comedy show.
It IS FANTASTIC!!! Especially the first episode back!!! Totally outdoes the movies in EVERY WAY!!! you will not be disappointed!!
Tonight is a good ep, but it does do some backpedaling from the movies. I think they felt the change in format (90min story length to series again). I think it’s back, tho!
“Why did their voices change?”
“That is the one thing we’ll never truly understand.”
“that was so bad it gave me cancer” is my FAVORITE line from the series. And so quotable too!
Pumped for tonight
I cant even bring myself to watch jurassic bark episode… Futurama is a great show and always will be.. the only show that has lost its cool is family guy except for the star wars episodes…. AND THE SIMPSONS WILL ALWAYS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALWAYS
My biggest fear was that Futurama would go the way of Family Guy. I like FG, but it takes things too far waaay too often. Part of that is (I think) that Seth MacFarlanes ego got out of control.
Luckily though, Matt Groening is still in charge of Futurama. I don’t think he’ll get as ego-maniacal, especially with 20 seasons of The Simpsons under his belt.
I love this show. So glad it is back on. So many great characters and great writing. Just keep giving us more Zapp Branigan, cause you know, ” Branigan’s law is like Branigan’s love… hard and fast”
I have made it with a woman! Inform the men.
Good News Everyone!! I am super excited for tonight
Why did you have to link the end of Jurassic Bark?! I’m gonna start crying again!