Futurama direct-to-DVD movie

[Guest Ransome]

Found the link on DVDVR: http://dvd.ign.com/articles/634/634262p1.html

 

July 15, 2005 - In the first of IGN's exclusive Video Blogs direct from San Diego's Comic-Con International, voice actor Billy West (Fry, Zoidberg, the Professor, and many more voices for many more shows) revealed to us that a brand-new direct-to-video Futurama movie has been greenlit. Not only that, but there is also an option for a second movie as well.

 

 

With the model established by Family Guy's return – where a direct-to-video movie eventually spawned the show's return to Fox primetime as well – could the much-missed Futurama also be on the way back to a set near you?

 

I really hope this comes to fruition. Futurama still had a lot of untapped potential, and was more consistently funny than Family Guy, as far as I'm concerned (I like Family Guy also, but that show has at least as many misses as hits, with too many jokes that fall flat. To each his own, though).

[CBright7831 0]

I actually prefer Futurama over Family Guy, so I am looking foward to this if it's true.

[Just John 0]

As much as I love Futurama, I'm unsure about this. I thought they wrapped the series up on a good note with Fry and Leela finally hooking up. That would be somewhat of a problem for new episodes since that was a huge part of Fry's character. The other minor characters resolved a lot of their angles too like Amy and Kiff getting together as well as Leela finally meeting her parents. It seems like it would be difficult to come up with new stuff, but who knows?

[Placebo Effect 0]

Futurama will never be as popular as Family Guy. It's nothing more than a fanboy hope. Family Guy had the fanboys and the fratboys loving it post-cancelation.

 

I'd love it to get picked up again, but the chances are very, very slim.

[Art Sandusky 0]

It's the year 3,000, man. It's a setting that has no boundaries. I could see all the stuff being erased with a quick matter-of-fact explanation by the professor followed by "now let us never speak of it again," and then it goes into the setup for the episode. That's their style.

[Slayer 0]

I thought they wrapped the series up on a good note with Fry and Leela finally hooking up.

They didn't really hook up, it was just Fry's amateur holophone composition... though I guess anything could be left to the viewer's imagination. That's as far as I took it though.

 

If their revival is anything like the FG comeback, I don't want to see it.

[muzz 0]

I thought they wrapped the series up on a good note with Fry and Leela finally hooking up.

They didn't really hook up, it was just Fry's amateur holophone composition... though I guess anything could be left to the viewer's imagination. That's as far as I took it though.

 

If their revival is anything like the FG comeback, I don't want to see it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I haven't seen any new Family Guy episodes since it's return, what don't you like about it?

[bobobrazil1984 0]

I'd like to see, like 5 or 6 new episodes on DVD, rather than a 2 hour movie on DVD. still, cool news.

[AndrewTS 0]

With the model established by Family Guy's return – where a direct-to-video movie eventually spawned the show's return to Fox primetime as well – could the much-missed Futurama also be on the way back to a set near you?

 

Um--what?

 

I thought the DVD sales and high Adult Swim ratings spawned the return?

 

And all of those in turn spawned the DTV movie (which isn't actually out yet)?

 

Is there a DTV movie I haven't so much as even heard of before floating around now?

[Slayer 0]

I haven't seen any new Family Guy episodes since it's return, what don't you like about it?

Well, since you haven't seen any new episodes, it'd be hard for you to identify what I'm talking about, but here goes...

 

My biggest problem with the new FGs is that the episode plots have taken a back seat to the gags. With the older classic episodes you had a good flowing plot with gags mixed in that, while seemingly distracting, were so funny that they did add to the episode as a whole. The first two episodes from this season (Passion 2 and Chris' teacher) were very good episodes in the same vain of classic older FG. However, after that, it either seemed like the episodes had non-sequitir plots, a la recent Simpsons, or just a string of gags with no real plot at all. And a lot of the gags aren't even that great anymore... it seems like he's just adding in nostalgic stuff like He-Man and Star Wars just for the sake of it, although a lot of people here seem to be eating it up. "OMG it's He Man d00d!" or "OMG he dubbed in the audio from the end of Star Wars!" and the like, as if a ten second gag made the entire episode good. If I wanted to see a string of gags and laugh maybe twice in a half-hour while sitting stone faced the rest of the time, I'd watch any episode of The Simpsons from the last five years.

 

By contrast, I've come to love American Dad, but it's nowhere near as popular among the MacFarlane fanboys here.

[Guest JMA]

If Futurama did return to FOX with new episodes, I'm assuming that one of the animation shows on Sunday night would have to be axed. I'm guessing that it would be King of the Hill (since it's been on since 1997).

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

If Futurama did return to FOX with new episodes, I'm assuming that one of the animation shows on Sunday night would have to be axed. I'm guessing that it would be King of the Hill (since it's been on since 1997).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It'll never happen. Groening didn't like how Fox handled Futurama during its initial run, so why would he agree to put it back on there? The only way I could see him OK'ing that move would be if Fox agreed to put it on after The Simpsons in the 8:30 spot. 9:00 - 10:00 would be McFarlane's hour, and between 7:00 - 8:00 would mean it would be pre-empted due to football (which was 1 of Groening's complaints w/ the initial Futurama run).

[Guest JMA]

If Futurama did return to FOX with new episodes, I'm assuming that one of the animation shows on Sunday night would have to be axed. I'm guessing that it would be King of the Hill (since it's been on since 1997).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It'll never happen. Groening didn't like how Fox handled Futurama during its initial run, so why would he agree to put it back on there? The only way I could see him OK'ing that move would be if Fox agreed to put it on after The Simpsons in the 8:30 spot. 9:00 - 10:00 would be McFarlane's hour, and between 7:00 - 8:00 would mean it would be pre-empted due to football (which was 1 of Groening's complaints w/ the initial Futurama run).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah. I see. I always HATED how shows on Sunday would get pre-empted by football.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

Did pre-empted Futurama episodes air as scheduled on the West Coast? I always hated the east coast logic (which is currently killing / has killed King of the Hill) where if a football game ends at 7:05 or so, instead of saying "well that's it, catch the highlights on the news, which will be delayed by X minutes" and geting to TV, they spend 20 minutes showing viewers what they already saw and eliminating the 7pm TV show. Frustrating. Maybe if I liked football I would understand the need for post game babble.

 

My only problem with this DTV movie (and same with Family Guy) is I don't care for the prospect of spending approx. $20 for 90 minutes of material when the TV show box sets contained hours of material for $30-$40, depending on when or where they were purchased.

 

Looking forward to it anyway, though.

[Just John 0]

I thought they wrapped the series up on a good note with Fry and Leela finally hooking up.

They didn't really hook up, it was just Fry's amateur holophone composition... though I guess anything could be left to the viewer's imagination. That's as far as I took it though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

In the parallel universe episode, it's very strongly suggested (though not 100%) that she agrees to go out with him. It wasn't the last episode, but it was pretty close to the end and I thought the end of Fry's opera just confirmed it.

[Guest Olympic Slam]

I haven't seen any new Family Guy episodes since it's return, what don't you like about it?

Well, since you haven't seen any new episodes, it'd be hard for you to identify what I'm talking about, but here goes...

 

My biggest problem with the new FGs is that the episode plots have taken a back seat to the gags. With the older classic episodes you had a good flowing plot with gags mixed in that, while seemingly distracting, were so funny that they did add to the episode as a whole. The first two episodes from this season (Passion 2 and Chris' teacher) were very good episodes in the same vain of classic older FG. However, after that, it either seemed like the episodes had non-sequitir plots, a la recent Simpsons, or just a string of gags with no real plot at all. And a lot of the gags aren't even that great anymore... it seems like he's just adding in nostalgic stuff like He-Man and Star Wars just for the sake of it, although a lot of people here seem to be eating it up. "OMG it's He Man d00d!" or "OMG he dubbed in the audio from the end of Star Wars!" and the like, as if a ten second gag made the entire episode good. If I wanted to see a string of gags and laugh maybe twice in a half-hour while sitting stone faced the rest of the time, I'd watch any episode of The Simpsons from the last five years.

 

By contrast, I've come to love American Dad, but it's nowhere near as popular among the MacFarlane fanboys here.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I agree 100000% with everything you're saying. The nostlagia shit has gotta stop. Its all just for idiots who think they gain some degree of self worth by recognizing something. The references remind me of when I see a chimp on animal planet correctly indetifying a shape or a country on a map. Morons getting all wet in their undies for a He-Man reference is about on the same level.

[Guest Ransome]

I thought they wrapped the series up on a good note with Fry and Leela finally hooking up.

They didn't really hook up, it was just Fry's amateur holophone composition... though I guess anything could be left to the viewer's imagination. That's as far as I took it though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

In the parallel universe episode, it's very strongly suggested (though not 100%) that she agrees to go out with him. It wasn't the last episode, but it was pretty close to the end and I thought the end of Fry's opera just confirmed it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

The reason for the ambiguity of the final episode can be found in the DVD audiocommentary. On the season 4 DVD, the writers explain that during the making of the final episode, there was still a 50% chance that the series would be renewed for another year, and thus they didn't want to exactly wrap up the show if the characters were just going to be returning anyway. Thus, we get an ending that can work both as a series finale and as a season finale.

[dubq 0]

Family Guy had a direct to video Movie?

[Placebo Effect 0]

Family Guy had a direct to video Movie?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Not yet. I think it's scheduled for release in the fall.

[JasonX 0]

It'll never happen. Groening didn't like how Fox handled Futurama during its initial run, so why would he agree to put it back on there? The only way I could see him OK'ing that move would be if Fox agreed to put it on after The Simpsons in the 8:30 spot. 9:00 - 10:00 would be McFarlane's hour, and between 7:00 - 8:00 would mean it would be pre-empted due to football (which was 1 of Groening's complaints w/ the initial Futurama run).

 

Groening's being a huge fucking pussy crybaby little shitfaced cuntskull. Boo Fucking Hoo! Shitarama got cut into by football for about five-ten minutes for eight fucking weeks! Someone should take a baseball bat and beat Groening in the face until his face caves in for being such a cuntface complainer. Fucking Mike Judge and the fucking cast of MITM never bitched like the Shitface Skullcunt did about being on the 7 O'Clock Hour timeslot, so he should shut the fuck up about it.

 

Plus said scheme won't work at all because quite frankly Fox won't jepordize the shows they've put on Sunday night (KOTH, Malcom, Arrested Development) that take-up the unused timeslots to the shitfaced skullcunt. And given how Seth has hand with Fox right now, you expect him to let Groening bully his way back onto the Sunday night line-up? Especially after the last time he did it, Family Guy was treated like shit and kicked off to constant changing timeslot-Land for Shitarama?

 

Plus, I'm sure Fox would rather see Groening create something new or better yet, concentrate all of his energies on making the Simpsons not fucking suck than for Shitarama (which holds a lot of the blame given that Groening took all of the good producers/writers with him to Shitarama when that show launched, leaving the Simpsons to go into a never-ending shitdive qualitywise)....

[muzz 0]

Just wanted to say, Shitarama is very clever.

[Slayer 0]

*cut swear-filled rant*

But how do you really feel?

[dubq 0]

It'll never happen. Groening didn't like how Fox handled Futurama during its initial run, so why would he agree to put it back on there? The only way I could see him OK'ing that move would be if Fox agreed to put it on after The Simpsons in the 8:30 spot. 9:00 - 10:00 would be McFarlane's hour, and between 7:00 - 8:00 would mean it would be pre-empted due to football (which was 1 of Groening's complaints w/ the initial Futurama run).

 

Groening's being a huge fucking pussy crybaby little shitfaced cuntskull. Boo Fucking Hoo! Shitarama got cut into by football for about five-ten minutes for eight fucking weeks! Someone should take a baseball bat and beat Groening in the face until his face caves in for being such a cuntface complainer. Fucking Mike Judge and the fucking cast of MITM never bitched like the Shitface Skullcunt did about being on the 7 O'Clock Hour timeslot, so he should shut the fuck up about it.

 

Plus said scheme won't work at all because quite frankly Fox won't jepordize the shows they've put on Sunday night (KOTH, Malcom, Arrested Development) that take-up the unused timeslots to the shitfaced skullcunt. And given how Seth has hand with Fox right now, you expect him to let Groening bully his way back onto the Sunday night line-up? Especially after the last time he did it, Family Guy was treated like shit and kicked off to constant changing timeslot-Land for Shitarama?

 

Plus, I'm sure Fox would rather see Groening create something new or better yet, concentrate all of his energies on making the Simpsons not fucking suck than for Shitarama (which holds a lot of the blame given that Groening took all of the good producers/writers with him to Shitarama when that show launched, leaving the Simpsons to go into a never-ending shitdive qualitywise)....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

A] Take some valium

 

B] "Shitarama" - not very clever.

 

C] FUTURAMA was treated JUST AS badly as Family Guy was with the timeslot bullshit.

 

D] Up yours. FUTURAMA is and was infinitely more clever than the Simpsons [or any other Sunday night animated show, IMHO] in the first place.

 

E] The Simpsons SORELY needs a bullet to the skull, and I'd love for it to be the return of FUTURAMA.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Groening's being a huge fucking pussy crybaby little shitfaced cuntskull. Boo Fucking Hoo! Shitarama got cut into by football for about five-ten minutes for eight fucking weeks! Someone should take a baseball bat and beat Groening in the face until his face caves in for being such a cuntface complainer. Fucking Mike Judge and the fucking cast of MITM never bitched like the Shitface Skullcunt did about being on the 7 O'Clock Hour timeslot, so he should shut the fuck up about it.

Considering that The Simpsons arguably made the network, and was a HUGE cash cow for Fox, I guess Groening thought Fox'd be nice enough to at least do a somewhat decent job of promoting/nuturing his other show.