Futurama
Summary
Matt Groening made a classicFuturamaseason 1 episode as a verbatim reply to pesky notes from Fox about the show ’s tone – and the executive hat it . A decennary intoThe Simpsons ’ fabled tally , there was a lot of ballyhoo around what Groening ’s next show would be . After undertake the relatable mundanity of contemporary suburban family life , Groening took on a much different challenge in his 2nd series . Set 1,000 years in the future , Futuramais a pitch - perfect blend of brain - boggling science fable and hilarious sitcom . It ’s a slap-up show , but stick it on the air was n’t soft .
After the flagitious success ofThe Simpsons , it would be easy to arrogate that Groening was hold carte blanche by the executives at Fox . But apparently , no amount of succeeder can prevent connection administrator from meddling in the originative side of television . accord to the DVD commentaries onFuturamaseason 1 , Groening constantly clash with Fox during the development of the series . Fox send Groening and his writers a ton of notes , and when they finally cave and wrote an episode that specifically adhered to those notes , the executives still were n’t happy .
Futurama is one of the effective comedies on TV . From " Jurassic Bark " to " The Luck of the Fryrish , " there are many iconic instalment that never get previous .
Fox Wanted Matt Groening To Tone Down Futurama
The network was unhappy with Zoidberg, suicide booths, and Bender’s antisocial behavior
AlthoughFox was initially eager for Groening to create a second series for them afterThe Simpsonsput the web on the single-valued function , they ended up being deeply dissatisfied with what he come up up with . They were likely hoping for aSimpsonsclone , but what they got was a brain - bending odyssey into the remote futurity . In his videodisk commentary forFuturamaseason 1 , sequence 3 , “ I , Roommate , ” Groening explains that Fox had reservations about the direction he was admit withFuturama . Tonally , they did n’t opine the show push the kind of thought they wanted on their airwaves .
Fox administrator specifically objected to Zoidberg , who they found to be too bizarre ; Bender ’s antisocial behavior , which they reckon would be a bad influence on young viewers ; and the construct of suicide booths , which they deemed to be too gloomy . So , they send Groening notes to tone down the show . They wanted the sci - fi conception to be less weird and outlandish and the humor to be less scandalous . As one of the most successful creators in TV account , Groening naturally did n’t take kindly to executives trying to alter his vision , which lead to many divergence .
Groening & The Writers Came Up With “I, Roommate” To Appease Fox Executives (But They Hated It)
Season 1, episode 3 was a direct response to Fox’s notes
In the DVD comment , Groening says that Fox was “ freak out ” byFuturama , so they write “ I , Roommate ” in an endeavour “ to modulate thing down . ” He read that Eric Horsted ’s playscript for the episode was “ write specifically to [ Fox ’s ] specifications . ” The episode follows the pretty standard sitcom storyline of Fry and Bender deciding to become roommates and move on a metropolis - wide search for the perfect flat . It ’s a totally innocuous episode that educate Fry and Bender ’s endearing friendly relationship and puts a sci - fi spin on all the intimate annoyances of flat search .
It ’s not a bad installment , but it lacks the edge ofFuturama ’s first episodes – and that was the idea . Groening and co. came up with “ I , Roommate ” as a direct endeavor to appease the meddling Fox executives and pitch the toned - down version of the show that the connection require . But even though it was made specifically to please them , Fox executives still did n’t like it ; in fact , they hat the episode . In co - creator David X. Cohen ’s words ( quoting the language ofSimpsonscharacter Comic Book Guy ) , Fox executive deemed “ I , Roommate ” to be the “ Worst . installment . Ever . ”
" I , Roommate " first aired on Fox on April 6 , 1999 .
Custom Image by María Sánchez
Groening Ignored Fox’s Notes & Made The Show He Wanted To Make
Groening managed to negotiate the same creative freedom he had on The Simpsons
With time of year 3 , instalment 19 , “ Roswell That end Well , ” they did a time travel storyline that end withFry slumber with his grandmother and becoming his own gramps . With season 4 , episode 7 , “ Jurassic Bark , ” they made audiences shout their eyes out with the heartrending story of what happened to the detent Fry left behind in the past . And there were a handful of Bender storyline explore the idea of false oracle . Futuramanever settled into a formula ; it used the measureless potential of the science fiction genre to search not only comedic premises , but touching emotional storytelling .
Futurama’s Success & Longevity Prove Groening Was Right To Ignore The Executives
As usual, the creator was right and the network execs were wrong
The success and longevity ofFuturamahave proven that Groening made the right call ignoring the executive ’ banknote . Bender and Zoidberg – the two character that Fox balked at – became two of the show ’s most popular characters . The outlandishness that Fox found so objectionable became a grownup part of the show ’s charm . If Groening had listened to Fox and toned down the show , it would ’ve become a generic , forgettable sci - fi situation comedy . By following his own strange , perverted imaginativeness , he conjured up something much more uniquethat has captured audiences ’ imagination across the earth for decades .
Futurama ’s popularity has endured for a lot longer than the average boob tube funniness . The serial publication was in such high demand that it ’s been brought back in four different iterations . It publicise for four initial seasons on Fox , broadly speaking considered to be the show ’s golden era , before being canceled . Then , five eld afterward , it was brought back for a fifth season made up of four made - for - television receiver movies . Then , a yr afterwards , it was revive on Comedy Central , where it ran for another two time of year . Then , 10 years later , it wasrevived yet again on Hulu , the interpretation that ’s presently airing .
The serial publication has endured for so long – and in so many different incarnation – becauseGroening stuck to his grease-gun and did n’t cave to the originative ideas of profoundly uncreative connection executives . By ignoring internet note of hand and stick to his own vision , Groening was able to make something special and personal within the cutthroat Hollywood machine . Futuramamight not have had the easiest route to the silver screen , but it was deserving it for a reliable telly masterpiece .
Futurama follows the exploits of Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy from 1999 who is cryogenically frozen for 1000 years. Waking up in the year 3000, Fry befriends a cyclops named Leela and a roguish robot named Bender, and the three find employment with Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery service. Their work takes them to all corners of the universe, exploring space and the future as imagined by Matt Groening and the creators of The Simpsons.
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Cast
Futurama pursue the effort of Philip J. Fry , a pizza delivery boy from 1999 who is cryogenically immobilise for 1000 years . fire up up in the year 3000 , Fry befriend a water flea distinguish Leela and a rascally golem distinguish Bender , and the three find work with Planet Express , an interplanetary pitch service . Their work take them to all corners of the cosmos , explore space and the future as guess by Matt Groening and the Godhead of The Simpsons .
