GOOD (BUT SAD) NEWS EVERYONE!
by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
Futurama returns for one more season of adventure starting tonight at 10pm on Comedy Central!
After successfully escaping from TV Heaven (or Robot Hell if you are Bender), the Planet Express crew is about to head off into the sunset (again). Having completed 4 Direct-To-Video releases, and 3 additional seasons, Comedy Central has decided to not renew the sci-fi comedy for additional episodes. While this news is bittersweet, at least fans were given the opportunity to enjoy many additional hours with these beloved characters over the last few years.
Tonight’s episodes include “2-D Blacktop” and “Fry and Leela’s Big Fling”. The network was kind enough to send the episodes out to the press for review, and I can say without question that the show is going out with a bang.
“2-D Blacktop” – When the Planet Express ship, “Bessy”, gets damaged once again, Leela encourages the team to obtain a new mode of transportation. Outraged at the decision, the Professor attempts to repair the ship to the best of his abilities with the help from the local junk yard , but it seems that Bessy might truly be past her prime. While working to repair the ship, the Professor has a run in with some futuristic street racers who quickly learn that things are not always what they seem in New New York! Meanwhile, Leela and the crew must deal with their new ship/mini-van equivalent.
Episode Highlight: Watch out for a quick cameo by Pimp-ar-roo – “The Pimp Kangaroo”.
“Fry and Leela’s Big Fling” – Fry and Leela finally get some alone time! Well…not right away. After several failed attempts at getting some time to themselves, the couple departs to a special secluded resort planet. Meanwhile, Bender, Zoidberg, and Amy head out on a delivery to Simian 7, a world ruled by apes of the future!
Episode Highlight: The return of Guenter, the talking ape!
It is really encouraging to see the show have two extremely solid episodes going into its final stretch. There are many laugh out loud moments, and it looks like all of the characters are getting a chance to be in the spotlight. Outside of the main cast, I really enjoyed seeing Guenter return to the show. With this minor decision, they were able to acknowledge that the show has a rich history, and also demonstrate that the characters have come a long way during the course of the series. Callbacks in comedy are hard to do, but when they are done right it makes it that much better, and Futurama has a consistent habit of making those moments stand out.
With a series of celebrity cameos planned for the remaining installments, I believe that Futurama fans will be very satisfied with the final run of episodes. Tonight’s premiere has set the bar high, and I think that this group of writers will make sure fans leave satisfied.
ComicsOnline gives Futurama – “2-D Blacktop” and “Fry and Leela’s Big Fling” 5 out of 5 perfect starts to a second final season.
….
Check out this new press release for the rest of the FINAL SEASON of Futurama!
“FUTURAMA” BLASTS INTO ITS FINAL FRONTIER…. AGAIN!
FINAL SEASON OF THE EMMY® AWARD-WINNING COMEDY SERIES
TO PREMIERE WEDNESDAY JUNE 19, 2013 AT 10:00 P.M.
Series Finale Slated for September 4
Guest Stars for the Final Season Include Larry Bird, Dan Castellaneta,
Sarah Silverman, George Takei, Adam West and Burt Ward
Final Season Celebration Kicks Off with 50 Day “Countdown to Futurama”
Leading up to the Season Premiere on Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Fans Can Visit ComedyCentral.com to Get Web-Exclusive Content,
Including Episode Previews, Exclusive Interviews and More
NEW YORK, April 22, 2013 – “Futurama” rockets into space for the (second) final time as the Emmy® Award-winning series will conclude its long history with this summer’s all-new season. The thirteen-episode summer run will premiere on COMEDY CENTRAL with back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, June 19 at 10:00 p.m. with the emotional series finale scheduled for September 4. Special guest stars for the final season include Larry Bird, Dan Castellaneta, Sarah Silverman, George Takei, Adam West and Burt Ward. The show’s entire original voice cast will be returning. Including the yet-to-air season, this will bring the total number of episodes in “Futurama’s” storied history to 140.
“I’m very proud of the upcoming season. If this is indeed the end of ‘Futurama,’ it’s a fantastic finish to a good, long run,” said creator and Executive Producer Matt Groening.
“Having the opportunity to bring ‘Futurama’ back for 52 episodes over these last four years has been a thrill for all of us at COMEDY CENTRAL. The upcoming season promises to be the best final season of ‘Futurama’ yet,” said Dave Bernath, EVP Program Strategy & Multi Programming.
COMEDY CENTRAL will celebrate the final season of “Futurama” with a host of bonus content on cc.com including weekly episode previews, highlights and photo galleries featuring concept artwork from the upcoming episodes. The site also contains clips from the entire library of “Futurama” episodes and features exclusive interviews with the show’s cast, as well as with Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, plus a “making of an episode” mini-documentary. Later this month, COMEDY CENTRAL will begin its summer-long celebration of the final season with the launch of “Countdown to Futurama” on Facebook, where its fan base has grown from one million “likes” prior to its 2010 resurrection on COMEDY CENTRAL to over 26 million “likes” today, making it one of the top television pages on Facebook. The “Countdown” celebration will feature new and exclusive content daily, including clips, episode stills, character designs and more. In addition, the celebration will extend to the COMEDY CENTRL Tumblr which will offer a “Futurama Fanarama” feature spotlighting fan tributes to the series and its final season.
First airing on FOX from 1999-2003, “Futurama” was brought back in 2007 with four direct-to-DVD movies that subsequently aired as 30-minute episodes on COMEDY CENTRAL. Based on their success, COMEDY CENTRAL ordered new seasons of the series which made a triumphant return to television in June 2010. Over the course of its storied run, “Futurama” has earned six Emmy® Awards–including two Outstanding Animated Program, seven Annie Awards, two Environmental Media Awards and two Writer’s Guild of America Awards.
“Futurama,” created by Matt Groening, developed by Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, is produced by The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Television.
20th Century Fox Television, a division of News Corp, is a leading supplier of entertainment content domestically and around the world.
Available on-air, online and on-the-go, COMEDY CENTRAL (www.cc.com) is the #1 brand in comedy and is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIAB). For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit COMEDY CENTRAL’s press Web site at www.cc.com/press and follow us on Twitter @ComedyCentralPR for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the- scenes information and photos.
…
Grab your time machine and check back to ComicsOnline.com for more Futurama coverage and for everything geek pop culture!
