Written By: Ken HulseySource: Comedy Central
It has been a long road back for the popular animated sci fi/comedy, "Futurama", which initially aired on the Fox network from 1999 to 2003.
After the network cancelled the program due to low ratings it got a second chance through syndication on Cartoon Network, and then, Comedy Central, where, like "Star Trek" and "Family Guy" before it, the series gained new fans.
Realizing that they had a potential hit on their hands, spawned by high ratings and the success of the direct-to-DVD releases, "Bender's Big Score," "The Beast with a Billion Backs," "Bender's Game" and "Into the Wild Green Yonder," Comedy Central struck a deal with 20th Century Fox Television in 2009 to produce 26 new episodes.
That deal almost fell apart due to a contract dispute between the network and voice actors, Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche and Tress MacNeille soon after it was announced. Frustrated over being offered much reduced salaries, the actors boycotted a planned presentation at the San Diego Comic Con to announce the new series. As a response to the 'no-show', Fox then put out a casting call for replacement actors. A few days later, both sides caved in, and an agreement was reached that would benenfit both parties.
The show was back on!
On June 24th the first of these new episodes, "Rebirth", is scheduled to air on Comedy Central, and if what we have seen in the previews is any indication of what's to come, "Futurama" is in for a much longer run on the network.
It is if show hasn't missed a beat in the seven years since it has been off the air.
Here is the skinny from Comedy Central:
Prepare to be transported to the year 3000 for the return of Fry, Bender, Leela and the usual cast of twelve-dimensional space monsters. Back by popular demand, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's brilliantly subversive animated sci-fi comedy "Futurama" debuts its sixth season of 12 all-new half-hour episodes on Thursday, June 24 at 10:00 p.m. on COMEDY CENTRAL, kicking off with a special hour-long block of two back-to-back new episodes. The series also reaches a milestone on Thursday, September 2, when it celebrates its 100th episode.
"Futurama" follows the life of Philip J. Fry (Billy West), a pizza delivery boy who accidentally stumbles into a freezer on December 31, 1999 and wakes up a thousand years later. In his future home of New New York City, Fry goes to work for the Planet Express Intergalactic delivery company, where he befriends Bender (John DiMaggio), a booze-fueled robot, and sets his romantic sights on Leela (Katey Sagal), a sexy cyclops who enjoys beating him up.
In the premiere episode, "Rebirth," a devastating space battle leaves the delivery crew members reduced to skeletons. Their only hope for survival is the Professor's experimental re-birth device, but its use results in severe sci-fi complications.
In the second episode, Leela and hunky space captain Zapp Brannigan find themselves stranded, alone and naked, on a Garden of Eden-like planet.
Special guest stars this season include Chris Elliot, Craig Ferguson, George Takei, Sergio Aragones, Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, Katee Sackhoff and Mark Mothersbaugh.
Online at comedycentral.com, the new "Futurama" Web site, which launched in May, features episode previews and highlights, mash-up videos of some of the funniest moments from the previous five seasons and an exclusive recap video narrated by Zapp Brannigan. On Wednesday, May 4, the COMEDY CENTRAL Insider Blog launched the "Countdown to Futurama." The countdown features an exclusive sneak preview of season 6 content each day, including stills, storyboards, prop designs, video teases and more. As the season continues, the site will be home to exclusive interviews with the show's cast, as well as with Matt Groening and David X. Cohen. Additionally, there will be a weekly Facebook quiz based on the most recent episode. Users can then share their quiz results with their friends.
"Futurama," created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen, is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television, with multi-Emmy® Award-winning Rough Draft Studios, Inc. contributing the animation.
Characters:
Fry
A delivery boy with no future, Fry was accidentally frozen on December 31st, 1999 when a pizza delivery went horribly awry. He awoke a thousand years later to find himself in New New York City, a wonderland of robots, aliens, stars, moons and clovers. Fry soon went to work at the Planet Express delivery company, run by his great-great-great...great-great-nephew, Hubert Farnsworth. With his best friend Bender and off-again, off-again girlfriend Leela, he travels the universe, boldly going where no pizza boy has gone before.
Bender
Built to bend girders, Bender was fed up with his career and began a new life as part of the Planet Express delivery crew, along with his best friend, Fry. In his free time, he enjoys gambling, cooking, stealing, folk singing, bending, computer dating and dating computers.
Leela
Leela is a sexy cyclops whose character, intelligence and willingness to clobber opponents make her a natural leader. Leela is adept at avoiding the clumsy romantic advances of her co-worker, Fry.
Here are a whole bunch of new promotional images from the new season of "Futurama" for you to feast your eyes on:
See Also: Four Brand New Images From FUTURAMA! / "We're Back Baby!" Futurama Cast Members Returning To Show! / Bad News Everyone! Futurama Voice Actors Unlikely To Return For New Series / Good News Everyone! Fox And Comedy Central Order 26 New Episodes Of Futurama / Wizard World Texas Scores The Premiere Of Futurama Bender’s Game / Futurama: The Beast With A Billion Backs Trailer / Futurama Series 2 Action Figure Set / Futurama: The Beast With A Billion Backs