Difference between revisions of "Cancellation of Futurama"

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Cancellation of ''Futurama''}}
{{DISPLAY
{{about|the first cancellation|the second cancellation|Second cancellation of Futurama}}
 
In [[2003]], when [[The Curiosity Company|the production company]] of ''[[Futurama]]'' were waiting for [[FOX Network|FOX]] to order a fifth production season in wake of the [[Season 4|fourth production season]]'s production being almost finished, no call came, effectively labelling '''''Futurama'' as cancelled''',<ref name="com-bbs-dxc">{{cite commentary |speaker={{n|Cohen|David|X.}} |film=Bender's Big Score}}</ref> ending the show's [[original run]].
 
In early [[2006]], after successful [[DVD releases|DVD sales]] and popular syndication on [[Adult Swim]], [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]] decided to order four [[films]] as a [[Season 5|fifth production season]],<ref name="com-bbs-dxc"/><ref name="com-bbs-mg">{{cite commentary |speaker={{n|Groening|Matt}} |film=Bender's Big Score}}</ref> and the show started its [[second run]] in {{June}} [[2010]]. [[Comedy Central]] announced in {{April}} 2013 that they [[second cancellation of Futurama|would not be renewing ''Futurama'']] and aired [[Meanwhile|the final episode]] on {{date|4 September}}, 2013, ending the show's second run.
 
== Causes ==
 
The first and foremost cause of FOX refusing to order new episodes after four production seasons is attributed to the price of the show and its decreasing popularity.  Despite ''Futurama''{{'}}s pilot episode, "[[Space Pilot 3000]]", being the most watched pilot episode on FOX when it aired,<ref name="com-epSP3K-jd">{{cite commentary |speaker={{n|DiMaggio|John}} |episode=Space Pilot 3000 |volume=One |disc=1 |quote=Wasn't this the highest rated debut in Fox history? Am I mistaken in saying that?  I think it was.}}</ref> the show had been decreasing slowly in popularity over time, and FOX was disappointed in the show, which they had assumed could gain a popularity like their other show, ''[[The Simpsons]]'', and even within FOX, arguments arose regarding whether they had kept ''Futurama'' alive for too long.
 
However, despite FOX's own disapproval of the show, FOX themselves was at least to some part to blame for the decreasing viewership of the show.  Indeed, its popularity had not gone down, but rather the amount of viewers it had, as the show had moved to a less popular timeslot since "[[I, Roommate]]". In addition to the less popular timeslot, it was also highly unstable, as FOX would often put off an episode for another event, e.g. sporting or news reports. This made new episodes highly unpredictable for viewers.
 
Indeed, FOX's unstable airing eventually led to the airing of five broadcast seasons, rather than the four produced.<ref name="com-epAFTR-eh-seasons">{{cite commentary |speaker={{n|Horsted|Eric}} |episode=A Flight to Remember |volume=One |disc=3 |quote=This was show ten of the first season, when it was actually aired as the season première of the second season.  So you can see how, sometimes, production seasons and air seasons don't match up.}}</ref><ref name="com-epTDHAIP-dxc">{{cite commentary |speaker={{n|Cohen|David|X.}} |episode=The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings |volume=Four |disc=4}}</ref>  Not only were episodes aired out of order, but examples like "[[The Route of All Evil]]" had to be pushed back two entire seasons.<ref name="com-epTROAE-dxc">{{cite commentary |speaker={{n|Cohen|David|X.}} |episode=The Route of All Evil |volume=Three |disc=3}}</ref>  This unpredictable nature, the unpopular timeslot eventually lead to the demise of the viewership and the show's popularity in terms of numbers.
 
Despite the fact that "Space Pilot 3000", the pilot, was a very popular pilot episode in terms of viewership,<ref name="com-epSP3K-jd"/><ref name="pilot-ratings">{{cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117492811.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |title=Fox sees 'Futurama' and it works |author=Bierbaum, Tom |date=1999-03-30 |publisher=Variety |accessdate=2010-02-07}}</ref> as well as the second episode, "[[The Series Has Landed]]",<ref name="ep2-ratings">{{cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117492973.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |title='Futurama' cools, but still holds on to auds |publisher=Variety |author=Bierbaum, Tom |date=1999-04-06 |accessdate=2009-04-17}}</ref> whose popularity was attributed to the Sunday line up it was in, with the lead-in show of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' as well as ''{{w|X-Files}}'' after the show, FOX decided to move the show to its Tuesday line up instead, beginning with "I, Roommate", which as expected hurt the show's ratings.<ref name="ep3-ratings">{{cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117493047.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |title=Fox's four-toon Tue. stumbles in first try |author = Bierbaum, Tom |publisher=Variety |date=1999-04-08 |accessdate=2009-04-19}}</ref>  And the show continued to dwell on these ratings for four broadcast seasons.
 
== Cancellation ==
 
<!-- Note:  There are PLENTY of more sources for this second, I... just couldn't be bothered finding them all now; but if you have some, please, do share. -->
 
Technically, ''Futurama'' was never cancelled, it was simply not renewed.<ref name="com-bbs-mg"/>  In usual [[production]], the purchase of an additional production season, usually comes near the end of its current production season, as to not put the production company on hold for too long, which would eventually cause a loss of money.  By [[2003]], the [[Season 4|fourth production season]] was basically finished, and the producers were waiting for [[20th Century Fox Television]] to call with an order of another season.  However, the call never came.
 
However, Fox had alerted the [[The Curiosity Company|production company]], that "The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings" could be the last episode that they would ever make,<ref name="com-epTDHAIP-dxc"/> as such its [[The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings#Production|production]] was developed with that in mind, and at the very least was written as a season finale.  It did later turn out to be the series finale they had feared.<ref name="com-epTDHAIP-dxc"/>
 
=== Second cancellation ===
{{main|Second cancellation of Futurama}}
Comedy Central announced in April 2013 that they would not be renewing ''Futurama'', and aired the final episode on 4 September, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Marechal|first=AJ|title=Toon comedy has logged seasons on Fox, Comedy Central since 1999|url=http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/futurama-cancelled-by-comedy-central-1200406963/|work=Variety|accessdate=22 April, 2013}}</ref> The producers said that they were exploring options for the future of the series as "we have many more stories to tell", but would gauge fan reaction to the news.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/04/22/futurama-not-renewed-comedy-central/|author=Dan Snierson|date=22 April, 2013|title='Futurama' to end seven-season run on Sept. 4 -- EXCLUSIVE|work=Inside TV|accessdate=22 April, 2013}}</ref> Groening and Cohen have previously expressed a desire to produce a theatrical film or another direct-to-video film upon conclusion of the series.<ref name="IGNFuturama">{{cite web|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/06/18/futuramas-back-and-bigger-than-the-red-hot-chili-peppers?page=2|publisher=IGN|title=Futurama's Back, and Bigger Than the Red Hot Chili Peppers!|author=Max Nicholson|date=23 April, 2013|accessdate=23 April, 2013}}</ref>
 
== Return ==
{{main|Speculation of Futurama's return until the second run}}
{{update}}
 
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
 
[[Category:Futurama]]
[[Category:Production]]
[[Category:Production]]

Revision as of 22:57, 24 July 2015

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