This week on TVOlogy, Summer TV Preview Week gives you an exclusive look at five of our favorite returning series. Here, Emily Cheever talks about the special somethings that make Futurama just so wonderful.
Summer TV Preview Week
True Blood (Monday) | Suits (Tuesday) | Futurama (Wednesday)
Awkward. (Thursday) | Degrassi (Friday)
What exactly is it about Futurama that is so good? How can this show continue for so many years and still remain consistently funny? There's something special about the resilience of a cartoon, especially when the cartoon has lasted since 1999 and changed television channels. One of Comedy Central's best decisions ever made was to pick up the cancelled FOX show, and its new home on basic cable gave the actors and writers a chance to relive the glory years- those years being set in the 31st century.
The new season of Futurama has all the characters that you've grown to love, plus some references that loyal fans will appreciate. The caption on the opening credits is especially relevant to the cult fans of the show (and loyal Reddit users). The first episode is a wisely Bender-centric plot, based on Bender becoming a father. That's right, we get a brand new character as repulsive and morally reprehensible as Bender is. The second episode brings the love as it delves into the apocalypse and Leela and Fry's complicated yet tender relationship. I'm so glad that their relationship isn't forced yet accepted.
This is an example of how much the fans mean to the creators and writers. If they (the creative team) were to ignore the multiple "finales" that Futurama has experienced, we would feel betrayed. Yet, as the creators hold the dedicated fans close to their proverbial bosom, there's still plenty of humor and entertainment to go around. I don't think any other shows compare to Futurama when it comes to the fact that every episode is kind of a bottle episode. You really don't have to know the history of these characters in order to be amused by the mass of puns, animated jokes and plain ol' silliness that happens in the half hour slot.
It's actually hard to pick a favorite character in Futurama. For a long time it was Professor Farnsworth, hands down, but this season is making me have straight up emotions toward Scruffy, the lackadaisical janitor of Planet Express. Then there's Zoidberg, oh Zoidberg- the Eeyore/Meg Griffin/crustacean of the future. I promise you that if you like Futurama this season will not disappoint. Even if you have never seen the show, it's never too late to start (but you can start on Netflix Instant!)
Futurama premieres Wednesday, June 20th at 10pm on Comedy Central.
Tomorrow, Terron R. Moore examines the critical acclaim of Awkward. with the show's stars Beau Mirchoff and Brett Davern, as well as the first two episodes of the season.
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Follow Emily Cheever on Twitter: @emilyfcheever
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