The Making of Futurama was a Sh*t Show (Part 1)

Following up after The Simpsons is hard. Let’s talk about how difficult it was to make Futurama, from Fox questioning every aspect of the show to dooming it with a terrible timeslot.
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In the entertainment world, there are millions of dollars on the line and troubled productions are bound to happen. Whether it's big egos, bigger budgets, or just plain bad luck, we are going behind-the-scenes on these disastrous, never ending, and sometimes dangerous productions. From the creators of WTF Happened To This Movie?, It Was A Sh*t Show is a video essay/documentary/podcast series looking at some of your favorite films and tv shows, and why they were such a nightmare to make.
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:36 - The Simpsons’ Changed the World
02:37 - Matt Groening Creates Futurama
03:49 - Enlisting the Help of David X. Cohen
05:27 - Fleshing Out a Science Fiction Comedy
06:50 - Battling the Risk Averse Fox Network
09:09 - Unexplained Recasting of Fry & Leela
10:41 - Developing an Animated Sitcom
11:53 - Making an Episode Just for Fox
12:53 - Futurama Debuts Then Moves Timeslot
13:46 - Groening Trashes Fox Over and Over
14:57 - Inconsistent Sunday Airings
15:52 - Fox Forgets Futurama Exists
16:28 - Canceling Futurama the First Time
17:11 - The Series Push into Serious Sci-Fi
18:01 - A Surprisingly Emotional Series
19:24 - Writing a Fitting Finale
Sources:
The Atlantic: bit.ly/3wV7ZYt
Calgary Sun: bit.ly/3vu37sH
Entertainment Weekly: bit.ly/3Vn8XXm
Entertainment Weekly: bit.ly/3Ph2w4z
The Face: bit.ly/43kjNiQ
IGN: bit.ly/49SMDJN
Mother Jones: bit.ly/43ni9wR
Mr. Showbiz: bit.ly/3x1JXep
Radio Times: bit.ly/3VM0Jsn
SCI FI Weekly: bit.ly/3IPmfEK
UGO: bit.ly/3TGzqOG
Variety: bit.ly/4d8bD1M
Variety: bit.ly/4coGzuc
Wired: bit.ly/3xkZRAD
Featured Footage:
Beavis and Butt-Head (1993-2011)
BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
The Daily Show (1996 -)
Diagnosis Murder (1993-2001)
Doctor Who (1963-1989)
Family Guy (1999 -)
Futurama (1999 -)*
King of the Hill (1997-2010)
Lost in Space (1965-1968)
MADtv (1995-2016)
Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006)
Married... with Children (1987-1997)
The Office (2001-2003)
The PJs (1999-2001)
The Simpsons (1989 -)
South Park (1997 -)
The X-Files (1993-2018)
*and special features
Convention Coverage: t.ly/WzuvQ
Science Museum: t.ly/0HKKG
Music:
Alf Clausen - The Simpsons OST
Christopher Tying - Futurama OST
Danny Elfman - The Simpsons Theme
Pierre Henry - Psyche Rock
Pizzicato Five - Baby Love Child
Ryan Hudson - Sh*t Show Theme
#itwasashtshow #futurama #mattgroening

[@Nathanatos22]

This may be the first video essay I’ve seen in which “Groening” is pronounced correctly.

[@AL_Mir29241]

Its still wrong - he pronounces it like "Grayning". Its a Dutch / German last name. The "oe" (or ö) is pronounced like the "oo" in "moon" and the G is pretty much impossible as it sounds like you're regurgitating flemch. A little softer in German. So in english it'd sound more like "Grooning" (as the Dutch / German "G" sound isn't known in the English phonemes)

[@Nathanatos22]

@@AL_Mir29241 I recall reading an article in the early 90s (although I can’t recall exactly where) in which Groening says his name rhymes with “raining.” That always stuck with me-I suppose because it was news to me at the time. In any case, after a quick search, it appears Groening repeated “rhymes with raining” multiple times since I first read that article. So yes, “It was a Sh*t Show” is pronouncing it correctly.

[@Juzmy]

@plutomalunga As a native dutch speaker with basic german skills - for me - that explanation is spot on.

[@fonkbadonk5370]

@@Juzmy Ö doesn't make a sound anywhere near "moon" though. The "correct" pronounciation would very much hinge on whether the origin is Dutch or German.

[@SicketMog]

@@fonkbadonk5370 Us nordics have Ö/Ø as well... In standard Swedish not so bad but as a south-western Scanian, thanks to the diphtongs, it would take me a LONG time to explain the pronunciation. But who gaf? 'Muricans murder non-English words/names all the time.

[@TheBrokenEclipse]

It's insane that Fox didn't understand how brilliant Futurama truly was

[@GoTeamScotch]

If you grew up with the simpsons, futurama was a natural fit.

[@user-pq2mu5xc2x]

Fox are not known for being sane or a good company. Why you think Simpsons was always shtting on them....

[@KeyDash753]

Probably the same people who canceled Firefly. They were really on a roll back then.

[@pyropulseIXXI]

They did. They just didn’t care. They want things their way and are willing to torpedo a series if they don’t get their way

[@Fredrovicius]

Look at them now - they don't seem sane to me!

[@prescottwhynot]

"The parts the executives were most uncomfortable with were--" proceeds to list all the best parts.

[@kingcosworth2643]

That means you know it's true

[@Roddy556]

Lol.

[@ionlyhavegoodtakes]

bait used to be less obvious smh

[@PotatoSofi]

POV: You have 80 yo executives

[@thespicemelange.1]

I literally cried when the dog sat there and waited for him to return, really pulled on my heart strings.😢

[@ehhhhhhhh2233]

Tugged

[@irregulargamer1352]

I never watch that episode again. Its way too sad. Id rather saw my own arm off than let my dog go like that

[@BubbaSmurft]

Everybody did.

[@StevieZala]

My Husband always used to say "Got something in your eye again?" whenever we watched that one. I'm not an openly emotional person either but it gets me every time. Well that one and the very last episode of Samurai Jack. Sadness with real people in TV shows doesn't bother me but poor old Seymour waiting like that, such a great show.

[@ryanreedgibson]

Yep, you're not the only one. I bawled my eyes out, too.

[@kevinbyrne4538]

You deserve a medal for all of the editing that this video required.

[@TotoDG]

8:24. I can't believe Groening and Cohen would commit the heinous act of *setting episodes of a sci-fi show on other planets.*

[@lanceash]

It's just like when the Sci Fi network demanded that MST3K only do Sci Fi movies when the fan base didn't care what kind of movies they savaged.

[@L4nd0C4lr1s14n]

Kind of like Deep Space Nine. I wonder what drove them to leave the station for entire episodes at a time. Hmmmmm.

[@daelen.cclark]

@@lanceash Just because it’s the Sci-Fi channel doesn’t mean it should be limiting like that.

[@lanceash]

@@daelen.cclark That was the MST3K guys' complaint. They felt limited in the choices of movies they could use. Also, the channel demanded that they come up with a storyline connecting the skits featuring the Mads and the crew. So that was extra work they had to do.

[@ripdeth]

It's like when Fox censors literally wouldn't let Spiderman be Spiderman.

[@B0Boman]

I really appreciate your careful curation of background clips to go along with your script. Some other channels about TV/Movies just play the trailer on loop, but yours is like a new Easter Egg every 5 seconds!

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Thank you for noticing. To me, that should be the bare minimum of making content like this.

[@RafaelStrangiato]

Agreed! I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. This is a gem.

[@HowievYT]

@@ItWasAShtShow sharp and dlightful work - a gift to this viewer, thx.

[@CoercedJab]

Stop watching those channels then

[@RafaelStrangiato]

@@CoercedJab I think it's a safe bet they already stopped watching those channels.

[@SilverXTikal]

18:55 THAT!!! THAT EPISODE RIGHT THERE!!! First time I ever cried to any tv show. I was like 9 and laying in bed with my dog who was my best friend in a not so good house. We were the. Lack sheep in our house and got all of the rage and anger released on us. This episode came on as I was trying to go to sleep for school. It all hit me that scene seeing Seymour grow old still waiting for fry. I can still feel that strong being pulled thinking about it. RIP my doggo. She made it to 18 and in a happier life

[@freakmoon8171]

This is the only episode I refuse to rewatch because it hits to hard at the feelings 😂

[@fransb8543]

Reading your story gives the loyalty of Seymour a new edge. I too felt immensely saddened by that scene and I was just a spoiled teenager with no real problems to speak of, I can't imagine how hard it must have hit you. Hope you are in a better place now and know you deserved better than what you got at the time. Take care.

[@ErikGarcia07]

When I first saw that episode as a kid at my grandma’s house, it made me really sad thinking that my dog was probably waiting for me to come back home. Now I know he is waiting for me again up there, I miss him so much.

[@krisbacks]

indeed, thanks for the timestamp.

[@daytwaqua]

I'm curious, what kind of dog was she? I've only had a couple dogs regularly in my life, one was a Golden Retriever/Lab mix, which basically looked like a Golden, but with short hair. The other is a full Golden Retriever my son got almost two years ago, who I puppysit while he's at work. The Golden/Lab mix was one of the dumbest, happiest dogs I've ever been around, and my grandpuppy is just as happy, but incredibly intelligent. That intelligence, along with the typical eager to please nature of Goldens, makes training him a breeze, usually with praise alone being enough motivation for him. I still give him plenty of treatos though lol. Jeez, I just meant to ask what kind of dog you had, so my apologies for the additional text wall lol.

[@om3g4z3r0]

I watched futurama in english before i knew english, i rewatched it a thousand times, they helped me learn it, they always teach you something and i'm thankful for everything they done, there is no bad futurama episodes there is only less good ones.

[@user-ym4xy6us5e]

When you study English the first thing you should learn is that the word English must always be capitalized. By my judgment you have a lot left to learn. The personal pronoun "I" is always capitalized. The name of the program "Futurama" must be capitalized. You're thankful for everything _they did_ , not what "they done"; and there are no *bad* Futurama episodes but a few that missed the mark.

[@om3g4z3r0]

@@user-ym4xy6us5e What episode of futurama did they say that?

[@FortWhenTeaThyme]

​@@user-ym4xy6us5e Capitalization is near the bottom of the priority list. A lack of capitalization will not stop a single English speaker from understanding them, it will get ironed out with more immersion, and it can be easily remedied with auto-correct or something like Grammarly. Their English is understandable, and that's what matters. Also, they didn't ask for your opinion on their English, so mind your own business.

[@FortWhenTeaThyme]

Ignore the other guy. It's awesome that you learned through immersion with the help of a TV show! =]

[@om3g4z3r0]

@@FortWhenTeaThyme Eh, don't worry i'm unoffendable, honestly i enjoyed the highlight, how can i fix something if i don't know it's wrong.

[@maux7767]

I think that what really built the Futurama following was its Adult Swim run. Like, the crazy timeslot and release order just stopped it in its tracks but it aired consistently on Adult Swim and people like me ate it up every time it was on.

[@ripdeth]

Saved KOTH and (unfortunatley) Family Guy too.

[@fadew55]

Yeah I started watching it on adult swim through highschool, never would've found it. Honestly it was what led to Rick and Morty for sure. Rick and Morty better thank Futurama

[@wchorski]

if I didn't know better, I'd assume it was a native [as] show

[@sharktobear]

The clips used were soooo impressively selected, basically every clip thematically matched what you were saying during the intro (I laughed when you said "for the time" and showed Grandpa talking about the onion on his belt, which was the style at the time).

[@PolitikPolitik-fh2qc]

Agreed it was amazingly made

[@CalvinJary]

Being obsessed with the Simpsons, was the style at the time

[@zyphen5315]

Futurama was better than the Simpsons.

[@jonnyhatter35]

Def not, but I do think it was a truly great cartoon. They both were

[@e.j.2578]

Ya know, I didn't think so until after Futurama was gone.

[@jpoopist]

100% fact. The Simpsons had many moments of greatness but it's telling that Groening had to go and make a good show to get away from Simpsons mediocrity.

[@DG-hw8it]

It's propaganda gave me a bad feeling watching the Simpsons....👎😢

[@Kahsimiah]

A few of the early episodes are definitely better than the lower half of all Simpsons episodes.

[@MaximumRaxx]

Imagine being given that second chance to capture lightning in a bottle and doing everything in your power to cripple it. Fascinating that even after all that, Futurama still soldiered on to craft a timeless legacy. What a show.

[@robotba89]

A lot of people don't know that once someone is in those big powerful roles, it is very easy for someone to point a finger at them and ask "what do you do around here?" and that is why corporate bigshots "meddle". I don't defend their crappy wrong decisions, but it's simply those people trying to do their jobs. 99% of the time all of the numbers point to something, and this is all CEO bigshots do, is follow numbers. It's the consumer's responsibility to recognize that large publicly traded companies like Apple/Activision, for example, are not motivated to provide quality. Smaller, private companies usually are motivated to grow and provide quality. Large big businesses can withhold updates like waterproofing, because they are a corp that needs to keep stocks growing quarter to quarter. It is objectively job suicide for a CEO to not plan 10+ years down the road. Trickle out updates, instead of doing the right thing, or you get fired by the board, who represent the shareholders, who want to make money. People who buy and trade stocks contribute to this terrible watering down of quality, and I will never participate in the objective reason quality is so bad in almost all of our hobbies. Brands die. Video games have it the worst. The products barely function and are funded with pennies and scraped out the door. Customers put up with it, and it's the standard for that industry. The best games are always independent. Big name buys the small game, and runs it into the ground, because consumers can't tell the difference. Movies? Same thing.

[@TheGrammarPolice7]

You must either write "even after all that" not surrounded by any commas, or write it surrounded by both an opening and a closing comma. They are called bracketing commas. You chose the wrong option of writing one of them but not the other. This makes me sad.

[@PolitikPolitik-fh2qc]

Just those few clips from luck of the fryish and jurassic bark triggered me. Those are some of the hardest hitting episodes in western animation for me.

[@Michael-sb8jf]

Same

[@AFKbelle]

same. this video is phenomenal !

[@EzekielGoldbergII]

The newest season has legit terrible ones.

[@PolitikPolitik-fh2qc]

@@EzekielGoldbergII I haven't seen the newest stuff.

[@EzekielGoldbergII]

@@PolitikPolitik-fh2qc Some episodes are ok but some are downright awful. The new writers aren't putting out the same quality.

[@davissmedley5937]

One other thing worth bringing up about Phil Hartman’s involvement with the series: Fry himself was actually named after Mr. Hartman as a tribute to him after his tragic passing.

[@kikrinman1450]

That's thoughtful, I imagine Matt took his death especially hard.

[@gregorysoble8494]

Am I misremembering that he was the intended voice actor before his passing?

[@gregorysoble8494]

Nevermind I should have waited 10 seconds longer and my question would have been answered. It was Zapp.

[@kiwitrainguy]

Yes, no more Lionel Hutz or Troy McClure.

[@Nimrod336]

Me and my brother would watch the Simpsons and then our favorite show, Futurama, every sunday..god i miss him r.i.p bro

[@thatoneguy378]

I feel your pain. My cousin and i used to watch Futurama and King of The Hill every weekend either show was on. My cousin passed away a few years ago. He was like my brother. My condolences and deepest sympathies.

[@DenethordeSade.90]

Overdoses?

[@Nimrod336]

@@DenethordeSade.90 one was a car wreck, one od, and one got shot. I've lost everyone in this world I ever cared for..I would be dead if I didn't have to raise my autistic nephew..my brothers where living wild and fast lives. After I started taking care of my nephew I left the streets alone and I like to think my son saved me as much as I saved him.

[@majorpwner241]

@@Nimrod336 I know the feeling. Also miss my brother who I grew up watching these shows with. Nothing ever fills that void. I just want to be able to go back in time, have that most relatable person in the world by my side, and get some severe brainrot watching these hilarious shows in the living room together.

[@majorpwner241]

@@Nimrod336 Good luck going forward btw, man. We both know there's no going back, but your nephew is so worth living for. It's the same with me looking after my parents. Peace bro, stay strong.

[@KagedWhizDumb]

Although a fictional character, Philip J. Fry is one of my most inspirational influences. His tenacity for life and finding joy everywhere, while fighting for his one true love is truly admirable. Thank you for this show, even if it was a Sh*t Show.

[@fdsfggr]

same XD

[@garinsparks7041]

Thanks for getting the Hypno-Toad in there✊️

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Thanks for sticking around for that Easter egg. I wasn’t sure how many would get there.

[@ignacioramirez5477]

@@ItWasAShtShow We NoW mUsT sUbScRIbE

[@LukeNasti]

​@@ItWasAShtShowI got there lad. Love your videos, keep it up babe ❤️

[@conorstapleton3183]

ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD!!!

[@vandamn19]

@@ItWasAShtShow Not only the video was great, but in the end, when I saw the toad, my mind just said "ALL HAIL HYPNOTOAD"

[@smacksalad]

ALL HAIL THE HYPNOTOAD

[@jamesalexander3530]

Ribbit! Zap ⚡

[@taelorwatson9822]

Love hypnotoad

[@jamesalexander3530]

Hail Deal Leader. Bzzzzzz!!! 🐸

[@mdood9299]

One of the only modern animated shows to ever bring a tear to my eye. That's the brilliance of the show at work.

[@wesleybrehm9386]

And here I am watching a KZbin skit crying remembering "Jurassic Bark". Damn, Futurama was beautiful and brutal and hilarious.

[@RandyContello]

that is one episode, i CAN NOT rewatch... first time i saw it - i was 20 years old... i CRIED ugly cry... my girlfriend at the time - was also - crying with me... the second i saw seymor's animation my entire body started to tense up and instantly sad as shit... that episode - is pain

[@Nick_CF]

Right

[@990cristian]

I'm with you there... I'm trying to hold uo my tears just now remembering that episode. The mere mention of Jurassic Bark makes a 34 year old man cry...

[@kastfilms]

I can’t watch that episode without bawling like a baby, this coming from a man that took a potato cannon to the balls without shedding a tear. Episode is pure tear fuel, but it’s also cinematically brilliant.

[@raifthemad]

If it takes forever, I will wait for you.

[@ignacioramirez5477]

Futurama is such a good show that it makes you cry with the smallest bits of the episodes.

[@Dan_d00d]

this. 100%. it became my therapy outlet

[@PowuhToSeven]

Bro any Leela and Fry EP is a guaranteed bitchfest for me and I'm a 32 year old father of two kids bro.

[@sparklelikeaghost]

@@PowuhToSeven What does that even mean lmao

[@swanclipper]

@@sparklelikeaghost he turns into a blubbering mess. he becomes a bitch and can't stop it.

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

no it doesnt

[@omegadecisive]

It's crazy that the Fry Yancy episode and ending to the devil's hands are idle playthings, still crack me up even with no build up. Honestly and easily my favourite TV show of all time

[@JohnHirsch88]

I'm welling up over here

[@swanclipper]

@@JohnHirsch88 it's alright boys... we can shed a tear.. but don't let it rule you. don't cry.

[@elihughes9317]

@@JohnHirsch88 I started crying immediately... Kinda ugly, actually. That's some of the most touching stuff I've ever seen. Man became a space man

[@top115]

I can totally relate. So much memories so much emotions. Cracked me up instantly too. School time memories. :) There was that one perfect girl which made school the best place in the world. We related perfectly and had such a great friendship. And I wanted her so bad. It was very similar to Fry and Leela. We never came together back than and had so many close moments. And so many heart crushing moments too. Thats more than 20 years back - now she is my wife and we have three beautiful kids ❤❤❤

[@strdeath449]

I consider Futurama one of the greatest animation series of all times and the team behind did a great job. It has inspired me since I was a kid and now in my 20s I have a cartoon animation idea I love and I hope one day it will be out there for everyone to see.

[@jefff3023]

They had the opportunity to be one of the best. This newest season is such dog shit though. The last time they ended it, it ended on such a great note. It should have stayed canceled this time.

[@alphagt62]

I recently bought the complete DVD set. I don’t regret buying it! So many episodes that don’t usually make the tv reruns.

[@yixnorb5971]

@@jefff3023 It's dog shit because Fox is paranoid about releasing anything that is the slight bit controversial or edgy that the new toons aren't even funny anymore.

[@LetsG00000]

Fry’s mom having the dream about him watching the Packers🧀 game with her makes me tear up every time. Or when Lela’s parent were the ones watching over her (or under😂) during her foster years.

[@mrjoe5292]

Billy West did an amazing job but Phil Hartman as Brannigan would have been amazing.

[@TheAlexSchmidt]

There was a video game called Blasto where Hartman played a similar character, so I guess that may be the closest we're ever going to get.

[@Dan_d00d]

the endless spine tingling possibilities of how to say velour

[@sarsattacks]

Phil Hartman had already passed, and Zapp Brannigan was an intentional homage to him. In fact "Philip J Fry" is named after Phil Hartman.

[@sleeve-tv]

AGREE

[@marcsarfati3291]

Billy West did 7 years on most popular national radio show in US. Doing voices HOWARD STERN. Why was this not said?

[@franzpattison]

The best episode was the devils hands are idle playthings where fry sells his soul to get the ability to write a romantic ballad for leela, and does it anyway after he loses that ability. So amazing

[@DeathMetalDerf]

That's a great episode

[@ExoticChaotic]

Sold his soul? They just traded hands right?

[@franzpattison]

@@ExoticChaotic yeah but there was a reason he was in robot hell in the first place. Then he made a deal with robot devil.

[@ExoticChaotic]

@@franzpattisonyeah he did, to trade hands with a random robot on the wheel, no catch, he fortunately didn’t get rectal exam bot.

[@DanODea]

My favorite line from any show. " You can't have your characters announce how they feel! That makes my feel angry!"

[@D5Do]

I'm proud to be one of the original viewers who recognized the greatness of the series from the beginning.

[@brockbaker]

Would LOVE to hear Phil Hartman's recordings if they exist.

[@kingdoduo4074]

Man, executives will always wave around properties that everybody loves, but they hate.

[@DogDooWinner]

It's almost like TV executives are incompetent.

[@orangejjay]

It's almost like most executives are incompetent. Often people in management positions get their job thanks to their outgoing personality and potential narcissist tendencies. Their fellow narcissists think this is a good trait in a manager and thus promote them for it.

[@CornishCreamtea07]

I don't think it is always a case of them hating them. In cases like this, they panic that it won't be popular because of baseless assumptions that they thought up.

[@MrDrawerGuy]

I love that you didn’t mention that the footage used for while talking about Pocket Pal wasn’t just a cut to a random robot, but is actually the only scene used for Pocket Pal in the show. So that I can feel smart for recognizing it myself 🤓 I’ve heard this story covered before, but never this well presented and with some details I’ve never heard before! Great research and editing in this video, looking forward to the next part :)

[@ItWasAShtShow]

I knew at least one person would catch this! Glad you noticed!

[@peterdarr383]

So Pocket Pal would just be Mansplaining periodically ??

[@dannyarcher6370]

Futurama >>> The Simpsons

[@ggomez4573]

One of my faves is when they make the time machine that breaks so the universe starts over again, just a couple feet lower. The time lapse was amazing to me.

[@dman6261]

Probably my favourite show ever. I still cry with Fry's dog

[@ConkerTS]

It was so moving, that episode's ending. But there is a happy ending; in a later episode, a clone of Fry is created (I won't say why, for spoilers' sake) and sent back to the moment when the real Fry has fallen into the cryogenic freezer. The clone is identical to the real Fry, and even believes that he is Fry, and has no memories of the future, and he lives out Fry's life as it would have been if Fry never fell into the freezer, which means that Seymour (Fry's dog) would have gotten to spend his life with Fry, being with him every day. Futurama is, to me, the greatest cartoon series ever.

[@davidwuhrer6704]

​​@@ConkerTSHe has memories of the future. The episode is Bender's Big Score.

[@catwiesel_81]

no sane human wouldnt

[@SortaNonymous]

7:19 Well, I guess the best way to describe Fox executives' reactions would be to quote another classic show screwed over by Fox in the 2000s only to get revived later: "I've made a huge mistake." (Insert "CRY LOVE!" playing in the background)

[@bw10311983]

I'll bet those same dumbasses love what the Simpsons has become.

[@Dan_d00d]

watch out for loose seals

[@Grievous_Nix]

@@Dan_d00d never thought I'd miss a hand so much!

[@pyropulseIXXI]

What show? You just say this story and don’t even mention the show. You are like a fox exec

[@Grievous_Nix]

@@pyropulseIXXI Arrested Development

[@Walthermeisster]

I still have the DVD box sets, even saw them with commentary - such a great show!

[@world_still_spins]

Note to self: Buy, at some point, a blu-ray boxset of Futurama.

[@eligra]

@@world_still_spins Ooohhh really do, the commentary tracks are hilarious (they really get going in season 2) and very interesting. Or go the cheap route and buy used DVD box sets for each season!

[@jochenstacker7448]

I'm still devastated over Jurassic Bark.

[@redjirachi1]

Futurama: Get canceled again Also Futurama: I didn't hear no bell

[@JK-qn9qr]

too bad every cancellation, the quality dipped :(

[@Carewolf]

@@JK-qn9qr I mean it got better after the second cancellation, but then it couldn't get worse so where would it go?

[@FortWhenTeaThyme]

@@JK-qn9qr Honestly, I don't consider Futurama to have come back after the first cancelation. The show felt totally different, devoid of any of its original charm.

[@thatguywhowearsblack]

Fox: The kid that wants new toys until they get bored of it or until other kids want it.

[@gabrielplume6778]

You had to put in a clip of Jurassic Bark, didn't you?? Now I'm crying thanks

[@pklpklpkl]

The clips of direct satire and jabs had me cackling, especiallyyy the last one

[@Sharkbaby424]

A Sh*t Show episode about Futurama??? Oh hells yeah! Also, I always love when you throw in stuff that only fans would get, like at 12:40 when you say "axed" instead of asked.

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Glad you caught that! I was on the fence with that because I did something similar in my Arrested Development episode and not many got the joke.

[@nicklang6798]

With visual aid 🤣

[@Sharkbaby424]

@@ItWasAShtShow Those of who know the show got it and it was appreciated! The writing in all your videos has always been strong but I did feel it got a lot more playful around the AD videos.

[@lukemadams]

I enjoyed the pronunciation of robot too

[@badandy1203]

and GLOBVIOUSLY! 😂 Shmuh!

[@DKGifford19608]

Shows FOX cancelled: Futurama, Family Guy, Firefly, Arrested Development- some of the most celebrated TV ever.

[@longagoandfaraway7868]

I was pissed when they canceled Brisco County Jr after one season.

[@rory4016]

This series is up there with the best content on KZbin. So well researched and delivered its an absolute joy to watch

[@ordinarryalien]

I had never heard of this channel before. This is a strikingly well-produced video.

[@NIGHTGUYRYAN]

you guys have been on the grind lately! loving all this content and im losing my mind in excitement for futurama. wow, knocking it out of the park! ❤🎉

[@povertymidas]

Fantastically put together, looking forward to Part 2!

[@dylanpailing4314]

Dude, I was cried at the mention of Jurassic Bark

[@freshtoast3879]

Yeah. Just terrible.

[@pipoline]

Man, the way your trek this industry sh*t shows is really entertainment! Congrats on the great videos

[@teddyfurstman1997]

I love Matt Groening’s works from The Simpsons, Futurama and Disenchantment. Animation is my favorite medium.

[@WaterShowsProd]

While not animated, you should look into his comic strip Life In Hell, which he did before The Simpsons.

[@tubedude54]

Yes! Someone actually mentioned 'Disenchantment'! I am so hoping they do another season but alas... they kinda brought it to an end...

[@kiwitrainguy]

And don't forget The Critic.

[@MadMacz99]

Here’s hoping Disenchantment is released on Blu-ray at some point. Much like Futurama, I would love watching the episodes with commentary from Groening, Cohen, the writers, and voice talent. You just don’t get that on streaming services.

[@canonkingsley6569]

Man, Fox Execs are serial killers. They cancelled a ton of great shows. Firefly and Angel being among them. I think this is one of the things why streaming is better.

[@ItWasAShtShow]

Netflix and Disney are just as callous as Fox. Their catalogs of one season shows grows each week.

[@JeffreyPiatt]

@@ItWasAShtShow Fox Network hates airing any Sci-fi programing they have never let any show in that category end on it's own terms. dating back to onle of there first shows Alien Nation based on the fox film en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_Nation_(TV_series)

[@sacrificiallamb4568]

@@ItWasAShtShow Yep, this is true. Only difference is Disney delete them in batches and don't say what's been deleted.

[@thetruestwaffle47]

Don't kid yourself, same exces, new coat of paint.

[@patrickbuswell]

I came here to mention Firefly as well. So sad, but at least Futurama survived!

[@johnathansilva2823]

The 3D animations, the COLORS, the unusual characters.. I loved watching Futurama as a kid.

[@SiriusMined]

Jurassic Bark makes me cry, every time. That clip you showed even brought tears to my eyes. The first time I saw that episode, I had just gotten my dog Blitzen, and the ep made me emotional. Now she's going, and it makes me thiink of her.

[@mathieuleader8601]

Fun fact: Futurama at one time was going to called Aloha Mars and had Kang & Kodos show up

[@mr.turner6470]

The editing on these videos is unparalleled. So many great jokes through just the edits alone. Awesome video!

[@missheard101]

Great video. Can't wait for part two!

[@jballbro]

Amazing episode. I was at San Diego Comic Con in 1998 and Matt drew Homer and Bart pictures and signed them for me, then a few years ago I had a house fire and out of everything that was lost, these are some of the most devastating. I tried reaching out to Matt's company but got no response. It sucks. Love The Simpsons and Futurama. Thanks for making this, it was great!

[@Zobbster]

Damn, that was an excellent video with some sweet editing. Nice work, can't wait for part 2!!

[@jadechan8673]

ok, now i need to rewatch Futurama apparently. Great vid, love how much effort you put into choosing perfect clips to illustrate your points!

[@Drmcclung]

I can totally see Matt Groening and David X Cohen creating a super passive-aggressive (towards whichever network they're on at the time) character for the show called "Cancel Llama" as their ultimate "oh no, we're cancelled, again!" meta joke 🤣😂

[@dennismore3640]

Big Futurama fan from the start. The moving time slots was frustrating enough, but even more frustrating was that the show was often in a slot that conflicted with a baseball game and therefore preempted. oh, still watching, guess that issue was covered.

[@3xBeamDream]

Named my youngest son after my oldest brother who I dearly miss. Fucking relatable.

[@DirkusTurkess]

I'd say being shot to death by ones wife was pretty unexpected. RIP Phil Hartman.

[@ADerpyReality]

Billy West was smart enough to make Fry's voice a young version of his own voice meaning he couldn't be replaced (It didn't hurt that he did more characters than just Fry though).

[@honey3762]

I remember going to Germany and watching this show in German and all the songs the characters sung were still in English it was a surreal experience

[@jimmylarson7856]

Great episode. Can’t wait for part 2

[@quixoticeefster2955]

I miss this show so much. Bender? Bender?!? Have you seen my sombrero? 😂

[@ronsmith8424]

Fun on the bun !

[@jerekorsumaki437]

They just released new episodes last summer and are probably doing more, too

[@thecurbdog123]

I can't believe it's been 25 years since Futurama was part of my teenage bed time routine.

[@TheGrammarPolice7]

A "teenage bed time routine" is a time routine for a teenage bed. That's how adjectives work when the writer forgets to combine the ones that are intended to be parts of a compound adjective. In this case, you needed a hyphen: "teenage bed-time routine."

[@thecurbdog123]

@@TheGrammarPolice7 I just used text to talk and hit send. No one gives a fuck.

[@conclavecabal.h0rriphic]

I will never emotionally recover from the episode that features Fry’s dog- who waits for a cryogenically frozen Fry to return until he eventually grows old and passes away in front of the pizza shop where Fry worked as a delivery boy, still waiting…💔

[@foriaduero1850]

❤ And the episode that shows how Leelas parents protected her and the Song „Baby Love Child“ plays…

[@DaxSchaffer]

This was a really fun and informative watch. Looking forward to part 2! *All glory to the Hypnotoad*

[@adaw2d3222]

My favorite show! Sad how the newest season ended up. It felt like each episode was just fan service.

[@teruienages962]

You are completely wrong. The new season was great, and it was just as sharp, witty and relevant as ever.

[@adaw2d3222]

@@teruienages962 As a long time fan I don't feel about it the same way.

[@johneverett3947]

I agree, the animation was poor, the lines were flat. It had no soul. I stopped after only a few episodes. 😢😢

[@martinbuhrer3893]

Even seeing that tiny bit about "Jurassic Bark" makes me tear up. Thank you FOX for everything you did to inspire even more creativity in the show's creators.

[@MADmidway]

I was 20 when Futurama came out. And i was instantly hooked. And Futurama is the only reason i have a Hulu subscription.

[@hubiedoobiedoo]

Like Futurama itself, this is a work of art. Nicely done 👏

[@SuperFlik]

18:34 Goddammit, completely out of context and this line still has me tearing up

[@mediocreman2]

It's perfectly in context. However it was a very short clip and yeah it doesn't take much!

[@gblargg]

Didn't think I would watch this all the way through. Thank you for not putting in cheap jokes and gimmicks. It kept me watching.

[@spex20]

18:46. even the clip pulls hard enough to bring tears!!

[@AprehamLincoln]

Futurama is the greatest adult animated series that ever existed. The "those morons st Fox" trope was never more true than when it came to the handling of this show.

[@triforcewielder8500]

Hola from Colorado! By far my favorite show growing up and I still love it!

[@occamraiser]

A Computer Scientist!!! I KNEW IT. I have always cited that Calculon line "Do you have an extra GOTO 10?" as one of the best in-jokes in Futurama. FOX cancelled Futurama, but FOX News won't cancel fascism....hey ho, I'll never understand Americans.

[@starblinky4091]

NICE. A new episode. This is the only channel where I upvote before watching.

[@BoogerDad]

The very best joke/bit that Matt Groening ever did, was on The Simpsons: 138th Episode Spectacular where someone wrote in asking how Matt writes an episode every week, so the studio went to him directly. It cuts to a shot of an elderly man wearing Grandpa's outfit mid-lick of the salt portion of a proper tequila shot, then he pulls out a gun as he screams "get out of my office!" That's how I will remember Matt Groening forever. Just the absolute saviour of television, sitcom and animation for years to come, and just that simple bit of him poking fun at himself, pretending to be an unhinged lunatic for the sake of a joke that no one asked for (he could have made any kind of joke, but went self deprecating), just solidifies him as a genius when it comes to real content.

[@kiwitrainguy]

Possibly the best joke for me (one of the best) on The Simpsons is when Homers is about to record the voice for Poochie and he asks if the cartoon is going out live. (I think it was) Roger Meyers Jr says that very few cartoons are shown live, it's a terrible strain on the cartoonists wrist.

[@kazager11]

Lethal Inspection (hopefully explored well in next installment) always gets me right in the feels! That closing scene and song, chef kiss!

[@systander]

Luck of the Fryrish hit me so hard, I was not expecting it, and I was sobbing like a baby. All the time slot changes explain why I would see this show so sporadically. This video has me feeling nostalgia pretty hard for the 00's, thanks for this.

[@singingpepper]

Did you REALLY have to bring up Jurassic Bark? That wasn't very, (as the kids say), cash money of you. All jokes aside, I really loved the video. Can't wait for the next one.

[@bosshoore]

You know a show is frikkin timeless when certain snippets used for a documentary still put tears into your eyes.

[@thecasualfly]

Futurama is my comfort show.. I watch it all the way through 2-3 times a year... It's just so good... and never get tired of it.

[@badad0166]

Personal favourite Simpson's line would be Mr. Burns answering the phone "Ahoy Ahoy!" If you don't get it, that's part of why I like it so much...(I'm more edjumucated than you)...

[@kiwitrainguy]

"Ahoy Ahoy!" is what people used to say before "Hello". This demonstrates how antiquated C.M.Burns really is. I'm sorry for giving away the origin.

[@badad0166]

@@kiwitrainguy Typo by me fixed. Put "I" when I wanted I'm. No, the Graham Bell ref is the whole fun. The inside joke for those who know.

[@kiwitrainguy]

@@badad0166 Thanks for replying, it has given me a chance to correct my typo as well. I have no idea who Graham Bell is so I guess it's lost on me.

[@badad0166]

@@kiwitrainguy Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone and proposed "Ahoy Ahoy!" as the way to answer the telephone. Look it up. There were a few people working on it at the same time and like radio, few agree on who was actually first. But in Canada, it's AGB.

[@kiwitrainguy]

@@badad0166 Oh, I see. I didn't recognise his name without the "Alexander" at the beginning.

[@TheIfsta]

Literally can't wait... Might honestly consider getting patreon for early access

[@johnathansilva2823]

I barely watch any shows or movies but Futurama, Always Sunny, and South Park, I will rewatch any time.

[@JerKur18]

Awww, I didn't know that about Billy West voicing Brannigan and honoring Phil Hartman with his voice. That's so sweet; bittersweet, but sweet.

[@GrunkleMary]

This was fantastic! I love the unkillable spirit of Futurama so much and legit have always liked it more than The Simpsons.

[@GrunkleMary]

Jurassic Bark is still a hard watch, but The Sting breaks my heart into a thousands pieces

[@That_Dan_Guy_]

Good News, Everyone! This podcast is brought to you by HYPNOTOAD!!!!!!! Also, The Simpsons has nothing over Futurama.

[@George2647g]

The fact that I can stilll laugh out loud at that Simpsons gag about Fox still to this day decades later just speaks to how great that show was..

[@thestooge200]

Boy, this is gonna be a good couple of episodes! It's amazing how futurama survived through such adversity. Most shows of similar quality that get shoved around in time slots don't last long, despite their ratings and fans' best efforts.

[@pbtproductions2024]

To shreds you say?

[@Dextrome]

oh man why'd you have to remind me of the dog episode :(

[@JustHarrison]

I remember watching Futurama sporadically during its original run on Fox and not thinking it was anything special. It wasn't until I could watch it consistently on Adult Swim in 2005/06 that I came to recognize its true genius. To this day it's still my favorite animated show with the best joke of all time: Zapp - “I like your style, Fry. You remind me of a young me. Not much younger, mind you. Perhaps even a couple of years older”

[@giniwelle]

Fry playing that hologram thing to Leela will be my forever favourite moment in anu show ever. I will never forget that scene. Pure magic!

[@kiwitrainguy]

I think you mean the Holophoner.

[@entropyachieved750]

Such a funny show