Cool News
Salary Dispute Means New Voices For Zoidberg, Fry, Leela and Bender On FUTURAMA!!
I am – Hercules!!
Bad news, everyone:
Comedy Central’s new episodes of “Futurama” are apparently going forward without the participation of core cast members Billy West, Katey Sagal and John DiMaggio.
From Fox:
"We love the Futurama voice performers and absolutely wanted to use them, but unfortunately, we could not meet their salary demands. While replacing these talented actors will be difficult, the show must go on. We are confident that we will find terrific new performers to give voice to Matt and David's brilliantly subversive characters."
One assumes they found out about Harry Shearer becomming a multimillionaire playing Mr. Burns and Smithers on “The Simpsons.”
Salary disputes were rumored to be the cause also of West’s exit from radio’s “The Howard Stern Show” a decade or so ago.
Find all of Entertainment Weekly’s story on the matter here.
Follow Herc on Twitter!
Season Eight: Volume Five!! 
Hrm.
Season Eight: Volume Five!!
Hrm.
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That sucks... they own those voices, it will be weird with someone trying to copy that sound and feeling. WEIRD!
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*bangs head against wall* There's really nothing to say is there. A voice cast isn't some interchangeable group just because we don't see them on screen. I doubt fox would consider doing this for any live action show and it'll effect the shows popularity upon return in much the same way. The voice cast is the heart and soul of the show. And people don't like change. They've really fucked themselves in the ass with this.
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So the first order of business once you bring back the show you cancelled in the first place is to fire the people that helped make it great? Good job.
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Can't imagine that this will go over well...
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I do NOT want to hear "Bite my shiny metal ass!" done by anyone other than DiMaggio.
No West, No DiMaggio, No Sagal?
Me no watch. Hey Comedy Central...BITE MY SHINY METAL ASS! -
Remember when Fox announced they were going to audition new voice actors for "The Simpsons?" That didn't happen, because everyone involved knows that the show could never be the same, and fans wouldn't take to the new performers.
I expect the same thing will happen here. Right now it's just both sides swinging their balls around. -
And LeeLa will sound like Kathy Griffin.
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But hearing this news makes me hope that this project dies. No more Futurama is better than cheapened Futurama.
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But i don't think I can watch the return of futurama now. Sure, the same witty and inventive writers will be penning the scripts, but it just won't be the same. They all breathed life into their characters and made them who they are. It's hard enough watching the first season given how their voices have grown into the roles since then; i can't imagine it being the same without them. Maybe if one or two left I could handle it, but all of them? Nope.
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We don't want new voices. What the fuck.
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Jul 17, 2009 3:12:05 PM CDT
Leela will be voiced by Bobcat Goldthwait
by itsjust_notcool_anymore_baby
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Guess all those years of playing the gold digging wench went to her head.
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just forget about it then. leave it as we know it.
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Are you fucking asshat idiots? Why don't you also "update" the show by making it a 2009 live action reality show with a cast of early 20 something's who live in Hollywood?
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I officially boycott...New Futurama is dead to me.
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Jul 17, 2009 3:13:56 PM CDT
this is gonna be worse than the Fake Fred from The Flintstones
by glenn_the_tool
when Fred's voice inexplicably changed in later seasons of The Flintstones, it would totally take you outta the show. and now it's gonna happen with Futurama. but this time it's gonna be worse, since just about EVERY major character will sound different. just pay them what they want, Fox. buncha fucking cheapskate assholes.
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If Glen A. Larson can shell out the big bucks to bring back Mel Blanc to voice Twiki, because everyone realized the other guy sucked, then Comedy Central can bloody well do the same to bring the Futurama gang back.
Can anyone else ever do Homer Simpson? Hell no, you pay Castalanetta et.al. what they want or you fold up your tents. It should be the same with Futurama. -
Fuckin corny ass Spike Tv tried to bring back 'Ren and Stimpy' and made them homos?... I don't know which idea is worse. With the exception of MST3K, I fucking hate it when shows get completely re-casted. Also, when networks pick up other networks shit...it's asking to be axed anyway.
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THE asshole of the air waves. Eat shit and die! Sneaky buncha twats...
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Damn you non-existant talkback edit feature.
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I was just watching some Futurama late last night on Adult Swim ("Hell is other robots") and thinking how great the writing and voice acting is/was.
I can understand *if* the actors are asking way over the projected revenue, but there's got to be some way to compromise and keep the original show intact. Revenue sharing? Performance bonuses?
Other, fuck this shit. -
Won't be watching this anymore. They should just keep it off the air. With this lovely development, ti probably won't last a season anyway.
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That maybe this is a negotiation strategy. Fox is now showing that they are willing to go on without the core cast, rather than give them Simpsons money. That they are going public is a way of showing they are serious. My hope is there will be an aicn headline in the next little while that goes something like this "Hold on, fox now saying the original cast may come back??!!!" Come on everyone, if we all think it at the same time it will come true.
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Count me out
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Jul 17, 2009 3:32:08 PM CDT
Your fucking joking!! Bad call. Thats the end of that then
by col. tigh-fighter
And so ends the greatest of all the cartoons :( Those guys ARE those characters. Cant see it working now.
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The actors doing the voices were an integral part of this show...replacing them with new actors will NOT work. At all.
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I guess I won't be watching new Futurama.
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They're looking for people to send in audition mp3's for the various roles. I say we all make our own protest mp3's and tell these idiots just to use the cast that's established now. email to FUTURAMA@SCOTTMULLERCASTING.COM
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I'm inclined to think that this is just a tactic to get the voice actors to come down on their salary requests, because noone will watch it otherwise. The show's been off the air for years, and has some mild success in COmedy Central repeats/Direct to DVD movies, but without the original cast...who really cares about it that much???
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Its nice to see a talkback where the unanimous hate is justified.
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Ever heard him when he's unscripted? Unfunny and really, really unintelligent. Anyway I can quite imagine him/his ego expecting a Simpsons-level salary. It's a shame it went this way though. I quite enjoyed that show.
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Fox is like the Michael Bay of production companies. They buy up properties people want to see, sell it entirely on the name, then put out complete shit products. They know the audience is comprised mostly of sheep that will respond to the property name alone and they continue to get rich off of it. Damn you, Fox, and of course, damn you, Michael Bay.
Seriously...nothing like a swift punch to the gut to kick off a weekend, eh? -
Family Guy recast Meg and didn't miss a beat.
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Don't you have some too-specific Baywatch references to beat a dead horse with? Billy West is hillarious unscripted, and beyond that he is a LEGEND in voice-acting and does deserve a Simpson's-level salary.
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CC could afford 3 seasons of Mind of Fucking Mencia but they can't foot the bill for a cast that has earned their wages! FUck you COmedy Centra;
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Jul 17, 2009 3:45:56 PM CDT
WEST DID THIS KIND OF THING ON REN AND STIMPY DIDN'T HE?
by edgarwrights_prolapsedanus
As in take over the voices when the show's creator had his show taken off of him. I think Billy West might be a bit of a prick.
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
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Hopefully CC will come around, because that simply is not Futurama. Not even in the slightest.
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...doesn't even give the fans a reacharound. Bye, bye, Futurama.
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Its not just the main cast, think of ALL the voices John and billy did for the show? every one of them would be different.
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full stop.
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No longer interested. I won't be watching. Will the studios never learn?
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i mean even little kids notice this kind of stuff.
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He was just commenting a few days ago that he would love Billy to come in. This would be a good time for them to make up. Less than a year and a half to go before Howard retires; time to eject Artie and get Billy and Jackie back for the final push.
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Not really the same thing. Maybe if they had recast Meg after 5 years instead of 1. Besides, it was Meg. That's like recasting the voice of Nibbler.
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Welcome to FINO, folks...
Fox... Why am I not surprised?? -
Seriously, Focks, you think anyone is going to watch this without Billy West, John DiMaggio and Peg Bundy? They WERE the show.
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Comedy Central can bite my white fleshy ass. Futurama won't work with different voices, the characters are too linked to them after all this time. Just drop the whole project or cough up the dough. Knowing how cheap MTV/Comedy Central is, West and the others probably just wanted what they made at Fox. I cannot believe this shit. Comedy Central is dead to me, not that I watch it except for Futurama reruns.
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the other voice actors. It's not just the main 3 characters....there's also Kif, Mom, and hermes
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while the episodes will air on comedy central....the quote about hiring new actors is from fox.
it even says so on this article....right before the quote in the gray box the words "From Fox:" should tell you who made the decision -
After those god awful "movies"?
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is if the don't bring back any of the original characters. Maybe new characters in the same futurama universe? I have faith the writers could pull it off, or maybe if the professor gets a new crew? i dont know, i just dont wanna see the characters i love with different voices.
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Dammit. I LOVE Futurama. More than Family Guy, Simpsons, South Park, or Venture Bros. Okay, maybe not more than Venture Bros, but about equally. I get extremely agitated each time I hear Robot Santa not sound like John Goodman, and Death not sound like Norm McDonald. Bender, Fry, and Leela CANNOT change voices. Even if they mimic the voices exactly, which I do not believe is possible, I won't watch this, I won't buy this, I will sign up to bad mouth this in every online forum I can find. Power to the voices.
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Man, I must respectfully disagree. At least with the first two...I hope the last ones didn't suck so much as to negate how great the first two are. I personally loved them.
It makes sense Fox won't fork over the cash. Rupert Murdock is going to have to folk serious cash over for the spying on celebrities lawsuits he has coming done by one of his magazines. -
But CC will just hire more out of work Mad TV people...
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How do you replace these 3 characters? You don't. You deep-six the idea of having new Futurama at all and invest your money elsewhere.
I wouldn't be able to watch this show without them. -
I blame Zoidberg!
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This just ruins my day. I'm gonna go beat my dog. I've been telling all my friends, real ones and facebook ones about the return of Futurama. People are excited, happy, elated even. But this is like someone reaching up your ass all the way to your neck and pulling your innards out and then taking a picture and sending it to Guinness for consideration as the record for world's biggest hemorrhoid. It's awful, but it's the total lack of respect for the audience and the actors that just damns these cretins to hell. What a fucking bunch of bull-shit. This is ten times worse than giant-squid-gate.
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He deserves more money for what he does. What he does with voice work is a revelation. He MAKES Futurama what it is. He makes Fry into comic gold, rather than another generic, overly dumb guy on TV.
Think about this: Phil Hartman was going to do Zapp Brannigan...and West replaced him in a way that nobody minds that we lost out on having Phil FUCKING Hartman doing it.
That shows you how big Billy West's voice talent is. Without him, the show is worthless. Prick or not. -
You bunch of fucking morons. Perhaps the actors were asking for ridiculous money. Fox have done some shitty things in the past and maybe they are at fault in this situation but the fucking 'let's just blame Fox immediately!' approach is fucking absurd. No wonder religion is so fucking big in this country you bunch of fucking 'group-think' idiots. Edgar out.
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While it was awesome on its own. It won't work again as the movies have proved. Bring back the Critic instead.
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Yeah, how dare the actors that perform the fucking material ask for money for a popular show that is raking it in in heaps. The audacity. You cunt-dick.
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I just realized that they had tried to bring back the Critic back when web cartoons were all the rage. What the fuck happened to that? All we've gotten in the past couple of years was that suck fest Seth McFarlanes Calvacade of David Lettermans Stage Hand Trying to Say This Long Similar Title Joke, and I like Seth but that thing sucking fucked.
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that they'd turn down the coin.
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Seeing that Keith David and Tony Todd do 40% of all voices these days, and their are only like 10 other people doing voice work. Can it be that hard?
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You guys are very skilled at getting the public to hate you. We all fucking hate you. Every last one of us. You fucking suck.
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Bender can never be replaced.
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Listen its true that FOx probabaly doesn't want to pay their salaries, but this press announcment is there attempt to get the cast to cave in. I mean really any fan that sees the cast over the next week is gonna say "how can you just abandon futurama because of money" and eventually they will give in, or on the other hand FOX will see all the negative fan feedback and agree to pay them whatever just to ensure the show can come back and money can be made off of it. This will be settled withing 2 weeks at the most, its a similar thing as to what happend between marvel and sam jackson. When cast and the studio can't reach an agrement they go public to guage fan reaction and eventually one side will cave...and with the internet fanboy community being a wee bit over sensitive about who plays what, its usually the studio that caves in fear of losing money by casting shia labeof as nick fury, lol
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There is no way anyone at all would support new voice actors.
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Check out the info on IMDB about Sam Simon http://tinyurl.com/nrzu34
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Those guys (and gal) made the show what is was. Plus their commentary tracks are genius.
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How much were they asking for? Your answer: 'Well, dur, I don't know'. Right, so they could've been asking for an unreasonable amount of money. So shut the fuck up then you fucking idiot.
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Period.
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Fucking bastards don't want actors/writers to have their fair share of video download royalties. Isn't what recent strikes were about?
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It's a week before Comicon. SERIOUSLY? I'm the only one that smells publicity stunt? Really?
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Remember in 1995 when "Baywatch Nights" tried to recast the central character of CJ Whogivesafuck? It was a total disaster, amirite? This will fail horribly, as well as the Marvel movies, our new direction as a country, and the world itself. NNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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no -- noooo nooooooooooo! They get me all excited beyond my wildest hopes by saying the series is coming back, and now... this?
Surely this is some sort of negotiating ploy, and not set in stone? -
whats the point of even doing it now.
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I'm no longer interested. At all.
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I'm pretty sure this story is bullshit. From the Comic-Con website:
1:00-1:45 Futurama: Life or Death?!— Be a part of sci-fi history! Join executive producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, and stars Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, and Maurice LaMarche for high-stakes thrills as a top-ranking FOX executive decides live, on stage, whether Futurama will make yet another triumphant return or whether it is gone forever! The very fate of Futurama hangs in the balance! Paramedics will be standing by in case the intense excitement causes any panelists to collapse. Raucous celebration or abject despair to follow the news. Ballroom 20 -
I have no desire to watch this now.
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Seriously... What fucking reason would I or anyone have, to watch this show, without the Voice talent that made it what it was... Bahhh!
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Ummm...no it doesn't. Fox shit on this show plenty of times and now they are saying it MUST go on? Fox can eat a vitiligo-infected DICK.
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Fuck off, stupid PR move.
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Can you say LOWBALL? They probably didn't want to pay them but peanuts so they pulled them.
This won't wash though, I bet the producers will end up paying these actors what they're worth. -
These voice actors are delusional. Futurama ain't The Simpsons nor Family Guy. You go around demanding ridiculous amounts of money for a show with not that big of an audience, you are asking for trouble. They are lucky that the show even got resurrected. To solve this voice change, they can easily make a storyline where an alien virus infects the throats the characters and changes their voice. And not wanting to be left out, Bender voluntarily changes his voice so that he can be part of the "new voice gang". All this can be narrated by any of the original voiced characters at the beginning of the season and the show can go on as usual after that.
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YES: I believe the voice actors should be FAIRLY compensated.NO: I do not believe they should be paid SIMPSON'S like salaries. If Futurama is around for 16+ seasons, then by all means.YES: In no way (monetarily or visually) will I continue to support this show.YES: This show is dead to me!
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the first half of estacado 1's posting.
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Could probably do all these voices and have Fox roll it into another one of HIS shows. Then Fox will cancel The Simpsons and just be renamed, "The All-Seth-MacFarlane-Suck-Fest Channel"
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...returned, made the powers that be a boatload of $$$ & now has an Emmy nod. Futurama will certainly bring in $$$ @ the very least, so this makes absolutely zero sense.
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GOODNIGHT!
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I don't believe they'd have signed a full season without already having gotten the cast on board and settled salary issues.
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Well, now maybe Billy West will see how John K. felt when Billy stepped to to replace (and screw him) on Ren & Stimpy.
Oh, and I'll still be watching. -
bull. shit. do it right or don't do it at all. none for me, thanx.
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Jul 17, 2009 6:53:50 PM CDT
Okay, I'm done. Fuck Fox, the cast members, producers, EVERYBOD
by tall_boy66
Sorry, you can't do almost 100 episodes (including the direc to DVD's) and THEN recast the entire block. I'm out. I'm done. Seeya later.
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Real deal or PR bullshit, this is a seriously fucked move... oh well, at least they can get Lauren Tom to do all the voices... right?
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Or a 25 cent suicide booth trip is in order for this show. :-(
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Like, "Oh, wait, it's not a salary dispute! everybody's happy!!!" and then they do some thing to say "horray, new Futurama". That's the last hope I'm clinging too. I find it odd the ENTIRE cast would get the boot, and not a single one would accept.
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I thank god that "Futurama" is nothing like "Family Guy" or "The Simpsons" these days. Though replacing all of their principal actors would be a good way to kickstart a similar decline (and yes, I am aware that "Family Guy" was nominated for a meaningless award yesterday).
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Yer telling me FFX paid better than a Fox gig? I mean, really?
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Get the original actors back or don't even bother. West and DiMaggio do loads more than just Fry and Bender. And Katy Sagal is just rad. Give em' some of that phat cash says I.
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Same as live action, they are the characters. If it's just a stunt, it's not a very good one. Fans are happy Futurama is back and we don't want anything to rain on that. If it's FOX trying to lowball the actors, read the boards the world over and give up already. Greedy actors?, remember all the fans that got you back into this gig and be reasonable but don't sell yourselves short. You make the show.
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The feature lengths were dull to not bad at all, but this, IF it's true kills the show.
I mean it stomps on it with Leela sized boots after having cut it's throat and ripped out it's vocal chords.
Futurama is officially dead if this is true and not just a publicity stunt.
These fucking worthless dounchebags at FOX would have computer generated voices for the characters if they could. Couldn't get cheaper than that. Or less funny. But because it's animated the suits don't think anyone will notice. Morons. The voice acting, particularly on the earlier seasons, is superb. It's not an added extra it's integral. -
I was planning on watching the new Futurama, but no more.
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It would be one thing it they turfed out one bad apple - that's pretty common, unfortunately.
But when you purge the whole cast, I think you have to look at the decisionmaking at the top of the ladder. -
SHIT! NOW WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE TWO MORE DEATHS! WHO'S NEXT?!!
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Who knows how much they were offered, perhaps it was genuinely insulting, or perhaps people are being greedy, either way this sucks the joy out of the show's return.
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What a huge pile of shit. No one will want to watch this. Including me, and I adore futurama and own all of them.
FUCK FOX! -
the futurama panel will be interesting this year lol.
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Jul 17, 2009 7:47:25 PM CDT
Wow, that's just retarded. Anybody know what they asked for?
by soylentmean
I'm sure the salary demands would have been more than covered by the DVD sales of the season sets and the syndication money. Holy fuck are these producers assholes or what?
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It sure as shit ain't the writing.
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...it worked out so well for Fox when they tried to do that on The Simpsons a decade or so back.
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Too soon?
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FUTURAMA is dead to me! Amazing that it was such an uphill battle to finally get it to come back and then the cast who made the show is out. Sorry, but these are irreplaceable. You lose Comedy Central.
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...means that Comedy Central better get their asses in gear and come to an agreement. Usually when something like this happens there's at least one person on the defensive end. In this case, not one single person is in favor of it. Not one. This just can't happen. It just can't. Do it right or don't do it at all.
The fact that most of us hardcore Futurama supporters are against it is especially significant when you consider that we were the ones to help bring it back in the first place. This isn't like most cases where the hardcore fans only make up a small percentage of the fan base. We ARE the fanbase. Fix this Comedy Central. Fix this now. -
Wouldn't the voice actors be commenting on the story by now? Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part but I'm skeptical of this story.
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I do voiceover work and I'm in and out of there in about ten minutes. I can't exactly demand top dollar for a few minutes work no matter how awesome I may be. And by the way...Futurama ain't all that popular...it's on basic cable for fuck sakes. These "actors" should be happy for any work these days.
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Like he does on Clone Wars.
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Then why the DVD movies and revival of the series? Don't confuse your opinions with reality.
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Then whoever's fault it is can eat my asshole for getting my hopes up. After those so-so to awful movies I was really looking forward to a return form.
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"Wooop woop-woop-woop woop-woop woop woop" Can that actually be done to the same standard by any other person?
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Seems funny to me that the press materials for the cast appearence as Comic-Con all mention that it will be an exciting showdown between the cast and crew of Futuramam and an executive at FOX who will decide the fate of Futuramam live on stage...
If this isn't a major publicity stunt, then I don't know what one looks like.
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The voice actors are essential to what makes the show great. Without their delivery the jokes just won't work. I hope its some kind of idiotic stunt, but if it is it will only strengthen the talents position when they have a riot on their hands.
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Unbelievable. I really don't believe it. You just CAN'T recast these people.... the spirit of the characers is in the voice - any 'Kermit the Frog' like deviation will be the death of those characters... I will not watch if this turns out to be true.
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After EVERYTHING FOX has done for you! They gave you the single greatest gay superhero icon! Wolverenis penetrated the butt...er..box office and stroked out millions of your hard, fanboy dollars! Fox beat you! They beat you and you loved them for it! And now, to turn on them in their desperate hours! Buncha whoremongering fan wanks!
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and not a publicity stunt, they'd better work it out before Comic-Con otherwise we'll be looking at obits for Groening and Cohen. Cause I am enraged and I am not nearly a big enough geek to attend a Con of any sort. Those guys that go to those things probaly have feelings about Futurama that I don't even have names for. Actually the You Tube video of the Futurama panel that could result may be good enough to warrant the death of Futurama.
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Peg Bundy? shes busy with Sons on Anarchy. Dimaggio? homeless drunk. And the greatest KingDink of them all, Billy West? NUTHIN'! He should stick to giving nude "oriental massages" to the elderly.
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If there was a great and powerful Superman watching over us from heaven, The Venture Brothers would get the god damn respect it deserves.
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Can't believe this news is actually legit. It sounds like the biggest April Fools article since the Oscars changed to 10 Best Pic nominees.This is extremely weird and upsetting news. According to the article, it's not just the principle actors, but Maurice LaMarche and Tress Macneille too. That's almost all roles being recast! I can't believe that Matt Groening and David X. Cohen would be willing to do the show with new actors. Hope this gets resolved, because otherwise this project should just be canceled. There's no point in continuing Fry and Leela's story without the actors we've loved for the last 10 years.
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Like that fucking show needs to be on for 30 more years.
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At least we'll be spared from another so-so "movie"
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Jul 17, 2009 10:03:10 PM CDT
Okay, my anticipation of the new episodes just plummeted about 1
by nasty in the pasty
NO ONE CAN REPLACE BILLY WEST! Remember the "new" Ren & Stimpy?
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FIX THAT SHIT, HARRY
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Roger Rabbit gave us the last "real" versions of Bugs, Daffy, Tweety, ect. Every time they try to ressurect the Looney Tines characters now, the voices just scream WRONGWRONGWRONG. I have yet to hear ONE impersonation of Elmer Fudd that comes within shouting distance of Arthur Q Bryan. I can't imagine ANYONE matching West's Zoidberg or Professor.
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You'd have to be pretty dumb to think that recasting the voice actors could lead to anything other than embarrassing failure. Also, I have trouble thinking Groening would let ever let this fly.
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Damn! My Futurama-loving friend got me all caught up on the whole series so we could enjoy new episodes. This is going to feel just wrong.
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the pressure is now on for the main voices to back off there $75K per ep demands. Its a big ass game of poker, and honestly the biggest possible losers in this game will be us if Fox proceeds with the replacement voices. lame. EW has a good story on this on their website. peace.
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The show ran four seasons, had videogames. DVD movies, why so sad people. Go watch the DVDs.
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Morbo: Morbo will now announce tonight's candidates: puny human number one, puny human number two, and Morbo's good friend Richard Nixon.
Nixon: Hello, Morbo. How's the family?
Morbo: Belligerent and numerous. -
Grow a heart! To never again hear the Professor proclaim the news without cringing? Tragic indeed.
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Peggy Bundy gotta eat bon bons...
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by Hollywood voice actors to keep people, from auditioning for this. I can't name names; but a very well known v.o. actor is leading the charge. No voice actor wants to further their own career at the expense of someone else's.
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Id like to thank Fox for causing me to become a manic depressive. I love Futurama SO much but it seems its run of glory is over now. They are retarded for bringing it back without them.
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Shut the fuck up you purposely contrarian, pompous, jackass.
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The show wasn't that good. Only 100 or so people on the net watched it.
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It's not a requirement to be a complete dick in every post. Just saying.
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No thank you. Let it die a natural death.
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but it's no Simpsons. Hell, it isn't even a South Park.
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the show isn't officially dead. though i dropped the brak show the second the moms voice turned british
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People aren't here lamenting the show's cancellation...they are derided FOX's attempt at resurrecting the show without its original cast. Don't be a fucking troll...if you don't like Futurama - that's fine - but no one here gives a shit about your opinion. The net needs more good trolls…leave this place - go forth and prosper.
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Seriously, Simpsons was great, Futurama was great, how about something new?
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ain't all that popular?
by Bagel13 Jul 17th, 2009
08:39:06 PM
Then why the DVD movies and revival of the series? Don't confuse your opinions with reality.
Dude, it's on basic cable...if it's not on network TV (ala Family Guy, Simpsons, etc) it's not popular. Millions watch the networks. Period. The basic cable stations highest ratings are in the hundreds of thousands on a good day. That, my friend, is not opinion...that is fact (or as you call it "reality.") -
so go with a set rate for the original airings that allows for a quick profit or minimal risk. Then
with profit-sharing on anything that goes over that. -
What are peoples thoughts about whether actors should audition for this? I'm an actor myself and have received the casting sides. ...I don't know what the right thing to do is here. I'm a huge fan of this show and I don't want the writers and creators to be up the creek, so I hope they get good people to do the voices. But the idea of Futurama without the original guys is just... wrong. Should I submit a tape? Or not? I mean works work you know, and I would rather it were me than some non fan who couldn't care less about the project, but a part of me says just leave it alone and don't go near it. I just hope they get this sorted out so that Billy and the others can all come back and do the job. Pay them what they're worth.
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I LOVE Futurama, I LOVE LOVE LOVE it, but it's time to let go. With no Billy, Pam, or John, what's the fucking point?
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sorry, im drunk, I meant Katey Segal.
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groening let fly a lot of shit on this decades' simpsons
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I'm an actor too. And believe me, if this was dropped in my lap, I'd go for it. But don't expect a career out of it. I think the voices are indelible. I ceased to have much of an interest when Mel Blanc stopped doing WB and I think the muppets lost much of their soul when Jim passed away. It'll be a paycheck.
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Yeeeehahh!
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So how did the show get a new season without first signing the voice actors?
Are the actors asking for more $$ than they used to make? Is the studio asking them to take a paycut? Or is the studio unwilling to just pay the salaries they had been paying them
This place has gotten so god damn lazy.
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We don't know what they're asking. Simpsons money? Give me a break. I think Futurama was a better show than the Simpsons, but it has nowhere near the audience. Arrested Development was a better show than Friends, but you didn't see those guys demanding to be paid "Rachel money". Whatever, you get my point.
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despite Fox's constant schedule shifting. But, after watching the first "movie," lost all enthusiasm and gave up.
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I watched all the old episodes with the (pretty good) german dubbing and only the movies with the original cast.
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Jul 18, 2009 5:33:45 AM CDT
Can't be done without NW - like Phil Hartman, irreplaceable.
by workshed
The Simpsons has sucked since PH left the planet. Methinks it's time to put this one to bed. Fox sucks and, once again, shows that it is stuck in the 90s. That's OK though cos I hate Murdoch and his devil spawn.
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Those direct-to-DVD movies were pretty hit and miss (mostly miss), but I was willing to give this a chance because I love these characters and I love (most of) the old seasons of the show. Now? Not a fuck. Good going Fox, you've screwed the fans again.
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I know what you mean.
Why be the first to report news when you can just paste a link to Variety or The Hollwood Reporter? -
Thanks, but no thanks.
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
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Wow.... Fox never ceases to amaze me in their incompetence and uncanny ability to totally f--k up the few good shows that they have.
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i mean, for fuck sake!
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not watching this for free. That's all there is and there ain't no more
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it fucking wasn't!
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without the same voices. Maybe the actors are being unreasonable or maybe Fox is being unreasonable (which is more likely the case), but the end result is going to be crappy Futurama episodes.
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I frankly don't give a fuck if it's Fox being stingy or the cast being greedy, if this is not worked out I will not watch. Futurama would never be the same without that cast considering how many voices West and DiMaggio do.
Also to everyone saying the actors should just be happy with a check. DiMaggio has been keeping quite busy with videogame and TV voiceover work and West has done a bit as well. Again if their asking for stupid money then fuck them, but if they are being lowballed fuck Fox. Whatever the case without them the show doesn't exist to me.
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Futurama is the characters, and those characters would not be anywhere close to the same without those people behind them. I hope this is just a move to try to get them to take less money. I don't know if I can stomach the show without its cast.
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i hope fox people read this talkback. how stupid an idea is this. its as bad as family guy without seth macfarlane, or south park without trey and matt. its the show...without the people who make it the show. therefore, its no longer the show. its some dumb new crap no one will watch. seriously, if this happens...it will be worse for everyone...the voice actors dont get paid...fox loses money producing a bomb series, and the fans are pissed at the lame new show. doing this only hurts everyone!!
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how hot Katey Sagal was during Married with Children. Could never understand why Al didn't want to bang the shit out of her.
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It just seems like there is something terribly wrong about the timing of this news. Usually a new season of any show isn't announced until all the contracts (or a majority of them) are signed. And for them to be replacing the entire voice cast just doesn't make sense. The original press release stating a new season of 26 episodes DID mention that all the original cast would be returning. Can't help but feel that this is a big red herring for the ComicCon panel. So far non of the original cast has cancelled their appearence there.
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The show is not a marketable product without their involvement, this should be the end of the discussion for us and the studio.
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Then who cares? People were up in arms when there was doubt the Powerpuff Girl voices wouldn't be in the movie. With Futurama it matters so much more. Why bother watching?
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I've been boycotting the Sci-Fi channel for years....is it time to do the same with this?
Man, this sucks... -
that I actually *thought* Zapp Branigan was voiced by Phil Hartman and later taken over by West. I just now realized it was West all along.
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HEY FOX, I've bought EVERY Futurama DVD and Bluray available up until this. No cast, no watch, no buy. Simple as that. May as well cancel production now.
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I have been VERY excited about the new shows. Now, I'd rather them not waste their money producing new episodes without the original cast. I hope BOTH sides will wiggle to a successful resolution. I promise I'll continue to buy ALL DVDs on release day.
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Why would you announce that your bringing back futurama before you have the voice actors signed on. Thats cart before the horse, you fucks!!!
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that man can do ANYTHING. put him, Tress MacNeille, and Frank Welker in there, pay them superstar coin to do ALL THE FUCKING VOICES and get it done. Because THEY are superstars. These other people wouldn't be ALL that famous if it weren't for what this franchise did for them (cult followings, etc). Would you even know Dimaggio's name if not for Bender?
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If this is true then he should be feeling the taste of his own medicine when he didn't stand in solidarity with John K. when John wanted more $ on Ren & Stimpy and asked Billy to walk out with him (which he didn't and did both voices instead). West has done some of the funniest voice work in course of 2 decades (the Howard Stern stuff was a riot - Larry Fine, Marge Schott, Jim Backus, Lost in Space 1990 - for those who never heard any of this, you must find History of Howard Stern part 2). But I'm hoping that this is simply a negotiating tactic by Fox so that they can bring them down to earth on their salary demands. It seems strange that they'd be willing to work for what was probably close to their original salaries on the Comedy central specials (knowing that Comedy Central does not pay very generously) and then refuse to work when the show gets picked up by Fox. But then again, I don't know what they're demanding. If this truly happens, I won't be listening to the show, simply because I've become so accustomed to their voices as the characters, which they have made their own. It is truly a sad thing.
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This has to be some negotiation thing or some ploy to get attention. I dunno, but I don't see them being stupid enough to try this.
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... or the worst timing ever for an April Fool's joke. Either that or AICN needed to meet its monthly incensed-lunatic talkback quota. Actually, if this is true (and if he wasn't already involved) one solution would have been to use Billy West to do all the voices (even Leela, his female "voice" actually sounds female). If this goes through this will be the next "AfterM*A*S*H" or "Joey"("AfterF*R*I*E*N*D*S").
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Of course, SOMEthing had to happen to screw up the reboot.Is it just odd coincidence that all 3 of them are asking for too much money? Can't help but speculate if it's the reverse -- meaning, they've been asked to take a cut and won't. Wouldn't surprise me if the show is being made on the cheap.And I don't care how much of a dick West is. He's fantastic and I'll continue to follow his career for another decade.
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Let's go back and redub every James Earl Jones movie while we're at it. No one will notice.
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You could just use an audio switchboard from the internet and continue the show for another 5 seasons. It will be just as creative too.
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Jul 18, 2009 12:13:39 PM CDT
Is there someone out there thinking this is a good idea?
by wickedjester
In all seriousness, who is the suit sitting there and honestly thinking this could work? I would love to be a fly on the wall in those meetings...
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...many many years to adjust to a world with no knew Futurama, and to recognize the 4 seasons they did create as a complete artistic work. The DVD movies (which were all of at least average to above-average quality by the show's high standards) were just little bonus treats.
So as the years have passed, I have learned to live in a world with no new Futurama. Offering up episodes with a different cast is not even close to enticing, its just fucking annoying. I'll not only boycott the show, I'll boycott any of my friends or family who watch the show!!
Those voices are so integral to the show, I even get a little unsettled when I watch season 1 episodes before DiMaggio had hit on a final version of Bender's voice. I forgive it because I know it was part of the evolution of the character and show, but the same can be said for early Simpsons episodes, when the voices were rather rough around the edges. Some of that stuff is just unwatchable.
Anyhow, I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope that this is just a ComicCon PR stunt. -
yes Fox, cater your global empire on the whims of roughly thirtysomething people on some website 98% of America hasn't heard of. Folks, get real. You're not going to boycott your show, particularly if Matt Groening and David X. Cohen return. You're really not going to boycott if the replacement voices sound exactly like the originals, which I'm sure they can manage in the light of Disney and Looney Tunes characters sounding exactly the same for 70 years. And even if you do boycott, Fox will miss out on 37 DVD sales, which I'm sure add up to the thousands of extra dollars that the cast want. Complain all you want, but try to be a little mature about this.
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Fuck Fox, I'm out.
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If you think the Looney Tunes voices sound the same as they did back in their heyday, you must have a penis in your ear. Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck (et al.) are a brand now more than they are entertainment. People will always go out and buy Looney Tunes t-shirts and stuffed animals, but when was the last time anyone gave two shits about a new Looney Tunes cartoon?
Futurama is not about merchandizing, it is about character and plot, and without the people whose voices have come to represent those characters, it just won't work.
Also, I'd argue (as some above have) that the core audience for Futurama are us geeks who hang out in places like AICN talkbacks, and yes, if we are not appeased, then a large chunk of the audience is gone. And I'll go ahead and agree with your next arguement as well: as brilliant a show as it was, I'm pretty sure that no-one gives a crap about it besides us. Which is all the more reason not to stick it to us if you're seriously going to try and wangle the show back into pop-culture like Family Guy managed to do. -
In related news, Mark Hamill as Zapp Branigan.
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Alas, my penis is near my scrote, and not in my ear. I'll admit I only hear Looney Tunes and Disney characters in shorts and ads and what-have-you, but that's pretty much all they produce. I think people don't give a shit because a) Disney was never funny and b) that market is gone. The point wasn't the relevancy, it was the fact that the voices, if not exact, sound similar enough that it doesn't jar the viewer. And I think you're making the innocent mistake of overestimating the influence of this site and it's constituents. History has told us that the internet does not a powerful influence make, as the bootlegging of "Wolverine" (which went on to make tons of money) or the failure of the "Snakes On A Plane" phenomenon attest. Let's get real: Fox and Comedy Central make enough money from mainstream audiences that a boycott, that is questionable in how many will actually go through with it, will probably not affect them one Tiny Iota (there's a "Futurama" reference for you).
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on the part of Comedy Central... a tactic that will fail. It won't work without the original voices and everyone knows it... what would be the point of bringing back the series with out Billy West et al... it would make more sense to just make an entirely new show. Mark my words this story isn't finished...
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Jul 18, 2009 1:16:00 PM CDT
A small part of me still thinks this is setup for ComicCon
by tall_boy66
Like someone said above, they did mention before that the fate of Futurama would be decided "LIVE ON STAGE with a FOX EXECUTIVE!" So this could, COULD be just a ploy for that. But it feels pretty damn mean to me. Anyway, we'll find out in about a week, so I'll desperately cling to that for a few days or so.
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Aren't they releasing some limited edition dvd set at Comic Con? Why have this bad press right before people shell out $200 for a limited edition Bender head?
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Aren't they releasing some limited edition dvd set at Comic Con? Why have this bad press right before people shell out $200 for a limited edition Bender head?
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oh, don't get me wrong, I don't think me boycotting the show will make any difference whatsoever. Anymore than boycotting shitty Transformers or G.I.Joe movies will work.
But I think you'll admit that Futurama isn't Transformers or G.I.Joe. Its not a blockbuster, and isn't the kind of thing that Joe Q. Public will mindlessly rush to go see just because there were kewl 'splosions in the commercials. It's a smart show that appeals to a specific audience...and I think that the kind of fan it appeals to will be bothered by a different voice cast.
Of all the people who went and saw Transformers, 99% of them didn't notice or care that Frank Welker wasn't voicing Megatron. Of all the people who watch Futurama, I'd bet that a large majority of them would care and be irked by someone other than Billy West voicing the professor. -
First of all, kudos to handling yourself in a mature and respectful manner. That, I think, is the key to arguing one's point and not simply shouting your opinion or spouting stupid catchphrases. Now, I do concede that "Futurama" is far from something like "The Simpsons", or even something like "Bewitched" where it's so mainstream that your mom, boss, girlfriend and paperboy all watch it, and would watch it if the network went nuts and dubbed it all in Francais. However, I would venture to say that most "Futurama" fans are so excited and hard-up for episodes that they'll tune into the pilot regardless, in addition to new fans picked up by the DVDs or just by the prospect of a new cartoon on Comedy Central. I think if the characters sound similar enough and the writing quality is good enough (and better than the DVDs... yech), then a big enough portion of people can overlook something like the actors being fired. That being said, I do believe they'll come back, particularly when they realize that their careers ain't exactly in demand. What the hell does Dimaggio even do besides Bender, anyway? All this will be for naught, and "Futurama" will be able to be enjoyed. Fox is a pretty shitty company, though, what with the lack of promotion for "Arrested Development" and the continued employment of Tom "I hate genre" Rothman.
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I have to respectfully disagree that Futurama fans are 'hard up' for new episodes. We've had many years to make peace with a world without new episodes, and some of us (though admittedly not all) would not embrace episodes voiced by a new cast.
And yes, argueing is far more fun and productive when you try to argue with logic and respect, as opposed to just blindly attacking one another with ad homenem insults.
And in that vein, I apologize for accusing you of having a penis in your ear, but at the time, it was far too humerous an image for me not to type it. -
Billy West and John DiMaggio will probably never have as high a profile job as Futurama ever again (maybe West will...), but they are hardly pressed for work. They both have pretty busy careers as voice-over artists in all sorts of animated movies, television episodes, and commercials.
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Just in time for their comic con panel.
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of Marcus Fenix sorry but Marcus kicks all kind of Bender ass.
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huge fan. not interested.
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I always mean to check that place out, and never get to. Of course, I'm not one for crowds, and though I'm a former comic shop employee/survivor, I'd hate to think of myself as a fad-jumper-onner and poser going to check out all the celebrities and cosplay chicks. Then again...
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/signed
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Why should Fox pay that sort of of money for a show who's future is currently hanging by a thread? Billy West seems happy enough doing phoned in commercial work and direct to video Popeye cartoons.
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GAYGAYGAYGAYGAY
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If no one watches the show and it is bad, it's because it is bad.
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Remember in the episode when they got the crew from Star Trek back together, and James Doohan didn't want to do it, so they replaced Scotty with a character named Welshy who they proceeded to kill and zap repeatedly with lasers every few minutes.
I can't imagine that the brains behind that little bit of brilliance would go forward with a show filled with replacements. -
i dare you not to watch it
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But if this true, I have no interest in it with different voices.
None. -
BYE. Some people just don't know when to pack it in. If they can't afford to hire artists must the show still go on? Will it be puppets?
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use new voices, let other people get filthy rich making a fucking kids' show while millions starve! Scumbags, should have their capitalist asses dragged out and shot in public, like they did when the world had any fucking dignity in it!
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everyone even non fans are talking about the voices being recast..at comic con they will announce that either it was a trick or that a "deal" had been reached...its free publicity for a show that most people didn't even know was coming backwouldn't surprise me if 42 entertainment was behind this
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with a couple of links. They seem to be of the opinion it's the real deal, and one guy even posted a craigslist link. Of course, it might've been a craigslist link for an erotic massage, but that's why I didn't click on it.
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Honestly the newer episodes have nothing on the FOX ones imo. If you are going to use new voice actors then i am done. Can't comedy central use old voice clips for the dialogue like South Park did for chef in that darth chef episode? If they did that for just one episode that would be great.
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Comic Con tie in, free publicity, generate buzz, renew enthusiasm for the show after getting everyone worked up, etc. I'm sorry, but even Fox isn't stupid enough to recast the trademark voices of an entire animated show...I'm guaranteeing it's a publicity stunt.
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tune in before its too late!
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Jul 18, 2009 7:02:15 PM CDT
While millions starve!, capitalists pigs bleh bleh bleh....
by itsjust_notcool_anymore_baby
Thanks a bunch for the input, Bono.
get fucked. -
I also want to repeat the sentiment "if this is true, why bring Futurama back?" lol@Fox
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Actors are nothing but pigs.PIGS I SAYZ! Sometimes you have to show them whose boss. And who's the boss? I think you know who.
Mr.Danza, please insert you mancock into Billy West's anus. -
Fox should give Futurama to Family Guy's Seth McFarlane to re-tool, maybe improve some of the crap they've been passing off as "comedy" Thankfully, none of the old voice "actors" will be there to muck up the new show. I'm thinking a Stewie type voice for the new Bender, something sassy and gay!
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Let me repost the Comic-con program listing:
1:00-1:45 Futurama: Life or Death?!— Be a part of sci-fi history! Join executive producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, and stars Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, and Maurice LaMarche for high-stakes thrills as a top-ranking FOX executive decides live, on stage, whether Futurama will make yet another triumphant return or whether it is gone forever! The very fate of Futurama hangs in the balance! Paramedics will be standing by in case the intense excitement causes any panelists to collapse. Raucous celebration or abject despair to follow the news. Ballroom 20
In what world is that not a setup? Fox is apparently willing to play the whipping boy and spoof its own image as the network that mistreats popular genre shows. Otherwise why would both the voice actors and a studio exec be willing to do this Comic-Con appearance? The Variety and EW articles are all part of the setup. -
EVERYTHING IS TRUE! EVERYTHING!
AAAAAAIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! -
The show is killed before it even hits the air.
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It's gonna be like nails on chalkboard.
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I'd be willing to do that Er um for the sake of Futurama's return. *cough*MILF*cough*
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I just want to be there and boo the shit out of everyone.
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Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but it's hard to believe the actors would do this. From what I've heard from the actors, writers, and producers before is that they all get along like family and have been staying awake at night praying that this show get back on the air. Although I'm sure no actor is going to talk bad about the show in an interview, I think there is genuine familial love among the cast and crew. I think this is fake. I'm not sure, I don't know show biz so well. But I think there's a 50% chance.
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1,000 fanboys storm the stage and beat him to a bloody pulp when he says no.
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Most Futurama fans won't bother watching this shit if the main cast is gone, and the poor ratings will no doubt kill any long-term 2nd run of this series on tv. At this rate, I'd be surprised if it lasts a full season. Surely Fox knows this, so you have to wonder if they are intentionally setting the show up to fail because they don't WANT it to get a successful 2nd chance like Family Guy did.
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Man I'd love to be there at the SDCC panel to see what happens if this recasting thing is true. Talk about a witch hunt! If it's true, the smart thing would be to just cancel the panel. There's no way they can put a positive spin on this to appease fans. I hope others in this talkback are right about speculating that it could just be a big hoax/PR stunt to get the fans worked up for the panel at SDCC.
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like everytime they found a different actor to play Ronald McDonald. Almost creepy.
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doesn't Billy West do half of the voices in the show? Fry, the Professor, Zap. When a voice becomes as iconic as an actors look, then aren't they worth the money? Take Seth McFarlane from Family Guy and what do you got? Also, when that one female voice actor from the Simpsons left (or died, I heard) years ago the show was different some how.
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just when i was excited to see some futurama they screw it up.Fucking asshats
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Jul 18, 2009 9:38:11 PM CDT
"Take Seth Macfarlane from Family Guy and what do you got?"
by nasty in the pasty
A good show.
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at work the other week, some buddies of mine were talking about how hot they thought Kelly was on the show (it was a slow week, admittedly). i chimed in, saying how i always thought Peg was the hotter of the two. the way they reacted, you'd think i had said i wanted to bone Marcy.
oh, and while bringing in a new cast for Futurama eats llama dick, if it was because they were asking for exorbitant sums, what else was Fox to do? as great a show as it was/is, Futurama Redux will not bring in *nearly* the revenue its bigger, yellower brother does. so the voice actors (as great as they are) should hardly expect Simpsons-esque paychecks. not saying they should be paid "The Oblongs" rate, either, but still... -
that this is bad news!
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Jul 18, 2009 10:16:56 PM CDT
The show ended at the right time and on the right note
by alienindisguise
the movies were crap. Interested in hearing new voices though.
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not watch FOX or any movies they put out anymore. I should be easy now because they usually cancel or fuck up anything they have. They need to feel our wrath where it hurts. The money.
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But Futurama is no Simpsons. Yes Harry Shearer can make millions for his voices, but he, and everyone elses voice on the Simpsons is A; Recognizable, and B: Has the ratings to support its budget. Comedy Central doesn't have the budget to finance shows that aren't popular, and while Futurama is good, it is No Simpsons when it comes to ratings. If they aren't able to support the desires of the cast its a hell of a lot easier to cast voice actors than a live action one. Also, do any of you know how much work a voice actor truly does? One that is a Pro, will only need to come in every few weeks, spend a couple hours in a studio, bark out their lines, and are done. Some people have to actually work for 60+ hours a week to make ends meet, and even at their previous salaries they probably took in at least 6 figures for the total of just a couple weeks work. Yes the show probably won't be the same without them, but they probably dont' have compete understanding of their own worth.
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The thing that makes me hopeful it is some sort of hoax is the fact that -every last one- of the actors appear to be gone/"gone". You'd think in this economy that one or two of them would have swallowed their pride and taken a paycut.
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Jul 19, 2009 12:16:57 AM CDT
Someone should post a clip on YouTube with dubbed over voices
by yackbacker
To illustrate the sad future this show will have.
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If they really can't reach an agreement with the voice actors, I'd prefer new characters in the same world as a happy middle. They've developed a rich enough background to support a new point of view and, really, aren't we all a little Zoidberg'd out anyway?
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DID THEY NOT SEE THOSE "MOVIES"??!! THEY SUCKED!!
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Listen to Billy West on the commentary tracks if you really want to hear an idiot in action. My favorite West commentary moment is on the episode where Bender is made captain of the Planet Express ship. If I remember correctly Billy West gets awfully confused about camera angles or something. Also on one of the feature length episodes he constantly makes jokes that aren't funny. BILLY WEST IS A DUMB SHIT. SOMEONE PLEASE TELL HIM THAT HE'S ONLY FUNNY IF HE'S SCRIPTED. DOING FUNNY VOICES AND BEING ACTUALLY FUNNY ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS. The cast have turned down 2 million dollars to do voices on 26 episodes of a show that is barely successful. Money-grabbing cunts. Even if it's sorted out this still leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Edgar out.
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Fox - Go pound sand.
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Cast - sucks to be us
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Fox - pretty much, yes. -
not sure what being popular and being on basic cable have to do with each other. Colbert, Venture Bros, Nip Tuck, Daily Show, and so on are on basic cable and are very popular. Maybe you confuse popular with profitable? The DVD sales and adult swim ratings paved the way for the DVD movies and renewal of the show. Comedy Central bought the repeats away from ASwim, so they must be seeing profit potential.
The ComicCon announcement gives me hope, thanks for posting it. I still say it's not a very good publicity stunt if that's what it turns out to be. -
So I don't know what the deal is with fox? Either way both Networks have dumped enough money into dumb fucking garbage sitcoms and they are going to penny pinch this time i say fuck them, i'll just watch dvds. The actors probably wanted actual money and the network was just offering 500 pounds worth of family guy merchandise.
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Now I'll truly let Futurama go
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Futurama: The Next Generation. Bender gets taken offline and doesn't get rebooted for 20 years. when he wakes up, Fry and Leela's kid and an elderly Zoidberg whose voice has changed over time are trying to run Planet Express. Bender's voice box got rusty so he sounds different too. wackiness ensues. Better idea: Pull the plug on the whole fucking project. Only Futurama fans want the show back, and they don't want new voices. End of story.
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I was so pissed off when I heard this yesterday from the variety website, that I created a facebook group. I know that they're largely useless but feel free to join the group and support the original cast.
It's called,
SAVE THE ORIGINAL FUTURAMA VOICE CAST
Catchy ain't it?!! :) -
so far, but in order to save Futurama I will personally lap/lick your labia every day for a .......What? Wrong FOX? My bad!Sorry MEGAN, but my offer still stands.....
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Actually, the plan for the revival series, as I understand it, is to air it on Comedy Central AND Fox (possibly in that Sunday night lineup you were touting), since they'll both be footing the bill for it. The whole point of the revival series is to reach enough episodes for mass syndication (which is 100; with the four movies that were edited into sixteen new episodes, it's somewhere in the 70s, right now, maybe 78) and more DVD box sets, of course. And since this is just padding out the episode numbers to a respectable amount, they might not give a flying fuck who's doing the voices for the last 22.
On the other hand, this whole thing kind of reeks of a stunt. Really? Tress Macnelle is demanding more money? The three leads, I could maybe see (though Billy West does even more cartoon voices than Tom Kenny), but the B-list cast pretty much does this shit for a career. Sounds more like a "let's rally the fans" kind of deal. -
was that each cast member wants $75,000 per episode or $2 million for the season. I think they're irreplaceable, but that number can come down a bit, IMO.
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That's what they were offered. They want more that 2 million. Greedy cunts.
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...shit that's not going to happen.
Seriously though, if anybody should be paid more it's the animators and the writers. Performers are the most visible and often represent whatever show they're on, but sometimes get a little too high up in the ego department. -
for a few months.
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Jul 19, 2009 3:45:48 PM CDT
Yeah, I guess West, Sagal and DiMaggio forgot we are in a recess
by onenil
Then again, they'll need the raise to pay for those nice new Obama taxes!
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For those 10 or so people that still want to see him
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Just a suggestion
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No more Futurama? GOOD ;)
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won't watch the return of this and I love Futurama
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Fox is stupid.
So totally freaking lame. -
I totally agree about Death - I thought I was the only person that wanted Adam Corrola to shut-up and give Death back to Norm.
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R.I.P.FUTURAMAHarry, we will soon need an IN MEMORIAM TB for Futurama.
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What a waste. As much as I enjoyed the show the actors were just as brilliant as the writers. Hate to say it but I have less reason to watch it now. I wonder if they EPs will get booed at Comic Con this week.
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Really, what's the point if the characters we've come to know and love are now played by completely different people? It's not like the Flintstones where only one character's different or it's a whole new generation of viewers! They're changing ALL of the main voice actors!!! >:OI'm certainly not wasting my time on this Grade-B Futurama.
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Jul 19, 2009 9:57:28 PM CDT
West is overrated - Joe Alaskey can do any voice he can
by crimson dynamo
I bet he could do every voice on the show except Leela
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Futurama is no more.
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Jul 20, 2009 1:30:39 AM CDT
Poor dearies only wanted 100K for sitting on their asses.
by jackpumpkinhead
It's a difficult and dangerous job to sit on one's ass, pick one's nose and mumble into a microphone for three hours a day. It definitely should be worth at least one million an hour.
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...is on some shitty webtoon, for 20 dollars an hour.
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it's a bad one and they should 'fess up now.
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alasky right off the bat?
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Just look at how well the fans are taking it. Another smart move Fox. Just like showing parts of shows like Wonderfalls, Serenity, Drive (I could go on) out of order then canceling them right as they get popular. Brilliant, I say! So was canceling this the first time, as obviously no one cares about it, then waiting forever to bring it back and half-ass it. It'll make millions! No one will ever notice those voices that actually partially make the show what it is are gone and replaced by someone else. It's not like we can see them or something, but then, you do that all the time too with real actors, so whatevs. This is why you guys are a solid #4 and deserve your executive salaries that I'm sure are much fairer than whatever those other "actors" who only do some of the actual work wanted.
BTW onenil, congrats on making over $250,000 a year. Sorry you have to pay 3% more like you might have when Reagan raised taxes, to cover for the rest of us lazy-asses making less, who actually got tax cuts. Or worse, those of us who are now unemployed because the geniuses at the tops of our companies didn't know what they were doing and lost money despite us working our butts off for them. But don't worry, some of us have already exhausted our benefits, so we won't be drains on you or your rich friends anymore. We can always live off of our 401k's and home equity! -
Just like Ren and Stimpy...
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I watched this show for 3 episodes season one, and dropped it.
I boycott everything fox produces just beacause of their news division, though I would watch something if it was really good sci-fi...
ehh... -
Why is it people always want more, than are shocked by the fact it's not as good as before?
In my opinion, it should have ended with the end of the series, and remained a box set on the shelf. Four or five season, nicely done, the end.
It's not The Simpsons because it doesn't have the same range and depth of characters. In fact, most shows don't have the range and depth of The Simpsons. -
No way they would communicate this fuck up like this. Not to mention Sagal is doing one voice, while West is doing like 50. I'm no expert, but I think they're at different price ranges. The ad wizards knows the fanbase's hostility to Fox, I'm sure this is a lead up to some stupid (but funny) bullshit at Comic Con.
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in the entire industry. Remember that time they canceled Family Guy? lol. Remember the time they canceled Firefly? lol. Sci-Fi shows that build an immediate cult following are a really rare, one in a million shot. Fox had one, and deep-sixed it. Smooth move.
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Sons of Anarchy jacket. That is all.
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http://tiny.cc.r9HBa
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Will. Not. Watch. It. --is this kinda the same fucking whiny bullshit? Cuz it kinda sorta sounds the same.
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Good question. maybe his asking price is higher than West's? Alaskey seems to be doing steady work according to IMDB, however he seems to have become almost a recluse since the 80's.
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Guy can dream. I'll have to abandon all hope of ever liking this again. It's pointless without their comic timing keeping dubious plots together (barely worked for the movies though). Still, i'd be lying if I said I wouldn't watch it out of curiosity
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I've been a loyal fan and spent many $ on your Futurama product, FOX. I'm done with Futurama if this stupidity stands. Fix this.
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...for demanding pay increases. On top of them being in an ever shrinking field of entertainment (with it being much much cheaper for TV to simply have reality shows pumped out rather than spending a costly amount on actual TV shows and cartoons), and with celebrities taking away their voice work even further, and they have the balls to ask for a huge pay raise? Do they not see how much Fox holds the cards, how if Billy West and Co. walk out it's not like they'll have an equally comparable pay awaiting them on some other cartoon show? Fox knows they have the majority of leverage, and if Billy West and co. were smart they'd give in before they suddenly realize that they're out of this specific lucrative job. This is no different than when that chick who played Tasha Yar on Star Trek decided to walk out, or when that other lady from Cheers decided to walk out as well because their demands weren't being met. Where are they now huh?
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Throw in some funny music and title cards, there you go.
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Both parties are really just fucking over the fans. Fox is rich as fuck. Billy West and crew are rich as fuck. I'll say that again they're already rich as fuck. They have been receiving royalties for ten years and they will continue to for at least another twenty. Welcome to planet greed. History will remember that an amazing show was ruined by such petty bullshit.
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If this is true, it's the stupidest decision Fox has made (so far) this year. I can't fully believe it yet because I don't see how Groening and Cohen would be ok with it.
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No Dice.I'll go make my own future-based comedy cartoon. With Blackjack. And Hookers. In fact forget the cartoon!
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The sad fact is more original stuff is being shunted aside for "reality" guff.
The fact is you have something that takes six months to make and requires actors. Reality TV could be done in their personal sex dungeons in time for dinner.
And yes, given these tight economic times, a little more realism would be good. When the BBC are asking for pay cuts (£120 a year, most of it going to Graham Norton and Jonathon Ross), then everyone has to have pay cuts. -
•Step 1:
Write an email with,
Save the Voices of Futurama
in the subject line
•Step 2:
In the body of the email enter,
If the vocal cast of Futurama is changed, I will not watch the new episodes!
•Step 3:
Send this email to the following addresses: (These are new)
chris.alexander@fox.com
tracey.raab@fox.com
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I'm not going to jump ship yet - shows undergo cast changes all the time (albeit not usually the entire cast...) But if the writing is still solid and the creative team is good I will give it a chance. It's not like there are tons of great shows on these days - I'll stick with what I know and like until they give me a reason not too and new voices at this stage will all the crap on TV is not a reason to say no... yet.
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...these movies they released were all complete and utter garbage.
Cancel this piece of shit, before you embarrass yourselves any further.
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