One thing that quickly became clear in the early "Futurama" episodes is that not every member of the Planet Express crew has the same importance. The show largely revolves around the big three of Fry, Leela, and Bender, with Professor Farnsworth right behind them. In a separate tier are Amy, Hermes, and Zoidberg, who are usually present in any given example but only rarely get their time in the spotlight. Amy didn't really lead the A-plot of an episode until season 7's "That Darn Katz," for instance, although the early seasons' "Put Your Head On My Shoulders" and "Amazon Women in the Mood" also give her some interesting material to work with. Zoidberg also rarely gets to be the main character, although he can take solace in how he still gets way more focus than poor Scruffy.
Hermes, meanwhile, is a character usually stuck hanging around in the episode's B-plot.
Hermes, meanwhile, is a character usually stuck hanging around in the episode's B-plot.
- 3/31/2024
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
Although "Futurama" is filled with some of the best science and math jokes in animated comedy, it is still very much a show where humor trumps realism. "Futurama" expects its audience to understand the time travel rule that accidentally killing a young version of your grandfather will create a paradox, only to resolve the paradox with the nonsensical (but very funny) punchline of Fry accidentally becoming his grandfather, which doesn't quite make sense from a genetic point of view. It similarly expects its audience to understand how compound interest works for a joke about Fry's 93 cents in 1999 turning into $4.3 billion in 2999, yet conveniently sidesteps any questions about inflation.
This all comes down to a central rule in the show's writers' room, one that was apparently written on a whiteboard: "Science Shall Not Overrule Comedy." As co-creator David X. Cohen explained in a 2013 interview, "We wanted as much as possible to...
This all comes down to a central rule in the show's writers' room, one that was apparently written on a whiteboard: "Science Shall Not Overrule Comedy." As co-creator David X. Cohen explained in a 2013 interview, "We wanted as much as possible to...
- 1/28/2024
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
By the estimation of "Futurama," Christmas will be celebrated very differently in the early 30th century. For one, festive, decorated fir trees will be replaced with palm trees. Also, the spelling of "Christmas" will officially evolve into "Xmas." Most importantly, Xmas will see the release of a real-life robot Santa Claus, built many years ago to gauge the niceness and naughtiness of the world's children and distribute worldwide gifts accordingly. Sadly, Robot Santa's programming had a glitch, and he now gauges everyone to be naughty, a sin punishable by death. Jolly Old St. Nick now takes to the skies on Xmas armed with missiles and bombs, merrily murdering anyone he sees on the streets. Fearful citizens huddle inside shielded beneath anti-Santa armor, a standard feature of most 30th-century buildings.
This is a wonderfully irreverent concept that blends Christmas imagery with science fiction in a blithe and silly fashion. In his...
This is a wonderfully irreverent concept that blends Christmas imagery with science fiction in a blithe and silly fashion. In his...
- 1/14/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Bob Odenkirk and David Cross are putting the “cult” in cult comedy.
The former “Mr. Show” co-creators are reuniting for Paramount+ series “Guru Nation,” the streaming service announced February 1. Bill Odenkirk, who previously produced “Mr. Show,” is also attached to the upcoming half-hour, docu-style comedy series.
The “Better Call Saul” star and “Arrested Development” alum will play “rival cult gurus who manipulate the minds of their deluded followers,” per a press release. The series is set to be directed by Jason Woliner (“Borat 2”).
Cross tweeted, “After a year of having to be coy and secretive about this, it gives me great pleasure to let y’all know about this new project Bob and I are working on. It’s going to be unlike anything we’ve done so far. Get ready to have your pants blown wide open!”
Odenkirk joked via quote tweet, “Thanks for the heads up!”
Odenkirk...
The former “Mr. Show” co-creators are reuniting for Paramount+ series “Guru Nation,” the streaming service announced February 1. Bill Odenkirk, who previously produced “Mr. Show,” is also attached to the upcoming half-hour, docu-style comedy series.
The “Better Call Saul” star and “Arrested Development” alum will play “rival cult gurus who manipulate the minds of their deluded followers,” per a press release. The series is set to be directed by Jason Woliner (“Borat 2”).
Cross tweeted, “After a year of having to be coy and secretive about this, it gives me great pleasure to let y’all know about this new project Bob and I are working on. It’s going to be unlike anything we’ve done so far. Get ready to have your pants blown wide open!”
Odenkirk joked via quote tweet, “Thanks for the heads up!”
Odenkirk...
- 2/2/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Bob Odenkirk and David Cross have reunited to develop a docu-style comedy for Paramount+.
The ViacomCBS streamer is developing Guru Nation with the pair as well as Bill Odenkirk.
The series will see Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk and Arrested Development star Cross as rival cult gurus manipulating the minds of their deluded followers.
It will be directed by Jason Woliner, who directed Borat 2.
It reunites Odenkirk and Cross, who created cult HBO sketch comedy Mr. Show. Bill Odenkirk, who has written for The Simpsons and Futurama, was also a producer on that show, which ran between 1995 and 1998.
It comes from Paramount Television Studios with Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, Bill Odenkirk, Jason Woliner, Marc Provissiero, Naomi Odenkirk and Tim Sarkes serving as exec producers.
The ViacomCBS streamer is developing Guru Nation with the pair as well as Bill Odenkirk.
The series will see Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk and Arrested Development star Cross as rival cult gurus manipulating the minds of their deluded followers.
It will be directed by Jason Woliner, who directed Borat 2.
It reunites Odenkirk and Cross, who created cult HBO sketch comedy Mr. Show. Bill Odenkirk, who has written for The Simpsons and Futurama, was also a producer on that show, which ran between 1995 and 1998.
It comes from Paramount Television Studios with Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, Bill Odenkirk, Jason Woliner, Marc Provissiero, Naomi Odenkirk and Tim Sarkes serving as exec producers.
- 2/1/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Paramount Plus revealed Tuesday it is moving forward on developing TV series remakes of classic ’80s movies “Urban Cowboy” and “Flashdance,” bringing on “Dear White People” creator Justin Simien to write and direct the latter project.
Additionally, the ViacomCBS-owned streamer said during its virtual session at the Television Critics Association press tour it has put a docu-comedy series from “Mr. Show” duo Bob Odenkirk and David Cross in the works.
The “Urban Cowboy” project comes after Paramount Television Studios first set up development on a TV series based on the film of the same name at Fox in 2015, which was later scrapped. The Paramount Plus version of the show, based on the John Travolta-Debra Winger movie, goes deeper into Bud’s journey from farm to the big city in 1980s Houston and will feature iconic music from that era. James Pondsolt is directing and co-writing with Benjamin Percy.
Meanwhile, Simien...
Additionally, the ViacomCBS-owned streamer said during its virtual session at the Television Critics Association press tour it has put a docu-comedy series from “Mr. Show” duo Bob Odenkirk and David Cross in the works.
The “Urban Cowboy” project comes after Paramount Television Studios first set up development on a TV series based on the film of the same name at Fox in 2015, which was later scrapped. The Paramount Plus version of the show, based on the John Travolta-Debra Winger movie, goes deeper into Bud’s journey from farm to the big city in 1980s Houston and will feature iconic music from that era. James Pondsolt is directing and co-writing with Benjamin Percy.
Meanwhile, Simien...
- 2/1/2022
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
BritBox’s reboot of British satirical puppet show Spitting Image has been renewed for a second season just days after it premiered the first episode of Season 1 online.
The Avalon-produced caricature comedy will be back in fall 2021 after BritBox said its first series premiere helped boost new subscribers ten-fold compared to its average daily sign-up rate.
Reemah Sakaan, group director of ITV SVOD and chief creative and brand officer of BritBox, said: “The fantastic response to Spitting Image just goes to show how much the world needs public service satire. Not only can subscribers look forward to another 9 weeks of anarchy but also now another series in 2021.”
The renewal comes just hours after executive producer Jon Thoday revealed that NBC backed out as Spitting Image’s U.S. broadcast partner just weeks before the premiere. The Avalon founder said there was “too much nervousness” about its satirical content among NBC executives.
The Avalon-produced caricature comedy will be back in fall 2021 after BritBox said its first series premiere helped boost new subscribers ten-fold compared to its average daily sign-up rate.
Reemah Sakaan, group director of ITV SVOD and chief creative and brand officer of BritBox, said: “The fantastic response to Spitting Image just goes to show how much the world needs public service satire. Not only can subscribers look forward to another 9 weeks of anarchy but also now another series in 2021.”
The renewal comes just hours after executive producer Jon Thoday revealed that NBC backed out as Spitting Image’s U.S. broadcast partner just weeks before the premiere. The Avalon founder said there was “too much nervousness” about its satirical content among NBC executives.
- 10/7/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The reboot of classic British comedy series Spitting Image is set to premiere on Facebook – a day after its UK debut.
The Avalon-produced puppet parody, which is headed up creatively by co-creator Roger Law and The Simpsons’ Jeff Westbrook as showrunner, will launch on Facebook Premiere at 9Pm Pt and will be available for 24 hours. It was commissioned in the UK by BritBox, the streaming service run by ITV and BBC Studios.
Deadline understands that a broadcast network deal for the show, which was hastily rewritten to include President Donal Trump’s Coronavirus diagnosis, was close but that fell away around four weeks ago.
The show, which was well liked in many liberal circles in the States, is still expected to find a home for the full season, however, the fact that the comedy is quite close to the bone, featuring a skewering of the Commander in Chief, made...
The Avalon-produced puppet parody, which is headed up creatively by co-creator Roger Law and The Simpsons’ Jeff Westbrook as showrunner, will launch on Facebook Premiere at 9Pm Pt and will be available for 24 hours. It was commissioned in the UK by BritBox, the streaming service run by ITV and BBC Studios.
Deadline understands that a broadcast network deal for the show, which was hastily rewritten to include President Donal Trump’s Coronavirus diagnosis, was close but that fell away around four weeks ago.
The show, which was well liked in many liberal circles in the States, is still expected to find a home for the full season, however, the fact that the comedy is quite close to the bone, featuring a skewering of the Commander in Chief, made...
- 10/4/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Jack Reacher has settled down at Amazon: The streamer has landed the rights to a potential series based on Lee Child’s books, which were previously adapted into a film franchise starring Tom Cruise, our sister site Deadline reports. Scorpion creator Nick Santora will pen the project.
In the Jack Reacher novels, the title character is a former military policeman who now roams the United States taking odd jobs. Cruise starred as Reacher in two films: Jack Reacher, released in 2012, and the sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, released in 2016.
More from TVLineSupergirl Ditches Her Skirt for Pants in...
In the Jack Reacher novels, the title character is a former military policeman who now roams the United States taking odd jobs. Cruise starred as Reacher in two films: Jack Reacher, released in 2012, and the sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, released in 2016.
More from TVLineSupergirl Ditches Her Skirt for Pants in...
- 7/15/2019
- TVLine.com
Bob Odenkirk recently talked about how Breaking Bad may be included in his spinoff Better Call Saul. This came after the series premiered on a high note as AMC expected. However, he is touching on what everybody wants to know, which is will any of his former co-stars will make their way to the series. Bob kept a pretty simple answer while also straight forward one. Here is what he had to say.
Here’s what you need to know: the writers have a board in the writing room, and it has all the characters from Breaking Bad on it. Like, little characters who just walked through or were referenced. So if you go into that world, I think you’ll see four or five of them. I don’t have the number in my head, but you’ll see more, or hear about more. Sometimes it’s just a reference.
Here’s what you need to know: the writers have a board in the writing room, and it has all the characters from Breaking Bad on it. Like, little characters who just walked through or were referenced. So if you go into that world, I think you’ll see four or five of them. I don’t have the number in my head, but you’ll see more, or hear about more. Sometimes it’s just a reference.
- 2/17/2015
- by Sarah Peel
- Boomtron
AMC
AMC are really going for the double whammy this weekend. Not content with bringing The Walking Dead back to screens to upset fans for the latter half of its fifth season, they’re finally going to help audiences get over that Breaking Bad-shaped hole in their lives. Which, rather cannily, they’re doing by premiering their Breaking Bad spin-off show, Better Call Saul.
Picking up where Breaking Bad left off (and before Breaking Bad, and also a little in the middle of Breaking Bad…it’s confusing, more on that later), the series will promote Bill Odenkirk’s weasily, moral-deficient lawyer to the lead and focus on the early days of his career (along with the later years, and the middle years…again, confusing).
The show will debut this Sunday on AMC with two brand new, full hour episodes that will expand the scope of the Breaking Bad...
AMC are really going for the double whammy this weekend. Not content with bringing The Walking Dead back to screens to upset fans for the latter half of its fifth season, they’re finally going to help audiences get over that Breaking Bad-shaped hole in their lives. Which, rather cannily, they’re doing by premiering their Breaking Bad spin-off show, Better Call Saul.
Picking up where Breaking Bad left off (and before Breaking Bad, and also a little in the middle of Breaking Bad…it’s confusing, more on that later), the series will promote Bill Odenkirk’s weasily, moral-deficient lawyer to the lead and focus on the early days of his career (along with the later years, and the middle years…again, confusing).
The show will debut this Sunday on AMC with two brand new, full hour episodes that will expand the scope of the Breaking Bad...
- 2/6/2015
- by Tom Baker
- Obsessed with Film
The team behind the late 1990s cult hit "Mr. Show with Bob and David" are collaborating on a new project. Writer/star Paul F. Tompkins has posted a photo on his Twitter account teasing "something new from the Mr. Show gang in the new year."
This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the series' debut back in 1995, but no further details are available at this time. The show ran for four seasons.
"Breaking Bad" star Bob Odenkirk and "Arrested Development" actor David Cross created the series and appear in the photo alongside Scott Aukerman, Jay Johnston, Eric Hoffman, Bill Odenkirk and Brian Posehn.
Other cast members and writers on the series included Sarah Silverman, Jack Black, Tom Kenny, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jerry Minor and Dino Stamatopoulos.
Eight men out... of the 1990s. Maybe something new coming from the Mr. Show gang in the new year? #MrShow pic.twitter.com...
This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the series' debut back in 1995, but no further details are available at this time. The show ran for four seasons.
"Breaking Bad" star Bob Odenkirk and "Arrested Development" actor David Cross created the series and appear in the photo alongside Scott Aukerman, Jay Johnston, Eric Hoffman, Bill Odenkirk and Brian Posehn.
Other cast members and writers on the series included Sarah Silverman, Jack Black, Tom Kenny, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jerry Minor and Dino Stamatopoulos.
Eight men out... of the 1990s. Maybe something new coming from the Mr. Show gang in the new year? #MrShow pic.twitter.com...
- 1/1/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
This September, "The Simpsons" will officially hit Season 25, making it an even quarter-century for the longest-running primetime animated show in television history. (It still has a few years to catch the 635 episodes of "Gunsmoke.")
Emmy-winning animator David Silverman has been with the show since the beginning, even before the beloved TV family had their own timeslot, when they were just a weekly segment on "The Tracey Ullman Show." In the years since, he's acted as a consulting producer, title designer, storyboard artist, "Spider Pig" lyricist, and directed episodes from Season 1 to the upcoming Season 25, along with the show's feature-length movie and Oscar-nominated short film. So, basically, we wouldn't want to be up against him on "Simpsons" Trivia Night.
With Silverman being honored as the keynote speaker at the second annual Toronto Animation Arts Festival International, HuffPost Canada TV spoke with the prolific animator about the show's early days, the origins...
Emmy-winning animator David Silverman has been with the show since the beginning, even before the beloved TV family had their own timeslot, when they were just a weekly segment on "The Tracey Ullman Show." In the years since, he's acted as a consulting producer, title designer, storyboard artist, "Spider Pig" lyricist, and directed episodes from Season 1 to the upcoming Season 25, along with the show's feature-length movie and Oscar-nominated short film. So, basically, we wouldn't want to be up against him on "Simpsons" Trivia Night.
With Silverman being honored as the keynote speaker at the second annual Toronto Animation Arts Festival International, HuffPost Canada TV spoke with the prolific animator about the show's early days, the origins...
- 7/25/2013
- by Rick Mele
- Huffington Post
Updated: Animated series writers are protesting a decision by the Television Academy to allow NBC’s Community to compete for Emmys in animated categories, arguing that they should be allowed similar cross-genre privileges.
Community made it onto the Emmy nomination ballot in several categories, including best animated program — along with 33 entries from full-time animated shows. The episode, “Digital Estate Planning,” features the cast rendered into 8-bit characters to compete in an old-school-style video game.
Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy), David X. Cohen (Futurama) and Al Jean (The Simpsons) are among the 52 writer-producers who signed a letter to the TV Academy arguing...
Community made it onto the Emmy nomination ballot in several categories, including best animated program — along with 33 entries from full-time animated shows. The episode, “Digital Estate Planning,” features the cast rendered into 8-bit characters to compete in an old-school-style video game.
Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy), David X. Cohen (Futurama) and Al Jean (The Simpsons) are among the 52 writer-producers who signed a letter to the TV Academy arguing...
- 6/18/2012
- by James Hibberd
- EW - Inside TV
Dennis Nishi The eight-man panel of writers for the “The Simpsons” included Bill Odenkirk, David Silverman, Joel Cohen, John Frink, Kevin Curran, Michael Price, Rob Lazebnikv, Tom Gammill and moderator Geoff Boucher.
On Wednesday night, student fans got a backstage peek of “The Simpsons” writers’ room where pop culture has been diced up and reassembled to create 22 seasons of the award-winning animated Fox show. The event was held by the “UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television” and the school’s “Young Alumni Program.
On Wednesday night, student fans got a backstage peek of “The Simpsons” writers’ room where pop culture has been diced up and reassembled to create 22 seasons of the award-winning animated Fox show. The event was held by the “UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television” and the school’s “Young Alumni Program.
- 5/13/2011
- by Dennis Nishi
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
"The Dark Knight," "Slumdog Millionaire," "Doubt," "Frost/Nixon," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" are among the nominees in the Adapted Screenplay category for the WGA's (Writers Guild Awards) 61st Anniversary awards show.
Winners will be announced February 7th, and will be held simultaneously between two ceremonies -- West Coast at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, and the East Coast at the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City.
What about "Milk" or "The Wrestler?" Click Read More to see full list of nominees!
Original Screenplay
Burn After Reading, Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Focus Features
Milk, Written by Dustin Lance Black, Focus Features
Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Written by Woody Allen, The Weinstein Company
The Visitor, Written by Tom McCarthy, Overture Films
The Wrestler, Written by Robert Siegel, Fox Searchlight Pictures
Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Screenplay...
Winners will be announced February 7th, and will be held simultaneously between two ceremonies -- West Coast at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, and the East Coast at the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City.
What about "Milk" or "The Wrestler?" Click Read More to see full list of nominees!
Original Screenplay
Burn After Reading, Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Focus Features
Milk, Written by Dustin Lance Black, Focus Features
Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Written by Woody Allen, The Weinstein Company
The Visitor, Written by Tom McCarthy, Overture Films
The Wrestler, Written by Robert Siegel, Fox Searchlight Pictures
Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Screenplay...
- 1/7/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Genre vets Marc Guggenheim (Eli Stone), Drew Goddard, Brian K. Vaughan (Lost), Marti Noxon, Zack Whedon, and Danny Strong (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) have been nominated by their peers. The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East announced their nominees for outstanding achievement in television, radio, news, promotional writing, and graphic animation during the 2008 season to be honored at the upcoming 2009 Writers Guild Awards on February 7, 2009, in Los Angeles and New York.
Television Nominees
Dramatic Series
Dexter, Written by Scott Buck, Daniel Cerone, Charles H. Eglee, Adam E. Fiero, Lauren Gussis, Clyde Phillips, Scott Reynolds, Melissa Rosenberg, Tim Schlattmann; Showtime
Friday Night Lights, Written by Bridget Carpenter, Kerry Ehrin, Brent Fletcher, Jason Gavin, Carter Harris, Elizabeth Heldens, David Hudgins, Jason Katims, Patrick Massett, Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, John Zinman; NBC
Lost, Written by Carlton Cuse, Drew Goddard, Adam Horowitz, Christina M. Kim, Edward Kitsis, Damon L.
Television Nominees
Dramatic Series
Dexter, Written by Scott Buck, Daniel Cerone, Charles H. Eglee, Adam E. Fiero, Lauren Gussis, Clyde Phillips, Scott Reynolds, Melissa Rosenberg, Tim Schlattmann; Showtime
Friday Night Lights, Written by Bridget Carpenter, Kerry Ehrin, Brent Fletcher, Jason Gavin, Carter Harris, Elizabeth Heldens, David Hudgins, Jason Katims, Patrick Massett, Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, John Zinman; NBC
Lost, Written by Carlton Cuse, Drew Goddard, Adam Horowitz, Christina M. Kim, Edward Kitsis, Damon L.
- 12/14/2008
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
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