Futurama season 1: Difference between revisions
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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The first season of ''Futurama'' received positive reviews from critics. Patrick Lee of ''[[Science Fiction Weekly]]'' commented, based on a viewing of "Space Pilot 3000" alone, that ''Futurama'' was deemed not as funny as ''The Simpsons'', particularly as "the satire is leavened with treacly sentimental bits about free will and loneliness". The episode was rated as an "A- pick" and found to "warrant further viewing" despite these concerns.<ref name="SciFiWeekly">{{cite web |
The first season of ''Futurama'' received positive reviews from critics. Patrick Lee of ''[[Science Fiction Weekly]]'' commented, based on a viewing of "Space Pilot 3000" alone, that ''Futurama'' was deemed not as funny as ''The Simpsons'', particularly as "the satire is leavened with treacly sentimental bits about free will and loneliness". The episode was rated as an "A- pick" and found to "warrant further viewing" despite these concerns.<ref name="SciFiWeekly">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue101/screen.html |title=Futurama: The future's not what it used to be |publisher=Sci Fi Weekly |author=Lee, Patrick |date=March 22, 1999 |accessdate=2007-06-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612205432/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue101/screen.html |archivedate=2007-06-12 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> Rob Owen of the ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' noted that although the series' premiere contained the same skewed humor as ''The Simpsons'', it was not as smart and funny, and he attributed this to the large amount of exposition and character introduction required of a television series pilot, noting that the show was "off to a good start."<ref name="post">{{cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/tv/19990326rob4.asp|title=Simpsons meet the Jetsons; 'The Devil's Arithmetic'| publisher=''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''| author=Owen, Rob| date=1999-03-26| accessdate=2007-08-08}}</ref> Andrew Billen of ''[[New Statesman]]'' found the premise of "Space Pilot 3000" to be unoriginal, but remained somewhat enthusiastic about the future of the series. While he praised the humorous details of the episode, such as the background scenes while Fry was frozen, he also criticized the show's dependence on in-jokes such as Groening's head being present in the head museum.<ref name="NewStateman">{{cite web| url=http://www.newstatesman.com/199909270044| title=Laughing matters| author=Billen, Andrew| date=1999-09-27| accessdate=2008-06-13| publisher= ''New Statesman''}}</ref> The episode was ranked in 2006 by [[IGN.com|IGN]] as number 14 in their list of the top 25 ''Futurama'' episodes.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/716/716663p3.html |title=Top 25 Futurama Episodes |accessdate=2006-11-04 }}</ref> Tal Blevins of IGN had positive review on the season and said "You really can't go wrong wherever you look in Futurama Volume One, and there are no stinkers in this collection." <ref name="IGN Review">http://dvd.ign.com/articles/388/388581p1.html</ref> The season tied for 89th in the seasonal ratings tied with [[Profiler (TV series)|Profiler]] with an average viewership of 8.9 million viewers.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20091029011819/http://geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html</ref> |
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The series' premiere "Space Pilot 3000" garnered "unprecedented strong numbers" with a [[Nielsen rating]] of 11.2/17 in homes and 9.6/23 in adults 18–49.<ref name="Variety">{{cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117492811.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |title=Fox sees 'Futurama' and it works |author=Bierbaum, Tom | publisher=''Variety''| date=1999-03-30 |accessdate=2008-06-15 }}</ref> The ''Futurama'' premiere was watched by more people than either its lead-in show (''The Simpsons'') or the show following it (''[[The X-Files]]''), and it was the number one show among men aged 18–49 and teenagers for the week.<ref name="WPost">{{cite web | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/40180027.html?dids=40180027:40180027&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=MAR+31%2C+1999&author=Lisa+de+Moraes&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=%60Futurama'+Draws+Them+In&pqatl=google |title=`Futurama' Draws Them In |author=de Moraes, Lisa| publisher= ''The Washington Post'' |date=1999-03-31 |accessdate=2008-06-15 }}</ref><ref name="AWN">{{cite web| |
The series' premiere "Space Pilot 3000" garnered "unprecedented strong numbers" with a [[Nielsen rating]] of 11.2/17 in homes and 9.6/23 in adults 18–49.<ref name="Variety">{{cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117492811.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |title=Fox sees 'Futurama' and it works |author=Bierbaum, Tom | publisher=''Variety''| date=1999-03-30 |accessdate=2008-06-15 }}</ref> The ''Futurama'' premiere was watched by more people than either its lead-in show (''The Simpsons'') or the show following it (''[[The X-Files]]''), and it was the number one show among men aged 18–49 and teenagers for the week.<ref name="WPost">{{cite web | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/40180027.html?dids=40180027:40180027&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=MAR+31%2C+1999&author=Lisa+de+Moraes&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=%60Futurama'+Draws+Them+In&pqatl=google |title=`Futurama' Draws Them In |author=de Moraes, Lisa| publisher= ''The Washington Post'' |date=1999-03-31 |accessdate=2008-06-15 }}</ref><ref name="AWN">{{cite web|url=http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=search&range=all&search=Futurama&newsitem_no=703 |title="Futurama" has popular premiere |publisher=[[Animation World Network]] |date=1999-04-04 |accessdate=2008-06-15 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060513025822/http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=search |archivedate=2006-05-13 |df= }}</ref> |
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== Episodes == |
== Episodes == |
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Revision as of 12:30, 6 January 2017
 | This article may overuse or misuse colour, making it hard to understand for colour-blind users. The contrast of some of the colors used in this article make it hard to read easily by visually impaired. (December 2015) |
| Futurama | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | |
 DVD cover for the 2012 re-release of Volume One | |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fox |
| Original release | March 28 – November 14, 1999 |
| Season chronology | |
Futurama's first season began airing on March 28, 1999 and concluded after 13 episodes on November 14, 1999. The entire season is included within the Volume One DVD box set, which was released on March 25, 2003. There is a total of 13 episodes contained in the production season, although the last four episodes were pre-empted by sporting events and pushed into the second broadcast season.[1]
The full thirteen episodes of the season have been released on a box set called Futurama: Volume One, on DVD and VHS. It was released in the United Kingdom, on January 28, 2002, in Australia on November 27, 2002 and in the United States and Canada on March 25, 2003. The season was re-released as Futurama: Volume 1, with entirely different packaging to match the newer season releases on July 17, 2012.[2]
Production
Matt Groening initially conceived of Futurama in the mid-1990s. In 1996, he enlisted David X. Cohen, then a Simpsons writer and producer, to assist in developing the series;[3] the two then spent time researching science fiction books, television shows, and films of the past. By the time they pitched the series to Fox in April 1998, Groening and Cohen had composed many characters and story lines. During that first meeting, Fox ordered thirteen episodes. Shortly after, however, Groening and Fox executives argued over whether the network would have any creative input into the show.[4] With The Simpsons the network has no input.[5] Groening explains, "When they tried to give me notes on Futurama, I just said: 'No, we're going to do this just the way we did Simpsons.' And they said, 'Well, we don't do business that way anymore.' And I said, 'Oh, well, that's the only way I do business.'"[6] After negotiations, he received the same independence with Futurama. The name "Futurama" comes from a pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Designed by Norman Bel Geddes, the Futurama pavilion depicted how he imagined the world would look in 1959.[7]
Reception
The first season of Futurama received positive reviews from critics. Patrick Lee of Science Fiction Weekly commented, based on a viewing of "Space Pilot 3000" alone, that Futurama was deemed not as funny as The Simpsons, particularly as "the satire is leavened with treacly sentimental bits about free will and loneliness". The episode was rated as an "A- pick" and found to "warrant further viewing" despite these concerns.[8] Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted that although the series' premiere contained the same skewed humor as The Simpsons, it was not as smart and funny, and he attributed this to the large amount of exposition and character introduction required of a television series pilot, noting that the show was "off to a good start."[9] Andrew Billen of New Statesman found the premise of "Space Pilot 3000" to be unoriginal, but remained somewhat enthusiastic about the future of the series. While he praised the humorous details of the episode, such as the background scenes while Fry was frozen, he also criticized the show's dependence on in-jokes such as Groening's head being present in the head museum.[10] The episode was ranked in 2006 by IGN as number 14 in their list of the top 25 Futurama episodes.[1] Tal Blevins of IGN had positive review on the season and said "You really can't go wrong wherever you look in Futurama Volume One, and there are no stinkers in this collection." [11] The season tied for 89th in the seasonal ratings tied with Profiler with an average viewership of 8.9 million viewers.[12]
The series' premiere "Space Pilot 3000" garnered "unprecedented strong numbers" with a Nielsen rating of 11.2/17 in homes and 9.6/23 in adults 18–49.[13] The Futurama premiere was watched by more people than either its lead-in show (The Simpsons) or the show following it (The X-Files), and it was the number one show among men aged 18–49 and teenagers for the week.[14][15]
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | Television order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Space Pilot 3000" | Rich Moore & Gregg Vanzo | David X. Cohen & Matt Groening | March 28, 1999 | 1ACV01 | S01E01 |
| 2 | 2 | "The Series Has Landed" | Peter Avanzino | Ken Keeler | April 4, 1999 | 1ACV02 | S01E02 |
| 3 | 3 | "I, Roommate" | Bret Haaland | Eric Horsted | April 6, 1999 | 1ACV03 | S01E03 |
| 4 | 4 | "Love's Labours Lost in Space" | Brian Sheesley | Brian Kelley | April 13, 1999 | 1ACV04 | S01E04 |
| 5 | 5 | "Fear of a Bot Planet" | Peter Avanzino & Carlos Baeza | Evan Gore & Heather Lombard | April 20, 1999 | 1ACV05 | S01E05 |
| 6 | 6 | "A Fishful of Dollars" | Ron Hughart & Gregg Vanzo | Patric M. Verrone | April 27, 1999 | 1ACV06 | S01E06 |
| 7 | 7 | "My Three Suns" | Jeffrey Lynch & Kevin O'Brien | J. Stewart Burns | May 4, 1999 | 1ACV07 | S01E07 |
| 8 | 8 | "A Big Piece of Garbage" | Susan Dietter | Lewis Morton | May 11, 1999 | 1ACV08 | S01E08 |
| 9 | 9 | "Hell Is Other Robots" | Rich Moore | Eric Kaplan | May 18, 1999 | 1ACV09 | S01E09 |
| 10 | 10 | "A Flight to Remember" | Peter Avanzino | Eric Horsted | September 26, 1999 | 1ACV10 | S02E01 |
| 11 | 11 | "Mars University" | Bret Haaland | J. Stewart Burns | October 3, 1999 | 1ACV11 | S02E02 |
| 12 | 12 | "When Aliens Attack" | Brian Sheesley | Ken Keeler | November 7, 1999 | 1ACV12 | S02E03 |
| 13 | 13 | "Fry and the Slurm Factory" | Ron Hughart | Lewis Morton | November 14, 1999 | 1ACV13 | S02E04 |
Home releases
| Set details | Special features | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||
| DVD/VHS release dates | |||
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |
| March 25, 2003 | January 28, 2002 | November 27, 2002 | |
| Set details | Special features | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Features different packaging to previous release of season, to match newer season releases.
| ||
| DVD release dates | |||
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |
| July 17, 2012[2] | TBA | March 13, 2013[16] | |
References
- ^ a b Tal Blevins. "Futurama Volume One". IGN. Retrieved 2009-12-10. Cite error: The named reference "IGN" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b Kyle Nolan (2012-08-06). "Cool new cover art on Futurama Vol. 1-4 DVD re-releases". Retrieved 2012-06-08.
- ^ Cohen, David S (2007). DVD commentary for the episode "Bart the Mother". The Simpsons The Complete Tenth Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Needham, Alex (October 1999). "Nice Planet...We'll Take It!". Archived from the original on 2000-08-24. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ^ Snierson, Dan (1999-03-26). "Space Case". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2000-08-24. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ^ "Groening Bites the Hand that Feeds". Mr. Showbiz. 1999-04-08. Archived from the original on 2000-08-24. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ^ Taylor, Timothy Dean (2001). Strange Sounds: Music, Technology & Culture. pp. 104–105. ISBN 0-415-93684-5.
- ^ Lee, Patrick (March 22, 1999). "Futurama: The future's not what it used to be". Sci Fi Weekly. Archived from the original on 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Owen, Rob (1999-03-26). "Simpsons meet the Jetsons; 'The Devil's Arithmetic'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Billen, Andrew (1999-09-27). "Laughing matters". New Statesman. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ http://dvd.ign.com/articles/388/388581p1.html
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20091029011819/http://geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html
- ^ Bierbaum, Tom (1999-03-30). "Fox sees 'Futurama' and it works". Variety. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ de Moraes, Lisa (1999-03-31). "`Futurama' Draws Them In". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ ""Futurama" has popular premiere". Animation World Network. 1999-04-04. Archived from the original on 2006-05-13. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Futurama; S1". Sanity. Retrieved August 19, 2013.