Why was Futurama cancelled?

Tosh · #1 01-14-2005, 10:43 PM

This is puzzling to me that the Simpsons is still going at 16 series but this was stopped after 4. Futurama is generally more popular over here and certainly far funnier at the end IMO. So what happened?

Duke · #2 01-14-2005, 10:48 PM

The public has no taste. Futurama was far superior to the Simpsons.

~D

pshreck · #3 01-14-2005, 10:50 PM

For about 5 seasons, just about every Simpsons episode was gold. Thats enough to gain popularity for decades, even if you start to have a ton of weaker episodes (like the Simpons has now, rarely very funny stuff).

For the first 2 seasons of Futurama, it was an on and off show. They would have some great episodes, but way too many that just flat out sucked for 30 minutes. You wont gain many fans if you cant keep them interested in the early seasons. If a show isnt very likely to be funny, I wont set aside time to watch it every week, which is how it was for Futurama.

istewart · #4 01-14-2005, 10:52 PM

Family Guy making a return though.

Seinfeld is better than all of em.

Tosh · #5 01-14-2005, 10:54 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Family Guy making a return though.

Seinfeld is better than all of em.

[/ QUOTE ]

Family Guy is the best of the lot, when is it scheduled to start showing again?

I always felt Seinfeld was overrated though.

Tosh · #6 01-14-2005, 10:57 PM

[ QUOTE ]
For about 5 seasons, just about every Simpsons episode was gold. Thats enough to gain popularity for decades, even if you start to have a ton of weaker episodes (like the Simpons has now, rarely very funny stuff).

For the first 2 seasons of Futurama, it was an on and off show. They would have some great episodes, but way too many that just flat out sucked for 30 minutes. You wont gain many fans if you cant keep them interested in the early seasons. If a show isnt very likely to be funny, I wont set aside time to watch it every week, which is how it was for Futurama.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't get me wrong, I like The Simpsons too, but the first 2 seasons of that were rather mediocre; I would say that seasons 1 and 2 of Futurama are far better. Seasons 3 and 4 of Futurama were pure quality, and better than anything The Simpsons ever was IMO. I wonder if Futurama came first it would be the one still going instead of The Simpsons.

Nottom · #7 01-14-2005, 11:10 PM

Futurama is a "Sci-Fi" type cartoon, Sci-Fi shows have a somewhat limited audience although the fans tend to be much more hardcore. I'm not going to try and compare Futurama and Star Trek or anything like that, but I think the Simpsons is much more mainstream which I'm sure helps out with its popularity.

Benholio · #8 01-15-2005, 12:34 AM

[ QUOTE ]

Family Guy is the best of the lot, when is it scheduled to start showing again?

[/ QUOTE ]

Re-runs are returning to Fox now, and new episodes should be airing in May.

Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy creator) also has a new show starting after the Superbowl (Feb 6th) called American Dad.

BusterStacks · #9 01-15-2005, 12:41 AM

... and also Futurama wasn't funny. So you know, there was that.

scotnt73 · #10 01-15-2005, 12:53 AM

also the simpsons is something i dont mind watching with my 10 year old daughter at 6 pm. futurama and the family guy i watch without her late at night. so there is definitely less of an audience for the other two. although i like family guy the best my wife who loves the simpsons cant stand futurama and can take or leave family guy. she like king of the hill the most though. king of the hill is good for a few laughs for me but not near as funny as the other 3.