Friday, November 03, 2023
Futurama Renewed for 2 More Seasons; ABC Holiday Specials

Hulu has renewed the adult animated series Futurama, which hails from 20th Television Animation, for two seasons (seasons 13 and 14) and an additional 20 episodes. Hulu originally revived the beloved series in 2022 with a 20-episode order. Season 11 premiered on Hulu on July 24, following a massive presence at San Diego Comic-Con. The season is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at 86%, and was on Nielsen’s Top 10 Original Series List for six of the weeks during its run. Season 12 is expected to debut on Hulu in 2024.
Futurama premiered in 1999 and quickly gained a faithful following and critical acclaim, including two primetime Emmys for Outstanding Animated Program. Despite its far-future setting, the show is renowned for its satiric commentary on life in the present. The series follows Philip J. Fry (Billy West), a New York City pizza delivery boy, who accidentally freezes himself in 1999 and gets defrosted in the year 3000. In this astonishing New New York, he befriends hard-drinking robot Bender (John DiMaggio), and falls in love with cyclops Leela (Katey Sagal). The trio find work at the Planet Express Delivery Company, founded by Fry’s doddering descendant, Professor Hubert Farnsworth. Together with accountant Hermes Conrad, assistant Amy Wong, and alien lobster Dr. John Zoidberg, they embark on thrilling adventures that take them to every corner of the universe. After its initial run on the Fox Broadcasting Network, a roller-coaster of cancellations and resurrections ensued. Four successful direct-to-DVD releases in 2007-2009 led to the show's rebirth on Comedy Central from 2010-2013. Then, after a brief ten-year freeze in the cryogenic chamber, Futurama emerged triumphantly as a streaming series for Hulu with a 20-episode order.
ABC is spreading holiday cheer this season and announced a lineup of festive programming that will air during the most wonderful time of the year. Highlights include The Wonderful World of Disney movies, Frozen, Home Alone and The Santa Clause; holiday-themed episodes of fan-favorite shows including The $100,000 Pyramid, America's Funniest Home Videos, Celebrity Family Feud, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, Press Your Luck and Shark Tank; and a magical new season of The Great Christmas Light Fight also returns, along with news of a season 12 pickup for 2024. Dazzling holiday specials like Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, Prep & Landing, Olaf's Frozen Adventure & Mickey Saves Christmas, along with all-new specials CMA Country Christmas from Nashville, The Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade, The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest and the previously announced iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023 special, round out the schedule.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, March 5
Shifting Gears - "Career" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Georgia invites Matt and Riley to speak at her school’s Career Day, where playful competition turns tense when Riley learns Georgia is ashamed of her job. Meanwhile, Gabriel mentors Carter’s car project until a more urgent piece of business arises.
Abbott Elementary - "Books" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
A debate over a controversial book leads Ava to remove it from the library, but some parents push for its return.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 3)
Wednesday, March 5
- Walton Goggins (The Righteous Gemstones/The Unicorn/Vice Principals) - Watch Walton on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Mike Epps (The Upshaws/Uncle Buck/Survivor's Remorse) - Mike is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Mindy Kaling (Running Point/The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Mitra Jouhari (Clone High/Three Busy Debras), Sandy Honig (Three Busy Debras) and Alyssa Stonoha (Three Busy Debras) - Mitra, Sandy and Alyssa are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Tony Danza (Taxi/Who's the Boss?/Hudson Street/The Tony Danza Show) - Tony talks about Power Book III: Raising Kanan on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick appears on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Parker Posey (Search Party/The Return of Jezebel James) - Parker talks about The White Lotus on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Regina Hall (Black Monday/Grandfathered/Married/Second Generation Wayans) - Regina guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Tan France (Deli Boys - Tan talks about Deli Boys on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Sterling K. Brown (Starved) - Sterling tells Sherri about his new role on the hit Hulu series Paradise on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Melissa Peterman (Happy's Place/Young Sheldon/Baby Daddy/Working Class/Reba) - Melissa talks about her hit NBC show Happy's Place on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Wendell Pierce (The Odd Couple/The Michael J. Fox Show/The Weber/The Brian Benben Show/The Gregory Hines Show) - Wendell talks about Power Book III: Raising Kanan on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Jennie Garth (Mystery Girls/What I Like About You) - In a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE with actress Jennie Garth, she shares her formula for fulfillment and how she created the “I Choose Me” movement on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
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