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, April 8
Scrubs - "My Odds" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
J.D. has finally hit his stride as the new chief of medicine, only to be shaken by an unexpected visit. Meanwhile, Elliot grapples with being a good mentor for the interns while still holding them accountable.
Abbott Elementary - "Trip" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Janine and Gregory plan a vacation. Meanwhile, one of Melissa’s most successful former students comes back for a visit.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 6)
Wednesday, April 8
- Jean Smart (Hacks/Samantha Who?/Center of the Universe/In-Laws/Style & Substance/Designing Women) - Watch Jean on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me/Guys Like Us) - Linda appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle/The Louie Show) - Bryan stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Robby Hoffman (Hacks) - Robby is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle) - Frankie talks about Hulu's Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Taylor Ortega (Big Mistakes) - Taylor talks about Big Mistakes on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Halle Bailey (grown-ish) - Halle talks about You, Me and Tuscany on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Elle Fanning (Margo’s Got Money Troubles) - Elle talks about Margo's Got Money Troubles on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Nick Offerman (Margo's Got Money Troubles/Parks and Recreation and Thaddea Graham (Margo's Got Money Troubles - Nick and Thaddea talk about Margo's Got Money Troubles on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Riz Ahmed (Bait) - Riz talks about Hamlet on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia talks to Drew about being a mother, her breast cancer journey and being married to a comedian on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
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