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, November 5
Shifting Gears - "Loyalty" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Matt’s dream build turns into a nightmare when controversy between Stitch and the client threatens to derail everything. Meanwhile, Riley hires Carter at her coffee business and quickly learns that working with family brews more tension than drinks.
Abbott Elementary - "No Phones" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abbott Elementary participates in the district’s “No Phones Day” initiative.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 3)
Wednesday, November 5
- Carol Burnett (Palm Royale/Mad About You/Mama's Family/Stanley) - Watch Carol on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show) - Jennifer appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Gary Cole (mixed-ish/Fam/Veep/Family Affair) - Gary stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Alice Wetterlund (People of Earth/Silicon Valley) - Alice is a guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
- Janelle James (Abbott Elementary) and Jerrod Carmichael (The Carmichael Show) - Andy Cohen interviews Janelle and Jerrod on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo. Janelle also talks about Abbott Elementary on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere/Nightcap) - Jeff talks about Lost and Found in Cleveland on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years) - NBC's Today catches up with Danica in the 9am hour.
- Laura Dern (F Is for Family/Enlightened) - NBC's Today catches up with Laura in the 9am hour.
- Jay Ellis (Running Point/Insecure/The Game) - Jay talks about All Her Fault on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Ego Nwodim (Mr. Throwback) - Ego talks about life after Saturday Night Live and her new podcast Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Ms. Pat (The Ms. Pat Show) - Ms. Pat talks about BET+'s Ms. Pat Settles It on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Danny Trejo (Saint George) - Danny talks about History's Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo Season 2 on SirirusXM's Sam Roberts' Faction Talk (Channel 103) at 10:30am and on CTRL, ALT, D-Stroy (Shade 45) at 4pm.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (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)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season
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