Questions
Who created Futurama and when did it premiere?
Matt Groening and David X. Cohen developed the show in 1996, and it premiered on Fox on March 28, 1999.
Where does the name Futurama come from?
It comes from a pavilion at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, designed by Norman Bel Geddes, which depicted how he imagined the world would look in 1959.
What is the show’s premise?
Pizza delivery boy Philip J. Fry is cryogenically frozen in the year 2000 and wakes up in the year 2999, going to work for the Planet Express delivery company in New New York.
How did Billy West come up with Fry’s voice?
West reportedly modeled Fry’s voice on his own voice on purpose, to make it difficult for another person to replicate.
How many characters does Billy West voice?
Billy West voices several main characters, including Fry, Professor Farnsworth, and Dr. Zoidberg. Katey Sagal, who voices Leela, is the only main cast member voicing just one character.
Where does Bender’s voice come from?
John DiMaggio reportedly described it as a combination of a sloppy drunk, Slim Pickens, and a character his college friend created named Charlie the sausage-lover. Bender was called the most difficult character to cast.
Why is Zapp Brannigan’s voice familiar?
The role was originally written for Phil Hartman, and after Hartman’s death Billy West took over, reportedly modeling it on Hartman plus a couple of big dumb announcers.
Is it true the writers were highly educated?
Yes. The article calls them easily the most overeducated cartoon writers in history, holding three Ph.D.s, seven master’s degrees, and more than 50 cumulative years at Harvard University.
What kind of nerdy jokes are hidden in the show?
The writers embedded real math and science references, like an aleph-null-plex movie theater, books labeled P and NP referencing the P versus NP problem, and Schrodinger’s cat.
Where does the planet name Chapek 9 come from?
It references Karel Capek, the writer whose work gave us the word robot.
How long does one episode take to make?
Each episode takes about 6 to 9 months, with animation by Rough Draft Studios. The opening sequence alone takes 4 to 5 weeks and consists of over 80 levels of 3D animation.
How many awards has Futurama won?
It has been nominated for 12 Emmy Awards and won 6, and was nominated for 17 Annie Awards and won 9. TV Guide ranked it number one on its 2013 list of the 60 Greatest TV Cartoons of All Time.
Why did the show get cancelled and then come back so many times?
Fox stopped buying episodes in 2003, but Adult Swim reruns revived interest. It later returned with direct-to-DVD films, a Comedy Central run, and a Hulu revival ordered in 2023.
How many series finales does Futurama have?
Four episodes were designated as finales at various points: The Devil’s Hands Are Idle Playthings, Into the Wild Green Yonder, Overclockwise, and Meanwhile.
Does Futurama connect to The Simpsons?
Yes. Both shows come from Matt Groening, and they had an official crossover called Simpsorama that aired on November 9, 2014.
