Created by Matt Groening
The 200 + channel universe is littered with scads and scads of programming; some fresh and new and some old and defunct, but on occasion thanks to the power of the internet and the ever growing need for programming we sometimes get both? Out on DVD & Blu-Ray now from our friends at 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the second half of the sixth season of a favorite animated show that got resurrected through the power of repeats on cable television and is now an Emmy Award Winner. Get ready for “Futurama-Volume 6”.
“Futurama” aired initially from March of 1999 to August of 2003 until it ceased production only to find a new life on the Cartoon’s Network’s Adult Swim in reruns. Ultimately the show was revived in 2007 as 4 straight to DVD films, which the Comedy Central network agreed to, run and syndicate these films as 16 new TV episodes. In June of 2009 Comedy Central announced that it was picking up an order of 26 more episodes to air on its network, and in March of 2011 it was announced that the show was picked up for another 26 episodes that will air between 2012 and 2013. “Futurama: Volume 6” consists of the final 13 episodes of the first 26 episode order.
Airing on Comedy Central allows creator Matt Groening to push the envelope and make the adventures of the Planet Express crew a little more edgy and entertaining. With these 13 episodes; the crew at the Planet Express delivery company get up to some of their craziest adventures yet. Bender has to go into witness protection after testifying against the Robot Mafia, the secret that bonds Professor Farnsworth and Dr. Zoidberg finally comes to light, Bender evolves into a godlike creature after vastly improving his processing power, Leela becomes a Hollywood bigwig after creating a hit TV show, Fry becomes a den mother as he nurtures an alien egg that hatches into a horrible creature that threatens to destroy them all and in the season finale we follow the team in three different animation styles as we see them in classic black and white, old school 8 bit videogame style and in Japanese anime.
The special features on this 2 disc set include: Full length audio commentary on all 13 episodes, deleted scenes, a Futurama F.A.Q., behind the scenes featurettes and exclusive extras available via BD-LIVE.
With the same edge and wit as Groening’s ‘The Simpsons’; “Futurama” bristles with comedic energy from top to bottom and much like the Simpson clan, the Planet Express crew doesn’t always have the most zany adventures, but they will consistently put a smile on anyone’s face who decides to get comfortable on the couch and go along for the ride.
4 out of 5 stars.
“Futurama: Volume 6” is available on DVD & Blu-Ray now at video stores across Toronto; click here for a list of some of the finer stores near you.
Futurama airs on Comedy Central for our neighbors to the south of us, and on the Comedy Network here in Canada. Check with your local cable providers for channel listings.
Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Twitter as the Pop Culture Poet for all the latest and greatest news and reviews from the world of entertainment.
Comments