Newspaper Article

Is there a future in \Futurama'?

Goodman, Tim

1999

Overview

This is news because \"Futurama\" is the much-anticipated second show from Matt Groening, creator of \"The Simpsons,\" a man who had a great deal to do with establishing Fox as a legitimate network. No doubt much of the trouble with \"Futurama\" (8:30 p.m. Sunday, Channel 2) stems from the fact that the pilot sent to TV critics spends all of its time creating the back-story for the characters. Lost along the way is any trace of humor. The pilot is flat-out unfunny. In another person's hands, the tendency would be to write this show off immediately. But Groening deserves as much slack as he needs because \"The Simpsons\" is not just one of the funniest TV shows ever created - and still the funniest half-hour on television - but it was a landmark show that ushered in this current tidal wave of animation. Groening is a visionary who is proven. Because of that, viewers need to step back from the pilot of \"Futurama\" and let it build its story line. Life would have been easier had the \"Futurama\" writers zinged something - anything - with half the wit of their \"Simpsons\" counterparts, but while the show is intriguing to look at, it rarely musters up even a tired smirk.

• Publisher: Clinton Reilly Communications, Inc
• Subject: FUTURAMA