sad, sad, terrible, gruesome news, everyone.
If you’re a fan of Futurama you probably already know about this. But I need to piece together a few bits of information into some kind of coherent back story in what has happened.
So sometime last week it was reported that Fox was recasting the main voice talent of Futurama for its re-launch on Comedy Central in 2010. Naturally I was literally angry with rage. Here is the first bit I saw online about it:
When the “Futurama” characters come back for new episodes on Comedy Central in mid-2010, they may sound different.
That is because producing studio 20th TV is proceeding with auditioning new actors for the roles after failing to reach an agreement with the original voice cast: John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, Billy West, Tress MacNeille and Katey Sagal.
“We love the ‘Futurama’ voice performers and absolutely wanted to use them, but unfortunately, we could not meet their salary demands,” the studio said in a statement Friday. “While replacing these talented actors will be difficult, the show must go on.”
Back in June when 20th TV and Comedy Central announced a deal to produce 26 new episodes of “Futurama,” the producers noted that no deals with the show’s original voice cast had been closed but expressed confidence that all of them would return.
When, under similar circumstances another canceled Fox/20th TV animated series, “Family Guy,” was resurrected with a pickup of new episodes by Adult Swim in 2005, the show’s entire voice cast came back for what is described as approximately the same salaries they were paid when “Guy” aired on Fox from 1999-2002.
The cast of “Futurama,” which ran on Fox from 1999-2002, are said to have been offered modest pay increases but have insisted for bumps of several times what they used to make.
However, on “Family Guy,” creator Seth MacFarlane voices the key characters, while the entire cast of “Futurama,” like that of “The Simpsons,” consists of outside actors.
Matt Groening, who co-created “Futurama” with David X. Cohen, knows a thing or two about voice casts standoffs.
The “Simpsons” creator had gone through a series of bruising renegotiations with the actors on the long-running Fox series.
Just like the current scuttle on “Futurama,” in 1998 20th TV hired casting directors to recast the actors on “The Simpsons.” A deal was ultimately reached.
In 2004 and 2008, the series’ seasons were cut short after the “Simpsons” voice cast boycotted table reads as part of the tense salary negotiations.
Despite the salary disputes, “Simpsons” reached the 20-season mark with its original voice cast intact.
With “Futurama,” there also is a possibility that the two sides would come to an agreement.
In the meanwhile, it’s going to be rough for the casting directors assigned to find replacement actors who have already started to receive threats from fans of the show.
The topic of the actors’ recasting is expected to be addressed during the “Futurama” panel 20th TV will hold during the upcoming Comic-Con which will include Groening and Cohen.
Any search for Futurama now will come up with TONS of news about this. Fans have been outraged since the second this started to spread. A petition was created. Word was spread through Facebook, Twitter, and just tons of other social networking sites all over the web.
The general consensus has been that this is a negotiation ploy by Fox, attempting to get the incredibly talented and well-deserving voice actors to lower their contract requests. Which they shouldn’t. They are all incredible and make that show what it is. Which is amazing, if you didn’t know.
This week, however, is the San Diego Comic Con, which will be having a Futurama Panel on Saturday afternoon. A nugget of hope popped up in the official program description, which reads as follows:
1:00-1:45 Futurama: Life or Death?!
Be a part of sci-fi history! Join executive producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, and stars Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, and Maurice LaMarche for high-stakes thrills as a top-ranking FOX executive decides live, on stage, whether Futurama will make yet another triumphant return or whether it is gone forever! The very fate of Futurama hangs in the balance! Paramedics will be st anding by in case the intense excitement causes any panelists to collapse. Raucous celebration or abject despair to follow the news. Ballroom 20
So was this all a brilliant marketing ploy by Fox? Build up anticipation for Futurama through threatening the well-being of the voice talent? Perhaps. I have no doubt Fox would toy with people like that to build up press.
Today, however, Maurice LaMarche posted some important information on the ‘Save the Voices of Futurama’ Group on Facebook.
Hi Gang,
Moe LaMarche here. Just to clarify, we have NOT been kicked out of Comic-Con completely. In fact, gotta give ‘em credit, Fox was good enough to keep our registrations and hotel arrangements “alive”, (although at our own expense), perhaps because somebody, somewhere at Fox Productions is preparing some kind of reasonable offer back to us, in time to save the panel. Who knows? Maybe they’re just being decent. Anyway, I always express gratitude when I can, and this does save my kid’s once a year trip (cz ComicCon’s sold out), so in spite of any contention, thank you, Fox. And thank you to our friends, Matt & Dave, thank you Marcy and Antonia, and thank you, Lee.
The “Good news, Everyone” is that we (the cast) WILL still be signing autographs in the Sail Pavilion from 3pm til 7pm. Come by, say hi, even if you don’t buy an autograph (yeah, sorry… we “greedy actors” have to make a living somehow). And if you have questions, and we can legally and ethically answer them, we will.
The then went on to say:
And, further point of clarification, there STILL WILL BE a Futurama panel (as of this writing, anyway). Just not including us. So, go check it out, if you like. I just hope that what is said from up there is accurate and fair, as we will not be there to rebut. However, I do still dare to think that Matt, Dave and the writers are our friends…
So the panel description has been debunked, and LaMarche, West, DiMaggio, and Sagal will not be at the panel. They will be around to sign autographs, but that’s it.
Fox has to know that this move will actually cost them more money that it will save. Thousands of fans have spoken out against the re-casting of the voice talent, and many have expressed that they would not watch or support the program of West, Sagal, LaMarche, DiMaggio, Lamarr, MacNeille, and the rest of the regular cast was replaced. It would be an imitation of the original, to the point of it being a parody. Making the show anywhere near as fun, intelligent, and entertaining would be impossible.
If you’re a fan of Futurama, or a fan of good television in general, please take a few moments to sign the petition and send some emails to Fox execs. They’ve already tried to kill the show and the fans helped bring it back. Now the fans can use their power to keep the voice talent in tow for the show’s relaunch next year!
Send your angry emails to:
chris.alexander@fox.com
tracey.raab@fox.com
Put ‘Save the Voices of Futurama’ in the subject line, and tell those pencil pushers at Fox how you feel! And if you’re going to the San Diego Comic Con, make sure you go to the panel and voice your concerns.
ek
