Why Futurama is (In my opinion) the best cartoon comedy show

[Dr Jones]

Do note that all that will be written in this blog-like post is entirely MY OPINION! You may prefer South Park, Family Guy or Simpsons more than Futurama, and that's cool. I'm just giving my reasons as to why, I think Futurama beats all these shows. I know that a lot of people on here are fans of Futurama, and I want to see more discussions regarding the show on here <.<


Introduction
I have a LOT of free time on my hands, as I have exams (which means meet up 1 hour 1 or 2 days of the week and get a good grade >.>), so I decided to get into Futurama, as I had already watched most of the popular cartoon comedy shows in their entirety (Family Guy, Simpsons, American Dad, South Park are the major ones). Right from the get-go I could see I was gonna like this show. It had humor, but still an amazingly well-written story (which is a thing I will love, and that will stay current in the best stories of Futurama). So I went on a mad bender and watched every single episode in about a week or so. I finished it in it's entirety just yesterday (watching two earlier episodes, March of the mutants and Jurassic Bark (which was amazing)).

Characters
Probably the best damn thing about the series. I just love the characters so, the way they act together, Fry and Leela's on and off again relationship. It just makes for the best episodes. There is literally a character for every person in this show, I love them all. From Zoidberg who everyone hates or just doesen't acknowledge to the Shatneresque Zapp Brannigan (who also has some of the most funny gags, including a very Shatnerlike version of "Lola"). Every character is just so detailed. They seem far more real than anything from Family Guy or The Simpsons. Fry's father doesen't hate Fry, quite the opposite. He is just preparing him for a hard life by disciplining him (is that a word? Spellchecker thinks so!)

Episodes
I must admit, Futurama has made me laugh far less than The Simpsons, South Park or even Family Guy, but it has made me feel a much greater variety of feelings than any of those shows combined. Seriously. Jurassic Bark is one of the only moments of any media, where I actually teared up, and had to restrain myself from not shedding a tear. It was that well made and just excellent. The movie Bender's Big Score (which was actually 5 episodes made into a movie, as they continued a storyline), was just so amazingly well written, seriously, even if you are not going into Futurama or anything, you should check it out. I seriously love the episodes that increase the relationship of Fry and Leela, Fry's incredible persistance in trying to end up with Leela is admiring, and her constant refusal is very sad. This is one of the things I love the most about Futurama, many of the episodes actually changes things around, instead of having them stay the same for 20 fucking years (ahem.. Simpsons).

Appeal
It is so blatantly obvious that this show is written by huge nerds. From their Dolemite jokes, to videogame humor (1/3 of the last episode of season 6 was done in an 8-bit videogame format) just about any nerd should fall in love with this series. I strongly advise you to give it a go! But take it from the start and work your way up, that is the way I think would be preferable for anyone watching the show, as new things are added and edited every some episode. It is also one of the most quotable shows in existence, with awesome quotes such as "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY" to "I don't want to live on this planet anymore" (both of which you should know very well, if you visit these forums <.<).



So.. What is your opinion on the show?

 

[smithy_2045]

It's easily one of the best shows going round. Probably my personal favourite.

 

[Esotera]

I'll play Devil's Advocate, as even though it's a very good show and it has produced some classic episodes, it managed to get stale quite quickly with relatively few seasons. South Park definitely wins in terms of how long it's been around and managing to stay relevant.

I think it's a great show, one of my favourites.

 

[ChupathingyX]

I enjoy it but there are plenty of cartoon shows that I prefer.

Personally there have been a few moments when it made me laugh out loud but those are few and far between compared to other cartoon comedies and most of the jokes and nerdy references usually just make me smile.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Nay. Archer is the best cartoon comedy, because it's simply the funniest.

 

[Dr Jones]

I'll play Devil's Advocate, as even though it's a very good show and it has produced some classic episodes, it managed to get stale quite quickly with relatively few seasons. South Park definitely wins in terms of how long it's been around and managing to stay relevant.

Granted, that is probably true. The South Park episode that tackle some major crisis whilst keeping it funny are the best episodes (freedom of speech episodes, anyone?) But Futurama just does it for me, with the characters.

Also, did anyone see the new Season 7 episode? They actually took that Suspicious Fry meme pic and made a line for it in the intro "Can't tell if new episode or rerun of episode I watched drunk", it was a nice little joke <.<

 

[ChildishLegacy]

I'll play Devil's Advocate, as even though it's a very good show and it has produced some classic episodes, it managed to get stale quite quickly with relatively few seasons. South Park definitely wins in terms of how long it's been around and managing to stay relevant.

I think it's a great show, one of my favourites.

Was going to say something along these lines, South Park will always just flat out win when it comes to satire, it's just so good at it. I just wish they'd stop trying to get cheap laughs with their jokes like "respect my authoritah", because the genius satire actually does make me laugh.

 

[Hoplon]

I do love Futurama, it's awesome, the post season 4 stuff (The films and the new series) has fallen flat to me though.

 

[derintrel]

Nay. Archer is the best cartoon comedy, because it's simply the funniest.

You monster. Why would you make me chose between those!

OT long post: I think you are right. I've always been a Simpsons fan(yes, all seasons) and I think it has something that it shares with Futurama that most other comedy shows don't have. Namely, a highbrow mode of comedy. Very rarely do they devolve into fart humor and the like, whereas Family Guy consistently does. It's just a series of not connected cheap gags. Futurama, Simpsons and even South Park will actually set something up and work for a laugh. That's important.

 

[Supertegwyn]

Correction: Bender's Big Score was a movie split into 5 after it's release, not the other way around.

OT: I love Futurama, best animated show by far.

 

[Vault101]

right now? compared to american dad and famlly guy...yeah

this is going to sound meladramatic but It kind of saddens me the art of animation is assosiated with those two

2D animation anyway

 

[Nazulu]

Agreed, defifnitely one of the best comedies ever made, till I think the end of season 5 any way. Nearly every episode had it's fair share of good humour, and different types of humour (unlike so many popular so called comedies).

As for the characters being detailed, not really. They all fall in to stereotype catagories and were pretty predictable a lot of the time. I reckon it's the really good scripts and funny jokes we quote that makes these characters who they are, like most shows and movies.

Don't know which I would say is best out of the cartoons, leaning towards The Simpsons and South Park. The Simpsons best seasons are I think, not 100% sure, 6 to 10, couple of seasons still pretty good after, with 25 episodes in all. And South Park was great for 11 seasons and 1 movie. OK, I'm pretty sure it's South Park.

 

[Eddie the head]

I like Robot Chicken more but I guess that is not quite animation, but I still think it's the funnest thing on T.V. Yeah it's a good show.

 

[Vanitas likes Bubbles]

Meh, I stopped watching cartoons when they starting falling into a routine of boringness and monotony.

 

[Don Savik]

South Park is good for social and politcal commentary, but it really.....lacks in terms of variety. Its always going to be a satire of something that's already happened that everyone is making a big deal about, and the sarcasm is so blatantly obvious that you could see it if you were blind, underwater, with a bag over your head, 100 miles away. Its clever, but equally as stupid. Current events are fine for comedy (in small doses), but I'd rather watch a video on The Onion then an entire tv show. Also, its rampart with stupid obnoxious characters like Cartman.

Simpsons also suffers from the same current events garbage sometimes. And its universe makes it very hard to stray away from the same story arcs. Its why Simpsons has done every episode plot twice. Even Family Guy (which is still moderately funny these days. Some episodes occasionally are freaking hilarious, like, 1 in every 6) has more room to explore different locations and ideas in its universe than the very dry sitcomy style of the Simpsons.

Haven't watched Archer but I heard it was good. Problem is I don't want to spend money on a box set of a show I've never watched even a small clip of :/

Futurama though is quite brilliant. I love all the characters and ideas. Its just overall more creative. It may not be deep or meaningful all the time but it CAN be really well, without beating you over the head with the obvious. Remember the Kanye episode of South Park? 30 minutes of ONE joke reused over and over again? Yea.....

 

[Casual Shinji]

I always felt the show was incredibly weak.

It feels like a Nickelodeon cartoon that's trying to be a prime time comedy show. The set-up and pay-off of the humor could be seen from miles away, and those fucking head jokes were already mediocre in the first few episodes; Oh look, it's Richard Nixon's head...... HA, that's so funny!

It only got some genuine laughs from me after it returned from being cancelled. Probably got some better writters.

 

[deidara]

I still think South Park is the best cartoon, just because of how outrageously funny it continues to be. But as it stands at the moment Futurama is easily my second favorite. Simpsons and Family Guy are garbage now. American Dad is still decent, but doesn't come close to the other two in general for me. And I'm still wondering why The Cleveland show even exists...

 

[EHKOS]

Nay. Archer is the best cartoon comedy, because it's simply the funniest.

Yeah, I've gotta agree, although Futurama is awesome in it's own right.

Also, I was playing Ratchet and Clank the other day and it finally dawned on me who Qwark reminds me of....yep. Zap. *sigh*

 

[Blunderboy]

Nay. Archer is the best cartoon comedy, because it's simply the funniest.

Better Call Kenny Loggins because you're in the DANGAH ZONE!

But seriously, you're right.