Great News! Entire Voice Cast of Futurama Will Return - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 07-31-2009, 10:48 PM

After a standoff with 20th Century Fox TV over salary, all five "Futurama" actors on Friday reached an agreement with the producing studio to reprise their parts on the show, set to come back with new episodes on Comedy Central in mid-2010.

The deals for Katey Sagal, Maurice LaMarche, Tress MacNeille, John DiMaggio and Billy West all closed by end of day Friday.

Financial terms of the agreements were not released but it is understood that both sides have made compromises to bridge the initial salary gap, in which the actors were said to have asked for several times what the studio was offering.

The dispute between the "Futurama" voice cast and 20th TV escalated earlier this month when the studio hired casting directors to recast the roles.

The show's fans reacted by vetoing any cast changes and petitioning for the original actors to come back.

At the "Futurama" panel at Comic-Con last week, co-creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen spoke in support of the actors and expressed optimism that the salary dispute would be resolved so they can return.

In a sign that things were headed toward resolution, Groening was joined by a couple of members of the series' original voice cast in signing autographs at the Comic-Con exhibit hall.

The "Futurama" negotiation echoes similar salary scuffles between 20th TV and the cast of Groening's veteran animated comedy "The Simpsons," all of which also have resulted in the two sides ultimately reaching an agreement.

Marvo301 · 07-31-2009, 11:13 PM

I always thought this would get resolved. Both sides had too much to loose if they didn't work things out.

Retro4Life · 07-31-2009, 11:23 PM

Yeah, the show will face enough challenges as it is. Without the original voices, it would have been, in the words of Bender..."DOOOOOOOOMED..."

TJL · 08-01-2009, 12:11 AM

To quote Professor Farnsworth - Good news everyone!

Adamantium · 08-01-2009, 07:10 AM

When I first heard that Futurama was coming back, I had mixed feelings. I LOVE the original 72 episodes. But the movies weren't half as good (even though I enjoyed them all). I figured that maybe the magic was gone and even though it would come back, it wouldn't be as good. Much like with Rugrats. They did their original episodes, all of which were great. Then they took a break, did the movie and came back with all new episodes. Those episodes weren't all that great. At least in my opinion.

I'm the kind of guy who can enjoy something for what it is and not need more. I love the 72 episodes of Futurama and would be happy to watch them over and over again, without needing brand new episodes.

However, I was just starting to get excited about the new season on Comedy Central. And as soon as I started to get excited (heck, even happy), that's when I got the news that the original voice actors were out. So then, more than ever, was I convinced that to me Futurama was just 72 episodes and 4 movies.

Now, I can go back to being excited since everything is worked out.

Though I notice Phil LaMarr's name isn't listed with the voice actors returning. If he doesn't come back, it will be a shame. But as long as Billy West, Katey Sagal and John Dimaggio are there, it's worth watching.

robyrob · 08-01-2009, 09:17 AM

this is one case that I am definitely glad that I was wrong about - I was really scared that they wouldn't be able to work it out and we'd end up with replacements or that it wouldn't happen at all.

MrRetro_08 · 08-07-2009, 04:17 PM

Great stuff

TVQuack · 08-09-2009, 09:36 PM

Glad to see this finally got resolved.

07-31-2009, 10:48 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Great News! Entire Voice Cast of Futurama Will Return After a standoff with 20th Century Fox TV over salary, all five "Futurama" actors on Friday reached an agreement with the producing studio to reprise their parts on the show, set to come back with new episodes on Comedy Central in mid-2010. The deals for Katey Sagal, Maurice LaMarche, Tress MacNeille, John DiMaggio and Billy West all closed by end of day Friday. Financial terms of the agreements were not released but it is understood that both sides have made compromises to bridge the initial salary gap, in which the actors were said to have asked for several times what the studio was offering. The dispute between the "Futurama" voice cast and 20th TV escalated earlier this month when the studio hired casting directors to recast the roles. The show's fans reacted by vetoing any cast changes and petitioning for the original actors to come back. At the "Futurama" panel at Comic-Con last week, co-creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen spoke in support of the actors and expressed optimism that the salary dispute would be resolved so they can return. In a sign that things were headed toward resolution, Groening was joined by a couple of members of the series' original voice cast in signing autographs at the Comic-Con exhibit hall. The "Futurama" negotiation echoes similar salary scuffles between 20th TV and the cast of Groening's veteran animated comedy "The Simpsons," all of which also have resulted in the two sides ultimately reaching an agreement.
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07-31-2009, 11:13 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I always thought this would get resolved. Both sides had too much to loose if they didn't work things out.
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07-31-2009, 11:23 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Yeah, the show will face enough challenges as it is. Without the original voices, it would have been, in the words of Bender..."DOOOOOOOOMED..."
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08-01-2009, 12:11 AM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	To quote Professor Farnsworth - Good news everyone!
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08-01-2009, 09:17 AM	#6
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,191	this is one case that I am definitely glad that I was wrong about - I was really scared that they wouldn't be able to work it out and we'd end up with replacements or that it wouldn't happen at all.
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08-01-2009, 07:10 AM	#5
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,830	When I first heard that Futurama was coming back, I had mixed feelings. I LOVE the original 72 episodes. But the movies weren't half as good (even though I enjoyed them all). I figured that maybe the magic was gone and even though it would come back, it wouldn't be as good. Much like with Rugrats. They did their original episodes, all of which were great. Then they took a break, did the movie and came back with all new episodes. Those episodes weren't all that great. At least in my opinion. I'm the kind of guy who can enjoy something for what it is and not need more. I love the 72 episodes of Futurama and would be happy to watch them over and over again, without needing brand new episodes. However, I was just starting to get excited about the new season on Comedy Central. And as soon as I started to get excited (heck, even happy), that's when I got the news that the original voice actors were out. So then, more than ever, was I convinced that to me Futurama was just 72 episodes and 4 movies. Now, I can go back to being excited since everything is worked out. Though I notice Phil LaMarr's name isn't listed with the voice actors returning. If he doesn't come back, it will be a shame. But as long as Billy West, Katey Sagal and John Dimaggio are there, it's worth watching.

08-07-2009, 04:17 PM	#7
MrRetro_08 T'ank you veddy much! Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 19, 2007 Location: A Place Far Away Posts: 823	Great stuff
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08-09-2009, 09:36 PM	#8
TVQuack Watching Ed! Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 22, 2004 Location: Rexford, NY Posts: 461	Glad to see this finally got resolved.
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