The Rise and Fall of Futurama

Did everyone hear?

Futurama's coming back!

You know, a couple of years ago, I'd have been tremendously excited to have one of my most fondly-remembered cartoons back on the air. When Fox canned Futurama back in 2003, I'll admit, I died a little inside. I simply couldn't fathom how the tired tripe that The Simpsons had become could still be kicking while a show as inventive and exponentially more engaging as Futurama toddled off into the great beyond.

When the news broke that Futurama was coming back, I was psyched. It wasn't, perhaps, in the format that I'd hoped it would be, but four feature-length films, I thought, would certainly tide me over till someone woke up and bought a new series. And they did. As per the teaser embedded above, new episodes of everyone's favourite Matt Groening show are scheduled to begin airing in June with "Rebirth" on Comedy Central.

But those films...

I won't bore you with the details, readers - I'm sure anyone who's seen them will know what I'm talking about - but suffice it to say that between the two I managed to sit through, near enough every inch of anticipation I felt for Futurama's return was lost. Between Bender's Big Score and The Beast with a Billion Backs, whatever love I had for Fry and Bender and Leela crashed and burned. This was not the Futurama I wanted.

I said to myself, maybe it's just me. Maybe I've gotten older and Futurama just isn't what I want anymore. No. I re-watched some of my old DVDs and the first four seasons are still stellar entertainment.

I said to myself, maybe they've lost a few writers, a few key cast members, something like that. No. With no notable exceptions that I could see, the cast and crew of the series were as involved with the four films as they were with the original episodes.

And so. In June, the new series starts in the States - which means here in the UK, we can expect it something in 2013 or thereabouts - and I just don't know how to feel about it. I won't get my hopes up again for them to be shattered as they were once before.

Then again, I feel a little disingenuous saying that. Because, bully for me, I am hopeful - against all good reason. Perhaps Futurama only truly flourishes in 20 minute-long installments. Perhaps the last few years and the rather cool reception to the movies have set the creators straight on what we want from the series. Perhaps... perhaps there is reason to hope.

Who's with me?