2013-2014 TV watch: FOX’s greenlights, renewals, and cancellations

In advance of the upcoming television upfronts and the ending of the 2012-2013 television season, many networks are in the middle of confirming pilots, cancelling shows, and renewing others. Rather than you sifting through all the noise, we’re going to come up with some cheat sheets to what’s happening to your favorite, and non-favorite comedy on television. Let’s break down each TV network for you. Check out the new comedies that might catch your eye, your favorite shows that are returning, and the ones cancelled to be forever gone into dark TV abyss.

Let’s start off with FOX and see how things are going over there. Read the rest of this entry

‘Futurama’ gets cancelled (again)

After 14 years and seven seasons, it looks like the Planet Express crew is about to make their final delivery.

Comedy Central has decided not to renew Futurama for an 8th season.

This isn’t the first time Futurama has been cancelled. The futuristic animation originally aired on FOX from 1999-2003. After multiple time-slot moves, FOX executives simply stopped ordering more Futurama episodes. The show went on hiatus until 2007 when Comedy Central picked up four direct-t0-DVD movies, which ran as half-hour specials on the channel. Success of the specials compelled Comedy Central execs to order a 26-episode sixth season and a subsequent seventh season. The show even won an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program in 2011.

But the ratings game seems to have been the cause of the end of Futurama. Fry and gang averaged 2.6 million viewers in 2010, 2.3 million in 2011, and 1.7 million in 2012, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Creator Matt Groening expressed gratitude but optimism about the cancellation. Read the rest of this entry

The Simpsons Break Bad in this week’s couch gag (video)

Alright Internet, it’s 9:30 in the morning on Friday and you can stop churning out any new animated .gifs and pictures of LOL cats because The Simpsons won it all today with their forthcoming couch gag set to air this Sunday. Come back tomorrow all refreshed and see if you have what it takes to beat Marge, Homer, and Bart pay homage to the finale of Breaking Bad. Cue the “Crystal Blue Persuasion” montage please. Heisenberg put on a few pounds. If you don’t know what any of this means watch this.

Why did nobody tell us this Simpsons website existed?

We kinda all wish we had a job as cool as Chris Ledesma, who is the music editor of The Simpsons. But well, we have the chance to live vicariously through him. In a bit of “sh*t! I had no idea this existed until today” news, Ledesma runs a blog called Simpsons Music 500. On it, he documents his day job as the music director for the iconic TV show. Dishing details on every episode he’s worked on (and that’s all of them).

What started out as something to document the show as it neared its unbelievable 500th episode (which it hit in February last year) is still going strong giving Ledesma an outlet for more details including the most recent episode, “Dark Knight Court.”

Well, I know what I’m going to do the rest of the day.

The Super Troopers sequel is happening, set to film this year

Alright, we know! It seems like every time you turn around, there’s a rumor about a Super Troopers sequel with every member from the cult film’s creators, Broken Lizard delivering details about what stage of development the movie is in. Well ramp up the rumor mill and recall the most recent update in August 2012 and add to it that Team Ramrod is happening and riding again in 2013. In an interview with Guyspeed.com, Kevin Heffernan aka “Farva” revealed the finished script was handed into FOX and they’re negotiating filming logistics but they’re eying for shooting in 2013.

Here’s the rundown on all new 2013 TV comedy pilots that could make it to air

The pilot season is a time of year where ideas earn budgets. It’s a time where there is an abundance of life and excitement Flowers blossom, baby birds are born, life is good. The majority of this life is in LA and just like many things in the city of angels shit can get sketchy quick!

Before you know it, television ideas and pilots will be ripped up and burned. In hopes of flying, baby birds will fall from their nests and smash their skulls on the sidewalks below. But now… the times are pretty. Oz is in color and not on fire. Things are okay as it is officially pilot season.

It is time to put yourself in the executive seat and make the important decisions.

Get comfortable, light up your Cuban cigar, pour some single malt whiskey and decide who gets to be on TV this year. Read the rest of this entry

He’s Axe Cop, and he’s a total badass (video)

Animation Domination High-Definition, or ADHD is FOX’s attempt to sway the stoner eyeballs from watching late night cartoons on [adult swim] with blocks of animated 15 minute shows. It’s flagship show, Axe Cop is based on the popular web comic (created by a 5 year old kid) is set to premiere this July. What does Axe Cop do you ask? He carries around an axe and rides on the back of a dinosaur, which of course, is decked out in twin gatling guns (you gotta love 5 year olds). Here’s preview footage of the show with the cop voice supplied by Parks And Recreation’s Nick Offerman.

If, for some reason your brain can’t comprehend all of the facts I just threw at you, just remember this… Nick Offerman, cop with an axe, dinosaur with machine guns is his transportation, stoners. There, you got it.

Seth MacFarlane live action sitcom gets ordered by FOX and other piloty news

Seth MacFarlane I love pilot season, and for a few reasons…

First, we get to talk about all the new comedy that could make it to the air this upcoming fall season. Secondly, we get to take guesses as to what will make it. Thirdly we can wonder out loud what the heck networks were thinking when some of these plots were pitched. Crazy plot ideas, like a sitcom based on the Geico Cavemen. Remember when someone actually greenlit that thing? We barely do either.

Here’s the latest. Read the rest of this entry