Thank the gods. I was ready to burn FOX down to the ground.
Bad news everyone - Futurama travesty in the making
- Thread starter nevermore
- Start date
I thought it was official that the original voice actors would not be returning?
(that's what I heard today)
(that's what I heard today)
The quote there was in the statement issued back on the 17th, so there's no actual new information on that page (despite it being dated yesterday).
I pretty much expected this, but it's good to get confirmation. 
I do find it kind of amusing, though, that there's much greater outrage over the replacement of voice actors than there is over the replacement of live actors.
I do find it kind of amusing, though, that there's much greater outrage over the replacement of voice actors than there is over the replacement of live actors.
I do find it kind of amusing, though, that there's much greater outrage over the replacement of voice actors than there is over the replacement of live actors.
Well, the live actors in question are either 1.) too old, or 2.) dead.
That's a bit of a game-changer.
Well, that's true in a lot of cases, of course, but the discussion is always about whether an actor is too closely tied to the character to be replaced rather than the practical aspects.
One can only hope.
I think we're blowing this out of proportion. Labor asked for more money, management offered less, management made a threat to pressure labor into settling for less, labor publicized the move to get leverage in return, and eventually they settled on an intermediate amount. Sounds like the kind of thing that goes on in salary negotiations all the time. It just seemed shocking to us because we're usually not privy to the process. But this is how negotiation happens. Both sides start out from extreme positions to show they mean business. Management argues "You're not indispensable, so you should settle for less or we'll find someone who can," and labor counters, "I'm valuable to you, so you'd be smart to keep me and pay me more." I'm sure it happens all the time, and usually both sides arrive at a compromise position. It's nothing to brandish torches and pitchforks over, it's just how the game is played.
The game played for three years just fine. FOX now wants to change the rules without notice and expected everyone to just cave in.
^They did the same thing with The Simpsons and it resolved the same way this did. They didn't "expect" anything but that the other side would respond with a counteroffer and the negotiations would continue. That's what negotiation is -- the two sides offering different positions, jockeying for advantage, and eventually reaching a compromise. Nobody with any experience at negotiation simply "expects" an initial offer or negotiating ploy to become the final reality. They may hope it will, but they know it's called negotiation for a reason.
Like I said, I'm sure threats like this are made all the time in negotiations; we usually just don't hear about them. This was a ploy to get the actors to settle for less money, not a final decision to fire them. If it had been a final decision, they would be fired now. The fact that this got resolved so quickly with the actors staying on is proof that it was just a negotiating tactic, which is what I expected all along.
Also, typography matters; the deal isn't with FOX, but with Fox. FOX, written in all-caps, is shorthand for the Fox Broadcasting Company, a television network. That network isn't involved here, since Futurama is now broadcast on Comedy Central. The deal is with 20th Century Fox Television (TCFT for short), the production company that makes the show. FOX and TCFT are sister companies, but separate entities.
Like I said, I'm sure threats like this are made all the time in negotiations; we usually just don't hear about them. This was a ploy to get the actors to settle for less money, not a final decision to fire them. If it had been a final decision, they would be fired now. The fact that this got resolved so quickly with the actors staying on is proof that it was just a negotiating tactic, which is what I expected all along.
Also, typography matters; the deal isn't with FOX, but with Fox. FOX, written in all-caps, is shorthand for the Fox Broadcasting Company, a television network. That network isn't involved here, since Futurama is now broadcast on Comedy Central. The deal is with 20th Century Fox Television (TCFT for short), the production company that makes the show. FOX and TCFT are sister companies, but separate entities.
I'm glad to hear that Futurama is FINALLY coming back to TV. It's being broadcast on Comedy Central in the US, who will be broadcasting it in Canada?