A Look Into The Sometimes Bizarre World Of Futurama

Matt Groening, creator of the hit TV show "The Simpsons," gave the world another adult themed cartoon to love called Futurama. The show, an animated Science production, first began airing on the Fox Broadcast Network in 1999 where new episodes aired each week until 2003. Groening first began working on the series in 2006 after being urged to do so by the network.

After failing to renew a contract with Fox in 2003, reruns of Futurama began to air on Comedy Central. The reruns were shown until 2007, when the station decided to pick up new episodes. Starting in 2008, Comedy Central began airing new episodes of the show each week, even releasing four made for DVD movies. Futurama is currently in its 6th season, still airing on Comedy Central.

The show earned recognition in the Guinness World Record for "Current Most Critically-Acclaimed Animated Series" in 2010. Since the debut of Futurama the show has been one that has peaked the interests of families across the states, always earning the highest of honors in an animated series. Several other awards have been won by the show in addition to the World Record honor. Futurama is such a popular show, assorted merchandise bearing the show's namesake and characters has been made available. Items for purchase include t-shirts, hats, calenders, figures, games, and many other items. Futurama even created enough interest for a video game to be produced.

A trio of three complete the main cast of the show that offers viewers a chance to explore the other side of comedy. The humor isn't for everyone, but for many who carry the same witty sense of humor, it is the best barrel of laughs that can be found. Despite being a cartoon, the show is geared towards a more mature audience, though many smaller fans also offer rave reviews for the cartoon.

The trio, Phillip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy with Planet Express; Turanga Leela, a one eyed ship captain; and the star of the show, Bender Bending Rodriguez, a robot whose foul mouth and heavy drinking combined with kleptomanism and a bad temper manufactured by Mom's Friendly Robot Company keep things interesting. In addition to the three main characters of the show, Futurama also has many side characters to complete the funny and crazy, sometimes shocking antics of the crew. Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth is another main character of the show. Set in the 31st century in New York City, Futurama exaggerates issues such as global warming, inflexible bureaucracy, and substance abuse, and turns them into things that are sometimes serious, but always with a laugh to follow.

Actress Katey Sagal plays the role of Leela; Billy West plays both the rolls of Professor Farnsworth and Phillip Fry; and John DiMaggio stars as Bender. Special guest star apperances are common on the show, with the likes of many celebrities already making a special appearance on the show. Some of the most popular celebrities to star on the show include Dick Clark, Snoop Dogg, William Shatner, Al Gore, Coolio, Lucy Lui, Hank Aaron, and an array of others.

Viewers can tune in to Comedy Central each Sunday night at 10 p.m. eastern time to catch a new episode of the show, as well as watch reruns on the channel airing at various times throughout the week. It is a show that will open your mind to a whole new concept of comedy!