SPACE ODDITIES! THE RETURN OF 'FUTURAMA'

Spaced-out! The cast of FUTURAMA return. Image copyright: Matt Groening/20th Century Fox.

Matt Groening and 20th Century Fox's other animation child supreme, the sci-fi comedy of intergalactic proportions, FUTURAMA, returns from Friday 29th March on SKY ONE HD. Once cryonised ex-20th century boy Pizza boy Philip Fry and his way out there crew of the Planet Express continue their final frontier adventures in the 31st century, with the kind of warped-out ideas and all-round humorous chaos that fans have loved on and off since 1999.

As always, that lovable robot rogue Bender (voiced with attitude by John DiMaggio) gets the lions share of all the best foul-mouthed, egocentric and misanthropic storylines: this time even getting to becoming self-replicating (heaven help us!), whilst Fry has to deal with the return of the once extinct common cold and the rest of the crew encounter a strange life-form with gender-bending powers. It looks like its gonna be one of those days numerous times over...

With a guest cast including THE SIMPSONS Dan Castellaneta, returning to voice his iconic role of Homer, plus other modern day heroes the likes of real-life space legend Buzz Aldrin and scientist Stephen Hawking, and even a cameo from Tom SpongeBob Squarepants Kenny himself, this season looks set to be the most ambitious, and hopefully funniest, yet...

SPRING-FIELD INTO SUMMER WITH 'THE SIMPSONS'!

 Fun before chaos with THE SIMPSONS. Image copyright: Matt Groening/20TH CENTURY FOX. 

After their huge success with Maggie Simpson's charming Oscar nominated feature short, The Longest Daycare, and now going beyond their landmark 500th episode, the latest season of THE SIMPSONS-its incredible 24th!- arrives with all comedy guns blazing exclusively on SKY ONE HD from March 24th. And this time they're bringing even bigger modern star power than ever before, including worldwide teen pop sensation Justin Bieber, comedians Tina Fey and Steve Carell, Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway and British talent like SHERLOCK's Benedict Cumberbatch.

The series kicks off with Zooey Deschanel as Bart's long-lost love in The One That Got Away. Later on, Marge ponders the prospects of having a new baby-can't wait to see Homer's reaction to that one!, Lisa becomes hooked on online poker, lovably deranged Grandpa leaves his nursing home, and a tornado hits Springfield- the end of the world is surely nigh!

Season 24 Premiere Preview | The Simpsons | Animation on FOX - YouTube

OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE: The Simpsons

FAMILY VALUES TIMES FIVE HUNDRED: "THE SIMPSONS" STYLE!

America's favourite family are back: THE SIMPSONS. Image: copyright MATT GROENING/ TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX

The series that helped define American comedy, pioneered small screen animation, launched the careers of a generation of satirists, and would continue to help shore up the US FOX network and the UK's SKY channels over twenty three years, THE SIMPSONS, created by Matt Groening, remains as iconic, beloved and enjoyable as ever. Okay, so the series definitive run of true comic genius was a while back, but its still very funny as it approaches its landmark 500th episode. Homer, in particular, remains the most satisfyingly consistent, worst kind of role model to resonate with fans of all ages, alongside his always looking on the bright side super-wife/mum, Marge, let Mister Burns further sustain his evil empire, and long may Bart stay the youthful joke cracking, prank making smart-ass. Meanwhile, the continued episodic guest stars appearances (this year from the likes of Lady Gaga, Bryan Cranston, Andy Garcia, Joan Rivers, Gordon Ramsay and a returning Kiefer Sutherland) are now almost symbiotically part and parcel of the series tapestry/success. It seems their "I'm doing this for my children" explanation never goes out of fashion, nor does the show in general for the millions of audiences worldwide still happily watching the twisted but always amiable life and chaos unfolding in Springfield!

Season 23 trailer: The Simpsons Season 23 Official Trailer - YouTube

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY Preview of opening episode: Kiefer Sutherland on 'The Simpsons' | Inside TV | EW.com

A look at 101 classic quotes from the series up to 2007: 101 Greatest Simpsons Quotes

Numerous seasons of THE SIMPSONS are available on DVD from FOX.

KOOL TV CLASSIC IMAGE: "THE SIMPSONS MOVIE"!

A legend reaches the big screen- Homer's belly!- in THE SIMPSONS MOVIE. Image: Copyright Matt Groening/TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX.

Better late than never, the so far singular THE SIMPSONS MOVIE from 2007, based on the legendary television sitcom created by Matt Groening - the darling show of the George Bush senior household (Not!!!)- showing tonight on Channel 4 HD in the UK, is good fun for the majority of its lengthy, nearly 90 minutes, running time, and was a generally well received success with critics and with the bums on seats at the worldwide Box Office. The film, written by Groening alongside contributions from his usual scripting talents James L. Brooks and Mike Scully, has lots of funny moments whilst the general plot, involving that lovable family man/slouch/donut eating Homer becoming the enemy of the people- the entire town of Springfield- after he dumps dangerous toxic waste into the water supply that soon leads to the entire area being cordoned off from the world by President Schwarzenegger ("I was elected to lead. Not to read," he says determinedly, and in that droll German speech pattern, to one of his aides in a laugh-out loud moment!), with the help of his environmental protection agencies, is certainly memorable-I particularly like the scenes where, in a wonderful homage to the original FRANKENSTEIN movie's finale, the entire angry inhabitants of Springfield, burning torches in their hands, come out to hang, draw and quarter Homer for what he's done, as he and his family attempt a desperate escape and become exiles. As the film continues, cue in the obligatory smart dialogue, cute visual gags, pop culture references (how about that Spider-pig!), varying length appearances from the shows many iconic characters (though sadly not enough Mister Burns for my liking!), a few guest star voice overs here and there (like Tom Hanks and Albert Brooks) and a mayhem ensuing finale as Homer and son Bart lead the revolt to break out of the huge shield encircling their town (as well as getting rid of a big bomb about to detonate!), and you have a movie-despite the 18 year wait- that fans of all ages will enjoy, alongside some first class animation, proudly shown by their creators in 2-D (as the blurb said on the poster, anyway!)

Trailers:YouTube - ‪The Simpsons Movie Trailer HD‬‏ and YouTube - ‪Simpsons Movie Trailer HD 720p‬‏

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE is also available on DVD and Blu-ray, as are numerous seasons of the regular series.

LAUGHTER IS UNIVERSE-AL! THE RETURN OF "FUTURAMA"




To infinity and beyond! The memorable trio of FUTURAMA. Image: copyright Matt Groening/TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX.

  It may not have scaled the same kind of peak success, or have had the long term durability, that Matt Groening's earlier animated sensation, THE SIMPSONS, would become (and still is today), but the 2003 transmitted FUTURAMA remains a great follow-up concept for a comedy series-a rich spoof of all the best things in the sci-fi genre (from BUCK ROGERS to STAR TREK) with some fun characters including the three leads: the pizza delivery boy from the twentieth century, Philip J. Fry (voiced by Billy West), awakening from an unexpected cryogenic life suspension and getting a new life in the "retro-future" of the 31st century, the often outrageous, foul-mouthed, egotistical, know-all, boozing, wise-cracking robot who has big love/hate relationship issues with his Pizza delivery ship crew-mates, Bender (John DiMaggio), and the one eyed, fiery kick-ass mutant babe/love interest to Fry, Leela (voiced by MARRIED WITH CHILDREN's "Big Red", Katey Sagal). Despite several cancellations, the critically acclaimed, award-winning series has seemingly risen up from the grave more times than Lazarus, and, as well as a brand new seventh season upcoming in June 2011, has been a consistently strong DVD seller for FOX worldwide. In the UK, SKY ONE, the shows home since the beginning, is repeating the entire run of FUTURAMA from the start tonight, and it will no doubt look terrific in HD.

So, strap in and prepare to make the lightspeed jump into comedy- a strange but fun new universe awaits!

Numerous seasons and special films of FUTURAMA are available on DVD from FOX