What the....? What do you mean that Fox has put out a casting notice to replace the voice leads on Futurama? Katey Sagal and Billy West didn't mention that when they spoke to Danny in June. What kind of colossal cluster-frak is Fox doing?As the article notes, this is either a salary negotiation tactic or the dumbest marketing move since new Coke. This is like replacing Seth MacFarlane on Family Guy (which I wouldn't put past the Fox executives in looking to save a buck or two). Everybody, and I mean everybody, would notice if the characters suddenly spoke with a different voice, no matter how much the voice tried to be like the original.
This is a bad idea. Even if they did some sort of lame plot device like having Professor Farnsworth invent a machine that would change everybody's voice, this is a bad idea.
They tried this same tactic years ago with the voices on The Simpsons and that didn't work either. Here's hoping that Fox has similar luck.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-17-2009 @ 3:12PM
mosbutnotall said...
It's especially stupid when you consider how many voices Billy West does.
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7-17-2009 @ 3:22PM
TK101 said...
Billy West is a voiceover megastar. He deserves to paid well! I've been a fan of his for a long time, and a recast Futurama ISN'T Futurama.
TK
7-17-2009 @ 3:21PM
D said...
If this is real,and they do replace the voices,it won't be the same show and I won't watch it new or old episodes.
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7-17-2009 @ 3:53PM
XDXJX said...
how do these people keep their jobs. they do one dumb move after another. this would be a huge mistake.
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7-17-2009 @ 5:47PM
bruce said...
I have no interest in watching a futurama without Billy West, Katey Segal, and all the other voiceover guys who have been with the show from day one. I don't care if they cut down on some of the CGI effects to save money (although such effects are much less expensive now than they were back when Futurama first aired). But replacing the lead characters' voices is unacceptable. Just don't do the show.
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7-17-2009 @ 6:29PM
Chibigodzilla said...
They also appear to be trying to replace Maurice LaMarche and Tress Macineal. Which leaves Lauren Tom (Amy & Mrs Wong) and Phil Lamarr (Bubble Gum Tate and various other small parts) as the only remaining regular cast members. If this is true the executives are even stupider than I thought.
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7-17-2009 @ 9:44PM
Eludium-Q36 said...
To play Devil's Advocate, ad spending and ad rates are down due to the poor economy, the show has a smaller budget than it otherwise might have and can't afford budget-busting salaries/bonuses for voice talent. The stars need to realize that voiceover is the sweetest work and to be grateful for its ease and be grateful for the high salaries they get anyway. They make per episode what most of us work an ENTIRE YEAR for so they need to get perspective.
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7-18-2009 @ 1:11AM
Elf said...
Eludium,
I think you have a skewed view of how much voiceover artists make. Yes, there are a handful of highly talented people who make the kind of money you're referencing, but the vast majority are not sipping champagne on their verandas lighting cigars with hundred dollar bills. And certainly, the worst day of voiceover is likely better than the best day scrubbing toilets, but most in the industry don't make a living at it, just like most actors, dancers and athletes. Few make it to the big time.
Sure, it's likely that the show's budget for the new Comedy Central episodes are lower than the producers would have hoped, but Futurama is a proven show that is guaranteed to be profitable on the back end in syndication and home video sales. I am not privy to the internal financials of the situation, and it's unlikely that you are either, however I doubt the actors' agents are asking fo any mor than their fair share of the profits the same way the agents for the Simpsons actors did years ago. Notice that the Simpsons has continued to be a cash cow and nobody has been pleading poverty.
7-18-2009 @ 8:48AM
Adv2k1 said...
if fox does this I will protest and sell all my Futurama DVD's and not buy the movies.
This would be a huge slap to the face of the fans. The voice work is fantastic and 4 direct to dvd movies and 4 seasons is to late to replace.
It's one thing how they changed Meg in Family Guy. That was an improvement and early in the shows history, it's another thing how they killed Maud Flanders off (she is such a minor character), but changing main voice work is an abomination .
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7-20-2009 @ 2:10PM
jim said...
I would encourage as many people as possible to contact Fox via email (askfox@fox.com), Twitter (@FoxBroadcasting) or snail mail or something stating that the fans will not watch a Futurama without Billy West et al. The more people contact them, the better chance that they'll give in.
The fans (DVD sales, syndication, etc.) are the reason Futurama is coming back. The fans can be the reason it comes back in proper form.
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