'Futurama' Canceled by Comedy Central, Offered to Other Networks

" Futurama " is
canceled again.
Comedy Central has
decided not to renew
the animated sci-fi
series for a new
season following
ratings decline,
bringing the show to
the end of its seven-
season and 140-
episode run on
September 4.
"That's a helluva run
that few shows achieve, and especially given the fact that
it came back to life, it's really an amazing story," says
Comedy Central's EVP of Programming Dave Bernath.
"I'm more thankful and feel a sense of gratitude toward
the whole process - and that we found a way to keep
going for 52 more episodes - than I really am even
thinking about the ending. It's a blessing that it came
back and lasted so long."
Executive producer David X. Cohen and creator Matt
Groening admit the news doesn't come as a shock,
considering the fact that the show has been canceled
several times in the past. "I felt like we were already in
the bonus round on these last couple of seasons, so I
can't say I was devastated by the news," Cohen tells EW.
"It was what I had expected two years earlier. At this
point I keep a suitcase by my office door so I can be
cancelled at a moment's notice."
"I'm very proud of the upcoming season. If this is indeed
the end of 'Futurama,' it's a fantastic finish to a good,
long run," Groening adds. Teasing about "a tasteful,
emotional gorefest" series finale, Cohen reveals, "There's
a lot of death but there's also a lot of time travel, so that
makes for an interesting combination." Groening chimes
in, "It's a really satisfying ending. It's an epic ending. If
indeed it's the ending."
Fans still can hope to see more of "Futurama" as the
producers are trying to find a new home the show,
though there are no serious talks at this point. "We've
been in this situation before and it's tempting when
you're doing episodes that are as good or better than
anything you've ever done to continue doing it," Groening
shares.
"The experience of this show has been so much fun from
the very beginning to now - everybody is so happy to
work on this show - that it'd be a shame if we all went
our separate ways... We would love to continue. We have
many more stories to tell. But if we don't, this is a really
great way to go out... I think these episodes are the best
ones we've ever done."
"Futurama" originally aired on FOX from 1999 before the
network pulled the plug on it in 2003. The critically-
acclaimed series was resurrected in 2007 with a series of
direct-to-DVD movies that were aired as 30-minute
episodes on Comedy Central. The network then ordered a
sixth season of the show which launched in 2010.