13 New Episodes of Futurama ordered by Comedy Central

That was the headline I read yesterday that really made me smile. And then, within the article itself was the line, additionally IFC has ordered more episodes of “Greg the Bunny”. What an incredibly weird time we live in. Family Guy started it all, when it was brought last season after remarkable post-mortem performance on DVD. These are like Jesus TV shows. They die, we are sad, and they are resurrected. Granted there is no forgiveness of sins and eternal life to be had from this, but since I already received that from Jesus I will settle for some laughter and frivolity from these shows.
Say what you want about Family Guy, a rip off of Simpsons, it’ll never be as edgy as South Park, whatever, I like that show a lot. Considering this is network television we are talking about (South Park is cable) Family Guy never ceases to amaze me when I see what they get away with. I find the comparisons to the Simpsons pretty dumb too. So because they are an animated family with zany supporting characters they are ripping off Simpsons??? This makes no sense. I think Family Guy is funny because I am almost exactly the same age as Seth McFarlane. When the kids are drinking in the bathroom at a dance, and Chris hesitates because drinking is wrong, and then Flint from G.I. Joe pops out of the stall (and just as in the original, we never have an explanation as to why members of elite military fighting force is hanging out in a boy’s bathroom, or a little kid’s closet, or watching them build a tree fort from across the street) and explains why drinking is wrong. Chris says, “and now we know.” And I don’t have to finish this thought because you know what Flint said. I GET those jokes, not because I know about the reference but because I saw the reference in its original context as a kid, and I totally get where McFarlane is coming in. I don’t care if a Lion-O cameo doesn’t really make sense, it’s freakin’ Lion-O!
Futurama was geek heaven. I have the sets on DVD and I think what blew me away as I watched through them again is not only how funny they are but how good the science fiction stories actually are. It is more than parody, it is true creative homage! I want a finglonger! I am sooooo stoked that this show is making a comeback. I have heard rumors of direct to DVD movies and stuff like that but this is such good news. 13 more half hours of Fry, Leela, Zoidberg, Farnsworth, Hermes, Amy, Kiff, and Zap. The only thing that sucks is I have to wait till 2008 till I can go to the year 3000 again. I need more Madison Cube Garden, more heads in jars, more vegetarian lions, more Granny! Hello little man, I will destroy you! Seriously it makes me giddy…
Greg the Bunny is coming back blah. I discovered this one late blah, because I borrowed it from a friend on DVD blah, and now I can’t wait for it to com back blah. More Count Blah blah! More Tardy the Turtle “Cwayons taste like puh-ple”! Any show in which puppets live their lives amongst normal people that also has Seth Green and Eugene Levy is going to be comedy gold. I want to sing the quiet song!
It makes me glad that DVD is capable of giving these shows the notice that they deserve. Fox treated Futurama and Greg the Bunny like crap. They never got a good regular time slot despite the fact that they had a rabid fan following and now they are getting a second shot with different networks. By the time they air again, Futurama will have been gone 5 years, and Greg the Bunny will have been gone the same amount of time.
I realize this post is very stream-of-consciousness, and I am sure you must know by now, my posts are all this way… but here is my question. If you had your way, which shows would you bring back? Any personal cult favorites of yours. Come on, share your secret shame!