Comedy Central Cancels Futurama

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Comedy Central has decided not to renew Futurama. The final 13 episodes, which represent the second half of season 7, begin airing on June 19 at 10 p.m. The series finale will air September 4.

Futurama is no stranger to cancellation. The series first aired from 1999 to 2003 on Fox before being canceled. Futurama was relaunched in 2007 with four direct-to-DVD movies that Comedy Central ran in half-hour increments as a 16-episode fifth season in 2008-09. Comedy Central subsequently ordered a sixth season of 26 episodes, which aired in 2010-11, and a seventh season of 26 episodes, the first half of which debuted in 2012.

Creator Matt Groening said in a statement, “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.” Dave Bernath, the network’s executive vice president of program strategy and multiprogramming, said in his own tongue-in-cheek statement: “Having the opportunity to bring ‘Futurama’ back for 52 episodes over these last four years has been a thrill for all of us at Comedy Central. The upcoming season promises to be the best final season of ‘Futurama’ yet.”

Parks and Recreation – Recap & Review – Jerry’s Retirement

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Parks and Recreation
Jerry’s Retirement

Original Air Date: Apr 18, 2013

Valentina D. – Senior Reviewer
valentina@thetwocentscorp.com

Dammit, Jerry. No one in the parks department even knew you were retiring! As Jerry’s last day at City Hall comes to a close, Leslie decides to drop her scrapbook project and make all of his unfulfilled dreams come true instead.

Now, one question looms over the department: who will become the new Jerry? As “social Darwinism” (Ron’s words) takes place, it looks like it’s Tom, but can he turn it around in time?

Once Upon a Time – Recap & Review – Lacey

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Once Upon a Time
Lacey

Original Air Date: Apr 21, 2013

Wyner C – Senior Reviewer
wyner@thetwocentscorp.com

Guys, I’m watching the NBA playoffs and it’s a doozy. You know what else is a doozy? Lacey. Chica is the total opposite of Belle and it’s breaking my heart! This isn’t going to end well…for everyone.

In Fairytale (pre-curse), Belle is a mess after agreeing to be Rumpel’s servant in exchange for his Ogre Protection Plan for her kingdom. She’s crying and that upsets Rumpel…because the noise is interrupting his thinking. Ah, what a sweet man.

Mad Men – Recap & Review – To Have and To Hold

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Mad Men
To Have and To Hold

Original Air Date: Apr 21, 2013

Ryan O – Staff Writer
ryano@thetwocentscorp.com

This episode shows the increasing possibilities for women while still showing there are significant limits, both professionally and socially. Both aspects are shown in sharp relief by Joan.

A couple new things in this episode: Peggy gives her first pitch at her new job. A conversation between two African-American characters.

Parks and Recreation – Recap & Review – Article Two

Parks and Recreation
Article Two

Original Air Date: Apr 18, 2013

Valentina D. – Senior Reviewer
valentina@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s no secret that Pawnee is a strange, quirky little town, so events like Ted Party Day are just part of its charm. Ages ago, the town’s constitution misspelled “tea” and to celebrate, they’ve been dumping one of Pawnee’s many Teds into the lake as tradition. Tradition be damned, because a Pawnee resident, Garth (an excellent Patton Oswalt), isn’t going to take it anymore and demands for Leslie to repel the town’s outdated laws.

While Ron and Chris butt heads when debating their management styles, Ann and Ben find themselves in the middle of an eBay bidding war centered on a gift for Leslie. The ultimate prize? An authentic waffle iron straight from JJs.

Doctor Who – Recap & Review – Hide

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Doctor Who
Hide

Original Air Date: Apr 20, 2013

Maria – Associate Staff Writer
maria@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s November 25th 1974 in Caliburn House. It’s raining and foggy, and the house looks rather creepy, out of time, and even though it’s set in the past it is much older, but the “modern technology” makes it even more off-kilter.

A man and his assistant (No, not the Doctor and Clara) are exploring the house, trying to communicate with a “ghost”. Emma Grayling is the heart to Alec Palmer’s mind, and she’s clearly in love with him. Okay, so that could be most Doctor-Companion relationships since the reboot but Grayling and Palmer are both human, and haven’t seen the things the Doctor has seen, so hopefully the arrival of the TARDIS can help clean up a mystery or two.

NBC Cancels ‘Ready for Love’

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NBC has yanked the low-rated reality show “Ready for Love” from its schedule.

NBC announced today it’s removing the dating show from air after three airings and moving Grimm to Tuesdays at 10pm beginning April 30, where it will stay through May 21.

Dateline will replace Grimm at 9pm Fridays, beginning April 26. NBC says it hasn’t decided when or whether to air the remaining episodes of Ready For Love.

Fox Renews “Glee” For Two More Seasons

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FOX has ordered two more seasons of the genre-defying musical sensation GLEE, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, Chairman of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company.

“GLEE debuted as the first and only successful musical comedy series on television, and more than four years later, it continues to defy genres, break new ground and have a significant impact on popular culture,” said Reilly. “Week in and week out, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan, Dante DiLoreto and the entire GLEE team deliver a series that not only delights and surprises fans, but also inspires them to talk about, share, debate and engage with the show – and I’m absolutely thrilled to have them on board for another two seasons.”

Community – Recap & Review – Intro to Knots

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Community
Intro to Knots

Original Air Date: Apr 18, 2013

Shannon – Associate Editor
shannon@thetwocentscorp.com

The study group is having a Christmas party at Jeff’s place and Annie is playing house and decorating Jeff’s apartment. There was a no-gifts rule but everyone but Jeff seems to have disregarded it. At the party, Annie gives them the bad news that they failed their group history paper so she invited the Professor Cornwallis to their party. Jeff thinks this is a great idea. They can suck up and perhaps raise their grade.

Abed is sad that they’re not doing Die Hard at a restaurant. Jeff wants to know who in the group tanked their section. Jeff suspects that it might have been his section because he just copied and pasted the lyrics to “War”. In the melee, we learn that the paper was graded at a C-, not an F like they thought. Cornwallis overhears Jeff calling him names and changes the grade to an F. Chang aka Kevin is at the party too, and he helpfully ties the professor to a chair to show solidarity.

American Idol – Recap & Review – Top 5 Results

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American Idol
Top 5 Results

Original Air Date: Apr 18, 2013

Patricia Morris Buckley — Sr. Staff Writer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com

What a bittersweet night. While the remaining Top 5 seemed to be a kind of Dream Team, this is a show about repeated and inevitable elimination. But we had to wait until the very end to find out if the judges would finally use their one-time save.

The show started with a Donna Summer medley, which was one of the show’s best. But even at this level, it still just doesn’t feel comfortable.