Fox cartoons
FOX cartoons |
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Successes |
The Simpsons · 1989-+; 401 |
Family Guy · 1999-2002, 2005-+; 99+ |
King of the Hill · 1997-+; 215+ |
Futurama · 1999-2003; 72 |
Minor Successes |
The Critic 1994-1995; 23 |
The PJs 1999-2001 28 |
See Also |
FOX |
During the more than twenty-year existence of the FOX Broadcasting Network, there have been many successful prime time animated series and Fox cartoons. The first and most famous of these, The Simpsons, was the first such series since the end of The Flintstones in the 1960s.
Contents |
Controversy
FOX cartoon series have been the subject of controversy. Most notable have been the controversies stirred up by The Simpsons and Family Guy for their approach to comedy and for the coarse language and jokes that some have said are too raunchy for network TV. These shows have been some of the most risque material aired on FOX. FOX has also been accused by some groups of corrupting children with cartoons ostensibly for teens and adults.
Ratings Successes
- The Simpsons TV-PG, TV-14, currently on FOX
- Family Guy TV14, TV-PG, currently on FOX and Adult Swim (Cartoon Network)
- Futurama TV-PG, TV-14, currently on Adult Swim (Cartoon Network); new episodes will start in 2008 on Comedy Central
- King of the Hill TV-PG, currently on FOX
- American Dad TV14, TV-PG, currently on FOX
Ratings Failures
- The Critic 1994-1995; 23 aired episodes, 9 in limbo
- The Critic premiered on ABC in 1994. After one season, it was brought to FOX. It received critical acclaim, being the only television series to ever be reviewed on Siskel and Ebert, in which it received "Two Thumbs Up".
- The PJ's was a claymation series created by and starring Eddie Murphy. Due to much hype, its first season got good ratings. One episode was even nominated for an Emmy. The show's downfall is most likely due to the fact the (except for a Christmas episode), there was more than a year between seasons one and two. FOX canceled it in September, 2000. The WB picked it up a month later, but canceled it themselves due to the high production costs. Two episodes remain unaired. Due to the success of FOX's revival of Family Guy, The WB showed some interest of bringing back The PJ's, but this ended with the WB/UPN merger to form The CW. In 2007, TBS will begin airing reruns. They may air the two un-aired episodes.
Network scheduling practices
FOX has in the past been known to "sacrifice" a show less favored by certain network executives by placing it in the 7:00pm (Eastern/Pacific) time slot on Sundays which is often overrun by NFL games or postgame shows. The frequent preemptions and variable scheduling usually lead to low ratings which gives network executives a pretext for cancellation. This happened to Family Guy (although it was revived in 2005 after DVD sales proved successful) and Futurama among other shows. This expensive practice may have now ended as during the 2006 NFL season FOX scheduled the 7:00pm hour for football overrun and the post-game show.
Movies
Many of the FOX cartoons have had movies made of the TV series.
- Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (direct-to-video; later split up into three episodes for syndication)
- The Simpsons Movie
- Bender's Big Score (direct-to-video; due in stores November 2007)
- The Family Guy Movie (tenative title) Talks have begun for a theatrical Family Guy movie.