In a series of stories filed
from the 2006 Comic-Con convention in San Diego this weekend, iF
MAGAZINE will look at the things that interested us, the things we
were involved in and the people who talked to us that didn’t run
from our tape recorder.
DAY 1:
JULY 20, 2006 – PART 2
VOICE
ACTOR BILLY WEST
We’ve been lamenting
the loss of FUTURAMA for years, ever since Fox
unceremoniously cancelled and ignored the late, great animated
series about life in the future from creators Matt Groening (THE
SIMPSONS) and David X. Cohen.
After getting
incredible ratings on the Cartoon Network for the reruns of the
series, they’ve announced that they will bring FUTURAMA back
from the dead (much like FAMILY GUY) for 13 new episodes
scheduled to air in 2008.
At the San Diego
Comic-Con, Billy West (who provided the voice for FUTURAMA’s
many characters including Fry, Professor Fransworth, Zoidberg, Zapp
Brannigan and numerous others) took time out of his busy schedule to
speak with iF about FUTURAMA’s future and his latest series
ENDURANCE CHALLENGE: MORDRED’S ISLE – the hit internet
animated show that you can download at www.endurancechallenge.com.
iF: How many voices did
you do for ENDURANCE CHALLENGE?
WEST: One, two, probably 100, if you
know me.
iF: So this is Internet
only, right now?
WEST: Right now, big people are
calling about this. One of the networks were calling about it,
because they wanted to buy Internet programming, because they don’t
want to lose anybody. No one watches television anymore. I know I
don’t. I haven’t watched television since 1976.
iF: What were some of
your favorite cartoons growing up?
WEST: Hannah-Barbera, Warner Bros.,
Woody Woodpecker, Popeye. I loved everything, l but my favorite a
cartoon of all time is an old, old Warner Bros. called "I love to
Singa." It’s a talent contest and this little owl, leaves home and
his father can’t stand him being there because the kid wants to be a
jazz singer and the father is a classical musical singer. So he
goes, "ack! A crooner." So the little owl leaves and goes downtown,
enters a talent contest and blows everyone away. I know I do all
kinds of out of control bizarro stuff, but I’ve also got that side
of me, for softer things.
iF: What’s happening
with FUTURAMA. It’s back, right?
WEST: We’re going to go record the
voices starting next week or so, we’re starting to roll. David X.
Cohen and Matt Groening are back. I know they most of the writers
and I know they got the voice people. I can’t wait, because I know
where I’m going to`work in the next year. I’m in the business of 90
percent unemployment and my job is looking for
work.
iF: Did you ever think
FUTURAMA would come back?
WEST: I knew it was going to come
back, because I happen to know the audience was snowballing behind
everyone’s back. It’s more popular now, than when it first came out
in 1999.
iF: How many episodes
has Cartoon Network committed to?
WEST: 13. I think
that’s the standard run.
iF: So it will be like
old home week, next week.
WEST: I’m thrilled, I’m
going to go to work with people I absolutely love next week. Maurice
LaMarche, Phil LaMarr, Katey Segal and John Di Maggio
iF: So when will they
air?
WEST: They said
something about 2008, but you know how fast time goes. I woke up one
morning and I was 55 years old.
CLICK BELOW FOR PART 1 OF iF’S COMIC-CON 2006
COVERAGE
DAY 1
FLYBOYS PANEL
http://ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1580
CLICK BELOW PART 3 OF iF’S COMIC-CON 2006
COVERAGE
DAY 1
GHOST RIDER FOOTAGE
http://ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1579
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