Unveiling the Epic Disaster: The Untold Story Behind The Simpsons & Futurama Crossover Failure

Summary

Recreating crossover episodes is a challenging task as it requires striking the right balance between the harmonious tones of both shows, while preventing them from becoming too similar and overshadowing the smaller show.

"Simpsorama" fell short in successfully merging the captivating aspects of The Simpsons and Futurama. This was primarily due to ill-timed and poorly paced execution, limited on-screen interaction between the two casts, and a storyline that felt overstuffed and too predictable.

The Simpsons has a reputation for poorly executed crossovers, but the key to a successful crossover lies in prioritizing the main show's characters while satirizing the guest show. Unfortunately, "Simpsorama" failed to showcase the best aspects of both Futurama and The Simpsons.

The much-anticipated 2014 crossover between The Simpsons and Futurama ultimately fell short due to various flaws. Crossover episodes are famously challenging to execute effectively, as they require both shows to have a cohesive tone that does justice to each set of characters. However, if the shows are too similar, the crossover becomes redundant. Furthermore, there is always a risk that the more prominent series will overshadow the smaller one.

5 Simpsorama Arrived Too Late

A successful crossover episode has the power to benefit both shows involved. On the other hand, poorly executed crossovers not only make no sense but also fail to promote the expansion of either show. However, when done right, crossover episodes can seamlessly merge similar shows to create a captivating blend. One notable example is the crossover between Brooklyn Nine-Nine and New Girl, which successfully combined the workplace sitcom and hang-out show genres without compromising the essence of either series. With anticipation building, many viewers hoped for a similar outcome when the crossover between Futurama and The Simpsons was announced. Unfortunately, "Simpsorama," the sixth episode of The Simpsons' twenty-sixth season, failed to strike the same delicate balance.

"Simpsorama" premiered in November 2014, but unfortunately, it didn't succeed in its attempt to blend the appeal of the two shows. Adding to the challenge was the fact that Futurama had already been canceled for the second time by that point. By the time the episode aired, Futurama had been off the air for more than a year, and there were no plans to revive the series until its return in season 8 in 2023, almost a decade later. The timing in 2014 wasn't ideal for reminding Futurama fans that their beloved show had come to an end. Consequently, even before viewers watched the episode, "Simpsorama" faced an uphill battle.

4 Simpsorama Was Too Slow

The Simpsons had previously featured characters from shows like Futurama, Family Guy, and King of the Hill in brief appearances. However, in the episode "Simpsorama," viewers were excited to finally see the Simpson family interact with the entire cast of Futurama for an extended period. Unfortunately, only Bender from Futurama made an appearance in the first act, wasting a significant portion of the limited screen time on a storyline involving the Simpson family and Bender. This left very little time for the rest of the characters from Futurama to interact with the beloved heroes of The Simpsons.

3 Futurama and The Simpsons Didn’t Get Enough Time Together

"Simpsorama" had more timing issues than just strange pacing. The crossover event in 2013 between Family Guy and The Simpsons lasted a full hour, while Futurama only received a standard 20-minute episode. This disparity was frustrating considering that Futurama and The Simpsons had more in common tonally than their darker competitors. Granted, Futurama didn't always capture the kid-friendly appeal of The Simpsons, but its sci-fi satire was much tamer compared to Family Guy. Both shows shared the same brand of humor from co-creator Matt Groening. However, the characters of The Simpsons only spent two-thirds of a standard episode with the heroes of Futurama.

Farnsworth's inability to answer Lisa's logical inquiries on time travel was absolutely hilarious, just like the unexpected bond between Maggie and Bender. However, these rare instances of harmony were overshadowed by the hurried narrative of "Simpsorama," which seemed both predictable and overloaded. The decision to have the Planet Express crew program Bender to travel back in time and eliminate Homer felt out of sync with their usual personalities, and this intriguing concept was swiftly abandoned without any further exploration. Furthermore, despite being the usual protagonists of Futurama, Fry and Leela had minimal involvement in the storyline.

2 Simpsorama Couldn’t Pick A Setting

Instead of choosing one period and sticking with it, "Simpsorama" brought the Futurama crew to the past and the Simpson family into the future. Although this approach initially seems like the best of both worlds, the limited runtime of a regular episode made it challenging. Futurama was never known for its topical humor, as the show thrived in imagining a surreal future rather than spoofing current events. It would have made more sense for the Simpson family to travel forward in time and immerse themselves in the world of Futurama for the entire episode, rather than dividing the story and setting.

1 The Simpsons Can’t Do Crossovers

It would not have been possible in the earlier seasons of The Simpsons, as the show's storylines were still rooted in relative reality. However, as The Simpsons progressed, the series became increasingly surreal and absurd, with more frequent episodes featuring journeys to other planets, different time periods, and equally unlikely narratives. Whether this shift was beneficial or not is a matter of debate, as it diminished the show's ability to tell more poignant stories like The Simpsons' first LGBTQ+ episode. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that this more flexible and whimsical approach to storytelling would have allowed The Simpsons to embark on time-travel adventures right from the beginning of "Simpsorama," potentially enhancing the overall experience.

Ultimately, the main issue with "Simpsorama" was a long-standing problem that has plagued The Simpsons for years. Despite the show's ability to parody various classic TV series and consistently reference popular culture, crossovers are not their strong suit. However, there have been exceptions to this rule, such as The Simpsons season 8, episode 10, "The Springfield Files," which successfully crossed over with The X-Files and is considered one of the show's best episodes. Nevertheless, the brilliance of The Simpsons' X-Files spoof lies in its ability to maintain the distinct style of The Simpsons while simultaneously parodying The X-Files. This deviation from the typical crossover premise is what ultimately led to its success.

Matt Groening's objection to a crossover with The Critic in season 6, episode 18, "A Star Is Burns," was justified. Despite this, the episode remains one of The Simpsons' best crossover episodes because it minimizes the involvement of The Critic's Jay Sherman. Instead, the focus is on the residents of Springfield, leading to the success of the crossover. In the case of "Simpsorama," and similar to the Family Guy crossover, The Simpsons attempted to give equal importance to a comparable show. However, the episode fails to showcase the best qualities of Futurama or its own appeal.