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CGEF Interview with Ken Keeler

The morning after Futurama writer and executive producer Ken Keeler won the 55th Annual WGA Award for writing Godfellas, I sought to get a small interview with him for CGEF. Roughly a week later, I can present you this not all that small Q & A session going from background information about Ken and Futurama over the WGA ceremony to details on Godfellas (including removed scenes) and some (non-story telling) bits about Futurama's final episode to be: "The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings".

Interesting side note is that he (and others I know of) monitors the online fans now and then. So watch your potty mouth when writing a comment

View comments | Mar 15th 2003 | contributor

Comments (19)

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CarbitoMar 15th 2003, 00:00
That interview was great! I learned heaps about Ken Keeler. I can't wait for Godfellas to be shown here in Australia.
JeffMar 15th 2003, 00:00
Good job, that was a sexy interview.

He thinks that Simpsons episode is the best thing he's ever written? I don't know what to say. I always hated his Simpsons stuff, for some reason, but his Critic episodes were good, and his Futurama episodes have been genius.
TeralMar 15th 2003, 00:00
Wow, that was cool. Nice to learn some more about the writing process and Ken Keeler himself. Good job mArc and Edel.

You say he monitor this site?

Hi Ken. Thanks for those great episodes.
JWMar 15th 2003, 00:00
I hated that episode of the Simpsons.
[-mArc-]Mar 15th 2003, 00:00
I don't remember the Simpsons episodes myself and I never saw The Critic, but quite some of Ken's Futurama episodes (Godfellas, Time Keeps on Slippin', Part of AOI 1, Put your head on my Shoulder) are all-time favourites of mine. Thanks to Ken for agreeing to the interview again.
JamesMar 15th 2003, 00:00
Although i'm sure that Ken was just being modest, it's not too encouraging to hear him say that he's not happy with his work on the final episode! But since he said he's not totally happy with any of his writing on futurama, it's nothing to worry about, right?
TimoMar 15th 2003, 00:00
Excellent. Thanks to everyone involved. Sounds like Ken is a kindred spirit. Ken, if you are reading this, I was totally expecting to see "The Little Prince" in "Godfellas." It would have been perfect. While I was - and am - disappointed that it didn't make it in, I am glad to know that you had intended to include it.

So, [-mArc-], you're saying that I should be swearing *MORE* in these posts? I can do that.
pipianMar 15th 2003, 00:00
Will the scenes make it to DVD?
JamesMar 15th 2003, 00:00
Probably only if they were fully animated before they were cut, if they only made it to the scripting stage then no. The deleted scenes on the season 1 and 2 DVDs are fully animated but with rougher picture quality, no music, and a few key sound effects.
BiteMyShineyMetalMar 16th 2003, 00:00
Is it just me or does that award look like a vagina?
AdAMMar 16th 2003, 00:00
Interesting Stuff!
And yes it is just you....o-)
HelperMar 16th 2003, 00:00
Only 18 episodes in season #4??
AdAMMar 16th 2003, 00:00
Jep.
Production Season #4 contains 18 eps...
Look at the Episode Guide.
Cygnus-himeMar 16th 2003, 00:00
Damn! One of my favorite books of all time was "The Little Prince," and after watching the book be butchered as a musical and a cheeseball anime series, I'd have LOVED to have seen him get in a fight with Bender. *sigh* The things that could have been...
DamitolMar 17th 2003, 00:00
Wow - The things you learn... Actually, a friend and I did have a big argument over who was actually playing the Chopin for Bender in 'Godfellas'. I said Kathryn Stott and he said Noriko Ogawa. Long story short, it got quite heated and firearms became involved. Now that I know that it was just Ken I feel quite foolish, but at least now I will have something to help me smile during the grueling physical therapy.
someoneApr 8th 2003, 00:00
Jeez, will "The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings" be the last episode of Futurama? I really hope not...
TNUKApr 13th 2003, 00:00
Bite My Shiny Metal... no, it isn't just you.

Marc, my swearing is my life.

Ken, a big thumbs up.

Anyone else reading this, piss off. Go on. Get out.
JenJun 24th 2003, 00:00
Oh, how I loved that Godfellas episode.... pretty nebulae, gratuitous violence (nay, total destruction), and a smattering of toilet humour. Fab!

(Note to Ken: when I win the lottery, how much do you want to commission some new episodes?)
CaptainpicardJul 17th 2003, 00:00
Does any one realise that Godfellas defies the laws of Physics. WhenBender chucks the coin, it lands on him. However it should have floated of into space. And what about the little people? they couldn't of breathed, and there is no pressure of the atmosphere so they would have pooped like a ballon