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Simpsons wins Emmy over Futurama

Tonight marked the year's biggest event regarding TV animation awards as the 55th Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards in the Creative Arts categories were handed out at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. After winning its Outstanding Animated Program category last year with "Roswell That Ends Well", Futurama again was nominated this time around -- even though it had already received the letter of no confidence by FOX.



This year, the quite contentious episode "Jurassic Bark" had to bare its teeth as Groening's older brain child "The Simpsons" played the PC card with "Three Gays Of The Condo". Also nominated were episodes of "As Told By Ginger", "Kim Possible" and "SpongeBob SquarePants".

Gay beats dog tears. Looking at the episodes at hand, I personally of course don't agree, but The Simpsons win this round and thus the Emmy at least stays "within the family". But I still have to congratulate executive producers Matt Groening, David X. Cohen and Ken Keeler, writer Eric Kaplan, director Swinton Scott and everyone else who made this dog die miserably and lonely. You guys brought the Emmy tally up to 4 nominations, 1 win and 2 juried/personal achievement awards in just 4 production seasons. Certain other cartoon shows running prime time on FOX and latenight on cable didn't even make the list this year. And that doesn't even have to be it as all episodes starting with "The Sting" are up for possible nomination next year. Go for it!

As for those of us who weren't actually able to be at the Auditorium, don't miss the shortened broadcast of the event which E! TV will be broadcasting on the 19th at 6-8 p.m. ET/PT.

View comments | Sep 14th 2003 | contributor

Comments (47)

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staroneSep 14th 2003, 00:00

NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! DIE JUDGES!, DIE FOX!, DIE KOTH!, DIE BASTARD THAT WROTE THAT GOD AWFUL SIMPSONS EPISODE,*snaps out of it* what the hell happened, this should have been no contest, what were those judges smoking? This is another dark day for Futurama.

KrytenSep 14th 2003, 00:00

What the hell happened? Did they bus in voters from Palm Beach County?

GONADSep 14th 2003, 00:00

ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH. Whatever the judges were smoking i don't want any of it. Well, there is next year. UGH (raises middle finger at judges)

zoidbergSep 14th 2003, 00:00

OH-HO-HO How did this haaappen

MJacksonSep 14th 2003, 00:00

I could get angry, I could shout and rant, but what's the point!? I don't hate The Simpsons, I never will, I Love it. But the horribly average episode that won this year is not a patch over Jurassic Bark! Jurassic Bark was sooooooooooo much better than the other nominations, it should have been a certain winner!
Well, I guess I can't do anything about it, I suppose that as long as we all know it should have won, that's all that matters. It just makes me wonder what's going wrong with the world.

Cube_166Sep 14th 2003, 00:00

I don't hate the simpsons either ;) but I don't believe that that episode deserved to beat JB. I'm outraged, and surprised, and outraged.

j_ohanleySep 14th 2003, 00:00

There was probably some heavy bribes from the FOX network. I too don't hate the Simpsons, but that episode did not deserve the win. Oh well, there's hope for The Farnsworth Parabox to win next year, even though the nomination (if any) will likely go to the Sting.

staroneSep 14th 2003, 00:00

As long as a lot of people still think the Simpsons are still great it will beat out everything.... DAMN!

JiggerSep 14th 2003, 00:00

It would have been better if something I didn't recognize had won, because I saw that episode and knew that it was really mediocre...

artanSep 14th 2003, 00:00

aw man, the simpsons are such crap lately. i love seasons 3-10, but since then, every episode has been utter garbage. i can't fathom how futurama didn't beat it out. oh well, at least spongebob didn't win :)

LeahSep 14th 2003, 00:00

I can't believe it! The Simpsons are total sh*t now, and it beat, of all episodes, Jurassic Bark!

KazzahdraneSep 14th 2003, 00:00

I absolutely expected JB to win, but I haven't seen any of the other nominations so I can't really make any comments on how much better it was. However, I guess we just got unlucky and the judges all happened to think a Simpsons episode with gay men was funny, accusing FOX of bribing the judges or of them smoking something beforehand is pretty childish. Of course, if Evil Gail had been one of the judges it would have been National Bribe Day :-P

HelperSep 14th 2003, 00:00

"vote of no confidence" says it all, if it aint the simpsons it aint anything. how very sad.

RorschachSep 14th 2003, 00:00

I am curious here. How many prizes have 'The Simpsons" won since its beginning?

bitemyshinymetalassFOXSep 14th 2003, 00:00

I think The Simpsons episode was funny. Best one this season. I'm only saying this because Weird Al was in it

bitemyshinymetalassFOXSep 14th 2003, 00:00

I think Three gays of the condo was the best simpsons this season. I mean the funniest singer alive was in it Weird Al. How can you get anyone better then that

JoeAnybodySep 14th 2003, 00:00

I won't disagree on Weird Al, but one guest star has never saved an episode before. Jurassic Bark deserved this one, hands down. It's not "Best Animated Comedy", if it was, I would see the logic, since JB was pretty drama-heavy. The tally for The Simpsons has to be getting up there, possibly approaching Frasier's comedy record of 30 emmys. I know the show has received EIGHT best animated series awards, and Hank has received THREE for the show. Factor in with any other voice, or singing on the show, it's getting up there. Maybe not quite close to 30, but definitely around 15 or more.

RoverSep 14th 2003, 00:00

What the fuck?!?!?!? How the hell did this happen? I do like the simpsons, but I saw that episode and it was a piece of shit! How did that beat jurassic bark?

spookSep 14th 2003, 00:00

i think the reason the Simpsons episode won, an episode ia ctually did like, was because it dealed with the issue of homosexuality in a very funny way, and judges seem to like things dealing with issues.

liking both Simpsons and Futurama, and seeing both episodes, i must say however that the Futurama episode should have won. The episode is funny, interesting, and emotional, and i think probably one of the best Futurama episodes of all time.

evanSep 14th 2003, 00:00

What exactly does that mean, "a vote of no confidence?" Fox gave the show no support or push to the Emmy crowd?

[-mArc-]Sep 14th 2003, 00:00

No, that was a general statement towards the series especially at the end (cancellation and such).
The Emmy nominations aren't pushed by FOX Network in the first place, as far as I know. (Some FOX subsidiary)

SlurmGuySep 14th 2003, 00:00

Damn them all. Damn them all to hell!

JoshSep 14th 2003, 00:00

Ugh. That was one of the worst episode of the Simpsons I'd ever seen, and it beats out one of the best episodes of Futurama I'd ever seen. Man, ALL the nominies were better than that episode.

fryfanSep 14th 2003, 00:00

FOX MUST OF BRIBE THOSE DAMN JUDGES AS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO ALL THOSE FUTRAMA FANS. THIS SUCKS.

IcehousemanSep 14th 2003, 00:00

Who cares? I mean it's just an Emmy. It's not the end of the world. That doesn't make that Simpsons episode better or the Futurama episode worse. IT MEANS NOTHING.

j_ohanleySep 14th 2003, 00:00

Yeah, but this will probably plant into the FOX minds: "Yep, we did the right thing cancelling that show. Hey, lets order another ten years of the Simpsons!"

"You would sacrifice this excellent show to save a moderately funny series? You must have been smoking some bad granola."

CSPTVCRITICSep 14th 2003, 00:00

I am as much of a die hard SIMPSONS fan as I am a FUTURAMA fan. I still love THE SIMPSONS and I thought that THREE GAYS OF THE CONDO was a great episode, one of the better of the season.

However I cannot say that it was better or worse than FUTURAMA's nominee because FUTURAMA fans in Pittsburgh never had a chance to see JURASSIC BARK due to FOX airing a football game with two teams I couldn't give a damn for.

NFL should not be allowed to pre-empt prime time programming. FOX should do the same as CBS, delay their schedule to allow the NFL to run over.

4thGayOfTheCondoSep 14th 2003, 00:00

Why are people still whining that the Simpsons should be cancelled and Futurama kept? We all know they should both stay, and King of the Hill deserves to be kicked into a trashcan and thrown of a cliff

Now, I thought Jurassic Bark was miles better, but Three Gays of the Condo was a great episode as well. It had a lot of common with Jurassic Bark even; touching moments (seymour, homer + marge), hilarious jokes, flashbacks... plus it had Weird Al. And you can't go wrong with Weird Al.

Most episodes of the past two seasons have been great. Mike Scully is out, people, and Futurama writers are now helping the Simpsons crew. Don't hate the Simpsons simply because Futurama has bitten the dust. If I can love both shows to death (and believe me, I still throw up on the utter trash that are refered to as season 10 to 12), and Rocky & Russians could change, then you can change! I guess

fryfanSep 14th 2003, 00:00

to 25 Icehouseman

I'm not that mad, I just think it is another snub to Futurama, this time by the Emmys.

zoothesayerSep 14th 2003, 00:00

It would have been nice to see Futurama be able to go out in style, all the while making Fox look like the morons that they are. I admit though that the Gay Simps episode was actually one of the best Simps episodes in a LONG time, and in now way sucked. I liked Jurassic Bark a lot, sad endings are always good, but at least Sponge Bob didn't win, right?

DrZausSep 14th 2003, 00:00

Well, what is new. Futurama gets screw over so many times, I just lost count. Hopefully they would rebuild the show's cast and crew for a movie or two that would indeed tie up any loose ends and end the Futurama story on a higher note than the last episode ever.

Cygnus-himeSep 15th 2003, 00:00

Futurama gets screwed over yet again by the Academy of Arts and Sciences, and its ailing older sibling series (which was excellent until 1998 and still good until around 2001) gets yet another Emmy. La dee freekin' da. Now I'm REALLY hoping for a Futurama: The Next Generation 20 years from now.

In the words of Krusty the Klown, "Those clowns wouldn't know entertainment if it bit them in the ass..."

LionelHutzEsqSep 15th 2003, 00:00

I'm as big of fan of Jurasic Bark as anyone, but I have to admit, it has its detractors. Maybe it rubbed the voters the wrong way. Still, Three Gays of teh Condo wasn't even the best Simpsons of the year, so I'm annoyed.

StinkySep 15th 2003, 00:00

Sheer up dudes.

TimoSep 15th 2003, 00:00

While a shame, this isn't terribly surprising. Go back and watch Fry's speech near the end of "When Aliens Attack."

Is "Jurassic Bark" superior to that Simpsons episode? Of course it is. But "Jurassic Bark" didn't have a happy ending. It obviously angered and confused the judges.

The X of Cohen knew going in that it was a risky choice. It was not my favorite episode of the season. But I give Cohen kudos for having the cajones to attempt it.

Does anyone know the breakdown of the voting? Did Futurama even come in second place?

geoffSep 15th 2003, 00:00

It's pretty obvious why the gay condo episode won. The Simpsons has wormed its way into the mainstream, but its history is offbeat enough to allow voters to make an "I'm different and edgy"
statement voting by for them, while still being comfortably homogeneous. After all, voting for Futurama would have actually required them to SEE the episode. Checking a "Simpsons" box is something that'll never come back to haunt them.

SRMSep 15th 2003, 22:16

Hey I like both the Simpsons and Futurama. I saw the Simpsons episode and it was average at best. The only reason it won is because of theose damn Hollywood types pushing their PC agenda. I thought the gay condo was on par with Large Marge. But for comedy, drama and storytelling, Jurasic Bark beats that epsiode everytime! But it doesn;t matter anymore because as far as I'm concerned, by TV no longer has a Fox station!

JamesDeanSep 16th 2003, 08:56

Who cares about the Emmy's... piddly local awards... Futurama was nominated for THREE GLEMMYS!

WaitSep 16th 2003, 14:50

To #37... You liked Large Marge...?

IhatefoxSep 17th 2003, 02:50

Go to hell fox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's obvious why the gay episode won, beceause fox and the judges were gay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JulianSimpsonSep 17th 2003, 13:58

Bring Back Seymour! Him not getting to see fry again almost killed me....... and those bloody emmy's....... Poor ol Seymour. Even in Emmy's he had it hard. Mind you... he lost fry... and then the emmy... sniff....

BessieSep 19th 2003, 01:56

#41 I'm with u. I cried... I love Seymour. I can't believe Fry thought Seymour forgot about him and he was waiting the whole time!!!!! :'(

StinkySep 19th 2003, 02:33

That's very smart ... :S

benderisgreatSep 19th 2003, 23:48

FOX AND THE SIMPSONS BOTH SUCK I HATE THEM. 41 and 42 are TOTALLY RIGHT. THAT MADE ME REALLY SAD, im depressed now, just thinking about it.
I know you are all going to post notices saying that the simpsons does not suck, but im sorry, it does.
futurama should have won and that would have shown Gail Berman what a f*****g idiot she is.
That episode was ONE of the best ever and it made me cry, it was so sad :(
*sniff* .................

staroneSep 20th 2003, 18:09

*Stabs the judges and gail berman repetedly*

sadfuturefanSep 25th 2003, 05:09

I stopped watching the Simpsons four years ago. I was a die hard fan, watched every repeat everyday, it just gets old. If I see an episode on TV, i'll change the channel. I am all simpsoned out. The only cartoons I find funny anymore are Family Guy and Futurama. *Sigh*

TCJXOct 4th 2003, 04:03

I can't remember which one, but I agree with the post saying the voters possibly didn't even see the episode. The Simpson's is familiar to the voters by name alone. Anyone who had seen JB would have agreed that it was far better than all the nominees of this incredibly immature-appearing category. Not only to POS cartoons like SpongeBob and Kimpossible receive nods, but an average Simpson's episode squeezes out the win. I personally wouldn't contest this if it was "Mo Baby Blues" which represented the Simpsons, but no use in crying over spilt milk. All we can hope is the Heads over at Fox pulling their collective heads out of their asses and bringing back Futurama or finding some better animation shows to surround Simpsons and King of the Hill. After all, shouldn't Mr. Murdoch's Machine use what they know will work Fox=the only good adult-themed animation on television (besides Cartoon Network). At least Ted Turner shows some support to the Groenig crew.