# Good news, every-one! Futurama be baaaaccckkk! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 8, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152 "2009-06-08T22:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152/41 "2009-07-17T19:22:53Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m going to speculate it’s an actors union requirement that these notices be posted even if the cast comes back. It’s not government work. Producers can cast a project by picking names out of a phone book if they so choose. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152/42 "2009-07-17T20:08:26Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > It’s not government work. Producers can cast a project by picking names out of a phone book if they so choose. Actors are unionized and they have contracts with producers. Since most of the roles in the Actors Access post have already been filled - by the original cast - I was guessing that there is a different reason for that posting. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152/43 "2009-07-17T20:35:30Z")
The actors’ unions do not require producers to solicit submissions for roles that are already cast and do not require anything to be posted on online in any case. In fact, it’s rather rare to see series-regular roles for a prime-time series on Actors Access. The Variety article mentioned a need to control costs – maybe the original cast members are asking too much money, or the casting call could be a tactic to discourage them from doing so. I know the article says they are “signed” which, if accurate, would mean there’s already a contract in place, but contracts often have contingencies and escape clauses for both sides. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152/44 "2009-07-17T20:50:05Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > It’s not government work. Producers can cast a project by picking names out of a phone book if they so choose. I believe you meant… **CASTING DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY!** ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152/45 "2009-07-17T22:32:12Z")
Good news, everyone! [Negotiations with the cast have broken down and they may be replaced!](http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006123.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2562) Oh, my, yes… ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152/46 "2009-07-17T22:39:22Z")
My hope is that this is all just posturing during negotiation. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152/47 "2009-07-17T22:39:25Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > Good news, everyone! [Negotiations with the cast have broken down and they may be replaced!](http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006123.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2562) Oh, my, yes… Let’s hope they can get a negotiator who is a statesman and not a jabbering mental patient. Alright, this is a much worse explanation, but in the end, it’s a bargaining tactic and I hope they can get everybody on board. I’d keep watching but I don’t know if I could stick with it for long. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152/48 "2009-07-17T22:49:12Z")
How much lower is the new budget anyway? I’d hate to see the show continue as a shadow of its former self. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152/49 "2009-07-18T02:44:16Z")
I hope there’s enough solidarity among voice actors that none of them steps in to take away any of the cast’s roles. When the Simpsons actors went on strike several years ago, Maurice LaMarche turned down the opportunity to replace Dan Castalleneta and Harry Shearer because his philosophy is “I don’t step into the shoes of any actor who’s still alive and still wants the job.” LaMarche reportedly told Simpsons casting director Bonnie Pietela > [@](#): > > No. Those are their jobs, and they’re trying to better themselves right now. They’re trying to get paid what they’re worth. Maybe get paid what we’re all worth. And I’m not going to step on that by undercutting them. So no. It was because of other VA’s falling in line with LaMarche’s stance that the Simpsons cast was able to get their raises. Hopefully, the other voice actors will remember what LaMarche did and return the favor, and Billy, Katey, and Maurice et. al. can continue with Futurama. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152/50 "2009-07-18T02:47:53Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > An online casting breakdown was released today for Fry, Leela, Bender, Professor Farnsworth, Zoidberg, Mom, Zap, and Kif! > > Not sure if you can see this without a subscrition, but here’s a link anyway: > [actors access - Login](http://actorsaccess.com/projects/?view=breakdowns&breakdown=191549®ion=1) You do need a subscription, but if you have Firefox, BugMeNot will get you logged in. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152/51 "2009-07-18T03:16:21Z")
The interesting part of all this is that John K. has been holding a grudge for years over the fact that, after he was sacked from _Ren and Stimpy_, Billy West played Ren’s part from then on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-every-one-futurama-be-baaaaccckkk/499152.md?page=2)