Space oddities: why the Futurama reboot went from sci-fi to sci-why

The show was axed and remade, moving to Comedy Central and leaving its comedic legacy behindMatt Groening could do no wrong in 1999. The Simpsons was still both witty and money-spinning, and he could get any project he wanted greenlit – even a sci-fi comedy cartoon called Futurama. The show began with New Year’s Eve 1999, when disillusioned pizza delivery boy Philip J Fry fell into a cryogenic vat, only to awaken 1,000 years later in “the world of tomorrow!”. His excitement at his new life was tempered by finding out everyone in the future has a career assigned by the government, and his job was to be a delivery boy for Planet Express – motto: “Our crew is replaceable, your package isn’t!”On board the Planet Express spaceship with the immature and slovenly Fry were cyclops orphan Leela, drunken robot Bender, clumsy intern Amy and incompetent alien medical lobster Dr Zoidberg: a crew of misfits seemingly designed to connect directly to the types of misfits who watch cartoon science fiction. Every mission was an adventure, whether it be discovering a parallel universe in a cardboard box or battling parasites in Fry’s bowels. Present-day celebrities made cameos as preserved heads in jars, which was a lot more satisfying than how The Simpsons handled them. Everyone from Stephen Hawking (“That physicist who invented gravity”) to Al Gore (“Inventor of the internet”) was willing to be decapitated to appear on the funniest show on TV. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-06-10 12:00:09 UTC ]
News tagged with: #connect directly #stephen hawking

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Dystopian debut The Space between the Stars to Pan Mac

Pan Macmillan has acquired The Space between the Stars by debut novelist Anne Corlett. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pan mac #pan macmillan


Book-of-the-Month Club Reboots

The venerable club's new model pivots from mail-order business to a hardcover subscription service. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Onboard Wi-Fi speeds could soar if airlines make the investment

On most commercial airlines, onboard Wi-Fi is only fast enough to check your email or update your Facebook status. Try to stream a movie and you may find your laptop buffering from Burbank to Phoenix. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #commercial airlines #facebook status


Amazon founder invests $200m in space project

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has revealed plans to build a rocket manufacturing plant and launch site from Florida’s ‘Space Coast’, the area around Kennedy Space Centre and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Bezos’ space start-up, Blue Origin, will invest $200m in new manufacturing facilities and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #revealed plans


Publishers Tracking Trends In the Educational Space

School and library publishers are developing apps, handouts, social media campaigns, and more to address teachers’ and librarians’ needs. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #educational space #developing apps


Children's sector booms but review space falters

Authors and book reviewers have hit out at national newspapers for shrinking the amount of editorial space given over to children’s books, despite huge growth in the market. In the UK, the children’s sector (including teen and YA titles) is the fastest-growing area of the market: sales grew... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #huge growth #book reviewers #national newspapers #ya titles #nielsen bookscan


All libraries in England to get wi-fi funding

The government will provide funding to give wi-fi access to all public libraries across England, chanceller George Osborne revealed yesterday (18th March) is his pre-election budget speech. The budget document said that £7.4m would be provided to fund wi-fi. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public libraries


Why some UK publishers are investing in events spaces

It's one thing to run a few conferences, but another for a publisher to establish its own dedicated events space. Condé Nast U.K. has invested millions in a multipurpose venue which houses its fashion college and outside events. Hearst U.K. has public kitchens and product testing facilities for... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk publishers #public space


Frustrations Air Over Rights Center Space at London Book Fair

As the London Book Fair prepares to return to Olympia following its move from Earls Court, the challenge of moving an exhibition of this size has become apparent. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #earls court


The Only Comic About Gladiator Women in Space Prison You Will Ever Need

Comic book writer Kelly Sue DeConnick's Bitch Planet is a sci-fi tale about gladiatorial ladies in space prison that takes some of the most exploitative tropes about incarcerated women, tears out their sexist heart, and shoots what remains into outer space. Here's why it's essential reading. ... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #outer space


W H Smith reboots distribution operation

W H Smith (WHS) is increasing its focus on book distribution to its stores in a bid to make cost savings. The company’s book buyers have been working within its new “books operating model”, which involves more focused targeting of big titles to key stores, which will be a priority going... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book distribution #book buyers #big titles #bookseller understands


OUP sponsors working space for ed-tech start-ups

Oxford University Press has partnered with Emerge Education, an "accelerator" for education technology start-ups. The Emerge Education accelerator programme aims to improve educational outcomes worldwide by supporting innovative solutions and ideas from start-up companies. It offers ed-tech... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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12 Awesome Comics About Outer Space

Now that 'Interstellar,' Hollywood's latest space spectacle, has opened and the Rosetta space probe's historic touchdown on a comet, here are 12 comics about blasting into outer space. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #outer space


Amazon Kindle Voyage Wi-Fi + free 3G and Leather Origami Cover [Review]

It seems like everyone has a tablet or phablet nowadays. These devices are wonderful as they let you do many things, like listening to music, surfing the web and reading. Yes, you can read a book on an iPad, Nexus 7 or Galaxy Note, but you shouldn't  -- your eyes do not want you to. You see,... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2014-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #generally accepted


Panel Mania: 'Aama The Invisible Throng' Journeys Through Space And Time

Swiss cartoonist Frederik Peeters' sci-fi series, Aama continues Verloc Nim's reluctant space journey with his brother Conrad and the android chimpanzee, Churchill, as they search to uncover any material relating to the mysterious experiment known as Aama. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sci-fi series #material relating


Space for Rent

A recent expansion by PWxyz provides opportunity for executive desk/small space office rental at PW's Manhattan office. We are looking for like-minded companies interested in the square footage at our headquarters on 23rd Street. Send inquires to [email protected]. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Retailers Finding Space for Diverse Range of Titles

When shelf space abounded at bricks-and-mortar locations, it was not uncommon for booksellers to stock political books that matched their own ideological leanings. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diverse range #bricks-and-mortar locations


Amazon to open bookstore on International Space Station

Amazon is to open a bookstore selling physical books on the International Space Station (ISS).... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #open bookstore


New NYC Space for Macmillan Science and Education

The publisher signed a new long-term lease at One New York Plaza in New York City, bringing together its various businesses into one space. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #macmillan science #publisher signed


Campaigners offered space in Kensal Rise library building

The Friends of Kensal Rise Library look set to be running a community library on the ground floor... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #community library #ground floor