“Futurama” Season 4 (2001-02, Fox), episodes 1-6 — The only animated comedy in the same league as “The Simpsons” is Matt Groening’s 30th Century farce “Futurama” (6 p.m. Sunday, Fox). The first year was hit-and-miss, but in the past three seasons it has become a ridiculously witty, extremely fun show. The show’s biggest struggle is simply getting people to see it: nearly a season’s worth of episodes have yet to air because Fox’s football coverage preempts most fall episodes.
The writing staff, many of whom hold PhDs in science, is clearly blown away by the idiocy of the human race, yet they love their characters. The crew of the interplanetary shipping service includes 20th Century simpleton Fry, one-eyed pilot Leela, drunk robot Bender, poor lobster-alien Doctor Zoidberg, Jamaican Hermes, rich girl Amy and the decidedly un-ingenious genius Professor Farnsworth.
One of the major themes is that humanity has hit a wall in terms of cultural advancement. The show blends science fiction in-jokes with contemporary social commentary. The stage was set in the pilot episode, when Bender tries to off himself in a suicide booth (price: 25 cents). This year’s Valentine’s episode featured a love story between Bender (as the stereotypical uncouth male) and the PlanetExpress ship (as the stereotypical unbalanced female). A
— John Hansen, “Go back to the drawing board to find TV’s best comedies,” NDSU Spectrum, March 8, 2002