'Futurama' gets a June return date

"Futurama" will be back on the air in June, but judging by the photo above, the Planet Express crew is a little worse for wear.

Comedy Central announced Thursday (May 6) that the show will return with original episodes on June 24. They'll be the first new episodes produced for television since the show left FOX in 2003 (Comedy Central has also aired the four "Futurama" straight-to-DVD movies).

That's an even longer layoff than "Family Guy" had between its two incarnations on FOX -- it was off the air from November 2003 to May 2005. Comedy Central has ordered 26 new episodes of the show, which was created by David X. Cohen and Matt Groening.

The "Futurama" return headlines a bunch of development news from Comedy Central. Projects in the works include "JC," an animated show about Jesus trying to escape his father's shadow and live a normal life in New York; a TV version of the movie "Waiting ..."; and the Will Ferrell/Adam McKay-produced sitcom "Big Lake," which stars Chris Gethard (who replaced Jon Heder) and is set to premiere in August.

And about that photo? Since Fry isn't missing, we're assuming it'll be up to him to save the day. Here's a teaser for "Futurama's" return:

Futurama	Weeknights, 9p/8c
New Episodes on Comedy Central
www.comedycentral.com
Futurama New Episodes Futurama New Episodes Funny Demon Zombie TV Show

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'Futurama' re-animated at Comedy Central

Photo credit: Comedy Central