Matt Groening

Lore & Background

Matt Groening co-wrote "Rebirth" with David X. Cohen, the 89th episode of Futurama overall and the first of the sixth season. The episode originally aired on Comedy Central on June 24, 2010. Groening's suggestion to quickly return the characters to Planet Express helped viewers unfamiliar with the previous films adjust with little difficulty. He also proposed the last-minute addition of Zapp Brannigan's return, as each draft had neglected to explain how he regains his full body. The episode features cultural references to Groening's other show The Simpsons, as noted by reviewer Robert Canning of IGN. The episode received positive reviews from critics, with Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club giving it an A−.

In Their Own Story

In a quiet room far removed from the 31st century, a blueprint glows softly on a desk. The sketch depicts a towering city of glass and neon, waiting for its inhabitants. A hand moves across the paper, drawing the outline of a spaceship that will carry the heroes through time. This moment of creation sets the stage for every adventure that follows, anchoring the chaotic timeline in a single vision of imagination. It is the silent spark from which all future stories ignite.

Reader's Guide

Matt Groening and David X. Cohen co-wrote "Rebirth," the first episode of Futurama's sixth season. The episode was directed by Frank Marino, marking his directorial debut for Futurama. Groening suggested that the return episode bring the characters back to Planet Express quickly, rather than continuing from the end of Into the Wild Green Yonder. He also suggested the last-minute tag-on showing Zapp Brannigan emerging from the rebirth machine. The episode features a remix version of the theme playing in the end credits, and was the first to feature the opening sequence in high definition format. According to the Nielsen Media Research, the episode was viewed by an estimated 2.92 million households and received a 1.6 rating/5% share in the 18–49 demographic.

Did You Know?

• Matt Groening co-wrote the episode "Rebirth" with David X. Cohen, which originally aired on Comedy Central on June 24, 2010.
• Groening suggested that the return episode quickly bring the characters back to Planet Express to help viewers unfamiliar with the previous films adjust.
• He also suggested the last-minute tag-on explaining how Zapp Brannigan regains his full body, as each draft had neglected to address it.
• The episode "Rebirth" was the first to feature the opening sequence in high definition format and the first to feature a remix version of the theme in the end credits.
• Reviewer Robert Canning of IGN noted that "Rebirth" contained jokes from Groening's other show, The Simpsons.