Futurama

Original Air Date: 1999-2003 & 2008-Present

Network: Comedy Central

The redheaded stepchild of Simpsons creator Matt Groening, Futurama nonetheless remains near and dear to the hearts of several of IGN's editors. A futuristic sitcom that was a cross between The Jetsons and The Simpsons, the adventures of the dimwitted Fry, mono-eyed Leela, drunk and disorderly robot Bender, and all the rest of the Planet Express crew aren't just often hilarious -- they're also loaded with references that will make the average sci-fi and genre fan feel smart. And isn't that what life is all about in the end? Feeling smart?

From the darker strains of the early episodes (suicide booths?!) to familiar staples (the recurring robotic and evil Santa of the future, the "Anthology of Interest" segments which are Futurama's version of "Treehouse of Horror," various and sundry disembodied heads) and right on up to the post-cancellation resurrected adventures that have been making the DTV and Comedy Central rounds lately, Futurama is, to paraphrase Fry, "like a party in my mouth and everyone's throwing up." Well, actually it's better than that.