A new episode of "Futurama" will be on TV Thursday night for the first time since 2003.
Thursday's premiere is the first of 26 new "Futurama" episodes that were ordered by Comedy Central in June 2009.
The cartoon sci-fi comedy was the first post-"Simpsons" project from cartoonist Matt Groening.
"Futurama" originally aired on Fox from 1999-2003, but the network canceled the show after four seasons. Reruns ran on Cartoon Network until 2007, but based on their popularity, Groening got 20th Century Fox Television to produce and distribute four straight-to-DVD "Futurama" movies.
Comedy Central later signed a deal to air "Futurama's" original four seasons and to broadcast the "Futurama" movies in episode form.
The network's "Futurama" DVD deal also included an option to pick up any future new episodes of the show. After the "Futurama" reruns and movies did well, Comedy Central pulled the trigger on that option and ordered the 26 new episodes.
"Futurama's journey from cancellation, to late night reruns and an eventual return to a regular broadcast schedule followed the trajectory of another Fox animated comedy — "Family Guy."
"Family Guy" was canceled by Fox in 2002, but was brought back to the network in 2005 following strong DVD sales and good ratings in Cartoon Network's late night lineup. Groening has said he followed "Family Guy's" example while plotting the revival of "Futurama."
Comedy Central's "Futurama" premiere airs Thursday at 10 p.m.
