Back to the future
December 15th, 2007
As with many companies that have a staff heavy on techies, we have a particular fondness for science fiction. So we hope you're as excited as we are to see some acclaimed sci-fi series joining our content line- up.
Last week we released all three parts of the miniseries Tin Man, a re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the most watched series in SCI FI history. Today we've added a few beloved sci-fi blasts from the past. First is Firefly, writer/director Joss Whedon's sci-fi drama filled with Western motifs. Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his diverse crew travel through space on the transport ship "Serenity" doing jobs, legal and otherwise, to earn a living. We have all fourteen episodes of this cult series, and we highly recommend working your way through all of them sequentially before watching Serenity on DVD as that movie serves as an epilogue of sorts to the television series. To get you started, here's the pilot of Firefly:
Next is Roswell, a series that blended aliens and star-crossed teenage love in a seamless mix that drew a loyal fanbase. The entire first season, which leaned more heavily to teen romance and drama, is now available at Hulu. Katherine Heigl fans can catch her in one of her early feature roles as alien-human hybrid Isabel Evans.
We have also added select episodes from across the first six seasons of The Outer Limits, the Emmy-winning series based on the classic series of the same name from the 1960's. Each episode of this anthology series explored the moral and philosophical implications of advances in technology, in the grand tradition of the best in sci-fi.
Last, but not least, we've added a collection of clips from Matt Groening's Futurama, a show which reassured us that the future would be just as absurd as the present (but thankfully just as funny).
All these series had devoted and outspoken fans, and we hope those of you who count yourselves among them will enjoy this opportunity to reconnect with these shows. Those of you who've never seen these series can jump in at your convenience and see what you missed. Even if you're not a sci-fi fan, it's worth checking in regularly to see what new shows we've added. Our content acquisition team is busy adding new shows to our lineup all the time.
Meanwhile, we have to get back to work. We also have a science fiction story to write, about a future where every one can enjoy their favorite shows anytime, anywhere, through the web.
Eugene Wei
Aspiring Film Director (but instead a Director...of Product Management)
eugene.wei@hulu.com
Last week we released all three parts of the miniseries Tin Man, a re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the most watched series in SCI FI history. Today we've added a few beloved sci-fi blasts from the past. First is Firefly, writer/director Joss Whedon's sci-fi drama filled with Western motifs. Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his diverse crew travel through space on the transport ship "Serenity" doing jobs, legal and otherwise, to earn a living. We have all fourteen episodes of this cult series, and we highly recommend working your way through all of them sequentially before watching Serenity on DVD as that movie serves as an epilogue of sorts to the television series. To get you started, here's the pilot of Firefly:
Next is Roswell, a series that blended aliens and star-crossed teenage love in a seamless mix that drew a loyal fanbase. The entire first season, which leaned more heavily to teen romance and drama, is now available at Hulu. Katherine Heigl fans can catch her in one of her early feature roles as alien-human hybrid Isabel Evans.
We have also added select episodes from across the first six seasons of The Outer Limits, the Emmy-winning series based on the classic series of the same name from the 1960's. Each episode of this anthology series explored the moral and philosophical implications of advances in technology, in the grand tradition of the best in sci-fi.
Last, but not least, we've added a collection of clips from Matt Groening's Futurama, a show which reassured us that the future would be just as absurd as the present (but thankfully just as funny).
All these series had devoted and outspoken fans, and we hope those of you who count yourselves among them will enjoy this opportunity to reconnect with these shows. Those of you who've never seen these series can jump in at your convenience and see what you missed. Even if you're not a sci-fi fan, it's worth checking in regularly to see what new shows we've added. Our content acquisition team is busy adding new shows to our lineup all the time.
Meanwhile, we have to get back to work. We also have a science fiction story to write, about a future where every one can enjoy their favorite shows anytime, anywhere, through the web.
Eugene Wei
Aspiring Film Director (but instead a Director...of Product Management)
eugene.wei@hulu.com
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December 15th, 2007 at 10:53 PM Wow I'm real glad futurama is making an appearance! Just to let you know I was a Netflix subscriber mainly for their "Watch Now" service. I found my self mainly watching the TV shows available being I never have time for movies any more. When I got the invite to Hulu a while ago and saw all that was on here I canceled Netflix. I really enjoy your site. Thanks.
December 16th, 2007 at 12:38 AM I am really excited about this. Now if you all would just go ahead and allow me in the beta, I would be a whole lot more excited.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:01 PM Awesome! I am huge Firefly fan, but I notice the episodes are in "Fox" order and not Whedon order. The series makes much more sense when aired in Whedon order. Keep up the great work!. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_%28TV_series%29#Broadcast_history
December 17th, 2007 at 06:18 AM I am so glad you posted Firefly, but... that isn't the pilot. Not even the first episode aired. The first episode aired was The Train Job, but they were aired out of order anyway. :) Not that any of this is stopping me from watching them gleefully. :)
December 17th, 2007 at 04:52 PM Thanks for Firefly and Roswell! I'm also looking forward to watching Tin Man and BattleStar Gallactica! Keep up the great work!
December 18th, 2007 at 01:27 AM For the love of all things right in the world, please publish the Firefly episodes in the "correct" order and not the airdate order. The series will make much more sense and it was the way that creator Joss Whedon intended it to be watched. I am stoked that they are being broadcast here, though.
December 18th, 2007 at 02:54 AM I'm very excited about this site. Crazed sequential viewing = bliss. I mean, Bender! I'm also psyched to see the Bionic Woman on here. TiVo is grand, Netflix is lovely, Amazon UnBoxed useful but pricey; iTunes great for its portability... but the convenience of this service when plugged in is hard to match. Keep up the great work. ps OMG you have the original Miami Vice, and Battlestars old and new. Hold me back or I'll run a marathon down memory lane. What a joyous holiday season is coming up!
December 18th, 2007 at 06:53 AM I just got my invitation today and must say great job! I've got an older 36" CRT that I output to and it was fantastic. I'm excited about the new content and hope to see some old favs like Northern Exposure. Cheers!
December 18th, 2007 at 12:57 PM Hey, what's with saying "here's the pilot of Firefly" and putting 'Our Mrs Reynolds'. You off or something? You'd think with highly recommending something you'd know that the little fact of this NOT being the pilot, wouldn't you? Might want to review your DVD, mate.
December 18th, 2007 at 01:32 PM In what universe is "Our Mrs Reynolds" the Firefly pilot? You've lost my interest immediately if you can't even get that right! And as others have said, if you are going to put the Firefly eps up, please put them in the right order (not the aired order). Starting with the ACTUAL pilot.
December 18th, 2007 at 05:20 PM good job with the sci-fi now you just need to get Paramount pictures on board to release the most definitive original sci-fi series of all Star Trek.
December 18th, 2007 at 09:50 PM The episodes came in and were ordered by broadcast date which is our default, but we've updated the Firefly carousel to prefer the chronological ordering of events in the series. I agree, it's easier to understand the series when viewed that way. Thanks for keeping us honest!
December 19th, 2007 at 12:11 AM Thanks for Firefly, Futurama, and Roswell. I'll be back to watch when the writers' strike is over.
December 19th, 2007 at 12:40 AM Thank you for putting up Roswell! I loved that show. Will Hulu be putting up season 2 or 3?
December 20th, 2007 at 02:02 AM I am new to Hulu and am greatly enjoying the variety and quality of your archive. "Tin Man" was an amazing film and if I was still teaching my film classes (at a NY public school) I would be using it, along with "Little Miss Sunshine," for that too is a new version of "Oz." I am thrilled you are including some films into the mix of offerings and will be sending you folks a detailed email in the next day or so, about stocking the archive with films that teachers would use in school, with their classroom computers hooked into a LCD projector and speaker system. The potential is huge for creating a "national curriculum" of teachable films, available to every teacher, anytime...... I run a website for the Newsday In Education department, on Long Island, outside of NY. The Multimedia Program delivers lesson plans to teachers, much in the same manner Hulu works.....but more about that in my email..... Thank you for allowing me into the beta test and I will be contacting you soon.....and I am very impressed with all that I have seen so far.... in quality, variety and potential.... Ben
December 20th, 2007 at 03:35 AM I am so happy about the web site here, I have just sat and watched the first season of Roswell and am HUNGRY for more. I hope you are going to add the other 2 seasons soon. I never watched it when it came out on tv so I got to see it here from the first eppisode till the end of season one and I need more please........ Thank you for all the wonderful shows.
December 20th, 2007 at 04:35 AM Hardcopi: We may both be saying the same thing but just in case... "The Train Job" was a hastily-assembled replacement for the actual two-hour pilot, "Serenity", which FOX didn't air until after the series had been cancelled. "Serenity" (parts 1+2) are actually the first episodes (not to be confused with the Universal Pictures film, also called "Serenity"). Rock on, Browncoats!
December 21st, 2007 at 12:31 AM I am glad to see new scifi content. I am also a fan of both Stargate series among others so I look forward to seeing more from scifi. Good job Hulu team, what you are doing with this site is awesome.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:51 AM Oh great, can't wait to see Roswell. I used to watch every episode of that show.
December 21st, 2007 at 07:01 AM Thanks Hulu! I have never seen the Firefly episodes, although I become a browncoat after watching Serenity. I think you guys are the best thing to come since...well..TV I guess. I can now view my favorite shows after they play on TV, which means I get to FINALLY catch up and find out what all my friends are talking about. PS Hulu, I declare thee Joost slayer!
December 21st, 2007 at 01:53 PM I know this isn't supposed to be here, but since you haven't made a post yet, thank you guys for distributing thousands of invites to various IT sites! That's how I got mine!
January 6th, 2008 at 03:47 AM Roswell is one of my favorite shows ever. It's right there with Alias and Airwolf. I've got them all on DVD box sets but that won't stop me from watching them once I get into the beta. Oh, and I see from the comments above you have Miami Vice?!? Excellent. I guess I'm an 80's TV chick.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:17 PM Firefly totally rocks, as does the hulu service overrall. Great job guys, this kicks Joomla in the balls showing no mercy haha. Question though: any plans to add Torchwood? Also, what about more episodes of Outer Limits. One more question: seems like all content so far is PG-13 or less - is this a legal requirement, like can this ever change?
February 8th, 2008 at 11:54 PM I see I'm late to the show here but... um... Firefly! Awesome! It's a show that's not for everyone but everyone should at least check out to 3 or 4 episodes to see if it is for them. Obviously, the show is for me but a lot of folks are missing out on one of the roughest but wonderful gems in the TV dustbin.