sixfingers
11-02-2010, 01:50 PM
What will ultimately cause the cancellation of The Simpsons?
I am going to give a list of possible scenarios and I'm hoping to stimulate discussion of which of these scenarios is most likely, or if anyone else has some other ideas of what might cause The Simpsons to be canceled.
#1 Matt Groenig just decides to end it
"All good things must come to an end" This scenario assumes that the show is still viable and profitable and Matt just decides it has had a good run and its time has come.
#2 The sudden death/imprisonment of Matt Groenig
...or would the show go on without him?
#3 The sudden death/imprisonment of one of the voice actors
Take your pick, several of them are starting to "get up in years" but anyone could be hit by a car, murdered by a crazed fan, succumb to cancer, etc.
#4 Due to declining quality, originality of scripts, ratings plummet
At times the quality has waned somewhat, but so far the ratings have never been low enough to justify cancellation.
#5 One of the scripts goes to far, a lawsuit is filed, and cancellation is one of the conditions of the settlement
This seems more likely with Family Guy, which has already been canceled once.
#6 Some sort of scandal erupts involving Matt Groenig or one of the voice actors
This is rather broad, there are many different scenarios.
#7 A writers' strike results in a prolonged hiatus and fans lose interest in the interim
There may be contingency plans already in place to prevent this.
#8 One of the voice actors decides to quit
This seems unlikely to me, but I'm not a mind reader man!
#9 Some lunatic decides to act out something that happens in an episode, resulting in a lot of damage/many deaths
This might cause the network or Matt Groenig to end it, or may cause one or more of the voice actors to quit.
#10 The Simpsons will never be canceled. A great catastrophe will cause the end of the world, or at least the end of humanity
This would have to happen in the next 30 years or so, otherwise one of the previous scenarios is almost inevitable.
I am going to give a list of possible scenarios and I'm hoping to stimulate discussion of which of these scenarios is most likely, or if anyone else has some other ideas of what might cause The Simpsons to be canceled.
#1 Matt Groenig just decides to end it
"All good things must come to an end" This scenario assumes that the show is still viable and profitable and Matt just decides it has had a good run and its time has come.
#2 The sudden death/imprisonment of Matt Groenig
...or would the show go on without him?
#3 The sudden death/imprisonment of one of the voice actors
Take your pick, several of them are starting to "get up in years" but anyone could be hit by a car, murdered by a crazed fan, succumb to cancer, etc.
#4 Due to declining quality, originality of scripts, ratings plummet
At times the quality has waned somewhat, but so far the ratings have never been low enough to justify cancellation.
#5 One of the scripts goes to far, a lawsuit is filed, and cancellation is one of the conditions of the settlement
This seems more likely with Family Guy, which has already been canceled once.
#6 Some sort of scandal erupts involving Matt Groenig or one of the voice actors
This is rather broad, there are many different scenarios.
#7 A writers' strike results in a prolonged hiatus and fans lose interest in the interim
There may be contingency plans already in place to prevent this.
#8 One of the voice actors decides to quit
This seems unlikely to me, but I'm not a mind reader man!
#9 Some lunatic decides to act out something that happens in an episode, resulting in a lot of damage/many deaths
This might cause the network or Matt Groenig to end it, or may cause one or more of the voice actors to quit.
#10 The Simpsons will never be canceled. A great catastrophe will cause the end of the world, or at least the end of humanity
This would have to happen in the next 30 years or so, otherwise one of the previous scenarios is almost inevitable.