Brian
05-01-2002, 08:38 PM
Oh No! The End for 'The Simpsons'?
By Cathryn Conroy, CompuServe News Editor
Could that staple of American pop culture be near its end? "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening came close to saying just that when he was in Bristol, England last weekend. This is what he told the UK Financial Times. You interpret what it means. "It becomes increasingly difficult as the years go by to keep on not only surprising the audience, but surprising ourselves. I think we are closer to winding it up. Although what happens generally if we win the Emmy for best animation show is that that gives us another couple of years to run it into the ground."
It has been 13 years since the show premiered as a stand-alone series. In those early days, it drew a great deal of criticism, particularly from the Christian right. Now it's a hugely popular international phenomenon, playing to millions of people in 60 countries. This is how big it is: It has exceeded "Baywatch." And the suits at Fox, the network on which "The Simpsons" is broadcast, couldn't be happier with Homer's cash cow. "I think Fox will wring every last penny out of the show before they call it a day," Groening told the Financial Times. "I have made them billions of dollars, so there is a trace of a smile in their faces when I walk into the room," he says. So what will Groening do next? He admits "The Simpsons" will be a tough act to follow, saying he feels like Paul McCartney after the break-up of the Beatles. The fans may feel the same way.
What do you guys think?
By Cathryn Conroy, CompuServe News Editor
Could that staple of American pop culture be near its end? "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening came close to saying just that when he was in Bristol, England last weekend. This is what he told the UK Financial Times. You interpret what it means. "It becomes increasingly difficult as the years go by to keep on not only surprising the audience, but surprising ourselves. I think we are closer to winding it up. Although what happens generally if we win the Emmy for best animation show is that that gives us another couple of years to run it into the ground."
It has been 13 years since the show premiered as a stand-alone series. In those early days, it drew a great deal of criticism, particularly from the Christian right. Now it's a hugely popular international phenomenon, playing to millions of people in 60 countries. This is how big it is: It has exceeded "Baywatch." And the suits at Fox, the network on which "The Simpsons" is broadcast, couldn't be happier with Homer's cash cow. "I think Fox will wring every last penny out of the show before they call it a day," Groening told the Financial Times. "I have made them billions of dollars, so there is a trace of a smile in their faces when I walk into the room," he says. So what will Groening do next? He admits "The Simpsons" will be a tough act to follow, saying he feels like Paul McCartney after the break-up of the Beatles. The fans may feel the same way.
What do you guys think?