"Simpsons" Voice Actors May Walk Out On Show

[TJL]

From The IMDB:

TV bosses are facing a hold-up in production on hit series The Simpsons - after the voice actors behind the animated characters failed to turn up to work following a pay dispute. Stars Dan Castellaneta, who voices Homer, and Nancy Cartwright, who plays Bart - have refused to attend recent script readings in response to a pay row involving the renewal of their three-year contracts. Other actors on the animation show - Julie Kavner who plays Marge, Hank Azaria as Moe, Harry Shearer who plays Mr Burns and Yeardley Smith who voices Lisa - are all negotiating new deals but "to no avail" according to their representatives. Now entering its 16th series - this is not the first dispute among staff on the show . There was a row in 1998 when the actors were making $30,000 per episode.

I read the other day that Simpsons has raked in almost a billion dollars since its debut. It seems a shame that the powers that be are being so tight fisted when it comes to properly compensating the talented folks who bring the charaters to life.