Cancellation Avoided! The Simpsons Renewed For 2 More Seasons!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-07-2011, 04:35 PM

It’s high noon for The Simpsons and it appears the voice cast has blinked.

The group of lead actors is close to agreeing to a new deal to keep TV’s longest running entertainment show on the air, according to a source.

That includes Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Grampa Simpson, Krusty the Clown, and others), Julie Kavner (Marge and others), Nancy Cartwright (Bart and others), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Hank Azaria (Moe, Chief Wiggum and Apu), and Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, and Ned Flanders, among others).

While the cast is ready to agree to a pay cut from the $400,000 per episode they have been making since 2008, the source said that is not as deep as the 45% reduction in salary that Fox has demanded, which would have meant they get about $250,000 an episode.

The show’s top producers, according to reports, have already agreed to reduce their current compensation, but the big difference from the cast is that several of them have “back end” deals that pay them additional amounts based on profits from all the revenue sources related to the show – such as licensing, merchandising and syndication of reruns to local TV stations.

The cast has not been paid a cut of the back end profits, and is not expected to get any in this new contract. Harry Shearer put out a statement early Friday saying he would take a cut of as much as 70% in salary if the network provided a share of back end profits, but his statement adds that Fox has remained steadfast in its refusal to do so.

Clearly the cast wants the show to continue. It isn’t a tremendous amount of work (most of them do other jobs as well), and it has been a great professional calling card for the 23 years the show has been on the air.

On Friday, Nancy Cartwright said in a statement about her desire to see the show continue: “Absolutely! "The Simpsons is a remarkable chronicle of our times. I've wanted to do this since I was 16! And I want to keep doing it until I am 86! Long live the Simpsons!"

This is the latest in a long history of salary squabbles between the network and the voice cast. The series went on in 1989, with the cast making about $30,000 per episode, and the first big battle took place in 1998 when Fox threatened to replace the cast. There were other tough negotiations in 2004 and 2008, when the actors got up to their current salary.

The difference now is that the show’s ratings have continued to erode, along with those of most primetime shows. While it is still pulling enough viewers to deserve to remain on the air, the studio insists the deficit to make the animated shows has now risen to a point where it is unacceptable to them. That is why Fox has threatened to end the show if they can’t make a deal.

Of course Fox could also re-cast the voice actors with talent at a lower salary, but that would bring them a lot of bad public relations.

What we do know is that the Friday noon deadline set by the studio has now passed and neither Fox or the actors is saying anything. The actors and their representatives were in a long conference call Friday morning; but the answer to what it all means continues to be “D’oh?”

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...pay-cut-245648

ShamelessFanGirl · 10-07-2011, 05:25 PM

I am glad that the voice and the FOX network have managed to reach an agreement on the paycut. It's not 45% percent but at least they were able to find a number that both parties could be comfortable with and that the show will continue as a result.

MrCleveland · 10-07-2011, 06:22 PM

And for the people who HOPE for cancellation, this is all we can say...

D'OH!

JamesG · 10-07-2011, 11:27 PM

"The Simpsons" Renewed for Seasons 24 & 25
by Chris Harnick
posted Oct 7th 2011

"The Simpsons", American's longest-running scripted series, is coming back for not only a Season 24, but Season 25 as well.

The decision to continue the series came after 20th Century Fox TV and the voice actors -- Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer -- squabbled over pay cuts for days.

Season 24 and 25 will bring "The Simpsons" to an astonishing 559 episodes.

http://www.aoltv.com/2011/10/07/the-...ons-24-and-25/

ShamelessFanGirl · 10-08-2011, 08:18 AM

As I mentioned before I am glad that the FOX network and the voice cast have sorted out their differences. I am especially glad that they have renewed the show for two more seasons. Hopefully after Season 25 the show will still continue to go on for many years to come.

Regulus · 10-08-2011, 08:27 AM

This will place The Simpsons third among scripted TV Series with the most episodes produced. Only Gunsmoke and Lassie rank higher. (Bear in mind during the 1950s and 60s FAR MORE Episodes were made during a season than there are now). In the 1950s a Show could have as many as 40 Episodes a Season, these days some are lucky to have 20!

Although Gunsmoke and Lassie produced more Episodes, The Simpsons will have a first, as they will be the ONLY scripted prime-time series to last 25 years, and all I can say for that is Congratulations!

James · 10-08-2011, 10:07 AM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brian Damage · 10-08-2011, 10:47 AM

I have to say, I was pretty shocked to hear this news.

sixfingers · 10-09-2011, 02:50 PM

559 episodes would indeed be quite an achievement but it is still 29 short of Lassie's 588 episodes and 76 short of Gunsmoke's 635, but who's to say that the 25th season will be the last?

ShamelessFanGirl · 10-09-2011, 04:05 PM

That is true. though it is uncertain right now, no one really knows for sure when the show will end. Personally, I think the Simpsons still has a lot of life left in it and we will be seeing on for quite sometime.

Brian Damage · 10-09-2011, 04:25 PM

The beauty with The Simpsons is that it is animated, it can go on as long as Matt Groenig wants it too.

James28 · 10-09-2011, 04:56 PM

I don't care if it is animated. I still will not see this show continuing past season 25. The longer it runs, the more people will grow tired of the show. Can't let it run longer than it already has out of respect for all the long-running live action series out there. Wait till the series gets a proper final season, then the show can retire from the air.

Brian Damage · 10-09-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

I don't care if it is animated. I still will not see this show continuing past season 25. The longer it runs, the more people will grow tired of the show.

A lot of longtime Simpson fans already have grown tired of it, but where longtime fans flock to leave the show, new ones seemingly pop up.

James28 · 10-10-2011, 10:15 AM

Bull. They need to stop renewing this show, for real. After Season 25, just give it a series finale and take it off the air for good. No season 26.

robyrob · 10-10-2011, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

Bull. They need to stop renewing this show, for real. After Season 25, just give it a series finale and take it off the air for good. No season 26.

i don't understand what your problem is - if you don't like it go watch something else.

10-07-2011, 04:35 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Cancellation Avoided! The Simpsons Renewed For 2 More Seasons!!! It’s high noon for The Simpsons and it appears the voice cast has blinked. The group of lead actors is close to agreeing to a new deal to keep TV’s longest running entertainment show on the air, according to a source. That includes Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Grampa Simpson, Krusty the Clown, and others), Julie Kavner (Marge and others), Nancy Cartwright (Bart and others), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Hank Azaria (Moe, Chief Wiggum and Apu), and Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, and Ned Flanders, among others). While the cast is ready to agree to a pay cut from the $400,000 per episode they have been making since 2008, the source said that is not as deep as the 45% reduction in salary that Fox has demanded, which would have meant they get about $250,000 an episode. The show’s top producers, according to reports, have already agreed to reduce their current compensation, but the big difference from the cast is that several of them have “back end” deals that pay them additional amounts based on profits from all the revenue sources related to the show – such as licensing, merchandising and syndication of reruns to local TV stations. The cast has not been paid a cut of the back end profits, and is not expected to get any in this new contract. Harry Shearer put out a statement early Friday saying he would take a cut of as much as 70% in salary if the network provided a share of back end profits, but his statement adds that Fox has remained steadfast in its refusal to do so. Clearly the cast wants the show to continue. It isn’t a tremendous amount of work (most of them do other jobs as well), and it has been a great professional calling card for the 23 years the show has been on the air. On Friday, Nancy Cartwright said in a statement about her desire to see the show continue: “Absolutely! "The Simpsons is a remarkable chronicle of our times. I've wanted to do this since I was 16! And I want to keep doing it until I am 86! Long live the Simpsons!" This is the latest in a long history of salary squabbles between the network and the voice cast. The series went on in 1989, with the cast making about $30,000 per episode, and the first big battle took place in 1998 when Fox threatened to replace the cast. There were other tough negotiations in 2004 and 2008, when the actors got up to their current salary. The difference now is that the show’s ratings have continued to erode, along with those of most primetime shows. While it is still pulling enough viewers to deserve to remain on the air, the studio insists the deficit to make the animated shows has now risen to a point where it is unacceptable to them. That is why Fox has threatened to end the show if they can’t make a deal. Of course Fox could also re-cast the voice actors with talent at a lower salary, but that would bring them a lot of bad public relations. What we do know is that the Friday noon deadline set by the studio has now passed and neither Fox or the actors is saying anything. The actors and their representatives were in a long conference call Friday morning; but the answer to what it all means continues to be “D’oh?” http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...pay-cut-245648
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet* Last edited by Brian Damage; 10-08-2011 at 12:09 AM.

10-07-2011, 06:22 PM	#3
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,237	And for the people who HOPE for cancellation, this is all we can say... D'OH!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

10-08-2011, 08:27 AM	#6
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	This will place The Simpsons third among scripted TV Series with the most episodes produced. Only Gunsmoke and Lassie rank higher. (Bear in mind during the 1950s and 60s FAR MORE Episodes were made during a season than there are now). In the 1950s a Show could have as many as 40 Episodes a Season, these days some are lucky to have 20! Although Gunsmoke and Lassie produced more Episodes, The Simpsons will have a first, as they will be the ONLY scripted prime-time series to last 25 years, and all I can say for that is Congratulations!
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood*

10-08-2011, 10:07 AM	#7
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
	Last edited by James; 10-08-2011 at 10:08 AM. Reason: To add a "thumbs down" icon

10-09-2011, 04:56 PM	#12
James28 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 4,000	I don't care if it is animated. I still will not see this show continuing past season 25. The longer it runs, the more people will grow tired of the show. Can't let it run longer than it already has out of respect for all the long-running live action series out there. Wait till the series gets a proper final season, then the show can retire from the air.
	__________________ "When the run of a network TV show has ended, some go out with a bang, some with a whimper, but all are...Future Endeavored." "Stay Safe"? More like "Stay Sad". #2020Hurts Last edited by James28; 10-09-2011 at 05:31 PM.

10-07-2011, 05:25 PM	#2
ShamelessFanGirl Great Power and Resposbility Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 16, 2011 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 581	I am glad that the voice and the FOX network have managed to reach an agreement on the paycut. It's not 45% percent but at least they were able to find a number that both parties could be comfortable with and that the show will continue as a result.

10-07-2011, 11:27 PM	#4
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,324	*"The Simpsons" Renewed for Seasons 24 & 25* by Chris Harnick posted Oct 7th 2011 "The Simpsons", American's longest-running scripted series, is coming back for not only a Season 24, but Season 25 as well. The decision to continue the series came after 20th Century Fox TV and the voice actors -- Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer -- squabbled over pay cuts for days. Season 24 and 25 will bring "The Simpsons" to an astonishing 559 episodes. http://www.aoltv.com/2011/10/07/the-...ons-24-and-25/

10-08-2011, 08:18 AM	#5
ShamelessFanGirl Great Power and Resposbility Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 16, 2011 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 581	As I mentioned before I am glad that the FOX network and the voice cast have sorted out their differences. I am especially glad that they have renewed the show for two more seasons. Hopefully after Season 25 the show will still continue to go on for many years to come.

10-08-2011, 10:47 AM	#8
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I have to say, I was pretty shocked to hear this news.

10-09-2011, 02:50 PM	#9
sixfingers John Alan Elson Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2008 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,491	559 episodes would indeed be quite an achievement but it is still 29 short of Lassie's 588 episodes and 76 short of Gunsmoke's 635, but who's to say that the 25th season will be the last?

10-09-2011, 04:05 PM	#10
ShamelessFanGirl Great Power and Resposbility Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 16, 2011 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 581	That is true. though it is uncertain right now, no one really knows for sure when the show will end. Personally, I think the Simpsons still has a lot of life left in it and we will be seeing on for quite sometime.

10-09-2011, 04:25 PM	#11
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	The beauty with The Simpsons is that it is animated, it can go on as long as Matt Groenig wants it too.

10-10-2011, 10:15 AM	#14
James28 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 4,000	Bull. They need to stop renewing this show, for real. After Season 25, just give it a series finale and take it off the air for good. No season 26.