'The Simpsons,' 'The Flintstones,' and the Future of FOX's Animation Domination - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ryan423 · 10-07-2011, 09:05 PM

I wanted to share my thoughts on The Simpsons' renewal...

Quote:

It has been an interesting week for the cast of The Simpsons and its fans. After twenty-three seasons, the series could have faced cancellation today, but the cast has agreed to dramatic pay cuts in order keep the show alive for another two seasons, its twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth! This will keep the show on the air through May of 2014, and extend the episode count to an astounding 559 episodes. The problem FOX faces though is that while the show stills generates respectable ratings, it isn't as profitable a property until it faces the axe. Once it's cancelled, FOX is looking at close to a $750 million dollar profit by selling the reruns to cable syndicators. Thanks to some poor decision making by those who cross the 'T's and dot the 'I's, FOX is forbidden from selling basic cable rights until the show goes off the air. Many are expecting the show's twenty-fifth season to be its last, but that might all depend on the success of an upcoming resurrection; in the Fall of 2013, FOX will launch a Seth MacFarlane Flintstones revival.

Read the rest of this editorial

Regulus · 10-07-2011, 09:30 PM

The Simpsons may be the longest running scripted prime-time TV Series in history, but there are at least two other series that had more episodes. They were:

Gunsmoke (1955-1975) 635 Episodes

Lassie (1954-1973) 591 Episodes

If anyone knows of any other TV Series with more Episodes than The Simpsons feel free to let us know.

James28 · 10-10-2011, 05:09 PM

I have a question for whoever posted the editorial: What if both the Simpsons and Family Guy end their runs, and all the others are cancelled, and the Animation Domination block gets thrown out altogether?

MrCleveland · 10-10-2011, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

I have a question for whoever posted the editorial: What if both the Simpsons and Family Guy end their runs, and all the others are cancelled, and the Animation Domination block gets thrown out altogether?

Dunno...

Is "The Flinstones" STILL pwned by WB?

comedyfreak · 10-13-2011, 08:37 AM

Animation domination can't last forever look at ABC's old TGIF block.

robyrob · 10-13-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

I have a question for whoever posted the editorial: What if both the Simpsons and Family Guy end their runs, and all the others are cancelled, and the Animation Domination block gets thrown out altogether?

i don't think that is going to happen any time soon - it is still way too successful for FOX. With all the new animated shows they keep trying out, it seems like they are trying to expand Animation Domination possibly to another night again.

robyrob · 10-13-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus

The Simpsons may be the longest running scripted prime-time TV Series in history, but there are at least two other series that had more episodes. They were:

Gunsmoke (1955-1975) 635 Episodes

Lassie (1954-1973) 591 Episodes

If anyone knows of any other TV Series with more Episodes than The Simpsons feel free to let us know.

Doctor Who has been running from 1963–1989, 1996, and 2005–present with 776 episodes as of 28 May 2011 (they've had at least 4 more episodes in the last couple of months, and another series will air on BBC America next spring or summer).

*update - they are currently at episode # 783

James28 · 10-13-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robyrob

i don't think that is going to happen any time soon - it is still way too successful for FOX. With all the new animated shows they keep trying out, it seems like they are trying to expand Animation Domination possibly to another night again.

Highly doubt that's going to happen due to the limited primetime schedule FOX has.

mets82 · 10-13-2011, 07:48 PM

Im a little confused. According to what I read in the link The Simpsons cant be on cable until the show gets canceled. How come I watch it at 6pm on my CT. CW affiliate?

AKA · 10-13-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mets82

Im a little confused. According to what I read in the link The Simpsons cant be on cable until the show gets canceled. How come I watch it at 6pm on my CT. CW affiliate?

The CW is a broadcast network, not cable.

IGNTBone · 11-09-2011, 10:43 AM

I always wondered why it was taking so long for The Simpsons to come to cable. That clears it up, thanks.

James28 · 11-18-2011, 05:37 AM

Question: Why must animated series run longer than live-action series?

AKA · 11-18-2011, 02:04 PM

Does it really bother you that The Simpsons has been on so long?

robyrob · 11-18-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

Question: Why must animated series run longer than live-action series?

i think that part of the reason is that voice actors don't visibly age in cartoons, so they can literally do it until they die, and they tend to typically get paid less than the visible live-action actors (the Simpsons cast is probably the biggest exception to this rule though)

i don't hold James's opinion about this against him - it drives me CRAZY that some of those crappy reality/competition shows are still on the air... if I could find an argument that would force the networks to get rid of THAT crap I wouldn't shut up about it.

James28 · 11-18-2011, 03:20 PM

A few more:

Why must these Animation Domination series (and SP) follow a floating timeline? (i.e. the characters don't visibly age despite all the current events that develop over a long period of time. The current events, fads, and gadgets would otherwise be anachronisms in the year of the character's/series' introduction. The characters may eventually be criticized in the later years of the show for not aging, and fanart may come up depicting what the characters would look like in the current year if they had aged.) A show that follows a floating timeline does not deserve to run for 15-20 seasons, even if the quality of the writing and its Nielsen ratings are still high.

I also think that if Futurama hadn't gone through all the troubles it had during its run on FOX (the network treated it like crap, probably with the frequent timeslot changes, which caused it to quit the network and move to Comedy Central a few years later), that would still be running on FOX today (in its 13th season) and The Simpsons would have ended anyway (if that happened, I'd let FG, AD, Cleveland, and the rest of the Animation block play out during the 2000s-2010s).

10-07-2011, 09:30 PM	#2
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	The Simpsons may be the longest running scripted prime-time TV Series in history, but there are at least two other series that had more episodes. They were: Gunsmoke (1955-1975) 635 Episodes Lassie (1954-1973) 591 Episodes If anyone knows of any other TV Series with more Episodes than The Simpsons feel free to let us know.
	__________________ 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*

10-10-2011, 05:09 PM	#3
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,977	I have a question for whoever posted the editorial: What if both the Simpsons and Family Guy end their runs, and all the others are cancelled, and the Animation Domination block gets thrown out altogether?
	__________________ "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

10-13-2011, 08:37 AM	#5
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	Animation domination can't last forever look at ABC's old TGIF block.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

10-13-2011, 07:48 PM	#9
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	Im a little confused. According to what I read in the link The Simpsons cant be on cable until the show gets canceled. How come I watch it at 6pm on my CT. CW affiliate?

11-09-2011, 10:43 AM	#11
IGNTBone Member Senior Member Join Date: May 03, 2000 Location: Tequesta, FL Posts: 1,201	I always wondered why it was taking so long for The Simpsons to come to cable. That clears it up, thanks.

11-18-2011, 05:37 AM	#12
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,977	Question: Why must animated series run longer than live-action series?

11-18-2011, 02:04 PM	#13
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Does it really bother you that The Simpsons has been on so long?

11-18-2011, 03:20 PM	#15
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,977	A few more: Why must these Animation Domination series (and SP) follow a floating timeline? (i.e. the characters don't visibly age despite all the current events that develop over a long period of time. The current events, fads, and gadgets would otherwise be anachronisms in the year of the character's/series' introduction. The characters may eventually be criticized in the later years of the show for not aging, and fanart may come up depicting what the characters would look like in the current year if they had aged.) A show that follows a floating timeline does not deserve to run for 15-20 seasons, even if the quality of the writing and its Nielsen ratings are still high. I also think that if Futurama hadn't gone through all the troubles it had during its run on FOX (the network treated it like crap, probably with the frequent timeslot changes, which caused it to quit the network and move to Comedy Central a few years later), that would still be running on FOX today (in its 13th season) and The Simpsons would have ended anyway (if that happened, I'd let FG, AD, Cleveland, and the rest of the Animation block play out during the 2000s-2010s).