The Simpsons may be ending :(

A salary dispute is threatening to end one of television's most beloved comedies.

The actors who provide the voices for the long-running cartoon hit "The Simpsons" are at odds over a new contract with 20th Century Fox Television, the production company that makes the series for its sister broadcast network.

The studio is seeking to dramatically cut the mid-six-figure pay per episode of the key actors who voice the show including Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Hank Azaria (Moe the bartender, Chief Wiggum and Apu) and Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders).

In a statement, 20th Century Fox Television said it "cannot produce future seasons under its current financial model."

A staple of the Fox lineup for more than two decades, "The Simpsons" has been a cash cow for Fox parent News Corp., generating billions of dollars in rerun and DVD sales, as well as merchandise, video games and a feature film. But its ratings have tumbled over the last few years.

This season, "The Simpsons" has averaged 7.1 million viewers. That is a drop of nearly 19% from five years ago, when the show averaged 8.7 million viewers. In the coveted category of viewers ages 18 to 49, ratings for "The Simpsons" have fallen 17%.

This sucks, the Simpsons has been one of my favorite TV shows of all time and it may be ending in the 23rd season. The longest running TV show in history may be done. I sure hope they come to some agreement and keep this great show running. I still watch every new episode and even old re-runs, if they have to cut something get rid of American Dad!

being from Springfield that sucks

reply to post by mileslong54

American dad and Family guy are the two main reasons that viewership would have dropped off. They are frequently, wet-your-pants funny and the simpsons can't compete with their edginess.

It's sad I know.

Maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars per episode is too much to pay, MAYBE it's too much to ask.

Are these voice actors gonna pick up new jobs when the show is axed?

The Simpsons haven't been relevant since the 90s

8 million a season and they can't renegotiate??
When is enough enough?

If its all about money then screw em...let them end.
Just knowing that....I will boycott them from now on.
They are willing to allow it to end one of the best cartoons ever for their own greed and egos??
Bunch of greedy jerks!!!

reply to post by mileslong54


Ok I love The Simpsons as much as the next guy but it's about dang time!!! They had a good run. Lets give someone else a chance.

FINALLY!

They have been going downhill since season 8.

I am a fan. A huge one. I have never missed an episode since the show's inception and have all of the seasons that have been put out on dvd. That the show would end over a money dispute makes me kind of sad but greed is the name of the game these days and obviously these people feel as though the service they provided is worth such a lofty amount. Given the success of the show I can understand that even if I dont necessarily agree. If the show ends it will be a bittersweet thing. I have gotten very used to those characters and watching them evolve over 20 years. But as someone else said, they have had a good run. I could watch any episode a million times and still laugh and as long as I have my dvds Im all set.

And while Family Guy may be a hugely successful show, I dont think it will ever be what the Simpsons was or is and there are plenty of people put off by Seth Mcfarlane's brand of humor...myself among them.

Originally posted by THEDUDE86
being from Springfield that sucks

Which one?
That's a running joke on the Simpsons. There are a lot of Springfields in the states.

Yeah, I've been done with the Simpsons for years.

Smell ya later!

reply to post by mileslong54

The longest running TV show in history may be done.

It's the longest running animated T.V show in the world, not the longest T.V show.

There is a show here in the U.K called Coronation Street that has been running for 50 years.

I prefer Family Guy nowadays, but that's probably because I prefer my comedy with a little more randomness.The Simpsons were great to begin with, but it has lost quite a bit of its sparkle over the last few seasons.

reply to post by Cobaltic1978


My bad, left the animated part out. Thanks

I like the show also. I hope it will not end. I agree it is sad that it will end over greed. I am sure the voice actors they have are the best available, but it is also voices they are paying for. I would think they can find other people to do the voices for one heck of a lot less money. No it wont be the same but I am sure it will still be good.
Because it is a cartoon it could get canceled now and come back later, but still I hope it will continue.

Honestly it's about time. I used to rearrange my life to watch The Simpson's. But over the last 5 years or so I can't justify that any more. Their brand has gotten stale when trying it on new episodes. Now if a re run from the first 10 years is on, I will stop and watch. But this new crap? No. I saw the first showing of the movie when it came out after not watching it for a while and was highly disappointed. It should have ended a while ago.

reply to post by Silverado292
Bahaha! that was a great Episode. Great memories and times. Its been a long good run at least. Farewell Springfield. The Simpson's will forever live in our hearts and minds, happily bringing that smile or laughter to a person who is down and out. Jah Knows we need that in today's day in age.

Simpsons’ Actors “Have a Cow” Over Salary Cuts; Series Could End

The cast members earn a reported $8 million each per year for 22 weeks’ worth of work. Their salary would be reduced to around $4 million after the proposed cuts.

Oh no. They will only make $4 million dollars. What a freaking crime. I wish I could make half their salaries per year. Please, if they can't take a few cuts in this recession then they don't deserve to continue being on the air.

Every time they make the artwork better, the show sucks more. Basically crap for many years now. Die Simpsons, die.

Haters!

Sure, The Simpsons were pretty bad from seasons 13-17. But even the worst, unoriginal and rehashed side show bob episode is better than the best American Dad episode. Seriously, I only watched one of those shows because My Morning Jacket was on it and it was awful. Worse than any bad Simpsons episode. Fox became the Seth McFarlane network too long ago. A show about Cleveland? Are you kidding me? What garbage!

That being said, go back and watch seasons 17 and on. They got their mojo back. But they're feeling the pressure. The first episode of this new season felt veerrrrryyy Family Guy.

You know how I know it felt like Family Guy? Because there was no coherent plot and no characterization - just random stupid stuff happening, like bad improv comedy in cartoon form.

fox just renewed them up through season 25

Simpsons renewed for 2 more years