'The Simpsons' coming to an end

**Valigarmander** · 10-06-2011, 07:27 PM

Another 'Simpsons' Season Would Likely Be Last, Executive Says (Exclusive) | Reuters

Quote:

Fox wants "The Simpsons" for one more season at most -- and only if it can pay 25 to 30 percent less for it, an executive close to the show told TheWrap. The disclosure comes as producers have agreed to salary cuts to keep the show going, and the show's six voice actors have been asked to decide by Friday whether they will agree to have their payment cut almost in half.

TheWrap reported Wednesday that, as ammunition in their salary dispute, the actors have commissioned a study estimating the show has made $1 billion in profits over its 23-season run. The study projected that the studio will eventually make about $2.9 billion from the show.

If no deal can be reached between the actors and 20th Century Fox TV, then the current, twenty-third season will be the show's last. But the executive said Fox, the network "The Simpsons" helped establish, wants only one additional season even if the actors and studio can come to terms.

The actors have been asked to decide by noon Friday whether they will accept cuts to their salaries from the current $440,000 to $250,000 if the show continues past its current season, according to people familiar with the talks.

The actors offered last week to accept cuts to $300,000 per episode, in exchange for back-end payments they don't currently receive, but the studio rejected the offer.

Also read: 'The Simpsons' No More? Studio, Voice Actors Have a Cow Over Salaries

The studio declined to comment Wednesday. But the executive told TheWrap that the show is no longer profitable for the network, and that Fox wants to pay 25 to 30 percent less for new episodes. The executive said many on the show have been asked to accept salary cuts, and that producers have already agreed to them, as they try to reduce the licensing fee that Fox pays to air the show.

"The cuts proposed to actors are in line with cuts proposed to others involved in the show. The object here is not for the actors to pay personally for the reduction," the executive said. "The cost is that the cast is a component of the show, all of which is being downsized to do a final season."

The executive and others familiar with the talks spoke to TheWrap on condition of anonymity. Variety first reported that the producers agreed to pay cuts.

Earlier this week, Fox issued a statement saying it "cannot produce future seasons under its current financial model," and that it hoped for "an agreement with the voice cast that allows 'The Simpsons' to go on entertaining audiences with original episodes for many years to come."

Ending the series this season -- or after even one more season -- would deny TV's longest-running scripted, primetime show the chance to hit a landmark 25 seasons. Fox was a distant competitor to ABC, CBS and NBC when "The Simpsons" debuted as a series in 1989. It was Fox's first show to crack the top 30 -- and quickly became a worldwide cultural phenomenon.

The report commissioned by the actors estimated that the show has earned $3.95 billion in revenue -- including from network advertising, syndication payments, international airings, merchandising, and home video -- and has cost about $3.07 billion to produce.

The study estimated that the show would earn another $2 billion in cable and syndication deals, among other revenue sources, once it stops producing new episodes. A person familiar with the talks provided details of the study to TheWrap.

Under their current four-year contract, which ends this season, the actors earn around $9 million for a minimum of 20 episodes. They are being asked to cut their salaries to $5 million.

The actors being asked to take cuts are voice the show's major characters: 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 (the voice of Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, and Ned Flanders, among others).

The golden years of The Simpsons ended a long time ago. Nevertheless, it'll be kind of sad when they finally go off the air. I hope they can at least do a nice finale.

Luigiman7 · 10-06-2011, 07:45 PM

their legacy will live on as being the longest running animated sitcom

but many say it's about time since it's not as good anymore

**X-3** · 10-06-2011, 08:02 PM

I never thought I'd see the day.

***Ace Mercury*** · 10-06-2011, 08:39 PM

Wow, I never saw this coming. I just assumed that The Simpsons was a cash cow.

***Marilink*** · 10-06-2011, 10:21 PM

Unfortunately, this should have been a headline 5+ years ago...

**Deku Trii** · 10-06-2011, 10:50 PM

I stopped watching years ago, but it will be weird to finally see the end of what has been a cultural constant for most of my life.

Bomby · 10-06-2011, 11:04 PM

Who wants to take bets on how many people will watch the series finale?

Dizzy · 10-06-2011, 11:06 PM

I would, but I don't know anything about TV ratings, so I'd probably be way off. 20 million, just off the top of my head.

Redshirt · 10-06-2011, 11:34 PM

'bout time

Jere · 10-07-2011, 01:16 AM

Hmm this could actually rival MASH's last episode airing it still holds the record of most views of a series finale.

***Cosmonautical*** · 10-07-2011, 01:35 AM

It's easily one of the most monetized and popular franchises in Australian television. I wonder what they'll do here when it's finished.

Probably more Futurama reruns. And whatever latest heap McFarlane has dressed Family Guy up as.

Panfan · 10-07-2011, 03:08 PM

I've been rewatching early seasons little by little inbetween Buffy episodes.

Some of the best comedy of the past two decades has come from this show, but it's probably for the best that they let it die.

Panfan · 10-07-2011, 09:02 PM

UPDATE:Â*The SimpsonsÂ*renewed for two more years, as everyone involved agrees to less and/or more money | TV | Newswire | The A.V. Club

well then

FlipSwitch · 10-07-2011, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Pan-anagrabber

UPDATE:Â*The SimpsonsÂ*renewed for two more years, as everyone involved agrees to less and/or more money | TV | Newswire | The A.V. Club

well then

Nice. Once they hit 25, they can stop. But, I am a hardcore Simpsons fan.

Kargath · 10-07-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WITH GRUBS

It's easily one of the most monetized and popular franchises in Australian television. I wonder what they'll do here when it's finished.

Probably more Futurama reruns. And whatever latest heap McFarlane has dressed Family Guy up as.

Isn't it mostly repeats on now anyway? No-one would notice a difference.

Eagle Eye · 10-08-2011, 10:52 AM

25 seasons would be a nice number to end on. Knowing they have two more seasons gives them a chance to just wrap everything up nice and neat

SephirothKirby · 10-08-2011, 04:02 PM

Like, I literally thought the Simpsons already ended.

***Ace Mercury*** · 10-11-2011, 08:32 AM

Nope! It's just Chuck Testa.

VG_Addict · 10-11-2011, 08:59 PM

Declining quality or not, I think we can all agree that the Simpsons ending would be the end of an era.

Chaos Deviot · 12-08-2011, 09:41 AM

Finally. I loved it back then, but it's just too long. It's not like it's a continuous story like most Soap Operas where being a long runner is actually key to the series(and keeps the quality consistent).

Jokes get old after a long time.

I liked it back then, but it just feels meh now. I got no problem with Reruns, but there's not much more to do with new stuff. Family Guy is closer to this status, and South Park hit that status around the end of Season 3, if not Season 2.

10-06-2011, 07:45 PM	#2
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,603 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	their legacy will live on as being the longest running animated sitcom but many say it's about time since it's not as good anymore __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

10-06-2011, 08:02 PM	#3
X-3 Useful as an Owl Join Date: Jan 2004 Gender: Posts: 15,943 Thanks: 753 Thanked 1,213 Times in 790 Posts Blog Entries: 10	I never thought I'd see the day.

10-06-2011, 08:39 PM	#4
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,274 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Wow, I never saw this coming. I just assumed that The Simpsons was a cash cow.

10-06-2011, 10:21 PM	#5
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,115 Thanks: 2,534 Thanked 1,822 Times in 1,007 Posts	Unfortunately, this should have been a headline 5+ years ago...

10-06-2011, 10:50 PM	#6
Deku Trii PP&R Mod Current Events Mod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Texas Gender: Posts: 9,031 Thanks: 521 Thanked 1,099 Times in 583 Posts	I stopped watching years ago, but it will be weird to finally see the end of what has been a cultural constant for most of my life.

10-06-2011, 11:04 PM	#7
Bomby You just freaking blew Joe Biden's mind! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: WHAT?house Gender: Posts: 19,491 Thanks: 513 Thanked 1,449 Times in 849 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Who wants to take bets on how many people will watch the series finale?

10-06-2011, 11:06 PM	#8
Dizzy Podiaphobe Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 19,359 Thanks: 1,764 Thanked 1,161 Times in 804 Posts Blog Entries: 116	I would, but I don't know anything about TV ratings, so I'd probably be way off. 20 million, just off the top of my head.

10-06-2011, 11:34 PM	#9
Redshirt Wiggidy Wack Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: A place with things Gender: Posts: 16,698 Thanks: 703 Thanked 1,006 Times in 695 Posts Blog Entries: 50	'bout time

10-07-2011, 01:16 AM	#10
Jere Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sutme Gender: Posts: 3,648 Thanks: 404 Thanked 331 Times in 256 Posts Blog Entries: 3	Hmm this could actually rival MASH's last episode airing it still holds the record of most views of a series finale.

10-07-2011, 01:35 AM	#11
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	It's easily one of the most monetized and popular franchises in Australian television. I wonder what they'll do here when it's finished. Probably more Futurama reruns. And whatever latest heap McFarlane has dressed Family Guy up as.

10-07-2011, 03:08 PM	#12
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,802 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,247 Times in 1,337 Posts Blog Entries: 15	I've been rewatching early seasons little by little inbetween Buffy episodes. Some of the best comedy of the past two decades has come from this show, but it's probably for the best that they let it die.

10-07-2011, 09:02 PM	#13
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,802 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,247 Times in 1,337 Posts Blog Entries: 15	UPDATE:ÂThe SimpsonsÂrenewed for two more years, as everyone involved agrees to less and/or more money \| TV \| Newswire \| The A.V. Club well then

10-08-2011, 10:52 AM	#16
Eagle Eye Diddy bops Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Gender: Posts: 15,014 Thanks: 1,616 Thanked 1,084 Times in 597 Posts	25 seasons would be a nice number to end on. Knowing they have two more seasons gives them a chance to just wrap everything up nice and neat

10-08-2011, 04:02 PM	#17
SephirothKirby Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Those who criticize our generation forget who raised it. Gender: Posts: 7,213 Thanks: 373 Thanked 760 Times in 447 Posts	Like, I literally thought the Simpsons already ended.

10-11-2011, 08:32 AM	#18
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,274 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Nope! It's just Chuck Testa.

10-11-2011, 08:59 PM	#19
VG_Addict Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In the Vicinity Gender: Posts: 3,973 Thanks: 36 Thanked 227 Times in 194 Posts Blog Entries: 2	Declining quality or not, I think we can all agree that the Simpsons ending would be the end of an era.

12-08-2011, 09:41 AM	#20
Chaos Deviot The Betrayer Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mt. Moon Gender: Posts: 1,810 Thanks: 171 Thanked 52 Times in 49 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Finally. I loved it back then, but it's just too long. It's not like it's a continuous story like most Soap Operas where being a long runner is actually key to the series(and keeps the quality consistent). Jokes get old after a long time. I liked it back then, but it just feels meh now. I got no problem with Reruns, but there's not much more to do with new stuff. Family Guy is closer to this status, and South Park hit that status around the end of Season 3, if not Season 2.