No, no. For once, it’s not Jessica or Ashlee trouble. This is about the Simpsons who matter.
While Fox has renewed its hit The Simpsons for their 20th season, it seems contract negotiations with the stars of the show have hit a roadblock.
Folks like Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Hank Azaria, Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright and Harry Shearer currently make $360K and episode, but they want $500K instead. The testy negotiations have delayed production on the series for months already, and it sounds like people are starting to get a little nervous.
Pay the people! I’ll just implode if there aren’t new episodes of the Simpsons.
I remember once, during the single semester of French I took in college, we had to watch an episode of The Simpsons in French. (My French teacher was bad-ass like that. She had once taught English to first-graders in Quebec, and pretty much took all the strategies she used there into the college classroom. She made the entire class sing a choreographed version of “Champs-Elysee” at the university’s cultural festival, which was horrifically embarrassing, but I have to admit I still remember all the words to this day.) Anyway, it was all these different French actors trying to do their best impressions of the Simpsons characters in French, and it was AWFUL! Just terrible! We were so disappointed! The Simpsons would be unwatchable without its usual actors. PAY THE PEOPLE!!!
Ok I love The Simpsons a lot, but I personally think that they have used up all their good material years ago and I’m actually kind of glad this is happening because their newer episodes just suck. Some end with them playing trumpets and some are just trying too hard to be like Family Guy and Homer Simpson is no Peter Griffin (Peter has papers that says he’s actually mentally retarded, while Homer just didn’t finish High School). Sorry for the rant but I think The Simpsons need to end now before they do something dumb. Plus Bart and Lisa have to be 35 years old by now!
Yo MMS, the truth has never been spoken the way you just spoke it except you typed it! Preach ON!
Finally someone agrees with me! Thank you daffylass :D
500K an episode is pretty hefty. Yes, it’s hard work, but the argument made by the Seinfeld actors when they bargained for 1mil per episode was that they would forever be branded the ‘Seinfeld’ actors – i.e. the actor and the character were inseparable and therefore higher wages should be paid now because their future earnings would be hindered.
I LOVE the Simpsons. I was 16 when they came on air. We used to watch a single videotape of 8 episodes in college.
However, voice actors do not have the same problem as the Seinfeld actors. They can continually work. Unless of course they go on a rant about lynching people, but that’s another story.
I’m sorry, but the Simpson’s crew is set for life. This show will perpetually be in reruns, and the checks will keep coming in. They should take a good paycheck and not try to squeeze it into something huge – the franchise has been very good to them, take the 360k, sit at home in your fancy studio and continue to do your work over voice-patch. But please, just squeeze out a couple more years before you pack it in.
So very sad that the late and very great Mel Blanc isn`t with us these days.
He coulda done the whole kit and caboodle of the Simpsons by his lonesome. (I`m sure without the money cat fights as well)
……besides , he woulda been worth anything he asked for.
Thanx for the wonderful memories Mel.
the simpsons have indeed been over for seasons.. let’s be honest.. and it only makes it clear that those people are in it for the money. know when enough is enough..
500K per episode sounds a little much for voice overs.. but what do I know? I love the Simpsons.. but I wouldn’t die if they finally ended the series. There’s enough reruns I can watch until I’m collecting social security
I’m with MMS-haven’t watched the Simpson’s for a few years now-it just makes me sad….
MMMMMMM – Greed. (Homer drools)
I stopped watching about 7 or 8 years ago. It became so tedious and devoid of soul. The early 90’s were the best times for the Simpsons.
I too love The Simpsons and I think if they want the money, they should get it. Although new episodes suck (and I keep watching every Sunday night, sometimes I last an entire episode, most times I don’t), if they want to keep that show going, they are going to have to pay them. I keep watching in hopes it’ll be better but I wouldn’t watch for a second if the voices changed.
I have to disagree with MMS only in the sense that I think Homer is better and funnier than Peter Griffith. I can’t watch Family Guy episodes that focus on Peter, I just hate him so much. The Simpsons season finale the other night was just bad (Lisa wanting to be famous, WTF???) but Homer (and Bart) still made me laugh a bunch of times with their stupid coin collecting. Marge actually made me laugh and I usually want to punch her.
however does the simpons sucks a little bit because they show the same and same eposides alot of times i wish they made new eposides
as long as this country keeps being a fuckup, the simpsons and the south parks and the family guys of the world will continue to have new material
Hi,
My mother tongue is French
I’m watching “the Simpsons” in both English and French. I find Homer’s voice in French a lot funnier.
The jokes can’t sometimes be transposed in french… and that’s the real pity…
anyway… they are great… isn’t it what’s really important?
i agree with reluctantgenius. running out of material- not gonna happen.
huray the SIMSONS