Woo hoo! The Simpsons will continue for at least two more seasons. Fox announced today that the longest running comedy will continue for its 24th and 25th seasons.
The new deal comes after a week of speculations about the future of the show. Fox announced earlier this week that the show would be canceled if the actors didn’t take a 45% pay cut. The actors, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright,Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer, said that they would take a pay cut if they were given a share in the back-end profits.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but TV Guide reports that the actors will take a cut in pay (less than the 45% requested) but will not be given a share of the profits. The producers of the show have already taken pay cuts.
Henry Shearer, who voices characters like Mr. Burns and Principal Skinner, said earlier that the cast was willing to cut their salaries by 70% if they were given a share of the shows profits.
Shearer said:
“Fox wants to cut our salaries in half because it says it can’t afford to continue making the show under what it calls the existing business model. Fox hasn’t explained what kind of new business model it has formulated to keep the show on the air, but clearly the less money they have to pay us in salary, the more they’re able to afford to continue broadcasting the show. And to this I say, fine — if pay cuts are what it will take to keep the show on the air, then cut my pay. … I’m willing to let them cut my salary not just 45 percent but more than 70 percent. … All I would ask in return is that I be allowed a small share of the eventual profits.”
The actors didn’t get what they wanted but they also didn’t want the show to come to an end. Under the new deal, The Simpsons will see its 25th season and its 500th episode. After that, however, we’ll likely see more arguing over money.
James L. Brooks, an executive producer of The Simpsons, wrote on Twitter:
“Crying animated tears of joy (which actually taste pretty good).”
Do you think the actors got bullied into continuing The Simpsons for less money?
