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Is This Finally The End For The Simpsons?

We don't cover tv's longest running sitcom too regularly here on CBM but with Fox threatening cancellation after this season ends we feel it's worth reporting on. Click for the details..

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By Mark "RorMachine" Cassidy - 10/4/2011
The Simpsons is a true phenomenon. Not only is it tv's longest running sitcom (and an animated one at that) but it has graced pretty much every medium and paraphernalia known to man including clothing, lunchboxes, stamps, DVDs, a feature film, video games and of course comic books. Loved by all for a time, many now feel that the show has run its course and is simply not as funny as it used to be. However you feel about it the fact remains that it is still Fox's biggest money spinner and now it seems like the show may finally be cancelled due to a money dispute between them and the show's main voice cast. Doh?



From The Daily Beast

The reason is a negotiating impasse between the studio and the six principal actors who voice the beloved characters on the animated series that hilariously satirizes middle-class Midwestern angst.

Difficult bargaining is nothing new for the show, which was created by James L. Brooks and Matt Groening. Fox studio execs have occasionally threatened to replace uncooperative cast members with sound-alike actors. But for the first time in nearly a quarter century of haggling, the executives have insisted that if the cast doesn’t accept a draconian 45 percent pay cut, The Simpsons will die an abrupt death as a first-run series.


Apparently 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 Szyslak, Chief Wiggum and Apu Nahasapeemapetilon), and Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, Ned Flanders, and others) were willing to take a cut of around 30% with "a tiny percentage of the show’s huge back-end profits", but that isn't good enough for Fox. Who knows what will happen but if the ultimatum holds we could well be looking at the end of tv's most famous family. How would you guys feel about that?
Source: The Daily Beast
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kylum616 - 10/4/2011, 8:55 AM
thanks f**k they should have stoped this after season 10
AlcoholicA - 10/4/2011, 9:07 AM
I heard they get about 400,000 an episode. If that's true then damn they are over paid!! I love me some simpsons but they are not near as funny as they used to be. That's not the voice-actors' fault but still. 220,000 an episode is plenty considering how washed-up it is.
Spidey91 - 10/4/2011, 9:13 AM
"Fox studio execs have occasionally threatened to replace uncooperative cast members with sound-alike actors"

they did that to the latin dubbing of the show years ago,and they f*cked up BIG TIME,it almost killed the 2007 movie for me.
nuck82 - 10/4/2011, 9:14 AM
they have been reaching for stories since the early 2000s, i cant rememeber the last time i watched it, i miss the old simpsons
themayer88 - 10/4/2011, 9:16 AM
its been a long time coming. let the show finally please be over.
nuck82 - 10/4/2011, 9:17 AM
and they do have a comic book, and a movie, so i think this is ok to have on the site, no worries
LucasMend - 10/4/2011, 9:18 AM
I love the simpsons, but in the last seasons it is not that good anymore, not interesting stories, and sometimes lack of character development, such as Homer or Marge, and focusing too much on Lisa and Bart. I think they should cancel it now, and let the legacy of it live long and well!
MatchesMalone - 10/4/2011, 9:19 AM
It truly would be the end of an era. It might not be as good as it once was, but it's still better than most of the crap on tv.
ultimatefan1974 - 10/4/2011, 9:19 AM
It should have been cancelled about a decade ago or so. Pretty much every ep in the later seasons is a rehash of past, better eps.
CrowPirate1 - 10/4/2011, 9:19 AM
I have to agree with Kylum. Not as funny since season 10 on. do I still watch it? yeah. do I laugh? 50/50. Not as often as I do at South Park and Family Guy. But, I still love the jumping the gorge episode. I had to pause when homer was clobbered on the head all the way up, after falling all the way down... while bound in the gurney no less, and THEN the ambulance went like one foot and smashed into the tree, and he fell all the way down again. I literally had to pause the show I was bent over laughing so hard. Just for that memory alone, I still love the show. But, yeah.. more memories than modern laugh out louds.
plasticman - 10/4/2011, 9:21 AM
I haven't seen a new episode of the Simpson's in forever. If they started doing hour long specials twice a year that would be enough for my enjoyment.
marvel72 - 10/4/2011, 9:22 AM
the show use to be unmissable now i catch it now & again,family guy & south park are much better.

1st family guy
2nd south park
3rd the simpsons
4th the cleavland show
5th american dad
6th futuramma
leo888 - 10/4/2011, 9:23 AM
For my good taste on TV, The Simpsons died 12 years ago...
nuck82 - 10/4/2011, 9:24 AM
1st archer
2nd south park
3rd old futuramma
4th american dad
5th cleavland show
6th simpsons
kevberg - 10/4/2011, 9:34 AM
GOOD!
the last couple seasons have been so Lisa centric and Political BS message heavy that its sickening. They haven't been funny and its time to pull the plug.
PantherX - 10/4/2011, 9:38 AM
It's about time! Cya!
UltimateSpiderman - 10/4/2011, 9:40 AM
It would be great if they could finish it with a decent finale. And maybe go back to the good old fashioned style of animation for it.
QuietStorm - 10/4/2011, 9:42 AM
I say let em go 25 seasons. Take a paycut next year then have a celebratory 25th season with huge guest stars and then a movie. Then they can do hour long Halloween specials and that'll b that
HavocT - 10/4/2011, 9:42 AM
Aw man... I still watch it, even if it wasn't what it used to be. Very sad to hear it ending :(
HavocT - 10/4/2011, 9:45 AM
@nuck82
Seriouly? Did you just put cleavland show above the Simpson, I should slap the bad taste of crap out of your mouth.
Lizardking310 - 10/4/2011, 9:45 AM
1 archer
2 futurama
3 south park
4 robot chicken
5 family guy



American dad and cleveland show suck balls
OtakuPapi - 10/4/2011, 9:48 AM
Dueces.They Better Take The Money And Keep The Cash Cow Rolling,They've Made Enough As It Is
OtakuPapi - 10/4/2011, 9:49 AM
I Rather See A Simpson Flash Forward Anyway
MovieMaster - 10/4/2011, 9:50 AM
noooooooo! i knew that this was coming soon, but weren't their talks a few weeks back of Fox making a simpsons-centric TV channel?
aRandomSinisterClone - 10/4/2011, 9:51 AM
Fox ruining sum thing else, what else is new
nuck82 - 10/4/2011, 9:55 AM
@HavocT above the simpsons of now, yes, if we are talking about 90s simpsons then its way higher
RunDTC - 10/4/2011, 10:04 AM
where did my comment go?
JackBauer - 10/4/2011, 10:04 AM
I haven't watched a first run episode in about 10 years, but I still catch a rerun about once a month or so.
Chewtoy - 10/4/2011, 10:05 AM
Eh, like many others here, I haven't watched in ages. Still, who in their right mind takes a 45% paycut? Especially if they're already rich and so therefore aren't desperate for the work. After 20+ years of doing it, I would guess they're all pretty much ready for it to end anyway.

And yes, I'm sure I'd kill to make half of what they make in a year (or perhaps just in an episode, if the numbers quoted above are right). Still, were I in their shoes, I'd probably just shrug and retire if given that choice.
comicb00kguy - 10/4/2011, 10:13 AM
I'm as big a Simpsons fan as anyone, but it may be about time to call it a day on the show. It's already outlasted every fictional series on television.

Yes, it's not as funny as it once was, but the greatness of the first few seasons was unsustainable. They still come up with some funny ideas, and just about every episode has at least one really good joke in it somewhere.
unclebuck99 - 10/4/2011, 10:13 AM
a skeleton walks into a bar..he orders a beer and a mop
poop23 - 10/4/2011, 10:14 AM
Both Fox and NBC are some money hungry bastards
Number1Wolverine - 10/4/2011, 10:17 AM
I concur with TheIrishAvenger.
Rivehn - 10/4/2011, 10:17 AM
I remember in elementary school like five or six years ago it would be worth waiting sunday night to watch the new episode.

Ah so Sad how it went to crap once highschool came around.
Mechagino - 10/4/2011, 10:19 AM
I hope not, I love this show.
Shadowelfz - 10/4/2011, 10:30 AM
This shows still running? Damn. The Simpsons are incredible, but all good things must come to an end.
AlexDeLarge87 - 10/4/2011, 10:35 AM
Agree with MatchesMalone
HotHead - 10/4/2011, 10:35 AM
Sparrowsabre7 - 10/4/2011, 10:35 AM
I have to say that I echo the sentiments expressed here. The show has long since run its course. I'll be semi-sad to see an end of an era, but unlike normal sitcoms, it's not like there's an ongoing plot, just new shenanigans each week.

However, I think the actors could afford a pay cut, I mean they must be earning ABSURD money.
wavehunter - 10/4/2011, 10:42 AM
The show was great from season 1-11. Went down hill from there.
SUPERMAN2013 - 10/4/2011, 10:45 AM
even if it isnt funny anymore,it wouldnt be be right if simpson stopped,yeah they can put on repeats and such but its like breaking a routeen,and no one ever likes that lol
thalidomide - 10/4/2011, 11:00 AM
Sad to see this one end :(
superwolverine - 10/4/2011, 11:01 AM
the simpsons are god-awful now and south park is right up there.
ChrisMc - 10/4/2011, 11:03 AM
When I think of The Simpsons, I like to think they've made it far enough to be like Looney Tunes. Homer Simpson is like Bugs Bunny. And I'm sure in all the years Bugs has been around, more than one person has voiced him. So why can't they do that with The Simpsons? The only question would be whether or not to keep them on every Sunday night. I think they should air a 22 episode season and repeat OLD and newer episodes in between seasons. But The Simpsons have been getting better. Especially the last two seasons. Anyone who says otherwise is just stubborn to change and can't just enjoy something for what it is.
supermarioworldE - 10/4/2011, 11:22 AM
I've been waiting years for the writers to pick up the slack and bring The Simpsons back to a level of intelligent, clever satire that was present in the nineties, but little effort has been made on their part, and the show has been suffering because of it.

The Simpsons is my favorite and one of the most important programs in television history, but after so many years of mediocrity, perhaps it's time to pull the plug.
GothamKnight01 - 10/4/2011, 11:27 AM
Maybe if they step away from the show, and eventually start brain storming ideas and go from there. I think there is no need to cancell The Simpsons just yet...
blazingkidtes - 10/4/2011, 11:28 AM
i thought they said after the last couple of seasons or the last season like in 2013 they will make another sompson movie oh well i haven't watch simpsons snce the first movie came out lol
Fogs - 10/4/2011, 11:34 AM
1 Family Guy
2 American dad
3 Simpsons
4 Cleveland Show
BackwardGalaxy - 10/4/2011, 11:38 AM
1. Old Futurama
2. South Park
3. Family Guy
4. American Dad
5. The Venture Brothers
6. The Simpsons
50. The Cleveland Show

Honorable mention to Archer because I've seen all of one episode. It was hilarious, but I can't put it on the list if I haven't even seen it.
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