‘Simpsons’ Actors “Have a Cow” Over Salary Cuts; Series Could End
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ABC News’ Chris Connelly reports:
“D’Oh!”
That’s 45 percent less dough, to be precise.
One of television’s most beloved comedies, “The Simpsons,” may end over a salary dispute pitting the actors who voice the cartoon’s characters against what those working-class characters would no doubt call “the man.”
20th Century Fox Television, the production company that makes the series for its sister broadcast network, Fox, said it “cannot produce future seasons under its current financial model,” and has asked the show’s stars to take the 45 percent cut.
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), argue they deserve a slice of the huge cash cow “The Simpsons,” television’s longest-running scripted series, has been for Fox parent News Corp.
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.
The cast offered to take a 30 percent cut in exchange for a percentage of the billions of dollars in “back-end profits” the show rakes in from the sales of items like DVDs, clothing, lunchboxes, video games and a feature film.
Fox has said no, issuing a statement: “We are hopeful that we can reach an agreement with the voice cast that allows ‘The Simpsons’ to go on entertaining audiences with original episodes for many years to come.”
Whether the show’s actors will call Fox’s bluff remains to be seen, but they have been down this road before.
Three earlier salary disputes between the cast and Fox were worked out in negotiations, while another well-publicized dispute in 2004 sent the actors on a one-month strike.
As Homer Simpson himself asked in one famous episode, “Why did this have to happen now during prime time…when TV’s biggest stars come out to shine?”
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What? 20th Century makes billions but wants its actors to take a 45% pay cut? Why? Either the article is wrong on the facts or 20th Century has lost touch with reality.
Posted by: joe | October 5, 2011, 10:26 am 10:26 am
that god they should remove the whole unintelligent show period.you are more stupid for watching this crap in the first place.
Posted by: hadenoughuc | October 5, 2011, 10:27 am 10:27 am
I am not a fan of this program, after growing up I quit watching cartoons. Perhaps it is entertaining I don’t know but if fades away so be it. There is nothing on television that is worth saving these days. Maybe it is the curmudgeon aspect that takes over as I have grown older,but lets just look at a few of the fine programs offered. TMZ, Housewives of most cities, Jersey Shore, Bachelor Pad. The Bachelor,Basketball wives, Wipe out, Biggest losers,Teen Mom. Yeah nothing but stellar viewing.
So those folks get paid for the cerebral entertainment,Hmmmmmmmmm?
Posted by: johnbald1 | October 5, 2011, 11:01 am 11:01 am
Don’t like the show, but this seems to directly mirror every other large corporate entity. They are making huge profits but do NOT want to “trickle down” any of them to those who are actually the source of the profits – the workers. Any wonder there is protesting on Wall Street whih saw 720% PROFITS from 2007 to 2009
Posted by: kay | October 5, 2011, 11:05 am 11:05 am
I hope they do take it off, also Family Guy and all the disgusting animated shows. You know they will appeal to kids since they’re animated, but they really don’t care as long as they get the ratings.
Posted by: anne | October 5, 2011, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm
Why should the actors take a 45% Pay cut just so FOX can continue to make billions and billions of dollars off of their voices?
I love the Simpsons and I still watch today. The last few seasons have gotten better and better.
Fox is greedy. The executives get pay raises while they try to put the blame on the actors for killing the show. Ratings don’t matter at all. TV is not the same in the 2010′s as it was in the 1990′s and you can’t compare a 20+ year old show to what it once was. Ratings are not the same on any network as there are more TV options now.
The Simpsons btw often gets better ratings than Family Guy… as recently as 2 Sunday’s ago with the brand new season premiere episodes.
I hope the actors don’t cave in. Fox makes billions of dollars off of their voices in syndication alone. It’s not about ratings. It’s not about money. It’s about FOX’s corporate greed.
Anne – get a life. You don’t know what you are talking about. Did you know for example that 70% of the “disgusting” Simpsons episodes depict the family around the dinner table, going to church, doing activities together? I bet that you and your judging ” I’m better than you” family attitude isn’t as family oriented as a animated program is.
Posted by: max | October 5, 2011, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm
Max – you have the right to your opinion and so do I, but please don’t be so condescending. I can’t give my opinion on a show without being judgmental, but you certainly are being judgmental towards me. I don’t have a “better than you attitude” but you sure seem to. If the show doesn’t make it, it won’t be because of people like me, so don’t worry about it.
Posted by: Anne | October 7, 2011, 5:57 am 5:57 am
Someone should call the Fox executives on how their pay has fluctuated. Have they taken a pay cut to help keep ‘shows’ on their network? Have they done what they’ve asked of their proven talents. I’m not saying that the executives don’t deserve their pay, but they don’t deserve to say their cash cow can’t continue unless they cut costs in just this one place, the workers. And speaking of the workers, the voice talent isn’t the only talent on the Simpsons . . . there are writers and animators. This whole money scheme for shows is a mess.
Posted by: Xavier | October 12, 2011, 9:01 am 9:01 am
I’ve grown up watching the Simpson’s. I was almost 5 when it aired as an actual show (although I think I was 12 before I actually watched it) its an amazing show and the actors definitely deserve their cut.of the action. For those saying the Simpson’s, family Guy etc should be removed, I’m guessing they are the uneducated religious freaks our country is plagued with. Although these shows are vulgar at times, they always stay current with social, political, and religious events. Generally those who don’t like these shows just aren’t intelligent enough to understand their jokes’ meaning.
Posted by: Matt | January 12, 2012, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm