"The Simpsons" threatened with Cancellation unless voice actors take 45% pay cut

[TheNewNeko]

Just a week after the idiots at Fox were going to give The Simpsons a 24-hour channel, it may actually force its fanbase to get a social life. You know that bright yellow thing? That's called "The Sun", Simpsons fans!

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Apparently The Simpsons could end up axed after this season unless the voice actors take a pay cut of approximately 45%, or $3.6 million per episode. Fox has announced that they cannot keep producing seasons paying the voice actors $8 million an episode.

My thoughts? This show should have been gone, at the very latest, 8 years ago. It's been running on fumes for a while. If this is the final song for a show that has all the things I described in the thread about a 24-hour network, then it's about freakin' time.

[CardSharks8689]

I knew a possible cancellation was coming from millions of miles away. The show has been on the air for 22 years now (over a period of 4 DECADES!), and I think it's high time the show gets the ax. The show has been just pure crap, as is South Park, and the awfully-horrendous Family Guy. I think the voice actors may end up stuck between a rock and a hard place with the decision to take a pay cut to save the show, or cancel the show. Maybe the voice actors know that the show's ratings have been in steady decline in the last few years, and maybe they'll realize that the show is going to end sooner or later. It definitely won't have as long a run as Wheel of Fortune, that's for sure.

I also read on Wikipedia that Arthur is the second longest-running animated series in TV history, and according to a YouTube video that sounds legit, the current season of Arthur (Season 14) may end up being the final season. Not sure if it's true, or if it's gossip, but in either event, I am taking it with a grain of salt.

As for The Simpsons, if it goes off the air, then I will say "hasta la vista" and "GOOD RIDDANCE" to a cartoon that is nothing but crap. Then the countdown to the demise of South Park and Family Guy will begin.

[billycw]

I'll go even farther....should have been gone 10 years ago.Had a great run until 2000 or so. Just endless mindless jokes that lost their edge long ago. That article gave credit to the Simpsons gaining a new audience over last 10years or so compared to original audience. Thing is, Simpsons have become politically correct and the jokes aren't funny. If you get a good joke or 2, that's all you get. Back in the early days, they truly made you laugh. The Simpsons have been stupid for so long, I just ignore anything about the show. Shame, because they were cuttting edge for so long in the 90's. Think Simpsons are pretty much a microcosm of the way comedy has become on network TV. That isn't a good thing...when shows have to explain the jokes to the audience, it's time to go.

Family Guy is garbage. South Park is on that down slope..... Cartoon Decay. BTW, has anyone seen the new Bugs Bunny? Now that is really awful. Mel Blanc has to be turning in his grave.

[tom3]

Haven't watched it on a regular basis since the late 90s. Don't care what happens to it at this point.

[CardSharks8689]

Politically incorrect content is possibly the reason why a vast number of 1990s episodes are not airable on FOX or any other network in the U.S. If you want to see such politically incorrect humor on the show, come to Canada and watch the mini-marathons on Global TV on Saturdays. Canada doesn't seem to be as sensitive about political incorrectness vs. political correctness, it seems.

Sesame Park (the Canadian equivalent of Sesame Street, cancelled in 2002) had segments from the American counterpart that wouldn't be shown on the U.S. version anymore even back in the late-1990s. I even admit to sneaking part of an episode of Park in early 2002, and it had the Monsterpiece Theater segment with Cookie Monster smoking a pipe and eating it too! Definitely not acceptable in the U.S., so why should Canada be any different?

[matchgame74fan]

I'm really doubting much of the political correctness arguments. My problem is that whenever I watch a recent one, the edge is gone, period. With the except of very few episodes these days. I actually watched the movie a couple years back and realized that I enjoyed it, and of course when the credits came on, I noticed that many of the writers (John Swartzwelder, David Mirkin, Jon Vitti, James L. Brooks, etc.,) were a part of the show during the best years and had since left. I just focus on my favorite part of the show and ignore the rest.

As for Family Guy... I love the early years of the show very much. And I enjoyed that first year or two back when they returned in 2005. But now it's starting to get to the point where the seasons for me aren't really consistently good anymore. But that show's not going to try and last forever like The Simpsons has.

Just a week after the idiots at Fox were going to give The Simpsons a 24-hour channel, it may actually force its fanbase to get a social life. You know that bright yellow thing? That's called "The Sun", Simpsons fans!

[Chameleonwhammy]

I am a fan of the show, but it's had a good run and it's time for it to pack up and go. The last couple seasons have been very stale and unenjoyable.

[phimat37]

The Simpsons is fresh on every episode though. I'm a big fan of The Simpsons still. It was funnier in 1989 to 90's, its early years. But I'd say it was better 1989-2008, maybe. After 2008 it's still funny but I can probably see what you mean when you say "stale and unenjoyable". The current episodes haven't really been my "favorite" but I'm still a big fan of the show. It still has its funny moments.

When they asked us to vote for Yes or No on Mrs.Krabapple and Flanders being together and the voting turned out Yes to them being together. I thought it was fine just the way it was with Flanders being single.

[espnews26]

If it is the end, the show had a great run. I thought the show would last just a bit longer.
Syndication is a gold mine for this show although I bet the cable rights would rake in some serious cash. I wonder why FX or even TBS didn't acquire or inquire the cable rights?

[sshuffield70]

It's been extended until 2014, the 25th season.

[TheNewNeko]

It's been extended until 2014, the 25th season.

oh well... it did sound too good to be true, I'm afraid. The glorification of stupidity will continue until I'm fairly close to completing my Master's, at least. The only good news is that ratings fell like 14% last season, so hopefully with a couple of more years of declining ratings, the show will finally be given a proper burial and people who watch it will explore other avenues, like getting a life.

Every time I hear about this show, I can't help but think of the William Shatner, SNL skit from 1986 where he tells the Trekkies to get a life. Maybe in 20 years, the cast of this show will tell that to their fanbase, and here it is!!.

[billycw]

oh well... it did sound too good to be true, I'm afraid. The glorification of stupidity will continue until I'm fairly close to completing my Master's, at least. The only good news is that ratings fell like 14% last season, so hopefully with a couple of more years of declining ratings, the show will finally be given a proper burial and people who watch it will explore other avenues, like getting a life.

Every time I hear about this show, I can't help but think of the William Shatner, SNL skit from 1986 where he tells the Trekkies to get a life. Maybe in 20 years, the cast of this show will tell that to their fanbase, and here it is!!.

That Shatner bit is still a classic....actually went to one of those conventions in the 80's with a buddy. He told me I wouldn't believe what I would see....people sitting around talking about how the Enterprise wasn't as fast as the Battlestar Galactica ship etc.....the costumes...the pinheads.....
Look, I loved the show,,,,but sometimes people just get so involved with fantasy....

Simpsons need to go...hey, they cancelled Gunsmoke didn't they? Law and Order....

[CardSharks8689]

Yes, especially when Nancy Cartwright - Bart Simpson's voice - is getting up there in age. If I recall, her history of character voices dates back to as late as 1980. She did the voice of Gloria Glad - Richie Rich's girlfriend - on the Richie Rich cartoon series starting in 1980, if I recall - which is some 30+ years ago! Not sure if she voiced other characters in the 1970s, though.

In either event, the novelty of The Simpsons is wearing off long before now. The show is extended until Season 25, and I have a gut feeling that ratings will drop even further in the coming years. It will soon be time for the show to go off the air, I kid you not.

Look, I loved the show, but sometimes people just get so involved with fantasy....

Especially when some people get badly influenced by fantasy. Reality is the route to go, it seems. Cartoons, no way! I do not support cartoons anymore. Long live The Price is Right!