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“The Simpsons” Extend Their Marketability Through 20th Century Fox
3-Jun-2008
Written by: Jason Townsend-Rogers
“The Simpsons” cast sign on to continue their work and receive a salary bonus for their efforts.
The Simpsons still matter, even as other shows attempt to emulate their attempts at humor and pop-culture parody.
After an extended period of negotiations, the individuals who provide the voices for Springfield’s famous family have signed on with 20th Century Fox to continue their roles for four more years, elevating their salary to an estimated $400,000 per episode.
According to E! Online, this salary boost will take effect as the series begins its 20th season, placing it with Gunsmoke as the longest-running prime-time sitcom in television history.
This $400,000 salary bonus per-episode is a bit of a compromise. While the cast failed to receive their proposed $500,000 request, they were successful in negotiating a raise from their original payment of $300,000.
Dan Castellaneta has been made the show’s consulting producer; he provides the voice for series patriarch Homer Simpson and pens some of the sitcom’s episodes.
However, while he is expected to be present, along with Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa) and Hank Azaria (Moe, Apu, et al.), there is one individual who may be absent.
Harry Shearer, who provides the voice for Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders, may not be present on the show due to unforeseen circumstances.
Due to the length of the negotiations, the 20th season of the show will have only 20 episodes instead of the expected 22. Also, while the voice actors have signed on for more time, that distinction has not been made for the show itself, as it has not been renewed beyond 2008-09.
It could lead to the iconic Simpson family being forced from television akin to the way they were forced out of their neighborhood in the movie.
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