Say it ain't so, Ho. Homey, that's is. According to Variety, even though Fox has given The Simpsons a renewal for season number 20, the voice talent that make the show have not been re-signed. Julie Kavner, Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria, Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright and Harry Shearer -- the actors who are as integral to the success of The Simpsons as the writers and animators -- are looking for a new deal. The group make approximately $360,000 per episode. They want a raise to $500,000 per. While that sounds like a lot of money -- and it is! -- when you consider how much Fox and company are making off The Simpsons franchise, like the new ride at Universal Orlando, the talent have every right to expect their piece of the pie.Negotiations are stymied at this point, but the issue could be resolved by week's end. A compromise will likely be struck, perhaps with fewer shows being made. As it stands now, nothing has been produced as yet, meaning there are just 20 new shows planned for next season (instead of 22). Fox could give in to the actors and make 18 episodes, for example, to compensate for the raises. In that way, only the fans will lose out. Of course, there are 420 episodes of The Simpsons produced since it began in 1989, so we can stand a lesser amount for one year.
Up to 1998, they were paid just $30,000 per episode. They were given an increase to $125,000 per which lasted until 2004. That was when they sort of staged a strike, receiving the current amount of $360,000 per.
All things considered, I'm siding with the actors here. They more than deserve the money they make for the work they produce -- and all the ancillary products that are sold thanks to their characterizations. In this instance, you cannot replace their voices with any others. They are The Simpsons and if this were a live-action sitcom, they'd be making even more. Fox should take all the money they're saving since canceling Back to You -- and you know Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton were making more than $500,000 per episode -- and give it to The Simpsons actors. (I know, I know, business doesn't work like that...but it should!)
Remember, too, on the recent AOL Top 50 Sitcoms of All Time, The Simpsons was number one.
Six Mad Men characters who are in limbo after the finale
Fact or Fiction: Big Bang, Brothers & Sisters and CSI
The TV Squad Podcast: Linda Purl talks about The Office, we talk spoilers, and more
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-22-2008 @ 12:46PM
Oreo said...
Do they get any of the money when their voices are used in toys? If they do then screw the actors if they don't I would ask for a ton of money because Fox will never cancel The Simpsons.
Reply
5-22-2008 @ 12:56PM
Elf said...
Where's the love for Tress MacNeille in all this? She does practically every female supporting character on the show, and a few males too. I hope she's getting her due.
Reply
5-22-2008 @ 12:59PM
Scott said...
Time to let this show die. Have the same talents who put together the movie focus on producing a second one. The show is just sad now.
Reply
5-22-2008 @ 1:01PM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
Hell, they gave the 6 Friends 1 Million per ep each and they didn't have toys and rides and shit. They should go on strike for the same deal.
Reply
5-22-2008 @ 2:14PM
obadiah spittle said...
I never when this show is on live anymore, because the concept of a "season" makes no sense anymore.
Reply
5-28-2008 @ 10:05PM
Sonia said...
Although Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammer commanded six figure salaries for Back to You what you're referring to is way too exagerated. Entertainment Weekly reported that they were making from 170.000 to 230.000 among the two of them, with Grammer making a little more as he was also the exec. producer. Like it or not those two are the best actors of the genre and if they make those kind of salaries more power to them!
Reply
5-22-2008 @ 7:52PM
Fred said...
Wait...the Simpsons is still on the air?
I kid!
Reply
5-22-2008 @ 9:00PM
lucyfan62 said...
Tress McNeill DID get love from the show on a recent episode - a very funny inside bit throughout the show! But this certainly explains why none of the main voice cast was at the opening of the new ride. I bet their voices are all a part of that as well! Most of the cast does multiple voice roles, so they should be paid accordingly. Think what Fox would have to pay if each character was done by a different actor! They're getting a bargain even at $500,000 per episode! Give them the money!
Reply
5-23-2008 @ 12:53AM
Bash said...
It's so funny that the earlier seasons which are loved more they were paid less and now they rake in the cash on the not so well received seasons. I love this :-)
"You want to go scuba?"
I love Hank Azaria :-)
Reply
5-23-2008 @ 6:21AM
mayorjimmy said...
Oh please oh please oh please oh please...... oh please let this be the end. please shoot old yeller so we can move on to the next really great show for a while then suddenly turns really really boring unfunny preachy and shitty.
Reply
5-23-2008 @ 7:11PM
nickmagoo said...
fox has to know that there is no simpsons without castelanetta, azaria, et al. why they are balking at providing proper compensation for their greatest money makers (how many BILLIONS has the simpsons made for fox?), the people who literally helped keep fox on the air, is ridiculous.
my guess is it'll be a stupid catfight up until the last second, and fox will capitulate (or at least offer a sizable raise)...
Reply