The Simpsons facing possible cancelation after Season 23 [Archive]

CyberCubed

10-04-2011, 11:35 PM

Its on several news sites:

http://tv.ign.com/articles/119/1198119p1.html

Basically the show is getting too costly for Fox to produce, with the salaries for the voice actors and them refusing to take pay cuts, to the point where the actual animation is most expensive than the likes of Family guy, etc.

I know this has happened in the past with this show, and the voice actors eventually negotiated, but the fact that they're asking for back-end pay now, it seems that the show could realistically end. For the record, no Season 24 has currently been ordered at all at this point.

Good thing is the show officially hits the 500th episode milestone this season, so if this is the end, it is time.

Jester

10-04-2011, 11:44 PM

CyberCubed

10-04-2011, 11:50 PM

I always knew the voice actor salaries would be what did the show in eventually. This is not the type of show where you'd expect them to hire sound-a-likes and continue the series after all the voice actors quit either.

I think Fox realizes they can still make millions off of Simpsons even after its canceled. They will have over 500 episodes to rerun in syndication, plus DVD and merchandize sales.

The Flintstones continued to have new merchandized pumped out every year, and the actual series ended decades ago.

Archon_Turtle

10-05-2011, 12:55 AM

EDIT: Ok, maybe Yeardley "Lisa" Smith doesn't...just Lisa...come on Yeardley.

And that is her normal speaking voice. heh.

Jester

10-05-2011, 01:08 AM

UNACCEPTABLE!!!
Yeadrley why can't you be more like your brother, Nancy....wait??

Slap-Happy

10-05-2011, 01:09 AM

Jester

10-05-2011, 01:17 AM

If they cancel the Simpson's will they fill its slot (hehehehe) with ANOTHER Seth MacFarlane show. I debated using "comedy" but lets be honest, that'd would be wrong.

Slap-Happy

10-05-2011, 01:20 AM

If they cancel the Simpson's will they fill its slot (hehehehe) with ANOTHER Seth MacFarlane show. I debated using "comedy" but lets be honest, that'd would be wrong.
If the Simpsons is cancelled, I bet Seth MacFarlane's Flintstones takes it's slot.

CyberCubed

10-05-2011, 01:21 AM

If the Simpsons is cancelled, I bet Seth MacFarlane's Flintstones takes it's slot.

I think that's why Fox can get rid of Simpsons, the Flintstones will probably be successful, although not to as much Simpsons was.

Jester

10-05-2011, 01:22 AM

http://www.maroonersrock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Vader-Noooo.jpg

Ninjinister

10-05-2011, 04:37 AM

This news makes me sad.

And of course Fox will keep beating its corpse well after it's gone for money. After all, I did just read, recently, that they've been talking about an all-Simpsons network.

Luzmagica

10-05-2011, 04:46 AM

It is also sad news for me .... this show with me since the beginning...

If that happens ...Who knows??? maybe in a future....like my beloved TMNT.... :tgrin: ... they will return! :tcool:

ZariusTwo

10-05-2011, 06:21 AM

Yeah....it'll come back produced by Seth McFarlane:P

I doubt it'll come to an end now, but I hope it does, just as there will always be 150 Pokemon, there will always be only ten good seasons of The Simpsons.

pannoni1

10-05-2011, 08:01 AM

Whenever the characters don't age and the fact that somebody that was Bart's and Lisa's age when the pilot came out nearly 25 years ago is now Marge's and Homer's age today throws off the balance a bit (though growing up killed the Rugrats franchise). While The Simpsons is still great, I knew something like this would be coming, unfortunately it seems that the VAs don't know what recession means and simply due to the fact that the plots have grown so stale that it almost makes you cry when you watch an episode from the '90s compared to one from this era. But I doubt there will ever be another cartoon that lasts 500 episodes and it was quite an accomplishment, and the Simpsons will live on for generations like Looney Tunes/Mickey Mouse does.

Jester

10-05-2011, 09:12 AM

BubblyShell22

10-05-2011, 09:28 AM

I've seen this coming, and I'm not surprised. The recent eps (though I haven't seen any from this current season) have always fallen flat to me. I've barely laughed, and it just has seemed tired to me. The earlier seasons were classics and always will be. I'd rather watch those eps than the newer ones. Yeah, I'll be sad to see it go, but I'm not surprised.

Honestly, I'd rather watch Family Guy than The Simpsons now.

CyberCubed

10-05-2011, 10:52 AM

Fun fact: The 500th episode of Simpsons will air in February.

I think that milestone alone is why Fox is willing now to end it. I don't see the show going on to 600 episodes....

Spitfire

10-05-2011, 02:50 PM

It's not like the VAs don't deserve the salaries. They make the show and they do multiple characters each. I mean if Charlie Sheen can make $2 million an episode for 2 and a Half Men, the cast of the Simpsons deserve their $400,000+ per episode.

No one deserves 400K to sit in a climate controlled sound booth and talk. Especially when it's for something as short as a 20 minute episode. Recording lines is insanely simple. The main reason they do multiple characters is to validate their salaries and so they don't have to pay as many VAs. An actor is under lights and dealing with set conditions. The script isn't in front of them and they actually have to memorize their lines. Also in many cases they'll have to ADR some of the lines anyways so they have to put in some sound booth time themselves.

It floors me how greedy the VAs for Simpsons are. Back pay? Are you serious? They make the same money for one episode that my Dad makes in 5 years. They're beyond the point of needing it to survive.

Jurassic

10-05-2011, 03:01 PM

No one deserves 400K to sit in a climate controlled sound booth and talk. Especially when it's for something as short as a 20 minute episode. Recording lines is insanely simple. The main reason they do multiple characters is to validate their salaries and so they don't have to pay as many VAs. An actor is under lights and dealing with set conditions. The script isn't in front of them and they actually have to memorize their lines. Also in many cases they'll have to ADR some of the lines anyways so they have to put in some sound booth time themselves.

It floors me how greedy the VAs for Simpsons are. Back pay? Are you serious? They make the same money for one episode that my Dad makes in 5 years. They're beyond the point of needing it to survive.

Quoted for emphasis!!

CyberCubed

10-05-2011, 03:34 PM

It floors me how greedy the VAs for Simpsons are. Back pay? Are you serious? They make the same money for one episode that my Dad makes in 5 years. They're beyond the point of needing it to survive.

The VA's were the reason for the shows success as much as the writers/creators were.

They simply want to know that after the show is canceled and put on syndication, that they'll continue to get money after.

TheCanadiandrome

10-05-2011, 03:37 PM

God, I hope it doesn't get cancelled. Yeah, it's definitely passed it's prime, but it's an American institution.

Besides Bob's Burgers, Fox really will be the Seth MacFarlane network. (I don't expect Napolean Dynamite or that new Jonah Hill show to last long)

Bob's Burgers got canned didn't it? And what is the Jonah Hill show any way? is it that stupid crap that was previewed through out last Sunday?

and yeah Simpsons is not just an American Institution, but a World-Wide Phenomonan! However, if it ends after 23 seasons so be it, but perhaps another movie would be the best way to end it

CyberCubed

10-05-2011, 03:41 PM

There are still 6 holdover episodes after Season 23, so those would make an incredibly short Season 24 and give the series a proper finale.

Slap-Happy

10-05-2011, 05:14 PM

If it is being cancelled, I say there should just be an hour long special with every character and alive guest stars making appearances.

XERO

10-05-2011, 07:09 PM

23 seasons?

Damn, the show is old enough to finish college.

Spitfire

10-05-2011, 07:14 PM

The VA's were the reason for the shows success as much as the writers/creators were.

They simply want to know that after the show is canceled and put on syndication, that they'll continue to get money after.

They don't need that money though and further more it depends on the contracts they signed. If they blindly signed a contract several years ago that's on them. None of the Star Wars cast, which arguably make the movie, get dick from Lucas because they signed their likeness away. Darth Vader never even got paid for Return of the Jedi. Just because you were part of what made something successful doesn't mean you're entitled to extra money.

A true artist is someone who is willing to take pay cuts so something can be made. Like Keanu Reeves taking no pay for the last two Matrix movies so his cost could be put towards the special effects budget. He already knew he didn't need the extra money so he put it back into the movie for the fans. Kevin Bacon took a huge pay decrease for The Woodsman just because he wanted to see it get made and knew the production couldn't afford him. These VAs refusing to decrease their asking price is like them saying FU to the fans. The fans who put them where they are. If you ask me that's BS and I'd say F them too.

Guitar_Raph

10-05-2011, 11:17 PM

It's not gonna be the same on Sundays after 23 seasons. And when they may reach 500 episodes.

But that's not the oldest Fox show, it's Cops (Bad boys. bad boys). It dryhroned Gunsmoke/Law & Order as the longest running prime time entertainemnt seris (not counting news magazines).

And it's the only show left that debuted when Father Bush was President.

TheCanadiandrome

10-06-2011, 12:45 AM

BubblyShell22

10-06-2011, 07:49 AM

Yeah, I think Bob's Burgers got cancelled, which sucks. As for The Simpsons, didn't this happen once before and they negotiated? It could be that they negotiate again, and the series stays around. However, if it doesn't, it doesn't. We'll always get reruns on our local stations that we can watch and the DVDs.

Jester

10-06-2011, 08:21 AM

Spitfire, did you just call Keanu Reeves a "true artist"?

In all seriousness though technically NO actor needs that kind of money. It's not like their job is that hard. It's like professional athletes. They don't really need that much money either...but they get it. Why? Because they have a "rare skill set" (total bull, but whatever) and teams are willing to pay that because they make them money in excess of their outlandish salary. Fox makes a killing of the Simpsons in merchandising, reruns, and everything else, why is it so wrong for the cast of the show to want their piece of the pie?

The Stryker

10-06-2011, 09:24 AM

So you're comparing a person that does funny voices in a room to professional athletes?

I think salaries for athletes are blown up all to sh*t but that's a bit ridiculous.

BubblyShell22

10-06-2011, 02:09 PM

Well, humans are greedy and always want more. That's human nature. Isn't that the reason for the NBA lockout, or is that for some other reason?

sdp

10-06-2011, 02:22 PM

Remember that some salaries are paid because of demand, is it fair that if a movie makes millions of dollars the main actor only get paid a small amount because acting isn't necessarily hard? No.

As far as the Simpsons, yeah later seasons weren't as good maybe but there is still a good share of episodes in them not to mention people seem to view the older seasons like they were gold and it's a lot of nostalgia as well, I mean not all of the criticisms of newer seasons are necessarily valid, not saying there aren't any. I'm fine with the Simpsons ending as long as they knew a season beforehand or at least a real season finale, we deserve that. I wouldn't mind seeing more movies, which I think is a possibility.

CyberCubed

10-06-2011, 03:12 PM

Now Fox is saying that even if the VA's take paycuts, Season 24 would be the last season of the series:

http://www.avclub.com/articles/fox-executive-says-any-new-simpsons-season-would-l,62930/

I guess its true, Simpsons is actually ending. The only question is now whether Season 23 is the end, of if the VA's agree to paycuts for one final Season 24.

Simpsons will end in either May 2012 or May 2013...

TheCanadiandrome

10-06-2011, 04:24 PM

ZariusTwo

10-06-2011, 04:27 PM

I heard somewhere they would only do another movie if the show ended, guess now is the time.

I count the first movie as the finale anyway.

TheCanadiandrome

10-06-2011, 04:33 PM

allot of people didn't like the first movie, so if there's another one, then there's a chance they could make it better

Ninjinister

10-06-2011, 05:56 PM

Recording lines is insanely simple.

You know nothing about how voice acting works.

Jester

10-06-2011, 06:54 PM

You know nothing about how voice acting works.
Samurai Mikey: MY HERO!

CyberCubed

10-06-2011, 08:01 PM

If it gets a Season 24, its likely to be the final one.

Remember Fox has The Flintstones reboot coming in 2013, seems like an obvious Simpsons replacement.

Jester

10-06-2011, 08:07 PM

Remember Fox has The Flintstones reboot coming in 2013, seems like an obvious Simpsons replacement.
I'd like to forget. Do we really need 4 Seth MacFarlane produced animated series on 1 network?

Maybe Simpsons will more to Comedy Central, and Matt Groening and MacFarlane can go toe to toe on their own networks...:roll:

Slap-Happy

10-06-2011, 08:42 PM

Maybe Simpsons will more to Comedy Central, and Matt Groening and MacFarlane can go toe to toe on their own networks...:roll:
That would be awesome. It would also be the day I stop watching Fox altogether.

CyberCubed

10-06-2011, 09:17 PM

If the VA's won't accept 45% pay cuts on Fox, what makes you think they would on Comedy Central?

Guitar_Raph

10-06-2011, 09:34 PM

And it's the only show left that debuted when Father Bush was President.

Sorry to quote myself, but I made a mistake.

The other shows that debuted when Father Bush was President; America's Funniest Home Videos & Dateline NBC.

Hee's other shows from network tv that debuted when they were President.

REAGAN: COPS, Bold & The Beautiful[
CARTER: 20/20
FORD: Saturday Night Live
NIXON: Price Is Right, Young & The Restless
JOHNSON: 60 Minutes, Days of Our Lives, One Life To Live
KENNEDY: General Hospital
EISENHOWER: Face The Nation, The Tonight Show
TRUMAN: Meet The PPress, Today Show

Redeemer

10-06-2011, 09:49 PM

Dang bad news again this week, I think the voice actors should take pay cuts, I mean even with the taxes they still make probably at least 200k??? Ughh....

CyberCubed

10-06-2011, 10:29 PM

We should know by tomorrow if the VA's accepted the 45% pay cut or not.

Spitfire

10-07-2011, 12:32 AM

You know nothing about how voice acting works.
I know plenty as I've done it both in performance and recording. Most of the time the seasoned VAs don't even fully read the scripts before they enter the studio.

Real acting in front of a camera is way harder. On top of the stress put on your body to change and manipulate it to however it needs to look for the role you also have to be able to show genuine emotion in both your voice and face. This isn't to mention the ones who do their own stunts. Being under lights for 12+ hours a day isn't a treat either nor is shooting on location, especially in counties like Thailand. Downplaying an on screen actor to the level of a VA is insulting. I see an on screen actor deserving the pay they get more so then a VA.

BubblyShell22

10-07-2011, 08:45 AM

If The Simpsons were to move to Comedy Central, that would mean that Groening would have two of his shows there: Futurama and The Simpsons.

Heck, I'll still watch FOX even if The Simpsons does get cancelled because I like Family Guy and want to see how Seth handles The Flintstones.

CyberCubed

10-07-2011, 11:18 AM

It won't move to Comedy Central, at least not with new episodes.

sdp

10-07-2011, 02:12 PM

I guess worst case scenario this still wouldn't rule out a second movie right? The series could still get a proper finale as a second movie and it's big enough of a franchise for it to happen, the first one did really well. I'd still prefer one final season with them knowing about it ahead of time, they could do so much. The Simpsons ending is bitter sweet, I'm glad that it's ending but it's still feels weird knowing there will be no new Simpsons. The show definitely had its downs but it's still a great franchise overall.

TheCanadiandrome

10-07-2011, 02:44 PM

Heck, I'll still watch FOX even if The Simpsons does get cancelled because I like Family Guy and want to see how Seth handles The Flintstones.

same with me

Turo602

10-07-2011, 05:16 PM

They'll never stop the Simpsons (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-z-puGaImE&feature=related).

But season 24 might be the last. :tcry: Info here (http://tv.ign.com/articles/119/1199000p1.html).

Raph's Girl

10-07-2011, 08:35 PM

Aaaand the Simpsons is saved... meh. The actors agreed to whatever deal and signed on for 2 more seasons.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/10/fox-renews-the-simpsons-for-two-more-seasons/

Redeemer

10-07-2011, 10:07 PM

They'll never stop the Simpsons (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-z-puGaImE&feature=related).

But season 24 might be the last. :tcry: Info here (http://tv.ign.com/articles/119/1199000p1.html).

Awesome to hear!!! It will probably end with season 25 though.... But none the less I am glad to hear that the simpson's gill stick around for a while longer:D

TheCanadiandrome

10-08-2011, 12:27 AM

Aaaand the Simpsons is saved... meh. The actors agreed to whatever deal and signed on for 2 more seasons.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/10/fox-renews-the-simpsons-for-two-more-seasons/

Hurray! Lol :tlol:

ZariusTwo

10-08-2011, 11:08 AM

All that time and money could go to a show that deserves it, but no, FOX keep the brain-dead dinosaur alive for two more years.

Yay America.

:trolleye:

Jester

10-08-2011, 11:22 AM

Yeah, Fox should cancel Family Guy already...
Wait...

BubblyShell22

10-08-2011, 05:27 PM

Slap-Happy

10-08-2011, 05:47 PM

No, don't cancel FG! I love that show. If you must cancel anything, how about that Gregory Allen show that's supposed to premiere? That show looks really stupid.

I'm glad the actors were able to negotiate and reach an agreement. I'd hate to think of the show being cancelled like that.
Family Guy hasn't been funny for years. It's pretty much only "clever" references and tearing people/things down for no discernible reason.

I watched one of the earliest episodes yesterday, and while still not very funny, was immensely better than the recent seasons.

Jester

10-08-2011, 07:43 PM

Family Guy hasn't been funny for years. It's pretty much only "clever" references and tearing people/things down for no discernible reason.

I watched one of the earliest episodes yesterday, and while still not very funny, was immensely better than the recent seasons.
I'm kinda concerned about that myself. I'm watching my DVD collection, on H in the movies...which is quite a way to go before the TV series. I'm wondering if I'll even find the old episodes funny, now that I'm so turned off to Family Guy now.

Edit: Or maybe it's all things MacFarlane. Have any of you seen The Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy? Biggest misname ever. Not funny, at all.

Slap-Happy

10-08-2011, 08:22 PM

Edit: Or maybe it's all things MacFarlane. Have any of you seen The Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy? Biggest misname ever. Not funny, at all.

I know How you feel...

IRemy8rn8fQ

TheCanadiandrome

10-09-2011, 01:11 AM

All that time and money could go to a show that deserves it, but no, FOX keep the brain-dead dinosaur alive for two more years.

Yay America.

:trolleye:

Ah well, it's not like every station in any country *cough BBC* ain't guilty of the same thing