e! Online is reporting that contract disputes with the voice actors on The Simpsons are not going anywhere and at this point they are considering shortening the season and putting the longest running animated series in TV history to rest.

"The issue is twofold," Kelly told the New York Times. "The personalities that the audience identifies with for each of these characters don't come from the drawings but from the personalities of the characters, which are provided by the actors. The second thing is there are 40-some regular characters on the show. They're all voiced by these six actors."

Says David Weber, attorney for Hank Azaria: "In contrast to numerous other successful shows, [none of the syndication and other ancillary profits] is being distributed to the actors. There's no back-end position at all.

"[And] the upfront fees have not been significantly raised as a recognition of past contributions to the financial success of the show," Weber told the Times. "What we're really asking for is what's customary in the television business for actors on successful shows. We're not getting it."

Fox's reasons for wanting to avoid the money and profit-sharing renegotiations: duh. Dough.

Merry

Saint John, NB

December 2002

APR 20, 2004 03:08 PM

Noooo!

loismustdie

Antioch, TN

November 2003

APR 20, 2004 03:14 PM

they've had a good long run... this comes as no great surprise...

dahmer

South Vienna, OH

OLD SKOOL

APR 20, 2004 03:28 PM

emanonXXX

Winnipeg, MB

August 2002

APR 20, 2004 03:30 PM

And Fox kills another one...they must have bad management. Seriously, I understand they need to make profit but fuck, without the actors they are nothing. Wouldn't they be better off to give the actors what they want and still continue the show.

Niobe

I'm lost

April 2003

APR 20, 2004 03:32 PM

emanonXXX said:
And Fox kills another one...they must have bad management. Seriously, I understand they need to make profit but fuck, without the actors they are nothing. Wouldn't they be better off to give the actors what they want and still continue the show.

One would think so!

Cherie

Providence, RI

October 2002

APR 20, 2004 03:37 PM

greedy people make me sad.

acetracer

Hollywood, FL

January 2004

APR 20, 2004 03:39 PM

Sorry guys but every show has to end sometime. Fox is ironically notorious for both cancelling shows too early and too late. Case in point, Married with Children and The X-Files both ran way too many years after they should've been cancelled. However, Futurama and Family Guy, among many many others were cancelled before they had a chance to really shine. The Simpsons in my opinion goes in the latter category. 16 years is enough.

Domnicella

Flushing, NY

March 2004

APR 20, 2004 03:40 PM

OH..and right when I really started getting into them. Crap.

Hexe

HOPEFUL

I'm lost

APR 20, 2004 03:44 PM

Cherie said:
greedy people make me sad.

hm hm. I feel no sympathy for those making 2 mil a year and still demanding more, while there are folks who work their asses off and can barely afford food.

Dopalganger

Drury, MA

January 2003

APR 20, 2004 03:46 PM

won't happen. guaranteed. Its still rated too high. Its a numbers thing, they make too much money on advertising during such a highly rated show to not come to an agreement with the voice actors. It will get done, the show will go on.

Que

Cockeysville Hunt Valley, MD

March 2004

APR 20, 2004 03:47 PM

the show is seriously running out of ideas, as much as i love the simpsons, their time has come, let's find something new.

RIP

turin

Denver, CO

October 2003

APR 20, 2004 03:51 PM

Hexe said:

Cherie said:
greedy people make me sad.

hm hm. I feel no sympathy for those making 2 mil a year and still demanding more, while there are folks who work their asses off and can barely afford food.

hardly anyone in the USA actually earns, on a global scale, as much money as they get. the simpsons actors, after 16 years, want to be paid as much as actors on popular sitcoms get paid. on the small scale, it's reasonable. on the big scale, it's greedy. on the really big scale, it couldn't possibly matter any less.

bruiser_boy

Lewiston, ME

September 2003

APR 20, 2004 04:07 PM

I'd be upset...
if I didn't think the time had come... seven years ago.
Thanks for the good memories Simpsons, don't let the door hit ya where the god lord split ya.

faustroll

Savannah, GA

January 2003

APR 20, 2004 04:34 PM

About damn time! The show lost its edge years ago. There are few shows that should run any longer than ten seasons, tops. Dr. Who being the only one that comes to mind.

Korben

SUICIDEGIRL

USA

APR 20, 2004 04:39 PM

i think i might cry

AkiraLi

Norristown, PA

March 2003

APR 20, 2004 04:51 PM

Add my voice to the chorus of fans saying this show shark jumped a while ago

TANK_Ex_Mortis

Yellow Springs, OH

January 2004

APR 20, 2004 04:51 PM

Que said:
the show is seriously running out of ideas, as much as i love the simpsons, their time has come, let's find something new.

RIP

Agreed.

Sophie_Sass

Los Angeles, CA

October 2003

APR 20, 2004 04:54 PM

Worst..news..ever.

almostfamous

NEWSWIRE

United Kingdom

APR 20, 2004 05:00 PM

Que said:
the show is seriously running out of ideas, as much as i love the simpsons, their time has come, let's find something new.

RIP

we did, it was called futurama.

RIP

handle

I'm lost

July 2003

APR 20, 2004 05:03 PM

FINALLY!

The Simpsons should have ended 8 years ago.

I think less of anyone who regards current Simpsons as anything but an abomination and insult of its former glory.

kasmoz

Canada

September 2002

APR 20, 2004 05:15 PM

The Simpsons Jumped the shark years ago.. it's about time.

jjones

Los Angeles, CA

December 2003

APR 20, 2004 05:47 PM

i have no reason to live....

....oh wait, i forgot about doughnuts.....and nachos

barcosbarcos

Canada

October 2003

APR 20, 2004 05:49 PM

jeez, couldn't they just take a break for a year or something? it would be a raitings blow out!!!

endlessben

Grand Rapids, MI

November 2003

APR 20, 2004 05:54 PM

Show has been terrible for years and years and years. These people talk. THEY TALK. They don't show up, they don't have to maintain any kind of appearance or even seriously rehearse. And it's not like this is something they do for half the year. They can shoot other TV shows or movies at the end of the day if they want extra cash. It's certainly not stopping Hank Azaria They're greedy assholes.

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NEWSWIRE

Los Angeles, CA

APR 20, 2004 03:03 PM

Saint John, NB

December 2002

APR 20, 2004 03:08 PM

Antioch, TN

November 2003

APR 20, 2004 03:14 PM

South Vienna, OH

OLD SKOOL

APR 20, 2004 03:28 PM

Winnipeg, MB

August 2002

APR 20, 2004 03:30 PM

I'm lost

April 2003

APR 20, 2004 03:32 PM

Cherie

Providence, RI

October 2002

APR 20, 2004 03:37 PM

acetracer

Hollywood, FL

January 2004

APR 20, 2004 03:39 PM

Flushing, NY

March 2004

APR 20, 2004 03:40 PM

HOPEFUL

I'm lost

APR 20, 2004 03:44 PM

Drury, MA

January 2003

APR 20, 2004 03:46 PM

Cockeysville Hunt Valley, MD

March 2004

APR 20, 2004 03:47 PM

Denver, CO

October 2003

APR 20, 2004 03:51 PM

Lewiston, ME

September 2003

APR 20, 2004 04:07 PM

faustroll

Savannah, GA

January 2003

APR 20, 2004 04:34 PM

SUICIDEGIRL

USA

APR 20, 2004 04:39 PM

Norristown, PA

March 2003

APR 20, 2004 04:51 PM

Yellow Springs, OH

January 2004

APR 20, 2004 04:51 PM

Los Angeles, CA

October 2003

APR 20, 2004 04:54 PM

almostfamous

NEWSWIRE

United Kingdom

APR 20, 2004 05:00 PM

I'm lost

July 2003

APR 20, 2004 05:03 PM

Canada

September 2002

APR 20, 2004 05:15 PM

Los Angeles, CA

December 2003

APR 20, 2004 05:47 PM

Canada

October 2003

APR 20, 2004 05:49 PM

endlessben

Grand Rapids, MI