Simpsons' Stars in Work Stoppage

[GameMaster]

Originally Posted by CNN

Actors involved in contract talks

Thursday, April 1, 2004 Posted: 7:33 AM EST (1233 GMT)

D'oh! "The Simpsons" production is being held up in a contract dispute.

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- The actors who provide the voices for the cartoon characters on the long-running TV show "The Simpsons" have stopped work in a bid to force a settlement of lengthy contract renewal talks, Daily Variety reported in its Thursday edition.

The Hollywood trade paper said the six actors have not shown up for two script readings in the past few weeks, holding up production on the hit satire's upcoming 16th season.

It quoted insiders as saying each cast member is asking for about $360,000 an episode, or $8 million for a 22-episode season. Each member currently earns $125,000 an episode. The highest-paid star in TV is Ray Romano, who reportedly earns between $1.7 million and $2 million per episode of his Emmy-winning series "Everybody Loves Raymond."

The three-year contracts for Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Hank Azaria (Moe, Apu, Comic Book Guy), Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns and others), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Julie Kavner (Marge) and Nancy Cartwright (Bart) expired several months ago, and their representatives have been negotiating new ones to no avail, Daily Variety said.



The last "Simpsons" work dispute was in 1998, at a time when the actors were making $30,000 per episode. The show's producer, Twentieth Century Fox TV, hired casting directors in five cities to replace most of them before both sides worked out a new deal and resumed production.

"The Simpsons" airs in the United States on the Fox network. Both Fox and Twentieth Century Fox TV are owned by News Corp. Ltd.

I kind of think it's greedy of the people who provide the voices to ask for more but then again, they have been doing the show for a very long time and the show is successful enough that I think they could afford to give them a raise. Either way, I just hope they reach an agreement.

[The Germanator]

April Fools? Please?

[Dyne]

Originally Posted by The Germanator

April Fools? Please?

Get used to this stuff today.

Remember Squeenix merged today last year?

[GameMaster]

CNN does not joke.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/0...eut/index.html

[Jonbo298]

Why do Actor's complain they NEED more money? I dont see the point it needing over 300,000 for each episode they TALK in. What the hell do they buy?

[Dyne]

I think they're just jealous of the Friends stars.

[Typhoid]

"oh i need more money for talking into a microphone because it makes my throaght hurt. Waaaaaaaaa."<---Any of the Simpsons cast. Why cant they just suck it up and work for what their making? I know plenty of people (who can immitate, Homer, Marge, Bart and/or Lisa. Oh, and Maggie)Who would kill someone for a chance to work on The Simpsons. I know i would. But i can only do the voice of one of the least shown characters...: Snake....

"huh...Bhy"

[Jason1]

I agree with you guys. Thats absolutley insane that they want that much money just to use their voices. I mean, talk about a low stress job. Nobody but you and the damn microphone. I could see it if you were doing a live show in front of a studio audience or something, but that a different story. I hope this dosent affect the 16th season too much. The day the Simpsons goes off the air will be a very sad day indeed.

[Happydude]

GIVE THEM THE FREAKIN MONEY!! ILL BOMB FOX IF SIMPSONS GET CANCELED!!!

[Yugi Starwind]

Originally Posted by happydude666

GIVE THEM THE FREAKIN MONEY!! ILL BOMB FOX IF SIMPSONS GET CANCELED!!!

couldn't've said it better......

[Hero2]

Get new actors for less money. Just like the labor industry. i dont care if the voices change just. because if they pay the acotrs more then fox will have to pay more for the show and that means MORE ****ING COMMMERCALS and I hate commercals. so screw them hire some other people and when the old actors come crawling back spit on them then laugh, laugh damn hard.

[Jonbo298]

Fox should follow everyone else and outsource the voice actors to India

[GiMpY-wAnNaBe]

....barts voice is played by a woman?

[Happydude]

Originally Posted by GiMpY-wAnNaBe

....barts voice is played by a woman?

...you allready knew that, you'r the one who told me about it.

[GiMpY-wAnNaBe]

...i am?

wow...i'm getting old...the ripe age of 16