Doh! Makers of Simpsons can’t afford to pay wages

Published on Wednesday 5 October 2011 23:55

THE future of long-running animated TV comedy The Simpsons appears to be up in the air after 20th Century Fox Television said it could not continue to afford producing the show.

Fox Television issued a statement following a report that the cast of the comedy had refused a proposed 45 per cent pay cut.

The Simpsons, the longest-running comedy series on US television, is currently in its 23rd season on Fox and the show generates billions of dollars through global syndication, as well as DVD and merchandise sales.

A staple of US culture, the show is broadcast in more than 100 countries and 50 languages with the Simpson clan earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Industry sources said producers have enough episodes to keep the comedy on the air until the end of the 2011-12 season in May.

“We believe this brilliant series can and should continue, but we cannot produce future seasons under its current financial model,” Fox said.

The Fox statement followed a report that the six principal voice cast members – including the voices for Homer (Dan Castellaneta), Marge (Julie Kavner), Bart (Nancy Cartwright) and Lisa (Yeardley Smith) – were having difficulty negotiating their contracts that currently see them earning around £5 million each per season.