This isn't the first time the voice cast for The Simpsons has held out in contract negotiations and demanded more money--but it might be the last. The Daily Beast reports that the show's producers and the six principal voice actors have reached an impasse in contract negotiations, and unlike all the previous times where they struck a deal, the show is considering pulling the plug and making the 23rd season the last.
Of course, this is one of those negotiation stories where everyone involved will continue being a millionaire no matter how it shakes out, so try not to grind your teeth too badly while you read the details. The studio is asking the six actors-- Dan Castalleneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer-- to accept 45% pay cuts, which would cut their annual salaries of $8 million down to a little over $4 million, for 22 weeks of work. What the actors want is a 30% pay cut, along with very,very small percentages of the show's back-end profits, which includes everything from syndication deals to merchandise and adds up to billions of dollars. Basically, the voice of Bart Simpson wants a cut of all the money made from selling Bart Simpson dolls-- none of them have been getting any of this money the whole time, and after 25 years, apparently they think they're due.
Again, when you're talking about fights among millionaires, it seems silly to take sides. And as much good as The Simpsons has brought us over the years, anyone can see that their best days are behind them, and maybe a graceful end and decades of life in syndication is the best way for it to go. Then again, I'd really rather see this much-loved show end on its own terms, not under a cloud of ugly contract disputes. Couldn't they just figure this out for one more year, shape up a series finale and everyone wins? I guess when billions are on the line, nothing is ever, ever that simple.
