Simpsons on strike

[tazber]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 5:49pm

A de facto strike has hit production of The Simpsons, with the key actors providing the principal characters' voices, Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Hank Azaria (Moe) and Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns), demanding raises from about $360,000 per episode to $500,000, Daily Variety reported today (Tuesday). With the actors refusing to record the dialog for upcoming episodes, production has been on hold, and it now appears that fewer episodes than the usual 22 will be turned out for next season, the trade publication said.
D'oh!

[Kasie]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 5:51pm

That sucks, but if it were Family Guy I would have to kill someone.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 5:54pm

Agreed.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 5:55pm

Didn't they strike last year? The actors are going to ruin this show.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 5:57pm

Going to ruin the show? I love me some Simpsons but this show jumped the shark about a decade ago.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 5:59pm

They do this all the time.

[winston89]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 6:09pm

It is true that they do this ever few years or so. They know that they can and they know that the network will have to give in. Because without them there is no show.

[nygrl23]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 6:40pm

Well, get as much as you can while the getting's good, I guess. But half a mil per episode? Christ. It's all about the bottom line--the show's raking in money and has been doing so for almost 20 years. Can't argue with the numbers.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 6:50pm

Updated On: 1/23/09 at 06:50 PM

[Raspberry]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 10:01pm

I also think the last four or five episodes have been some of the best since the show did, I agree, jump the shark ten years ago.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:10pm

Considering the show has been on for decades, they've earned it. Hell, they were paying the 'Friends' cast 1 mill an episode and they were only on for 7 years.

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:24pm

And the Seinfeld cast got 1mil per episode before the Friends cast did.

There is a difference between animation voice work and on-camera acting. No time spent in wardrobe/makeup, no memorization of lines. If you're out of town shooting a movie, or on vacation, you can "phone in" your animated voice work. No paparazzi stalking you, no fans interrupting your meals.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:30pm

= DREAM JOB!

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:31pm

Totally! But my point was, it's kind of hard to compare it to on-camera series work as far as remuneration. Too many variables.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:38pm

Why? Everything you mentioned, SUCKS.

They are starring in a hit TV series and don't have to deal with all of the extra crap. And trust me, it's crap. When you can't go to the store without being photographed, it's not worth it. I could curl your hair with stories. And the fact that EVERYONE now has a camera and is willing to take pictures and try and make a buck off of it just blows.


It's still a dream job, and they deserve the money for the years of work they've put in.

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:41pm

I'm confused. My point was that that is why on-camera actors get paid more. They have to deal with all that other stuff that the voice actors do not. Aren't we saying exactly the same thing?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:54pm

Yes, we are, but no one is being paid for "dealing with the stuff", they are being paid for an acting job.


I just think it's easier (in real life) for VO actors. But they shouldn't be paid less just because no one knows what they look like.

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:59pm

Oh I firmly believe that's part of why they are paid so much. Because of the other "stuff".

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:02am

If that were the fact, it would be in their contract.

It's not.

Besides, if they were paid for the 'stuff', they wouldn't complain so much about paparazzi.

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:03am

Okay, I see you like to argue. Let's leave it at that.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:05am

Bottom line, the show makes money.

The actors should get their fare share.

Hugs.

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:08am

Fair share? It's not a community. It's a privately owned company that has execs/officers who decide where the money goes. If the actors can get more, fabulous! But there's no "fair share" in private business. They're employees who do a great job.

Hugs back.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:10am

But would they have that money without the talent?

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:13am

Updated On: 1/23/09 at 12:13 AM

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:13am

Chicken/egg. Doesn't matter anyway - the talent is not in charge of the production. They come in and do their jobs, collect a paycheck, and go home. They're not running the thing, making the decisions. They can fight for more money - that's their right. But they're not owed anything other than union minimum, bottom line.