The Simpsons Gets A Stay Of Execution As Producers Accept Pay Cuts

‘The Simpsons’ Gets A Stay Of Execution As Producers Accept Pay Cuts

By Russ Fischer/Oct. 6, 2011 11:15 am EST

The first salvo in the Simpsons budget battle came early this week when the core cast members (Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner,  Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer), each of whom makes about $8m per year, were each asked to take a smaller paycheck. Now unnamed members of the top producing team (Al Jean, John Frink, James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Matt Selman and Sam Simon) say they’ve cut their fees to keep the show on the air. And even if contracts are inked for a twenty-fourth season, that will likely be the last one for the show.

One unnamed exec told the Wrap,

So The Simpsons is over; it’s just a question of whether it will be over one year later.

The cuts proposed to actors are in line with cuts proposed to others involved in the show. The object here is not for the actors to pay personally for the reduction. The cost is that the cast is a component of the show, all of which is being downsized to do a final season.