'The Simpsons': Two more seasons
The whole gang from Fox's "The Simpsons." Credit: Fox
Well, it's over -- d'oh!: Two more seasons for "The Simpsons."
Fox late Friday sent out a release confirming the two-year deal which will put "The Simpsons" at the magical threshold of 25 seasons, unmatched in TV history, although 23 seasons is also pretty darned unmatched, too.
Details on the agreement were, of course, not released, but let us make some valid assumptions: The cast abandoned their quixotic request for a piece of the back-end, and Fox abandoned its request for 45 percent salary cuts. Everyone met somewhere in the middle, and now everyone is happy -- including fans.
As reported here, Fox never had any intention of canceling this classic two seasons shy of the 25th, particularly with international and licensing sales robust. But I also firmly believe Fox was never bluffing: If it had to pull the trigger, Fox would have because it could have continued to make a vast amount of d'oh in licensing -- and even launched a cable channel or sold repeats to cable networks like TNT. (Under current strictures, it is limited only to over-the-air syndication deals, per a revelatory analyst report last week.)
So time to celebrate: "The Simpsons," one of the greatest shows in the history of the medium, continues! Twenty-five seasons!
I write those words and can't even believe them because I remember all those years ago when this launched as a silly little interstitial in a Tracey Ullman show, long since canceled.
The release:
FOX has renewed THE SIMPSONS, the longest-running comedy in television history, for an incredible 24th and 25th season, bringing the series total to an astonishing 559 episodes. THE SIMPSONS airs Sundays (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. In the words of Homer Simpson, “Woo Hoo! I outlasted Andy Rooney!” The longest-running scripted show in television history, THE SIMPSONS exploded into a cultural phenomenon in 1990 and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises, recognizable throughout the world. Matt Groening created the iconic family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. In February 2012, THE SIMPSONS will celebrate its historic 500th episode. The series has won 27 Emmy Awards, been the subject of a hit feature film, created “Krustyland” and a revolutionary virtual coaster – The Simpsons Ride – at Universal Studios, received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, been honored with five U.S. postal stamps personally designed by Matt Groening, and named the “Best Show of the 20th Century” by Time Magazine.
