Harry Shearer Releases A Statement About Salary Dispute

The past week has been a confusing and scary one for any fan of The Simpsons, we shared with you news that FOX and the cast were once again going through a money dispute, putting the show in danger of being cancelled [here and here]. Of course at this stage it’s important to take most news critically as the only truly official sources (FOX and or cast statement) have not come forward and said anything official yet. So where do we stand now? We are waiting.

Unless the voice actors agree to a pretty substantial pay cut (which the show’s producers have already accepted), FOX will end the show after this season’s run of new episodes. Also, there have been reports that even if the actors agree to the pay cut, FOX doesn’t want to extend the show beyond one more season because it is “no longer profitable”.  FOX this week did make one statement:

23 seasons in, The Simpsons is as creatively vibrant as ever and beloved by millions around the world. We believe this brilliant series can and should continue, but we cannot produce future seasons under its current financial model. We are hopeful that we can reach an agreement with the voice cast that allows The Simpsons to go on entertaining audiences with original episodes for many years to come.

So as an optimist, one can look at that and say FOX does want the show to go on, but changes need to be made to follow through. There are two sides to every story, and now we have some insight from cast member Harry Shearer:

For many years now, the cast of “The Simpsons” has been trying to get Fox to agree that, like so many other people who’ve contributed significantly to the show’s success, we be allowed a tiny share of the billions of dollars in profits the show has earned. Fox has consistently refused to even consider the matter. Instead, it’s paid us salaries that, while ridiculous by any normal standard, pale in comparison to what the show’s profit participants have been taking home.

Now, as the show enters its twenty-third season, we are engaged in what will probably be our last contract negotiation with Fox. As you may have heard, the network has taken the position that “The Simpsons” no longer makes enough money and that unless we in the cast accept a 45% pay cut, they are not going to bring the show back for a twenty-fourth season.

Obviously, there are a lot more important things going on in the world right now, in the streets of New York and elsewhere. But given how many people seem to care about what happens to our show – and how much misinformation has been flying around – I thought it might make sense for at least one member of the cast to speak out directly. I should note that I am speaking only for myself, and not for any of the other actors on the show.

Fox wants to cut our salaries in half because it says it can’t afford to continue making the show under what it calls the existing business model. Fox hasn’t explained what kind of new business model it has formulated to keep the show on the air, but clearly the less money they have to pay us in salary, the more they’re able to afford to continue broadcasting the show. And to this I say, fine – if pay cuts are what it will take to keep the show on the air, then cut my pay. In fact, to make it as easy as possible for Fox to keep new episodes of “The Simpsons” coming, I’m willing to let them cut my salary not just 45% but more than 70% – down to half of what they said they would be willing to pay us. All I would ask in return is that I be allowed a small share of the eventual profits.

My representatives broached this idea to Fox yesterday, asking the network how low a salary number I would have to accept to make a profit participation feasible. My representatives were told there was no such number. There were, the Fox people said, simply no circumstances under which the network would consider allowing me or any of the actors to share in the show’s success.

As a member of the “Simpsons” cast for 23 years, I think it’s fair to say that we’ve had a great run and no one should feel sorry for any of us. But given how much joy the show has given so many people over the years – and given how many billions of dollars in profits News Corp. has earned and will earn from it – I find it hard to believe that this is Fox’s final word on the subject. At least I certainly hope it isn’t, because the alternative is to cancel the show or fire me for having the gall to try to save the show by helping Fox with its new business model. Neither would be a fair result – either to those of us who have committed so many years to the show or to its loyal fans who make our effort worthwhile. [deadline]

Very well put if you ask me, but still for good measure here are facts (as of 3pm Friday October 7, 2011):

• We don’t know if The Simpsons is being cancelled.
• Both sides are still negotiating.

Fox, figure it out. If the show must end, make it an elegant ending. Twenty-five is a nice number, bring in some of the “golden age” writers and make the last seasons the best they can be. You owe it to the cast, crew, creators and above all, the fans. It can’t and shouldn’t end like this.  As Adam pointed out earlier, the show IS still on the air, so let’s take a deep breath, grab a Duff and some Moon Waffles and enjoy the show as usual.