It’s a done deal! According to Reuters, Fox has renewed The Simpsons for two more seasons, which will bring the show into its 25th Season.
The announcement came after the show’s voice actors agreed to pay cuts, without accepting the 45 percent cuts that 20th Century Fox TV had requested. As mentioned in our previous article, the voice actors had held out for a share in the profits from the series — like those received by the show’s producers — but did not receive them under the new deal.
But they did not have to give in to the studio’s request that they cut their current salaries — $440,000 per episode — to $250,000 per episode, which the studio had asked them to accept for future seasons.
“The deal was measurably improved from what Fox’s initial offer was,” a person close to the negotiations said. Specific terms were not disclosed.
What is not clear from this announcement is whether the show has the potential to continue beyond Season 25. It’s certain that a new deal would need to be inked in order for the show to go on beyond this, but for now, we should be thankful for what we’ve been given.
The announcement ends speculation on the future of our beloved show. Fox released the following, unspecific, bare-bones statement to announce the news:
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, THESIMPSONS exploded into a cultural phenomenonin 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, THESIMPSONS 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.
Following the MLB American League Championship Series and World Series games on FOX, THE SIMPSONS returns with all-new episodes beginning with “Treehouse of Horrors XXII,” on Sunday, Oct. 30 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT). In the spooky opener, Homer takes a dangerous dive into an isolated canyon on Candy Peak, but when a crashing boulder traps his arm, he channels Aron Ralston (guest voicing as himself) to save himself. In “The Diving Bell and Butterball,” the first of three hair-raising Halloween tales, a venomous spider bite leaves Homer paralyzed, but when Lisa discovers Homer’s ability to communicate through natural gases, he is able to express his love for Marge. The killer spells continue in “Dial D for Diddly,” when Ned Flanders, devout preacher by day, transforms into a cold-blooded vigilante by night. In the final terrifying tale, “In the Na’Vi,” Bart and Milhouse are assigned on a mission to access a sacred extract on a distant planet. They morph into the land’s indigenous one-eyed avatars, but when Bart finds love and an eternal mate abroad, he is caught in planet warfare.
THE SIMPSONS is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening and Al Jean are the executive producers. Film Roman, a Starz Media Company, is the animation house.
Visit THE SIMPSONS website at www.TheSimpsons.com. Become a fan of the series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesimpsons and follow the series on Twitter @TheSimpsonsTV and Homer Simpson @HomerJSimpson.
25 is a great number to end on. I would be fine with it going out in a blaze of glory in season 25 and maybe a second movie if the writing is good. 🙂
The voice actors are signed on for two more movies, So why stop at just one more movie after season 25, “TRILOGY”….
Grrrr please please end it after this. I want a killer series finale. Fans deserve it after years of crap
The “years of crap” were like seasons 12-15ish, and the fans did get what they deserve in great episodes and a return to form in like the past seven years…Keep watching…
If you think episodes like Elementary School Musical, Lisa the Drama Queen and Judge Me Tender are a return to form then all I can say is wow. Simpsons should have ended at Season 20.
You named a few weaker episodes. Majority post 15th season are great.
You are right the majority decent episodes but I would still say 1 out of every 6 sucks big time. Compare that to a ratio of maybe 1 out of every season before Season 11.
That’s your opinion. Many others out there disagree with you.
End it at Season 25. That’s all I ask.
I’ve enjoyed every single season of the Simpsons. Yes the older episodes are some of their best. But I think the show is still overall funny and good. There are definitely some misses but even with those episodes there is at least one line or another that are funny.
I’d hate to see the Simpsons end. Also in 2013 Seth McFarlane will be debuting the new Flintstones. Perhaps Fox Executives will think replacing long time running Simpsons with new version long time running Flintstones is a good idea.
But id miss the humor from Groening and Company. Simpsons and Futurama are still delivering great shows.
Personally if you ask me Family Guy has gotten incredibly tired and not funny. And I am a fan. My favorite MacFarlane show by far is American Dad. Definitely a much clever than his other shows
agreed….and yes family guy is getting annoying pretty much
For Season 24’s Premier episode, I would love to see something like this:
Homer: “Hahaha, In Your Face, Cancellation.”
Marge: “Homer!, we will get cancelled someday.”
Homer: “D’oh!”
If that happened I would cringe with embarrassment.
So yeah, it’s highly likely that the writers will indeed go with a line like that.
Joseph – it’s highly LIKELY that the writers will address the situation. They have in the past.
It’s more likely to come in the form of a chalkboard gag in the opening though – not with spoken lines in a show.
With the new way they produce and make and draw episodes… it’s easy to put current events a day or two ahead of time into an episode into the chalkboard gag.
Pretty cool and I expect we will see something. Nothing to be embarrassed about.
thanks adam for reminding us the need to wait to report Fact – not gossip.
When episodes aired in the mid 90’s if you went in to a forum like this or nohomers.net you would see the same hate filled sentiment towards episodes and that was considered the classic era. So how different could the new batch of episodes be from the old classic episodes?….
Hooray! The Simpsons lives on! And season 23, personally, looks like it’ll be a great season. Especially the premiere. Season 21 and 22 were ok. Season 20 was amazing and season 23 looks good.
Good news!!!
I posed this a few days ago in my mind. I do personally want a series finale but whats everyone’s opinion on potentially continuing the series on Netflix?? Assuming Netflix hasnt screwed up so bad by then, its clear that Netflix wants original content. They have House of Cards, rumor has it they have a dave Chappell show, they want Arrested Development (which would be huge!) and what if they added the Simpsons? Huge brand, huge following! They may be willing to poor the money into the simpsons as well! It may not be 24 episodes but im sure it will be relatively cheap compared to the House of Cards. I can only think that this is a major positive for Netflix.
I think that Groening and Brooks should end it with Fox. Fox clearly has no more respect. If netflix (or Hulu/Amazon/Google whatever) says yes, then great! Give them a good send off and start writing for Netflix. They may even be able to make the show even edgier which could boost creativity. Maybe just a change could completely push the writers into a creative outpoor. If they all say no, then end it. End it well, classy, light hearted and funny. All I know is that fall 2014 is going to be different.
Arrested Development is already on netflix. Maybe you mean they want new episodes exclusively?
I love netflix by the way. 8 bucks a month and the TV selection is pretty awesome. You can get all FOX shows except The Simpsons. Love watching Futurama there too and classic tv shows from the 80’s and 90’s and every star trek show. People complain about movies… but you’ve got an amazing documentary section and plenty of good films including several oscar nominated films and recent blockbusters.
Purchasing DVDs is sort of becoming a way of the past since the future isn’t blu ray or dvd but streaming live on TV and TV’s that have this built in. I have Apple TV to stream netflix directly to my TV but in a few years you won’t even need that.
So I expect you will see netflix getting the rights to certain shows… if they continue their reputation for having a great business model and they get their ducks in a row. You still can’t beat their price. 8 bucks a month.
Yeah, from what I know, Netflix is one of the “networks” who are trying for exclusivity. And I think that if Fox doesnt want to take them into the 30th season like Al Jean wants to, Netflix is great choice!
You know what you guys…you can’t appreciate the good without the bad. Some of these funny episodes would seem stupid without some of the not-so-good episodes
I agree with the above poster who said people were complaining in the 90s too. That’s what people love to do, complain. The new episodes are good and I’m chuffed for 2 more seasons. I would love 30
well im glad they are going to season 25, i love the simpsons and all but i do think thats the season to call it quits. though i do think a few more movies should come out and i think a spin off too but i say the spin off should go on comedy central with futurama because fox sucks now a days. but as soon as the show ends i want quicker season dvd boxed sets!
“They’ll never stop the Simpsons! Have no fears, we’ve got stories for years!”…
I want them to beat Gunsmoke’s episode number of 635. I hope they renew it after season 25 just to beat that. If they keep going beyond it, cool, but they’re SO close now (relatively, only 77 episodes from beating it).