The voice cast of Fox's long-running The Simpsons — Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer — have inked a new four-year deal that elevates their pay to about $400,000 an episode, marking a raise of some $50K per. The months-long negotiations between the actors and 20th Century Fox TV delayed production on Season 20, which as a result will deliver just 20 (versus 22) episodes. The gang reported for their first table read on Monday.As part of his deal, Castellaneta has been named consulting producer and will serve as a writer in addition to voicing Homer and others. — MWMRelated:• D'oh! Contract Disputes Cut Simpsons' Episode Count• Simpsons Takes Kelsey Grammer, Others for a Ride
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An ongoing contract dispute between the voice talent behind The Simpsons and 20th Century Fox TV has caused production delays on the show's upcoming 20th season and will most likely force the studio to produce fewer episodes this season.Although Fox announced a fall schedule last week with its animated crown jewel in the normal timeslot, Variety reports that unresolved negotiations with key cast members Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Hank Azaria (Moe) and Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns) — who are hoping to increase their salaries from $360,000 an episode to around the $500,000 mark — have forced the studio to drop this season's episode count to 20.Production halted in 2004 after the cast members didn't show up for two table reads in an effort to increase their salaries. Although the most recent negotiations haven't caused the same kind of "anger or frustration" as those four years ago, if a deal isn't reached soon,...
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