Marcia Wallace
Marcia Wallace, who voiced Edna Krabapple on The Simpsons, has died, TMZreports. She was 70.
Although Wallace's close friend Cathryn Michon told Deadline that Wallace passed away because of complications from breast cancer — which she was diagnosed with in 1985 — her son Mikey told TMZ that her death was due tocomplications from pneumonia.
Remember other celebrities we lost this year
In addition to The Simpsons, Wallace starred on The Bob Newhart Show as the receptionist Carol...
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The Simpsons
The Simpsons will live on!
Fox has renewed the longest-running comedy for two more seasons, Seasons 24 and 25, which will include the show's 500th episode in February 2012, the network announced Friday.
The Simpsons cast close to signing deal — but how much will they make?
The renewal comes as a relief to fans. On Monday, the network reportedly gave the cast an ultimatum: Agree to take a 45 percent pay cut by Friday or the animated series will be...
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The Simpsons
It looks like The Simpsons may continue their hijinks on Fox.
The cast of the longest-running prime-time scripted series is close to signing a deal, which will keep them on the air for one more year, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The new deal...
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Harry Shearer
The Simpsons star Harry Shearer says he's willing to take a 70 percent pay cut in exchange for profits as a Friday deadline approaches for the cast to accept a 45 percent salary cut.
Speaking out about the negotiations for the first time, Shearer said in a lengthy statement that his team asked Fox Thursday for the lowest possible salary ...
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The Simpsons
Fox has given The Simpsons' six voice actors an ultimatum: They have until noon Friday to decide whether to accept a salary cut of nearly 50 percent or this season will be the last, The Wrap reports....
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The Simpsons
Could The Simpsons be coming to an end? Or is this just a big fat negotiating ploy at work?
TV's longest-running sitcom may shut down after its 23rd season wraps in the spring because of contract talks between 20th Century Fox Television and its six voice actors.
Check out our fall preview for galleries, scoop, premiere calendars and more!
"23 seasons in, The Simpsons is as creatively vibrant as ever and beloved by millions around the world," the studio said in a statement Tuesday. "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."
The studio did not specify ...
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The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean
After 20 years and nearly 450 episodes, The Simpsons received a surprising distinction: an endorsement from the Vatican.
"I called my father — whose been going to Catholic Mass for 70 years — and I said, 'So it turns out I've been doing God's work all this time,'" laughs longtime executive producer Al Jean. (The official Vatican newspaper praised the show last month for its "realistic and intelligent writing.")
Even without the Roman Catholic Church's approval, the series has thrived. Playing in more than 90 countries, the longest-running prime-time scripted series will simultaneously celebrate its 20th anniversary and 450th episode Sunday. The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special: In 3D! On Ice!, airing Sunday at 8:30/7:30c, will look back at both the show's humble origins and worldwide impact.
TVGuide.com talked with Jean — the series' current showrunner and a writer since Season 1 — about the show's anniversary, his favorite characters and guest stars.
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TM & (c)2006 The Simpsons and TCFFC all rights reserved/Fox
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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The Simpsons TM & (c) TCFFC All Rights Reserved/(c)2005 Fox
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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Question: Seeing the TV-movie Moms on Strike got me thinking (no small feat). Wasn't there an Afterschool Special back in the '80s that dealt with the same subject? If memory serves, Yeardley Smith played the daughter.
Answer: Memory does indeed serve, Rhonda. Matter of fact, that 1984 Afterschool Special was called... Mom's on Strike.
Based on Stephanie S. Tolan's book The Great Skinner Strike, it starred Mary Kay Place (folk singer Loretta on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) as a put-upon housewife whose husband and kids refused to help out around the house. When pitching a fit didn't get any results, she pitched a tent in the front yard and began picketing for more respect. After Dad (Stephen Keep) made the mistake of dumping the chores on his two daughters (Ms. Smith, who would later become an animation l
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