Could The Simpsons' days be numbered?

[Robbien]

Last week, I wrote a post about The Simpsons’ ascension into the record books, signing with Fox for a 20th season that will tie the animated sitcom with Gunsmoke as the longest running show in primetime, and about the show’s voice cast bit of brinksmanship that rewarded them with big paycheques for the same season – some US$400,000 per episode for actors such as Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Hank Azaria and others.

Not long after I typed the last period on that piece, Verne Gay of Newsday’s TV Zone wrote that the triumph could be short-lived. “With the 20th season, The Simpsons has perhaps become prohibitively expensive; it's sort of like that 15,000 pound Escalade collecting a mantle of dust in your garage because it costs $500 to fill up the tank...”

Gay points out that, while the show has gotten more expensive to produce, it has shed more than half of its viewers since its high water mark 1998 season, dipping to an average of just 7.7 million viewers per episode. “What does all this mean?” Gay asks. “That as the audience declines, the show costs are going up.”

“In television, that always spells one thing, and I'll spell it out for you now: Cancellation.”

http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/comment/article/65949

Cowabunga Dude

[FARAFIELD]

1. GARABAGE ARTICLE

What that guy knows about ratings could fill a thimble. The simpson did finish 77th in the Ratings, but finished 31st in shows among the KEY DEMOGRAPHICS 21-49 year olds. And ahead of many shows that get Much Better Ratings. The Demographics are there and it shed viewers by the same rate ALL the other shows did because of the strike. As Long as the demographic is there its dandy. IN fact when you consder that it is currently being produced AND in Syndication AND being sold as DVD's it is the proverbial "cash cow" and not the webkinz kind.

[Kerrytravelers]

2. That is the only reason I ever turn on FOX.

I would be surprised with the new rides at Universal Studios and the recent film that they would cancel, but what the hell do I know?

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. I still love the show, but

it's not must see tv these days.

[redstateblues]

4. Who cares?

[lurky]

5. The writing has gotten stale.

Except for maybe 1-2 episodes a season, it has become a self-parody: Homer does something stupid, Marge gets mad, some celebrities make a cameo, Marge forgives Homer. It's like the writers are bored and burned out. It seems like they are just not trying very hard. Maybe they need to get some fresh blood in that department.

[Beregond2]

6. It has been very poor this season.

Tonight's episode was the first in a long time that was up to the old standard. And of course that movie was awful. I think the writers are getting tired. It is amazing they kept it up as long as they did.

Full disclosure: I went to college with Matt Groening. I thought he was talent-free; lol! Shows what I know.

[Leopolds Ghost]

7. Did Heroes get cancelled?

[Initech]

8. Cast asking for higher salaries = end of the line

It happened with Seinfeld. It happened with Friends. Now it's going to happen with the Simpsons. Dont get me wrong, I love the show but I think we are seeing the end. Maybe they could work on making the revival of Futurama a success.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

9. Made its mark

The show has already made its mark, and really should retire. I have so many Simpsons DVDs from past seasons that I rarely watch the current season, because the shows are pale shades of past episodes.

[alphafemale]

10. I got tired of that show about 15 years ago.

But that's just me.