Groening: We Wanna Stay
Immortal? (At least in syndication...)
I’m not sure what it is, but the thought of the Greatest Show in TV History (GSITVH) ending one of these days is more than I can get my little head around. I mean, what happens when “The Simpsons” ends? We will go on…we will go on…
In any event, Fox yesterday confirmed the 21st season was already underway and then the superstars of Fox animation (pretty much all primetime animation, with the exception of those two bomb-tossers at “South Park”) took the stage late yesterday here in BH (eat your heart out, Comic-Con.) They included…"GSITVH" creator Mattt Groening, Al Jean, Mike Judge, Matt Weitzman, and Seth MacFarlane. (Mac, “Is this where Karl Rove sat ‘cause I don’t want to get AIDS.”)
Questions came up about “Simpsons” longevity, of course, and here’s what Groening had to say (and thanks to the network’s incredibly proficient transcribers for supplying these quotes): “We, as long as Fox will have us, want to keep doing it…The task that we face at 'The Simpsons' is trying not to repeat ourselves, trying to come up with new ideas that we haven't done ourselves already.” And...still no plans for another movie at this point.
He had this to say about the voicers’ new salary pact, which pretty much means the show’s now saddled with TV’s equivalent of the Yankees payroll: “You know, one of the reasons why TV shows that are on the air for a long time go off the air eventually is because it becomes more and more expensive to do. So I hope we avoid that. Yeah, I want everybody in this room to get rich off 'The Simpsons.' Everybody works really hard. So yes, and people need to be compensated, and I'm happy for 'The Simpsons' cast. I've been working with Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, since 1987 on 'The Tracey Ullman Show' and I think of Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer and some others as the new people because they didn't come on until 1989, when the show started. And I love this cast. Al will say this, we're knocked out by them when they give me good lines, as good a line as you can, and they take it to another level.
“They're fantastic, and I want them to be as rich and unhappy as anyone in Hollywood."
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Comments (4)
You need to check your copy ... his name is "Dan Castellaneta".
The Simpsons is also by now appalling stupid, and a crummy burlesque version of what used to be the smartest show on television. They've been coasting since the late 90s on their former glory, becoming the type of show they used to skewer -- back when the Simpsons was actually funny! At this point, they're simply going for the Ironman record for series TV; they've contributed nothing in the last ten years while far funnier series have been cancelled or gutted (Arrested Development, Futurama, etc.), and really ought to hang it up.
I am confused and think there might be some editing mistake. You start by talking about the Greatest Show Ever, but then without a segue start talking about The Simpsons. What gives?
I'm going to have to side against you, el Bicho. The Simpsons - in their prime - were intelligent, well written, well directed, witty, controversial, and one of the biggest draws on television. The show contained various allusions to any number of real or ficticious characters, works of art, etc ad inf., with an amazing writing team. I also agree that Futurama and Arrested Development were both funnier while on the air than the corresponding seasons of the Simpsons. It's so far into the dead horse category it's ceased being funny, which I suppose supports the general feel of the show nowadays. Even the movie was pretty lame.
All hail to the Conan O'Brien years.
I hope there's no 'editing' mistake; it needs to be true. I'm pretty sure the number is 21, not 20. Professional people who type on the web can't make a mistake. There needs to be a 21st season. Anyway, I love the Simpsons. I want to keep watching it on FOX every Sunday.