The Simpsons

So, apparently the top actors who do the voices on The Simpsons get paid nearly $400,000 per episode under their new contract! This from Reuters via The Hollywood Reporter, which brings us news this morning that after months of negotiations, the standoff between the cast of the long-running animated series and Twentieth Century Fox TV has ended. Cast members reportedly sought $500,000 per episode, but settled for a nevertheless significant increase over their current paychecks of roughly $300,000 an episode. For some context, the article points out that the highest-paid sitcom star, Charlie Sheen, made about $350,000 per episode in 2006 for his role in Two and a Half Men. Also, kudos to Reuters for its headline: “Dough! Simpsons cast gets a hefty raise.” The Simpsons begins work on its 20th season today.

The People's Choice Awards (a.k.a. the most meaningless of awards ceremonies) aired last night, although nobody watched it and actors received their awards like they were pox-diseased blankets from the pilgrims. Because celebrities refuse to cross the Writers Guild of America's picket lines, a "newsmagazine" version of the original ceremony aired. "Host" Queen Latifah giddily introduced the winners' previously recorded acceptance speeches. Grey's Anatomy's Katherine Heigl, who plays the bleeding-heart baker Izzie Stevens, was named favorite female star, while Patrick Dempsey, "McDreamy", was the favorite male star; Chandra Wilson, who plays the feisty Miranda Bailey, won favorite scene stealer.  read more »

On Sunday, Dec. 16, Noah Kalina, a freelance photographer based in Williamsburg, was parodied on an episode of The Simpsons.

For six years starting in 2000, Mr. Kalina, now 27, took a digital photograph of himself every day. He then compiled the pictures chronologically and created a short movie of the gallery, Everyday, accompanied by music recorded by his girlfriend on her keyboard. “I got sort of inspired by digital technology,” he told the Transom in a phone interview on Dec.  read more »

Today is Simpsonfest in Manhattan. Fox has painted the town yellow to promote the DVD release of the big screen version of their television show. Anyone in Midtown will find it difficult to miss the yellow-jacketed street teams, the "Simpsons on Ice" show at Bryant Park, the giant inflatable Homers and the Empire State Building lit up yellow (the first time the landmark has changed its appearance for movie promotion), according to Variety.  read more »