Posted by C.Jay(RST) at adsl-61-154-147.mia.bellsouth.net on January 18, 2003 at 00:38:23:
In Reply to: yay! simpsons for at least 2 more years posted by whynotsmile99 on January 17, 2003 at 21:30:12:
: and one for the record books.
: Fox Renews 'The Simpsons' for 2 Seasons
: The Associated Press
: Jan 17 2003 6:59PM
: NEW YORK (AP) - Perpetual 10-year-old Bart, his clueless dad Homer and the rest of the Simpsons clan are about to go into TV history as stars of the longest-running sitcom ever.
: Fox announced a deal Friday to renew the cartoon for two more seasons, taking it at least through May 2005 - its 16th year. That will push ``The Simpsons'' past ``The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet,'' which aired on ABC from 1952 to 1966, as the all-time longest-running situation comedy.
: ``The Simpsons'' premiered as a series on Dec. 17, 1989, after the animated characters were first introduced in a series of vignettes on Fox's ``The Tracey Ullman Show'' in 1988.
: ``Isn't that extraordinary?'' said Fox Entertainment President Gail Berman. ``It says something about the quality control on a show that seems to be able to garner a new generation of fans every few years while still maintaining the core audience.''
: Al Jean, one of the show's executive producers, said he can't wait for the show to hit its 16th year. ``At that point we'll be old enough to drive,'' he said.
: While following the lives of the mythical family from Springfield, ``The Simpsons'' has always been bitingly funny about the world around it. Sometimes the show has to be watched twice to grab all the subtle jokes that come flying by.
: This Sunday, Homer and the gang poke fun at a different Ozzy in an episode that has the Simpsons family participating in a reality TV show.
: ``It's a very well-written show - sharp and satirical,'' said Tim Brooks, television historian and author of ``The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable Television Shows.'' ``It started off as the Bart Simpson show and it has gone off in a lot of different directions. It continues to mock the culture and has a very loyal audience.''
: It avoids the pitfalls of many comedies that seem trapped in the time they started, he said.
: As cartoon characters, Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa never grow old and, unlike live actors, can't hold out for more money (although there was a contract dispute a few years ago with the people who provided their voices).
: There were no such problems this time. Few people were even aware of renewal negotiations.
: ``There was a general sense in the creative part of the group that things were chugging along creatively,'' Berman said. ``You don't have the drama that you've had with other programs.''
: ``The Simpsons'' is produced by Fox corporate cousin 20th Century Fox. Creator Matt Groening, James L. Brooks and Jean are the show's executive producers.
: The show is averaging 14.3 million viewers this season, according to Nielsen Media Research. Of the top 20 scripted shows from last season, ``The Simpsons'' is one of only three with more viewers this season. And it's up for its first Golden Globe Award this weekend.
: Jean, who started writing for the show in its first year, said there was never any intent to make the characters age. ``As they didn't, it just seemed all the wiser,'' he said.
: ``The Simpsons'' has to beat ``Gunsmoke,'' on CBS from 1955 to 1975, to become the longest-running scripted show ever in prime time.
: The record for the longest-running prime-time show of any kind seems safe. It's ``60 Minutes,'' which went on the air in 1968 and is still ticking.