The 800th episode of “The Simpsons” aired this Sunday, reinforcing its spot in pop culture for audiences ranging from kids to grandparents.
Now in its 37th year, this iconic animated series continues to entertain viewers every Sunday night, humorously portraying the chaotic lives of the Yellow family.
Remarkably, it’s also one of America’s top cultural exports, reaching audiences in about 200 countries and available in numerous languages like Arabic, Czech, and Luxembourgish.
The saga of Bart, Lisa, Homer, Maggie, and Springfield—whose inspiration, according to creator Matt Groening, ultimately traces back to Oregon—started from much more modest origins.
Before gaining critical acclaim and winning 37 Emmy Awards, “The Simpsons” was just a short segment featured weekly on FOX’s “The Tracey Ullman Show,” with 48 segments aired from 1987 to 1989.
Its future seemed uncertain when it transitioned into a standalone show.
“Nobody really thought anything would come of it,” reflected writer and producer Mike Reese, who contributed to the show from its start and has since moved on. “I joined because my friends turned the offer down. I was primarily a gag writer and sports columnist.”
“Writers of traditional sitcoms weren’t interested—most of us considered it a fun project that wouldn’t last longer than six weeks.”
Even Fox had reservations. “They didn’t even want to rent a venue for our premiere,” Reese remembered, noting they watched the first episode at a bowling alley with scores displayed.
Yet, it quickly defied expectations. “Our publicist brought in glowing reviews from all over,” Reese said. “It debuted with Fox’s highest ratings ever.”
Its enduring success means voice actors, who bring to life characters like Bart (voiced by Nancy Cartwright) and Marge (Julie Kavner), enjoy lucrative salaries—reportedly between $300,000 and $400,000 per episode.
A former executive stated, “That’s accurate. The cast is very appreciative of it.” Meanwhile, voice talents lead normal lives despite their fame, often going unrecognized in public.
The closeness of the cast is evident; for instance, Hank Azaria, who voices Moe, purchased Dan Castellaneta’s house for $5.5 million shortly after salary negotiations.
As for pay discussions, “they negotiate as a unit,” observed a Hollywood insider. “If the network says no, they risk losing the show altogether. Sure, they could find someone else to mimic Bart, but it would take time to find a suitable replacement.”
Most of the original cast remains, but Azaria retired his portrayal of Apu in 2020 amid concerns of cultural sensitivity.
He noted that the rise of AI may mean that actors could find their voices duplicated and used in ways they didn’t authorize.
“I think AI will be capable of recreating the more than 100 unique voices I’ve crafted for the show over the decades,” he remarked.
While AI technology to replicate audio already exists, the legality of doing so is murky. Disney, as the rights holder, can reproduce characters, but voice actors may have claims if their voices are used without consent, depending on their contracts. The SAG-AFTRA union actively protects its members from unauthorized AI usage.
Notably, McSmithers from Wired assessed that automated versions of the characters lack the vibrancy of human performances.
Given that “The Simpsons” has stuck to its proven formula, it seems unlikely that the network would abandon its current casting approach.
Plus, many voice actors enjoy their work—I mean, who wouldn’t? They often record scripts together for short periods, creating a collaborative yet efficient atmosphere.
