TWO MORE YEARS FOR THE SIMPSONS

Fox TV and the actors who voice the characters on The Simpsons have reached an agreement on a new contract that will keep the animated series, whose 23rd season begins on Oct. 30, on the network for an additional two years, published reports said tonight (Friday), citing unnamed sources. The Los Angeles Times reported that the actors, who had been earning $440,000 per episode, had agreed to have their salaries cut to $250,000. It was not clear whether Fox had agreed to the actors’ demand for a share of the profits from reruns and other ancillary revenue in exchange for acquiescing to the cuts. Earlier in the day, Harry Shearer, who provides the voices for Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders and other characters, issued a statement saying that he would be “willing to let them cut my salary … more than 70 percent” in return for “a small share of the eventual profits.” Fox had claimed that because of falling ratings and increased production costs the show no longer is profitable, and it threatened to yank it unless costs were slashed drastically. Producers of the show had reportedly agreed to substantial cuts earlier in the week. Launched on December 17, 1989, The Simpsons is primetime television’s longest-running scripted show currently on the air.