(no subject)

[psychoticdreams]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -- Six actors who voice characters on the long-running Fox hit "The Simpsons" have stopped work in a bid to force a settlement of contract renewal talks. Hollywood trade paper "Daily Variety" reports the six are asking for about $360 thousand an episode, or $8 million for a 22 episode season. They currently earn $125 thousand per show. Their three year contracts expired several months ago and representatives from all sides have been seeking a new one since. According to the trade paper, Dan Castallaneta (Homer), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Hank Azaria (Moe, Apu, Comic Book Guy), Julie Kavner (Marge) and Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns and others) have missed two script readings in the past few weeks, holding up production on the show's 16th season. The last "Simpsons" work dispute was in 1998. Before a new pact was reached, the show's producer, Twentieth Century Fox TV, hired casting directors in five cities to find new voices.

Personally I don't see what they are asking for as being too much.