Hey folks, I was surprised to see that no one else had posted this here, I am sure some of you knew this already, but here is some info for those that didn't.
The creator of The Simpsons has dropped the first hint that the hit cartoon series may soon be coming to an end.
Matt Groening has been the inspiration behind Homer and his family since 1990, when they got their first regular show.
When any character is as stupid as Homer Simpson, it's hard to keep surprising the audience
He told the Financial Times newspaper that he is a step closer to winding up the yellow cartoon family.
Groening was recently in the UK to make an appearance at the Animated Encounters festival in Bristol.
He said: "It becomes increasingly difficult as the years go by to keep on not only surprising the audience, but surprising ourselves.
"Although what happens generally if we win the Emmy for best animation show is that that gives us another couple of years to run it into the ground."
That may worry Channel 4 who recently bought the terrestrial TV rights to The Simpsons from the BBC for a reported £700,000 a show.
They will screen the 12th and 13th series.
Groening said The Simpsons will have to come to an end sometime.
"Because animation is such an intensely painstaking process, it wears people out, and audiences are always looking for surprises.
"When any character is as stupid as Homer Simpson, it's hard to keep surprising the audience."
Groening admitted he has a troubled relationship with Fox television who show both The Simpsons and his other creation Futurama in the US.
Despite making $1bn (£686m) for the network there is only "a trace of a smile in their faces when I walk into the room".
He is upset after the cancellation of Futurama, his futuristic cartoon follow-up to Bart and Homer.
The series, which is shown on Sky One and Channel 4 in the UK, has been axed after four series, although there is a campaign to keep the show on air.
More than 110,000 fans have signed an internet campaign to save the show.
He said: "They (Fox) haven't really supported it. I think it's a worthy companion to The Simpsons and we're really proud of it. But Fox gave it a bad slot and zero promotion for the last three years."
Anyone know where the petition campaign is? I for one would sign it. This article, from www.bbc.co.uk/news apparently cause quite a furore. A few days later they ran the following article
Simpsons to Carry on for Years
The creator of The Simpsons has denied reports that he was considering bringing an end to his hit cartoon series.
Matt Groening was reported on Tuesday as having told the UK newspaper the Financial Times he was thinking of ending the show.
But on Wednesday he said he had been misquoted and that The Simpsons would be around for years to come.
Groening has been the inspiration behind Homer and his family since 1990, when they got their first regular show.
I just said that given the fact the we just finished our 300th episode, I would guess we are closer to the end of our life than the beginning
The Financial Times reported Groening saying he was planning to wind up the series because it was harder and harder to find funny things to say.
But on Wednesday Groening retorted: "I was misquoted and misunderstood. I don't want anyone to think I am predicting the demise of The Simpsons.
"They will live on with new adventures for years to come. As long as there are things to make fun of we will be around."
Hints that the show was on its last legs therefore created an international fuss.
The paper quoted Groening as saying: "I think we are closer to winding it up.
"Although what happens generally if we win the Emmy for best animation show is that that gives us another couple of years to run it into the ground.
"It becomes increasingly difficult as the years go by to keep on not only surprising the audience, but surprising ourselves."
Groening said these were comments he had often made before but on this occasion been taken our of context and misunderstood.
"I just said that given the fact the we just finished our 300th episode, I would guess we are closer to the end of our life than the beginning," Groening explained on Wednesday.
"At the end of our 100th episode (one of our writers) said we were halfway home. Now we think the show will last, our ratings are better than ever," he continued.
He added that he was not bored or unhappy with the programme.
In fact, he concluded, that he and his team were always striving to make the characters and storylines better and better.
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The creator of The Simpsons has dropped the first hint that the hit cartoon series may soon be coming to an end.
Matt Groening has been the inspiration behind Homer and his family since 1990, when they got their first regular show.
When any character is as stupid as Homer Simpson, it's hard to keep surprising the audience
He told the Financial Times newspaper that he is a step closer to winding up the yellow cartoon family.
Groening was recently in the UK to make an appearance at the Animated Encounters festival in Bristol.
He said: "It becomes increasingly difficult as the years go by to keep on not only surprising the audience, but surprising ourselves.
"Although what happens generally if we win the Emmy for best animation show is that that gives us another couple of years to run it into the ground."
That may worry Channel 4 who recently bought the terrestrial TV rights to The Simpsons from the BBC for a reported £700,000 a show.
They will screen the 12th and 13th series.
Groening said The Simpsons will have to come to an end sometime.
"Because animation is such an intensely painstaking process, it wears people out, and audiences are always looking for surprises.
"When any character is as stupid as Homer Simpson, it's hard to keep surprising the audience."
Groening admitted he has a troubled relationship with Fox television who show both The Simpsons and his other creation Futurama in the US.
Despite making $1bn (£686m) for the network there is only "a trace of a smile in their faces when I walk into the room".
He is upset after the cancellation of Futurama, his futuristic cartoon follow-up to Bart and Homer.
The series, which is shown on Sky One and Channel 4 in the UK, has been axed after four series, although there is a campaign to keep the show on air.
More than 110,000 fans have signed an internet campaign to save the show.
He said: "They (Fox) haven't really supported it. I think it's a worthy companion to The Simpsons and we're really proud of it. But Fox gave it a bad slot and zero promotion for the last three years."
Anyone know where the petition campaign is? I for one would sign it. This article, from www.bbc.co.uk/news apparently cause quite a furore. A few days later they ran the following article
Simpsons to Carry on for Years
The creator of The Simpsons has denied reports that he was considering bringing an end to his hit cartoon series.
Matt Groening was reported on Tuesday as having told the UK newspaper the Financial Times he was thinking of ending the show.
But on Wednesday he said he had been misquoted and that The Simpsons would be around for years to come.
Groening has been the inspiration behind Homer and his family since 1990, when they got their first regular show.
I just said that given the fact the we just finished our 300th episode, I would guess we are closer to the end of our life than the beginning
The Financial Times reported Groening saying he was planning to wind up the series because it was harder and harder to find funny things to say.
But on Wednesday Groening retorted: "I was misquoted and misunderstood. I don't want anyone to think I am predicting the demise of The Simpsons.
"They will live on with new adventures for years to come. As long as there are things to make fun of we will be around."
Hints that the show was on its last legs therefore created an international fuss.
The paper quoted Groening as saying: "I think we are closer to winding it up.
"Although what happens generally if we win the Emmy for best animation show is that that gives us another couple of years to run it into the ground.
"It becomes increasingly difficult as the years go by to keep on not only surprising the audience, but surprising ourselves."
Groening said these were comments he had often made before but on this occasion been taken our of context and misunderstood.
"I just said that given the fact the we just finished our 300th episode, I would guess we are closer to the end of our life than the beginning," Groening explained on Wednesday.
"At the end of our 100th episode (one of our writers) said we were halfway home. Now we think the show will last, our ratings are better than ever," he continued.
He added that he was not bored or unhappy with the programme.
In fact, he concluded, that he and his team were always striving to make the characters and storylines better and better.
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