The voice actors for the Simpsons reportedly feel they are under compensated at $125,000 per episode.

The series is scheduled to run at least through May of 2005, which will conclude its 16th season and make it the longest running sitcom in history - but I think they’ll need some voices.

I stated in the comments section that I felt $125,000 per episode, assuming all they did was the voice acting (no other help with the script or direction of the show) was fair and it seems that others disagree. Mel Blanc and Jim Henson were both brought up as examples of how Fox should be sharing more of the estimated 2.5 billion made by the Simpsons franchise. Here is my response:

Though the voice of Kermit may be slightly different, the muppets enterprise has moved on, yes? They are still making money not using the original talent.

Yes, it is sad with the passing of Jim Henson, but I’m sure he would have wanted the franchise to carry on and delight children of a new generation.

If voices are so absolutely essential to financial success than explain Scooby-Doo? Matthew Lillard didn’t do the original Shaggy in the cartoons and yet the motion picture has done well. There are new Scooby cartoons with different voice actors as well.

My point wasn’t all that complicated: without the voices the franchise can (and probably will) move on. Without Groening the franchise can (and probably will) move on. Heck, without Fox the franchise can (and probably will) move on (albeit, somebody else buying the copyrights).

Characters and story are indelible.

This of course assumes that the Simpson’s franchise is timeless, which only history will tell.

And why should some voice actor be paid for the sale of coffee mugs with Homer Simpson on them?

Lastly, 2.5 billion is the total estimated revenue, that isn’t the total profit. For one to assume that Fox has made a billion dollars profit, they have to also assume at least 40% of that total revenue has gone to them as profit. I don’t buy that either. A 40% profit on coffee mugs to Fox? No way. Even mass produced those things have higher costs so that the end consumer price doesn’t yield that much profit.

The costs cannot be discounted in this discussion.

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