Season 23 Information Thread

[cymek]

On Fox's FB page, 99% of the comments regarding Gaga were positive, however, how many Gaga fans will actually tune in is in question.

Aren't they those 50 million idiots Jean begged to tune in more often?

[YellowFever]

I can see next week's bumping up a bit. I don't see it going down at all due to the sheer scale of the Gaga fandom. A lot of her fans will be watching. Perhaps it might even be their first episode. I don't want to judge next week's before I see it, but if Gaga fans tune in, it's their first ever episode and it is shit then that is what they're going to think of The Simpsons forever. I always feel like that though, when I'm trying to convince someone to watch a show but they just watch one of the lesser episodes and don't appreciate it, always annoys me.

[Alex_Of_Darkness]

The audience is terrible. But The cleveland show was watch by only 2,79 millions of viewer. I hope that Gaga appearance in next week episode will make that more viewer will open there TV to each The Simpsons. Personally I don't think that the audience will be awesome because the 500th who had a lots of promotion was only watch by 5,8 millions of viewer.

[Dobbie]

Oh god the terrible episode is approaching...

[Dangeresque Too]

where did you guys get the ratings so quickly?
If it was only 4.00 than that means its getting closer to cancellation

[YellowFever]

where did you guys get the ratings so quickly?
If it was only 4.00 than that means its getting closer to cancellation

Ratings are from SpoilerTV. They are very reliable and usually post ratings within about 12-18 hours of the shows airing.

[The Governor]

Oh god the terrible episode is approaching...

...

[Alex_Of_Darkness]

where did you guys get the ratings so quickly?
If it was only 4.00 than that means its getting closer to cancellation

I don't think the audience means cancelation because usually, only Family Guy beat them for the number of viewers so if they cancel The Simpsons for the audience, they also have to cancel Bob's Burger, American Dad and The Cleveland show.

[biffwestwood]

I don't think the audience means cancelation because usually, only Family Guy beat them for the number of viewers so if they cancel The Simpsons for the audience, they also have to cancel Bob's Burger, American Dad and The Cleveland show.

As a matter of fact, the last two episodes of American Dad had slightly more viewers than The Simpsons.

While yesterdays Simpsons episode had 4.00 million viewers; yesterdays episode of American Dad had 4.12 million viewers.

------------------

The 5 lowest watched episodes ever according to simpsonschannel.com are all from the 23rd season

Ned 'N Edna's Blend - 4.00 mil.
The Daughter Also Rises - 4.33 mil.
The Spy Who Learned Me - 4.74 mil.
Beware My Cheating Bart - 4.86 mil.
How I Wet Your Mother - 4.96 mil.

And I thought "The Daughter Also Rises" was low because of the Grammy awards and its tribute to Whitney Houston.

[Alex_Of_Darkness]

As a matter of fact, the last two episodes of American Dad had slightly more viewers than The Simpsons.

While yesterdays Simpsons episode had 4.00 million viewers; yesterdays episode of American Dad had 4.12 million viewers.

Yes but this don't happen really often. And for "the Spy who learned me" finally, The Simpsons did a better audience than AD when we finally had the final audience

[Mozy]

Does having it being recorded on DVR count as being viewed? I don't watch the episode live but it records on my DVR. If it doesn't count that might be a reason why ratings are low, either that or people watch it on Hulu or other sites.

[tvguy347]

Does having it being recorded on DVR count as being viewed? I don't watch the episode live but it records on my DVR. If it doesn't count that might be a reason why ratings are low, either that or people watch it on Hulu or other sites.

You don't count at all unless you're signed up with Nielson. They can't just monitor what you watch, you have to be a part of their program.

[biffwestwood]

You don't count at all unless you're signed up with Nielson. They can't just monitor what you watch, you have to be a part of their program.

Hulu.com is one reason why Nielsen ratings is an outdated way to measure audiences.

[cymek]

Fox execs must be now kicking themselves for renewing the show for 2 additional seasons.

[tvguy347]

Hulu.com is one reason why Nielsen ratings is an outdated way to measure audiences.

Exactly. It strictly accounts for the people registered with its program, and nothing more.

[The Governor]

Fox execs must be now kicking themselves for renewing the show for 2 additional seasons.

As long as the merchandising subsidizes the show, they can front about the voice actors hurting the bottom line, but they still take in the $$$.

Harry Shearer tried to negotiate a partial pay-option with the voice actors making some money from the merchandising profits and Fox's reps essentially told him to piss off.

[cymek]

As long as the merchandising subsidizes the show

But how can there be merchandizing profits if more and more people turn away from the show?

[Jesse Pinkman]

they're only 'turning away' from the newest episodes; the past dvd seasons, comic books, video games, books, etc. still sell well

[cymek]

they're only 'turning away' from the newest episodes; the past dvd seasons, comic books, video games, books, etc. still sell well

Good point. But even this stuff doesn't seem to generate so much profit anymore. Latest DVD sets (I mean s14) don't sell nearly as good as in the past, the latest video game is from 2007 and its sequel has been cancelled, etc.

[Jesse Pinkman]

true, but they still sell well enough. it's not like solid ratings are the only thing that has been making them stay on the air for so long. if ratings were the only factor they'd probably have been canceled at least 5-6 years ago, if not more.

[biffwestwood]

they're only 'turning away' from the newest episodes; the past dvd seasons, comic books, video games, books, etc. still sell well

It now seems that about the only Simpsons merchandise that is still being manufactured today is items on CD-ROM and printed materials. Season sets on DVD are still being manufactured but I'm unsure if any music recordings or video games are still being printed. HarperCollins releases all the printed stuff except the Bongo comic books since Rupert Murdoch owns that company.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

I've at times wondered if Jean and crew, if they got desperate enough, might use the movie sequel trump card to get the show renewed, if they even could - I honestly don't know how that works - but last time I checked the voice actors were still signed for two more films and the last one made over $500 million.

It comes down to what Troy McClure said though really all those years ago...

[The Governor]

I've at times wondered if Jean and crew, if they got desperate enough, might use the movie sequel trump card to get the show renewed, if they even could - I honestly don't know how that works - but last time I checked the voice actors were still signed for two more films and the last one made over $500 million.

It comes down to what Troy McClure said though really all those years ago...

$500 Million is a lot because the movie had a budget of $74mil, I think.

[biffwestwood]

I've at times wondered if Jean and crew, if they got desperate enough, might use the movie sequel trump card to get the show renewed, if they even could - I honestly don't know how that works - but last time I checked the voice actors were still signed for two more films and the last one made over $500 million.

It comes down to what Troy McClure said though really all those years ago...

And now everyone is taking pay-cuts to prevent The Simpsons from being unprofitable.

If Phil Hartman was never killed, I wonder if he would be still involved with voice work with modern and especially zombie Simpsons episodes.

[cymek]

I've at times wondered if Jean and crew, if they got desperate enough, might use the movie sequel trump card to get the show renewed

Matt Groening repeatedly told in several interviews that they wouldn't do the sequel while the show is on the air, because working on both show and the movie was exhausting.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

I get that's what he said, but I'm talking full desperation mode here. Apparently it is the highest grossing animated film based off a tv adaptation. Not surprising, but something I didn't know. Still, $500 million as opposed to $75 million budget? Might look pretty tempting for the execs, not that the sequel would do that well most likely....just throwing it out there.

[biffwestwood]

Matt Groening repeatedly told in several interviews that they wouldn't do the sequel while the show is on the air, because working on both show and the movie was exhausting.

I can understand that because they originally wanted to make the first movie after the series ended.

I originally wanted the three movies to be a trilogy but then I figured that would not work because no one wants to see a Simpsons Movie where the joke is presented at the end of the movie and ends before it is revealed.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

I still want my Treehouse of Horror movie, not that that'll happen.

[cymek]

Let's hope that if they decide to do the sequel, they won't let Tim Long, Carolyne Omine and other mediocre writers anywhere near the writing room.

[Alex_Of_Darkness]

I hope that John Swatzelder will be in the writter if they do another movie. He is my favourite writter in the show history.