[Necro]

"The Simpsons" cast has signed a four-year deal that solidifies the animated hit's 20th season, reports Variety.

Production on the show has been delayed for several months as voice actors and 20th Century Fox TV hammered out a deal. The new pact bumps the stars' salaries up to about $400,000 an episode; the actors previously made somewhere in the mid-$300,000 range.

The deal means most of the key "Simpsons" cast members -- Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Hank Azaria (Moe) and Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns) -- will be back to work and attending the show's first table read of the season this morning.

As part of his deal, Castellaneta has been named consulting producer on the series. He'll now serve as a writer in addition to continuing as a voice performer.

Although the voice actors are now locked through the next four years, it doesn't necessarily mean "The Simpsons" will be back beyond season 20. Gracie Films' deal with 20th expires at the end of this season, and Fox hasn't renewed the show beyond this upcoming year.

one step further to more Simpsons. I can't see them dropping the Simpsons from Fox...

[Randy Orton]

that must be sweet to make that much and all you do is read a script lol

[Necro]

that would be great if they just got knock offs who sounded like them. wonder if they have rights to their characters.

I'm sure someone out there could do all those voices...

[Tyler Durden]

Those guys (and girls) have had it pretty sweet being on board from the beginning with this deal.

Props to them all, they have done some excellent work.

[Necro]

The Simpsons Movie was actually real good I was shocked...

[The Instant Classic]

Yeah i thought the movie was good too. But honestly the simpsons is not what it us to be. Maye im growing up but season 8,9,10,11,12 were at the peak. Since then its slowly gone downhill and the jokes are no were near as funny

[Twist of lEMOn]

The simpsons are a rollercoster now and days, some times its great and other times your just like, "I cant believe how stupid that was".

Either way the good episodes are still around, so im happy to hear that there back

[Tyler Durden]

The last two new ones I saw were exactly how it is thesedays. The one with Martin's suspected death was excellent, very funny. The next week, the one with Lisa becoming a ballerina, damn that was just "tumbleweed". It's very hit and miss now, but has been classic and I still watch it out of habbit.

[Ric Flair]

I love The Simpsons. One of my favorite shows ever. I've honestly never found the show to be all that funny but I enjoy it alot. I just like it. Although sometimes I laugh my ass off, like on an episode from like season twelve, Homer was in a bank trying to get his life savings out of the bank but the banker said his wife had to be there to sign for it as well. So Homer walks over behind a plant, pretends to talk to Marge, Homer then gets on his knees and acts like a kid and says "Please daddy please, ask the man for some candy or atleast get some candy for yourself" The voice he did it in was fucking hilarious.