The Simpsons Season 18

The popular cartoon "The Simpsons," which has been airing on Fox since 1989, has been renewed for two more years, setting a new record as the longest-running comedy series in American television history. Often described as getting better with age, "The Simpsons" was nominated this year for its first Golden Globe Award in the Best Comedy Series category. In an interview with the Financial Times, Matt Groening, the creator of "The Simpsons," revealed that after so many years, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find interesting topics, leading to plans to conclude the series. This news caused anxiety among many loyal fans. Now, fans of "The Simpsons" can breathe a sigh of relief. The Hollywood Reporter announced today that the popular cartoon, currently in its fourteenth season, will be renewed for two more years, extending its run by another two years. Unless there are unexpected major changes within the next two years, "The Simpsons" will become the longest-running comedy series in American television history, surpassing the previous record held by a comedy that aired from 1952 to 1966 for fifteen seasons. Gale Berman, President of Entertainment at Fox Television, stated that after fourteen seasons, "The Simpsons" is currently at its peak in terms of creativity, humor, and ratings. So far, this season of "The Simpsons" has consistently ranked in the top twenty of all U.S. TV programs, averaging around 14.2 million viewers per week. Since 1989, "The Simpsons" has won seven Emmy Awards for Best Animated Program. At the upcoming Golden Globe Awards on January 19th, "The Simpsons" is competing for the first time in the Best Comedy Series category against shows like "Friends" and "Sex and the City." The main success factor of "The Simpsons," loved by both adults and children, can be attributed to the six voice actors who bring the characters to life vividly. These behind-the-scenes contributors hold the record for the highest-paid TV cartoon voice actors in the U.S. The salaries of the six main voice actors of "The Simpsons" have risen from $25,000 per episode to $100,000 per episode in 2001, marking a 43% pay raise. On average, each voice actor earns at least $2.2 million per season. In the U.S., "The Simpsons" (translated as "Asen Yizu" in Hong Kong) is the most popular TV animated series. The five-member family from Springfield satirizes contemporary American life and culture through their absurd experiences. The image of "The Simpsons" has become a worldwide pop symbol with Bart Simpson, the mischievous eldest son, turning into a cultural icon. Even Time Magazine selected him as one of the most important figures in entertainment of the century. While Bart is just a troublemaker in the cartoon—lying, causing chaos, and arguing with adults—when he became a brand, he transformed into the bad boy of Springfield. His "badness" equates to "coolness," and his rebellious side has been magnified. People love his fearless attitude: "I'm a kid; I fear no one!"