The Simpsons season 23 explained

Season Number:23
Bgcolour:
  1. 5EA6F8
Showrunner:Al Jean
Network:Fox
Num Episodes:22
Episode List:List of The Simpsons episodes

The twenty-third season of the American animated television series The Simpsons began airing on Fox on September 25, 2011, and ended May 20, 2012.[1] The season was produced by Gracie Films and 20th Century Fox Television. The showrunner for the season was Al Jean, with three episodes ran with Matt Selman, one of those he also wrote himself. The show's 500th episode, "At Long Last Leave," aired February 19, 2012.[2] On October 7, 2011, the series was renewed for a twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth season.

The season was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, for three Writers Guild of America Awards, winning one, and for four Annie Awards, winning one.

Voice cast & characters

See main article: List of The Simpsons characters.

Main cast

Supporting cast

Guest stars for the season included Kiefer Sutherland, mountaineer Aron Ralston, Jane Lynch, chefs Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay, author Neil Gaiman, Andy García, Joan Rivers, Armie Hammer, Jeremy Irons, Michael Cera, and artist Shepard Fairey.[3] [4]

Episodes

See also: List of The Simpsons episodes.

Production

The season was ordered on November 11, 2010. Seven episodes were holdovers from the previous season.[5] Al Jean continued his role as primary showrunner, a role he had since the thirteenth season.[3] [6] Starting this season, executive producer Matt Selman was also the showrunner for several episodes.[7] This season featured the only episode written by Justin Hurwitz.[8] It also featured the final episode written by Matt Warburton before leaving for the television series Community.[9]

Viewer vote result

The season premiere episode "The Falcon and the D'ohman" features a reference to the previous episode of the series, the twenty-second season finale "The Ned-Liest Catch" that aired May 22, 2011. In that episode, the characters Ned Flanders and Edna Krabappel started dating. The episode ends with Homer and Marge Simpson giving the viewers a link to the official The Simpsons website, TheSimpsons.com, and encouraging them to go on the website and vote over the summer of 2011 on whether Ned and Edna should stay together. Executive producer Al Jean said in an interview that the writers decided it would not be interesting for them to do another episode where a relationship ended, and they thought it would be interesting "to see what people think, the Internet certainly has a lot of opinion on the show, might as well have them have their say". When asked why the writers thought Ned and Edna were the right characters for a cliffhanger like this, Jean said that "In life, unusual things happen. People couple together in ways you would not expect, and he's single and she's single. We thought it would be funny, the fact that they both have these connections to the Simpsons but they never really met or if they have met it was minimal."[10] The result of the poll were revealed in "The Falcon and the D'ohman".[11] According to Jean, the poll was "very strong in one direction".[10] He assured in an interview before the result was presented that the poll was authentic and the writers would not undo the viewers' decision, and added that "What our fans have joined together, let no writer tear asunder."

Cancellation threat

20th Century Fox Television released a statement on October 4, 2011, saying that "23 seasons in, The Simpsons is as creatively vibrant as ever and beloved by millions around the world. We believe this brilliant series can and should continue, but we cannot produce future seasons under its current financial model. We are hopeful that we can reach an agreement with the voice cast that allows The Simpsons to go on entertaining audiences with original episodes for many years to come." One of the problems was that The Simpsons was possibly worth more cancelled than on the air. A 17-year-old syndication deal with local TV stations prohibits Fox from selling the show to cable networks. As long as The Simpsons still produces new episodes, Fox cannot break this deal. In the meantime, cable networks have grown to become just as big a market as the local TV stations. Another consideration was that Fox's parent company News Corporation was having meetings discussing the possibility of a cable channel that would only air The Simpsons episodes.[12] Analysts consider a cancellation and subsequent second-run deal that includes cable networks to be worth $750 million.[13] On this issue, Al Jean commented in an interview with TV Guide that "It's a big company, and there are definitely people whose interests would have been better served by ending it. Those interests were superseded because we're still valuable to the network in terms of our ratings."[14]

For the negotiations, the studio requested that the cast members accept a 45% cut of their salaries so that more seasons could be produced after season 23, or else that season would be the series' last.[15] The actors were willing to take a pay cut, but wanted a percentage of the back-end payments instead.[16] At one point, Harry Shearer even offered a 70% pay cut in exchange for back-end percentages, but the studio was unwilling to make any deal involving back-end percentages.[17] In the end, the studio and the actors reached a deal, in which the actors would take a pay cut of 30%, down to just over $300,000 per episode, renewing the show to its 25th season.[18] As well as the voice actors, everybody involved in the show took a pay cut. This included the animators, writers, post-production crew and even Jean himself. The further use of digital animation also saved money, as the animation of the show became more efficient.

Reception

Ratings

The season premiere episode "The Falcon and the D'ohman" originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 25, 2011.[19] It was watched by approximately 8.08 million people during this broadcast. It received a 3.9 Nielsen rating in the demographic for adults aged 18–49, and a ten percent share. The ratings were up three percent compared to the last season's premiere. The Simpsons became the second highest-rated program in the 18–49 demographic in Fox's Animation Domination lineup that night, finishing before The Cleveland Show and American Dad! but after Family Guy. The Simpsons was, however, the most-watched show in the lineup in terms of total viewers.[20]

For the 2011–2012 television season, the season earned a 3.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic, which was the 33rd best performing show. It averaged 6.95 million viewers, which was the 69th best performing show.[21]

During the twenty-third season, the cost of a 30-second advertising spot would be $254,260 in an original broadcast. It is the fifth-most expensive show for advertisers on Fox, with only American Idol, The X Factor, Glee and Family Guy being more expensive.[22]

Awards and nominations

At the 64th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the season was nominated for Outstanding Animated Program for "Holidays of Future Passed," and Hank Azaria was nominated for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for his work in "Moe Goes from Rags to Riches."[23]

At the 65th Writers Guild of America Awards, writer Jeff Westbrook won the for "Ned 'n' Edna's Blend Agenda."[24] Writers Tim Long and J. Stewart Burns were also nominated for Writers Guild of America Awards for episodes written this season.[25] [26]

At the 39th Annie Awards, writer Carolyn Omine won for Outstanding Achievement for Writing for "Treehouse of Horror XXII."[27] Annie Award nominations were also given to the animators for Production Design for "Moe Goes from Rags to Riches," to writers Billy Kimball and Ian Maxtone-Graham for Writing for "How I Wet Your Mother," and to the couch gag of "Beware My Cheating Bart" for Best Short Subject.[28]

Writer Marc Wilmore won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series at the 44th NAACP Image Awards for "The Spy Who Learned Me."[29]

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Seidman. Robert. FOX Announces 2011 Fall TV Premiere Dates. https://web.archive.org/web/20110625104836/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/23/fox-announces-2011-fall-premiere-dates/96394/. dead. June 25, 2011. TV By the Numbers. June 23, 2011. June 23, 2011.
  2. Web site: Goldman . Eric . 20th at Comic-Con: Terra Nova, Family Guy, Glee, Futurama, More – TV News at IGN . . May 24, 2011 . June 18, 2011 . June 29, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120629070053/http://tv.ign.com/articles/117/1177131p1.html . live .
  3. Web site: Emily. Rome. July 23, 2011. Comic-Con 2011: 'The Simpsons' Top 7 Highlights From the Panel. The Hollywood Reporter. May 27, 2024. August 9, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240809074853/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/comic-con-2011-simpsons-top-214667/. live.
  4. Web site: Lesley. Goldberg. August 5, 2011. Jane Lynch, Darren Criss, Ricky Gervais, Sarah Michelle Gellar Among Fox's Animation Domination Guest Voices. The Hollywood Reporter. May 27, 2024. May 27, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240527214526/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jane-lynch-darren-criss-ricky-219857/. live.
  5. Web site: STILL ANIMATED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! FOX RENEWS "THE SIMPSONS" FOR INCREDIBLE 23RD SEASON . Hudson. Jill . November 11, 2010 . Foxflash . 2010-11-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101122134823/http://foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z176z4z8&ID=7219 . November 22, 2010 .
  6. Web site: Nellie. Andreeva. April 30, 2020. 'The Simpsons' Showrunner Al Jean Signs With Gersh. Deadline Hollywood. May 27, 2024. May 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240526035718/https://deadline.com/2020/04/the-simpsons-showrunner-al-jean-signs-gersh-2-1202922457/. live.
  7. Web site: Jesse David. Fox. June 5, 2023. 'The Simpsons' Is Good Again. Vulture. June 16, 2024. June 10, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230610163536/https://www.vulture.com/article/the-simpsons-is-good-again.html. live.
  8. Web site: Nate. Bloom. February 27, 2017. Jews go to the Oscars; Justin Hurwitz's proud Marin mom; etc.. J. The Jewish News of Northern California. May 27, 2024. October 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231019152613/https://jweekly.com/2017/02/27/jews-go-to-the-oscars-justin-hurwitzs-proud-marin-mom-etc/. live.
  9. Web site: Mark. Dawidziak. November 30, 2012. 'The Mindy Project' show runner is Northeast Ohio native Matt Warburton. The Plain Dealer. May 27, 2024. May 27, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240527214527/https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2012/11/the_mindy_projects_show_runner_is_northeast_ohio_native_matt_warburton.html. live.
  10. Web site: Fienberg. Daniel. September 25, 2011. Watch: Al Jean talks Season 23 of 'The Simpsons'. HitFix. September 27, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929205118/http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/the-fien-print/posts/watch-al-jean-talks-season-23-of-the-simpsons. September 29, 2011.
  11. Web site: 'Simpsons' Fans Play Cupid For New Springfield Couple 'Nedna'. Access Hollywood. May 20, 2011. September 9, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110628131039/http://www.accesshollywood.com/simpsons-fans-play-cupid-for-new-springfield-couple-nedna_article_48292. June 28, 2011.
  12. News: Allen. Nick. Woo Hoo! The Simpsons could be given their very own TV channel. The Daily Telegraph. October 15, 2011. September 26, 2011. September 29, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929131941/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8790427/Woo-Hoo-The-Simpsons-could-be-given-their-very-own-TV-channel.html. live.
  13. Web site: Lieberman. David. Would 'The Simpsons' Be Worth More Dead Or Alive?. Deadline Hollywood. October 15, 2011. October 4, 2011. October 9, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111009002723/http://www.deadline.com/2011/10/would-the-simpsons-be-worth-more-dead-or-alive/. live.
  14. Web site: Schneider. Michael. The Simpsons Executive Producer Al Jean on How the Show Was Saved. TV Guide. October 19, 2011. October 11, 2011. November 13, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111113031217/https://www.tvguide.com/News/Simpsons-Executive-Producer-1038600.aspx. live.
  15. News: Snierson. Dan. 'Simpsons' studio says show cannot continue without cutting costs. October 6, 2011. Entertainment Weekly. October 4, 2011. October 6, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111006095217/http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/10/04/simpsons-end-of-show-season-23-contract/. live.
  16. News: Molloy. Tim. "Simpsons" deadline for voice actors looms. October 15, 2011. Reuters. October 6, 2011. January 23, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160123003129/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-simpsons-idUSTRE79505F20111006. live.
  17. Web site: Andreeva. Nellie. 'Simpsons' Co-Star Speaks Out On Contract Negotiation Stalemate. Deadline Hollywood. October 15, 2011. October 7, 2011. October 15, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111015095615/http://www.deadline.com/2011/10/simpsons-co-star-speaks-out-on-salary-negotiation-stalemate/. live.
  18. Web site: Block. Alex Ben. 'The Simpsons' Renewed for Two More Seasons. The Hollywood Reporter. October 15, 2011. October 7, 2011. October 10, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111010170625/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simpsons-renewed-two-more-seasons-245748. live.
  19. Web site: Porter. Rick. 'The Simpsons': Kiefer Sutherland, 'Top Chef's' Tom Colicchio get animated. Zap2it. September 9, 2011. September 8, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111101033552/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/09/the-simpsons-kiefer-sutherland-top-chefs-tom-colicchio-get-animated.html. November 1, 2011. mdy-all.
  20. Web site: Gorman. Bill. September 26, 2011. TV Ratings Sunday: Football Wins; 'Desperate Housewives' Premiere Plunges, 'Pan Am' Has Good Takeoff, CBS Premieres Indicate Down, Fox Mixed. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929134147/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/09/26/tv-ratings-sunday-football-wins-desperate-housewives-premiere-plunges-pan-am-has-good-takeoff-cbs-premieres-indicate-down-fox-mixed/104843/. dead. September 29, 2011. Zap2it. TV by the Numbers. September 26, 2011.
  21. Web site: Nellie. Andreeva. May 24, 2012. Full 2011-2012 TV Season Series Rankings. Deadline Hollywood. May 27, 2024. September 7, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140907060022/http://deadline.com/2012/05/full-2011-2012-tv-season-series-rankings-277941/. live.
  22. Web site: Steinberg. Brian. 'American Idol,' NFL Duke it out for Priciest TV Spot. Advertising Age. October 26, 2011. October 24, 2011. October 27, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111027031608/http://adage.com/article/mediaworks/chart-american-idol-nfl-duke-priciest-tv-spot/230547/#thurs. live.
  23. Web site: Nikki. Finke. Nikki Finke. July 19, 2012. 2012 EMMYS NOMINATIONS: BREAKING. Deadline Hollywood. May 27, 2024. April 18, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150418132913/http://deadline.com/2012/07/emmy-nominations-2012-64th-primetime-awards-academy-television-arts-sciences-north-hollywood-303200/. live.
  24. Web site: Gregg. Kilday. Jordan. Zakarin. WGA Awards: Complete List of Winners. The Hollywood Reporter. February 17, 2013. May 27, 2024. July 27, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240727035434/https://secure.adnxs.com/ttj?ttjb=1&bdc=1722052474&bdh=rzUFgDLDrK0wO0-Ul8ADUyzJlCw.&&bdref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2Fbusiness%2Fbusiness-news%2Fwga-awards-zero-dark-thirty-422048%2F&bdtop=true&bdifs=1&bstk=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2Fbusiness%2Fbusiness-news%2Fwga-awards-zero-dark-thirty-422048%2F,https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2Fbusiness%2Fbusiness-news%2Fwga-awards-zero-dark-thirty-422048%2F&&id=32447768&cb=615958242. live.
  25. Web site: Writers Guild Awards: Complete Winners List. Fernandez. Jay A.. 19 February 2012. The Hollywood Reporter. May 27, 2024. April 30, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120430092051/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wga-writers-guild-awards-winners-list-292639. live.
  26. 2013 WGA Awards: The Complete List Of Winners. Kim. Wook. 18 February 2013. Time. 23 February 2019. March 10, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160310104509/http://entertainment.time.com/2013/02/18/2013-wga-awards-the-complete-list-of-winners/. live.
  27. Web site: Carolyn. Giardina. February 4, 2012. 'Rango' Wins Annie Award for Best Animated Feature. The Hollywood Reporter. May 27, 2024. September 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210923230205/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/annie-awards-rango-jennifer-yuh-nelson-287137/. live.
  28. 'Brave,' 'Wreck-It Ralph' among nominees for the Annie Awards. King. Susan. December 3, 2012. Los Angeles Times. October 1, 2023. January 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240122200336/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2012-dec-03-la-et-mn-brave-wreck-it-ralph-nominees-annie-awards-20121202-story.html. live.
  29. Web site: Couch. Aaron. NAACP Image Awards: Winners Announced. The Hollywood Reporter. August 19, 2023. February 1, 2013. December 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043817/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/naacp-image-awards-winners-announced-417553. live.

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