'Simpsons' actor speaks out on show trouble

Harry Shearer, one of the voice cast of The Simpsons, released a statement Friday regarding the recent tense negotiations which threaten to end the show.

Shearer, who voices numerous characters such as Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders, stated his willingness to take a salary cut from FOX, the network which airs the show. However, he also feels that he and his cast mates deserve a portion of the billions of dollars in revenue the show has generated since its 1989 debut.

FOX has refused such requests and stated that the show would be cancelled at the end of the current 23rd season if a deal isn’t reached by Friday. The studio recently asked the voice cast to take a per episode cut from $440,000 to $250,000.

"In fact, to make it as easy as possible for Fox to keep new episodes of 'The Simpsons' coming, I'm willing to let them cut my salary not just 45 percent but more than 70 percent - down to half of what they said they would be willing to pay us," Shearer said in the statement. "All I would ask in return is that I be allowed a small share of the eventual profits."