The Simpsons, the longest-running primetime TV series in US history, will celebrate its 20th anniversary at MIPCOM 2009. Series creator and executive producer Matt Groening and executive producer Al Jean will be in Cannes, where Groening will receive the inaugural MIPCOM Creative Icon Award during a gala dinner on Wednesday 7 October, with Jean acting as master of ceremonies.
Both will also deliver a Creative Keynote in which they will speak about the show’s success, its longevity and its migration across all distribution platforms on October 6, the same day they participate in a Fox International Press Conference for The Simpsons.
The Simpsons 20th birthday: delays and nominations
The 20th season was marked by the release of a DVD. Production on the season had been delayed because of contract negotiations with the six main voice actors. They managed to push their salaries to $400,000 per episode! The series went on to receive numerous award nominations. Critic Robert Canning was enthusiastic, noting that “If they can keep the momentum moving, the series is primed to once again approach perfection and go out at the top of its game”.
UPDATE 2026: The Simpsons are still very much in the game.
(Michael Leahy. Photo (c) 20th Century Fox)