The historic Fox/Disney merger will change the landscape of cinema and television in huge ways, but it seems that one long running staple of our screens won’t be impacted at all by the buyout.

The Simpsons has been on the air for nigh on 30 years now and there’s little chance that it won’t continue for many more. This comes from the very top, as Fox CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman recently revealed at the TV Critics Association press tour that The Simpsons is just too lucrative a show to cancel and they fully expect to continue the lives of Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa into the future.

“We have a couple years of episodes already in progress on The Simpsons. So down the line, what kind of decision is made I can’t really speak to. But for the foreseeable future, there’s so much upside and benefit to having a great Emmy Award winning, smart, provocative, quality show, that there’s no consideration of not ordering more Simpsons.”

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When pressed for more information on the topic, Walden went on to explain that it’s not just the fact that it’s an awards darling that makes The Simpsons a must-keep. She also made the very good point that the animated comedy is also a huge source of revenue from merchandise. Because of that, Walden anticipates that Disney will have no qualms about keeping the show running.

“The Simpsons generates lots of revenue and opportunities off network through consumer products and otherwise, and I feel confident that Disney and FOX are going to find a way to both have an interest in that show, and I anticipate it continuing to stay on the FOX network.”

There’s no arguing that The Simpsons is well past its prime – for about 18 years, if we’re honest – but the show’s been running for so long now that it’s become a true institution and, even for those of us who aren’t regular viewers anymore, television might not feel right without the occasional return to Springfield. Who knows, the Disney/Fox merger could even give the series a new lease on life?