01: With all the voice-talent "The Simpsons" had at their disposal, why bother hiring a big-name celebrity like Kelsey Grammer for the role of Sideshow Bob?

02: How is it fair that Yardley Smith gets the same salary as the rest of the main cast, when she performs only one character (Lisa Simpson) to their many (upwards of five characters or more)?

03: Before he got involved with "Futurama," what did Matt Groening do to justify his time after he stopped being "The Simpsons" show-runner (he stopped/quit/fired - how does one start & stop being the showrunner? I think you're elected)? He remained as Executive Producers (which, to me, only means "financial investor," but what do I know?) and Creative Consultant (how busy can you be as that?) He only wrote a handful of stories (which, I only learned the other day from another Simpsons-related thread, means he was assigned the outline, since it was his idea), and I think he does some voices, but I'm not sure.

01: He wasn't a big name when it started really, he was on Cheers. Granted everyone on Cheers was famous at that point, but I doubt it was a concern to book him.

02: Lisa is integral to the show. Now if she only voiced say, Milhouse or something like that, then that would be another story.

03: Not sure exactly what he did but he must have been involved in some capacity, also he still did Life in Hell daily. As another example, Sam Simon is still prominently featured in the end credits to this day, but hasn't been involved with the show for 20 years, and he still gets paid.

One question I forgot:

04: Why does Marcia Wallace continuously get billed (on the DVD boxsets) as "Special Guest Voice," while Pamela Hayden and Maggie Roswell, who both provide more, are just regularly billed? What makes Wallace's "Mrs. Krabappel" so special?

True, but it's more money to shell out, just for one actor.

I was going to respond to this, but given how you've started numerous Simpsons-related threads to "spark discussion" but simply don't seem to care about the answers given to you, I'm not going to bother.

Your questions for the most part have been discussed at length on Simpsons-related message boards where everything you wondered has been better answered. I'd suggest Googling them.

Why would you think I wouldn't care about teh answers given? What an odd thing to say.

1. He was on Cheers at the time. They originally wanted James Earl Jones to do the voice.

2. This can't be a serious question. She's a main character.

3. He still has involvement in the show. Not sure why you think an executive producer and creative consultant do little work.

4. She's more famous than the other two. Plus, she has a long history with Brooks so I'm sure that plays a role.

I'm sure when they got Kelsey Grammer to do the voice they assumed it would be a one-time thing. But they kept coming up with ideas to bring him back. Plus, the regular cast has said bringing in guest stars is fun for him.

Executive Producer rarely equals "financial investor." Groening makes money from the show, but it's not like he's putting money into it. I don't think he was ever the showrunner.

Groening provided the "suck" for Maggie (which has just been reused since) and has played himself. I don't think he's done any other voices.

I believe Groening, Brooks, and Simon were the showrunners during the first 2 seasons.

Given the unbelievable amount of Simpsons-related threads you've started here, you'd figure you'd be active in the discussions or at least participate in the thread after you started them. But you do these one-offs to spark discussion among other members and don't seem to really care one way or another what's said once you leave.

Myself and others have given you detailed explanations to most of your innane questions and there's not so much as a reply.

You may think you're contributing to the forum but you come off as a bit of a troll.

And if Harry Shearer provided the voice, Sideshow Bob might not be the popular character that he is. I think their investment was wise.

In Hollywood, you don't always get paid for the amount of work you do.

I believe the Simpsons cast has also banded together and insisted on pay for the main cast to be equal.

1. Because tv shows bring in guest stars all the time and because Kelsey Grammer's voice is awesome?

2. Are you Smith's agent?

3. Groening was never showrunner and depending on who you ask, had very little involvement in the day-to-day creation of the show. He was just kind of the public face of the show and more involved in promotion than anything. If you're really interested in the behind the scenes dirt on the Simpsons, then read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Simpsons-Uncensored-Unauthorized-History-ebook/dp/B004ZM075M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369409581&sr=8-1&keywords=history+of+the+simpsons

4. Wallace is/was a famous name and in the first season was very much a "Special Guest Star." Also, as far as I recall she only voices Krabapel. Roswell and Hayden were mostly unknown voice actors and are not associated with a specific character. Credits and how people are billed in Hollywood is a very interesting subject and you could probably write a book on all of the politics that go into how people are billed and what the hierarchy is.

1. The show has a guest voice almost every episode. Sideshow Bob just happened to be a character they & audience liked enough to bring back multiple times. Grammer's acting help make the character great so they brought him back.

2. She actually voices a few other characters. Mainly the girls at school.

Or why he has to justify his time.

Case in point: January Jones is still listed in the main credits of Mad Men, even though she's only had like... 5 minutes of screen time so far this season.

Thankfully.