This undated publicity photo released by Fox, shows, from left, from left, Maggie, Marge, Lisa, Homer and Bart from the animated series, "The Simpsons," (AP Photo/Fox)
NEW YORK (AP) --
A cartoon family of world-class underachievers is set to burst an enduring TV record.
The Fox network has ordered the 29th and 30th seasons of "The Simpsons," carrying it through the 2018-19 season. This takes the animated series to 669 episodes, breaking the previous record for a scripted series set four decades ago with the Western "Gunsmoke," which produced 635.
Family patriarch Homer Simpson was quoted as commenting: "Take that, 'Gunsmoke'! You lost a race you didn't even know you were running!"
The tale of mythical Springfield and the Simpson clan premiered in 1990 and recently aired its 600th episode.
It stars Dan Castellaneta as Homer and Julie Kavner as Marge, as well as Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer. It airs Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More
