Even though they didn’t get the amount they were hoping for, The Simpsons’ cast has finally returned to work. A settlement reached this weekend capped off months of salary negotiations between the show’s talent and 20th Century Fox TV.

The comedy’s lead players - Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Hank Azaria, Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright and Harry Shearer - were reportedly seeking a $500,000 per episode paycheck. (That would have been up from around $360,000.) What they eventually settled on was a number closer to $400K. Although Shearer was still in the process of finalizing his deal, his co-workers were expected at a table read scheduled for Monday.

The new contract will lock up the actors at the new rate for four years and give fans their 20th year with the Simpsons clan. (FOX would have to specifically request additional installments.) Unfortunately, 2008-09 will still see less episodes than originally planned; two half-hours were shaved off due to the delayed negotiations.