Quick Takes: More fun for ‘The Simpsons’

“The Simpsons,” the longest-running comedy in TV history, has been renewed for a 23rd season.

Fox on Thursday announced the renewal, which would bring the series total to 515 episodes.

“Like many 22-year-olds, ‘The Simpsons’ is extremely happy remaining at home, on Fox, and hopes it doesn’t have to go out into the real world for many years to come,” said executive producer Al Jean.

Fans of the series will have something else to celebrate this Thanksgiving when Fox airs the world broadcast premiere of “The Simpsons” movie.

—Greg Braxton

Butch Patrick heads for rehab

The former child star who played boy/werewolf Eddie Munster on the classic “The Munsters” has entered a drug and alcohol treatment facility.

Butch Patrick’s agent said Thursday that the 57-year-old is in a private facility in New Jersey.

Agent Jodi Ritzen says Patrick is in rehab “to deal with a lifetime problem of substance abuse.” Ritzen wouldn’t disclose the name of the facility where he’s being treated.

Patrick had moved to the Philadelphia area earlier this year after being contacted by a woman who had been a fan of “The Munsters” back in the 1960s. She announced last week that they had split as a couple.

The actor recently promoted a Halloween marathon of episodes from “The Munsters” on the Hallmark Channel. He said in an interview that he was pleased that the comedy about a family of monsters living among humans had retained its popularity, and attributed it to its strong family values and offbeat humor.

—Associated Press

AMC pulls plug on ‘Rubicon’

The multiple puzzles posed by the espionage thriller “Rubicon” will apparently never be solved.

AMC on Thursday announced it would not be renewing the original series that premiered last August and attracted a loyal following. “Rubicon,” which was produced by Warner Horizon Television, starred James Badge Dale as an intelligence analyst at a national think tank who stumbles upon a secret group that may be manipulating world events. The cast included Miranda Richardson, Arliss Howard and Michael Cristofer.

“Rubicon” gave an opportunity to tell a rich and compelling story, and we’re proud of the series,” read a statement from AMC. “This was not an easy decision to make, but we are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such a phenomenally talented and dedicated team.”

—Greg Braxton

‘Soup’ was the day’s special

In its big postwar-Contemporary sale Wednesday, Christie’s sold $273-million worth of art, thanks in part to three Los Angeles estates.

All 11 lots from the late gallery director Robert Shapazian were sold, bringing roughly $34 million. The top price from Shapazian’s collection was $9,042,000 for Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Can (Tomato)” from 1962. Christies reports that it went to “a European private buyer.”

Two works from the late Dennis Hopper’s estate — a Warhol silkscreen and Basquiat painting — were also sold Wednesday night for a total sum of $6,757,000.

—Jori Finkel

Amazon pulls pedophile guide

Amazon is no longer selling a self-published guide for pedophiles.

It wasn’t immediately clear why Amazon.com Inc. had pulled the item.

The book, “The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure: A Child-lover’s Code of Conduct,” offers advice to pedophiles on how to make a sexual encounter with a child as safe as possible.

—Associated Press

Willis cheers on U.S. veterans

Bruce Willis believes the real stars are the military and veterans.

In honor of Veterans Day, the actor threw a party Thursday for hundreds of veterans on board the USS Intrepid, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that has been converted into a museum in New York City.

Willis said supporting veterans isn’t about politics but about freedom, and he wants to recognize the men and women who’ve sacrificed their lives for Americans.

The party was sponsored by Sobieski vodka, whose parent company Willis is a part owner of.

—Associated Press