With the departure of longtime castmember Harry Shearer, The Simpsons might change forever. But not in a George R.R. Martin, Shonda Rhimes, Joss Whedon kind of way, because Simpsons' executive producer Al Jean promises no one would be killed off the show.
"Recast if Harry does not return," Jean wrote on Twitter. "No yellow wedding."
Still, that means recasting some of the biggest characters on the show, not to mention the countless side characters he routinely provided the voice for. So that means we might not hear from say, Jasper Beardly, ever again. And that is a damn dirty shame. "No more Jasper? That's a paddlin'."
The 71-year-old Shearer has voiced literally hundreds of character over the past 26 seasons, but these are the roles that stand to be affected to most due to his departure. And we gave you some clips because A: You obviously want to hear Shearer's voice since you it might not be on the show anymore. And B: We want to push you down a black hole of Simpsons clips. You're welcome!
1. Montgomery Burns
2. Ned Flanders
3. Waylon Smithers
4. Seymour Skinner
5. Dr. Hibbert
6. Lenny
7. Kent Brockman
8. Scratchy
9. God
10. Kang
11. Eddie
12. Otto Mann
13. Reverend Lovejoy
14. Judge Roy Snyder
15. Rainier Wolfcastle
16. Jasper Beardly
17. Dewey Largo
18. Herman
19. Politicians
Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Bob Dole and George H. W. Bush, to name a few.
So what do our fellow Simpsons fans think? Should the show recast/cut back on all these characters and continue on without Harry Shearer? Or should the show, which has already been renewed for a 27th and 28th season, end its run? Personally, we think Shearer and the bosses at The Simpsons will work things out eventually. Fingers crossed.