They recently renewed The Simpsons for two more seasons, which will bring them to 28. But the big news is that Harry Shearer will not be a part of the cast. Shearer voiced Ned Flanders, Charles Montgomery Burns, Waylon Smithers, Seymour Skinner, Dr. Hibbert, Lenny Leonard, Kent Brockman, Scratchy, Kang, Eddie, Otto Mann, Rev. Lovejoy, Rainier Wolfcastle, Jasper, Dr. Marvin Monroe and many, many others. It's a rather significant loss.
At this point, The Simpsons has gone on so long, there's a whole generation of people like me who grew up worshipping the show and have grown incredibly indifferent over time. I was a fan since day one (literally!) and collected the first ten seasons on DVD. I can watch those early episodes over and over and over again. I loved that show.
Then, during the show's second decade, I loved it less, but I still watched. After all, even when The Simpsons aren't at their best, they're often better than whatever else is out there.
But then there's the last several seasons. I never tune in on Sunday nights anymore, and only catch up on interesting episodes that entice me, like the Lego episode. I've completely lost touch with what's going on in Springfield, but I'll still sit down and watch an early episode and laugh out loud.
I would be really upset at the show for going on without Harry Shearer if this was 15 years ago. But it's not, and I've already moved on.
End the damn show and let the tributes flow in already!
