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The Simpsons loses Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, and Principal Skinner as Harry Shearer quits
The Verge ^ | 5/14/15 | Rich McCormick

Posted on 05/14/2015 12:56:22 AM PDT by Monty22002

Harry Shearer, the voice of Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, Otto, Smithers, and many more on The Simpsons, has apparently left the show. Shearer used Twitter to indicate that he wouldn't be returning in upcoming seasons of the long, long-running cartoon, suggesting that his desire to work on other projects was the reason for the decision. The actor quoted Simpsons writer and producer James L. Brooks' lawyer, who reportedly said that while the "show will go on, Harry will not be part of it."

(Excerpt) Read more at theverge.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: harryshearer; hollywood; shearer; simpsons; thesimpsons
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Sad
1 posted on 05/14/2015 12:56:22 AM PDT by Monty22002
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To: Monty22002

No No No


2 posted on 05/14/2015 1:02:29 AM PDT by StoneWall Brigade
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To: Monty22002
Harry Shearer does this radio program called "Le Show" where he does some comedy bits, celebrity impressions, reads the news, plays music, etc.

He did a bunch of programs, some from New Orleans, in the aftermath of Katrina.

He is a total leftist, but his show was listenable. Good music, and occasionally funny bits.

If the news is correct about how much he made from The Simpsons, then he's set for life. He can spend the rest of his life doing documentaries on all those things he loves or loves to hate.

3 posted on 05/14/2015 1:03:14 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: Monty22002
...with his departure The Simpsons loses some of its biggest, best, and most memorable characters. After a 26-year run, and stripped of one of its greatest voices, maybe it's time to put the poor thing down.

I know what they'll do, a Jazz Odyssey.

4 posted on 05/14/2015 1:12:29 AM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: Monty22002
Those characters are a major part of the show. It will be interesting to see how the Simpsons fill the void.
5 posted on 05/14/2015 1:14:31 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
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To: Monty22002

So, Homer gets to keep all of the stuff he’s “borrowed” from Flanders over the years or what?


6 posted on 05/14/2015 1:17:34 AM PDT by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
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To: Monty22002
Oh noes!    OMG!

I watched that show in 1997!

Oops, Seinfeld. Nevermind.


7 posted on 05/14/2015 1:26:45 AM PDT by 867V309 (Boehner is the new Pelosi)
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To: Vince Ferrer

After the Puppet show.


8 posted on 05/14/2015 1:30:05 AM PDT by mitch5501 ("make your calling and election sure:for if ye do these things ye shall never fall")
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To: Monty22002

It’s not clear to me whether the shows producers are saying that they are going to kill off these characters, or whether that is just an assumption of the author.

While good voice people aren’t waiting by the roadside, I think it ought to be very possible to find someone else who can do these voices with good effect, maybe not one person, but Shearer’s departure ought not translate into wholesale decimation of characters.


9 posted on 05/14/2015 1:33:40 AM PDT by John Valentine (Deep in the Heart of Texas)
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To: Monty22002

What? Please, say it isn’t so!!!


10 posted on 05/14/2015 1:38:26 AM PDT by proud American in Canada (May God bless the United States of America.)
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To: John Valentine

I hope you’re right.

The Simpsons is an American treasure. Seriously. It makes fun of everything and everyone, no matter what political stripe. It is a real work of genius.

Hey, we had that first year or two with the weird Homer voice, etc...

We can get past this! :)

This show is the kind of stuff that differentiates America from the rest of the world... in a good way. And I`m serious. Oddly enough... :)


11 posted on 05/14/2015 1:45:42 AM PDT by proud American in Canada (May God bless the United States of America.)
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To: Monty22002

Will Flanders be survived by his “freaky beatnik” parents and his boys Rod and Todd? Will Mr. Burns have bequeathed everything to Smithers? Will the real Seymour Skinner return again to live with his mother Agnes? Stay tuned!


12 posted on 05/14/2015 2:03:05 AM PDT by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
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To: Monty22002

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/08/harry-shearer-exiting-simpsons “In 2011, as part of a way to reduce costs for the aging show, 20th Century Fox, the studio that produces The Simpsons, told the actors that they would have to take a 45-percent pay cut from their $400,000-plus-per episode deals to keep the show alive. (Shearer released a public statement during the stalemate, proposing a 70-percent pay cut in exchange for some profit participation.)”


13 posted on 05/14/2015 2:11:49 AM PDT by SMGFan (Sarah Michelle Gellar is now on twitter @RealSMG)
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To: mitch5501
After the Puppet show.

I told them a hundred times, Spinal Tap, then puppet show!

14 posted on 05/14/2015 2:17:23 AM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: John Valentine

I bet Tress MacNeille- could do all those voices better than him. And maybe Billy West some.


15 posted on 05/14/2015 2:25:22 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: Monty22002

It’s just time to put this show out to pasture.

I was completely addicted to this show from 1989-2000 and watched every show first run as appointment viewing for that period of time.

When my life changed and no longer allowed me to have that luxury I would catch what I could when I could.

I can tell you when the show started its downward trend for me. “The Simpson’s Spin Off Spectacular”, it was the first truly bad episode they ever did. From there on out it was a couple of great episodes a season, to well... no great episodes anymore.

They have been incredibly lucky to have their talent pool around for 25+ years. Prior to losing Edna Krapabbel’s Marcia Wallace the only series regulars who passed to my immediate recollection were Doris Grau (Lunch Lady Doris) and of course Phil Hartman.

Many could argue that the show suffered its biggest drop in quality when Hartman died. Losing strong supporting characters like Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz really did hurt since both were incredibly great story enhancers. Losing Mr. Burns, Flanders and Principal Skinner is just too much to overcome.

This show should have been retired 10-15 years ago. If nothing else confirms that in my mind is that when scanning through my cable guide and seeing it’s on FXX if the episode is before 2001 I watch it, if it’s after, I keep looking for something else.


16 posted on 05/14/2015 2:32:38 AM PDT by PittsburghAfterDark
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To: Monty22002

17 posted on 05/14/2015 3:40:59 AM PDT by mylife ("The roar of the masses could be farts")
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To: Monty22002

In case you never noticed, none of the characters Shearer voices appear in the Simpsons ride at Universal. My guess this latest dispute plus the Universal ride are just another ploy to get more money. Just get someone else to do the voices.


18 posted on 05/14/2015 4:47:02 AM PDT by Spaghetti Man
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To: Monty22002

Mr. Burns was my favorite character.

“What are you afraid of, Smithers? The Boogerman?”

“Catchup? Katsup? I’m in over my head here.”

And of course, “Excellent” and “Simpson, eh?”


19 posted on 05/14/2015 5:03:21 AM PDT by IronJack
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To: mitch5501

Excellent....


20 posted on 05/14/2015 5:34:52 AM PDT by Proud_texan ("Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." - PK Dick)
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